Speeches

Madam President, "we will ease COVID-19 restrictions" is a very good promise from the Chinese government, which in reality hides the strengthening of repression against all forms of dissent. We have now been witnessing historical events for three weeks. History by mass: thousands and thousands of protesters, whom we support, taking to the streets of at least 27 cities in China. History by content: we have not seen such a political demonstration in China since Tian’anmen, with their white sheets against censorship and their demands, ‘Xi Jinping, resign!’ or ‘We want freedom’. In this war that China says it is waging against COVID-19, weapons and repression are aimed at Chinese citizens. We know this well: Xi Jinping’s authoritarian regime’s biggest enemy is not the virus, but its own people. How many other peoples want to be liberated from the Chinese government? I am thinking of Uighurs, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese or Tibetans. The list is way too long. Let us finally stop this unbearable totalitarianism. The European Union has the diplomatic means to do so. Unfortunately, we lack the political will.

Mr President, Commissioner, of course we will be by your side, as you know. We will be at your side to encourage, to work, but also to issue constructive criticism, as you know, and to follow up on concrete actions. So you can count on us. To return to the issue, it is clear that we are committed to the protection of cultural heritage. Instruments are not prohibited, they are subject to authorisation because of their potentially dangerous nature. Health, I think, is well worth a few forms. We want beautiful stained glass windows, but at the same time, we also want to fight cancer. Renew’s amendment serves two purposes, Mr Bellamy – ah, he is no longer here! It responds to the protection and promotion of cultural heritage on the one hand, but it also responds to the protection of human health and the environment on the other. These two sides are not in conflict. We can have both, so why deprive ourselves? As for our roots, anthropology and history say so: They are to be found in Mesopotamia. In ancient times, both Greeks and Romans built their culture through commercial and cultural exchanges with the Phoenicians. Is it from these roots that the right speaks? I ask him the question, of course. I would also like to point out that inclusion is no longer to be discussed, it is a non-negotiable European value and does not belong more to a party than to a political group. It makes me smile, because nobody in the ECR Group has ever participated in the meetings or sent comments, and today their concerns remain empty words of action - just a short video to use... You are just criticising those who have been working on this report for nine months to advance and exist the cultural issue. I therefore believe that everything is said in this commentary. I would like to end by thanking all those who participated in this comprehensive and ambitious work: all shadow rapporteurs, all staff, all stakeholders, all colleagues from DG EAC and EEAS, as well as the Czech Presidency.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen: “If I had to do it again, I would start with culture.” This apocryphal phrase by Jean Monnet perfectly sums up the spirit of my report. Culture is, and must continue to be, the foundation of our European project. Culture allows us to communicate, express ourselves and understand others. It is a vehicle for authentic emotions and allows us to get to know each other and celebrate our differences together, both inside and outside our borders. After six years, it was high time to assess the success of EU cultural policies, to evaluate the implementation of two axes that constitute the pillar of these policies. A long work, which today leads not only to an assessment of what has been done so far, but also to strong and ambitious recommendations to relaunch and support European cultural policies, and above all to respond concretely to the needs of cultural actors. It is essential that we pay much more attention to the needs of the beneficiaries of our policies. It is no longer time for the implementation of a cultural policy of emergency, crisis response or crisis management. Only one example perfectly sums up this situation: the working conditions and status of employees in the cultural sector, which remain deeply precarious. How many times will we have to remember that the creative and cultural sectors have suffered unbearably from the COVID-19 crisis? What must we do to convince you? I am addressing specifically the members of the Council, whose presence I welcome today. This pandemic has only made the already existing problems of the cultural sector, of which we have all been aware for years, even more visible. Artists and workers in the sector have been waiting too long for Member States to take concrete and legislative measures to regulate their working conditions. Through my voice, Parliament is simply repeating its call for the creation of a true and dignified status for artists. It is also an opportunity to highlight the following fact: Cultural issues do not only apply to the citizens of the European Union, and it is very important to recall this. We are constantly talking about the need for coherence between our internal and external policies. This is good, but cultural policies should not be an exception. There is no longer any need to demonstrate that culture-based approaches and intercultural communication are unparalleledly effective in forging links and strengthening our international relations and cooperation. That is why cultural relations must be at the heart of our diplomatic efforts. Whether it is the undeniable links with environmental sustainability, the protection of monuments and cultural heritage in conflict zones, or the fight against illegal trafficking in works of art, the international dimension of culture and its role on the global stage should not be underestimated, quite the contrary. At the beginning of these links, it is essential to accentuate and speed up the restitution of the stolen works. We have to. Moreover, Commissioner, we are still awaiting the Commission’s proposal for the EU action plan on trafficking in cultural goods, which is expected before the end of this year – that is, in 18 days’ time. A final word on the Council Work Plan 2023-2026: we have worked closely with the Czech Presidency, and I am pleased to see that the themes and priorities identified in my report are mentioned in the work plan. But I'm still hungry, sorry. Admittedly, you recommend approaches to tackle the problem – exchange of best practices, sharing of experiences, development of existing initiatives, etc. – but when do the actions take place? When is the concrete? I will conclude by stressing once again the importance of this report, which defines and reinforces the philosophy and comprehensive approach of the European Union and its Member States to cultural policies. This approach requires strong political involvement and coordination between all the actors involved, in our institutions, and especially with our partners on the ground: artists, workers in the sector, cultural institutes, civil society, communities and local populations. Let us invest more in this direction. Let us invest in more specialised and qualified financial resources and human resources. Above all, let us engage politically! The legacy of the Commission’s last mandate is still strongly felt in the EU’s cultural relations environment. I am sure, Commissioner, that I can count on you to pass this message on to Mr Borrell as well. The cultural and creative sectors deserve nothing less than what the Commission, the EEAS, the Member States and us in Parliament know and can do, if - and only if - we really want to. It's up to us to play.

Madam President, the European Parliament badly needed to update its position on the situation in the Middle East in order to push for a more coherent and ambitious European policy in the region. I welcome the important passages on human rights, the rights of women and LGBT communities, freedom of the press, the pervasive nature of mass surveillance technologies, etc. These key concerns must be at the heart of the EU’s relations with the countries of the Middle East to promote lasting and robust stability in the region. Stability. What does this mean? Since my arrival in 2019, I have questioned this brandished stability as an objective without anyone hearing the same definition, or even any definition. I am pleased to have finally established in this resolution a positive and direct link between stability, on the one hand, and democracy and respect for the rule of law, on the other. And I would like to stress that democracy goes hand in hand with the rule of law. Commissioner, I hope to be able to count on you to truly implement cooperation with the countries of the region based on the security of peoples and respect for human rights and international law.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I will not stop repeating that culture is essential for all peoples. It carries values, heritage, heritage, wealth, identities. It is therefore essential that the European Union preserves and supports culture, at all times and everywhere, and especially in times of war. The cultural sector is still one of the most affected by conflicts or authoritarian regimes. This resolution addresses two key points. Russia’s war in Ukraine is also a cultural war that tries to eradicate Ukrainian identity and culture. We must give massive support to culture and cultural actors in Ukraine and preserve heritage. But we also need to ensure that this support does not come at the expense of Europe's cultural sectors, whose situation has worsened with COVID. For this, it is essential that the EU provides targeted support to all those involved in culture, but also, Commissioner, a European emergency response and recovery mechanism to support cultural and creative ecosystems, so that they are no longer victims of all the crises we are going through. It is our duty.

Mr President, two points. First, racism, the scourge left to the exploitation of right-wing extremes. In September 2021, the Commission unveiled an action plan to combat racism. We saw the plan, not the actions. Mrs. Dalli, when's the real deal? Second, institutional and systematic racism caused or reinforced by algorithms and ethnic profiling. I have alerted colleagues, in vain, to these risks. Is human dignity what we sacrifice on the altar of technological progress? In the Netherlands, our fears and your inaction have come to fruition. Ethnic profiling based on names of foreign origin has led to false accusations of child benefit fraud against thousands of families who have gone into debt, fallen into poverty or lost their jobs, their homes, not to mention the 1,000 children taken away from their families. What will the Commission do to ensure that the Netherlands quickly repairs what can still be repaired and compensates for the irreparable and that it does not happen again? I am simply asking for respect for the rule of law in Europe for all, regardless of the origin of their name, the colour of their skin or their professed or supposed belief.

Mr President, Mahsa Amini, 22, died in Tehran. Death from the brutality of the morality police for a strand of hair that went beyond her scarf. A feminist shockwave spread in Iran and around the world, as in Afghanistan, where women were also demonstrating. A revolt led by Iranian women, accompanied by men and children in the face of this dictatorship that violates their rights, oppresses and kills them. I salute the courage of these women who claim their right to freedom despite intimidation, assault, rape and state assassination. The brutality of the repression clearly testifies to the regime's fear of the scale of the uprisings. We need to expand and update sanctions against regime officials who are involved in human rights abuses in Iran. The UN must open an investigation into the violence and killings of protesters. We are and we must all be Mahsa Amini. For all the women who carry the hope of a new world, let us stand up to carry the voices of our Iranian sisters: (the speaker uses a slogan in an unofficial language) Woman, life, freedom.

Madam President, the synopsis of this thriller would speak of crimes, the black market, trafficking, demands and offers, shortages and organs. The main actors would be brokers of a very particular kind, political prisoners, wealthy cynical foreigners, the Chinese state, members of the Uyghur and Tibetan minorities. Wait, don’t take out popcorn and cold drinks right away, it’s neither a new series nor the latest box office thriller. This is the reality. It is in our world and it is happening today. A single appalling figure contains the full reality and scale of organ trafficking in China. In 2000, China declared 10,000 donors for 60,000 to 90,000 transplants per year. Much more transplants than donors, how is this possible? The average time to receive organ donations is mysteriously only a few days or weeks, while in the West it is several years. Europe, hand in hand with the UN, must step up its fight against organ trafficking and continue to put pressure on Beijing to go much further than just the official ban. These horrific and unworthy practices must stop. Let's not look away. We are already accounting because we know today.

Mr President, Commissioner, we used to see Pegasus as the stallion alongside the Greek heroes, a symbol of courage. Today, the winged horse is more like the Trojan horse. Devious, shameful, Pegasus infiltrates our phones, our Parliament, our democratic lives. Tools like Pegasus are designed for very specific and regulated purposes, for example in the context of counterterrorism. There is absolutely no justification for spying on people who pose no threat to national security, either in Hungary, Spain or Poland. This new reality, where everyone must live in fear that their privacy can be spied on at any time, where politicians and journalists must remain silent for fear of being persecuted for their opinions, where human rights defenders must first think about defending themselves, is a dystopian reality. The light must be shed on those responsible, on the governments that have played a role in such profound violations of the fundamental rights of our fellow citizens, of our colleagues. This is clearly not about the future, but about the present of our democracy. Let Pegasus once again become the hero of our imagination, not the enemy of our democracy and freedoms.

Mr President, Mr High Representative, the EU-China summit was unfortunately a genuine dialogue of the deaf. Beijing refuses Brussels' outstretched hand to work together for a solution and pressure Putin to stop this barbarism. Europe has come with its questions and China with its answers, yet China so often prides itself on being a peaceful state and having a defensive rather than an aggressive strategic culture. It will one day have to respond to future generations of Chinese support for Putin. As for us, the European Union, in the face of the unbearable images of Bucha, we must measure the extent of our past mistakes. In recent years, we have lacked firmness towards Russia. That is why it is so important today to stand firm in the face of China and its aggressiveness towards Taiwan, as well as the human rights violations in Hong Kong and Tibet and the monstrosities against the Uyghurs. Faced with this new barbarism in Bucha, I expect our EU representatives to keep up the pressure on Beijing to stop supporting Putin’s war and finally leave Taiwan at peace.

Mr President, Commissioner, first of all, I would like to thank my colleagues Peter Pollák, Ibán García, Marcos Ros Sempere, Monica Semedo, Niyazi Kizilyürek and all our teams for their cooperation over the past few months. ‘Daddy, what is racism?’ ‘Racism is a fairly widespread behaviour, common to all societies, which has, alas, become commonplace, because sometimes we do not realise it. Common, quite widespread, yes; normal, no.’ This is how the pedagogical novel by Franco-Moroccan writer Tahar Ben Jelloun begins. Racism Explained to My Daughter, a very simple and yet very effective text to launch a discussion on racism with children and young people as well as with adults. You can start from a book, you can start from a film, a song, a word spoken by a teacher or a gesture of his opponent on a sports field, news from a newspaper or a media show... But racism, we have to talk about it. And above all, we must act. Racism and discrimination based on ethnic origin, both in Europe and elsewhere, is a documented, identifiable and undeniable problem, which is not merely the result of individual behaviour and prejudice, but is more structurally embedded in our society. And since racism is everywhere, we must integrate the fight against racism everywhere, in all EU policies. The work is huge and will take time, but we started it. Better informed and more targeted policies, based on sound foundations and evidence, can be developed. This requires the collection of data on equality, while respecting privacy and fundamental rights. EU law already allows this and the recent Commission handbook proposes guidelines. Education, cultural and sporting experiences and the information we receive through the media are vectors that shape and inspire societal and behavioural change. These are areas that affect the lives of all citizens of the European Union and have the unique ability to touch each individual by giving context and meaning to our daily interactions. These are also areas where the representation of diversity is of great importance, in particular to encourage individuals of different ethnic origins, and in particular young people, in the pursuit of their own personal and collective goals. As Marian Wright Edelman, a children’s rights activist, said, ‘you can’t be what you don’t see’. That is why we must harness the power of culture, education, media and sports, building on the European values of tolerance, fairness and solidarity, to engage in an active fight against racism and that our daughters and sons no longer have to wonder if they have a place in our societies. To move forward and build a better future, we need to know and understand our past. That is why I emphasised the need for our students to learn more about colonialism, slavery, genocide and all that comes with it, to have a greater representation of authors, historians and other figures in educational materials. A new impetus for the restitution of looted works of art and cultural objects is also a necessary and very symbolic step in the fight against racism, in consultation with countries of origin outside the European Union. Above all, it is a question of recognising their history and ours, of giving them back the objects of their own cultural identity in order to tell their story by reviving the culture that our predecessors shamefully tried to erase. We also need stricter sanctions for media that publish or broadcast racist content. I am talking about modern programmes that use stereotypes. I am talking about rude language and misinformation about minorities, immigrants and refugees. I am talking about content that has the intention and scope to be racist. It is this type of content that I am addressing. Finally, for sport, we call for the drafting of European recommendations or guidelines to support sports associations at all levels, from the neighbourhood sports club to the national federation, in the fight against racism and the promotion of fair play, thus inviting athletes, but also the entire community to inclusion and mutual respect. Before concluding, let me explain a crucial element of this text that seems to me to be implicit. The term ‘race’ in no way implies acceptance or approval of theories that seek to justify the existence of biologically distinct races. All human beings are fundamentally equal and must be treated as such. However, denying the existence of a number of communities by declaring that ‘there is only one race, the human race’ would be tantamount to eradicating centuries of oppression and discrimination, some of which have been and continue to be victims. Achieving racial equality and justice means overcoming the power imbalance and ensuring that the principles of equality and justice apply to all human beings, regardless of their appearance or origins. We will know that these objectives have been achieved when, everywhere in Europe and in the world, no one will feel the need to justify themselves, to justify their own existence, their own identity. "So, to fight racism, you have to invite each other," suggests Tahar Ben Jelloun's daughter. ‘It’s a good idea’, his father replied. To get to know each other, to talk to each other, to laugh together, to try to share one's pleasures, but also one's sorrows. Show that we often have the same concerns, the same problems. This is what could reduce racism.”

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, Mr Secretary of State, the European Year of Youth is supposed to be an inclusive year, which not only celebrates young people, but requires their active contribution. After two years of sacrifices and challenges related to the pandemic, I am delighted that our young people are now looking to the European Union with hope. They entrust them with their economic and social needs; they entrust to him their mental well-being; They entrust their future to him. In principle, I prefer to talk about the young people of Europe – in the plural – because the daily life of a young person in a big capital is not the same as that of a young person in the suburbs or in rural areas. The resolution we are voting on today would allow us to restore a form of fairness between these young people, level the differences and barriers they face, and combat the exclusion, discrimination and alienation of young people. These young people form young people when they ask us to ban unpaid traineeships, because they all know that you do not pay rent with experience and that you do not avoid being a financial burden for your family with a stimulating working environment. They all know that a good professional future should not be a privilege for those who can afford it. Today, we have the opportunity to vote in favour of a common legal framework for an effective and binding ban on unpaid traineeships, whether or not they are linked to obtaining educational qualifications. We must not disappoint our youth – or our youth. We promised them we would listen to them, we promised them a platform, and we promised them that if they asked, we would act. They are the ones who will suffer the consequences of our failure. To these young people, we will now have to show that they are part of one Europe.

Madam President, High Representative, the AU-EU Summit must be an opportunity to renew the Africa-Europe partnership. Our young people share a quest for meaning, the need for freedom, mobility, hope and fair redistribution, a concern about climate change, but also a shared history and its share of gaping wounds. They deserve a real political dialogue, not a lot of small initiatives here and there, without global coherence. The values of human rights and the rule of law are legitimate and long-standing demands of African civil society itself. Our youth deserve systemic cooperation on political reforms, leading to democratic and inclusive governance, a guarantee of lasting stability. This summit must also make it possible to get out of the student-teacher relationship. He needs to understand that our two institutions have a lot to learn from each other, on an equal footing. Finally, let us mention the sacrosanct "stability", so often praised. What is a stable country? Is it when the state oppresses its people, muzzles the press and imprisons opponents? And then stability for whom? Stability of freedom and press or stability for elites, corruption and police?

Mr President, Commissioner, Secretary of State, dear European youth, whom I put in the plural. Unemployment, inappropriate working conditions, mental health: Social and economic difficulties are not new to our young people. The pandemic only exacerbates problems that already existed. Designating 2022 as the European Year of Youth is a first signal that we have already launched, with the ambitious objective of responding to the demands of young people. But this signal is of little use if it turns out to be just fine words, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah bl It's late January. One month of this year has already passed and we are still waiting to discover the details of the ALMA programme, including how it intends to reach the most vulnerable young people, the furthest from Europe. What about the suburbs and rural areas, the long forgotten ones? I would also have liked to see a year that is clearly committed to responding to the demand that young people across Europe have been repeating for a long time: the end of all unpaid traineeships. It was disappointing that the Parliament was not prepared to press for this. But I'm not giving up. I am therefore curious, Commissioner, Mr Beaune, to hear your position on this issue. Are you ready to review your commitments to quality internships and apprenticeships, including through fair remuneration and, let's be crazy, why not fair for all trainees? Strong and immediate measures are needed to ensure post-pandemic employment and support the social recovery and mental health of young people in the EU. Our youths have been talking to us, shouting for years. Are the Commission and the Council prepared to listen to them and act accordingly?

Mr President, Commissioner, 'I believe in the power and strength of words,' Malala said. Words scare dictatorships, they fear those who use them: political oppositions, journalists, artists, students, teachers, children who ask too many questions, films that open new horizons... Today, in Hong Kong, those deemed too critical are harassed, intimidated and thrown into prison. Today, in Hong Kong, the commemoration of the Tiananmen massacre is banned and repressed until life imprisonment. The museum on the massacre was closed and the famous statue the "Pillar of Shame" destroyed. Today in Hong Kong, the ruling power is also attacking culture, memory, history, to better control minds and thoughts. It is about erasing the past to better control the future. But all this is not just about the Hong Kong people. When freedom is trampled on, when democracy is attacked, when the press is muzzled, it is the whole free world that is concerned and the freedoms that are targeted even in our democracies. Faced with this, the European Union can and must react more firmly: suspend extraditions to Hong Kong throughout Europe; organise a European, diplomatic and political boycott of the Olympic Games in Beijing; condemn and put an end to the complicity of banks in freezing the assets and bank accounts of pro-democracy and the media; prevent exports of technologies used to violate human rights; prevent European investment in companies complicit in gross human rights violations. It is now up to the EEAS, the Council and the Member States to roll up their sleeves and act. For this reason, our Parliament resolution contains a great many concrete measures.

Mr President, Commissioner, I welcome the rapporteur and my fellow shadow rapporteurs for the work we have done together to finally declare 2022 the European Year of Youth. I started these negotiations with one goal in mind: that this Year is not a communication exercise, a festival here, a conference there where politicians repeat that our youth is a source of inspiration, the future of Europe and that it deserves better. I want deeds illustrating beautiful words and promises, and this will has been widely shared, which has allowed us to reach a good agreement. I fought for an inclusive Year that promotes gender equality and puts the most marginalised people at the centre. A Year that strengthens cooperation and dialogue with Europe's young neighbours. A Year that not only celebrates young people, but also calls for their active contribution. I also heard the strong demand from young people to end unpaid traineeships. I would have liked to see this request implemented on the occasion of the European Year of Youth. However, I will not give up and I will continue to push this issue forward and fight to put an end to it. We will also ensure that the Commission and the Member States deliver on their commitments. I make a particular appeal, of course, to the French Presidency of the Council of the EU, under which half of this year will take place, and to the conclusion of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Our young people have been talking to us, shouting for years. A few of us are listening, but there are not enough of us. Join us. We must seize this opportunity to make this Year of Youth the launch of positive policy change to have a lasting impact on the lives, health and future of young people affected by COVID-19. Let us celebrate our young people and empower them to tell us the Europe they want and to live their youth to the fullest.

Madam President, on 2 July: Orbán, Le Pen, Salvini and other far-right leaders sign a declaration to ‘reform Europe’. 23-24 September: Orbán unrolls the red carpet at a summit in Budapest. 9 October: Forza Nuova party leaders incite the mob to violence in Rome. 8-9 October: In our Parliament, during the EYE event, young Europeans from minorities are harassed, their workshops disrupted by other young people invited by the French far right. Yes, Commissioner, they are no longer hiding. We are closing our eyes. We have normalised violence, racism and hatred so much that even Ms Marine Le Pen is no longer the most radical candidate in France and the extreme right is now 33%. Watch Rainer Opolka’s exhibition in Germany, ‘Wolves are back’. Yes, it is a serious time. The republican and democratic bloc must come together and not divide itself on dogmatisms that no longer matter in the face of these hatreds and their consequences.

Madam President, Mr High Representative, since July we have been following political developments closely: introduction of a state of emergency with no end date, concentration of all powers in the hands of the President, suspension of Parliament and the 2014 Constitution, house arrests, bans on leaving the country, military court to try civilians, NGO alerts. Since July, we have been worried. Since July, we have been waiting for reassuring signals that have not come. That is why, in our resolution: we recall all the progress that Tunisia has made since 2011, the only Maghreb country to have succeeded in taking the path of democracy; we express our concern; and we ask the President for a clear roadmap. I understand the mistrust of the Tunisian people in the face of a blocked Parliament that has not been able to cope with the economic, social and health crisis. But I cannot believe that he wants to go back. I understand that part of the Tunisian population has confidence in its president, but this confidence cannot be a long-term substitute for the proper functioning of independent institutions. As Jean Monnet said: “nothing is possible without men – and I add women – but nothing is sustainable without institutions”. I am proud to be the rapporteur for my group on Tunisia. This country so courageous, which made the bet of democracy and which won through the Quartet the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015. We will always support you in this fight, because the stakes are high and we have come a long way. Long live Tunisian democracy! (The speaker continued in a language outside the European Union.)

Madam President, I asked for this point today, because I wanted to bring to your attention some very serious facts that occurred ten days ago during the European Youth Event in Strasbourg, here in our institution. Unfortunately – and this is not the first time – groups of young people from diverse backgrounds have been targeted by verbal abuse and hate speech online. Their workshops on inclusion and anti-racism were interrupted and disrupted by unpleasant comments and mockery from other participants invited by far-right MEPs. This morning you received a letter signed by 152 MEPs, in which we strongly condemn these episodes. We call on you, Madam President, to also formally condemn these events. We therefore call for an investigation by the Parliament to determine the extent to which these serious events took place, to identify the parties responsible and to determine whether these disruptions were premeditated and organised. We also ask that those responsible should bear the consequences of their behaviour. The European Parliament and its Members should be a model of respect and tolerance. Everyone has the right to his or her political beliefs and convictions, but these must be exercised with full respect for others. That is why I ask you, Madam President, to join me and all the Members who have signed this letter, but especially the young people who have been affected and who strongly demand to be truly listened to, to actively defend our values and commitments and to follow up on our declarations with actions.

Madam President, once again, we meet to talk about the rule of law and media freedom in Poland. And once again, a resolution that is likely to remain a dead letter. We talked about the state of the Union this morning. The silencing of the media, the repression of any democratic dissent, journalists banned from covering a new humanitarian crisis at the Belarusian border with the declaration of a state of emergency: what a sad warning from Poland about the state of our Union. Yes, we must indeed declare a state of emergency, but an emergency for the media, which are at risk, for the independence of the judiciary, for the safety of LGBT youth and women’s rights, for freedoms, for the rule of law. Let us demand the full application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. Let us demand compliance with the judgments of the Court of Justice. Let us courageously use all the tools at our disposal without further delay. If the Member States do not defend our values, it is the European Union, its institutions and the credibility of our words that are at risk.

Mr President, Mrs von der Leyen, Jean Monnet wrote that humans accept change only in necessity and see necessity only in crisis. The need is present, so are the crises. So, Mrs von der Leyen, it is time for change, but above all for boldness and courage. Take the European project head-on. Listen, dare, propose, listen again, repeat, repropose, dare even more and, I would say, surprise yourself and surprise us. You are not alone. We, the European Parliament, are at your side to help you, to inspire you, but also to criticise you. The Conference on the Future of Europe is a contribution in the direction of "Team Europe", from which Parliament feels excluded. For example, I am at your disposal to develop together an inclusive and green European identity, for and with this youth, and to launch the cultural diplomacy of the future, capable of competing with those of China and the United States. Mrs von der Leyen, be our 21st century Jean Monnet.

Madam President, Lebanon, which was called Middle Eastern Switzerland yesterday, continues its descent into hell. This summer, a sanctions regime was put in place by the Council to target in a targeted manner the Lebanese officials who looted the country. This is a first step, but it is not enough yet. Setting up a sanctions framework is good. Implementing it is much better. Two weeks ago, a representative of the EEAS told us in the AFET parliamentary committee that the discussion on the names of the persons to be sanctioned had not even taken place yet. But when will a decision be taken on this list of names? When will those responsible for the Beirut explosion be punished in August 2020? And these leaders who have lost the sense of the people, these elites who have enriched themselves on the back of the country and these holders of ill-gotten goods, these fortunes due to corruption, magoyles and personal enrichment? All that stolen money that largely sleeps in Europe: When will it be frozen and returned to the Lebanese people? Mr Borrell, Lebanese women and men repeatedly ask us: When will the EU finally use this sanctions regime? I am tired of having to tell them that we do not know, that we still have to wait. I am ashamed of how slow we are to react, to coordinate. I am thinking above all of the 80% of Lebanese women and men who have nothing to eat, no electricity or drinking water and who are only calling for justice and the reconstruction of their country. The European Union needs to accelerate the pace of its actions.

Madam President, Mr High Representative, 'Return to normalcy in Afghanistan' can be read in the newspapers. The UN would be disappointed by the lack of women in the Taliban government... I think I'm dreaming. Are we so naive? For students who do not have the right to learn together, is this a return to normality? For girls forced into marriage and raped, is this a return to normal? For the murdered artists, is this a return to normal? For all these and many others, there is no return to normality on the horizon. So nothing and no one will stop them from fleeing to save their families from a non-future. We must encourage the Member States to adopt a coordinated European approach. The European Union must do its utmost to evacuate and issue humanitarian visas to those we have abandoned. Also unlock funds to support their installation, implement the Temporary Protection in Europe Directive and ensure the fair sharing of responsibilities between Member States. Let us honour our European values.

Mr President, what could be more classic for a dictatorship than accusing critics of working for foreign forces, even when critics come from within, from their own civil society, from their own journalists? Molière wrote: "Who wants to drown his dog accuses him of rabies." This is the case in Hong Kong with the dramatic disappearance of the pro-democracy daily Apple Daily, accused of "conspiracy and collusion with foreign countries". A year-long review of the Beijing-led national security law: searched press offices, harassed and arrested journalists, confiscation of media assets. How not to think of this replica so sibylline, but so lucid of the masterpiece Chungking Express by Wong Kar-wai in 1994, ‘Everything has an expiry date’? Prophecy? Cassandra? To the people of Hong Kong, but also to the people of Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, I want to show our support and solidarity. To the people of Europe, I want to remind them how precious and fragile our freedoms are, and that we must never let our guard down. We must defend human rights and freedom of the press, both outside the EU and within it.

Mr President, on Monday, Reporters Without Borders published its 2021 gallery of ‘Predators of Press Freedom’, with for the first time a European, Viktor Orbán, alongside 36 other Heads of State and Government, Mr Putin, Mr Xi, Mr Erdoğan and Mr bin Salman. What a shame, what a sadness for Europe to have a European on this dark list! In Poland, civil society is also very concerned about the government's alleged "repolonisation" of the media to influence their editorial policy. Since 2011, when Hungary took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we have expressed concerns about the rule of law in the country and the impact that inaction could have on other Member States, such as an old scratched disc. How long are we going to be "concerned"? Because the repercussions are there. The EU institutions must live up to their responsibilities and do much more than discuss and care. We must defend fundamental rights, freedom of expression and freedom of the press, the cornerstones of our democracies. And now it is, Commissioner. We have the tools for that.