Speeches

Mr President, I will try to make it shorter. European shipping and our ports are of great strategic importance. Firstly, for our energy and food supply, but also for our security, our economic prosperity and our trading position in the world. The immediate vote on port State control and flag State obligations represents an important update of European maritime legislation. After all, the legislation regulates the enforcement of the international maritime conventions for the flag states in the EU. It ensures that all European countries will comply with their obligations and that inspections in all European ports are adequate. This legislation ensures digitalisation. The European Commission will set up a database in which all information on inspections can be accessed online by flag State and port State inspectors in order to facilitate their work. In addition, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will assist flag States in achieving greater harmonisation between Member States. This legislation requires all EU flag States to inspect every ship in their fleet every five years. Environmental parameters have been strengthened to tackle polluting ships and working conditions on board have also been strengthened. This review is an important update and demonstrates our continued commitment to raising safety standards for ships and their crews. It underlines our commitment to protecting lives at sea and improving the overall well-being of our European shipping sector. I would like to thank all those who have contributed to this and I trust that this Parliament will support our work.

Mr President, Saturday night: 200 people in a tourist square in Greece attacking a young couple together – a bizarre incident. What was going on here? It started with words from the crowd. Subsequently, bottles were thrown and physical violence was used. The couple fled into a restaurant and were later taken to safety by the police. Where does this anger and violence come from? You see, it's not an incident, it's a tendency. A trend that is also very real here in this House. Transphobic texts are often shouted out here in this room by far-right politicians. Politicians on the right, now absent, who knowingly respond to people's fears about an uncertain future, with the aim of concealing their own powerlessness and placing the blame on another. And always with another who is in the minority, such as trans people. Far-right politicians around the world are copying each other's words and blaming minorities for everything that is wrong in society. This is not without consequences. Because where verbal aggression towards minorities is the norm, physical aggression on the street is not far away. Where verbal aggression is the norm and cowardice hides behind the right to freedom of expression, humanity is increasingly eroded. Words matter, but even more so, your vote matters in the next election. Who can speak on your behalf? Who gets the majority in democracy? Are they the haters, or the fellow humans?

Mr President, women and girls make up half of the world's population, but there is no gender equality anywhere in the world. There are no equal opportunities for women and girls anywhere in the world. I am by nature an optimistic person and I see the successes achieved in EU legislation that give women decent pay for their work, there are obligations to include women in the top of companies. But I also see in my own country how difficult things are still going on. There is no affordable childcare, there is no support from the government to include rape as a European crime and abortion is still in the Criminal Code. But these backlogs are almost insignificant in the knowledge that female circumcision is a practice that still claims victims on a daily basis. It seems to compare apples to pears, but there is one similarity: disinformation. It is the enemy of women's rights around the world: Spreading falsehoods about emancipation. Disinformation is detrimental to women's rights in the past and in the future. We saw that when Trump came to power in the US. He could not build a wall, but withdrawing the right to safe abortion and stopping finances for foreign women's organizations was an easy prey. So what we need is education and information in all cases: education and education as a defense against discrimination and far-right politicians. We must invest with knowledge against disinformation and autocrats who pretend to be guardians of women and the traditional family, but are the first to shake up women's rights when they are in power and then the rest of democracy.

Mr President, before the summer, Italian Prime Minister Meloni decided that, in the case of the parenting of two mothers, the non-organic mother should be removed from the birth certificate, with which children now officially have only one parent. This week it is the Christian Democrats in Italy who propose not to allow anything that is not straight on TV. With fear and hatred, they want a new reality for everyone, a reality that discriminates against minority groups. Hate speech, exclusion, scare, that is the political goal of more and more politicians at the expense of people. That is not without consequences. Figures speak for themselves. Suicide attempts among lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are 4.5 times more common than among heterosexual youth. Among transgender youth, as many as 21% have ever made an attempt. What happens is at the expense of children and young people. It is up to each of us to choose. Are you going to hate and exclude or do you choose love and being inclusive? So use your right to vote, because every vote counts in your own country and here in our Union.

Mr President, the transport sector is one of the most special sectors to work in. You often make irregular and long hours, are often away from home and also often abroad. It has very nice sides, but it is also very hard work, whether you drive a truck, sail on an inland waterway vessel or on a seagoing vessel, or work on board a train, tram or bus. There is also a shortage of people in this sector across the EU. Working conditions are often not ideal, such as insufficient safe and clean sanitary facilities along the road. In any case, there are still insufficient, let alone safe truck parking facilities throughout the EU. For women, it is even worse. For example, men are paid more than women for the same job and men are more likely to have management positions. In addition, there are many conscious and unconscious prejudices about women in the transport sector. If we really want to solve the shortages in this sector, then the sector will have to seriously work towards ‘equal opportunities for men and women’. And I totally agree with you, Commissioner. Because only a society that is truly equal is also a society and a working environment where it is really pleasant to work and live for everyone. I would also like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Łukacijewska, for his excellent cooperation and report.

Mr President, today we are discussing a sensitive and fraught: buying sex and at the same time the human right to decide without compulsion what you want to do or do not want to do with your own body. And at one point, we all agree here. Sexual exploitation of people, and usually women, is terrible and must stop. At the same time, we must not forget that there are people who want to do sex work voluntarily. These two realities coexist, creating political dilemmas in our different Member States. The solution, according to the present report, is to criminalise people who buy sex. However, this policy can also have very major disadvantages, which organizations such as Amnesty International also warn against. As a result, prostitution will continue in secret, with much less sight of women and therefore more chance of exploitation and violence. In my country, in the Netherlands, offering and buying sex is legal. This is in the interest of a safe environment for sex workers, with sufficient opportunities for enforcement and to prevent, detect and act against criminal behaviour, while ensuring very good exit programmes so that women who want to quit can actually do so. In my opinion, this is a pragmatic solution.

Mr President, in my country, in the Netherlands, we live an average of 13 months shorter because of the dirty air we breathe. Thirteen months. And throughout Europe, dirty air causes thousands of premature deaths. People who live near polluting factories or who work there, or children who go to school near busy roads, all of them also go to the doctor more often than people who live in a healthy environment. Children and the elderly are also particularly sensitive to the negative effects of air pollution. Residents of Tata Steel in the Dutch town of IJmuiden, for example, suffer significantly more from cardiovascular diseases and higher blood pressure. Companies like Tata Steel make profits at the expense of the health of local residents. And this has to stop. That is why it is also good that Europe comes up with this legislation. All people have the right to clean air. It is time for this European approach. Time to drastically reduce air pollution and stop polluting companies.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, I welcome the freight greening package that will address the problems in long-distance and cross-border rail transport, but also on the issue of the weight and size of trucks. The latter will have positive implications for zero-emission heavy vehicles and aligns the weight limit with the introduction of electric heavy vehicles to offset batteries. I welcome the increased rail capacity. European rail freight is the most efficient way to transport goods over longer distances and avoid heavy congestion on roads and pollution. But at the moment there is no efficiency because of fragmented national rail systems that cause high costs and waiting times at border crossings. This European Commission proposal improves coordination between national capacity managers and align rules to increase the share of European rail traffic. Corridors and corridor management should not be limited to rail, but also include ports, terminals and unloading and uploading stations connecting to maritime and road transport.

Madam President, dear Commissioner Vălean, it’s a hot and historic day in Strasbourg today. Historic because the EU countries are the first in the world to take action in decarbonising shipping. We will decrease the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used by the ships, by every single ship that calls in the ports of Europe. And you know what? The European shipping industry is very much in favour of this legislation. It gives them a clear pathway for their investments in green ships and in green fuels. Or, to quote a clean fuel producer, ‘we have never seen such a clear and economic positive incentive for the uptake of fuels in a long time’. And you know what else? Our citizens are really happy with this legislation. Container and cruise vessels whom at the moment are responsible for heavy air pollution in our ports like Rotterdam or Hamburg, they will be obliged to use electricity in the port, so no more air pollution in our ports in Europe. So, you would think I am a happy Member of the European Parliament, of the Transport Committee. That is not the case. Because just a few days ago, I was in London at the International Maritime Organization meeting on the same subject and where the EU transformed the shipping sector to a speedboat in line and path with 1.5 degree warming, the IMO failed to do so. They improved just a little bit. But on a global scale there is still no real action plan to be in line with the Paris Agreement. The IMO is too slow for what this planet needs. This is a big disappointment, but if you are disappointed, get going, work harder and try to convince other and more people to join you. So, I have my hopes up for the USA that they will introduce action legislations like we did and will join to be a front runner in transitioning to zero emission shipping, creating new jobs in Europe and in the States, and unlocking new opportunities for developing nations who have the sun and the wind to produce zero emission fuels.

Madam President, so here we are in the European Parliament discussing the topic of surrogacy. We talk about the uteruses of fertile women and of couples who would like to have a child. I can tell you one thing: the people of ECR who asked for this debate are not really interested in helping couples with a wish for a child or women who voluntarily want to help others. They have an opposite goal: polarisation. And they just stated that in the Netherlands, my country, commercial surrogacy is allowed. That is a lie. That is untrue. But did you know we all already know that the business model of clickbait advertisement is polarisation, but that you also know that also the clickbait model for right-wing politicians is polarisation. The ECR will do anything to hold on to the idea of a family in its purest form, and now they have the newest balloon, and that is to criminalise surrogacy. And while such legislation can have enormous consequences for all children already involved, the ECR does not care for those children and what they really care about is their own political agenda. Polarisation does not bring solutions. It only makes the world a bigger mess. So today I stand here as a woman, as a mother, as a European, and I ask you politely, stop discussing about the uteruses of European women and stop putting minority groups in the centre of your politics to scare others in the hope of winning their votes.

Mr President, wherever you are, on average one in three women is a victim of physical and sexual violence. In your own country, worldwide or here today. Look around you, look around you every day and realize that. And finally, as Europe, we are also going to ratify the Istanbul Convention. I'm very happy about that. But what is also striking today is on the right – and now most have already left – the men who say to the women: “No, everything will be fine. You have to be afraid of gender ideology.” No. It's always men who tell us to be afraid of something. We don't have to be afraid of anything, except for the men who say we should be afraid. You have to watch out for them. Calling for violence. Saying that there is a gender ideology because people also want to be women – that is serious and we have to watch out for that.

Mr President, with Dieselgate, car manufacturers have betrayed consumer confidence. We didn't know it and you didn't see it, but it has disastrous effects. I will also give an example. The Limburg region, where I live, is one of the greenest and most beautiful regions in the Netherlands, with beautiful green meadows and wonderful cycling landscapes. But in the same region, people live on average eleven months shorter than in the rest of the Netherlands. This is due to air pollution from industry and road transport. This is not only the case in my country, but throughout Europe. 300,000 people die earlier each year from air pollution. That is why we also legislate in the EU so that cars emit less and ultimately nothing. The betrayal of the automotive industry is in the annals. But we still feel the effect. Many of these polluting cars are still driving on our streets. We learned from Dieselgate that the automotive industry is doing everything it can to circumvent rules in the interests of people and the environment. Let this be a lesson we don't forget. Trust is good, but control is better.

Let's say you win $300,000 in the lottery. What would you do with that? Pay off your mortgage? Buying a new car? But let me be honest. Most people do not win in the lottery and simply have to work very hard, day in and day out. And yet, about half of us all get a bonus of EUR 300 000 while working, which is the amount that men earn on average more than women for the same hours worked in an working life. Women earn on average 12% less in Europe and in my own country – the Netherlands – that is even 14% less. Most people don't know this. Most employers don't know this. They just say: “No, of course, I don’t, it doesn’t happen to me.” But we know plenty of examples of women who try to get their justice and then lose their jobs. So today we are taking a very important step. Let's put an end to this bizarre reality. The EU is turning reality around. It is now up to employers to prove that there is no unequal pay in their company. With the reversal of the burden of proof, the responsibility lies where it belongs: with the employer, the company and the power. I am very proud and thank Kira and Samira for their hard work on this. Today, Member States have three years to implement this. Let's hope they do it a little faster.

Mr President, so that was a quick run – first time in Parliament! – Voorzitter, ik ben opgegroeid in een warm gezin in Nederland, vol liefde en genegenheid. Mijn ouders houden van mij en mijn zus en hebben mij laten zien wat onvoorwaardelijke liefde is. Die is vooral niet perfect, maar wel onvoorwaardelijk. Met hulp van hun goede voorbeeld probeer ik mijn eigen kinderen met net zoveel onvoorwaardelijke liefde te laten opgroeien. De liefde en genegenheid die ik tijdens mijn jeugd heb mogen voelen, is een voorbeeld van goed ouderschap. Je kinderen de ruimte geven om te ontdekken wat ze willen doen, dat is goed ouderschap. Je kinderen helpen opstaan als ze vallen, dat is goed ouderschap. Ouders die kunnen laten zien dat ze van elkaar houden, dat is goed ouderschap. Wat hier helemaal niks mee te maken heeft, is of deze ouders toevallig hetzelfde geslacht hebben of niet. Maar nu, in de EU, besluit de Italiaanse regering om te bekrachtigen dat het in Italië onmogelijk moet zijn om ouders van hetzelfde geslacht beide als ouder van hun kind te laten gelden. We kunnen dat als Europees Parlement, maar ook als Europese Unie, niet accepteren. De waarden van de Unie komen onder druk te staan als we dit accepteren, onder het mom van “dat moet Italië zelf weten”. Dat werkt niet. Want wat in Italië gebeurt, staat niet op zichzelf. Overal in de wereld, in Europa en daarbuiten, staan rechten van lhbti-personen en vrouwen onder druk. Conservatieve religieuze antigenderorganisaties krijgen het telkens weer voor elkaar om angst in te boezemen voor zaken waar geen angst voor nodig is. Want kunt u mij vertellen wat er zo eng is aan twee mensen die van elkaar houden? De invloed van deze organisaties reikt ver. Doen alsof dit een incident is dat alleen nationaal bekeken moet worden, is de ogen sluiten voor wat er gebeurt in de wereld. Daarom moeten we ons blijven uitspreken tegen deze organisaties. Parlement en Commissie moeten de handen in elkaar slaan om hun functioneren, de wijze waarop ze gefinancierd worden, hun strategieën en hun banden met de politiek bloot te leggen. Dit moet stoppen. Want daar waar geen transparantie is van het politieke doel, daar waar geen transparantie is van financiën, daar waar alleen angst het doel is, daar wordt niet gewerkt aan democratie, maar aan de afbraak van de democratie. Daar moeten wij de EU-burgers voor beschermen, door zichtbaar te maken wat er gebeurt. Want ieder kind heeft recht op een liefdevolle familie. Dat heeft niks te maken met hetero of gay, maar alles met de familie die het beste met je voor heeft. Dat gaat over liefde en vertrouwen. Dat is het tegenovergestelde van haat en angst. Iedereen kan kiezen.

Mr President, Commissioner Vălean, more and more flights in Europe are being cancelled due to a shortage of staff. Ground staff are having a hard time, but it goes even further. Also with some airlines crew members and pilots are pushed to the limit in the cockpit. The European Pilots’ Union and the European Transport Trade Union have received worrying reports and found serious over-tiredness among pilots and cabin crew, in particular from one airline. These signals have of course been shared with EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the regulatory body on behalf of the European Commission. But when inquiring, they do not make any statement about the way in which they handle these complaints and whether they investigate these complaints. They refer back to the European Commission. And when the Commission is questioned by the press, the Commission says that it is not aware of complaints. The classic ‘from the cupboard to the wall’, but a very dangerous one. This is about flight safety. That is why I wrote a letter to the Commission asking it to clarify this matter quickly. But I have not heard from the Commission either. And that's why I'm asking again here. Does the European Union Aviation Safety Agency report directly to the Commission on pilot fatigue complaints? If so, can you confirm that the complaints in question are being thoroughly investigated and that you will take action if necessary?

Mr President, 90% of all the stuff we use in the EU comes in via containers, on large mega ships, such as the sneakers you wear today or that you would like to buy tomorrow. Just say, almost everything you buy online or offline in the store ends up with you through the ocean. And 99% of the fuels that these container ships propel are fossil, and therefore bad for the warming of the climate and air quality in the ports. And now it comes! Nowhere else in the world has agreements been made on how to stop this pollution. So far, in the EU. The Clean Shipping Act will ensure that all container ships and all cruise ships sailing in the EU or arriving in the EU must be sustainable in the future. With this law, we make fair agreements about how container ships and cruise ships can emit less and less CO2 from 2025, and from 2030 are obliged to use electricity when they are anchored in the ports, so that there is no more air pollution in seaports such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Every year, 400 000 people die prematurely from air pollution in the EU. What I am particularly proud of is that this law makes the Commission's original proposal even more ambitious. That was my mission as a negotiator: an even faster reduction of CO2 emissions and a mandatory percentage for the use of zero-emission fuels, so that fuel producers will continue to produce these most sustainable fuels. With this ambitious Clean Shipping Act, we can meet the climate targets and at the same time give fuel producers clarity in advance about the enormous investments needed to make this maritime sector more sustainable. And with this law, you no longer have to worry about whether your sneakers have come across the ocean sustainably in the future. All you have to do is think about what color you would like.

Mr President, Commissioner, flight shame – it affects most of us. In 2018, it was even nominated as Word of the Year. People want to move in an affordable and sustainable way, without harming our planet. This ReFuelEU Aviation Act is therefore of great importance and will help us to do so by obliging fuel suppliers and airlines to use and make SAVs. Sustainable Aviation Fuels 80% more durable than kerosene. This makes the EU the difference for all of us: Flying without shame in the future. But where the EU also has to make a difference is for those with poorly paid jobs and tough working conditions in the transport sector, and in particular at airports. The old system of cheap and polluting travel in favour of big profits for shareholders and at the expense of people and the environment must be stopped.

Vice-President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, with these adapted rules for renting lorries, we are finally getting a relaxation. Rented vehicles are generally newer, safer and more environmentally friendly. This adjustment makes it easier to replace defective trucks. In addition, it helps transport companies to rent vehicles more easily in other EU countries, making it easier to cope with temporary peaks. As part of the Mobility Package, this legislation also aims to improve enforcement and control. Maintaining the improved rules is the only way to restore fair competition between operators and to improve drivers’ wages and working conditions. This is important not only for the well-being of drivers, but also for the road safety of all of us.

Mr President, ‘Vera, why do you keep worrying about women’s rights? There is a war going on in Europe. Where are your priorities?’ This is a question I get more and more often and always when it comes to gender equality. Currently, European women and men in Ukraine are fighting for their country, trying to save their children and bring them to safety. Some women are even forced to give birth to their baby on the subway. In every crisis, whether it's war or a pandemic, it's women who are hit hard. Every time. The figures speak for themselves. But when it comes to the strategic choice for a safe life for you and your family, then the women are not or heavily underrepresented at the table. The number of women active in politics in all EU Member States is still not the same. Women politicians are more often targeted by intimidation, especially on social media. It discourages them from taking an active part in politics and from participating in democratic decision-making. Even in my own country, the Netherlands, this equality is still deplorable. There will be local elections next week. On average, three out of ten city council members are women, and that in 2022! This has to be different. It is in the direct interest of our democracy that people are equally represented. Here in the European Parliament and beyond.

Mr President, Commissioner Ferreira, ladies and gentlemen, Europe’s cities and regions are facing enormous challenges. I initially thought about making houses more sustainable, adapting the infrastructure, sustainable transport and of course not to forget: COVID-19. Look at the healthcare sector or the tourism sector. There is a lot to catch up on and cohesion funds can help with that. It is time to really start and implement it. But now, more than ever, the flow of refugees from Ukraine is of course topical. I am very pleased, Commissioner Ferreira, that you have promised to look at how the cohesion funds can contribute to this. Of course, we have to deal with this crisis first. That is why it is important that the Member States also contribute quickly to this, and I am pleased that you have a major role to play in this.

Mr President, the current toll system in the EU is fragmented and has many political sensitivities. The new Eurovignette Directive offers a common, ambitious and forward-looking European approach. We are taking a big step towards fairer and greener road transport. Those who pollute the most also pay the most: this principle is essential for achieving our goals under the Green Deal. The CO2 toll for trucks is at the heart of the directive, as it allows us to further stimulate the transition to zero-emission trucks. Moreover, the revenues from the Eurovignette are invested in modern and safe roads, and thus in the safety of all road users.

Mr Vice-President Zīle, this is a special moment for you. Voorzitter, vrij reizen is een grondrecht van alle Europeanen. Dit recht staat vanwege de pandemie echter al twee jaar onder druk. Dit merken niet alleen vakantiegangers, maar ook mensen die wonen en werken in een grensregio. We hebben daarom hard gewerkt aan de totstandbrenging van het reiscertificaat, dat bedoeld was om het recht van Europeanen om tijdens de pandemie vrij te reizen, te garanderen. De lidstaten zijn er echter mee aan de haal gegaan en hebben in de evenementensector en in de horeca allerlei verschillende beperkingen en passagierlokalisatieformulieren ingevoerd. Het is een wirwar van reismaatregelen geworden, waardoor het beoogde doel van het reiscertificaat niet kon worden verwezenlijkt. Ik wil de Commissie er daarom toe oproepen daadwerkelijk voor geharmoniseerde afspraken te zorgen als het reiscertificaat wordt verlengd.

Mr President, recently the Polish Ministry of Health came up with yet another proposal against abortion, yet another low point. The Polish government wants to register pregnant women, so from now on the government knows whether a pregnancy leads to a baby, a miscarriage or an abortion. We know the examples of women dying in Poland – in the EU – because doctors do not dare to intervene in a hopeless pregnancy for fear that they will have to go to court. Mr President, this systematic attempt to restrict women's rights with man and power is very reminiscent of Margaret Atwood's book, The Handmaid’s Tale. In this book, the world is led by a male elite and women have to bear children. This system no longer seems like a fantasy story, but comes step by step closer. That is why I appreciate President Macron's statement here yesterday in the plenary. He calls for recognition of the right to abortion, access to safe abortion in the EU. Political pressure and solidarity are important. We must include sexual and health rights in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Mr President, I am glad that Mr Gieseke already knows what we are going to do as Social Democrats. It is always nice to know that you are also very interested in this. Mobility is important to all of us. This way we can go to work, to our family and to our friends, to everything that is important in our lives. But many people cannot fully participate in society. Important is the structural lack of means of transport, but also the limited accessibility of public transport for disabled people, older people. And indeed, add to that the high cost of transport: 13% of the household spends on average on transport costs. For COVID, that was even more than what we spend on food and drink on average in the EU. So this is a problem that we need to pay close attention to. So now that we are starting with the Green Deal, which has a major role to play in greening the transport sector, it is important that we put people first. Not the car, but the people who drive that car. All people in the EU have the right to accessible and affordable transport.

Mr President, how long can a country in our Union continue to undermine fundamental rights? A year ago, abortion was almost completely banned in Poland. A government composed largely of men decides on the individual rights and bodies of Polish women. The consequence: women in Poland – European women – die as a result, like the young woman of 30 years old. She was 22 weeks pregnant, she died because her fetus had died in her womb and her doctors did not dare to intervene for fear of persecution by the Polish authorities. So in order to survive or avoid high prison sentences in the future, some Polish women choose to go abroad. And so the government in Poland now wants to oblige doctors to register pregnancy. Every pregnancy and every miscarriage must be reported in a register that is controlled by the government. Women in our Union are thus reduced to maternity bodies and controlled by the government if a pregnancy does not end in a baby. We Members of the European Parliament have condemned it time and time again. Solidarity alone is not enough. That is why I would like to ask the Commission and the Council: What will you do to help Polish women?