György HÖLVÉNYI

What György HÖLVÉNYI has said (10)

• “Thank you. Colleagues. What is Europe's strategic direction? Is it about peacekeeping? In this report, it doesn't just talk about obstacles when it comes to defense. It goes further. We believe now that Ukraine is part of Europe's defense. We. But we can't force that integration. We don't. We can't go against the interests of the European citizens. This defense strategy is not something they want. It's part of a strategy. But it creates it creates dependence. We want peace as well. That's one of the main conditions for European competitiveness an environment of peace. The objectives of the defence sector. Shouldn't focus on finance or funding external players. But at the moment we are dependent on them. And we don't want to pass on a debt to future generations because of defence. We want defence but we don't want to finance war.”
  EU competences on defence
• “Thank you. Thank you. David. Thank you, Mr. Chair. The commissioners. Dear colleagues, thank you for your, uh, presentation of the proposal. Uh, there is something really positive that we have, uh, time for further strategic considerations. Uh, and really fine tuning, uh, your position. I am really, uh, ten years, more than ten years experience currently in the face of the, uh, developing a deeper understanding of the intent behind this proposal, and it is very useful. Your speech is, of course, it recalls the discussion, uh, where a president of the very, very, very important African countries, he told us, uh, we like Europeans but not understand them. We don't like the Chinese, but we do understand them. There is a need to make Europe offer a different from the competitors, and there is a need to make it understandable for the partners, too, and not about our citizens. Flexibility offered by new proposals should not be used for the movement of funding between budget lines, but for the greater efficiency in the interest of the people in need in partner countries. I am afraid that this proposal, new solution for financing the EU external actions is to introduce deliberate with unclear lines of responsibility.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, dear colleagues. President, what we can see is that we seem to be grabbing here and there, but I think that we really do have to develop our capabilities long term. The 21st century for Europe. Well, we know that NATO is necessary Regardless of the problems difficulties we face, and I don't think we ought to establish a link of dependence to the aggression in Ukraine. We have to respect the victims of Ukraine. But Europeans defence policy should not depend on a country that is currently at war. Preparation, yes, but not preparation for war. We should prepare for peace and not for any kind of nation. So this endless financing of the war is not a strategy, but a self-deceit and business. And we can't find ourselves in a situation where the continent is ruining itself financially. We cannot afford to continue to finance this war at the expense of the next generation, because of course, this is only undermining our competitiveness. A European Union that is using up all its reserves, its own reserves, cannot prepare for long term peace. So we cannot allow our peace in Europe to be based on an external conflict and shirk our responsibilities. So what we have to do is increase our own military capability.”
  Defence spending
• “Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dear Mr. State Secretary, it's really of course, it's a special occasion for me to greet you here in, in the European Parliament and of course, presenting on behalf of the Council of the priorities of the Hungarian Presidency. It is, as you see in already before me. It's not an easy job to find a common way for different kinds of problems, challenges for the 27 member states. But I am very confident that the Hungarian presidency is able to make some progress on different kind of fields. Please allow me to know the great the opportunity that we have the Hungarian speaker and continue in. My mother tongue. State secretary. Those of us here working on development policy can see events around the world, such as the Covid 19 pandemic, the conflict in Gaza, disruptions to global supply chains all threatened to shift the focus away from development policy. It is clear that we need to recalibrate, and it's also clear that the Hungarian presidency's priorities aim to do just that. I have two specific questions for you. Number one, what opportunities does the Hungarian presidency have to promote a truly team, Europe based approach to development policy? That's with the full involvement of Central and Eastern European countries and development agencies. Now, I listened to your presentation and it's clear that tackling migration is a key priority for the Hungarian presidency because so far European attempts haven't been so successful. Just how Europe is not able to provide a comprehensive solution to challenges related to migration to sorry to integration. It's no coincidence, therefore, that returns and readmissions are critical critical issues and were in the negotiations on the Samoa agreement. My question is: what tools does the presidency have to help those whose asylum claims have been rejected to return home, in line with the provisions in the Samoa agreement? Thank you very much.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)
• “Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you very thank you for your presentation. It's clear that humanitarian funding gap that we are facing requires more, much more coordination and more innovative solutions to address the growing, the global needs. That's very clear. We need more pragmatic approach and we need to see the limits of our resources. Yeah. The Germans, they have the nice the Germans has a nice phrase. You know this. We can be not met and fell. This is very important. Increasing number of the protected forgotten crisis. We are putting the huge burden on our sources. And really, it was a concrete case. Gaza and so on. Let me add the other concrete case. The tragic concrete case. Let me please reflect. One of the longest humanitarian emergency. Just doorstep to the EU. The crisis in Syria means that more than decade long unsolved humanitarian emergency, more than 500,000 deaths and the six 16.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance today. Today morning. And 2.4 million children are out of the school. Today, next to us, I really I had the opportunity and it's really it's a fantastic opportunity to directly after the earthquake to go to to Syria and I could see the spot of the humanitarian workers are doing immense efforts to cover these needs. And local actors, NGOs, churches and other organizations independent from the state are I providing only this kind of organization, providing the basic service. Meanwhile, the aid organization, including many funded by the EU. Maybe your colleagues? Partly, yeah. Significant hurdles to delivering the life saving assistance due to banking restrictions. Local, uh, how to say the local logistical, logistical constraints and the, uh, the legal uncertainties. And we must just clearly see that the sanction imposed on the Syrian regime are not reaching their goals, but increasing the increasing the human suffering. Concrete question a dear colleagues, and I think we can say here in this place, how do you see the impact of the EU sanction on delivering the humanitarian assistance? And how do you consider the possibility to introduce the humanitarian exemptions for the sanction without time limit.”
  EU-Syria relations
• “Thank you. Charles. Madam Commissioner, I'm happy to see you here. Of course. And thank you for the presentation. Thank you for the clear words. Uh, the situation is, is very, uh, very serious. And global humanitarian is under really heavy pressure. This is really clear. And, uh, increased length. The humanitarian emergencies resulted, uh, that the new, uh, new children are spending more education. And, uh, I would just say the circle of the emergency settings as, as the standing rapporteur for education, uh, I shouldn't avoid it for a. Certainly hope that the new humanitarian communication will reflect this reflected. Underline the importance and will ensure that the funding of the education emergencies will be a priority. We have to see that this is really. Average is more than eight years. They spent the kids in average. This is really a. It's a school. School system. Um, the pressure is the humanitarian work is not only the financial nature, uh, or response must adapt to the local circumstances as heavy sensitivity towards the cultural traditions of the local people. This is really my experience and this is really we have to very, extremely sensitive on it. This is the warranty of the credibility or credibility of our work on the spot. Uh, really free from any kind of ideological, uh, aspects.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Dear. Dear colleagues, what is the reason, in fact, of the crisis in housing? We do not do our homework. That's the reason the Brussels left Liberal majority treats housing as a social project and would like to centralize it. Centralized nation state responsibility. In many countries, social housing is a means to tackle mass migration. More than 1 million Europeans are waiting for a home. Yet illegal migrants can jump the line. Meanwhile, Brussels made political decisions to quit cheap energy sources. War, inflation and a failed energy policy is paid as a price is paid by European families. That is what is behind the housing crisis. My country, Hungary, has chosen another way. It's not a rich country yet. 5% of the GDP is spent on family and housing support. Housing is a matter of demography and a nation strategy for us. Our objective is to give a home to every family. While 68% of Europeans live in their own apartments in Hungary, 92% is the rate in the last 15 years. There we had three pillars for the housing policy and paid a lot for that. First, we had to protect half a million families from the for the credit crunch. Half a million families were given apartments and finally, first buyers among them young people are supported from last year with a 3% advantageous loans. Hungary has chosen another way. We are responsible for our own families. We are supporting them.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you. Colleagues. What is Europe's strategic direction? Is it about peacekeeping? In this report, it doesn't just talk about obstacles. When it comes to defense, it goes further. We believe now that Ukraine is part of Europe's defense. We can't force that integration. We don't we can't go against the interests of the European citizens. This defense strategy is not something they want. It's part of a strategy. But it creates it creates dependence. We want peace as well. That's one of the main conditions for European competitiveness. An environment of peace. The objectives of the defence sector. Shouldn't focus on finance or funding external players. But at the moment we are dependent on them. And we don't want to pass on a debt to future generations because of defence. We want defence but we don't want to finance war.”
  EU competences on defence
• “At the second, the last one is really a remark. There is no recommendation. There is a remark. Uh, the year of the ahead of us will be challenging because of the negotiations. Negotiations of the EU new external action instrument, as you mentioned rightly we see. Maybe for me, but not not only I think so the unclear lines for the responsibility. And this is my, uh, this is my, my fear, the conflicting agendas with limited funding opportunities. It's very nice that everybody cooperate with all together, but easily the point of the base of my experience. Uh, we cannot assure that the other political priorities of the commission, such as in the different region, the conflicts will not absorb the funding, development, cooperation and humanitarian action. I don't see the warranty on it. Easily can move the money from one basket or pot to the others. And what can you do, Madam Commissioner, to prevent the decrease of the humanitarian funding? This is very clear. And development cooperation in the new MFF. Where can the Parliament and this Parliament? It's me. And that's us, not me. It's not so important as how can we help? For you. On it. Thank you.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Thank you.About. So, uh. Yeah, that's. I hope it's. This is really the time only the the first general discussion we need to discuss about more. And thank you for the introduction from Charles and for the other colleagues here. But the question is how can we assert our own interests? And we have to agree about in inside the devil, I'm sure about. We'd have to try. Yeah. Somebody's septic, not septic. And, uh, otherwise, uh, as the devil, we can easily lose this game. Uh, more effective development cooperation needs to be based on the. Really? I am sure about. This is a new way of the equal partnership. And equal partnership come with equal responsibility, and we have to focus on it. Uh, therefore, we must consequently take our partners accountable. This is about credibility. But to be concrete, uh, or amendments to the budget aims to ensure the EU funding for the partner country will be a conditioner to cooperation and, uh, return readmission in line with the subway agreement. Some agreement that it is a very this is a good argument. The international treaty, uh, the Africa potential growth lies in the young and incapable was mentioned already for both colleagues and education is the key of unlock development potential. And, uh, we call for increased uh, maybe together uh, dedication for access to education and training in the partner countries. This is a crucial. And I see a possible agreement about as a priority education funding gap is really increasing. And one it's the last sentence only to be short that we can not do before we can have really very brutal way, but prioritize. And that could be a good message in the later stage of the conversations. Thank you.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)