Debate contributions by Pernando BARRENA ARZA

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the demand for decent and dignified living conditions for all citizens is a transversal discourse that requires taking the initiative from the public sphere, particularly in housing issues. Once again, the great liberal dogma of that supposedly self-regulating market falls by its own weight and proves incapable of guaranteeing basic rights. Housing policies must be approached from the idea that housing is a basic good, a fundamental human right and not an object of trade and speculation. Public administrations need to ensure this exit approach. In Spain, there is a legal tool that allows the price of rents to be bumped up by means of a declaration of tension zone and in its brief application it is already demonstrating some capacity to contain prices. We support this initiative to be accompanied by a restrictive regulation of short and seasonal rentals and a fiscal policy that taxes the holiday rental business, imposes limits on its expansion and, in addition, promotes the culture of rental versus that of property. The competences are basically in the hands of the States, but from the Union measures can be taken to promote this totally necessary change of orientation. Truly, the new Housing Commissioner will not be short of work.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the United Nations-sponsored Summit of the Future has agreed on a document that talks, among other ideas, about security and peace and the transformation of global governance. Both concepts are intimately linked and today it is impossible to talk about international security and peace without referring to Ukraine and Palestine and demanding once again an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and now also of Lebanon. A ceasefire is absolutely necessary and enforceable to stop the genocide. International security and peace are the result of respect for international law, which cannot be violated without consequences. If we consider the invasion of Ukraine, which it is, to be contrary to international law, we must do the same with the invasion of Palestine and Lebanon or the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco, and to date the European institutions apply international law according to who violates it. A lot of heavy hand and military escalation against Russia, because it is the enemy to beat, but complicity with Israel and Morocco, because they consider themselves partners of the European Union and NATO. We cannot accept that double standard. Confront Morocco and Israel as you do Russia, Mrs Jourová, because all three are in breach of international law. Denounce the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and start by complying, Mrs Jourová, with the judgment of the CJEU which says that Western Sahara is not Morocco and therefore invalidates the trade agreement. And cut off, once and for all, the privileged status granted to Israel by the 2000 Association Agreement.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, Afghanistan is currently facing multiple overlapping crises: economic, humanitarian, climate and political – each of which is interconnected and exacerbated by the growing women's rights crisis. Over the past two years, Taliban have imposed increasingly abusive policies, particularly against women and girls and religious and ethnic minorities that clearly violate Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law. The situation in Afghanistan demands a women-led, gender-centred and evidence-based approach. The European Union must have its humanitarian efforts and ensure that our aid programmes across the country fight sources of social inequalities and prioritise aid to victims of human rights and gender-based violence. I would like to call on the European Union Member States to establish and facilitate safe and legal pathways for Afghans at risk, including by increasing resettlement quotas, humanitarian visas and easing family reunification, particularly for women and girls. The women of Afghanistan need us and our voice must be used to amplify theirs.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union, and this Parliament in particular, are obliged to denounce the genocide perpetrated by the State of Israel against Palestine with the complicity of the international community. The Palestinian population in both Gaza and the West Bank continues to be attacked and bombed by Israel, and this has to stop now. Pressure against Israel by the European Union should include the suspension of the 2000 EU-Israel Association Agreement: The free trade zone with Israel is over as long as the genocide in Palestine continues. I would like to underline that this did not start on 7 October last. Back to status quo This is not an option and I would like to take this opportunity to mention the important international conference against terrorism. apartheid in Palestine convened by the Palestinian diaspora in Brussels this coming October 19. It was imperative to continue working for an end to the genocide in Palestine, for an immediate ceasefire and for a solution that would enable the Palestinian people to have their own State, viable and respected by the international community.