Speeches

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, racism and discriminatory practices in the European Union are a major obstacle to the achievement of rights and opportunities, seriously undermining human dignity, well-being and personal security. Minorities and social groups, including LGBTQI people, continue to face socio-economic inequalities affecting employment and access to essential health, education, housing and justice services. Fourteen years after the adoption of the Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia, not all Member States have correctly transposed the provisions to criminalise conduct generated by hatred and incitement to hatred. European legislation is evolving to tackle these rampant phenomena also online, but this is not enough. The EU anti-racism action plan should have measurable objectives and follow-up mechanisms. Culture and the media should have a priority role in combating racial prejudices and stereotypes, as well as in promoting equality and social inclusion. A Europe united in diversity is built without intolerance and discrimination.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the military escalation in Ukraine continues to cause casualties and destruction, forcing people to flee in search of safety and protection. According to UNHCR, more than 4 350 000 Ukrainian refugees are registered in the European Union for temporary protection or other similar measures. The European response is unprecedented in providing financial support and ensuring housing, food, work, education and healthcare, especially for women and children, who are most at risk of violence and abuse. But there is also food insecurity, the increase in energy prices, which are causing instability such as to trigger further migration flows from third countries to Europe. Therefore, a reform of the Common European Asylum System can no longer be postponed in order to provide rapid responses to migratory challenges, both in terms of solidarity and in terms of fair sharing of responsibility. To avoid devastating knock-on effects it is in everyone's interest to work to stop the voice of arms and that is why the Movement will join the demonstration in Rome, without party flags, for peace.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the eradication of poverty means the fight for human dignity, which is the basis of every fundamental right: freedom, justice, peace. Strong of this conviction, as a 5 Star Movement we have always supported measures such as the introduction of citizenship income and the minimum wage, in order to protect the most vulnerable and combat poverty and social exclusion. The socio-economic impact of the pandemic and the war requires us to raise more resources than the European Social Fund Plus, the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived and NextGenerationEU. We need an Energy Recovery Fund to address rising energy prices and rising energy poverty. If we fail to correct the inequalities that concentrate wealth in the hands of a few and limit access to job opportunities, access to key goods and services, we will never have a just society that can help those left behind.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, since 2014, Russia has secretly transferred rivers of money to parties, associations and individuals from different countries to create a network of influence and consensus. The European Parliament has also dealt with the relationship between the Kremlin and European political forces, on which we want more depth and clarity. This picture makes us understand the threats posed by the activities of those in Europe who amplify the propaganda system of authoritarian regimes such as Putin's. Fake news and online disinformation are dangerous tools for war policies to undermine support for Ukraine, orient public opinion and interfere in democratic processes. More efforts are needed to tackle covert forms of funding from foreign regimes, to strengthen fact-checking and cooperation of social media platforms with authorities. Europe's security depends on its ability to defend itself against foreign interference, but above all on an inevitable peace process to which the whole of the Union must strive without ifs and buts.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, despite the efforts made by the European Union with cohesion policy, over the last eight years the South of Italy has suffered an unparalleled demographic decline within the European Union. In particular, regions such as Molise, Calabria and Basilicata have lost hundreds of thousands of residents. We know that cohesion policy has a decisive role to play in tackling demographic challenges of this scale and I therefore ask you whether you do not consider it necessary to review the strategies developed for rural and peripheral areas, including more specific funding opportunities, so as to strengthen youth employment, entrepreneurship, digitalisation, access to health and public services. I would also like to ask you how the European Commission intends to protect the implementation of national and regional strategies for inland areas in the 2021-2027 programming period through an efficient use of European resources, considering that, for example, in my region, Calabria, the funding of some territorial strategies for inland areas has been cancelled from the programme due to delays in the launch of these strategies.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, with the COVID-19 pandemic, Member States have understood the importance of improving common responses to cross-border health emergencies. Strengthening cooperation at European level will enable more effective coordination to prevent and prepare for managing not only infectious diseases, but also different threats to public health of environmental, food, biological and chemical origin. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control will be a key player for monitoring, analysis and advice, both before and during the crisis. The availability of sufficient supplies of health products and services that are accessible to all must be a priority in national and European planning, as well as every effort must be made to reduce our dependence on third countries on medicines and medical devices. Transparency and participation must be characterized in every decision-making process, as well as negotiations with industries in the sector. The stronger the European Health Union, the stronger the health protection of the rights of European citizens.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, practices and policies detrimental to fundamental rights have taken different forms in the last two years in Europe: Attacks on the rights of women, LGBTQ minorities, refugees, media freedom and judicial independence remain persistent in some Member States. New threats to human rights and democracy manifest themselves online and with the misuse of surveillance technology. The pandemic has also had a significant impact on education, labour and health rights; It has exacerbated inequalities, gender-based violence, hate speech, disinformation and discrimination affecting, as always, the most vulnerable individuals and groups. While violations of the rule of law are considered systemic in some countries, their enforcement is difficult despite frequent calls for the application of monitoring mechanisms for prevention purposes, the instruments provided for by European law, including the Conditionality Regulation. It is on this level that every effort and action must be renewed to put an end to the deterioration of fundamental rights and freedoms.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the prolonged drought that has hit Europe this year has been announced as the worst in 500 years. There has been a shortage of water resources in the Union with implications for agricultural and hydropower production, shipping and river transport. The succession of heat waves has triggered health alarms especially for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly. Moreover, in 2022 the fire season in Europe started early and the destruction of forested areas caused by fires reached new records, as did carbon emissions. Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous disturbances in nature, affecting the lives of millions of people. The intensification of extreme weather events and natural disasters is expected to increase both in terms of severity, duration and extent, as well as to lead to loss of life and extensive material damage. The European Environment Agency estimates that over the course of this century the frequency of flooding will triple, while the frequency of heatwaves, droughts and fires will increase more than tenfold over the same period. It is therefore necessary to direct our efforts in a twofold direction to counter this trend: The European Union needs to improve its responses to future emergencies by developing strategies for the prevention and management of natural disasters, strengthening the European Civil Protection Mechanism and solidarity between Member States. On the other hand, it is essential not to disregard the roadmap for achieving the objectives set by the Green Deal: Achieving a circular economy and a climate-neutral society by 2050 requires us to overcome several challenges, especially in the field of energy policies, focusing on renewable sources and the use of emission-neutral resources. This result must be a categorical commitment to the well-being of present and future generations and to the protection of every form of life on our planet.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the revelations about the use of Predator spyware and telephone tapping in Greece have become the subject of a scandal involving secret services, government authorities and software providers. The seriousness of this case shows how difficult it is to protect oneself from the abuses of current cyber surveillance systems, how difficult it is to identify responsibilities and also to distinguish legitimate activities from illegal ones. We cannot ignore the dangers facing the institutions, its representatives and its citizens. When people like my colleague Nikos Androulakis, a member of an opposition party in his country, or investigative journalists dealing with bank crimes, corruption, refugees are targeted in the European Union, the problem is clearly not only national, but European: Our common values, fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law are under threat. So we need a European legal framework that is clear about surveillance technologies and services and that is able to put in place control mechanisms and tools that allow citizens to defend themselves against violations of their rights.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, as was mentioned a few days ago, because of the high temperatures, a huge detachment of ice has caused the death of several people in the Marmolada mountains in Italy. In addition, the Italian Council of Ministers has deliberated on the state of emergency due to drought for five days. Globally, the number and duration of droughts has increased by 29 percent since 2000, and if this trend continues, several studies suggest that by 2030, 700 million people will be at risk of being displaced by drought, and by 2050, 75 percent of the world's population will be affected by drought. It is therefore essential to direct our efforts and resources towards environmentally sustainable actions, reduction of emissions and agricultural practices that waste less water and, more generally, towards actions to protect the territory in line with the new climatic conditions. The Earth no longer launches timid alarms, we have reached a critical point faster than expected. We live our lives more sustainably, because we owe it to present and future generations.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the increase in the cost of living is having economic and social consequences, which are being urgently addressed by European governments. In Italy, but not only, particularly problematic increases concern household expenses related to housing, water, electricity and fuels. The rise in energy and commodity prices has increasingly widened the scope of inflationary pressure. The ongoing war and geopolitical tensions pose several questions to us about our energy dependency, the market speculation to be countered, and the setting of maximum caps for gas and oil. At this stage, it becomes even more important to demand the correct and effective use of European funds, including NextGenerationEU and European Social Fund Plus. Support for recovery, business investment, economic and territorial cohesion cannot be separated from the protection of vulnerable social groups and the purchasing power of wages. In-work poverty is also prevented by ensuring adequate minimum wages to meet the needs of workers and their families.

(IT) Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, there has recently been news of a 10-year-old girl who is pregnant because she is a victim of rape, who is denied abortion by law in Ohio, and who has been asked for medical assistance in the neighbouring State of Indiana to carry it out. This drama describes the first, devastating effects of the U.S. Supreme Court's retrograde ruling, which cancels the federally guaranteed protection of the right to abortion. There is a worrying backsliding in the protection of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in the United States and some Member States of the European Union. It is only hypocrisy to think of preventing abortions by criminalizing them, making them inaccessible, unlegal and insecure; when this happens, in fact, the use of clandestine pregnancy interruptions increases, lives are endangered, discrimination is created between those who can afford health services in a different State and those who cannot. Becoming a mother should everywhere be a choice based on universally recognized rights and not the result of an imposition or, even worse, of violence.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the green light for Poland's national recovery plan of almost EUR 36 billion is revealing a hypocritical attitude on the part of the European institutions: The strong defence of the rule of law is invoked, but then inadequate decisions are taken for this purpose. Although the Article 7 procedure has been active since 2017, the situation on judicial independence has deteriorated to the point of questioning the primacy of European Union law and the European Convention on Human Rights. The problems denounced in the resolutions of the European Parliament and in the judgments of the Court of Justice have not been definitively resolved, in particular with regard to the disciplinary regime for judges and the reinstatement of judges who had lost their positions for political reasons. The activation of the conditionality mechanism to protect the EU budget from breaches of the rule of law has also been called for several times. While acknowledging the great contribution made to the reception of Ukrainian refugees, let us not forget the many debates on attacks on press freedom and civil rights. Newspapers reported that five Commissioners do not share the plan's approval and are critical of the plans. milestones They should solve the problems of the independence of the Polish judiciary. Here, then, the Commission has the role of guardian of the Treaties and is responsible for the application of European law. The transfer of funds, without a concrete solution to the issues concerning the restoration of the rule of law, risks not only undermining the role of the Commission, but also undermining the credibility of the European institutions and the trust of citizens in it.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the momentous challenge of climate neutrality and environmental protection requires global cooperation and we are all called upon to tackle it: businesses, workers, civil society and political actors. The Five Star Movement has always fought in Italy and Europe for the Green Deal, making the ecological transition the foundation of its political action. Drastic emission reductions by 2030 must be achieved by promoting renewables, energy independence from fossil fuels, a fair mechanism that incentivises decarbonisation and helps innovate industrial and production systems. That is why we welcome with great satisfaction the end of the exemptions of waste incineration from emissions trading, because this will make it less convenient to burn waste and thus respect the principles of the circular economy. So that these transformations are also socially just, adequate support will be needed for those most affected by energy and mobility poverty. We are talking about goals that are no longer renewable and therefore we need to accelerate the creation of a future green and resilient economy, from which everyone can seize new opportunities and benefits.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the regression of the rule of law and democracy observed in some Member States represents a systemic threat to the European Union, to fundamental rights and to citizens' freedoms. The Commission's efforts to identify developments in key areas such as the justice system, the anti-corruption framework, media pluralism and other issues of systematic checks and balances are not enough, we need to go further. I have always advocated a broad monitoring mechanism, encompassing all the European values of Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union in order to protect them and, above all, to prevent their violations. It is hypocrisy to think of countering the emergence or aggravation of problems concerning the rule of law without guaranteeing an effective follow-up the annual report. If it is not taken as a reference for stringent country-specific recommendations, for the activation of Article 7 and for the Conditionality Regulation or for infringement procedures and other relevant instruments, it is clear that we will never have a comprehensive system of rapid preventive, corrective and sanctioning measures.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in the European Union, the list of victims of spyware attacks such as Pegasus continues to grow. It is a serious and alarming phenomenon that does not spare political leaders, journalists, human rights defenders in the Member States. Fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and personal security are therefore under threat. As we know, among those targeted there would also be high-level representatives of the European Commission, MEPs and their co-workers. No one can feel safe. The Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry that was set up to investigate these activities has begun to examine the degree of involvement of European governments and also other actors. The emerging scenarios require urgent regulation of the surveillance industry for the use, sale, and export of its technologies and services. We must identify the lack of transparency and responsibility of companies and users, colleagues have asked several times before me. We must continue in this direction to put in place measures to combat abuses, control mechanisms and tools that allow citizens to defend themselves against violations of their rights.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I would always like to go back to the energy recovery fund because we are convinced that it would contribute to investments in energy efficiency and especially in buildings for the infrastructure necessary to interconnect Europe with regard to energy produced with renewables to create energy communities and other consumption systems. In Italy, the 110 percent superbonus has been achieved, which has given a truly important march to restart the economy and to ensure the efficiency of private and state properties. I would therefore like to ask you whether there really is any possibility of prioritising and introducing this financial instrument in such a way as to give a concrete and immediate response.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the recovery fund was the ambitious and unified response of a European Union that was put to the test by the pandemic. We have tackled in this way a crisis that could not be addressed individually by the Member States, but at this moment we are facing another pandemic, which is the energy pandemic and which requires a similar response. Safer and more accessible renewable energy sources will help solve problems related to the environment, climate change and security, reduce costs for households and businesses and achieve energy autonomy from third countries. We would also avoid indirectly contributing to the financing of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine with the proceeds from the sale of its fossil fuels. All of these goals are part of the strategy. REPower EU, but extraordinary time and resources are needed, funds that not all countries have at their disposal. I ask you why you do not put forward a legislative proposal for a Energy Recovery Fund Funded by European funds? Because in this way we would work with ambition to solve the problems of citizens.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Schengen area is an achievement from which indisputable economic and social benefits derive. Strengthening its resilience means ensuring its smooth functioning when facing evolving threats and challenges, such as migratory pressure, terrorism and the pandemic emergency. The reintroduction of internal border controls should really be a measure of last resort and not an abuse, as we have seen too many times for the containment of secondary movements. We need coordinated responses from the European Union instead of unilateral actions by individual Member States. Simplifying and speeding up the procedures of the evaluation mechanism will make it possible to identify shortcomings in the application of the Schengen provisions and to address them swiftly. Better cooperation between stakeholders will foster mutual trust and sincere cooperation between Member States. Preserving the free movement of persons, goods and services, within a legal framework capable of ensuring a high level of security and justice and respect for fundamental rights, will be essential for the recovery and success of the European Union.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, there have never been any right or wrong wars, each one carrying its own burden of death and pain, and even in Ukraine an increasingly serious humanitarian tragedy is taking place. UNHCR data, set to rise, leaves no room for interpretation. Since 24 February, more than two million Ukrainians have left the country and 1,200,000 have arrived in Poland alone. We can therefore only applaud the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive, because this will make it easier to assist people who are fleeing, offering them immediate rights of residence, access to housing, health, social services and livelihoods. It is important that there is no discrimination against those who, even if they are not Ukrainian citizens, flee from that country and cannot return to their country of origin. It is also important that special attention is paid to vulnerable individuals and minors, especially unaccompanied minors, to ensure legal protection and access to education. The challenge that the solidarity machine will once again face will be overcome if each Member State plays its part.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, thank you to Oksana Zabuzhko for her words, for her testimony. Today my thoughts can only be directed to women of all ages who live in armed conflicts, who are forced to displacement and migration, to live in fragility and any situation that can aggravate inequalities and discrimination. The turbulence of all kinds that crosses our planet continuously threatens social and economic achievements whenever they compress the democratic, civil and ethical space in which our being women manifests itself. We have already experienced how the impact of the pandemic has had disproportionate repercussions on the situation of women, affecting labour market participation, increasing precariousness, unemployment, exacerbating the wage gap and leading to penalties due to increased family and care responsibilities. Gender-based violence in all forms, both online and offline, also continues to remain a drama, significantly affecting the exercise of rights, physical and mental health. Its prevention, prosecution, protection and support mechanisms for victims always require continuous and constant efforts and resources. It can only alarm the backlash over abortion legislation and the right to decide responsibly about one's sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, without coercion and abuse. The issue of gender mainstreaming in European Union legislation and parliamentary activities is another step towards equal rights, which must allow one's diversity to be free to live one's life and achieve it while enjoying equal opportunities. The reflection that accompanies this celebration every year finds its deepest meaning in renewing the commitment of all to the fight against the removal of structural and cultural obstacles that limit participation in decision-making processes and generate inequalities in the path of women's emancipation. The promotion of equality, which is not only a fundamental value of the Union, is a human right, but remains the condition for building a society that can guarantee equality, well-being, peace and security.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, foreign interference endangering the functioning of European democracies and our freedoms is an increasingly complex and evolving phenomenon. As a 5 Star Movement, we have highlighted with our amendments the need for harmonised legislation to counter the dangers of opaque funding methods and in-kind contributions from third countries not only to parties, but also to persons holding elected or public office. We would like to avoid any situation that could expose the European Union and its Member States to the risk of interference, and so should those political forces who, by making a resounding mistake, have preferred to sign cooperation agreements with Putin's party, such as the Northern League, or those who carry out activities as parliamentarians for remuneration attributable to a third State. In wars, as we observe even these days, not only conventional weapons are used. The role of disinformation and fake news On social platforms, the manipulation of facts and narratives goes beyond propaganda to become a global threat to democratic societies.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the effects of restrictions in relational and social life, as well as in the field of work and education, have affected the well-being of young people, exposing them more to the risk of disorientation, precariousness and unemployment. Maintaining dialogue with young European generations, understanding their concerns and aspirations, or even supporting education, training and work projects will be key to overcoming the pandemic crisis and addressing the changes and challenges facing Europe. The process of European integration and the achievement of a greener, more digital and more inclusive Europe will then be able to count on the commitment and participation of young people if we are able to meet their expectations and if we are able to give them new opportunities, without leaving behind those who are most vulnerable and marginalized. The establishment of the European Year of Youth should be an opportunity to prioritise youth issues in all sectoral policies and to promote youth participation in the democratic and decision-making process. Let us ensure that young people are key players in shaping their future and that of Europe.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the recent revelations of the Pegasus project have highlighted the seriousness of the global threat of human rights violations that take place through secret cyber-surveillance. Lo spyware Pegasus, which was sold by a company to fight crime and terrorism, is just one of many tools accused of illegally targeting and spying on politicians, activists, magistrates, journalists or other groups of individuals. Anyone could be abused, with very serious repercussions on fundamental freedoms and even on personal security. There is a real surveillance industry, a market covered by widespread secrecy that offers low-cost and easy-to-access services and technologies. It is therefore extremely important that full clarity is provided on this type of activity, so that the shortcomings of transparency and responsibility of companies and users are addressed. Strict regulation and effective controls are needed regarding States of destination, contracts and all kinds of information pointing out the misuse of these products and the possible violation of fundamental rights.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, there are several questions that arise with temporary emergency measures for the benefit of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. In the context of the proposal, in fact, no concrete problems related to the asylum systems of these countries are mentioned, while highlighting the increase in migratory pressure and the humanitarian crisis caused by the actions of the Belarusian regime. It is stated that it wants to make solidarity operational, but there is no mention of any form of relocation. The possibility to extend the registration of asylum applications up to four weeks and only at specific points close to the border, as well as the application of border procedures, which may last 16 weeks, allows the fictio iuris no entry for a longer period. The question then arises as to whether this will result in more de facto detention camps for those who seek international protection and are victims of political exploitation. Rather than sharing responsibilities in the field of asylum fairly between Member States, the measures seem to be aimed primarily at strengthening border security by facilitating detention and deterrence tools.