Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, thank you for your work. Almost 12 years ago to the day, 25 April 2012, the then ECB President stood in front of this House and called for the long overdue integration of European banking policy – in short, banking union. We are 12 years on and we have made great strides, but our banking union is missing its third pillar. This week we’re finalising our position on the updated crisis management framework. Last week, the ECON Committee finally supported a proposal for an initial European deposit insurance scheme. Time is no longer a luxury if we want to show that European economic integration can indeed provide the conditions for a stable and innovative banking industry. While we have reduced the risk, many of the problems we face 12 years ago are still with us. Bank debt and sovereign debt are still too closely intertwined in some countries. A European approach would bring more competition and better value for people. It would make a real difference in the lives of our citizens, and that is what is important. We need to complete the banking union. In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.

Mr President, today is another stage in a long process and tomorrow is the vote. Many, many people have been involved in getting us to this point where we have a strong directive. It’s not an end, but it is a very strong beginning, and the women of Europe need it. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Many people have been involved. Let me say a very big thank you to the shadow rapporteurs and all their teams for the incredible work they did in getting us to this point. It has not been easy. It’s been complicated, particularly by the reaction of certain Member States, of course. Nevertheless, we all feel this is an extremely worthwhile directive and we want a ‘yes’ vote on it tomorrow. It is strong. The Council presidencies played their part, as did President von der Leyen, Vice-President Jourová and Commissioner Dalli. It shows the importance of women in leadership positions that we have this on the table in the first place, having waited decades. But it’s there now. I want, in particular, to thank my own team. I want to thank Una Clarke for her tireless work. I want to thank Conor and Michael. I want to thank the EPP team of Xenia, Chris and Santa, the FEMM Secretariat, the EP press, the lawyers and lawyer-linguists, the LIBE Committee and the many male champions who supported us. I’ve said time and time again: it is so important to have male champions. We need even more of them, as I’ve said, in every Member State across this EU. But I do want to make a point about those who spoke against adopting this directive here today. Let me say that we should not let national politics in a very few Member States distract us from supporting this directive. Let us not let untrue assumptions about what is possible in this Parliament, in another trilogue, distract us from supporting this important directive tomorrow. Let’s adopt this directive. Let’s not turn away from the women of Europe, who need this directive now.

Mr President, Commissioner, there can be no equality without the eradication of violence against women and domestic violence. That’s clear. This week, we have the opportunity to live up to one of our founding European ideals: equality between women and men. Equality across the European Union is floundering in some places: hateful LGBTQ zones created to bully people into conformity, brutal rollback of abortion care and the ever-thundering train of domestic violence that never gets quieter, it seems, but actually – as we’ve seen through the COVID-19 pandemic – only gets louder. And why are women targeted? Because there is, sadly, just beneath the surface, the belief that women are lesser. Every year, gender-based violence costs the European Union a staggering EUR 366 billion – a cost that we cannot afford economically but one we cannot afford socially, because behind these numbers we find fractured families, traumatised children and devastated women living in fear every single day. So the opportunity that presents itself here to us today is to make a stand for the women of Europe, to adopt the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. This will send a strong message across the European Union to all 27 Member States and 450 million citizens: we’ll not stand for violence. We have to build on the accession of the Istanbul Convention. We are creating a robust framework. So the goal should be that Europe will be the first continent in the world to eradicate violence against women. But the adoption tomorrow is not enough. We need a robust monitoring framework and a genuine commitment across all levels of government to ensure that this is really implemented, that we tackle this with the right resources and supports. And I would say to the ministers for justice across the European Union – and we saw ambivalence from some of them – to do your absolute utmost, learn from your colleagues across Europe what works well, exchange best practice, fight for that extra bit of budget, invest in resources and make successful tackling of this crime your legacy. We do not want to cut corners on the implementation of this legislation. Don’t try and minimise it; build on it. To the Prime Ministers and Presidents: work with your governments to make sure that this is implemented, that you build on the very best practice so you build a society that’s fit for the women and girls of today and tomorrow. And, obviously, to the European Commission – congratulations to them, to the Commissioner here and Ursula von der Leyen – be clinical in your examination of the transposition of this directive, because this really matters. And do tell us, when the time comes, what has been achieved. I know we will have more to do because, as I have said, this is the beginning. We have come far with this directive. We should have gone further but there was huge resistance, as my colleague Evin Incir has said. But I am confident that with this directive, our Union will be a better place for its adoption. But, again, the real work begins now. Let’s make sure that that’s done all over Europe. We need to go forward together, and there was great cooperation in this House when we were working on this directive. We need to go forward and achieve that secure European future that the women of Europe and the young girls of Europe deserve. I wholeheartedly urge every Member of this House to vote in favour of this directive tomorrow. Do not be distracted. It can save and change countless lives of women right across Europe. This directive is very important. It has new offences. It has sections on prevention, on support, on protection and on prosecution. It really matters that we implement this directive after 10 long years and, indeed, decades.

Madam President, Commissioner, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Dublin: every EU city, town and village houses a victim of human trafficking. We may not know it or just may not want to notice it, but it is clear from the figures that victims of trafficking are everywhere in our Union. I would say denial is everywhere: trafficking takes place not just in the murky underworld, but before our very eyes: 37 % of victims of trafficking in the EU are EU citizens, 15 % are children. In 2022 alone, 10 093 victims of trafficking were registered in the EU. This was a staggering 41 % increase on the previous year – of course the real number is likely to be far higher – and 63 % of those trafficked are women and girls and 60 % of those who are trafficked are trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. Colleagues, we cannot talk about trafficking if we do not speak about prostitution: they are inextricably linked with violent criminal gangs profiteering from the exploitation of women. Let’s be clear: as the Sunday Times writer Hadley Freeman said this week, ‘let’s stop pretending that paying for sex is anything but abuse’. It is not liberating, it is not the next stage of feminism, it is abuse to exploit women for their bodies. Since when did we say that it is okay to exploit someone if they are getting paid? Never. Colleagues, it is frightening to think that young boys and girls are being trafficked across our Union. It is time to do more for the innocent children of Europe who are having their childhoods taken away. We have to tackle the criminal gangs involved in prostitution.

Madam President, Commissioners, colleagues, football champions of the world, what a joy and honour to have you here with us today. Strong women, empowered women, at the very top of your game, who got there through grit, determination, tenacity and hard work. Welcome to the European Parliament. We applaud your success. And it is you who will shape the next generation of European sportswomen, as we have seen from your feisty words here today. Well done! We must celebrate, but of course, let’s remember that, unfortunately, harassment and sexual harassment continue to exist in every sphere of life where women take part – in sport, as you experienced last summer, and in politics, as we continue to see here, even in the European Parliament. Regrettably, even as recently as last week, the ramifications of allegations of misconduct in the workplace continue to resonate here – this time within the Greens Group, after the abhorrent allegations against former MEP Gallée. But let’s be clear. The EPP Group does not, will not ever accept that it is okay to harass or sexually harass anyone. A zero policy approach is what we all need here, and we must all be committed to that goal. Over the last five years, the European Parliament has pushed the issue of women’s rights and gender equality to the top of the agenda. Let’s be clear. We have experienced crushingly low moments, with sexual violence used as a weapon of war, women persecuted in Iran and Afghanistan, and the burden of caring responsibilities regressively pushed back onto women during COVID-19. Yet we also experienced some great highs: the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, the adoption of the Pay Transparency Directive, the final approval of the Women on Boards Directive, and soon the adoption of the first-ever EU directive on combating violence against women. Let’s be clear. This has been a good mandate for gender equality. But it didn’t happen by accident. We have had great female leadership across all EU institutions, and in particular from President von der Leyen and President Metsola. Thank you for what you have done. We are very proud of you. But with changing trends in the political landscape, we cannot be complacent. Let me just say, briefly, in recent days there has been much commentary on the referendum results in Ireland. However, let’s not misinterpret these results in Ireland as a backlash against women’s rights. Irish people support equality, women’s rights and care. I’m very proud of what this House has achieved, for Ireland and indeed the whole of Europe, in this mandate.

Mr President, Vice-President, Commissioner, colleagues, violence against women can and does happen everywhere, as we know. Often we say that the most dangerous place for a woman to be, surprisingly, can be her own home. Yet her workplace can often be equally as dangerous, with, as my colleague said previously, numerous layers of violence – not just physical, but psychological, sexual and so on. At home, at work, on the street, in the car park or, indeed, on public transport: is there nowhere that women can be safe? What a world! We must be vigilant and change this. Next month, we will vote on the final agreement on the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. I am proud to have led that work along with my colleague Evin Incir and look forward to its final adoption. But the directive must be complemented by the ratification of this ILO convention by all EU Member States. I am proud that my own country, Ireland, has ratified the convention and it entered into force last year – actions that will ensure that Irish workplaces are safer for women. However, I am disappointed that it is still only in place in a number of Member States. However, there are signs of hope, with another four countries saying that it will come into force in the coming months. As such, I warmly welcome this invitation from the Council. To the remaining Member States I would say, ratify soon and let us continue our efforts to really make Europe the first continent to eradicate violence against women.

Mr President, Commissioner and minister, the Digital Services Act has been crucial in making the digital transition one that respects the law and fundamental rights that we uphold in the non-digital world. This is all the more important in a time of increasing conflict around the globe and, indeed, as so many colleagues have said, with so many elections this year – at least 70 around the world. We’ve all seen the impact of the rise in hate speech and disinformation online; parents worried about whether their children are safe online. I’ve seen the enormous work done by Jackie Fox after the death of her daughter, resulting in a law called Coco’s Law in Ireland. And we now have a similar law in the Directive on violence against women. Incitement of fear and hate among communities, entire elections being decided on the basis of untrue or inaccurate information. No country allows the right to free speech override provisions on incitement to hatred. It should be no different online. There are excellent provisions but, of course, they have to be implemented. And I welcome what the Commissioner had to say today. Administrators now have to ensure that these provisions are fully implemented and enforced. The law must not only be upheld; it must be seen to be upheld. After the dreadful riots in Dublin before Christmas, the Irish Government contacted all online platforms about their obligations to remove illegal content under the DSA. Online hate speech and virulent disinformation played a big role in the outbreak. We all have a responsibility to change this.

Mr President, good morning, colleagues. For the fifth time since we took our seats in 2019, we stand here to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which takes place on Saturday. Sadly, as we all know in this House, we have an epidemic of violence, and even increased numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have to ask the question: is there another crime which is so widespread and which is so relatively ignored? If the same numbers who are victims of violence against women were victims of terrorism or gangland crime, we would have a much more robust response. There is legislative progress, and we know that – we’ve seen it in this House with Istanbul, hard won. Now we have the opportunity to conclude a robust directive right across Europe – and the first, surprisingly, of its kind to tackle violence against women and domestic violence. Evin Incir and myself are working hard on this directive, but I have to tell you, colleagues, it is an uphill battle with the Council. I have to wonder: why on earth are the Member States not rushing towards this goal, refusing to be honest and say that without robust relationship-and-sexuality education, we will never overcome this phenomenon; and, crucially, refusing at present that the most heinous crime of rape should be included in the directive? Why is it so hard for the Member States to accept this? We have all sorts of excuses, but, if you’re serious about this issue, surely rape should be included, and the issue of consent, in any directive on violence against women. We know, of course, that these attitudes and issues we are dealing with are deeply embedded in our societies. We know there are many cultural issues, and we need to organise the way we shape our relationships and our power relationships in our countries. Much to do. But I do want to invite Council to adopt a very robust, comprehensive and committed directive that will engage all of society, so that we can begin to see a decrease in numbers, and so that maybe some years from now, we will be able to say that Europe is the first continent to eradicate violence against women.

Mr President, Commissioner – thank you for all you’ve outlined there – since Russia’s outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine, millions of refugees have come to Europe. Currently, there are 4.1 million people benefiting with protection and rights under the Temporary Protection Directive. A huge percentage of these are women and children, as we have heard. So many citizens, so many Member States are doing so much to help Ukrainians fleeing the war. We do need to acknowledge that. And there is huge support from the EU institutions. But of course we must be particularly conscious of the vulnerabilities that women face as they flee war, particularly when it comes to SRHR support. For Ukrainian women, access to contraception, prenatal care and safe childbirth services have been disrupted due to their displacement, and this is often forgotten. Shamefully, in some Member States, Ukrainian women now face barriers in accessing adequate health care. In Poland, abortion is illegal or practically impossible to access, with cases of rape or risk to the mother's life not guaranteeing treatment. Yet so many Ukrainian women have been raped or have suffered sexual violence. I would particularly call on the Spanish presidency to do everything possible to ensure that we have a very strong European directive on violence against women and gender based violence that includes rape and the issue of consent. Clearly there is work still to be done on this with the Member States. Something as basic as emergency contraception requires prescriptions from a doctor in Hungary and Poland – unacceptable. The Temporary Protection Directive obliges access to medical care. The European Union has a responsibility to meet those needs, including for sexual and reproductive health care and empowering women with proper information and accurate information. We need to pool our expertise across the Union to deliver the kind of training to medical and healthcare staff, and how to identify and support women who are at risk of sexual exploitation through intervention at a very early stage, whether it’s at borders, customs, wherever is absolutely essential. We need to support the women seeking urgent health care and they must be treated with the dignity that they deserve. It is our responsibility to stand by Ukraine in every way.

Mr President, the unregulated, unsupervised use of spyware is a threat to our democracies and to our way of life. Software that was originally developed for reasons of national security and law enforcement is falling into the hands of bad faith actors and governments that use it illegally to access people’s personal data. Spyware such as Pegasus and Predator can effectively turn your phone into a listening device. We have also heard reports of its use, including against journalists and activists, in Poland and Hungary, as well as against government bodies in countries like the UK. I want to thank groups like Forbidden Stories for their work in raising awareness of the threats our governments need to ensure a robust response, and indeed to exchange best practice. There is a risk to personal privacy, and indeed to national security, that we need to take seriously. We must invest in strong cybersecurity protections. We need better training and resources for staff in our national cybersecurity agencies to spot the threats and to take effective actions early. Ireland is a global leader in the technology sector, but we have previously been slow to invest in cybersecurity the way that we need to. So I welcome increased funding for the Irish National Cyber Security Centre in the recent budget, and I hope this will continue in the years ahead. We have also seen a whole series of recommendations that need to be invested in and taken seriously, that are in the report and need now to be implemented. Security is multifaceted, but it is as important in the cyber domain as in any other field.

Madam President, Commissioner, sanctions on Russia show us what we can do when we work together. EU money should not fund Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine. Europe is a trading superpower, and EU sanctions should show Putin the consequences of breaching international law. The figures lay out the extent of our actions: 11 sanction passages in under two years; 1 800 individuals and entities targeted, including Russia’s leaders; 21.5 billion of assets frozen; 91.2 billion of Russian import sanctions, including in tech, transportation and luxury goods. Our focus should not only be on more sanctions, but also ensuring the effectiveness of those we already have. Russia has, of course, sought to disguise its exports by selling them through third countries. Colleagues, we need clear rules and sanctions and consequences of a failure, for example, by large companies, to implement sanctions, and of course, countries – we should not accept Russian products passed off under the radar of a different country. Russia must continue to pay the highest economic cost for what it is doing in Ukraine. Let us make sure that they do.

Madam President, the EU is a global trading superpower. The reason is access to the world’s largest single market, which this year is marking 30 years of success. Rules-based trade has the advantage of being mutually beneficial. It is not a zero-sum game. It has created thousands of jobs and transformed lives and indeed communities – across Ireland, across Europe – for the better. It recognises that, in order to succeed, countries must work together. The EU has already signed many trade deals across the world, but we must go further and do more, including with Australia, South America, India and the United States. Today we see more competition than ever from China, with its state-backed monopolies, and America with its new subsidies. But Europe should not go down that road. Protectionism limits growth, employment and choices for consumers. It is also fundamentally damaging for smaller free-trading Member States. Strategic autonomy should not become a code for protectionism and a subsidy race. Indeed, the EU should lead the world in championing open and free trade. We should not simply talk of protecting our economies, but of increasing our trading options. The EU is at its best when we are bold and outward looking, engaging in trade across the world and seeking in the process to raise global standards. This is how we can insist on environmental standards such as forest protection in South America or increased investment in the developing world. Our desire for economic independence should not mean retreating inwards. Instead, we should further develop and diversify our trading relations.

Madam President, no woman is safe from sexual harassment – not even a winner of the World Cup. What we witnessed this summer is a reflection of the widespread disrespect and misogyny faced by female athletes. I ask: if this can happen in public for the whole world to see, just imagine what happens in private and behind closed doors. The arrogance, the audacity, the collusion in full view of the world to see – an insult to women and to the men who champion equality in sport. What is now emerging is what many of our top female – and indeed male – athletes have had to cope with in terms of blatant harassment and again, for the women, the misogyny they have faced and demeaning behaviour. It is time to call a halt to this. What we have seen in recent years is a wonderful flourishing of female sport, making up for decades of invisibility and lack of societal appreciation, thanks to terrific initiatives by many in sporting organisations, and indeed the resilience of sportswomen themselves. However, we still have a wage gap of 13% overall, and media coverage – this is hard to believe – of barely 4%. We still have huge work to do for women in most sporting bodies at all levels – administration, coaching and amongst players. Future generations of young girls deserve equal access to a safe environment to participate in sport. This is the very minimum that they deserve.

Mr President, I would like to say well done to MEP Maria Noichl and MEP Schneider and all those who have been involved in this report, which is most comprehensive, I have to say. Prostitution is destroying the lives of thousands of women in Europe. Human trafficking is at the centre of this issue, with 51 % of victims being trafficked for sexual exploitation. Women in prostitution find themselves in a very vulnerable position where they lack the sufficient resources to exit if they wish to. Many are trapped, experiencing an ongoing violation of their rights. Mia Döring, an Irish survivor, explained, ‘When you are used to abuse, assaults, become part of the tapestry of your life.’ As we know, different strategies have been put in place and undertaken across the Member States. I think it is quite extraordinary some of the legislation that we have in this day and age in regard to prostitution, right across the Member States. There is a serious rethink going on, however, we see that in Germany, we see it in other countries. I implemented the Nordic model in Ireland as Minister for Justice, and I believe this is clearly the way forward and Member States do have to adopt this model to deal with all of the issues which are outlined in this report – the most serious issues. And the Nordic model does provide protection to those involved in prostitution. It does make sure that services are available. That's all something that can be provided. Demand for prostitution is what allows it to keep on existing. Therefore, buyers should be criminalised as a deterrent. And we have seen, where the Nordic model has been implemented, street prostitution declined by half. It is the moment to act. We must give the women in prostitution the opportunity to achieve a life with dignity and where their rights are actually respected.

Madam President, the President of the Commission stressed the need to answer the call for history. This Parliament will do just that. The challenges are greater than ever, as we all know, and it was illustrated in the debate here this morning. That’s why Europe needs to be ambitious. That’s why I welcome your proposals on leading the world in artificial intelligence, wind energy, strengthening our security and, crucially, working to enlarge our Union to include our eastern partners, including Ukraine. That’s why Europe needs to be competitive. That’s why we must reduce red tape on business. That’s why Europe must stay open for business. Strategic autonomy must not mean protectionism, subsidies and trade barriers. That’s why Europe needs to put people first. That’s why your words on combating violence this morning are vital. You were right: no means no. You have done outstanding work on gender equality. But this must become a legal reality across all the Member States, and they must examine their approach to the inclusion of rape in the Directive on Violence against Women. We have free movement, but we do not have common protections against violence for women. There can be no true equality without freedom from violence.

Mr President, High Representative, in 2022, twenty-four women were executed globally. Sixteen of them were in Iran – the highest level of female executions in any country. Last month, a dozen activists have reportedly been arrested arbitrarily, and this is probably an underestimate. A year has passed since the tragic and unlawful death of Mahsa Amini. Her name is remembered, as are all the women who have unjustifiably been attacked, intimidated and murdered by the morality police. The attack on Mahsa was a cruel and horrific reflection of the oppression and injustices faced by women in Iran. Her death brought the Iranian people to the streets, proving their strength, their courage. The resistance was faced with violence and attacks from the government, and this continues to this day. As a Union that stands for freedom, democracy and human rights we must show that we support the cause of Iranian women and that they are not alone in their fight for equality. The murder of Mahsa signified a call for action, a red line that cannot go unpunished. The European Union must defend the fundamental right of all women to choose to live the life they want for themselves. Let us remember Mahsa Amini today. Let us shout from this Parliament: ‘Women, Life, Freedom!’

Madam President, we find ourselves at the halfway point in our journey towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We have so much more to do, so much unfinished work on the SDGs. Can we really say we are even close to halfway to gender equality? Have we truly promoted peace, justice and strong, inclusive institutions? Over the last three years, our progress was stalled by the COVID—19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other global shocks, as colleagues have said. These unprecedented crisis forced us to focus our energies and efforts elsewhere. Now, I think, we must really redouble our efforts to meet our commitments. This is the right framework, no doubt about that. It is also imperative that we focus on preventing our progress from grinding to a halt or, worse yet, backsliding even more. Rather, the challenges we have faced can provide an opportunity to reshape our societies. Part of that, as we’ve learned here, is putting sustainable development at the heart of our policy responses. We need to redouble our efforts to show our citizens, as the Commissioner has said, that the SDGs present real value for them and are worthwhile investing in and integrating into all of the policies, budgets, all policies across the EU, as my Irish colleague MEP Andrews has repeatedly said. We in Europe can lead the way on delivering the SDGs. The future of our planet, and our future prosperity I would say, depends on it. We should not be found wanting when it comes to prioritising the SDGs, making sure, as I have said, that we integrate them into all our policies here in the EU, and we work with the Commission, we all work together to ensure that this happens and that we will not be found wanting.

Madam President, citizens across the world were appalled at the revelations contained in the Pandora Papers and similar exposures, I remember it all too well. Structures across the world that have the purpose of facilitating illegal practices, such as tax evasion and money laundering, undermine confidence in the benefits of a globally interconnected financial system for raising living standards globally, particularly in developing countries. They also undermine trust in our societies and in our democracies. It is vital that this confidence be restored. This is why we must redouble our efforts internationally. The key word here, I believe, is transparency. Free and fair tax competition is important, but it is crucial that the countries with which we do business are clear and transparent about all their tax structures and corporate rules. As a union, we must be serious about having an effective EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes with appropriate recourses to action if needed. We need ongoing global cooperation with all our partner countries. We already have vital structures for tax compliance, such as the automatic exchange of information, the OECD Common Reporting Standards, the OECD’s Joint International Taskforce on Shared Intelligence and Collaboration Network, in which 19 EU Member States currently participate. I believe that we should build on this to achieve greater and more efficient international exchange of information between fiscal authorities to tackle financial crime. And I would say that our democracies depend on it.

Madam President, when it comes to investment in Europe the figures tell an interesting story: only one EU country is ranked in the US News list of the best countries to invest in; foreign direct investment in Europe was up just 1% last year; while the number of jobs created by FDI dropped 16%, according to EY. But European private equity and venture capital fundraising was up 30% last year compared to 2021, according to Invest Europe. So clearly there is work to do, but also progress underway. Private companies, particularly SMEs, are the lifeblood of our economies and investment is their beating heart. Without pro—investment policies, there can be no job creation, no improved living standards, no funding for our key priorities, such as infrastructure and tackling climate change. While states can play a role, we also need a strong culture of private investment and openness to global markets. Investment also means empowering retail investors to access the markets, gain financial literacy and have more openness and transparency in relation to the workings of financial markets. Europe must also show we are open for business. Extremist politics damage confidence and make people poorer. We should also remember that talk of strategic autonomy should not be a code for more trade barriers, more protectionism and less economic growth. As Minister for Business in the Irish Government, I travelled the world meeting businesses and promoting investment. The EU needs to do the same.

Mr President, I want, of course, to begin by welcoming Jackie Fox to the European Parliament, as you did President, and thank you for that and Commissioner, for your comprehensive speech. Jackie is seated in the gallery for this important debate on cyberbullying. And as you now know, Jackie is the mother of the late Nicole Fox, known as Coco, from Ireland, who tragically took her own life in 2018 as a result of cyberbullying. We know that cyberbullying is killing young people across our continent, and we know that there is a legislative vacuum across Europe at present. Every day a young person takes their life haunted by what has been done to them, mentally tortured by brutal bullying in forms that, as we know, are now evolving. A digital world now allows, as colleagues have said, for total access, not a moment of peace from bullies. Colleagues, it is time we stood up and took action. Coco’s law, named after Nicole Fox, was enacted in Ireland in 2021. It’s aimed to target behaviour online that is killing people. What is illegal offline must be illegal online. The brave work of Jackie ensured this happened in Ireland. We need to do this at a European level. I think we all know that and I think this is what our young people are asking of us. They are asking us to keep them safe online. It is our responsibility as legislators to keep every single European citizen safe online. Cyberbullying knows no borders, and that’s why the EU must act now. Thank you all and thank you to Jackie.

Madam President, colleagues, today is a monumental day. Today, for the first time, the EU makes a legally binding commitment to combat violence against women. And I say well done to the Swedish Presidency. It just shows what you can achieve when you are politically motivated to get the right results. The statistics, as we have heard from Arba and Łukasz, are absolutely horrifying right across Europe and the world indeed. And they continue to be. Make no mistake: gender equality is at the very heart of our fundamental European values. And as we mark Europe Day to day, what better way to pay tribute to that core value than finally going to one of the key roots of gender inequality – this most heinous of crimes – and interrupting it and stopping it. The ratification of the Istanbul Convention will save the lives of women in Europe. But of course it is all about implementation right across every Member State. Yet it is just the first step. It is my fervent hope that within a year we will mark another very important occasion in this battle by adopting the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. I hope that rape will be included in that directive. And I call in all the Member States to ensure that it is and withdraw their objections. Colleagues, we are finally beginning to take this fight seriously and putting more on the table than just words. Let’s make this Istanbul Convention a reality for women right across Europe.

Mr President, good morning and Happy Europe Day to all my colleagues and to the people of Ireland and Europe. It is appropriate that we are today discussing reform of a fundamental part of our European project – budgetary rules – to keep our economy and monetary union strong. It does require robust rules, but they must also be credible and credibly implemented. Our citizens must understand and feel that their concerns and vulnerabilities in the present climate are understood and dealt with. Rules must be more than symbolic, which is why reform is needed, and I acknowledge the Commission’s work. We also must acknowledge, of course, the growing demands on our states, as we have seen in recent years, but also create mobility and opportunities for everyone. We need a framework that is simpler, more risk-based, and with an increased focus on the medium-term that will help implementation and enforcement, and we must promote investment in Europe and, of course, debt sustainability. There are divisions, but I would say that achieving compromise is in all our interests. Robust, realistic and credible budgetary rules will help us build a more secure economic union. Happy Europe Day!

Mr President, Commissioner McGuinness, colleagues, the digital transformation of the financial sector creates new opportunities – challenges, but of course risks. In this landscape the digital euro endeavours to maintain the euro as a dependable and effective payment method. It can also boost innovation. Other places are moving on and we should not be left behind. A digital euro can serve as a model for the rest of the world and support the international role of the euro. The ECB role’s is indispensable, but the voice of the European Parliament must also be heard. And of course the digital euro has to maintain the trust of our citizens. Privacy is a fundamental right, which is also why we should preserve the two—tier distribution model. However, we should go beyond this minimum standard and explore options such as using encryption to protect users’ data. We must also look at ways to make the digital euro economically attractive to customers, businesses and payment providers. Issues of access to the financial system will remain important. Physical cash, as many colleagues have said, will still have a role to play, so no one is left behind. Trust, safety and access: these are the core principles that underpin our monetary system. It is our duty to create a digital euro that upholds these values while also promoting innovation.

Mr President, China looks at Europe and sees division. We must show unity and strength. As President von der Leyen has cautioned, we must clearly set the terms of a healthy engagement. We must be honest and clear, and recognise that China certainly does not play by our rules. And yet China is a vital trading partner, but it seeks to dominate vital supply chains. Their acts are not in line with our European values: human rights abuses of the Uyghurs, an opaque stance on the Ukraine invasion, threatening freedom and democracy in their own backyard. We must play to our strengths, promote global trade and engage as an equal. We must take the lead along with our partners in the democratic world in regulating critical sectors, such as AI, to protect global standards and the protection of rights. China’s interactions with Putin are a cause of absolutely serious concern. Any support in the form of weapons or otherwise would be hugely detrimental to our future relations. We should not allow ourselves to be divided.

Mr President, Commissioner Dalli, colleagues, I’d like to thank all the MEPs who’ve worked so cooperatively on this file to ensure we’re at this moment in time here today. For the EPP, Maria Walsh and Sirpa Pietikäinen have put in a huge amount of work, as I know everybody has. This is a fundamental principle of our democracy: equal pay for equal work. This has been one of our guiding principles in gender equality since the foundation of our Union, yet we’ve never realised it in reality. We’ve been behind, but today we are on the cusp of great historical change. This legislation to close – to finally close – the gender pay gap will be a game changer. The 12.6 % pay gap that still exists, not to mention the 39 % pension gap, hopefully will be reduced and will be no more in the time ahead. This directive will promote gender pay transparency across Europe, meaning it is good for women, but it is also very, very good for business. There is a huge loss to our economies from the lack of gender equality and we have to focus on this more and more. By disclosing the gender pay gap at company level, we can get to the root of the problem. We can see exactly what’s going on. And already we’ve seen changes, when you have this transparency, and they’re very surprising some of the data that’s emerging, let me say, from companies you wouldn’t expect to see it from. So it’s very important. We have waited far too long for this. Today, we are showing that we are standing for the right for women to be treated equally in Europe.