Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy
Member of the European Parliament · Renew · NL
“Look at the facts and save Europe from its fossil fuel addiction. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 3-0029-0000 Sander Smit (ECR), “blauwe kaart”-vraag. – Meneer Gerbrandy, u spreekt hier over Europees, over de Green Deal.”
“Madam President, the European economy will experience long-lasting damage from the Hormuz crisis, and that's a fact. When fossil fuel is expensive, European industry suffers deeply – that is also a fact. When sea levels rise, my country, the Netherlands, must build expensive infrastructure or it will drown – also a fact.”
“3-0030-0000 Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew), “blauwe kaart”-antwoord. – Heerlijk altijd die nationale politiek in het Europees Parlement. Voedselzekerheid: wellicht heeft u onlangs ook het rapport gelezen waarin staat dat Nederland een importeur is van voedsel.”
“So, colleagues, we have a responsibility here; we need to face this risk and ask the question: is it worth sticking to national interests above European unity? And my answer is to go with European unity. Let's use that strength – it's the only way towards independence.”
“Mr President, colleagues, what do high energy prices, Chinese clean tech, US weapons and digital services, and critical raw materials have in common? Well, they all add up to European dependency. And let's be honest, we are dependent on others, otherwise we would not be having this debate.”
“– Well, thank you very much for that question. I think the most important message of Draghi regarding energy is that we should become independent and produce our own energy, and that, per definition, is clean energy.”
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“3-0030-0000 Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew), “blauwe kaart”-antwoord. – Heerlijk altijd die nationale politiek in het Europees Parlement. Voedselzekerheid: wellicht heeft u onlangs ook het rapport gelezen waarin staat dat Nederland een importeur is van voedsel. Niet vanwege menselijke consumptie, maar vanwege de enorme hoeveelheid diervoeding die wij moeten importeren om ons waterhoofd aan dierlijke productie overeind te houden. Als u echt, echt betrokken bent bij de voedselzekerheid van Europa, dan weet u dat ons dieet plantaardiger moet worden en dat de toekomst niet ligt in het nog verder uitbreiden van de veestapel, wat volgens mij het beleid is van uw partij, waarmee niet alleen onze economie, maar zeker ook onze wereld helemaal kapot gaat. 3-0031-0000”
“Look at the facts and save Europe from its fossil fuel addiction. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 3-0029-0000 Sander Smit (ECR), “blauwe kaart”-vraag. – Meneer Gerbrandy, u spreekt hier over Europees, over de Green Deal. Hoe reflecteert u op het feit dat de Europese Commissie in de nieuwe veehouderijstrategie heeft gezegd dat er geen verdere krimp van de veestapel mocht komen, terwijl uw kabinet nu werkt aan de liquidatie van duizenden familiebedrijven in Nederland en daarmee de voedselzekerheid op het spel zet. U spreekt over de Straat van Hormuz en afhankelijkheden, maar wat vindt u ervan als we voor dierlijke productie en andere landbouwproductie afhankelijk worden van derde landen? Heeft u daar wel eens op gereflecteerd? En wat u doet met agrarische families en gezinsbedrijven en mensen aan de keukentafel?”
“Madam President, the European economy will experience long-lasting damage from the Hormuz crisis, and that's a fact. When fossil fuel is expensive, European industry suffers deeply – that is also a fact. When sea levels rise, my country, the Netherlands, must build expensive infrastructure or it will drown – also a fact. In short, our fossil fuel addiction is becoming very, very expensive. We have known this for a while and still, in the weeks after your most recent European Council, your members still call for abolishing our most effective tool, the ETS. Turn this around – kick the addiction. The Green Deal is not an ideological green agenda. It is the future-proof economic growth model. Those Member States implementing the Green Deal are doing much better economically than those who don't.”
“– Well, thank you very much for that question. I think the most important message of Draghi regarding energy is that we should become independent and produce our own energy, and that, per definition, is clean energy. It is either fully renewable or nuclear and I think that is that is very clear because we do not have oil, we do not have sufficient gas and coal is obviously out of the question if we want to survive on this planet. But the most important message of Draghi is: let's do it together and not as 27 Member States from each other. 1-0082-0000 Catch-the-eye procedure 1-0083-0000”
“So, colleagues, we have a responsibility here; we need to face this risk and ask the question: is it worth sticking to national interests above European unity? And my answer is to go with European unity. Let's use that strength – it's the only way towards independence. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 1-0080-0000 Bogdan Rzońca (ECR), pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Tak, bardzo dziękuję, że mogę panu zadać pytanie. Chciałem zapytać. Pan jest liberałem. Jak się panu podoba opracowanie pana Draghiego, w którym on napisał, że Europa musi kupić wkrótce trzy razy więcej paneli fotowoltaicznych w Chinach, żeby nadążyć za potrzebami energetycznymi Europy? Czy reżim chiński ma być finansowany przez Unię Europejską? 1-0081-0000 Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew), blue-card answer.”
“Mr President, colleagues, what do high energy prices, Chinese clean tech, US weapons and digital services, and critical raw materials have in common? Well, they all add up to European dependency. And let's be honest, we are dependent on others, otherwise we would not be having this debate. As a liberal and a democrat, my political mission is that people have their own fate in their own hands, and I want the European people to be in the driver's seat in their daily life with the freedom to choose, but also in a geopolitical sense, through a strong and united Europe. Currently, European dependency in economic, security and strategic terms is preventing exactly that. Soon it may also mean that people have less freedom in their own lives.”
“Mr President, I just want to make a point of order. We have a topical debate. This hall is totally empty. Even the one who initiated the debate is not here to listen to the Commission. This is not only offensive to a Commissioner, but also to this institution, the European Parliament. This is not a place like a press room, where you have your statement for cameras and then you leave. This is a political arena for political debate. So my question – and that's why it's a point of order – is: could you please ask the President to address this at the Conference of Presidents? Because, in this way, this is not working. 3-0241-0000”
“French people paid EUR 1 000 a year in 2024 on fossil fuels, and if we follow his way, he will increase the dependence on France. The real ideologists are sitting over there, but their ideology is fossil fuels, its high energy costs and full dependence. 3-0206-0000”
“Madam President, since I fundamentally believe that these kind of debates should allow for blue cards, I'll react to a few of my colleagues. First of all, Mr Procaccini, who already left, he called climate policy being ideological, but spending more than EUR 500 billion annually on fossil fuels, is that ideological or factual? And that Member States who have the lowest investments in clean energy, that they are now the most vulnerable to high energy prices? Is that ideological or factual? And that Italy by far spends the lowest amount of ETS revenues on climate action, is that ideological or factual? We all know the answer, and it's no wonder that Italy is in trouble. And then Mr Bardella, who always talks about French independence.”
“Daarom, Voorzitter, zou ik u willen oproepen zeer oplettend te zijn dat tijdens debatten onze eigen grenzen van menselijkheid en redelijkheid niet worden overschreden. 1-0046-0000”
“Voorzitter, ook ik baseer mij op artikel 10 van ons Reglement. Vorige week is onder andere in Loosdrecht, in Nederland, weer gebleken hoe sterk en helaas ook gevaarlijk woorden van politici kunnen zijn. Bij protesten tegen asielzoekerscentra is fors geweld gebruikt, tegen asielzoekers zelf en hun begeleiders, en ook tegen de politie en de brandweer. Ook tijdens debatten in dit huis worden asielzoekers afgeschilderd als criminelen en verkrachters en worden mensen opgeroepen zich te verzetten tegen de opvang van vluchtelingen. Helaas is in Nederland dus weer gebleken hoe dit politieke onderwerp kan ontsporen, mede gevoed door politieke debatten, mede door debatten ook in dit huis.”
“But I say, let the past be the past and focus on one thing to restore our citizens' faith in Europe's energy policies, to rebuild our grid and to renew our promise of a strong and independent Europe. 3-0039-0000”
“Mr President, energy is the most essential building block of our economy. When energy prices go up, people suffer, businesses suffer. Why? Because we do not control our own energy prices. Others do. Events do. The good news is we have already insulated ourselves from the worst shocks, quite literally, with all the homes we have insulated – boring but important work. And because we are generating more home-grown sustainable green energy than during previous energy crises – but not enough. We will have bigger problems than strictly necessary, because some in this House have worked tirelessly to slow down and break down the Green Deal, and this is on you.”
“Madam President, I refer to Rule 44 that is about Parliament's right to the access of documents. This is about the fact that the European Commission most probably will publish a report later this week on the simplification of the deforestation law, the EUDR. We all know that the EUDR was postponed with one year due to IT problems. I requested five months ago certain documents. I am waiting now for five months for one sentence being disclosed and I am still waiting for documents that prove the fact that there are IT problems. I would like to ask you, Madam President, to ask the Commission to provide these documents before Thursday this week, which is when this new proposal of the Commission will most probably be published. 1-0042-0000”
“– Dit wordt een herhaling van zetten, meneer Smit. Het enige wat echt helpt, dat is wat in de Green Deal stond – maar die neemt u niet serieus – namelijk energie-efficiëntie. Energiebesparing is het allerbelangrijkste om dit soort schokken te voorkomen. Zolang de Europese Unie zo afhankelijk blijft van fossiele brandstoffen die van buiten Europa komen, zal geen enkele noodmaatregel structureel helpen. Dus doe met mij mee, omarm eindelijk de Green Deal en dan gaan we samen werken aan een veel goedkopere energieprijs, ook voor de vissers. 1-0164-0000”
“– Ja, dat is wel bizar, want het vorige kabinet zetelde niet tijdens de grootste energiecrisis ooit waarvoor Shell en het Internationaal Energieagentschap waarschuwen. Zij vragen inderdaad om gerichte maatregelen en die gerichte maatregelen blijven uit. De vissersvloot in Nederland staat aan de kant, ligt aan wal. Dus kom met gerichte maatregelen. Ik spreek helemaal niet over specifieke generieke maatregelen. Die kunnen ook niet uitblijven, want het ongelijke speelveld in Europa ontstaat daardoor wel. Dat heeft u terecht gezegd. Maar gaat u komen met gerichte steun voor de vissersvloot? Die staat aan de kant. Gaat u komen met steun voor boeren als de voedselzekerheid wordt bedreigd? Het is hier net ook gezegd: onze voedselsoevereiniteit staat ook op het spel. 1-0163-0000 Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew), “blauwe kaart”-reactie.”
“Mijn vraag aan u is: wat voor actie stelt u voor? 1-0161-0000 Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Renew), “blauwe kaart”-antwoord. – Dank voor deze vraag, zeker omdat die komt van iemand wiens partij de afgelopen periode in het kabinet zat. Een kabinet dat er pas vier weken zit, is dus niet verantwoordelijk voor lege gasvoorraden. Dat is het vorige kabinet, waar uw partij in zat. Daarnaast heeft het totaal geen zin om nu aan de pomp allerlei compenserende maatregelen te nemen. U weet net als ik: de rijke mensen profiteren daar het meest van. Het is tijd voor hele gerichte maatregelen en de enige echte oplossing is nog urgenter naar duurzame energie overgaan. Want neem Spanje, dat land is nu veel beter gewapend tegen deze stijgende energieprijzen dan veel andere landen in Europa. 1-0162-0000 Sander Smit (ECR), “blauwe kaart”-reactie.”
“Work with those Member States that want a stronger, more united Europe and make Europe develop into what is so badly needed. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 1-0160-0000 Sander Smit (ECR), “blauwe kaart”-vraag. – Meneer Gerbrandy, het is eigenlijk bizar. U spreekt hier over Europese actie, maar uw kabinet zit op zijn handen. Actie in deze crisis blijft uit. Vissers, huishoudens en bedrijven gericht helpen: het komt er niet van. Waardoor komt dat? Een ongelijk speelveld in de Europese Unie dreigt en dat komt door het talmen, het wachten van uw eigen regering. Dus ik zou zeggen: ga aan de slag in uw eigen partij, met uw coalitiepartners in het minderheidskabinet en kom met steunmaatregelen in deze dreigende crisis. De gasvoorraden zijn leeg, kernenergie is jarenlang geblokkeerd. We staan voor een enorme crisis.”
“Madam President, President Costa, Commissioner, the world today requires Europe to develop into something it is not yet – develop into a political giant, develop into a military force and develop into the most innovative economy with high tech and very low energy prices. Development – for that, we look at our heads of state. The European Council shall, and I quote the Treaty on European Union, 'provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development.' This responsibility is not met. National, short-term interests damage European strength, corrupt national governments, frustrate decision-making and countries that fall behind economically ask the EU to weaken its standards, pulling it down. That is not development. That is paralysis. President Costa, please pick up the current challenge.”
“Daar stemmen we vandaag over, zeg ik tegen die kant van het Parlement. Maar ook, zoals Nederland in 1953, door echt te beginnen met Europese Deltawerken, de weerbaarheid te vergroten en ons te wapenen tegen de klimaatverandering die wel degelijk onze kant op komt. 2-0026-0000”
“Madam President, I'll try to speak Irish. No, without joking, Commissioner, dear colleagues, I actually wanted to say this in Dutch. Als je door het Nederlandse Zeeland rijdt, dan waan je je zo nu en dan in Scandinavië. Er staan heel leuke houten, gekleurde huisjes als bewijzen van Europese solidariteit. Europese solidariteit uit 1953. Na de watersnoodramp in 1953, met 1 800 slachtoffers in Nederland, hebben Scandinavische landen en Oostenrijk die hulp gestuurd. Ik wens alle Zuid‑Europese landen die nu getroffen worden door deze watersnood opnieuw die Europese solidariteit toe, want die is ontzettend belangrijk. Maar laten we niet alleen hulp achteraf sturen. Laten we ook proberen om deze rampen te voorkomen en onze weerbaarheid te vergroten. Dat kan door streng klimaatbeleid te accepteren.”
“And if not all 27 Member States are on board, let's move on with 26, 25 or even 24 if necessary. We simply have no time to waste. 3-0041-0000”
“I very much appreciated the speeches of President Costa and President von der Leyen earlier today, but something important is missing, With today's EU, Bessent is right. We desperately need a more federal Europe to really stand up against other powers in this world. The current structure is insufficient and additional intergovernmental initiatives will not make Europe stronger. So, dear Member States, President Costa, walk the talk. Make Europe strong as most of you are advocating. Let it speak with one European voice, let it defend itself with one European army and let's get rid of national vetoes. This House showed the way in our 2023 resolution. Now it is up to the Council and the Commission to pick this up and to do so urgently. We cannot afford to wait.”
“Mr President, High‑Commissioner, President Costa, dear colleagues, in 2016, we were taken by surprise by Trump's actions and we even smirked and laughed about his incompetence. 10 years on and we are taken by surprise again, and this time the smirking and laughing is happening on the other side of the Atlantic. While we struggle to respond to Trump's threats and attacks, the US scoffs at our inability to act. As the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent yesterday formulated it, and I quote: 'my guess is Europe's next move will be to form a working group.' And the US is right to laugh at our weaknesses. Appeasement of Trump is clearly not working. Trump, like most authoritarian leaders, responds to strength. To be an equal partner, the EU needs to be stronger, more united.”
“How can we stand up against China and the US and many others if we keep fighting each other? So put this prominently on the agenda of the European Council. Stop national protectionism within the EU and start working towards European strength. 3-0039-0000”
“And I ask you to assure us that you will not conclude the meeting without an agreement on a proper Ukraine reparation loan. And secondly, this unity and urgency should also be shown regarding our economic and societal strength. Europe is by far the best place in the world to live. Nowhere one can find our unique level of individual freedom, democracy, protection and well-being. Let us be proud and build upon it. Today's hostile world forces us to use our strength more rigorously, and a no-brainer is cutting rules and, no, the biggest problem are not European rules but national protective rules are the biggest barriers currently in place. The IMF and the European Investment Bank estimate the costs of these additional national rules are equivalent to 45 % tariffs on goods, and even more than 100 % on services.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, dear colleagues, after the Munich Security Conference and the grilling of President Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, it is now with the publication of the National Security Strategy more than clear that Europe is on its own and should act accordingly, institutionally and economically and on security. And this week in Berlin, a selection of European leaders showed that unity and urgent action is needed, including the UK and Norway. But this now must be translated to the European Council. Let us start by supporting Ukraine with agreeing on the frozen Russian assets. This issue has been discussed on European Council level 15 times, at least, since the start of the war, and this European Council cannot come to an end without a final decision.”
“So let's not fool ourselves: hybrids and biofuels are not making our industry more competitive. Only a full focus, private and public ... (The President cut off the speaker) 2-0441-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, this debate is not about climate policy. It is about the economy and about physical laws, because the electric motor converts 95 % of the energy to movement and the combustion engine only 30 %. That is why the future is electric. Its technology is simply superior in energy terms and in cost terms. So to save the European car industry, we have one single challenge: how to become competitive in the global electric car market. It is certainly not by spreading our investments between EV and hybrids and combustion engines, or on biofuels. Then we will really experience what slow agony looks like. When passenger cars replaced the horse and carriage, we did not invest in cars that could also be pulled by horses. No, we understood that the new technology was superior.”
“So I would like to ask you, Madam President, if you can demand from the Commission those documents well before the vote – I would say before tomorrow evening – in order to make a proper judgement here in this House. 1-0042-0000”
“Madam President, I refer to Rule 44: 'Access to documents and provision of information to Parliament', and it refers to Wednesday's vote on the deforestation regulation. When the European Commission came forward with its so-called IT problems on 23 September, I asked through the formal procedures for more information on these written questions, but also access to documents. So far I haven't got any reply from the Commission, although several deadlines have expired since then. If we take our work legislatively and democratically seriously, it is very difficult to vote on such an important legislative file without proper information.”
“Let's face it, while we worry about legal consequences, Ukraine is worried about losing Donbas, losing its freedom. In addition to this, how is it possible that Russia keeps its economy running with our money? Why are we still allowing Russia to make a profit on third-country export, or by sending its shadow fleet across the globe? Ban the shadow fleet, sanction these third countries, give the frozen assets to Ukraine. It is our indecision, our inaction, our fear of legal repercussions that is keeping Russia in the war and Ukraine fighting for its survival. 2-0036-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, let me start by thanking President von der Leyen for her strong words on the necessity of decarbonising our economy – as she said, it is crucial for our competitiveness. But today, I would like to focus on Ukraine. Last month's European Council discussed the use of the frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, but, since that meeting, Russian troops have closed in on Pokrovsk and are taking it as we speak, bringing Russia one step closer to control over Donbas. Ukraine is losing ground while national leaders here bicker over who foots the bill. Belgium does not feel reassured if it releases the frozen assets, and I understand that, but it is crucial that our finance ministers solve this problem tomorrow. Ukraine needs money right now – direct financial aid is the cheapest and quickest way of stopping Putin.”
“Mr President, President Murphy, Commissioner, dear colleagues, this year's annual report is not just another audit document to tick off, it's a political compass, and it shows us how European taxpayers' money is being spent and, more importantly, whether it truly delivers value for our citizens. And this year, it carries even more weight because we are entering the negotiations for the next MFF. And the choices we make now will define Europe's priorities for the years to come. If there's one thing clear, it's that we cannot repeat the mistakes of the RRF, many colleagues already said that. Simply throwing money on the table without proper direction or safeguards is not strategy. Funding must be targeted, protected and aligned with our common goals.”
“A model that leads the world in clean technology. A model that needs, and I quote President von der Leyen, 'relentless focus and effort'. That is what we need from this week's European Council: relentless focus and effort at the single 100 % threat that we're facing – climate change. Strong leadership means looking ahead and leading people to a better future, having the courage to take difficult decisions – principles that too often yield to political convenience. Therefore I call upon our heads of state to do what scientists advise us to do: adopt ambitious climate policies, including the necessary social and industrial policies. But this House should also look at itself. As directly elected politicians with a clear mandate from Europeans who rely on us, we also have to show the necessary courage and responsibility.”
“Madam President, Madam Minister, Commissioner, colleagues, security, prosperity and climate action. The European Council agenda focuses on the big challenges facing Europe right now. Indeed, we cannot take chances with Putin, nor can we gamble with the living standards of future generations. Uncomfortable risks that need addressing. But there's just one 100 % risk here, and that's climate change. It's 100 % sure that it's coming for us and for our European way of life – not tomorrow, but today. Floods, heatwaves, droughts, crop failures, broken lives. Today, not tomorrow. Six years ago, President von der Leyen presented the Green Deal and a new model for growth and prosperity. A model to stop importing EUR 450 billion worth of fossil fuels each year. A model that chooses to buy European cars in the future instead of Chinese.”
“Europa is nauwelijks zichtbaar betrokken geweest, maar moet er nu wel op aandringen dat een akkoord mét de Palestijnen en niet alleen óver de Palestijnen gesloten wordt. Geen enkele vrede kan gesloten worden zonder actieve deelname van de Palestijnen. Alleen dan zal er uitzicht zijn op een tweestatenoplossing. 2-0224-0000”
“Voorzitter, collega’s, vandaag staan we stil bij de gitzwarte dag van 7 oktober 2023. Een dag die zonnig en vrolijk begon, maar die eindigde met de dood van 1 200 onschuldige Israëliërs. Sinds die dag is het al twee jaar oorlog, met vele tienduizenden, voornamelijk onschuldige Palestijnse doden tot gevolg. Hoewel ik het recht op zelfverdediging van Israël onderschrijf, is de reactie van Netanyahu volstrekt buitenproportioneel en onrechtmatig. Nu ligt er een plan voor vrede. Een plan met heel veel haken en ogen. Het geeft echter wel, voor het eerst in twee jaar, een sprankje hoop. Een sprankje hoop dat de bommenregen stopt. Een sprankje hoop dat de overgebleven gijzelaars eindelijk vrijgelaten worden.”
“Imagine what this Union can be: a continent that runs on its own clean energy and builds technology others can only dream of; a Europe that speaks with one voice and fights with one army. It can be done if only our Member States could be less afraid to choose compromise over debilitating consensus, to choose unity over their own individual agendas. Yes, colleagues, we have a very crucial choice ahead of us and let's choose to unite. Let's follow President von der Leyen's speech for unity, as she called it. And to Mr Weber and Ms García Pérez, unity is not looking for differences. Our European citizens need a strong pro-European coalition. Let's take our responsibility and show that we can make Europe together. 3-0032-0000”
“Madam President, dear Commissioners, dear colleagues, Europe is not condemned to weakness – far from it. Time and again, Europe has proven to be our best chance. When our people were trapped by a deadly pandemic, it was Europe that produced the vaccines that saved millions. When Russia invaded Ukraine, it was Europe that stood tall, united under the Ukrainian flag. And when the climate crisis threatened our children's future, it was Europe again that set the most ambitious green agenda in the world. And we can rise to these challenges, too. We have the engineers, the scientists, the soldiers, the farmers, the entrepreneurs. We have the ideas, the values, the creativity. What we lack is not capacity. What we need is confidence to act together.”
“I hope that those parties who are voting against any climate change action have very, very deep pockets, because in a few years' time, we won't need EUR 280 million, we will need billions of euros; in 10-15 years' time, we will need tens of billions of euros. And I count on you to pay that check. 3-0342-0000”
“Madam President, Madam Commissioner, obviously full support for your policy of preparedness Union. And it's obvious, like other colleagues have said, that we have to work closely together on these droughts and forest fires. And if you imagine that, even in April, in a country like the Netherlands, we already had forest fires – it says something. But let's face it, the best way to deal with these crises is to prevent them. It's climate change that causes droughts, forest fires and floods, and it's threatening our livelihoods, our food security and even our lives. So, colleagues, let's invest in climate mitigation, in the 90 % emission reduction in 2040 and in a sustainable agricultural system. Today we voted and we made EUR 280 million available to assist several Member States with the effects of the floods of the last couple of months.”
“Please take action against these horrific, dehumanising crimes. And let us remember, colleagues, the words expressed by King Abdullah this morning: 'When the global response is silence, we normalise the suffering of the innocent'. 2-0571-0000”
“Mr President, High Representative, the people of Gaza are on the brink of starvation. Families are fleeing continuously to safe zones where they know they will not be safe. Starving families, desperate for food, are camping out near distribution points, hoping to get a food parcel. But instead of getting aid, they are facing gunfire from Israeli forces. The EU must finally recognise this situation and, in the very least, suspend the association agreement we have with Israel. Netanyahu has very effectively shifted the world's attention away from Gaza to Iran. Please do not fall into this trap. Please do not let Mr Netanyahu dictate the terms of our debate. The public opinion in Europe is shifting, and this is the moment for Council to step up and support in more than just words the people of Gaza.”
“De natuur heeft ons een heel mooi cadeau gegeven, namelijk het herstelvermogen. Nergens is het herstelvermogen zo groot als in de oceanen, dus als we handelen, zien we ogenblikkelijk effect. 2-0111-0000”
“Voorzitter, het enorme belang van de oceanen voor zowel de mens als de natuur is intussen wel duidelijk, dankzij de wetenschap, en nu ook voor het grote publiek dankzij de prachtige film Ocean van David Attenborough. Maar ondanks dat waanzinnig grote belang gaat er toch heel erg veel mis. Neem de Oostzee, waar we dode zones hebben, waar door enorme hoeveelheden pesticiden, Russische chemicaliën — noem maar op — hele gebieden zijn waar helemaal niks meer leeft. Sleepnetvisserij, die de bodem sloopt — de kraamkamers van de zee. In Nederland is zelfs in 70 % van de beschermde gebieden nog sleepnetvisserij toegestaan. Ik ben blij dat de Europese Commissie de diepzeemijnbouw op pauze wil zetten. Daar ben ik een groot voorstander van en ik hoop dat we dat internationaal door kunnen zetten. En tot slot: we moeten aan de slag met z'n allen.”
“So my appeal to them is, please stop with these unfounded attacks and bring responsibility and integrity back to this House. 2-0307-0000”
“Mr President, in a democracy, the right to grant discharge is one of the most powerful and important parliamentary instruments. It is the moment where, especially here in Europe, the only directly elected institute controls hundreds of billions of euros in expenses. And this very important parliamentary role asks also a very high level of responsibility and integrity of our own house. And exactly that was lacking this year. The totally unfounded attacks on green NGOs was really unworthy of our House. And in its answers to my written question, the European Commission very clearly stated that it did not instruct – nor require – NGOs to lobby members of this House, and even after receiving these answers, the right-wing parties in this House continued their attacks.”
“It's been six months since Draghi, and no economic or democratic reforms were carried out. It has been 11 months since Letta, and no jealously guarded national powers were pulled. Mr Costa, grab history by the scruff of the neck, wake up your members and stop talking, but start doing. 2-0031-0000”
“Madam President, Mr Costa, thank you for being here. You haven't long been Chair or President of the European Council, but long enough to know that its ways must change. Your members – government leaders – concluded once again under your leadership that we must have a European Union which is climate neutral, competitive, a military power, a foreign policy actor, even the guardian of the oceans. And that's all fine and well, and I couldn't agree more, and many agree with these words. It's just that your members go home and then do nothing. While Europeans have never wanted more Europe, they are far from meeting the moment. The customers want a Michelin star dinner, but the European Council delivers thin porridge. It has been two months since Trump, and no sovereignty has been shared to defend our territory.”