Speeches

Thank you President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, it was January 2021 when I first asked a question on the creation of a European Disability Card. Today, after three years, after a long pilot project that saw Italy as a protagonist, we finally approve a tool that will make life easier for those who, unfortunately, face many difficulties. The Disability Charter will finally be recognised and adopted across Europe, no matter which country we are in. No more queues at museums, priority will be given to public transport, reserved parking, reduced or even free rates for each service: These are just small examples of the great benefits this Charter will have for all European citizens with disabilities. Today is a great day: I thank all those who supported my proposal and I am proud to say that Europe is more inclusive today.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the issue of medical devices in Europe is very important and very topical. In recent years we are seeing a shortage of these devices: companies in the sector have very, very high production costs and need cutting-edge technologies. For this reason, unfortunately, they are discouraged from producing these life-saving devices, even with regard to children and infants. The very high costs and the complex certification procedure are leading to a shortage of paediatric devices and this is why we are facing two major risks: on the one hand, the shortage of these devices puts at serious risk the health and survival of European citizens who need them; On the other hand, there is a risk that medical devices will be imported from China or third countries, increasing our dependence on Beijing in the field of health.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, when we talk about the health of workers in the workplace, we are touching on issues that do not have a political colour. I was rapporteur for the fourth revision of the directive we are debating today. In the fourth revision, we managed to include reprotoxic substances in the directive. We had a very good result. The directive was adopted by a very large majority in Parliament, but above all we involved all the social partners concerned: trade unions, companies and trade associations. Today we are debating the fifth revision, which, in continuity with the previous one, offers other protections to European workers. This is a crucial step in our battle against cancer. Protecting workers in the workplace must always be a priority for each of us.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased: Today we are dealing with a subject that is very dear to me, which was born thanks to my motion for a resolution. Finally, in fact, we can discuss the working conditions of all firefighters in Europe, a very important category, always ready to intervene to our aid. Category that unfortunately operates very often in difficult conditions. In each intervention, firefighters are exposed to dangerous substances and carcinogens: This exposure over the years can cause life-threatening diseases. We must prevent these diseases, guaranteeing all firefighters the right protection and safety at work. This is why we need immediate responses from Europe: Investing in fire safety is a duty we must respect. We must act today to protect those who protect each of us every day.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I come from the Lombardy region, which has been the most affected, not only in Italy but also in Europe, by COVID, and from a province, Brescia, which has been brought to its knees by this virus. 190 000 people died in Italy and more than 2 million in Europe. Unfortunately, when the pandemic broke out, no European country was ready to tackle such a phenomenon: Doctors, nurses, masks, respirators and other health devices were missing. We must learn from the mistakes of the past and be prepared for new pandemics. This is why we need to invest in strengthening our healthcare system: We can no longer depend on China or other countries for the supply of materials. Europe must be completely autonomous in the production of masks, drugs and medical devices. We must pay more attention to all the health workers who have worked tirelessly, and in some cases, unfortunately, even losing their lives. It is imperative that national pandemic plans are updated and kept up to date at all times. We must, above all, guarantee cancer patients treatment and especially in these cases of emergency. Learning from past mistakes also means asking for more transparency regarding vaccine contracts signed by the European Commission. We must prevent the COVID Certificate from being made mandatory, as required by the WHO. Dear colleagues, we treasure the mistakes made, we owe it to all those who lost their lives because of this virus.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am particularly concerned about violence against women. In recent years, I personally have been active in a series of initiatives to try to help women who denounce their perpetrator, their aggressor. Unfortunately, the figures in Europe on violence against women are alarming to say the least. It is estimated that one in three women has experienced physical or sexual violence. Even in Italy the numbers show us a very negative situation. In 2021, 116 women were killed, one every three days. Attackers too often hide behind psychiatric expertise, very often when they leave prison for good behavior, then commit the same crime. We need exemplary punishments. Europe must give precise signals, but above all concrete aid to these destroyed families, families that very often find themselves with their mother killed and their father in prison. To the children of these families we must guarantee a future and not just so many beautiful words.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, when we talk about care and carers, the numbers are very clear: There are 6 million professional carers across the European Union and 50 million "informal" carers, who are not recognised by an employment contract. Nearly 80 percent are women who, in addition to providing care, also have to work. Unfortunately, there are still huge disparities between Member States in the protection of these figures. I think of women who have to care for a disabled child or an elderly and sick parent. The law does not recognize any kind of assistance for these people, except for small or short periods. Many women find themselves forced to choose between work and the care of a sick family member. I think they are choices that no one in life should ever make. Very often families are left alone, a more constructive discussion on care is needed, because it is the family that first takes charge of these situations. This will serve to protect both those who receive care, but also those who lend it.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I have listened very carefully to your speeches. I believe that this report was a due act towards all European citizens who over the years have contracted cancer in the workplace. I thank the Council, I thank the Commission, I thank all my colleagues. I sincerely thank the former President for the work we have done together. Thank you Lucia! Today together we have added an important piece in the fight against cancer, leaving aside our political colors. Today is a big day for European workers. Thank you very much.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, finally after more than a year of work, I am honoured to be here today to present the fourth revision of Directive 2004/37/EC on the protection of workers from carcinogens and mutagens. It has been a long and sometimes complicated work, but I have acted with dedication and commitment in making the amendments to the directive for which I am the rapporteur. I did so in the knowledge that Europe can take concrete action to improve the working conditions and health of workers. My personal history makes me particularly sensitive to the issue: I have worked in healthcare and in recent years I have had to face the battle against three cancers and only recently I have finished the treatments. These experiences have had an important influence on my political commitment from day one in this Parliament. I have worked with dedication and with the knowledge that cancer can be defeated and my commitment to the Special Committee on Cancer is an example of this. I have discussed this with everyone, with the social partners, with companies and with trade unions. I believe it is essential for this report to give concrete answers to European workers and citizens, who have been waiting for answers on safety at work for too long. Cancer is the leading cause of work-related death in the European Union. In fact, 52% of work-related deaths are due to work-related cancers. The European Commission has made the fight against cancer one of its priorities for the five-year period 2019-2024. According to the Commission, 40% of cancer cases in Europe can be prevented. Greater protection for workers, together with a reduction or elimination of risks, goes in the direction of reducing workers' exposure to dangerous substances. This amendment is the fourth legislative proposal of the Directive and aims to establish new occupational exposure limit values for three substances: acrylonitrile, nickel compounds and benzene. The new amendment to the Directive, as proposed by the Commission, aims to ensure a new level of professional protection for more than one million workers across Europe. The sectors involved are the oil sector, the textile sector, the manufacturing sector, the construction sector and the chemical sector. During the discussion, new proposals emerged, all of which were taken into account. It is with great satisfaction that the directive known as CMD will henceforth be called CMRD. In fact, we have added reprotoxic substances, i.e. substances harmful to reproduction, to the substances already planned. Not only do these substances become part of the purpose of the directive, but we have also drawn up a list of 11 substances that have harmful effects on fertility. This is a great victory for the protection of the health of workers, especially those working in the health sector. It is estimated that at least 2 million people in Europe are exposed to these substances. Another major objective reached concerns HMPs. In fact, there are several medicines, some fundamental to the fight against cancer, that can have serious effects for those who handle them and for those who prepare them. For the first time, we were able to open the debate on this issue. This is a huge step forward for the entire hospital sector. Every year, 12 million healthcare professionals in Europe are potentially exposed to dangerous medicines. I think of doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, all those who work in hospitals. My thanks go to them, because in these difficult years they have been at the forefront against the pandemic. The Commission will have to define these drugs, prepare a list and give guidelines. We also asked the Commission to prepare an action plan to include 25 more substances in the directive and to address crystalline silica, which can have serious long-term effects. Despite the difficulties in carrying out this report, today we are here with an excellent result, expected by all the actors involved in the decision-making process: workers, companies and governments. We have all acted with one common goal, the health of workers, and I believe that we have taken a huge step forward in ensuring greater protection and safety.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Madam Commissioner, the fight against cancer is a battle that must see us united beyond our political differences. For my personal history, being a member of the BECA committee has been a great honour indeed. This, however, must only be the starting point to fight cancer with determination. However, one thing is the attention given to prevention, treatment, early diagnosis, a theme that I support and will always support one hundred percent, but another thing is the way in which we want to criminalize some products, one above all wine. It is unacceptable to think of equating spirits and wine, the consumption of which in the right amount is even recommended in a balanced diet. This would risk bringing the entire wine sector to its knees, not only in Italy but above all in Europe. There would be 3 million places at risk throughout the European Union, and that is why I am convinced that we are going to fight cancer, while I absolutely do not agree with everything that penalizes, especially in this delicate moment, wine and wine. made in Italy. I would like to remind you that, because of this pandemic, there are many cancer patients who cannot be operated on because intensive care is still busy, it is still full. In Italy alone 4 million checks have been postponed, 4 million checks! This is the real challenge that we must overcome, and not penalise entire sectors, such as the wine sector, with labelling that has no scientific basis.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in 2020, the European Parliament received more than 1 500 petitions, a number which is significantly higher than in previous years. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this increase: 209 petitions related to hospitalisations were examined by the Committee. This is certainly a sign that there is concern on the part of European citizens about public health, in a difficult historical period like the one we have experienced and are unfortunately still experiencing. Another issue dealt with by the Committee on Petitions concerns disability. Many citizens with disabilities turn to the European Parliament to ask for more protection, especially in the field of work. It is our duty to listen to all the requests that are addressed to us and to give immediate answers to all the problems. That is why we must make every effort to ensure that petitions are easily accessible to all European citizens. Merry Christmas to all.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, there are an estimated 90 000 asbestos-related deaths in Europe every year, which is still too high when we consider that asbestos was banned in Europe in 2005. In fact, there are still many old buildings that contain this carcinogenic and harmful to health. It is therefore our commitment to ensure that the removal and treatment of this material takes place as safely as possible for workers and also for those who work in these buildings. As rapporteur for the revision of the directive on carcinogens and mutagens in the workplace, I can only welcome this report, because I believe that any initiative to ensure safety in the workplace is fundamental beyond our political colours. The European Commission's zero-victim approach to workplaces is certainly an ambitious goal, but we must all work together now to reduce diseases and deaths in the workplace.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, petitions have always been an instrument for all European citizens to participate in Community policy. In fact, petitions are a useful means for people with disabilities to make proposals for their rights. Through petitions, many disabled people have recently contacted us, reminding us of the problems they face every day, such as difficulties in employment, difficulties in school, difficulties in accessing public offices, difficulties in getting on public transport. I am very happy that our proposals have been accepted in this text. However, the implementation of the European Disability Charter needs to be speeded up. We must combat all forms of discrimination in the workplace. We need to help families support people with disabilities. We must support schools and institutions that host disabled children and young people. It is our duty to address with all available means the problems related to disability, giving support and help to those who are less fortunate than us.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, there are over 10 000 platform workers, the so-called riders, in Italy. There is talk of a turnover of 900 million euros. There are more than 100 000 of them in Europe, and it is an ever-expanding and easy-to-access job for everyone. However, people engaged in this type of work, most of the time are very young guys, they have to work very long night shifts, they are paid 2 euros per delivery, they do not have any sick days, they do not have any day off and they are not insured in case of an accident. Think, I'm on the road 10 or 12 hours all day. There is no Easter, there is no Christmas, there is no New Year's Eve, they work on Saturdays and Sundays. Unfortunately, due to this economic crisis and unemployment, there are many fathers forced to do this type of work. We must all together guarantee greater dignity for these workers and, above all, greater rights. All this must be done in accordance with European rules and the laws of the individual Member States.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the ageing of society is one of the most difficult challenges facing Europe in the near future. Europe's population is slowly decreasing and it is estimated that by 2070 it will account for only 4% of the world's population. Demographic changes and fewer births are leading to the depopulation of entire areas, especially rural and mountainous areas. On the one hand, it is mandatory to provide support and create a strategy for our elderly who are currently suffering from the pandemic; However, it is necessary to support the birth rate so that the effects of an ageing population can be mitigated by giving incentives to young couples, family support and policies to improve employment. These are tools that we must put in place as soon as possible so as not to resign ourselves to this continuous demographic decline.