On the third day of the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, a debate took place on the Budapest Declaration on a New Deal for European Competitiveness, focusing in particular on the future of the agricultural and manufacturing sectors in the EU. PiS MEPs Waldemar Buda, Daniel Obajtek, and Jacek Ozdoba participated in the debate.
Waldemar Buda stated that everyone is aware of the dire situation in agriculture and industry, but it was only after the publication of Draghi’s shocking report that nearly everyone began to include the need to ensure European competitiveness among their top priorities.
“This is the only shock that, unfortunately, has not led to the right conclusions,” the MEP said. “Let’s call a spade a spade. It is climate policy and the Green Deal that have led to the current situation,” Buda added. The MEP spoke about the crisis the EU is facing today, the lack of a clear course of action, and stated that the newly elected Commission will continue its predecessor’s efforts to strengthen climate policy, which ultimately leads to the impoverishment of society, farmers, and entrepreneurs. Buda emphasized that the EU is not responding to these worsening trends and, despite farmers protesting on the streets of Europe, is pushing to sign an agreement with Mercosur that is harmful to the interests of the agricultural market. “But there will be a great many affected industries, representatives of various professions, and sectors of the economy until we actually learn from what is happening,” the MEP stressed, also pointing to the growing gap between the EU and the economies of the U.S. and China.
Daniel Obajtek drew attention to reports and statements claiming that the European economy, including industry and agriculture, is “dying.” He stated that this is happening because in the EU “we have excessive regulations that are destroying us.” “We must put an end to the Green Deal, which is literally economic Marxism and has nothing to do with the free market, the economy, or a just transition,” the MEP argued. He added that we cannot rely on regulations forever and “drag them out for weeks or months.” “In business and industry, turnaround time is key above all else, because otherwise we will never be competitive,” he pointed out. He also drew attention to the competitiveness of China and the United States, to which—if nothing changes—“all of young Europe will travel to work.” “We must react and act very quickly so that Europe can develop. Time is of the essence; otherwise, Europe will wither away economically,” appealed Daniel Obajtek.
Jacek Ozdoba stated that representatives of the European People’s Party and the left speak about agriculture and the Union’s problems while promising aid, but in reality they have interfered and want to interfere in every aspect of farmers’ lives. “Meanwhile, yesterday farmers took to the streets to protest against your ideas, because they’ve had enough of interference in every aspect of their lives,” he said. He mentioned that a vote on the new European Commission had just taken place and noted that Ursula von der Leyen continues to preside over it, which may indicate that little will change.
“Leave the farmers alone and stop regulating every aspect of their lives—for example, what they use for heating or how they operate,” the Polish politician urged. “Consider whether such restrictions on the freedom we should be promoting here—and deciding for someone when that person doesn’t want something—will lead to you becoming the gravediggers of agriculture and industry,” said Jacek Ozdoba. He noted that the claim that climate change will stop is false, and that India, Brazil, the United States, and China will not heed Europe’s calls in this regard. “Leave farmers alone—especially Polish farmers,” the MEP urged, reiterating that the European Union cannot regulate every aspect of Europeans’ lives.
