Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to return to the words of Nathalie Loiseau, who spoke earlier, my colleague, and to the directive you are proposing concerning the risks of foreign interference and the idea of not making the wrong target with regard to these same indirect influences. For my part, this is not a question of commercial interference, financial interference or lobbying, but a question, which seems to me central, of the overall defence of the European Union, of our democratic interests, of our vital interests. Please dare to step out of a single market logic and find ways to protect ourselves from adversaries driven by ideologies and not by commercial relations aimed at destroying who we are. What steps can be taken, Commissioner, to open up the spectrum of this directive and to protect ourselves from the various forms of influence? Europe is waking up in its defence. It must also wake up to the issue of representations of interests and influences and the threats they pose to our democracies.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, as the war has been raging for two years at the gates of Europe, the debate on the return of national service is in full swing in many EU countries. Existing civil and military services, such as in Sweden and France, are very successful. In an increasingly uncertain world, the issue before us is the values and strengths that unite us, the resilience of the European people to face disasters of all kinds. Indeed, this resilience would be the foundation of any common defence project, of any European defence identity. We must build and act as Europeans, again to overcome the national reflexes that divide and weaken us. As such, I propose the launch of a European service centred around our civil and collective security to encourage citizens to get involved, promote joint and solidarity-based crisis management, and give visibility to those who are not seen by promoting social diversity. This is what a European universal service could address. The Ukrainian people and the commitment of their youth are leading the way.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the path is being charted at the level of our European institutions. Having women at the head of the Commission, Parliament, the European Central Bank and the majority of the political groups in this House is not an empty symbol. It is about showing girls and boys around the world that half of humanity can perform the highest functions and not be limited to the unjustly devalued and unjustly paid nexus jobs. Indeed, gender inequality is the matrix of all inequalities. Overcoming the prejudices of our societies, bringing women and girls into scientific, digital and industrial jobs is the best way to tackle wage inequalities and ensure women’s independence and freedom. Tackling this injustice is a democratic struggle, which will involve the development of education systems around the world. School is our most valuable common good in achieving real equality of opportunity for all girls and women in Europe and around the world. Europe must deliver on this ambition.