Speeches

Madam President, the relationship between the European Union and Latin America has always been strong, thanks to historical and cultural ties, as well as shared values. Strengthening these relations with our partners, through increased cooperation and mutual aid, will benefit both regions. Pilot projects and sharing of best practices can represent a vital opportunity to renew this relationship. I give here the example of Costa Rica, a world leader in the fight against climate change, where ambitious decarbonisation and biodiversity protection policies already in place can be leveraged in the European Union and vice versa. This cooperation between the EU and Latin America should thus consolidate an alliance that is strong, strategic and beneficial, always guided by the defence of the fundamental values that guide the European Union, and against totalitarian regimes, including through the reform of the multilateral system. Latin American countries are allies in many of today's global challenges and it is time to recognise them.

Mr President, Commissioner, Madam President-in-Office of the Council, ladies and gentlemen, we need answers to the shortage of medicines and the European Union has the capacity to implement them. We need the European Medicines Agency to be able to identify the missing drugs, but also the production and supply points where there are flaws. We need transparency from companies regarding the stock of products and their withdrawal from the market, and we also need to move towards the joint purchase of essential medicines, as was the case for COVID-19 vaccines. And we also need this new pharmaceutical strategy for Europe to help make the European Union autonomous and sustainable when it comes to drug production. Access to medicines must not fluctuate as a result of wars, inflation or other disruptions. Millions of lives depend on these drugs, and so they also depend on what we do here in the European Parliament, in the European Union. This is our obligation, and only together will we be able to rise to the challenge.

Madam President, Commissioner, COP27 represented both progress and stagnation. The agreement on loss and damage, which recognises that there are global regions that are more vulnerable than others, such as the outermost regions, among others, in the EU, is of course very positive. However, everything else fell short of what was expected. We need to trigger a profound transformation and recognise the intrinsic links between the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis and the ocean crisis, through the end of fossil fuel subsidies and investment in renewables, ensure the accountability of the textile sector, tackle the plastic pandemic, disinformation and unsustainable. There is simply no more time to waste if we want to respond to the calls of our youngest, youngest generations and secure the future of our planet.

Madam President, the European Year of Youth was an unparalleled opportunity to bring the European Union closer to young people. This year I had the honour of welcoming 100 young people to the European Parliament, mostly from the Autonomous Region of Madeira, an outermost region, to ensure that these young people, who live further afield and face increased challenges, are part of the decision-making we have taken here for their daily lives. Because this move away from the Continental Plate should not mean a move away from the European project and opportunities should be equal for everyone, whether they live in Saint Vincent or live in the centre of Brussels. The event has also been mentioned here. 9 for youth, with many Europeans, including 200 young Portuguese people who were brought here to the European Parliament as part of this action by the Portuguese socialist delegation here in this Parliament. Let this European Year not be a sham. Let us take action as a result of his appeals. They are the youngest policy makers of the coming decades. And it will be them, the young people of today, who will ensure that this European project continues.

Mr President, the climate emergency cannot be separated from the biodiversity crisis, in which we are witnessing the degradation of ecosystems and the accelerated extinction of species. For a summit that has been continuously postponed, it is time for the international community to demonstrate commitment to our planet and its protection, unlike COP27, which went beyond what was necessary. We therefore need an agreement that is binding against degradation and in favour of restoration, recognising the value of areas of intense biodiversity, such as the outermost regions in the European Union and whose biodiversity is linked to sectors such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries, among others. Hence the importance of ensuring a strategy and funding that promotes the sustainable development of these regions and the recognition of one of their greatest assets: biodiversity.

Mr President, thank you for giving the catch-the-eye time in this very important debate. The climate crisis is present in our daily lives and as much as there are signs calling for more action, we have been postponing efforts from what we can do today to later. Every year, we have opportunities to inspire more action, to become good examples of good practice, to produce effective and innovative legislation, but it has not been enough. Science has repeatedly shown that we will not be able to limit the increase in the temperature of this planet. Generations above me are worried. My generation is scared. The younger generation is terrified. And it will be in these generations that the decisions that were made by our parents, our grandparents and those that we make here today, at this very moment, will make themselves felt more intensely. I appeal, then, that we make good decisions, bold, thinking about the future and that we leave no one behind, because after all we do not have planet B.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, mental illness affects all social strata and all age groups and has only worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, it is the second cause of morbidity and during the last two years the symptoms of anxiety and depression have more than doubled. The question that arises here is, fundamentally, whether we are going to turn on the light and see the problem that lies ahead or whether we are going to continue in the dark, without answering the citizens. I call here for a real debate on this public health problem and for us to bring more legislative initiatives to combat stigma, improve accessibility to mental health care and contribute to the reintegration of all citizens into society in a healthy and functional way. Colleagues, let us not ignore the citizens, from the youngest to the oldest. We have to face the problem head-on, we have to take more action and we have to work here towards a real European mental health strategy. I say here, let's turn on the light.

Mr President, two and a half years since the declaration of the pandemic, and the truth is that we have already been able to draw many lessons from what has happened and this is something that we are closely scrutinising in the COVI Committee. Looking here, at this room, now, it seems that we are talking about a matter of the past, but the truth is that this is a matter well of the present. Winter is coming, we are no longer in a position to prepare, but to act. We must not make the same mistakes as in the past. It is important here to ensure the necessary immunisations for all and that they arrive together with seasonal flu vaccination. Transparency and information for citizens are also important here to combat disinformation, as only with more health education will we ensure the effectiveness of the protective measures in place. Finally, COVID-19 is a cross-border threat and this week we have already made history, we have approved the new regulations for a European Union for Health. Now is the time to act and make the European Union for Health a reality.

Madam President, when discussing ocean governance it is essential to refer to the outermost regions. They enable the European Union as a whole to have the largest maritime area in the world. Therefore, its enormous potential is and must be exploited to the full, whether in terms of the production of renewable energies, or in terms of harnessing the biodiversity potential existing in these regions, or in the implementation of innovative and sustainable pilot projects that change the way society deals with the environment. This is not only about requesting exceptions to take into account their specificities, but also about leveraging and providing the necessary regulatory and financial basis for the outermost regions to become leaders of the climate transition within the European Union itself.

Madam President, just over two and a half years ago, the European Union was devastated by the biggest pandemic of the last hundred years that hit everyone in the world, without exception. The EU responded at the time with the instruments of the time, but we soon realised the need to build a genuine European Union for Health. This regulation is thus the culmination of several months of intense negotiations, with the principles of ‘one health’ and ‘health in all policies’ in essence, recognising that health is an integral part of any prosperous society. This Regulation provides for: the establishment of prevention, preparedness and response plans at national and European level; the recognition of a public health emergency; greater coordination and coordination with international bodies, such as the World Health Organisation, as crises know no borders; stress tests and training at different levels for health professionals; more transparency; reference laboratories and reduction of administrative burden for those managing the crisis; multi-sectoral collaborations and a clear focus on health literacy and countering disinformation. This is thus a historic moment. We have a stronger mandate, because in crisis we are as strong as our weakest link. A final word of thanks to those who made all this possible: to the Commission, to the two Presidencies who worked with us and, in particular, to you, Véronique, and to the whole team of shadow rapporteurs, for being able to rise to the challenge. For a European Union for Health that leaves no one behind.

Mr President, the second United Nations Ocean Conference was held in Lisbon in June. The international community has recognised the need to do more, to do better in protecting our oceans and our biodiversity. It is therefore disappointing that negotiations for the protection of biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction, which aimed for an agreement this summer, have been inconclusive. The longer we delay implementing global measures, the more we harm the most vulnerable, the most peripheral. To leaders around the world: be attentive to the science and the appeals of young people in the high-level negotiations we will have later this year. A coordinated response is imperative, recognising the need to respect the boundaries of our planet Earth. Today, the crisis is not just one, it is a climate crisis, it is an environmental crisis, it is a crisis of oceans and biodiversity.

Mr President, Commissioner, the drought in the European Union affects more than a third of the continent and today the picture is dramatic. For example, in Portugal, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, 66% of the territory is in extreme drought and 33% in severe drought. So more needs to be done. You have to bet on: monitoring and prevention strategies, supported by entities such as the European Drought Observatory; territorial assessment plans, which should identify the groups most vulnerable to these extreme climatic events and include appropriate adaptation measures; and also measures to mitigate the risk of drought and heat waves. Unfortunately, it is no longer enough to try to reverse the impact of climate change. We will have to learn to live with them, but continue to work to mitigate them and thus ensure the health of our planet and those who live on it.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, Minister, the current situation is dramatic. Transport accounts for around 25% of total emissions in the European Union and does not show a downward trend. CO2 emission performance standards in cars and vans have been a crucial element in limiting emissions from cars on our roads, but they are insufficient to respond to the climate emergency. And the review that the Commission has proposed to respond to the calls of citizens, science and the commitments made in the Climate Law is a good starting point, improved in this Parliament, in the report that we will be voting on tomorrow. It is extremely worrying, however, the lack of ambition shown by this house, which ignores the needs of the population, industry and our planet. We need to steer the sector towards decarbonisation to increase the supply of zero-emission technologies, reduce prices and quickly create a second- and third-hand market for zero-emission light-duty vehicles. While it is true that the transition will have impacts, it is also true that there are support mechanisms to mitigate them, and we ask the Commission to come forward with further support measures if necessary. I would remind you that this is a sector that already has technologically and economically viable solutions. We cannot therefore continue to allow them to become unaccountable. I call on colleagues here in this Parliament to support the end date for internal combustion engines in 2035 and that, from then on, we only have new zero-emission cars on our roads.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, Minister, in strengthening this system we must not forget the outermost regions which are exclusively dependent on air and sea connections for the transport of people and goods. If this is the case, a carbon tax will lead to higher shelf prices and the general cost of living in regions that are already among the poorest in the EU. In this sense, it could also jeopardise their economic development and the level of employment in these regions, and hence the importance of ensuring special derogations allowing for full adaptation and a sustainable transition. I therefore call on everyone to take into account the specificities of the outermost regions, as is safeguarded in Article 349 of the Treaties, in particular and specifically, when travelling between their Member State, other Member States, but also between islands, such as the Azores and Madeira archipelagos in Portugal. Only in this way will we ensure effective territorial cohesion and a genuine just transition that leaves no one behind.

Mr President, one of the main and increasingly frequent challenges on EU islands is the extreme natural phenomena and frequent alluvial events caused by climate change, which are devastating due to the lack of sustainable management and conservation of agricultural and forest soils. In this sense, the European Union Solidarity Fund needs to be improved to deal more realistically with the consequences, as this same report acknowledges. We need a specific support mechanism that allows greater eligibility for the outermost regions of the European Union, with the possibility of this fund being mobilised to finance emergency operations and recovery in the event of damage of less than 1% of GDP, when allocated to a small area, taking into account and considering their specific location and resources.

Madam President, the outermost regions face permanent constraints on their development, as recognised in Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. I therefore welcome the renewed strategy for the outermost regions presented by the European Commission on 3 May. A strategy that puts people first and addresses the specific challenges faced by these regions, such as Madeira and the Azores, in Portugal, such as employment rates below the EU average, especially among young people, the high level of people at risk of poverty and population decline. I therefore call on my colleagues to take immediate action for the outermost regions to promote effective social and territorial cohesion, through air and maritime connectivity, employment and access to training, and derogations in the environmental transition, enabling the outermost regions to fully adapt.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, transport and tourism are two sectors already highly impacted over the last two years by the pandemic and now by this war in Ukraine. As if that were not enough, disruptions in supply chains and the exponential rise in fuel prices particularly affect the most vulnerable, and also jeopardise the connectivity of the European Union, especially connections with more remote regions, such as the outermost regions, which are also more dependent on transport and tourism for their socio-economic development. I therefore call on the Commission to present measures to be implemented to mitigate all these negative impacts, including a mechanism to make the tourism sector more resilient to future shocks and crises.

Mr President, the role that the sustainable blue economy can play in the prosperity of the outermost regions of the European Union which, because of their insularity, are particularly dependent on certain activities, such as maritime transport and tourism, is undeniable. The protection of the oceans and their marine resources should also be ensured, recognising the biodiversity potential in the outermost regions. Thus, the climate and energy transition will entail the decarbonisation of these sectors through the identification of synergies and best practices, such as the implementation of pilot projects in the area of renewable energy in the outermost regions and also through greater coordination in the transition at different levels, local, regional and national. Decarbonisation also means new opportunities, job creation and new ways of attracting tourism, with the aim of ensuring territorial, social and economic cohesion.

Mr President, Madam Vice-President, colleagues, in the European Union, mental health problems affect more than 80 million people and suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29. Mental health is then a problem of the present that irreversibly undermines the future of the Union. While the data show some improvements in the update of mental health legislation in the different Member States, implementation levels still leave much to be desired. It is therefore necessary today to improve access to mental health services in the community and to invest in the development of multisectoral policies that recognise the multifactorial nature of mental illness. We need standardised data collections, health services that address mental health issues, and policies based on the best scientific evidence. It is also, above all, essential to combat the stigma and social and labour exclusion of all those suffering from mental illness. And Covid-19 has brought even more urgency to this topic, we know. And, as my colleague mentioned earlier, the overall prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% relative to pre-pandemic data. During the pandemic, services were interrupted, telemedicine in some cases accentuated pre-existing digital inequalities and hampered accessibility to health. There is an urgent need to reduce these inequities. President, I'm done. It has been more than 40 seconds since I started the intervention and one person has already died by suicide and 20 have tried it. These are the statistics. We urgently need to do more. We urgently need to do better.

Mr President, I come here to talk about the outermost regions, which represent 80% of the potential of biodiversity in the European Union. Addressing climate and biodiversity emergencies requires a holistic approach that values and protects our natural resources. Protecting and restoring our ecosystems will bring benefits to our planet, but also, in particular, to some sectors, such as agriculture, fisheries, forests, among others. I see, therefore, with some disappointment, that the proposed Nature Recovery Law, planned to be presented at the end of March, has been postponed. I call for this proposal to be presented as soon as possible with ambitious targets and with special consideration for the specificities of the outermost regions. Only in this way will we ensure sustainable development and a decent future for all generations.

Madam President, the latest IPCC report confirms the climate emergency we are going through. It also confirms that, without the dramatic reduction in emissions, we will quickly reach points of no return. It also confirms the inadequacy of our current mitigation measures and that adaptation measures are needed to address the risks and damage already caused by climate change. Proof of this was the intense drought we went through in Portugal at the beginning of the year, which affected our agriculture, biodiversity and water supply. So we need more. We need to strengthen our climate efforts. We need more ambition, especially in the Fit for 55 legislative package. We also need more funding. Because we all have the right to a sustainable environment and we must fight for it. Protecting our and future generations must be part of this plan.

Mr President, given the high level of health protection that we aim to achieve in all Union policies and actions, it is essential that we focus on extending Vision Zero to also cover the active prevention of work-related accidents and diseases, including by taking into account psychosocial risks and mental health, adapting to the digital, environmental and demographic transitions, minimising negative impacts and enhancing the positive effects on health literacy and its role in recognising modifiable risks and risk factors, including those linked to cancer, which are still today the main cause of work-related death. This is therefore a realistic and progressive report calling for better working conditions and safety for workers and it is our duty to ensure that it will be consistent.

Madam President, this eighth environmental action programme is an essential instrument to guide the European Union in its environmental and climate objectives for the coming years with 2050 in sight. Our response to climate and biodiversity emergencies requires the implementation of a holistic approach, paying attention to mitigation and adaptation measures, the circular economy, the protection and restoration of biodiversity and the zero pollution objective. This approach will also have to take into account the specificities of European regions and that they have different starting points. Here, I draw attention to the outermost regions such as Madeira and the Azores. It is also crucial to include the local level in the decision-making process, which will help contribute to territorial cohesion in the EU. Now, more than ever, we have all the signs that we should decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and end investments in them as soon as possible. The answer and the only way to save the planet for future generations is the transition to a sustainable and well-being economy.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, hundreds of thousands of citizens are looking forward to the outcome of this report: patients, whose access to timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment is crucial for their survival, whether they are in Strasbourg, Brussels or Madeira, an outermost region; colleagues in healthcare, who want to provide patients with the best possible care; Researchers, who are waiting for better data to promote more and better studies and find the necessary answers; Families and carers, who struggle every day to ensure the quality of life of their children; Survivors, who want to move forward with a normal life, without any economic or social conditioning, guaranteed by the right to be forgotten; And finally, citizens, all citizens, from the oldest to the youngest, including their organisations, count on us, their representatives, to help us improve and save lives. This is the purpose of this report: with our vote and our action to prevent cancer from continuing to be a fatality. Thank you to everyone who contributed to a robust report, in particular the rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs, based on the best scientific evidence.

Madam President, every day the pandemic reveals the importance of having innovative health technologies accessible to all capable of supporting health protection and promotion, as well as disease prevention. Enhanced cooperation in health technology assessment should contribute to addressing the needs of patients, ensuring the protection of health data at all levels, of health professionals, reducing red tape and administrative work through the automation of health systems, through the standardisation of data collection and the interoperability of information systems and institutions, allowing for greater transparency in technical assessment and policy-making processes and promoting greater dialogue with the organisations involved. We therefore need to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment tools that we have at our disposal, and this is what this regulation will contribute to. Congratulations to the rapporteur and to everyone involved for the excellent work achieved.