Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, before I begin, I want to read you a testimony. “I am ordered to remove my skirt and then my panties. Everyone grabs a part of my body. I'm torn apart. The excisor takes an old knife and grabs my little bite. She cuts it alive in several times. I'm roaring in pain. I try to fight, but I am held by four adults shouting at me. The excisor takes a small bottle containing a transparent liquid and throws it on my sex. It’s 90-degree alcohol.” This is the ordeal experienced by Halimata Fofana at just five years old. It is painful to hear. It’s even more painful. There is no justification for such practices, neither culture nor religion. Female genital mutilation is nothing more than torture. Going back on the law that prohibits them is unacceptable. This is just a further setback for women’s rights and human rights. We cannot remain silent and leave Gambian women in distress. The European Union must be strong and united by their side. Reproachful silence is unthinkable.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, rape, kidnapping and starvation are the daily lives of Haitians, and these are the terrible torments used by gangs as a weapon of war, primarily targeting women and children. The United Nations reiterated last week that the food crisis in Haiti is one of the worst in the world, affecting 44% of the population. In the face of the collapse of the political, humanitarian and health situation, we need to act. The European Union must be at the forefront of peace and democracy. First, by supporting the implementation of the UN arms embargo, which is proliferating; secondly, by adopting massive European sanctions against all gang supporters, including within civil society, the police and public and political institutions; finally, with a clear audit and report from the European Court of Auditors on how EU funds are spent in Haiti. Nothing can move forward unless we tackle the crux of the problem: gangs. The Haitian people must be able to count on the support of Europeans.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I want to respond to those who denounce a return to austerity. We are about to vote on the most social and green fiscal rules we have ever seen, as investing in people and investing in our planet are among the common priorities of our Union. Yes, this reform is also a reform of responsibilities. Who can assume here to leave an abysmal debt to our children and grandchildren? Faced with caricatures, we need to find the way to balance, with sound public spending that also allows flexibility for strategic investments. The new social convergence framework, which is a real step forward in this respect, will ensure that all 27 Member States are on the path to social progress. It will also make it possible to better target social reforms and investments according to realities. The coordination of social policies in a new economic governance will advance social Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, climate change affects the whole world. In Europe, we are seeing an increase in the number and intensity of natural disasters. The European Environment Agency’s report on climate risk assessment is alarming. In this regard, the EU’s outermost regions (ORs) are among the most vulnerable European territories to climate change. Whether it is rising water or cyclones, the ORs must find a central place in the European strategy for adapting to climate risks. The outermost regions are also laboratories for climate solutions. There is an ultramarine expertise to mobilize to strengthen the resilience of populations. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre could take even more account of the ORs with action protocols for these remote regions. Investments in this adaptation are needed and need to be scaled up to make our green transition a success, ensuring equality for Europeans.

Mr President, Commissioner, Africa is home to the greatest number of inequalities. First, there are social inequalities, which prevent the emergence of a middle class. To combat this, we must accompany the deleveraging of African countries. Then we have regional inequalities and climatic hazards, which lead to migration. Migrating is not a choice. No one leaves his region at the risk of his life for no reason! Through the Global Gateway programme, the European Union is investing heavily in sustainable development and infrastructure to provide people with the conditions they need to thrive. Finally, inequalities in access to education leave generations at the mercy of violence, undermine the emergence of democracies and strongly condemn women’s empowerment. Through the development of educational strategies by African countries, the European Union can support them in training and evaluation to strengthen equal opportunities. Commissioner, the European Union has the means and the will, let's do it!

Madam President, Commissioner, the conflict in North Kivu in Congo is of particular concern. This is at odds with our European ideals and we have a duty to offer mediation. However, we are considered partisan by one of the belligerents. I therefore suggest that the European Union, the African Union and the Central African Economic Community join forces to bring all stakeholders back to the table. Together, we must initiate a conference for peace and reconciliation that would meet in an African country, with the aim of finding the paths to peace. The European Union-Africa Parliamentary Assembly, held last week in Luanda, Uganda, has shown us the way. We can, I believe, through dialogue, transparency and trust, find solutions for lasting peace in the region.

Mr President, Commissioner, the fight against rising food prices is our priority. They are cents, extra euros that, put together, deteriorate the daily life of Europeans. How many families face a difficult choice between feeding properly and meeting other basic needs? We need to act with emergency measures: targeted aid for the most vulnerable, price suppression, anti-inflation basket. We must also combat the causes of this inflation by regulating the production and supply of raw materials, protecting purchasing power. We must continue to lower the price of energy for cheaper production, help our farmers produce affordable raw materials while ensuring a fair income, increase transparency in the supply chain, regulate speculative practices to rebalance the price of products on our shelves. Europe can and must overcome this challenge of expensive living.

Mr President, Commissioner, EUR 300 billion: This is the unprecedented amount committed by the European Commission in the Global Gateway international cooperation programme. Declined in geographical areas, it is Europe’s contribution to reducing the global investment gap. In Africa, which will receive half of this amount, some projects that have already been launched are certainly successful, such as the partnerships with Kenya. Despite the promised amounts, which will have to be spent effectively, our relations with the rest of the world, particularly Africa, are weakened. In today’s conflicting geopolitical context, we need to act with the promise of re-establishing distended ties. Commissioner, the Global Gateway strategy must be a massive investment programme, but also an engine for appeasement with our partners. It must help to make the European Union a key player in reducing inequalities and stepping up action to support the environmental transition.

Mr President, Commissioner, Haiti is dying. It is no longer time for incantations. The situation on the ground is catastrophic. Gangs control almost the entire country, and violence reigns at an unprecedented level. The latest UN report is damning: it reports almost 2 700 civilian casualties in 2023 – the equivalent of 9/11 victims. The police and the government are totally overwhelmed in terms of security, and the migration situation is dramatic. The climate of terror forces the inhabitants to flee. It is time to put in place the necessary means to send a UN-backed security mission. To be effective, it must be transparent about its organization, but also about its funding. It must aim to disarm the country and support the police and restore order while ensuring a clean water infrastructure to stem the current health crisis. It is up to us to ensure that a clear and controllable roadmap is put in place so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Conflict and corruption benefit no one. We need a return to democracy. Commissioner, what actions does the Commission intend to take in conjunction with the UN to participate in this mission and support the Haitian people in the establishment of free and transparent elections?

Madam President, Commissioner, the European Union is based on respect for fundamental rights and therefore on respect for the rule of law, freedoms and the independence of the judiciary. However, this report highlights the extent to which these rights are deteriorating. Let us defend ourselves against the illiberal leaders who threaten the European Union. Repeated attacks by the Hungarian government must be sanctioned. Renew Europe calls for EU funds to be frozen as long as Hungary does not respect European values. As such, the release of European funds by the European Commission is a real step backwards in the face of the leaders and the blackmail of a government in need of democracy. Commissioner, will the Commission make the voice of outraged citizens heard by making access to European funds conditional on respect for values? In a world of conflict and increasingly authoritarian tendencies, the European Union bears the banner of democracy. Let's preserve it, let's cherish it. The freedoms of 450 million citizens are at stake.

Mr President, Commissioner, our social market economy must be the embodiment of social justice. Let us therefore continue our efforts to find the balance between competitiveness and growth and, on the other hand, to combat social inequalities and promote well-being. This requires the creation of quality jobs for Europeans, i.e. well-paid jobs, with safe working conditions, career development prospects and a fair work-life balance. It also means simplifying the lives of our companies to foster innovation and job development in emerging sectors. Let us invest heavily in education and training to equip workers with the skills needed for the work of the 21st century. I count on the Commission to further transform the European Pillar of Social Rights into concrete benefits. Finally, I am counting on the Belgian Presidency to shape the future of social Europe. A more social Europe is a Europe that showcases its talents and attracts those from all over the world.

Mr President, Commissioner, strengthening relations with national parliaments is strengthening European democracy. When the 350 million voters go to the polls on 9 June, it will be a great democratic moment. But European democracy is also achieved through cooperation between national and European parliamentarians. After the Conference on the Future of Europe, and at a time when Parliament has just adopted our position on the reform of the Treaties, it is essential to strengthen these relations by facilitating cooperation between parliaments, publishing the positions of the Member States in the Council of the European Union and strengthening the role of European political parties in fostering the European public space. We are accelerating this cooperation. A living democracy is about people finding their rightful place in the European Union. This is a priority of the Renew Europe Group. Commissioner, how and when does the Commission intend to apply these provisions to strengthen relations with national parliaments?

Mr President, Commissioner, three years ago this Parliament made a clear request: create a right to disconnect for all Europeans. Since then, the culture of ‘always available’ continues to affect workers’ health. In a digital world of work, the boundaries between private and professional life are increasingly permeable. It is our responsibility to redefine them. For their well-being, workers must be able to refrain from responding to any professional message outside working time. I regret that the social partners have not reached an agreement, especially as they are best placed to implement this right to disconnect. This right is in everyone’s interest. It allows workers to be more flexible and productive. It also allows employers to operate in a more serene business climate. Commissioner, several Member States have already introduced the right to disconnect. It is an additional stone for social Europe that we call for. Let's not miss this appointment.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, every European generates almost 189 kilograms of packaging waste per year, a figure that is constantly increasing. Their management affects the preservation of our planet. In this context, the Packaging Regulation is a significant step towards reducing waste. The revision of our standards will foster innovation in sustainable packaging materials, collection, recycling and reuse of packaging where possible. However, the success of these initiatives depends on the active engagement of each citizen and territory. Let us make sure that citizens take full ownership of these new rules. In addition, the spirit drinks of our overseas territories represent the excellence and know-how of these territories, they deserve particular attention as regards the obligation to re-use bottles. I am not convinced that this measure is appropriate for our outermost regions. With tomorrow's vote, we can strike the right balance between our environmental objectives and the adoption of rules that work for all.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, our children are our future. Let us use this International Day of the Rights of the Child to send a powerful message of unity. The Covid-19 pandemic has deprived these children of the education and social contacts they need for their development. Poverty and precariousness still unfairly deprive too many children in Europe. We owe them a lucid political response, based on inclusiveness for all. We need to plan for long-term investments that will deliver quality early childhood services. This includes staff trained in the child’s needs and rhythms. We cannot forget the most vulnerable. The roll-out of the European Child Guarantee should ensure access to school, decent housing, healthcare and healthy food for all. Our goal must not only be to reduce inequalities, but to prevent them from arising. It is our collective responsibility to forge a future where every child can thrive and achieve their dreams.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the world of work is constantly changing. With automation, digitalisation and teleworking, we need to support European workers in this transition. Our social model ensures the protection of workers' health and safety. It protects the physical health of Europeans, and must now include mental health. Today, 50% of European workers believe that stress is common in their workplace. Anxiety, harassment at work or burn-out are on the rise. The alarm bell shall be sounded. It is our responsibility to ensure a fulfilling work environment for all. Mobilisons les employeurs et les employés, sur l’importance de la prévention et du soutien en matière de santé mentale. This requires a fair work-life balance, a genuine right to disconnect – as our colleague Marc Angel has said – and easier access to psychologists. Let's integrate the prevention of psychosocial risks into our European legislation. It's time to make mental health our priority.

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the UN estimates that at least 2 billion people are without access to water and sanitation. Some of our European territories are also affected: This is the case for most of our outermost regions. These European citizens are facing structural delays in infrastructure renewal, but also the consequences of climate change. In Mayotte, almost all inhabitants have access to water only one day out of three. This is unbearable. This situation leads to school closures and serious health risks, among others. France has implemented the necessary means to deal with the most urgent. However, the scale of the measures to be implemented requires better consideration of the realities in the outermost regions. Appropriate support should be put in place, with effective water access strategies, increased investment and more support at technical level to modernise water networks, in particular through the ERDF. While Mayotte is certainly the most affected, several other ORs also require a general mobilisation.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Mayotte is facing an unacceptable water crisis. This crisis is a gaping wound in our values, because it is our duty to ensure that every European has access to water. Wastewater treatment can provide a solution to Mayotte and all our territories, because this treatment allows a pollution-free environment and the prevention of major health risks. I underline here the importance of the new obligations of access to sanitation and sanitary facilities for all, but especially for vulnerable and marginalised groups. This is a major step forward for our citizens. Water is a valuable resource, we need to save it and I encourage Member States to launch campaigns on water efficiency. The new urban water management plans must contribute to our goal of wastewater reuse. Encourage the recycling of waste water for agriculture, industry or to produce hydrogen. It is also crucial to better monitor the presence of certain viruses in wastewater. This will allow us to anticipate outbreaks of contamination and take appropriate health measures. Finally, I welcome the inclusion of two common sense measures, the polluter pays principle, so that industries responsible for water pollution contribute to its treatment, and the right to compensation for citizens in the event of an impact on health or the environment. To vote for this text is to vote for more social justice and more environmental justice.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, our social model is a promise to all Europeans. It is unacceptable in 2023 to see a rise in precariousness in the European Union. No European should be hungry or thirsty, no European should live in shame. Rising food prices, energy costs and the cost of living are affecting Europeans, and the poorest are the most affected. We need to take urgent measures to stop this increase in precariousness and mobilise new financial means to increase food aid now. It is also necessary to make society, as Europeans, to restore social ties and solidarity. Access to employment and civic engagement is therefore essential if everyone is to live with dignity and self-confidence. Let us launch a major reflection on social investment and the geographical distribution of social housing in Europe in order to allow access to quality services – in particular education and health – to increase social mix and to break long-term cycles of poverty.

Mr President, July 2023 was the hottest month on record. Forest fires have devastated many European countries, including Greece. Just 72 hours ago, Morocco experienced a devastating earthquake – Europe stands by its side. The Union Civil Protection Mechanism is the effective and useful tool to address these challenges. We must strengthen it with an ambition that is both human, material and financial. This involves prevention, to train and sensitize populations to the right actions in case of major risk. This also calls for an increase in European response capacities with our own seaplanes, as well as the purchase of common equipment. Disasters hit the world more often and harder: cyclones in the West Indies, drought in Mayotte, fires in the Canaries. The outermost regions are the first to be affected by climate change. They deserve specific protection. They must become the laboratories of climate solutions whose experience could benefit the whole of Europe.

Mr President, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted our vulnerability and unpreparedness to a virus. The lessons to be learned are many and show that we need to move faster and further in building a Europe of health. Let's be honest, we will have to face new pandemics. In the outermost regions, we are used to treating new emerging diseases that seriously affect us: zika, chikungunya, dengue. The ultramarine view of the pandemic should be taken into account, as the overseas countries have some points to make in the management of health crises. In the future, let us also rely on the ultramarine specialists who control the emergence of these diseases. Let us strengthen the resilience of the European continent through our outermost regions. That is the point of the many amendments I have tabled, which are reflected in the final text. Let us make the ORs laboratories for health and climate solutions for the whole European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to congratulate the European Commission on the European Union’s first voluntary review of progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. We measure all the way accomplished. However, we can go further and we need to do better. Achieving the SDGs means improving the quality of soil, water and air, and preventing climate hazards. This means ensuring access to drinking water through the renewal of distribution networks. Achieving the SDGs also means increasing local agricultural production through crop diversification and the creation of new processing units. Achieving the SDGs means, finally, accelerating the deployment of renewable energy, by multiplying wind turbines, solar panels or geothermal power plants, depending on the strengths of the territories. With our vote tomorrow, we will show the political commitment of the European Union and we will ask the Commission to draw up a pragmatic political strategy and a suitable financing plan.

Unfortunately, I do not think that this calls for an answer. I have heard the colleague's question, but I am not, how would I say, I am not the one who will be able to make this request to a President of the Republic at the national level. We are here in the European Parliament.

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, strong commitments to build a fairer Europe have been made in Porto. They put the European Union on a path of full employment and social progress. Strong action is all the more necessary today in a context of rising costs of living, skills shortages and energy poverty. Step by step, we are building social Europe with the directives on minimum wages and pay transparency, or the regulation on the Social Climate Fund. We have made great strides in recent years. However, the account is still not there. There are so many projects to be finalised and others to be opened: protection of workers, platforms, portability of social rights, ensuring quality traineeships. In the face of changing labour markets, we need to regulate teleworking, ensure a real right to disconnect, and improve well-being at work. With the European Year of Skills, we must offer everyone opportunities. The European Pillar of Social Rights must remain our compass. Let us reaffirm it together in Porto and accelerate its implementation. (The speaker agreed to answer a blue card question)

Mr President, Commissioner, in 2019 our Parliament made Europe the first continent to declare a climate emergency. The urgency is there, as evidenced by the latest IPCC report. Every day in the Caribbean, I witness the impact of climate change, which is affecting African, Caribbean and Pacific countries even more. They are not the only ones. Today, more than half of the world’s population is vulnerable to climate change. Our goal of limiting global warming requires a cross-cutting approach, particularly through global sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda, together with the SDGs, is a clear and imperative international roadmap. But we're falling behind. We need to step up our efforts, both within the European Union and with our partners. I want to hammer him here: the cost of inaction will be much higher than the cost of transition. I call for a collective awakening for the achievement of the Green Deal and the establishment of a new Global Financial Compact.