1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,000 Brussels Live Transcribed and translated by AI 2 00:00:13,734 --> 00:00:19,015 Good morning, I welcome you all. The meeting of the Marshal of the Sejm with the 3 00:00:19,068 --> 00:00:21,863 President of the European Parliament has concluded. 4 00:00:21,925 --> 00:00:25,627 And I kindly request that the floor be given to the President of the European 5 00:00:25,667 --> 00:00:27,174 Parliament, Ms Roberta Metsola. 6 00:00:30,054 --> 00:00:36,979 Good morning. Dzień dobry. It is great to be here, in beautiful Warsaw, a city that 7 00:00:37,046 --> 00:00:42,077 embodies the determination and vibrant spirit of the Polish people. 8 00:00:42,234 --> 00:00:48,651 Let me start by saying that it is an honor to be invited to the same to address the 9 00:00:48,745 --> 00:00:56,675 members of this House by the Marshal. This is a truly historic chamber, one that has 10 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:02,974 shaped Poland's remarkable democratic transformation and that today continues to 11 00:01:03,037 --> 00:01:08,447 play an essential role in our Union. So thank you, Marshal Czarczewski, for the 12 00:01:08,514 --> 00:01:14,669 invitation. I'm especially pleased to be here following yesterday's discussions in 13 00:01:14,747 --> 00:01:20,546 the Foreign Affairs Committee, marking an important step towards Poland's 14 00:01:20,625 --> 00:01:25,930 ratification of the decision enabling proxy voting for pregnant women and new 15 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:32,270 mothers. In the European Parliament, Poland becomes the 10th country to complete the 16 00:01:32,334 --> 00:01:38,880 process, a sign of how rapidly ratification is progressing across Europe. 17 00:01:38,994 --> 00:01:43,909 Our message is that no woman should have to choose between fulfilling her democratic 18 00:01:43,974 --> 00:01:49,844 mandate and having a family. So this is truly a big and historic step. 19 00:01:50,034 --> 00:01:55,557 With the Marshal, we also discussed three other topics that are key for Europe. 20 00:01:55,614 --> 00:02:03,174 First, on security. We are seeing increasing hybrid threats here in Poland and 21 00:02:03,234 --> 00:02:09,554 across Europe. Poland has long been sounding the alarm about the threat from the 22 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:15,441 East, and Europe has heeded the call. Across our Union, we are investing in defense 23 00:02:15,522 --> 00:02:21,062 and preparedness, and here I would like to thank Poland for its leadership on this, 24 00:02:21,129 --> 00:02:26,043 both in the EU and in NATO. In the European Parliament, we have delivered 25 00:02:26,094 --> 00:02:31,762 legislation to boost our capabilities, strengthen our defense industries, and 26 00:02:31,836 --> 00:02:37,451 facilitate cooperation across borders. And here I really thank Polish members of the 27 00:02:37,504 --> 00:02:40,434 European Parliament that have led these negotiations. 28 00:02:40,494 --> 00:02:46,794 Together, we have continued to provide crucial financial, military, and humanitarian 29 00:02:46,849 --> 00:02:52,065 support for Ukraine, and we must keep up the pressure on Russia. 30 00:02:52,194 --> 00:02:57,806 Second, on parliamentary cooperation. Delivering on people's expectations and 31 00:02:57,876 --> 00:03:02,934 strengthening our democracies is not the responsibility of any one institution. 32 00:03:03,114 --> 00:03:09,492 It is, in fact, a shared effort. Through established formats, such as the Speakers' 33 00:03:09,558 --> 00:03:15,273 Conference, parliamentary hearings, and dialogues, our two parliaments work hand in 34 00:03:15,336 --> 00:03:21,395 hand to uphold our shared democratic values and I want to thank the Marshal and the 35 00:03:21,466 --> 00:03:26,145 members of this House for our excellent cooperation. 36 00:03:26,274 --> 00:03:31,504 Finally, on the next long-term budget. In the European Parliament, we are working to 37 00:03:31,554 --> 00:03:37,694 boost Europe's competitiveness, cutting red tape and simplifying laws. 38 00:03:37,854 --> 00:03:42,319 And our ambitions for Europe need a budget to match. 39 00:03:42,414 --> 00:03:48,812 People expect real results in agriculture, in jobs, energy, and security. 40 00:03:48,894 --> 00:03:52,929 That is why in the European Parliament we are pushing for cohesion to stay a 41 00:03:53,012 --> 00:03:57,467 distinct policy with its own dedicated budget. 42 00:03:57,594 --> 00:04:02,347 We're also working to increase funding to bolster our external borders and 43 00:04:02,432 --> 00:04:08,939 strengthen our eastern flank. What happens here in Poland matters in all of Europe. 44 00:04:08,994 --> 00:04:15,186 So Parliament is ready for constructive negotiations and new own resources are the 45 00:04:15,258 --> 00:04:19,548 missing element that can bridge everybody's position. 46 00:04:19,674 --> 00:04:24,522 In all, the challenges ahead. I know that Europe can count on Poland as a strong 47 00:04:24,602 --> 00:04:29,881 partner, and the European Parliament can count, continue to count on its strong 48 00:04:29,927 --> 00:04:33,903 relationship with the same under your leadership, dear Marshal. 49 00:04:33,954 --> 00:04:35,154 Thank you. Dziękuję. 50 00:04:36,894 --> 00:04:39,588 Thank you, Madam President. And I request that the Marshal of the Sejm be given the 51 00:04:39,623 --> 00:04:40,823 floor. 52 00:04:41,634 --> 00:04:47,955 Thank you very much indeed for your visit, Madam President. 53 00:04:48,026 --> 00:04:56,789 It is a great honour for us. I would like to say that you are coming to a country 54 00:04:56,906 --> 00:05:04,297 where the entire nation strongly supports the European Union. 55 00:05:04,386 --> 00:05:11,097 We are a responsible member of the European Union and we want the European Union to 56 00:05:11,159 --> 00:05:18,636 be strong. Given that we share a border with Ukraine, we must always pay attention 57 00:05:18,727 --> 00:05:26,137 to for Poland's security, ladies and gentlemen, today I have invited the President 58 00:05:26,224 --> 00:05:31,780 of the European Parliament to a meeting that will take place in May next year. 59 00:05:31,872 --> 00:05:40,143 This meeting will bring together all the heads of the parliaments of the European 60 00:05:40,311 --> 00:05:48,030 Union, NATO member states, Ukraine, Moldova, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 61 00:05:48,127 --> 00:05:54,762 Well, the United Kingdom is in NATO. This will be a major event and it will have 62 00:05:54,846 --> 00:06:02,741 great significance for the security of NATO's eastern flank and the European Union. 63 00:06:02,798 --> 00:06:09,261 I would also like to inform you that we have discussed matters related to the 64 00:06:09,343 --> 00:06:15,518 European Order of Merit. This is an important matter for Poles. 65 00:06:15,576 --> 00:06:21,202 Recently, this great distinction was awarded to President Lech Wałęsa and Prime 66 00:06:21,266 --> 00:06:27,202 Minister Jerzy Buzek. The Polish side has put forward the candidacy of Mr President 67 00:06:27,283 --> 00:06:31,578 Aleksander Kwaśniewski. We will strive to ensure that President Aleksander 68 00:06:31,623 --> 00:06:36,054 Kwaśniewski receives this order next year. 69 00:06:36,094 --> 00:06:39,355 Ladies and gentlemen, I would also like to say that we have discussed the 70 00:06:39,420 --> 00:06:44,817 enlargement of the European Union; our position is that we would first like to 71 00:06:44,869 --> 00:06:49,138 strengthen and, secondly, to enlarge the European Union. 72 00:06:49,219 --> 00:06:53,898 We are pleased that this now concerns one of the Balkan states. 73 00:06:53,946 --> 00:06:58,400 We have also discussed the accession of Ukraine to the European Union sooner or 74 00:06:58,489 --> 00:07:04,805 later, once all the conditions have been met and the interests of, among others, 75 00:07:04,898 --> 00:07:12,613 Poland and Ukraine have been safeguarded, as we know that Ukraine is a country that 76 00:07:12,706 --> 00:07:19,256 is currently at war, but we believe that there can be no secure Poland or secure 77 00:07:19,333 --> 00:07:26,055 European Union without a free and independent Ukraine, and this position is quite 78 00:07:26,125 --> 00:07:32,341 clear. I have also informed the President that with regard to the amendment of the 79 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:32,874 European 80 00:07:32,874 --> 00:07:37,335 on the matter of enabling Members of the European Parliament who are before or after 81 00:07:37,402 --> 00:07:44,635 childbirth to vote by proxy, yesterday the Foreign Affairs Committee gave a positive 82 00:07:44,696 --> 00:07:50,767 opinion on this, and today, after all formalities have been completed, the Sejm will 83 00:07:50,839 --> 00:07:59,430 present it for a decision and for acceptance by the President of the Republic. 84 00:07:59,565 --> 00:08:07,737 I think this is, as it were, a matter that is obvious to us. 85 00:08:07,823 --> 00:08:11,193 And the last issue we discussed is a very important one: 86 00:08:11,243 --> 00:08:14,892 the multiannual financial framework of the European Union. 87 00:08:14,951 --> 00:08:20,323 Of course, as is normal, we are advocating for Poland’s interests, because the 88 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:26,352 European Union is a great matter for us. Just as, of course, our friendship with the 89 00:08:26,405 --> 00:08:29,047 United States is important, but we are here and now. 90 00:08:29,193 --> 00:08:33,001 Well, this is obvious to you, Madam President; 91 00:08:33,118 --> 00:08:39,519 we Poles primarily look after Poland’s interests, because we know that if Poland is 92 00:08:39,574 --> 00:08:45,266 strong, then the European Union will also be strong, and that is how we understand 93 00:08:45,352 --> 00:08:50,583 it. Once again, I would like to thank you warmly, Madam President, for coming. 94 00:08:50,637 --> 00:08:56,320 This is a great event for us, a great celebration, and a great pleasure. 95 00:08:56,394 --> 00:09:02,289 Please feel at home here, in the European Parliament, that is, feel good, knowing 96 00:09:02,461 --> 00:09:07,854 that you have great support here. Thank you very much. 97 00:09:08,694 --> 00:09:12,100 Thank you, Mr President. Unfortunately, we have to conclude our meeting as the Sejm 98 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:16,037 session will begin shortly, during which the Speaker will also deliver a speech. 99 00:09:16,079 --> 00:09:18,834 So, thank you very much to you all, and I invite you to follow it.