Reinhold LOPATKA

Policy topics Reinhold LOPATKA is active on

What Reinhold LOPATKA has said (23)

• 2026-06-16 “(10:58:01 – 10:59:11): If The US Iran framework agreement is signed this Friday, the threats coming from Iran remain. The regime in Tehran is not only cruel and lawless towards its own people, but also towards the countries in the whole region with its attacks and, of course, with its sponsoring of terrorism. As chair of the dedication for the Arab Peninsula, I would like to express from the European Parliament our heartfelt solidarity for the peoples of the region and the full support through all possible means, including through parliamentary diplomacy. Europe and the world cannot afford continuation of this war, which affects all our economies. We must urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and return to meaningful negotiations.”
  EU-Iran relations
• 2026-02-17 “Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission 22.5.2026 Written question While national security remains the competence of Member States, the Commission supports them. On 26 February 2026, the Commission presented the ProtectEU: Agenda to prevent and counter terrorism [1] . As announced in the Agenda, the continued support of the EU agency for law enforcement cooperation (Europol) and EU agency for criminal justice cooperation (Eurojust) to Member States’ law enforcement and judicial authorities will be reinforced through the revisions of the agencies’ mandates. The EU is also strengthening international cooperation, including through agreements on the exchange of personal data between Europol, Eurojust and priority third countries, as well as through capacity building in key regions. Frontex also supports the security of the EU’s external borders On the same day, the Commission also presented a proposal for a directive to combat firearms trafficking and other firearms-related offences in the EU [2] to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement against firearms-related crimes. The Entry-Exit System [3] , which became fully operational on 10 April 2026, provides an important added layer of security against terrorist infiltration into the EU. From October 2025 until April 2026, it already allowed for the detection and barring from entering the EU of more than 600 persons considered a security threat. The new Screening Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 [4] , which will become applicable together with the European Pact on Migration [5] in June 2026, will further enhance security. It will facilitate the identification and systematic checks of third-country nationals who have crossed the external borders illegally or are staying illegally on Member States’ territory without having undergone entry checks. [1] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/eu-agenda-preventing-and-countering-terrorism-and-violent-extremism_en. [2] COM(2026) 102 final. [3] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/smart-borders/entry-exit-system_en. [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02024R1356-20240522. [5] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/pact-migration-and-asylum_en.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters · Asylum & border control
• 2024-11-27 “E-002669/2024 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries’ interest in obtaining a visa exemption, as well as the importance attached to regional coherence, in particular since the granting of visa exemption to the United Arab Emirates in 2014 and the Commission proposal for visa exemption for Qatar and Kuwait in April 2022. Since the decision in December 2022 by the Parliament to postpone a plenary vote on the Commission proposal for visa exemption for Qatar and Kuwait, the proposal has been with the relevant parliamentary committee for its review. The Commission will follow closely the developments on its proposal in the newly constituted European Parliament. As announced in the political guidelines of the President, the Commission will present an EU Visa Policy Strategy. The Strategy will outline the Commission’s strategic approach on all relevant issues related to the EU visa policy, including on visa exemptions. In the meantime, the EU continues to reduce the burden for visa applicants from GCC countries, via the local adaptation of the visa rules applicable to GCC nationals. Citizens from all GCC countries (except the United Arab Emirates, which is visa exempt) are now eligible for five-year multiple-entry visas upon first application. These visa cascades are the most generous visa adaptations under the Visa Code and considerably facilitate travel for GCC citizens.”
  Legal migration · Enlargement of Schengen area
• “One year ago Mario Draghi delivered a strong message. Securing critical raw materials will mean diversifying away from countries that were the cheapest suppliers in the world of yesterday and today. This challenge is more urgent than ever. Over 80% of the largest European companies depend directly on Chinese rare earth producers, according to the European Central Bank. China is now turning this monopoly into economic leverage by introducing new export controls that require licences and the disclosure of sensitive business data. Measures that violate World Trade Organization law and pose a direct threat to our supply chains not acting only give China more leverage and deepen our vulnerability. We must therefore respond with urgency. It is necessary, and I think it is an emergency. And here we have to act.”
  Trade relations with China
• “For your insights. 80 years. Ago, the UN was founded on the conviction that peace, development and human rights are inseparable and that cooperation grounded in international law and human dignity, that this is only the path for a good and stable future. That vision remains as relevant as ever. But the challenges we face today geopolitical fragmentation, complex humanitarian and development challenges, crisis and growing inequality demand a more coordinated and accountable multilateral system. And I I'm fully convinced that multilateralism is the basis for a good future of the whole humankind. And also, of course, for us as European Union. And therefore, I want to ask Fernandes Taranco, how is the United Nations translating the pact for the future into more coherent action across its peace, development and human rights pillars, especially in fragile countries like Sudan or Africa? Only to mention two. And my second question is what specific mechanism could enhance coordination with the European Union on the ground, ensuring that humanitarian and development and peace efforts reinforce one another? I think this is very important, and it was good to hear that the EU and the EU member states are all of them together are the biggest contributor. It should make us proud.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)
• “Dear colleagues, nearly three years after the military coup in Niger, the democratically elected president Bassam and his wife remain detained by the military junta. They have been without proper access to lawyers or communication to the outside world. I had the chance to work with President Barsoum when I chaired the High Level Advisory Group on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism of IPU of the International Parliamentarian Union, and he was a strong partner as a result. Now the situation in Nigeria is deteriorating. President Bazoum was an important partner in our work against terrorism, against organized crime, and also against this irregular migration in the Sahel. Therefore, we must send a clear message today. President Barsoum and his wife must be released immediately, and Niger must return to constitutional order and credible democratic elections. Thank you.”
  EU policy on Sahel and Sudan
• “Well, Europe is doing the right thing, I would say. We have beefed up our attitudes and, uh, the Commission has found support in parliament, and I think we're now going in the right direction. We're working to prevent illegal migration, and we're also doing everything possible to put an end to, as we're seeing to the regime in Iran. Thank you.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “Mr President, thank you, rapporteur, for your report. The report shows that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a key partner of the European Union in terms of economic relations, and a central actor in regional stability. The country, as you mentioned, is undergoing profound transformation. As Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula, I have the opportunity to witness firsthand the evolving dynamics of cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf region. This report recognises that bilateral relations should evolve into a strategic partnership, including items like trade, sustainable energy, people-to-people exchange and so on. But we have also to see the concerns, and I have to mention 338 executions in 2024 and 340 already this year. This is a negative development. So, to conclude, if we want to build a strong relationship, which will have a lot of benefits for European and Saudi citizens, we have to act in mutual respect and we have also to see the problems. **Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ @Chair: Lopez Aguilar said.”
  EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood
• “First of all, ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to very clearly say. That we would like to express full solidarity with the people of Greenmont. They are. There is no question of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of that country. The Greenlanders are the only people who can decide on their fate. The question is, when it comes to Greenland, why the patriots so silent when we're talking about the downward spiral not being countered by further tariffs On either sides of the Atlantic. The Patriots are silent. This is the difference between the center parties and the populist parties. When it really comes down to the nitty gritty, they don't speak out, which is why we have to be united in Europe. We have to be decided, determined, aware, yes, ready to enter into dialogue. But you can only have dialogue, successful dialogue, if both sides are prepared to enter into an open and candid discussion. Now, the internal market is something that we as Europeans and the European Union have gives us huge leverage. Um, but we need to take this momentum and fully implement our force as Europeans.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Dear colleagues, never forget this. The regime in Iran, which is still in power, is a terror regime. Un sources reported in January they killed more than 35,000 of their own people. Iran funds terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthis. Iran arms Russia with drones, and Iran was close to becoming a nuclear power. And we should not forget, Iran has in its constitution the destruction of Israel. And on the other side, we have the UN charter, which proposes how I see it, to protect human life, but not to shield regimes that slaughter their own people. When the Security Council is paralyzed by vetoes coming from Russia, a strict formalist reading of the charter betrays its own spirit. Therefore, Israel and the United States were legitimate to start this operation.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “And in a very brief way, I have to repeat what my colleagues said already. This report is an excellent start to work on Saudi Arabia. And I see that we have, for the first time, a rapporteur for Saudi relations. Why? Because Saudi Arabia is the seventh, uh, is the is the biggest Gulf country first. Secondly, the European Union is already the biggest investor in the region. And therefore we have to work to launch negotiations for a strategic partnership agreement. And I think we need such an agreement, uh, because there are so many different fields where Saudi Arabia is very important for our future. Speaking of security and foreign policy of trade Sustainable energy. Also critical raw materials. And the last thing we have to bring people from Saudi Arabia to Europe, especially young people, and Saudi Arabia is interested in such exchange programs. Thank you.”
  EU-Saudi Arabia relations
• “Dear colleagues, it's good that, uh, uh, the migration policy was mentioned so clearly in the conclusions. We we need external partnerships. They've been strengthened. We need to, uh, fight massively against irregular migration. We need to increase our returns and we need to obviously fight against the criminals as well. We haven't achieved our aims, but we are on the right path. Now the figures are clear. They are reducing and. Over. 150,000 less over recent years and Austria has been affected by migration and irregular migration. And in we've seen a massive drop from 60,000 in uh, in Austria over recent years. And. Now We have the migration pact that there needs to be correctly and rapidly implemented, and then we have other actors as well. And Commissioner Brunner requires the support of the European Parliament to do that. And we can have a successful migration policy, and that will be at the heart of the EU success.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you very much. And thank you very much for the comprehensive information we received. You mentioned you work with civil society organizations, and I have a concrete questions. Do you have special programs to combat gender based violence, especially including practices like female genital mutilation, honor killings, child marriages or forced marriages? Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Well, yes, the crisis in the Middle East is having serious global consequences also for tiny Austria, which is where I come from. More than 6000 drone and rocket attacks have come from Iran, and they have struck facilities in the United Arab Emirates. And this is a facility that's also run by Austrian companies. That's caused problems for them on the stock market. But then the effects don't only, of course affect. Petrol companies and our oil suppliers are. Fertiliser supplies are also being affected. 30% of our fertiliser comes through the Straits of Hormuz. We work closely with Gulf states, and I think what we need to do is speed up strategic partnership agreements with the Gulf states. Thank you.”
  EU relations with Gulf countries
• “Dear colleagues, the enhanced partnership agreement sends a signal of pro active approach in global affairs and in the increasingly important Central Asia Asian region. This agreement is more than a technical update of the framework that has existed since 1999. It reflects a strategic reality. Central Asia matters more than ever for Europe, and Uzbekistan has become an increasingly important partner for the EU. Over the past years, we have witnessed significant reforms in the country, most notably in the economic liberalization and improved investment climate and a more open engagement with international partners. They have also played a constructive role in strengthening connectivity and dialogue across Central Asia and beyond. The agreement creates new opportunities for cooperation in trade, energy, Digitalization and security. And of course, we have also to see the human rights situation. But such an agreement brings also more dialogue, more meetings. And here we have to use these chances to improve the humanitarian situation in the country. Our message is therefore balanced and constructive. We recognise the progress that has been achieved. We support closer EU Uzbekistan cooperation, and we encourage Uzbekistan to continue on the path of reforms and openness in the current geopolitical environment. Strengthening reliable partnerships is essential. The EU must engage more actively in Central Asia through cooperation, connectivity and mutual respect. And this partnership and cooperation agreement is a good basis for this.”
  EU policy on Central Asia
• “Mr. India. Is. One of the world's fastest growing major economies, with GDP growth of more than 7% in the first half of this year. The demographic strength, rising technological capabilities and also the Their peak economy shows how important this country is for the EU. A new strategic agenda with India can offer opportunities in trade and investment. As India's global influence rises, so do its responsibilities towards stability, peace and respect for rule based world order. And here India must show that India is going the way we did already. They have to diversify their energy supplies away from Russia. Europe has undertaken this painful but necessary shift, and I think we have to discuss it with India, that they also reduce their dependence on Russia, India and the EU and the EU are natural partners. How I see it. Democracies with shared interests and a global reach. Thank you.”
  EU-India relations
• “Dear Commissioner, dear colleagues. Over the past months, we have seen a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas take hold in the Gaza Strip. A lasting peace is still a long way off. We must recognize that Israel has the right and the duty to protect its citizens from terrorism. This right remains non-negotiable. At the same time, we know that security for Israel can only be achieved in the long term if the people of Gaza also have prospects for peace and a life without fear. The situation is very complicated and we have to see the difficult situation in Lebanon. Although a formal ceasefire exists between Israel and Hezbollah, tensions along the southern border remain high. Also, because of the weakness of the government in Lebanon, Israelis and Palestinians, like all the people throughout the Middle East, deserve a future defined by dialogue and a two state solution. Only in this way, we can create a secure and sustainable future for all people in this region.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Dear colleagues, I want to reiterate when we talk about the Middle East, we have always have to remember the most significant threat in the region stems unmistakably from Iran and its network of proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. While Israel pre-emptive strikes disrupted Tehran's operational capacity. The Mullah regime, of course, will seek ways to continue destabilizing the whole neighborhood. Both. And we saw it yesterday. The latest missiles were fired by the Houthis against Israel. And some weeks ago, Iran itself fired missiles on a major American base in Qatar. What we need is to push for diplomatic, political and economic initiatives to help to stabilize the region, like the European Commission is doing it, with the negotiations for a free trade agreement with UAE. This is a good example of how we should act as a European Union. But the real threat is still Iran.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “Dear colleagues, the European Council this week must demonstrate unity. For me, this is the most important thing. Europe cannot afford indecision. We need determined action. First Ukraine. Our support must continue politically, financially and also through Reconstruction. Europe must stay here united to help Ukraine, and we have to do everything to secure a just and lasting peace. And that one can only be achieved how I see it on Ukraine's terms. Secondly, security and resilience. Europe must better protect its citizens by safeguarding critical infrastructure and countering hybrid threats. Thirdly, the Middle East. The European Union must play a role here. We have to play a role in diplomatic, political and economic. We have to work here and to continue to work on a two state solution. And finally, migration. Austria supports a balanced implementation of the new Pact on migration Immigration and asylum with strong borders, effective returns, and deepening partnerships with the countries of origin and transit. So this European Council must send a clear message Europe delivers with unity.”
  Asylum & border control
• “We've always had a clear position in the EPP. We, of course, see the European Union as something that takes subsidiarity into account, but we need the European decisions when it comes to important issues. And we've shown that we want to strengthen our economic standards. There has been too much gold plating. That is true. But we didn't have the majority that we now have in the European Parliament, and we will use this to strengthen the economy of Europe. But we don't agree with Trump's increase in tariffs and on which you on your party are totally silent.”
  EU political integration
• “Dear colleagues, Russia has started to recruit non-Russian nationals, particularly from African countries. This practice is deeply alarming because many of these young men have been deceived by false promises of lucrative and safe jobs or educational opportunities. So far, more than 1700 African citizens from 36 countries have been misled into fighting for Russia, mostly without prior military training. I think the international community cannot remain passive and the European Union. We must first strengthen monitoring of these recruitment networks and bring the actions to light. Secondly, we have to collaborate with African governments to raise awareness, prevent recruitment schemes and help them get their citizens back. And thirdly, implement sanctions against individuals and entities complicit in this trafficking and recruitment operation. It is time to act.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Honourable members, this week is a decisive turning point at the European Council. The Council must demonstrate that the European Union can act with resolve and help Ukraine. Member states must agree on reliable support and financing for Ukraine. We need Western security guarantees to guarantee the security of this large European country. Now Russia is refusing to pay reparations, so we must do everything within our power to ensure that Russian frozen assets are used to rebuild Ukraine. And one final message to all those here in this chamber and beyond this House, those that predict the end of the European Union or express their doubts, let me tell you that we are not a failing collection of countries led by weak leaders. Quite the opposite. We will prove that the European Union will continue to grow in future, will see future enlargements. We will do everything within our power to drive forward this project, we need to recognize the problems facing us, but we also need to embrace our future. And our future lies with cooperation within the European Union. There is no alternative.”
  EU enlargement
• “Dear president, dear colleagues. The European Council conclusions send a clear and resolute message. The European Union remains steadfast in its commitment firstly, to enlargement. We had the last 1 in 2013. Time has come for the next enlargement. Secondly, a clear Message that we defend Ukraine's sovereignty and it is a good signal. Also, the United States now said that they will continue in their support for the freedom of the people in Ukraine and thirdly, the strengthening of our collective security. Austria was always in favour of enlargement and we strongly support the credible merit based enlargement process. This is essential for the future of the European Union. Enlargement was always a success story. We should continue with it. We need concrete results after years of negotiations, especially with Western Balkan countries. And we have to do everything that we are not losing credibility. Therefore, we have to say very clear that we are absolutely in favour of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and guaranteed unhindered humanitarian access. This is necessary that we keep our credibility.”
  EU enlargement