WEBVTT NOTE Brussels Live. Transcribed and translated automatically from the original sound. Mistakes are possible. Independent service, not affiliated with the European Parliament or the European Commission. Source: © European Union. AI-generated: Transcripts, translations and summaries on this site are generated automatically by AI: speech recognition (Soniox), machine translation and summaries (Mistral AI). Not edited by humans before publication. EU AI Act, Article 50. 00:00:13.734 --> 00:00:19.015 Good morning, I welcome you all. The meeting of the Marshal of the Sejm with the 00:00:19.068 --> 00:00:21.863 President of the European Parliament has concluded. 00:00:21.925 --> 00:00:25.627 And I kindly request that the floor be given to the President of the European 00:00:25.667 --> 00:00:27.174 Parliament, Ms Roberta Metsola. 00:00:30.054 --> 00:00:36.979 Good morning. Dzień dobry. It is great to be here, in beautiful Warsaw, a city that 00:00:37.046 --> 00:00:42.077 embodies the determination and vibrant spirit of the Polish people. 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 00:00:48.745 --> 00:00:56.675 members of this House by the Marshal. This is a truly historic chamber, one that has 00:00:56.760 --> 00:01:02.974 shaped Poland's remarkable democratic transformation and that today continues to 00:01:03.037 --> 00:01:08.447 play an essential role in our Union. So thank you, Marshal Czarczewski, for the 00:01:08.514 --> 00:01:14.669 invitation. I'm especially pleased to be here following yesterday's discussions in 00:01:14.747 --> 00:01:20.546 the Foreign Affairs Committee, marking an important step towards Poland's 00:01:20.625 --> 00:01:25.930 ratification of the decision enabling proxy voting for pregnant women and new 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:32.270 mothers. In the European Parliament, Poland becomes the 10th country to complete the 00:01:32.334 --> 00:01:38.880 process, a sign of how rapidly ratification is progressing across Europe. 00:01:38.994 --> 00:01:43.909 Our message is that no woman should have to choose between fulfilling her democratic 00:01:43.974 --> 00:01:49.844 mandate and having a family. So this is truly a big and historic step. 00:01:50.034 --> 00:01:55.557 With the Marshal, we also discussed three other topics that are key for Europe. 00:01:55.614 --> 00:02:03.174 First, on security. We are seeing increasing hybrid threats here in Poland and 00:02:03.234 --> 00:02:09.554 across Europe. Poland has long been sounding the alarm about the threat from the 00:02:09.620 --> 00:02:15.441 East, and Europe has heeded the call. Across our Union, we are investing in defense 00:02:15.522 --> 00:02:21.062 and preparedness, and here I would like to thank Poland for its leadership on this, 00:02:21.129 --> 00:02:26.043 both in the EU and in NATO. In the European Parliament, we have delivered 00:02:26.094 --> 00:02:31.762 legislation to boost our capabilities, strengthen our defense industries, and 00:02:31.836 --> 00:02:37.451 facilitate cooperation across borders. And here I really thank Polish members of the 00:02:37.504 --> 00:02:40.434 European Parliament that have led these negotiations. 00:02:40.494 --> 00:02:46.794 Together, we have continued to provide crucial financial, military, and humanitarian 00:02:46.849 --> 00:02:52.065 support for Ukraine, and we must keep up the pressure on Russia. 00:02:52.194 --> 00:02:57.806 Second, on parliamentary cooperation. Delivering on people's expectations and 00:02:57.876 --> 00:03:02.934 strengthening our democracies is not the responsibility of any one institution. 00:03:03.114 --> 00:03:09.492 It is, in fact, a shared effort. Through established formats, such as the Speakers' 00:03:09.558 --> 00:03:15.273 Conference, parliamentary hearings, and dialogues, our two parliaments work hand in 00:03:15.336 --> 00:03:21.395 hand to uphold our shared democratic values and I want to thank the Marshal and the 00:03:21.466 --> 00:03:26.145 members of this House for our excellent cooperation. 00:03:26.274 --> 00:03:31.504 Finally, on the next long-term budget. In the European Parliament, we are working to 00:03:31.554 --> 00:03:37.694 boost Europe's competitiveness, cutting red tape and simplifying laws. 00:03:37.854 --> 00:03:42.319 And our ambitions for Europe need a budget to match. 00:03:42.414 --> 00:03:48.812 People expect real results in agriculture, in jobs, energy, and security. 00:03:48.894 --> 00:03:52.929 That is why in the European Parliament we are pushing for cohesion to stay a 00:03:53.012 --> 00:03:57.467 distinct policy with its own dedicated budget. 00:03:57.594 --> 00:04:02.347 We're also working to increase funding to bolster our external borders and 00:04:02.432 --> 00:04:08.939 strengthen our eastern flank. What happens here in Poland matters in all of Europe. 00:04:08.994 --> 00:04:15.186 So Parliament is ready for constructive negotiations and new own resources are the 00:04:15.258 --> 00:04:19.548 missing element that can bridge everybody's position. 00:04:19.674 --> 00:04:24.522 In all, the challenges ahead. I know that Europe can count on Poland as a strong 00:04:24.602 --> 00:04:29.881 partner, and the European Parliament can count, continue to count on its strong 00:04:29.927 --> 00:04:33.903 relationship with the same under your leadership, dear Marshal. 00:04:33.954 --> 00:04:35.154 Thank you. Dziękuję. 00:04:36.894 --> 00:04:39.588 Thank you, Madam President. And I request that the Marshal of the Sejm be given the 00:04:39.623 --> 00:04:40.823 floor. 00:04:41.634 --> 00:04:47.955 Thank you very much indeed for your visit, Madam President. 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 00:04:56.906 --> 00:05:04.297 where the entire nation strongly supports the European Union. 00:05:04.386 --> 00:05:11.097 We are a responsible member of the European Union and we want the European Union to 00:05:11.159 --> 00:05:18.636 be strong. Given that we share a border with Ukraine, we must always pay attention 00:05:18.727 --> 00:05:26.137 to for Poland's security, ladies and gentlemen, today I have invited the President 00:05:26.224 --> 00:05:31.780 of the European Parliament to a meeting that will take place in May next year. 00:05:31.872 --> 00:05:40.143 This meeting will bring together all the heads of the parliaments of the European 00:05:40.311 --> 00:05:48.030 Union, NATO member states, Ukraine, Moldova, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 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 00:05:54.846 --> 00:06:02.741 great significance for the security of NATO's eastern flank and the European Union. 00:06:02.798 --> 00:06:09.261 I would also like to inform you that we have discussed matters related to the 00:06:09.343 --> 00:06:15.518 European Order of Merit. This is an important matter for Poles. 00:06:15.576 --> 00:06:21.202 Recently, this great distinction was awarded to President Lech Wałęsa and Prime 00:06:21.266 --> 00:06:27.202 Minister Jerzy Buzek. The Polish side has put forward the candidacy of Mr President 00:06:27.283 --> 00:06:31.578 Aleksander Kwaśniewski. We will strive to ensure that President Aleksander 00:06:31.623 --> 00:06:36.054 Kwaśniewski receives this order next year. 00:06:36.094 --> 00:06:39.355 Ladies and gentlemen, I would also like to say that we have discussed the 00:06:39.420 --> 00:06:44.817 enlargement of the European Union; our position is that we would first like to 00:06:44.869 --> 00:06:49.138 strengthen and, secondly, to enlarge the European Union. 00:06:49.219 --> 00:06:53.898 We are pleased that this now concerns one of the Balkan states. 00:06:53.946 --> 00:06:58.400 We have also discussed the accession of Ukraine to the European Union sooner or 00:06:58.489 --> 00:07:04.805 later, once all the conditions have been met and the interests of, among others, 00:07:04.898 --> 00:07:12.613 Poland and Ukraine have been safeguarded, as we know that Ukraine is a country that 00:07:12.706 --> 00:07:19.256 is currently at war, but we believe that there can be no secure Poland or secure 00:07:19.333 --> 00:07:26.055 European Union without a free and independent Ukraine, and this position is quite 00:07:26.125 --> 00:07:32.341 clear. I have also informed the President that with regard to the amendment of the 00:07:32.400 --> 00:07:32.874 European 00:07:32.874 --> 00:07:37.335 on the matter of enabling Members of the European Parliament who are before or after 00:07:37.402 --> 00:07:44.635 childbirth to vote by proxy, yesterday the Foreign Affairs Committee gave a positive 00:07:44.696 --> 00:07:50.767 opinion on this, and today, after all formalities have been completed, the Sejm will 00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:59.430 present it for a decision and for acceptance by the President of the Republic. 00:07:59.565 --> 00:08:07.737 I think this is, as it were, a matter that is obvious to us. 00:08:07.823 --> 00:08:11.193 And the last issue we discussed is a very important one: 00:08:11.243 --> 00:08:14.892 the multiannual financial framework of the European Union. 00:08:14.951 --> 00:08:20.323 Of course, as is normal, we are advocating for Poland’s interests, because the 00:08:20.440 --> 00:08:26.352 European Union is a great matter for us. Just as, of course, our friendship with the 00:08:26.405 --> 00:08:29.047 United States is important, but we are here and now. 00:08:29.193 --> 00:08:33.001 Well, this is obvious to you, Madam President; 00:08:33.118 --> 00:08:39.519 we Poles primarily look after Poland’s interests, because we know that if Poland is 00:08:39.574 --> 00:08:45.266 strong, then the European Union will also be strong, and that is how we understand 00:08:45.352 --> 00:08:50.583 it. Once again, I would like to thank you warmly, Madam President, for coming. 00:08:50.637 --> 00:08:56.320 This is a great event for us, a great celebration, and a great pleasure. 00:08:56.394 --> 00:09:02.289 Please feel at home here, in the European Parliament, that is, feel good, knowing 00:09:02.461 --> 00:09:07.854 that you have great support here. Thank you very much. 00:09:08.694 --> 00:09:12.100 Thank you, Mr President. Unfortunately, we have to conclude our meeting as the Sejm 00:09:12.160 --> 00:09:16.037 session will begin shortly, during which the Speaker will also deliver a speech. 00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:18.834 So, thank you very much to you all, and I invite you to follow it.