26/04/2023 | 20:01:15 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Mr President, dear colleagues, With global temperatures rising to 1,1 Celsius, rapid changes to the climate system, such as rising sea levels and rapidly melting sea ice, are already underway. Human-made climate change is causing weather and climate extremes across the globe. We need urgent, systemic transformations to secure a climate-resilient future. It is not new information that climate change causes severe losses and damages to nature... 25/01/2023 | 11:19:26 Mister President, Dear Colleagues, First of all, thank you very much for the important report. Congratulations to Mr John HOWELL. The war in Ukraine is a shocking humanitarian crisis. My thoughts are with the Ukrainians and all who suffer because of war. War also has an impact on the environment, which can be seen very concretely in Ukraine. The country of huge environmental diversity is home to tens of internationally significant wetlands. All this is under threat as acts of war raise the... 11/10/2022 | 13:07:53 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Mr. President, dear colleagues, Let me start by thanking Mr. Papandreou for this important and timely report on supporting a European perspective for the Western Balkans. Peace, stability and wellbeing in the Balkans is in the interest of all of Europe. However, as the European union is strengthening its ties with all the countries in the region, it should be careful not to create a sense of unfairness with regard to Ukraine and Moldova... 23/06/2022 | 19:11:28 Madam President, Dear Colleagues, Thank you to the Rapporteur for raising this not so easy matter: the need for social media regulations. Online communication has become an essential part of our everyday lives. Its influence on people’s opinions, actions and behaviour is huge. That’s why we must follow, regulate and improve the pluralism of who is controlling the information, who is making the actual choices on what kind of information people see, who owns the information collected on us and... 23/06/2022 | 11:47:32 Mister President, Dear Colleagues, In the presence of relatives of the victims of the downing of flight MH17, let me start by expressing my sincerest condolences. I am deeply saddened by the fact that 8 years after this horrendous tragedy, you have still not been able to have closure. The investigation has dragged on as a result of Russia’s failure to co‑operate in good faith with the Joint Investigation Team. The case is a horrific example of what can happen on the sidelines of conflict... 22/06/2022 | 17:57:34 Mister President, dear colleagues, First, I would like to thank the rapporteurs for these excellent rapports. UNICEF estimates that there were about 36 million migrant children in 2020 fleeing war, climate change or perhaps leaving their homes in the hope of a better future. Whatever the reason, a child is still only a child: in need of protection, care and support. I am especially pleased that Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVAs report focuses on the care and leaving care for unaccompanied migrant... 27/04/2022 | 16:56:18 Thank you, Mister Chair. Thank you to Mr Frank SCHWABE for his excellent report. The consequences of war are endless: human suffering, destruction, environmental catastrophes, and death. Preventing future wars was the reason for founding this organisation more than 70 years ago. Yet here we are. The effects of Russia’s war in Ukraine are unfolding before our very eyes. Ukraine urgently needs humanitarian assistance and aid as well as support in resolving war crimes. However, the consequences... 15/03/2022 | 18:15:43 Mister President, The brutal and totally unjustified attack of Russia against Ukraine shocked all of Europe. We must stand together, show our full support to Ukraine and condemn the Russian aggression against another sovereign state. Civilians shouldn't be part of the conflict in any war. All acts that risk the lives and well-being of civilians are unambiguously wrong and Russia must be held accountable for all attacks targeted at civilians. We must send humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its... 27/01/2022 | 19:09:26 (Undelivered speech, Rules of Procedure Art. 31.2) Mr President, dear colleagues, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Philosopher George Santaya’s words give cause for reflection. How do we ensure that Europe’s history of violence, war and genocide is not forgotten and repeated? Or that history is not abused for extremist, nationalist and hateful purposes? We can do this by ensuring qualitative history teaching and by approaching the past as a way of shaping a... 29/09/2021 | 11:54:10 Mr President, dear colleagues, The environment and human rights are strongly linked. When we protect nature, tackle climate change and halt the loss of biodiversity, we are equally protecting and promoting human rights around the world. The consequences of climate change, like extreme weather events, threaten fundamental human rights, such as the right to health or the right to an adequate standard of living. Individuals who have to leave their homes due to droughts or floods, are exposed to...