Speeches

Madam President, non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death in the European Union. They account for 80% of deaths in the European Union and, although we very much want a true European Union for health, we did not have time for debate on this report. With this report, the European Parliament also had the opportunity to act on the reduction of known risk factors for non-communicable diseases, outlining actions that it should take into account, notably in the consumption of tobacco and new tobacco and nicotine products, alcohol consumption, among many others. If we want a true European Union for health, we must move from disease policies to health policies. This means investing more at the root of the problems. As the European Parliament, we must lead by example and act on disease prevention and health promotion. This is done through evidence-based health policies to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for Europeans.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we are few, but the few are good. The prevalence of mental health problems has reached unprecedented levels. Between 2022 and 2023, one in two people in the European Union suffers from depression and anxiety, and young people, who are our present and our future, have been particularly disadvantaged. Almost half of young people in the European Union say they do not have the mental health care they need, and the picture is even darker if we reflect that suicide is the second cause of death in this age group and the first cause of death in young adults over the age of 25. More than talking, we need action on mental health and the European Parliament is therefore drawing up its first report on mental health, on this very important issue. With it we want to boost the initiatives that the Union can take to respond to this crisis, which already accounts for almost 4% of all deaths in the European Union and whose spending exceeds more than 4% of European GDP. In this report, we want to make it clear that anyone, at any stage of their life, can find themselves in a more vulnerable situation. This report also serves to identify the social determinants of health and the most vulnerable groups and situations and to propose concrete actions to mitigate them. It is important to recognize difficult situations experienced by different groups, whether they are young people, women, migrants, the LGBTQIA+ community, workers, marginalized, or even those who find themselves in more than one of these groups experiencing a set of additional challenges that require increased effort. And to recognize that, with mental health in all policies, we have been able to propose intersectional measures, from social services to health services, education, work, through all sectors of society. But this cannot and should not be an individual battle. It is a social battle that cannot be ignored. In workplaces, for example, where we spend a significant part of our lives, about 27% of people suffer from symptoms of stress, depression or anxiety. There is an urgent need for social transformation. As representatives of the approximately 450 million European citizens, we have a duty not only to warn, but to act. And we need more. There are three measures that I consider fundamental in this report to have more mental health in the European Union and they are: the creation of a European strategy with well-defined targets, well-defined objectives, guiding indicators; more direct funding for a specific mission for mental health; and for the theme of the next European year to be the European Year of Mental Health. It's time to destigmatize. It's time to prioritize. It's time to invest in mental health. And a final word of appreciation to all the negotiating teams, to the teams of the shadow rapporteurs, to the secretariat and also to Cátia, Catarina and Vasco.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the consumption of Europeans is constantly growing and, with it, the production of packaging is increasing. On average half a kilo of waste is generated per person per day in the European Union. Such packaging is often bulky and unsustainable and has had a serious impact on our environment. It is therefore necessary to find solutions that are innovative and reusable, that minimise the environmental impact of our consumer habits, such as creating a recovery framework for reused packaging, and also invest in materials that are alternative, but also more sustainable than the use of plastic, because only with the collaboration of everyone, consumers, industry, Member States and their representatives, will we achieve a real paradigm shift. By reducing the use of packaging, especially plastic packaging, we are contributing to a more sustainable environment, to a healthier environment.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the increase in carbon dioxide emissions is a threat to our environment, it is a threat to the good quality of the air we breathe, it is a threat to our health. And heavy-duty vehicles are responsible for more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from the road transport sector in the European Union. This review is therefore essential to have innovative solutions that reduce threats in the heavy-duty vehicle sector to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable future for Europeans. At the beginning of 2023 we were progressive, we adopted the regulation which states that, from 2035, all new cars in the European Union will be sold at zero emissions, and during this plenary session also the progressive majority in this House was able to make history by adopting the regulation which provides for a 90% reduction in emissions by 2040 for heavy-duty vehicles. Because the goal is ambitious, but we will not overcome the climate emergency without ambition.

Madam President, the outermost regions face particular challenges because of their geographical location, because they are far from the European continent. However, these challenges should not be insurmountable obstacles, but opportunities to overcome and grow. There is therefore an urgent need for a specific transport POSEI to improve the mobility of these regions, facilitate access to European markets and ensure full socio-economic cohesion in the European Union. Because POSEI is much more than a financial support programme, it is a catalyst for progress, cohesion and the strengthening of the outermost regions, and the future of these regions depends on our action and our unwavering commitment to the outermost regions.

Mr President, 70% of transport emissions come from our roads. At the beginning of 2023, as shadow rapporteur, I supported the proposal to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere from light-duty vehicles from 2035. And today, I would like to be here supporting a more ambitious Euro 7 proposal, because air pollution is a problem that cannot be ignored by the serious consequences for the well-being, health and quality of life of Europeans. And unlike the right-wing discourse, the benefits of Euro 7 were evident. The benefits of the Commission proposal: for every euro invested there would be a return of €5 in health care, in environmental protection. The right-wing approach to this report is detrimental to our ability to face current challenges, both environmental and public health, and the fight against air pollution, for the protection of the environment and for the health and well-being of those we represent is an action that requires commitment and requires, above all, courage.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Commission welcomes the revision of this important waste water directive. I highlight the polluter pays principle in this review, as it is not fair for taxpayers to pay for the costs of pollution mostly caused by industries, the recognition of the One Health approach and alignment with the global threat of antimicrobial resistance. But, ladies and gentlemen, I am making this speech in order to warn of the introduction of a specific derogation for the outermost regions. This derogation respects Article 349 of the Treaty (TFEU) and the constraints that these regions, such as Madeira, face in their orography. I would point out that this derogation is supported by scientific evidence and does not remove environmental liability. I call here for your support and vote in favour of Amendment 266 tabled by the EPP, which considers the specificities of our outermost regions that add so much to the European project.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, in the European Union, nine out of ten deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases. Millions of European citizens depend on essential medicines. And if we do not want to overburden health systems that are already under stress, we need to ensure a European strategy that guarantees access to these medicines in the short, medium and long term. With the pandemic, we learned that joint purchasing is a powerful tool and can be implemented immediately for essential medicines that are in short supply. In the medium term, we must reduce our external dependence for the production of these medicines, as the European Union has both the scientific and technological capacity to produce them. And finally, the importance of diversifying production sites across EU countries and ensuring stronger and more resilient supply chains in the long term. I therefore welcome the Commission's proposal for a mechanism for identifying tipping points and establishing appropriate response mechanisms. Pharmaceutical regulation is welcome and the negotiations should take care of these proposals for a true European Union for Health.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the statistics already mentioned here in Europe are too frightening and should make everyone here in this Parliament reflect. That's 300,000 premature deaths a year. There are 10%, 10% of cancer cases in the European Union. A pollution-free atmosphere is essential. And it is essential not only for health, but also for the protection of biodiversity and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. It is also a quality of life for Europeans, who are increasingly concerned about the air they breathe. I therefore welcome the objectives of this directive and the rapporteur for his work, which contributes to the goal of zero pollution by 2050 and sets limit values for air pollutants, but, above all, restores the right of citizens to breathe clean air. As co-legislators of the European Union, it is our responsibility to listen to science, protect the health of Europeans, and ensure the preservation of the environment for current as well as future generations.

Mr President, Commissioner, Council, colleagues, this is probably the coldest summer of the rest of our lives and the most frequent extreme weather events are the reality. If we want to protect people and the nature of climate change, we need a multifaceted approach that makes the European Union more resilient to the effects of climate change because natural disasters affect everyone's health, either through the rise of communicable diseases or through their impact on mental illness. And as rapporteur for the European Civil Protection Mechanism, I also look forward to the Commission's evaluation of this mechanism by the end of the year. And the missions that the Commission should present should include greater preparedness and more effective responses in minimizing health risks in disaster situations and long-term management of the health impacts of affected populations. Extreme heat waves, floods, forest fires are already part of our daily lives and we need timely responses to protect us all.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, before this speech, I was asked: what else is there to talk about COVID-19? Nowadays, it is often said that it is a thing of the past and nobody wants to know about it anymore. But is it possible to ignore all the impact that the pandemic has had on our lives? Do we really want that from our institutions? Parliament's answer is no and this report is the result of an extensive audit which lasted more than a year and a half and which talks about the difficulties experienced, the redundancies, the bankruptcies and the lack of materials and infrastructure. Speak of the burnout health professionals, abusive working hours, lack of technological means for home education. He talks about disinformation, discrimination, hatred and polarisation in our society. But it does so from a constructive perspective, recognising where we have gone further and where we have fallen short. Whatever crisis we face in the future - whether health, environmental, war or humanitarian - we have a set of recommendations from the European Parliament to overcome it. And this is the importance of a united Europe, a European project that can help: we have vaccines, we have recovery and resilience projects, we have health systems that have not collapsed, we have instruments capable of overcoming the difficulties that, I recall, were not fully known at the time. And we will not give in to populism, which wants to vote against this report; We will not give in to the deniers of the pandemic, who preferred disorganization and lack of means. This report is not only about COVID-19, it is also about the health of European democracies, so you can count on the Socialists and Democrats in this House to approve this report.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, this law is at the heart of the biodiversity pillar of the European Green Deal. Eighty percent of our ecosystems are in poor condition. It is impossible to produce on dead, dry soils without addressing the impacts of climate change. It's about our sustainability, it's about our food security that we're talking about here. And contrary to what the right wants to make believe, investing in nature restoration is good for the economy. For every euro invested, we will have about 8 to 38 euros of return. And on forests and fires, such a sensitive topic for Portugal, forest management indicators will be the responsibility of each Member State, as is the Council's proposal. In fact, the right has stripped itself of that responsibility when it voted against this law in the Environment Committee and how it will vote tomorrow in plenary. It is necessary to restore nature and to vote in favour is to guarantee another fundamental piece of this puzzle That is the fight against climate change. And to vote against is to put off a problem and be on the side of the deniers. It's time to act, it's time to act now!

Madam President, territorial cohesion in the outermost regions of the European Union is crucial to promoting economic and social development and ensuring equal opportunities. But on the island of Madeira, the increasingly frequent occurrence of strong winds has caused the temporary closure of the airport, sometimes hours, sometimes days, affecting the locals, but also all those who want to visit us. So far, the European Commission has done nothing to mitigate these severe connectivity disruptions. I therefore call for more investment in resilient airport infrastructure through the certification of nearby alternative airports, such as the airport on the island of Porto Santo, and also through a ferry that it exists all year round for the continent and that it is also made through the inter-island connecting vessel. The European Union must ensure that no one is left behind and that no region is left behind.

Madam President, the UN Sustainable Development Goals must remain the guide, despite the current context of uncertainty. And if the war in Ukraine and the pandemic have affected our progress, we should also mention the successes. And here, I have to highlight the good performance of Portugal, which, since 2015, with the socialist government and under the eyes of the world, complies with most of the indicators, many of them already achieved. We are talking about concrete objectives: in the area of health, with innovative measures in maternal child health; tobacco control; water quality; renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And the commitment of socialists in Portugal to the Sustainable Development Goals is also reflected here in the European Parliament, as we take the lead in the most important struggles. Because there are only seven years left – there are only seven years left – and there is no time to waste. There is no room for hesitation when we talk about improving people's lives, when we talk about improving people's well-being.

Mr President, politically motivated crimes against humanity are committed every day in Nicaragua, as has already been widely said. It is a harsh, brutal regime that does not respect human rights, where the instrumentalisation of the executive, legislative and judicial powers has only one objective: silence, suppress and eliminate opposition in that country in various ways. And the Nicaraguan population lives in fear, and those who have no other option end up fleeing and taking refuge in neighbouring countries, such as Costa Rica, as we had the opportunity to experience during the last mission of the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America. Only in recent months have asylum applications doubled and so we must also continue to provide support in Costa Rica and in other countries that welcome those who come from Nicaragua and hope one day to return safely to their country. Because the European Union cannot be a geopolitical actor if, in all its dimensions, it does not take into account its relationship with Latin America.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, there are three main factors responsible for the increase in average life expectancy over the last 100 years: access to safe drinking water and sanitation, vaccination and antibiotics. However, in recent years antimicrobial resistance has increased for several reasons already mentioned here. In fact, it is expected that by 2050 it will have as many economic repercussions as the 2008 crisis. So we need to change. And it is also immoral that, faced with this problem, 8% of antibiotics for human consumption occur without prescription and that 73% of all antibiotics are used in animals raised for food consumption. This is yet another major problem on a global scale and no Member State will be able to deal with it individually. We therefore need more coordination and cooperation between Member States and the European Commission, focused and consistent national action plans, and scientific innovation for new therapeutic and diagnostic methods. Microorganisms know no borders and global health is at risk. So we need to act urgently.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the new agreement reached for the High Seas Treaty is the result of an international effort to protect our oceans and their natural resources, and to combat the deep crisis that is taking place here. Much remains to be done to ensure that the Treaty rules are effectively enforced, and so it is important that we all work together to ensure that the Treaty is respected and enforced, and this includes: the increase of protected areas by 30% as set out at COP15; protecting our oceans from pollution, and here the importance of drastically reducing our use of plastic; and also the promotion of sustainable tourism activities in the blue economy, in particular in the regions most dependent on ocean resources, such as Madeira and the Azores, outermost regions of the European Union. Oceans are vital to life on Earth. It is our responsibility to protect them.

Madam President, Commissioner, Member of the Council, this global health strategy in the European Union was long overdue and necessary and represents what is the external dimension and a very important step towards a genuine European Health Union, based on one health, based on health in all policies, as I have been advocating here in the Group of Socialists and Democrats since the beginning of the pandemic. The European Union must strengthen its position as a major donor to the World Health Organisation by speaking with one voice during the Pandemic Treaty negotiations. And there is also an urgent need for the Commission to clarify one of the biggest global health threats to date: antimicrobial resistance, the biggest threat we are facing alongside climate change. How is the delay in the presentation of the pharmaceutical strategy hampering this important battle? Documents, strategies and communications are not enough. The European Union has proven itself, it has overcome difficult times in public health, but when it comes to creating practical and lasting solutions we cannot fall short.

Mr President, the F-gas Regulation is ambitious, projecting a target of zero emissions from 2050 and we support it. It is true that fluorinated gases are harmful to the atmosphere, but I would like to draw attention to desflurane, which is an anesthetic gas used for the surgery of paediatric, elderly and obese patients and because so far there is no safe and effective alternative to replace this anesthetic gas. Thirdly, also say that desflurane emissions are very limited, as they happen in strictly necessary places and when there are technologies capable of recapturing desflurane and preventing its emission into the atmosphere. Banning this anesthetic could put thousands of surgeries at risk. I would draw your attention to this. It's not about choosing one path over another. We must safeguard these patients while we save the planet with this ambitious proposal and for which I welcome both rapporteurs.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, pollinators are an important part of maintaining harvest fields, crops and forests throughout Europe. 78% of wild flower species and 84% of crop field species in the European Union depend on the work of these small, large living things. The extinction of bees will have an immediate devastating effect on agriculture, in particular on small-scale agricultural land, for example in the outermost regions. Its endemic products, which rely on pollinators, will also be at risk from the decline of the species – a consequence of a number of factors, such as land-use changes and biological invasions. An ambitious pollinator- and farmer-friendly strategy is essential. Biological alternatives to the use of pesticides are a safe solution for the protection and sustainability of the ecosystem. Bees are one of the most important living things on our planet. It's time to protect them.

Mr President, water remains a resource of limited access for a substantial part of the world's population, especially among the poorest and most unprotected. While in one part of the world water is scarce, in the other water is wasted as a result of a deficit water network that cannot reverse water losses. Work and joint efforts are needed already this month at the United Nations Water Conference. Nearly 50 years after the last one, it is time to act to safeguard the supply of drinking water and sanitation services, aware that this resource is a basic human need. Only then will we achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6. Fighting climate change depends on how we fight and respect this resource, which is so essential to our life, our well-being and the environment.

– I would like some clarification because I fail to understand your political group's perspective when it comes to cancer action. And in this regard, we have that 10% of cancers are caused by air pollution. We also have that these emissions, CO2 emissions are one of the main causes for air pollution. Here we’re talking about technology neutrality at the tailpipe. So reducing those emissions, these will have important gains for the environment and health. So I fail to understand how your political group is on the forefront of cancer action, but then is against this proposal that will have immediate impact for the health of EU citizens. So I would like a clarification on this.

I would like to ask the colleague if you have gone through the proposal, because what we negotiated, and before you state that you voted against, is tailpipe zero emissions by 2035. This provides technological neutrality at tailpipe and provides the chance not only to have zero-emission vehicles that are electric, but with other technologies that can arise.

Madam President, Vice-President, colleagues, the transport sector accounts for 25% of total carbon emissions in Europe and cars and vans, together with heavy-duty vehicles, are responsible for more than 70% of these emissions. The link between the environment and our health is also very clear: a quarter of deaths worldwide are caused by environmental problems, 10% of cancers in Europe are caused by air pollution, and for every degree of increase in average temperature, there is a 2% increased risk for cardiovascular accidents. There is no time to waste, nor is there time for half-measures, as the right in this House wants to make us believe. The European Union must act now. Over the last year and a half, this Parliament has worked tirelessly to produce a climate legislative package that is fair, ambitious and forward-looking. It is therefore extremely satisfactory that we have agreed to make the European Union a cleaner air space by establishing that from 2035 only zero-emission cars can be sold. This will facilitate market developments in increasing the supply of sustainable options, lowering prices, technological development and the rapid creation of a second- and third-hand market. A change at this level will impact workers and small and medium-sized enterprises. That is why we need mechanisms that monitor the situation and allow us to respond adequately and in a timely manner to the challenges that arise, ensuring that this is a just transition that leaves no one behind. Colleagues, these were difficult negotiations, as you may have noticed from these interventions, but the industry has also given us a signal that it is prepared. The time has come for the European Union to take responsibility for its emissions and to take global leadership in the fight against climate change. From 2035, all new cars in the European Union will be zero-emissions, a measure that should set an example for the whole world. And this is legislation that complies with the Paris Agreement and the Climate Law and has unparalleled positive repercussions for our planet and for all who live on it. A final word of thanks to Jan and the whole team of negotiators for reaching this agreement, to the Commission, to the Council and, for my part, a special thanks to Juliana and Eliana.

Mr President, the European Year of Skills aims to empower workers with the necessary knowledge and ensure that no one is left behind in the environmental and digital transitions. The outermost regions are currently heavily affected by the decline in the working population, but also by youth migration, and it is therefore urgent to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to attract and retain talent in these regions. Hence the importance of creating youth talent development networks through policies adapted to the regional and local reality, combating labour shortages in some sectors, targeting people to the specificities of each labour market and investing in the formation of green jobs and blue jobs so essential to the economy of these regions. Talent in the European Union needs to be boosted and the outermost regions have talented people. May 2023 be the year to do so!