Speeches

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, teachers are the centre of the school: form, educate, transmit knowledge and culture to young people. School is the beating heart of democracy, it is curiosity and diversity. If you invest in school, you invest in democratic participation. In recent years, teachers have been asked to take on the difficulties of children, especially the psychosocial impact of the pandemic on adolescents. Teachers increasingly have to adopt new and experimental didactics, which involve greater responsibility and continuous updating. Moreover, as shown by many cases of chronicle, violence and vandalism are growing. The increase in workloads does not correspond to an increase in the salary, in the resources available, nor in the quality of the structures. Some actions to support teachers are implemented through Erasmus+, but without an adequate budget, these actions are unlikely to produce tangible results. If we want a more just society, we must invest in school, a place where people can find their vocation, their place in the world, together with others.

Mr President, Mr High Representative, ladies and gentlemen, what is happening in Guatemala these days is serious. The prosecutor's office is moving to avoid the handover and the December 8 press conference, in which the prosecutor reiterated the need to lift the immunity of the president-elect, is only the latest blow of an unscrupulous and dangerous political class. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was clear: Judicial harassment and intimidation are unacceptable and, above all, in total disagreement with the will of the voters. After twelve years, the Guatemalan people decided to change course and support those who spoke of defending rights, fighting corruption and organised crime, defending the rule of law and self-determination. We must reiterate our closeness to the Guatemalan people, to President-elect Arévalo and to the Movimiento Semilla It called for the respect of the electoral outcome and the democratic presidential transition to be ensured by 14 January 2024. We must fight against the coup attempt. I thank the High Representative for what she is already doing.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Media Freedom Act is an opportunity for Europe. Parliament should strongly choose which side to stand on: the independence of journalists, guaranteed by an ambitious regulation. The protection of journalistic sources is an act of civilization. In too many Member States we are witnessing attempts to silence the work of journalists, especially investigative journalism. There are no healthy democracies where journalists cannot do their work and are victims of pressure and censorship. With the provisions that we will vote on we insert complete safeguards: target all technologies used to spy on and remove national security grounds used to limit the protection of journalists and their sources. We must not accept any compromise on the downside. We want to strengthen safeguards to protect the independence of public service media. They must be fully independent and autonomous, in a system that guarantees full protection from political and governmental influences. They must be able to enjoy a twofold independence: institutional, which translates into full transparency of the respective board, and financial, which is achieved by requiring Member States to ensure adequate funding, avoiding turning state advertising into an instrument of political pressure. Denounce and intervene against disinformation and interference, certainly, but without renouncing the freedom of the press. Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union recognises the right of everyone to receive a pluralistic offer of information. Parliament is calling on the Member States to finally put this right into practice. We must ensure that large platforms cannot act indiscriminately when it comes to trustworthy and truly independent media. Some nation states, Hungary in the lead, will do everything to reduce the scope of this text. We can't let that happen. The autonomy of journalists makes our democracies stronger.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, what has happened is a serious matter. The act of macho violence is an abuse of power, a plastic demonstration of how patriarchal culture is still present in sport. Just think of the latest abuses in the world of women's football carried out by coaches. Unfortunately, this is a widespread phenomenon: One in seven athletes under the age of 18 say they have experienced sexual abuse, violence and harassment, often at the hands of coach. Discrimination against athletes takes many forms. We are making progress: The protagonists are doing it directly. Rubiales inhibition is an important first fact. But politics cannot stop at repression alone: territorial networks must be built to encourage reporting and ensure the protection of women who are victims of abuse and harassment. It is important to invest in men's awareness processes and sentimental education projects. Women are not objects or trophies to be displayed as a sign of power: Consensus is the only criterion that applies, in sport as in the rest of society.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, books have always been a means of free expression, a means of getting to know the world better and of learning and transmitting knowledge. The book sector is made up of a myriad of subjects that need to be supported: authors, publishers, translators, readers, up to booksellers. Booksellers, in particular, are valuable professional figures to introduce and approach reading. I would like to recall the importance of independent bookshops, often victims of shameful acts of intimidation. In addition, these bookstores suffer the difficulties of the market without receiving any public support. These places are pillars of our local communities: They keep them alive, promote cultural initiatives and often become a meeting point, socialization and aggregation. It is important to do it soon: create a European label for independent bookshops to increase their visibility, promote diversity and play a central role in the value chain and dissemination of knowledge.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the High Representative's mission to Cuba was an important event. Visiting Cuba means shortening distances with the Cuban people, strengthening European strategic autonomy, defending continental interests, given that the European Union is the first commercial partner of the Caribbean island's cooperation. An act of sovereignty in line with European positions against the US economic blockade and against the inclusion of Cuba among the countries promoting terrorism. We need to implement the relationship, as foreseen in the 2016 agreement. We must work towards an autonomous European agenda capable of identifying in the region all the actors interested in strengthening diplomatic, political and commercial exchanges, respecting rights, the rule of law and the self-determination of peoples. We have a responsibility to better prepare for the EU-CELAC summit in July. The trip to Cuba and the meeting with President Díaz-Canel were important steps in the right direction.

Mr President, Commissioner Schmit, more than 850 000 cultural objects, including paintings, sculptures, archaeological objects and book materials, were seized globally in 2020. More than half of these objects have been seized in Europe. This data hides a large problem, as many cases are still undetected. Cultural heritage is of enormous importance from an artistic, historical and scientific point of view. Illicit trafficking can have a devastating and irreversible impact on cultural heritage, as it destroys parts of our collective memory and deprives citizens of testimonies of its history. Among the actions proposed by the Action Plan, I believe that the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation is crucial, especially with third countries, as this is a cross-border crime. European action cannot be confined within the borders of the Union, but must go further. For this reason, the Commission should follow up on requests that also come from third countries. Such as, for example, the establishment of a political dialogue at ministerial level to promote the protection of cultural heritage from illegal activities. Countries like Italy have been recognized as examples to follow in this area, just think that Italy was the first country in the world to establish and make available to UNESCO the task force of "blue helmets of culture". Similarly, many Latin American countries are progressively strengthening their protection policies against the sale of archaeological finds. A high-level political dialogue would allow for a fruitful exchange, with the aim of further facilitating and strengthening international cooperation. There are still weaknesses in data collection. Not only do some states lack specialised units, but they also lack national databases dedicated to the recording of stolen works of art and related to those of Interpol. The lack of these elements also limits the reception of information on an international scale. Finally, the activity of data collection must be accompanied by a strong awareness-raising activity in schools, among local communities, in universities, as there is still little awareness about the damage that the illicit trafficking of cultural goods can cause. Therefore, illicit trafficking is a serious, odious crime, since it subtracts common goods from public use, transforming the value of use, the beauty available to all and all into exchange value and merchandise in the availability of very few. It is our responsibility to do our utmost to ensure the recovery of a heritage that belongs to humanity as a whole.

Mr President, Mr High Representative, we are concerned that the situation continues to be unsustainable: We are talking about at least 60 people killed and 1 335 injured during the protests, all exacerbated by enormous social injustices and systemic racism, also manifested by the official press, with violence and repression directed mainly against the original Aymara and Quechua peoples. On the massacre of Juliaca, in the Puno region, 18 people were killed, the United Nations intervened. Amnesty called for an immediate end to the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against the civilian population and to investigate human rights violations. We are also concerned about the decisions of the Constitutional Court, which undermine the independence of the judiciary. I express my full solidarity with the Peruvian people and consider the activation of the European Union to be essential in order to foster dialogue and a negotiation process that puts an end to violence and a return to voting and democratic normality.

Mr President, Commissioner, I think we must be honest: The European Year of Youth was not the success we wanted. A wasted opportunity, thanks to the pandemic and the war, which, moreover, have also exacerbated some youth fragilities. There are still many problems, including mental well-being, strained by isolation and lack of future prospects. So when will we have a European strategy on mental health with a specific focus on the new generations? Second point: automatic mutual recognition of educational qualifications and qualifications. There is still a long way to go, where are we on this issue? Finally, it would be important to include more active and participatory European citizenship modules in school curricula; Are there concrete steps in this direction?

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Europe is considered to be a safe place for journalists, but threats and attacks against them are on the rise, as are intimidation and pressure. The main concern concerns precarious working conditions and blackmailability, as well as the protection of sources and professional secrecy. With regard to source protection, seven EU countries fall into the medium risk category according to the Media pluralism monitor. Among these is Italy, where we see requests from the judiciary to acquire data related to private communications of journalists, despite the full willingness to cooperate. In this regard, I want to express my full solidarity with Sigfrido Ranucci and the drafting of Report, an important investigative transmission. The recurrence of these cases makes it urgent to adopt more effective regulations to protect sources and professional secrecy; The work on the European Media Freedom Act is a great opportunity to strengthen the independence of the press. The European Court of Human Rights has reiterated that such interference amounts to an attack on citizens' right to free information. In some countries this warning remains unheard today.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the work that we have done on this report, thanks also to the rapporteur Salima Yenbou, has been important and has seen the CULT Committee committed to assessing both the 2018 New European Agenda for Culture and the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations, two strategic documents that define our cultural priorities. Europe has changed profoundly over the years. Among the biggest challenges, first the pandemic, now the conflict that knows no end. These challenges and the resulting changes require the Union to review its strategic framework in the field of culture and international cultural relations with more targeted and ambitious objectives. Reminding all of us that culture is always a bridge, even and especially when weapons speak. I am heartened to see that among the priorities of the Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026, which has just been approved, there is a desire to strengthen the role of artists and professionals in the cultural world, working so that this dynamic ecosystem can grow even more. In the cultural and creative world, more than a third of all workers are self-employed or freelance. Very often the minimum wage does not apply and many workers, if laid off, have no alternative sources of income. Moreover, legislative differences between Member States on the legal status of artists hamper cross-border collaboration and work. Arts and culture are not a commodity, they keep us alive, they bring the hope of emancipation, they give meaning to solidarity and the exercise of our freedom. Finally, the new Work Plan for Culture is certainly an opportunity. However, I would like to stress that this ambition requires adequate funding. Good intentions are not enough, we need to invest more in culture, both at EU level, strengthening programmes such as Creative Europe in the next multiannual budget, and at national level, where states should develop new alternative and stable sources of funding for the cultural and creative sectors that today recover only a small part of the economic value they generate.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, a few weeks after its conclusion, we have the opportunity to discuss the European Year of Youth. A year that has missed its objectives, first of all to really reach the young European generations, understand their needs, especially after the pandemic and in the midst of the current social crisis. I would like to remind the Commission that we still have time to act and give concrete answers. Firstly, by implementing the "EU Youth Test" so that there is a meaningful involvement of the new generations in the political decision-making process. Young people must have a say when deciding on policies that will impact their future. It is time to combat youth precariousness and give them the opportunity to enter the world of work with quality opportunities, starting from a regulatory framework at European level that prohibits unpaid traineeships and apprenticeships, and on this aspect the Commission and the Member States must certainly do their part, but Parliament must also be clear and united on this request. We must first say enough to the age of free work to be able to gain experience. Education creates equality, but if the first step after graduation is an unpaid internship, we simply keep existing inequalities intact. The pandemic has already forced young people to put their lives on hold. The least we can do is guarantee them a start on their career path without being indebted. We owe it to them for the Europe of the future. Finally, it is crucial for us to continue this work by extending the European Year of Youth until 9 May 2023.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, art, beauty and culture are the antidote to violence and horror and the highest form of human expression. Today, when bombs and tanks have returned to the heart of Europe for Putin's responsibility, forcing tens of thousands of innocent people to abandon their homes and lives to face fear and the unknown, we must be firm in rejecting the logic of war and oppression and ready to offer our solidarity to the Ukrainian cultural world and try to maintain the thread of dialogue. The war has hit artists, cultural workers and academia hard, spreading a climate of fear, at the expense of artistic freedom, freedom of teaching and expression. Art and culture will then have the difficult role of healing these wounds, rebuilding countries and ties, and for this we owe great recognition to those artists and creators who have not stopped in the face of barbarism, but have reacted by continuing to practice their art, art as a form of resistance and critical thinking, as well as free and independent journalism. We need to pay attention to Ukraine's cultural heritage. Cultural and historical works represent a wealth to be protected with all the legal instruments available to protect and prevent the illegal trafficking of works of art. This crisis has shown the need to put in place – I am addressing the Commission in particular – a European response and recovery mechanism, dedicated to cultural heritage and the cultural ecosystem. A mechanism that brings together public and private partners and takes into account the strategic role that philanthropy can play in supporting the cultural world, just as it is important that we return to investing strongly in Creative Europe. Art and culture in general speak the language of peace. They belong to the whole world. Weapons are instruments of destruction. Culture and education are bridges, informal diplomacy, they foster dialogue. The conflict has generated a misconception, which blames anyone who defends freedom of artistic expression. The polarization has also aroused criticism and fierceness against Russian intellectuals, artists and scientists, thus helping to isolate those who had spoken out against Putin's wicked choices. Racism towards the Ukrainian world and the attempt to "erase" Ukrainian culture are simply unacceptable. The responsibility for the war rests with Putin and his authoritarian regime. But I also want to say that these responsibilities have nothing to do with the extraordinary artistic, literary and musical production that Russia has given to the world over the centuries. We must strike at Putin and not at culture. Protecting the role of cultural dialogue is the first step towards a ceasefire and post-war period.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Gabriel, Erasmus+ is the longest-running European programme, which best represents Europe's core values, which values cultural exchange among young people and their growth. To be a 360-degree success, Erasmus+ must fully reflect progressive values, starting with inclusion and diversity. It must be a programme open to all, regardless of physical, economic, social, geographical or other barriers. This implementation report allowed us to assess what effects the inclusion measures had in the previous programme. Although the programme had an inclusion and diversity strategy in 2014, it needs to be harmonised across Member States and become mandatory in order not to limit its impact. The amounts for mobility grants are often insufficient and this is a reason for social exclusion for some students. That is why we call for an increase in the budget for 2023 and integration by Member States to be dedicated to the full implementation of inclusion and equality measures. Thank you Laurence for the work done.

Mr President, Commissioner, the Committee on Culture and Education welcomes the Commission's ambitions in the field of education and training with these three initiatives that will pave the way for wider access to learning opportunities for all. It is important that these initiatives are fully inclusive, addressing everyone, regardless of age, employment or gender. Member States must bear in mind that the opportunities available through individual learning accounts and the micro-credentials system must not only meet the needs of the labour market, but also the individual choices of those who want to change their personal development path. It is crucial to put in place a mechanism for monitoring and reporting initiatives so that any limitations can be verified. Finally, learning aimed at environmental sustainability must be integrated into school curricula also through citizenship education, to allow students to become active promoters of sustainable and inclusive societies.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, almost 3 million children are in urgent need and only 47 000 have been reached by educational and recreational material and psychosocial support. Still too few. Among those in need of immediate support are students affected by the war, directly and indirectly. The greatest challenges at this time are faced by States, called upon to rapidly integrate all students into their education and training systems and to provide specialized educational support to those with specific needs. We must prevent this war from having further lasting effects, such as early school leaving or school segregation, leading to social exclusion and discrimination. In this sense, the absence of representatives of the nation states here today is a very bad sign. It is essential to make the best use of digital education tools, so that all students can continue their education. However, these are and must remain complementary measures to face-to-face teaching; face-to-face education is essential, especially in the current context where young people need additional support. It is a way to give them moments of normal life, made of school, sociality, sport, affection. Member States will have to make a further effort, recognising diplomas, qualifications and learning periods, not only for students but also for educators. Another element that we cannot forget is that all students fleeing Ukraine, including international students, can complete their diplomas as they too are in an emergency situation. I want to conclude by recalling that it is essential that we address this emergency with a coordinated approach, but even more importantly that we learn from this terrible war to ensure immediate support to refugee children, of any origin, fleeing any war. Europe must change its pace and invest in an open reception system, capable of welcoming those fleeing war and violence, starting with boys and girls. And those who violate the rule of law and human rights remain adversaries of the European Union, inside and outside our borders.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we live in a society characterised by continuous interconnections between people. Nevertheless, the foreigner continues to be frightened, episodes of racism and xenophobia are too often on the agenda. They are not always violent actions, often they are gestures, words and looks that are enough to make us understand that there is still much to do for the promotion of a culture of hospitality. On this aspect, culture, education and sport can play a fundamental role, offering the tools to read the complexity of contemporary reality and educational opportunities to experience the value of diversity. Well then Erasmus+, well Creative Europe. Education and training are the basis for building inclusive societies, debunking prejudices and valuing differences; With this in mind, the European Education Area must become a reality, given the role it can play in combating all forms of discrimination. It is essential to train teachers adequately so that they are able to work in multicultural contexts, guaranteeing them continuous training. Finally, European and global citizenship education, through curricular and extracurricular activities, is an antidote to racism and Member States must give more space to the study of the history of European integration with the aim of promoting social cohesion. This approach is still valid, even more so today, in the face of war. Those fleeing Russian bombs have the right to be welcomed, whatever their status and the color of their skin.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the pandemic has suspended moments of sharing and meeting, spaces for participation, work and sociality. In this unprecedented scenario, young people were among the most penalized subjects, with serious consequences on their psychophysical well-being. Inequalities and difficulties in accessing fundamental rights, such as education and healthcare, have increased. 2022 is the European Year of Youth. It can and must be the year of recovery for young Europeans who have put their lives on hold for too long. Limiting ourselves to the simple celebration of events will not be enough. This year is an opportunity to say enough to unpaid internships and traineeships that have very little training. Parliament has already called for this in two resolutions and we now call on the Commission to put forward corresponding proposals. It is an opportunity to put the expectations and desires of the youngest at the center, to put them in the training and working conditions to be realized. If we kill desire and expectations, only resentment will remain. We invest in participation and youth leadership and we will have a better society back. We need to make sure that 2022 is really the Year of Youth. We need to be more ambitious and up to the challenges posed by the pandemic. It is now up to us to make the European Year a success. I want to remember Giuseppe Lenoci, 16, and Lorenzo Parelli, 18, who tragically died during their internships. To their families and to their companions, my condolences.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the neo-fascist violence in Rome, the authoritarian drift of Poland and other states, the construction of an anti-system public opinion fuelled by fakes and no vax ideology and the racist twisting present in our society are part of the same phenomenon: the growth of social resentment and increasingly violent forms of political struggle, also favored by the post-pandemic economic and social crisis. There are fascists, a minority, who must be stopped, by all means and in every country of the Union, starting from drastic interventions of public security. And there is a widespread, subcultural fascism that affects hundreds of thousands of people and that we must fight with politics, dialogue, political and cultural formation and with strong interventions of social inclusion, income and work. What we are facing is a worldwide phenomenon that concerns the fragility of our democracies. It is a European theme. And from here we must relaunch public policies capable of counteracting the phenomenon.