Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. Sustainability must be the guiding principle in the construction of the future. It is about both reducing emissions and creating better habitats. In this respect, I see two key issues. First of all: We need to build more in wood – sustainable, renewable – and significantly reduce emissions. More people should be inspired by the Nordic countries and dare to build more sustainably. Living materials create living environments. Secondly: Better construction means cheaper electricity bills. Better energy efficiency must permeate all projects. It is important that this is done at EU level. Better homes in one country will lower electricity prices in all. I therefore hope that this initiative can steer the whole of Europe towards more sustainable construction where we can change good examples, such as wooden houses, which reduce electricity costs for all of us.

Madam President, thank you very much. History teaches us that free and independent trade unions have often been the driving force behind important democratic, economic and social reforms. Together, we in Europe must now act for a free and democratic society in Belarus. Because what's happening there is terrible. Regular persecution of people struggling to improve the working conditions of ordinary workers takes place on a daily basis. whereas trade union democratic rights in Belarus have been under threat and absent for a long time; whereas these attacks on free trade unions and workers also lead to the weakening and isolation of Belarus from the outside world; Strikes and demonstrations at large companies and workplaces show strong support for a free and democratic Belarus. But we need to do more. Therefore, we call for the immediate release of imprisoned trade union leaders in Belarus. Support for civil society will be strengthened. Trade union rights are human rights.

Mr President, thank you very much. I would like to begin by thanking my Danish colleague, Mrs Vind, for her excellent work. The measures presented in the report are important for protecting workers in Europe and for creating a sustainable working life. It is therefore important that we now raise our ambitions in the area of health and safety at work. The legislation on health and safety at work and the strategy on health and safety at work must be based on the current reality, including dialogue with the social partners, for they are, after all, the closest to employees. Having a job to go to is important, but people should also come home from a safe workplace. We shall start from the perspective of a sustainable professional life. This is good for workers, and also for the European labour market. For too many, it is characterised by insecurity and risk. Stronger protection is needed for health and safety risks, as no one should be at risk of accident or long-term illness. The reality is also that people die by going to work, when they have to support their family, to put food on the table, to create a better future for themselves and their children. Vision Zero is needed to actively prevent work-related accidents and illnesses. Cancer causes 52% of all work-related deaths in the EU. Those are frightening numbers. Asbestos has been banned since 2005. Even so, we are exposed daily in our schools, in workplaces, in our homes. A European strategy for the removal of all asbestos will save lives. We have a long way to go, but the report is also speeding up the process of achieving this. Together, we will ensure a sustainable working life for all employees in Europe. Together we make sure no one dies at work.

Mr President, thank you very much. Everyone who can work should work, of course, but then we must also make sure that you do not risk your life when you go to work. In Europe, 10 people die every hour of cancer caused by dangerous substances and medicines at work. There are hundreds of thousands of people every year, ordinary workers who go to work in order to support themselves and their families. This is totally unacceptable. It is not just a public health problem. It is also a major failure when we fail to resolve the social injustice and inequality that exist in Europe. We have a shared responsibility to develop clear legislation and put higher pressure on employers. We need to turn every stone around and explore every opportunity that ultimately leads to less exposure to dangerous substances for ordinary people in Europe. In addition to the Commission's proposal, we now have a more bulletproof directive that also covers more reprotoxic substances, and we should be proud of that. Let's bring this to port. No job is worth dying for.

Madam President, thank you very much. For me, it goes without saying that every people has the right to choose their own future. This is a non-negotiable principle. It should therefore be made clear that this conflict is rooted in Russian power ambitions that hold people in an iron grip on a daily basis. It not only challenges the integrity of Ukraine, the right of the people to choose their path and make their choices, but endangers the stability that has shaped our times. Keeping the EU together is a prerequisite for being able to resist. This aggression must not be without consequences. I am pleased that we are united in the Union today. The message from the President of the Commission here today is welcome and indicates a determination which I consider necessary and which is definitely proportionate to the seriousness of the issue. We have now chosen our path and we keep the path of diplomacy and dialogue open. Now it is up to Putin and Russia to show that they also intend to stand on the right side of history.

Madam President, thank you very much. So much talent has been said and so much facts available about the fact that we can make a difference to so many people. Every year, 120,000 European workers are exposed to dangerous substances and tens of thousands lead to deaths. It is unacceptable that ordinary people have to put their lives to death because of our inability to make reasonable demands on the employer. We need to ensure procedures and raise the level of knowledge across the EU. For me it is self-evident. It must not be because of social injustices and inequalities that people in the EU have to put their lives into when trying to support themselves and their families in the hope of creating a better future. We can make great progress in this area and together we will be able to fight cancer. So let's work together to find common solutions in the fight against cancer, so that no one should have to die because of going to work.