Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Mrs. Commissar, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, as EPP shadow rapporteur, I would like to congratulate Yana Toom on her comprehensive report and thank you for the good cooperation. Many citizens, especially young people born in the European Union, seem to enjoy the benefits of citizenship. Only now, when we support our Ukrainian friends in solidarity, do we look for opportunities to improve their situation, e.g. by facilitating their movement, abolishing roaming, helping them access the labour market, enabling them to live or study in the European Union. The privileges we enjoy as European citizens are visible and fully appreciated. The future of Europe will be decided by young people. And it is to them that we must reach out with a message about their rights, about the fact that they have a real impact on the direction in which the Union will develop. On this occasion, however, it is worth recalling citizens who still face barriers in exercising their rights. For example, older people who often experience marginalisation in the new digital reality. About homeless people who cannot break the enchanted circle of exclusion and isolation. Finally, about persons with disabilities who constantly face legal, organisational and physical obstacles to full participation in society. Our ambition should be for every citizen to be able to exercise their rights in the next European elections. We should ensure that every citizen has access to information, voting, debates, electoral programmes in a format accessible to them, and the right to vote and stand as a candidate in elections. These are the foundations of European democracy that we are proud of and ready to defend.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, If we do not invest wisely in young people today, we will irretrievably lose the opportunity for a good future for all of us, and especially for this generation. I believe it is crucial that employers, teachers, politicians, the media, governments realise that stable employment, health, conditions for full development, as well as a sense of influence and the involvement of young people are fundamental prerequisites for exiting the crisis, strengthening societies and rebuilding the economy. This has already been mentioned today, but I would like to draw particular attention to one aspect, namely the aspect related to the mental health of the young generation. The pandemic has significantly exacerbated the mental health problems of children and young people. It is estimated that 65% of young people are at risk of depression, 9 million younger youth suffer from mental disorders, especially anxiety and depression. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people. The situation is really alarming. It is therefore necessary to raise awareness of these risks and better prepare schools and healthcare facilities, as well as to fight bullying and mobbing online, at school and in the workplace. It is also necessary to develop a network of environmental services in the field of prevention, diagnosis, rehabilitation and therapy of mental disorders.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm sorry. This is a very good and necessary document, so of course I would like to thank the rapporteur as well as the shadow rapporteurs. The report, in my opinion, is very comprehensive, reliable and reflects very well all the problems that have been raised in our committee. I would like to draw your attention in particular to the fact that the document was also drafted in an easy-to-read form. It doesn't always happen, and thank you for that. Inclusion Europe and Autism-Europe, because it is obvious and crucial that the persons concerned by this report should be able to read it. The European Union is, Ladies and Gentlemen, in the midst of a digital, green and architectural transformation, and all these issues have been recognised in the report. This is a huge opportunity for both people with disabilities and the elderly, i.e. the elderly. However, it must be ensured that digital services meet the highest standards of accessibility, so that new technological solutions do not create further barriers, but remove them. And I am very pleased that in our committee these issues are very often raised and contribute to making progress in this accessibility.

Mr President, thank you very much. We mostly agree that the social impact of the pandemic is as dramatic as the economic impact. My previous speakers have addressed a lot of important issues. The pandemic was a bitter lesson for all of us. She showed the inefficiency of social, health and rehabilitation services systems, which particularly affected the elderly and the disabled. Commissioner, I would like to pay particular attention to the dramatic dimension of the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and young people. I have co-organised several seminars and meetings on this subject, and I must tell you that the reflections of experts, parents, teachers and young people themselves are alarming. Childhood and adolescence is a time of special sensitivity. For years, unfortunately, we have noticed a worrying trend of an increase in mental disorders, depression, and worse, suicide attempts among young people. In addition, access to therapy and rehabilitation has significantly deteriorated. It is worth emphasizing that often also the family, which is the basic support system, found itself in very difficult and serious problems. Children and young people will determine the future of Europe. If today we do not invest in their well-being, in supporting them in their mental health and in their full development, we can lose a whole generation. That is why I strongly appeal to the Commissioner, to the European Commission, as well as to governments and administrations, to have adequate measures that can mitigate this negative impact of the pandemic on children and young people. I would particularly like to stress once again that the promotion of mental health and well-being should become a priority for the European Commission.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Commissioner, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, We welcome the report prepared by the European Parliament, especially in view of the Commission's and the Council's interest in the issue of ageing. Demographic change has wide-ranging consequences and only a strategic approach will make it possible to seize the opportunities offered by extending the lives of Europeans and meeting the challenge. Ageing should be placed on an equal footing with the green and digital transitions. The report's value lies in its approach based on citizens' rights and non-discrimination. It highlights the contribution of older people to social and economic life. It touches on very painful issues, including ageism, violence, abuse and fraud against the elderly, poverty, the situation of women, the digital divide. I believe that it lacks an approach that takes into account the needs and difficulties of all generations. I am also surprised that the ECR tabled an amendment in the form of a truncated alternative text which omits many of the issues on which, however, we have reached agreement in EMPL.