Debate contributions by Mario FURORE

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, academic freedom is under attack, not only in authoritarian regimes, but also in countries that call themselves democratic. Just think that in the United States the recent executive orders of the new Trump administration have frozen billions of dollars for research and censored areas of knowledge, such as climate change and gender issues, and all this because we are hostage to an ideology. And today here we denounce a very serious fact: A French researcher, traveling to a conference in Texas, was blocked and expelled from the U.S. after his critical messages to Trump were read at customs control. An act of political repression disguised as national security. TheAcademic Freedom Index It shows a disturbing decline and Italy, unfortunately, is not immune, because we are witnessing political interference and structural precariousness that undermine the autonomy of our universities. We call on the EU not to remain silent and to step up its commitment to academic freedom.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, anyone who is a father or a mother in a Member State must be a father or a mother in any other country of the Union. This principle, which should be the norm in Europe, is not, however, respected in many countries, demonstrating that a Europe of rights has yet to be born. For more than two years, the European Certificate of Parenthood has languished in a Council drawer and has not been approved. This serious obstruction undermines the best interests of the child, who should be the star of any European regulation. Two million children today cannot travel freely in our Union because their identity and parenthood with their parents are not recognised. There is no more time to waste: if there are countries that for ideological reasons oppose their veto, we hope that the rest will proceed by activating the enhanced cooperation mechanism, taking a decision of civility and respect for the fundamental rights of the EU. And Italy, we hope, can be part of this group of countries that looks to the future and does not look to the Middle Ages.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, one in four children in Europe today lives in poverty. Then there are children whose parents are not recognized, such as those of rainbow families and children who, despite being born here in Europe, are not European citizens. Today, the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, must not be a mere circumstance: Our real goal must be to combat all forms of physical, psychological and digital violence, through laws that combat poverty and social exclusion to promote more rights and more integration. For this reason, the 5 Star Movement proposes the Ius scholae, a draft law aimed at promoting the integration of foreign minors through citizenship. In conclusion, I would like to hear from this Parliament a self-criticism: You voted theausterity This leads to cuts in kindergartens and then in words we defend all the rights of children. Let me tell you this: What hypocrisy!