Activities of Rihards KOLS
Plenary speeches (20)
The need for the EU's continuous support for Ukraine (debate)
Statement by the candidate for President of the Commission (debate)
Outcome of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture (debate)
Persistent problems of anti-Semitism in Europe and of other forms of hate speech and hate crimes (debate)
Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)
Continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States (debate)
The Hungarian “National Card” scheme and its consequences for Schengen and the area of freedom, security and justice (debate)
Facing fake news, populism and disinformation in the EU - the importance of public broadcasting, media pluralism and independent journalism (debate)
Escalation of violence in the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon (debate)
The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia (debate)
The democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia (debate)
Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (debate)
Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (debate)
Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns (debate)
Foreign interference and hybrid attacks: the need to strengthen EU resilience and internal security (debate)
Reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia (debate)
Continued escalation in the Middle East: the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region, the need to release all hostages and the recent ICC arrest warrants (debate)
Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea (debate)
Crackdown on peaceful pro-European demonstrators in Georgia (debate)
Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)
Shadow reports (2)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration
Institutional motions (21)
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Venezuela
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on continued financial and military support to Ukraine by EU Member States
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the severe situation of political prisoners in Belarus
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Venezuela
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on strengthening Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference ahead of the upcoming presidential elections and a constitutional referendum on EU integration
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on People’s Republic of China’s misinterpretation of the UN resolution 2758 and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the misinterpretation of UN resolution 2758 by the People’s Republic of China and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation in Azerbaijan, violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on EU actions against the Russian shadow fleets and ensuring a full enforcement of sanctions against Russia
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on reinforcing EU’s unwavering support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression and the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud
JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the 11th year of the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and the deteriorating human rights situation in occupied Crimea, notably the cases of Iryna Danylovych, Tofik Abdulhaziiev and Amet Suleymanov
Written explanations (1)
The need for the EU's continuous support for Ukraine (B10-0007/2024)
My vote in support for the resolution was a part of the whole – of the European Parliament’s vote to reaffirm its stance and reveal the true colours of us all. Supporting Ukraine is not an act of charity. From Europeans opening their homes to the supply of arms, this is about our values. Ignoring this jeopardises our future, our democracy, and the values we hold dear. Russia’s war in the heart of Europe affects us all.We must triumph both on the ground in Ukraine and in the hearts and minds across our alliance. Russia’s ability to sustain a prolonged war, its disinformation campaigns, the cost-of-living crisis in Europe and upheavals across the globe threaten the support Ukraine desperately needs. Russia cannot prevail.The free world needs a strategy to end this. The key is in whether we will ‘support as long as it takes’ or ‘whatever it takes’ until Ukraine’s victory. From our different perspectives on how this should end, we need to harness our collective strength. Our commitment is to victory, not attrition; liberation, not a stalemate. This requires action, small and large, and maybe even a Casablanca conference of our own to decide how Russia shall be decisively defeated.
Written questions (2)
EU funding of physical border protection structures such as walls, fences or other barriers
Fund for the protection and development of the frontier regions of countries bordering Ukraine, Belarus and Russia
Amendments (11)
Amendment 456 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls foron the EU and its Member States to provide comprehensive humanitarian assistance, military support, economic and financial aid and political support in every possible way until Ukraine’s victory in order to ultimately stop Russia’s war of aggression and allow Ukraine to liberate all its people and re-establish full, including unrestricted provision of advanced air defence systems and artillery, and unwavering political support until Ukraine’s full restoration of sovereignty and control within its internationally recogniszed borders; underlines in particular the urgent need to provide Ukraine with increased air defence capacities to defend its critical energy infrastructure ahead of the forthcoming winter, and calls on the Member States to immediately lift restrictions on the use of Western weapons systems delive, lifting all restrictions on the use of Western weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory. Emphasizes that EU support should be accompanied by regular engagement with the national parliaments of Member States to ensured to Ukraine against legitimate military targets on Russian territoryransparent, democratic oversight;
Amendment 472 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls foron the EU and the Member States to reinforce the effectiveness of its 14 sanction packages adopted so far and adopt new ones as soon as the need arises; calls for effective cooperation with like-minded partners across the globe to increase the pressure on Russiaby establishing a dedicated EU Sanctions Task Force with a mandate to monitor and prevent circumvention, coordinate enforcement across Member States, and enhance cooperation with global allies. Recognizes the strategic partnership between Russia and Iran as a coordinated effort to undermine European security, necessitating intensified scrutiny and responsive measures;
Amendment 628 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Welcomes the EU’s decision to renew sanctions against Iran until July 2025, including by sanctioning Iran’s production of unmanned drones and missiles and its supply thereof to Russia and the wider Middle Eastern region; points out that the sanctioning options that have not yet been exhausted include a much more restrictive approach to technology transfers through exports of products that are not categorised as ‘dual- use’; re and urges the inclusion of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, in its entirety, on the EU list of terrorist organizations, strengthening the enforcement of restrictions on dual-use technology exports. Additionally, calls thatfor the European Parliament has called for Hezbollah and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be added to the EU list of terrorist organisationgent designation of the Wagner Group as a terrorist organization in recognition of its destabilizing actions and terrorism in foreign conflicts;
Amendment 706 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 – point 1 (new)
Paragraph 22 – point 1 (new)
(1) Recognises the limitations within the current structure of the United Nations and calls for comprehensive UN reform to enhance its efficiency and capacity to address modern geopolitical challenges; advocates for a reform that includes revising the UN Security Council’s composition and veto system to reflect contemporary power dynamics, thereby preventing obstruction by autocratic states and enabling more decisive action in upholding international peace and security;
Amendment 866 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Believes simultaneously in the significance of building new alliances, inter aliaCalls for the EU to establish new, balanced partnerships with the countries in our neighbourhood as well as in the ‘Global South’, taking into account mutual needs and interests in order to foster real and balanced partnershipsthe Global South and the Neighbourhood, based on mutual economic and security needs, prioritizing partnerships with democratic governments and nations committed to upholding human rights and international law;
Amendment 890 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
37. Highlights the role of the VP/HR as a bridge-builder between the CFSP and EU external relations to ensure the highest level of coordination and coherence in EU external action; regrets, nonetheless, that in some cases there is a lack ofneed to strengthen the role of the VP/HR as the primary EU representative in CFSP matters and to delineate clearity inly the external representation of the EU; stresses the need to clearly define the competencroles of the VP/HR, the President of the Commission, and the President of the European Council with regard to the EU’s external action and representationto ensure unified EU action abroad. Calls for the High Representative to meaningfully engage with the national parliaments to facilitate closer alignment on foreign policy priorities and enhance democratic legitimacy across Member States;
Amendment 926 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 39
Paragraph 39
39. Calls on the Commission to effectively and swiftly useprioritize the deployment of the Global Gateway as a robust, sustainable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and as an instrument to increase the EU’s presence and visibility worldwide, enhancing EU presence, infrastructure investment, and visibility in strategic regions, particularly in Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America;
Amendment 957 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 43 – introductory part
Paragraph 43 – introductory part
43. Underlines the EU’s missions and operations abroad for promoting peace, security and progress in Europe and in the world; calls on the VP/HR:Calls on the VP/HR to follow-up the examples of the successful evacuation actions in Sudan, enhance consular protection mechanisms, and develop strategies to counter hybrid attacks on the EU’s eastern border, particularly those involving weaponized migration as a tactic to destabilize Member States and exert political pressure;
Amendment 1008 #
2024/2080(INI)
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Underlines that CFSP or CSDP decisions entailing expenditure always constitute basic choices for these policiesmust be subject to parliamentary oversight; calls on the VP/HR to consult the European Parliament before he makes any such proposals for CFSP or CSDP decisionproposing CFSP or CSDP decisions, ensuring transparency and accountability in line with Article 36 TEU; recommends structured dialogues between the High Representative and national parliaments to uphold accountability at both EU and national levels;
Amendment 81 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
Amendment 91 #
2024/0176(BUD)
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Insists that the Commission must guarantee that EU funds are not allocated or linked to any form of terrorism and/or religious and political radicalisation; reiterates its position that all schoolbooks and school materials supported by Union funds must be in line with UNESCO standards of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and non-violence; is concerned about the antisemitism, hate speech and incitement to jihad and violence taught in Palestinian school textbooks, indirectly funded by the EU; underlines the importance of EU funds to be directed towards the proper training of Palestinian teachers in line with UNESCO education standards; stresses that conditionality of EU financial assistance in the educational sector needs to be duly considered;