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There is no consent without a ‘yes’

On Monday, 27 April 2026, MEP Irena Joveva took part in a plenary debate on the importance of non-consensual rape legislation in the European Union, where she stressed that the concept of consent should be understood simply – ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

In her introduction, the MEP highlighted the Istanbul Convention, which clearly states that rape is any sexual act without free and explicit consent, which has been signed by all Member States but has still not been uniformly transposed into national criminal law.

She pointed out that this is primarily a question of political will and was critical of countries that support the convention on a declarative level but do not put its principles into practice:

“The will of those who have clearly forgotten that without a clear yes – there is nothing. That silence is not consent. That fear is not consent. And that the inability to say ‘no’ in no way means ‘yes’.”

In conclusion, Joveva stated that, in her opinion, the decision should not be a matter of complicated legal debates, but rather a clear choice between protecting victims or not protecting them.

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“Blank intrusion into everyone’s private communications on the internet is not child protection.”

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, MEP Irena Joveva participated in the plenary debate entitled Child Sexual Abuse Online: Protect Children, Not Perpetrators, where she emphasized that everyone agrees that child protection is essential, but the proposed approaches, which involve mass interference in private communications on the Internet, are not an appropriate solution.

In her opening remarks, Joveva warned that the title and the framework of the debate create a misleading impression, as if opponents of the proposed measures are defending child sexual abusers. In her opinion, the proposed measures, such as mass interference in private communications, do not mean effective protection of children, but rather set a dangerous precedent for general surveillance of the communications of all users.

She also highlighted the role of large technology companies, which already have large amounts of personal data at their disposal, and that additional powers to review private messages could further increase interference with individuals’ privacy and open up room for abuse, including the possibility of broader control over society:

“It means that privately sent pictures of our children in swimsuits will continue to be reviewed by Facebook staff. It means that intimate photos of couples may suddenly no longer be private. Above all, it means unimaginable possibilities for surveillance of people. A wet dream for repressive regimes.”

In conclusion, she concluded that measures to combat child sexual abuse online should be specifically targeted at perpetrators of criminal acts, rather than designed as a general surveillance of all internet users, and at the same time called for caution in political and public debates in which the argument of child protection is often used, as such calls may hide solutions that ultimately harm the rights of everyone – including children.

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“A Europe That Cares for Mental Health Cares for Its People”

On Thursday, 9 October 2025, Member of the European Parliament Irena Joveva took part in the plenary debate marking World Mental Health Day, stressing that mental health must be placed at the heart of European policymaking. “Mental health is not a luxury. It is a fundamental human right. It is dignity,” Joveva declared.

At the outset, Joveva recalled that the European Commission in the previous term presented the European Strategy for Mental Health, describing it as a step in the right direction — but still insufficiently ambitious.

“Mental health doesn’t begin in hospitals, it begins in societies that provide people with security, stability, and opportunity.”

She therefore called for concrete action, including stronger social safety nets, access to affordable housing, the reduction of poverty and inequality, better protection against burnout, and the integration of mental health into the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Joveva also drew attention to the growing impact of artificial intelligence on mental health, a factor often underestimated by society.

“Our societies are increasingly dependent on algorithms. Artificial intelligence shapes our lives — and our emotions. AI had been among the reasons that led one teenager to take his own life.”

In conclusion, Joveva advocated for clear EU-level rules and safeguards to ensure that the European Union genuinely demonstrates care for mental health — and, by doing so, care for its people.

Photo / EP: Fred Marvaux

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Now or Never

On Tuesday, 7 October 2025, Member of the European Parliament Irena Joveva took part in the plenary debate on the European Union’s role in supporting the latest peace efforts for Gaza and the two-state solution. “Now or never. Not tomorrow. Not next week,” Joveva said, underscoring the urgency of establishing peace.

At the outset, Joveva stressed that the moment has come for the international community to move beyond mere expressions of condemnation and to take concrete action.

“Now or never. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now or never,” she repeated, adding that this is also the moment for all those who continue to justify the atrocities committed by the Israeli state against the Palestinian people “to show that at least a spark of humanity still remains within them.”

Joveva went on to acknowledge the latest peace plan proposed by Trump, but cautioned that its relative moderation compared to the previous so-called “Middle East Riviera” plan did not make it acceptable. She explained that the new plan contains neither mechanisms to protect the Palestinian population nor provisions to prevent further displacement.

“Instead of safeguards against the annexation of Palestinian territory and the unification of Gaza and the West Bank, the plan effectively introduces their separation through the creation of parallel systems,” she said.

In Joveva’s view, plans alone do not bring justice; words do not stop bombs, and speeches do not feed hungry children. She argued that the international community failed at the moment when decisive action was most needed — and therefore must not fail now, when it comes to holding Israel accountable for violations of international law.

In conclusion, Joveva reminded that Palestinians are still dying under rubble and bombs, and children are dying of hunger. “I will repeat it: Now or never — let us prove that we are not just commentators and witnesses to tragedy. Now or never — let us stand on the side of humanity,” she concluded.

Foto/EP: Philippe STIRNWEISS

 

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Listen Carefully, Colleagues

On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Slovenian Member of the European Parliament Irena Joveva took part in a plenary debate on the European Commission’s progress report on North Macedonia for the years 2023 and 2024. In a powerful and emotional speech, she reminded her colleagues that the report reflects the European journey of a candidate country and its people.

At the outset, Joveva emphasized that the purpose of the report is to monitor the progress of a candidate country that has, throughout its accession process, faced repeated instances of unjustified conditionality, political blockades, and disrespect. Despite these obstacles, she said, the people of North Macedonia have consistently upheld the values the EU claims to champion—perhaps more so than some current member states.

She was unequivocal in stating that the report must not, under any circumstances, become a forum for debating the existence of the Macedonian nation, its language, or identity:

“While I personally support the paragraph in question and will not vote to have it removed, I must be honest with the Macedonian people: I know it hurts. It hurts me, too. But do not accept the narrative that the European Parliament has taken your identity or language from you. That is simply not true.“

Joveva went on to condemn political manipulation and populist misinterpretations that exploit sensitive issues of identity to undermine both the EU enlargement process and public trust in European institutions. “The Macedonian language is authentic. Your attempts to deny it are modern-day fiction. A national identity that has endured for centuries will not be erased by one vote or your lobbying.”

She concluded her speech by reminding that the Macedonian nation does not need anyone else’s permission to exist.

Foto/EP: Brigitte HASE

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EMFA is one of the greatest achievements of our previous term

On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Slovenian Member of the European Parliament Irena Joveva took part in the European Parliament’s plenary session during a debate on the state of implementation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) across EU Member States.

Joveva opened her remarks by stressing that EMFA stands as one of the cornerstone legislative achievements of the Parliament’s previous term. The act was developed in response to growing concerns over media interference and political pressure—concerns rooted not in theory, but in real, lived experiences, including her own country:

“This legislation was born out of necessity. It came as a response to direct political attacks—such as those by the Janša government on the Slovenian Press Agency and RTV Slovenia. Unfortunately. And when you experience this firsthand, you understand just how vital strong European safeguards really are.”

She warned that while the act is set to come fully into force in just one month, many Member States are failing to take its implementation seriously. Some have yet to begin preparations at all. In light of this, Joveva called on the European Commission to immediately initiate infringement proceedings against governments that are falling behind:

“Since the act’s adoption, media freedom has deteriorated in parts of the EU—Slovakia is just one example. And no media outlet anywhere in Europe is truly immune to political pressure. Media freedom is like any other freedom: once it’s suffocated, it’s incredibly hard to bring back. Its value only becomes clear when it’s gone.”

She also underlined that the EMFA includes a range of crucial safeguards: protection for journalists and editors from political interference, insulation from private interests, and limits on the unaccountable influence of digital platforms. But these guarantees, she stressed, are only as strong as the political will to enforce them:

“Provisions on paper are not enough. Without firm, consistent implementation—especially by the Commission—these safeguards risk remaining little more than principled declarations, devoid of real impact.”

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”They are prepared”

On Monday, July 7, 2025, Slovenian MEP Irena Joveva addressed the European Parliament during a heated plenary debate ahead of a vote on the resolution “On the remembrance of victims of the post-war communist period in Slovenia.” Her intervention was a sharp condemnation of what she described as a dangerous political rewriting of history: “They love their homeland so much that they’re ready to sell it. Much like they would change the historical truth.”

Joveva began by placing the debate in a broader geopolitical context. While the world is facing wars, genocide, and the unraveling of liberal democracy—with equality reduced to a mere illusion—some MEPs, she argued, have chosen instead to distort Slovenia’s past by promoting a historically inaccurate resolution aimed at rewriting its post-war period.

She strongly denounced this deliberate political instrumentalization of history, calling it a form of cynicism of the lowest kind. In her speech, she pointed out the glaring hypocrisy of those supporting the resolution:

“The resolution is being endorsed, for example, by those in Austria who question Slovenia’s territorial integrity through their national anthem. And by those who, over the weekend, shouted that they are prepared at the concert. So these so-called Slovenian patriots love their country so much—they’re ready to sell it.”

Joveva emphasized that such actions are not about honoring victims or upholding dignity, but are instead a calculated attempt to reshape historical narratives to serve narrow political agendas:

”They are prepared. They’ve begun rewriting history. And they will continue by tearing down everything we once took for granted in the European Union.”

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Shameless Hypocrites

On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Member of the European Parliament Irena Joveva participated in the European Parliament’s plenary debate on halting the genocide in Gaza and the possibility of EU sanctions. “Finally. With the title of this debate, this chamber is officially acknowledging what some of us have been saying for years. What is happening in Gaza is genocide,” she declared.

In her address, Joveva took a hard line against those who, despite daily reports of atrocities, continue to justify Israel’s actions or ignore the international community’s responsibility to halt the genocide:

“Those of you who still refuse to see it, who continue to hide behind courts or legal technicalities, are not just complicit. You are shameless hypocrites. You are undermining the very legal foundations you so proudly claim to defend.”

She also condemned the political manipulation and distraction tactics surrounding Israel’s attacks on Iran—launched, notably, just as domestic and international pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was mounting.

“A coincidence, is it? /…/ And then some still dare to speak of Israel’s right to self-defense ‘in this context.’ What context? The Israeli army is shooting at people standing in line for food. These are not stray bullets in the fog of war. This is deliberate, cold, calculated. Even the little humanitarian aid that makes it through is being turned into a deadly weapon.”

In light of all this, Joveva issued a clear and urgent call for decisive EU action.

“Stop. Do not be complicit. Impose sanctions on Israel. If you don’t, you continue to support genocide. If only one side has an army, equipment, and weapons… this is not a war. This is a massacre.”

 

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It is clear who threatens the stability in the Middle East the most

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Member of the European Parliament Irena Joveva took part in a plenary session of the European Parliament during a debate on the growing threat of instability in the Middle East following escalating Israeli-Iranian military tensions, the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and the genocide in Gaza. Joveva made a pointed statement during the session: “It is painfully clear who poses the greatest threat to the stability of the Middle East.”

“The Middle East is torn by conflict. Genocide. Suffering. Injustice—not driven by ancient rivalries, but by ongoing impunity, military aggression, and systematic denial of human rights.”

With these words, Joveva opened her address, continuing with a firm denunciation of Israel’s sustained attacks on Gaza, its devastating strikes on Lebanon, and its increasingly aggressive posture across the region. She stressed that these actions do not constitute legitimate self-defense, but are part of a deliberate pattern aimed at destabilizing the region.

Amid rising tensions with Iran, Joveva also highlighted the harmful role of the United States, particularly that of the Trump administration, whose aggressive rhetoric she said was further inflaming an already volatile situation.

She went on to call out the double standards of those who continue to justify such armed aggression under the pretext of self-defense, despite clear evidence pointing to who truly threatens regional stability. To them, she had a direct message:

“If the European Union truly wants peaceful and diplomatic solutions, then it is long past time to draw the line against this aggressor—starting with suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement and enforcing the rulings of the International Criminal Court. Immediately.”

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“Yes, anti-Semitism is on the rise. And yes, anti-Islamism is on the rise.”

On 7 February, MEP Irena Joveva (Svoboda/Renew) took part in a debate on the need to combat the growing anti-Semitism and hatred of Muslims at the plenary session in Strasbourg. ”Yes, anti-Semitism is on the rise. And yes, anti-Islamism is on the rise.”

Let’s be honest and say both. Let’s also honestly say why. Because of the escalation of the situation in Gaza. Because of the war in Gaza. Because of the genocide that Israel has been carrying out against the Palestinian people for at least four months.

But although it is triggered like a tsunami after an earthquake, it is actually a deep-rooted structural racism based on hatred. Unfortunately. Hatred is like a virus and spreads like an epidemic. It also brings violence, hate crimes, revenge on religious or ethical grounds into our society. Their manifestation is further accelerated by social networks, which enable online attacks, the spread of conspiracy theories and disinformation. All of the above has no place in modern society.

And it saddens me that it is precisely on the basis of such horrific acts that radical right-wing political parties thrive and grow, even though it is precisely we – politicians – who must lead by example, teach and direct the moral and value positions of people. A patriot is NOT someone who demonstrates this by hating others.

You can watch the full video here.

Photo: EP – Alexis HAULOT

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