Speeches

The brutal act of terrorism carried out by Hamas in Israel targeting defenceless citizens has constituted an abject action that should be strongly condemned by the European Parliament, while expressing solidarity with the people of Israel and offering condolences to the families of the victims. The right to defence of the State of Israel is inalienable, but it must respect international humanitarian law, namely not using civilian populations as targets or destroying basic infrastructure as weapons. As the European Parliament's standing rapporteur on humanitarian aid, I emphasise the priority that must be given to opening humanitarian corridors to the Gaza Strip and strengthening humanitarian aid from the international community. In particular, I emphasise that European Union humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, based on the general principles of humanism, impartiality, independence and neutrality of humanitarian assistance, must continue to be guaranteed to the extent and for the time necessary, bearing in mind that it is crucial for the survival of the most vulnerable civilian populations.

Madam President, Commissioner, Haiti is a politically and institutionally shattered state in the hands of organised people with a population exposed to brutal suffering. In particular, since 2018, the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, the devastating earthquake of 2021 and the permanent escalation of violence have led to a context of profound humanitarian catastrophe. Violence, food shortages and the failure of health and education systems mean that 45% of Haiti’s population is estimated to be in a state of need. We cannot ignore the fact that, during this mandate, we have repeatedly discussed the situation in Haiti in the committees of this Parliament, in plenary and have always concluded, with broad consensus, that urgent action is needed. However, despite our stated intentions, actions have been restricted and the situation on the ground has never been reversed, quite the contrary, it has continued to deteriorate. It is necessary to ensure that the Transitional Council, whose objective will be to appoint a new Prime Minister, ensure institutional stabilisation and ensure the holding of impartial presidential elections by February 2026, has the necessary support to carry out its mission. For this, the rapid establishment and intervention of a mission supported by the United Nations is crucial to achieve a security context, in order to comply with the timetable for institutional normalization. It is also key to enabling the reopening of ports and airports, decisive action to address the humanitarian catastrophe, hunger and shortage of medicines. That's enough! Enough with the words. It's time to act. Haiti can no longer be a forgotten crisis.

Madam President, Mr High Representative, the condemnation of the international community in general, and of the European Union in particular, of the abuses of international humanitarian law by the Israeli defence forces in the Gaza Strip, has risen in tone and has even led to the adoption of a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire. However, on the ground, the numbers of civic and humanitarian catastrophe continue to rise. More and more humanitarian workers, journalists, civilians, especially women and children, are injured or lost their lives in a war that does not seem to recognize ethical and legal boundaries. Let us be practical, Mr High Representative, with the courage and clarity that I recognise in this whole process, in which I find myself, and which I thank you for today, we have to question ourselves. We will act to prevent the weakening reported daily by UNRWA and prevent situations such as the one that led to the suspension of UNRWA's activities. World Central Kitchen? How and when? Will we review the conformity of Israel's implementation of Article 2 of the Association Agreement with the European Union? When and how? Will we suspend arms supplies and ban trade with illegal settlements? When and how? The people of Gaza, the victims of this conflict, are waiting for our answers.

Mr President, Commissioner, we cannot run the risk of trivialising the destruction and brutal suffering induced by the deliberate non-application of the most basic rules of international humanitarian law by the State of Israel in the Gaza Strip. As I have said in many speeches in my capacity as the European Parliament's standing rapporteur for humanitarian aid, the State of Israel has the right to defend itself, but it cannot do so in breach of the law and respect for human rights. What is happening in the Gaza Strip is unacceptable: more than 30,000 dead and 70,000 injured, mostly women and children, many of them for not resisting malnutrition and dehydration, or collateral victims of attacks by Israeli forces on aid delivery trucks. Action is needed, an immediate cease-fire is needed. Israel must comply with the ruling of the International Court of Justice and facilitate access to humanitarian aid. The attack on the humanitarian convoy on February 29 should be urgently investigated by an independent body. Also as a matter of urgency, the European Union must continue to fund UNRWA and set the necessary example so that donors who have suspended their contribution can reconsider the decision, relying on the ongoing investigation and considering the crucial role that the organisation plays in providing the necessary humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.

Madam President, Commissioner, I rise because of the impossibility of the author, Udo Bullman, rapporteur in the Committee on Development. Despite the announcement in June 2023 of the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with Tunisia and the inclusion of a €150 million budget support package for macroeconomic reforms, the European Commission only launched the process of adopting this special measure on 20 December 2023 through an urgent written procedure, taking advantage of the Christmas holidays. This procedure raises many concerns for the European Parliament, in particular with regard to the issue of migration. The procedure used by the European Commission neglected the role of the European Parliament, as there were no exchanges of information, informal or formal consultations prior to its adoption and showed a lack of respect for parliamentary scrutiny and the comitology procedure. We remind the Commission of the obligation to respect the conditionality criteria, mainly human rights and the rule of law in Tunisia, as indicated by both the Treaty on European Union and the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation. In view of the significant deterioration of fundamental rights in Tunisia since 2021, a detailed assessment of the human rights and fundamental rights situation in that country is needed to assess whether conditions are in place for the effective disbursement of the agreed budget support. In that context, the European Parliament cannot ignore the lack of transparency and respect for the power of scrutiny of that institution, nor the inadequacy of the timetable and procedures chosen by the Commission to adopt that decision, in disregard of the principle of mutual and sincere cooperation between the institutions of the European Union. This special measure cannot create a dangerous precedent. Therefore, Commissioner, we call on the Commission to suspend its application. Finally, while the resolution requires the Commission to provide a number of detailed information in writing, the upcoming high-level geopolitical dialogue will be a timely occasion to obtain more detailed explanations on the timing and procedure chosen by the European Commission.

Mr President, Commissioner, rising inequalities are both the consequence and the root of a global disorder that serves the most powerful and stifles the dignity of peoples' rights. As radical nationalist tensions that open the door to authoritarianism and isolationism grow, we know from empirical evidence and scientific knowledge that major global problems such as climate change, endemic poverty, manipulative disinformation or food insecurity can only be solved with policies articulated and implemented on a global scale. And so we have to build a new ethical charter of survival. And how? Around the Sustainable Development Goals implemented in a cross-cutting way. And the European Union, as I said, must set an example on this path, both in its internal choices and choices and in the processes of cooperation or economic and political recovery on an international scale. In particular, we must bet on the achievement of goal 10 - Reduce inequality within and between countries, and monitor and report on the implementation of the measures that aim to achieve the goals defined in the framework of this goal.

Madam President, Commissioner, the situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a multifaceted conflict of enormous interregional complexity, aggravated by the occurrence of excessive rainfall and flooding. More than 6 million people are displaced in the country, 80% of whom have been forced into displacement by war and insecurity. In the Eastern region the situation is worsening, millions of lives are at risk, in particular of women, girls and children. The abundance of natural resources, rather than providing wealth and sustainable development, has attracted powerful local, regional and global interests striving to capture and control these resources. With the ongoing withdrawal of the United Nations mission in Monusco, and the difficulties facing the mission of the Community of Southern African Countries - I am well aware, Commissioner, of the work you have done to strengthen this mission in Angola - and in particular the presence on the ground of armed groups and movements, in particular the M23, it is essential that the national authorities and the international community work together to stop the multiple interferences that fuel the conflict. Immediately, as the European Parliament's standing rapporteur for humanitarian aid, I call for the strengthening of humanitarian corridors and support for organisations on the ground seeking to respond to the huge humanitarian disaster that is raging in the region.

Madam President, Commissioner, commitment to human rights, democracy and social justice is the strongest geopolitical pillar of the European Union. The example of our multilateral partnership of dialogue and peace served to design a soft power that has become a global benchmark. But now? Now it's not enough. As this report shows, the past few years have been marked by deep setbacks in all these areas. Authoritarianism, the corruption of rights, rampant inequalities, the multiplication of failed states, have spread violence, suffering and poverty in many parts of the globe. The world needs more Europe of human rights, more Europe of justice, more Europe of sustainability. We must affirm our partnerships for human development and sustainable development, continuing to base them on the right of sovereignty of peoples, but becoming vehicles for strengthening civil societies, freedom of expression, dignity and the values we share. Finally, as the European Parliament’s rapporteur on humanitarian aid, I warn that the implementation of the proposed sanctions should take into account the humanitarian exceptions provided for in Resolution 2664, adopted in 2022 by the United Nations.

Madam President, I address you and congratulate you on the lucid and courageous positions you, together with High Representative Josep Borrell, have taken on the ever-increasing political and humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip. As the European Parliament's standing rapporteur for humanitarian aid, I condemn the repeated abuses of the principles of international humanitarian law practiced on the ground. Israel's legitimate right of defence cannot obliterate the guarantee of human rights and democratic principles as set out in Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I hope that the efforts being made at the moment for a rapid truce will be successful and that it will be the first step towards the necessary ceasefire. But let's be clear. A ceasefire does not resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, nor does it in itself create the conditions for a transition that respects treaties and international relations. It is crucial that, in parallel with investigating the inappropriate behaviour of some UNRWA staff and strengthening the monitoring system, UNRWA continues to have the appropriate funding and support to ensure its irreplaceable humanitarian work in Gaza.