Nikola BARTŮŠEK

Policy topics Nikola BARTŮŠEK is active on

What Nikola BARTŮŠEK has said (19)

• “The Czech. Citizens elected me to. The European Parliament on behalf of the movement to defend their interests and protect their money, and they rightfully expect the budget to strengthen our industry, not weaken it through other regulations coming from the from the Green Deal. Therefore, I ask, how do you justify increasing the overall budget, while at the same time dramatically cutting finances for ruler development, agriculture, and even the border protection? Thank you.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Ladies and gentlemen, Behind every turn of the European steel. There are thousands and thousands of people. Temperatures over 2000°C. And it's a very hard job making. The steel is a hard job, but very strategic job for the whole Europe. And in particular today, when we speak about investing into our autonomy, this is a sector we can't give up in the world today. The European steel making industry is under major pressure of cheap imports. For instance, China is producing cheaply under unfair conditions. However, Europe can't pay by losing its jobs and its strategic industry. That's why we support strategic quota for the imports of steel into Europe and making stricter rules for unfair producers and more protection for our industry for regions such as Moravian-Silesian region for people in Ostrava or trinkets. It's really about their life there. So we have to fight against the loss of jobs.”
  Trade relations with China
• “Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to thank Cyprus and congratulate Cyprus. I read through the priorities of Cyprus presidency. And I think autonomy. Independence is extremely important. We have to be independent vis a vis our friends and enemies. Competitiveness is extremely important. I agree with that. But it is migration there. We don't agree. Cyprus is supporting migration pact and relocation, which we think is unacceptable. We have so much experience with all this and I think migration pact is not going to help. It's going to weaken US police forces. Politicians don't want it. Citizens don't want it. Smugglers do however. So I think we need to be consistent. We have to be systematic. We have to fight against smuggling, and we have to put pressure on third countries to retake their citizens. Good luck.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Dear colleagues, the single market is something on which the European Union was built. By allowing the free movement, it has created opportunities for growth and cooperation across our continent that had never been seen before. And yet, one of the EU's greatest assets remains incomplete to this day. Because of this, it is as if we are placing 40% tariffs on ourselves. Not our foes, not not our adversaries. We are doing it to ourselves by failing to complete one of the fundamental pillars of the European Union. For the past two years, we have been discussing many different ways to help our businesses become more competitive in the global market. Yes, this is the way we must finish what we have started. A truly unified market would boost innovation, attract investment and empower European businesses to compete with major global economies. Completing the single market is the most effective way to help Made in Europe succeed. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you very much, chair. And your executive Vice president. Thank you very much for coming here today to present the proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Let's look at the numbers first. The Commission proposes a budget of €1.8 trillion. This is an increase of 46% compared to the previous period. That is an enormous amount of money, especially as it comes from our citizens, their families, and also from our companies. It is therefore essential that the Commission clearly explains why you are asking them for so much more, and I believe this will not be an easy task, as the previous budget was not managed very responsibly. Too many resources were wasted on creating regulations that make life more expensive for citizens and complicate the functioning of our businesses. And now you want to spend more on deregulating what was actually previously overregulated. And this is nothing but a bad joke. In reality, you are trying to repair the damage caused by the misguided policies of the commission. And I'm very sorry, but I'm really disappointed about that.”
  Size of EU budget
• “(18:05:31 – 18:06:47): and gentlemen, behind every town of the European steel, there are thousand and thousands of people, temperatures over 2,000 degrees of Celsius, and it's a very hard job. Making the steel is a hard job, but very strategic job for the whole Europe and in particular today when we speak about investing into our autonomy. This is a sector we can't give up in the world today. The European steel making industry is under major pressure of cheap imports. For instance, China is producing cheaply under unfair conditions. However, Europe can't pay by losing its jobs and its strategic industry. That's why we support strategic quota for the imports of steel into Europe and making stricter rules for, unfair producers and more production for our industry, for regions such as Moravian or Syrian region, for people in Ostrava or Trinidad. It's really about their life, there. So we have to fight against the loss of jobs. Madam Solis, go ahead, please. Thank”
  Trade relations with China
• “Dear colleagues, children are the most vulnerable group in our society, and even though we have made the physical world safer for them, we are failing in the online world. We clearly see how constant online exposure is harming young people. But what is the solution? Total surveillance around the clock? Certainly not. Even if it were possible, it wouldn't help the generation already exposed to it. Chat control. Absolutely not. Sacrificing privacy, a fundamental pillar of modern Europe will not make children safer. The realistic and healthy solution is education, communication and creating phone free zones in schools. Some schools in some cities and countries already apply such rules and I applaud them. Allowing children and teenagers to simply be children to move, play, talk, argue, laugh, experiment, and sometimes even stumble. This is far healthier than watching them drift through their most formative years as iPhone zombies. We want to protect children, but without creating a system that monitors everyone online.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “Yes. Thank you very much, chair. And thank you very much to all, uh, all the speakers and to all the experts that came today. My group and I wish to defend the working conditions of healthcare professionals, because this is a very important part of our social policy. We need excellent hospitals, and we are fortunate to have highly skilled healthcare professionals. That is also why I would like to ask the European Biosafety Network, how can we better strengthen the protection of workers from exposure to carcinogens and mutations by requiring closed systems for hazardous medical products. And how can we mandate closed systems transfer devices to prevent worker exposure, thereby reducing both physical and mental health risks? And also, how can we support safe staffing levels that ensure full compliance with safety protocols? My group and I stand firmly with the needs of the healthcare sector, and we expect also other groups to share this concern and endorse our recommendations across the Europe. Thank you very much in advance for for the answer.”
  Medical devices
• “Dear colleagues, the European Union has been issuing one sanction package after another for three years. Although we all know that these sanctions are being circumvented through third countries, through renamed companies, through refineries that process Russian oil and then resale resell it to Europe. I saw it on my mission to India. They import Russian oil, they filter it through Indian refineries. And then? Then it's imported to the EU. The prophet remains outside the EU, but the price is paid by our citizens in energy prices, in inflation, in loss of competitiveness. Third, countries are getting richer by our sanctions that are that should weaken Russia. And then the Commission loses the trust of people. If you want to remove loopholes, then get rid of your own naivety first. We need energy sovereignty. We need cheap energy and not gestures that we all pay and that lead to no actual purpose.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Thank you very much, chair. Ladies and gentlemen, dear shadow Rapporteurs, dear colleagues, I am very pleased to present today this report that will allow for a conclusion between agreement, the EU and the Ecuador on cooperation between Europol and the Ecuadorian authorities. This agreement will create a framework for enhanced operational cooperation between the Union and Ecuador in the field of law enforcement, while safeguarding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals concerned. Specifically, it will allow the transfer of personal and non-personal data between the authorities competent for combating serious crime and terrorism. This kind of cooperation is increasingly indispensable in modern world. Criminals know no borders, and crime spreads fast even between continents. Criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling and money laundering often operate globally, leveraging legal and jurisdictional gaps to evade detection and prosecution. They exploit differences in national laws, weak regulatory frameworks, and limited cross-border cooperation to move people, goods and money across multiple countries with minimal risk. These networks are typically highly adaptable, using decentralized structures, shell companies, informal financial systems and digital technologies to obscure leadership and financial flows. As a result, traditional law enforcement approaches, often confined by national borders, struggle to keep pace with organizations that function transnationally and evolve faster than regulatory responses. That is why international cooperation in this regard is crucial and the sharing of relevant information between Europol and Ecuador is important in countering serious offences in many crime areas of common interest. At the same time, I am pleased to note that the Edps concluded positively that the agreement contains the adequate safeguards with respect to the protection of privacy and fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. This agreement will contribute to providing our law enforcement with better tools to combat serious crime and terrorism, and all the threats to our society, and come along with it. It is therefore, my recommendation that the European Parliament gives its consent to the conclusion of this agreement by the Council. I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs for their contribution so far, and I'm looking forward to further cooperation. Thank you.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• “I allow myself to answer in Czech. Yes. Thank you. Obviously we do have to support our children and we have to protect them in the online world because the risks and threats are far greater than in the offline world. But on the other hand, it is hardly possible to to control every single message, every single piece of information. What we have to do is not spy on our citizens. We have to communicate. We have to bring up our children. We have to educate them, and we have to show our citizens just what risks and dangers are lurking on the internet and the way we should be taking is not to be spies.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “Yes, thank you very much, chair. And thank you to our panelists for your very interesting inputs. I will have one question each. So the first one goes to Mrs. Sherman. The European Union is known for overregulating, which risks driving talent and innovation abroad. Are we to be concerned that overregulating. I will discourage companies and startups and developers who may choose to move to other countries where the conditions are more flexible. Um, professor De Stefano, you have mentioned that the platform for the platform work directive, which is still quite new, already needs to be modified. Uh, talking about the artificial intelligence, many countries outside the EU are moving forward very quickly. In your view, is the EU's AI act strong enough for today's challenges, or does it also need to be updated? And what are countries like the US or UK doing differently? And a question to Mr. Cerutti in the employment committee. We often talk about reducing the red tape and improving work conditions, which is great, but less about skills. I strongly believe that developing skills is key for our workers and companies. How do you see the need to develop skills in artificial intelligence, and what do you think is the role of EU funds, so that European companies and workers advance in the leadership of artificial intelligence. Thank you.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Thank you very much, chair. I will speak in Czech. Ladies, gentlemen this strategy deserves a comment. A simple truth. We are all equal because we are all humans. We deserve the same kind of respect, not based on gender or sex or race. It's because we are humans. We do not need any more strategies. We need just law. A law that will protect everybody equally and must be observed. We know this. These things are bad. We do not need more bureaucracy. These strategies very often serve to divisions in within the society. Equality means equal treatment for everyone. We are treated according to what we do, what we are, what we can do, and not according to quotas. I am a woman and I don't want to have a preference because of quotas that a company might have. We all must be equal before the law. No special categories. Only justice. That's the real equality, which is important. Thank you. And I'm looking forward for cooperation.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Ladies and gentlemen, in the 21st century, our companies need support and not further rules. Epp, the largest political group which pretends to defend their interests, only proposes further bureaucratic hurdles. And also the Employment Committee, which should support employment, not to destroy them. Bureaucracy hampers our companies. The proposal that we are supposed to vote on is dangerous. It talks about effects that could influence also workers in other countries. The legal uncertainty will have an effect not only on large companies but also on SMEs. The result will be blockage of decisions and less competitiveness in Europe. If the EU adopts this proposal, it will be another. Addition to bureaucracy. The opposite of what president of the Commission von der Leyen promised. So we need less bureaucracy. Let's support our companies.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Yes. Thank you very much. Once more for the cooperation in this very important report, as it is a step forward in combating serious crime and terrorism. And I can assure you that the Edps concluded positively that the agreement contains the adequate safeguard with respect to the protection of privacy and fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. Thank you very much for your support.”
  Privacy & law enforcement
• “Dear, dear colleagues, the document itself is marked sensitive. Do not read or carry out. The European Commission calls it Europe's independence moment. And I ask myself independence. From whom? From the people, from democracy, from the member states. And now the reality behind all of this. 130 new legislative acts and only one single withdrawal. Yes. Just one. You call it a simplification. I call it a bad joke. A very expensive joke, paid by our families, our companies and our workers. Brussels grows, freedom shrinks. You centralize power, expand agencies, create new rules. And we call it a progress. Europe. Strength does not come from 130 new laws. It comes from the independence of nations, the freedom of our people and the prosperity of our enterprises. Europe does not need more secrets and more laws. Europe needs more freedom. And I will make sure that this message is heard loud and clear. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “Ladies and gentlemen, let us As. Being politically ideological. And let's be realistic, we close cheap sources of energy. Germany has decommissioned nuclear power plants. We are planning to decommission coal power plants in the Czech Republic, and we are pushing alternative energy sources regardless of their price. As a result, is high energy prices for our citizens and for our businesses businesses. Cheap energy is a basis for our good, functioning economy. Centralized decentralization of energy is sounds well on paper, but in practice it's very unstable and it is frequent. Collapses are the real tax for that. Uh, we don't have enough sun and enough wind and still everywhere and still they are being pushed the same everywhere. And energy grid needs to be technologically realistic and socially sustainable and socially just. Otherwise, we will have an expensive network and citizens who will not be able to afford energy.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you very much chair I will speak in Czech. Dear commissioner thank you for introducing the new strategy however it always looks very well on paper but in reality the situation is rather different. For years Europe has been pressed at its borders and the new migration plan expects that there will be mass migration but we focus on redistribution and processing instead of trying to deter and that is not a system that will stop illegal migration but just to manage that issue. So I'd like to touch upon the mandatory solidarity that we are forced into however our citizens didn't want that. You've created the first solidarity fund under the migration pressure however the document has not been published so I'm asking the document does it take into account the views of our countries that are not really happy about adopting thousands of migrants. Thank you.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you very much, president. 100 days of this commission have been enough to have clarity about the ideology ruling Europe and the green ideology. I think we have seen laws thrown at the pointless task of decarbonisation, while ignoring the huge risks of the last decade. What we have is not a plan for a competitive Europe, but another nail in the coffin of European industry which was previously the best in the world. We cannot decarbonise and arm at the same time anybody saying different is either lying or denying reality. While US, Russia and China build their economies, Europe seems to be pursuing economic suicide. We're not prioritising the Um, key areas, rather trying to maintain a forlorn green policy. We need to return to reality, help our businesses stop illegal migration, and be here for our people.”
  Energy (green transition)