Debate contributions by Carmen CRESPO DÍAZ

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank Mr Rodrigues and the rapporteurs for the effort they have made with this work, and in such a short time; I would also like to thank you, in this case, for having brought many commitments on agriculture, especially the Generational Replacement Strategy, the doubling of the crisis reserve, the wine package, the change of the single CMO, the response to unfair trading practices and, now, simplification, which will prevent farmers – men and women – from having to contribute EUR 1 000 more for administrative reasons. Flexibility is needed in the strategic plans, more support for SMEs with €75 000, a new payment to alleviate animal diseases, or inspection once a year, or simplification of cross-compliance: I think this is very important for our farmers in these times. What are we missing? Economic resources. It is true that the renationalisation of the financial framework must be reversed, that the programmes must be given first and last names and that an effort has also been made with 10% of the rural objective. But, at the moment, what farmers do not understand – and on the 18th they will say so – is why in the first package we have to pay 20% of NextGenerationEU in the first block, economic resources that, in our countries, have not served to improve agriculture, livestock or water. Therefore, we must close the circle. This closure has already started: Many compromises have been brought to this House and, of course, the Commission – the Commissioner – must now close the loop with the budgets we need for the future.

Mr President, Commissioner, Parliament adopted a report on the CAP which is not yet reflected in this proposal. We appreciate the progress, but it is still insufficient for farmers, ranchers and fishermen. The second pillar of the CAP is still blurred in this common fund, in this "country fund" that opens the door for countries to transfer funds and, therefore, renationalizes the CAP, removes the common "c" and puts European farmers in competition. And another mistake is to load NextGenerationEU to the first block, the block that is established for farmers and ranchers, for cohesion. I think this is a mistake and should be compensated in all blocks. In short, it is worth continuing to fight, to continue negotiating for a fair financial framework for our farmers, for cohesion, for rural areas and for our fishermen. We understand that there is no money, but the formula is also very important and that is why Parliament is working on it. Let us also hope that countries will be in the same position and will also work along the same lines.

Madam President, women's health deserves respect and, above all, to tell the truth. What's the truth? The truth is that Andalusia has gone from a health expenditure of 9.8 billion with the socialists to 16 billion. And the truth is that Mr. Moreno has asked for forgiveness from those affected and has assumed his responsibilities, the counselor has resigned and immediate solutions have been sought through a shock plan. The truth is to say that the Andalusia protocol was made by today's Vice-President of the Government, Mrs Montero: neither pardon nor resignation. The truth is that Mr. García-Page, in Castilla-La Mancha, left 2,500 women in five years without screening: neither pardon nor resignation. The truth is that Mrs. García, Minister of Health, left three years without screening in Ceuta and Melilla: and neither pardon nor resignation. And to tell the truth is that you have been the kings of privatization, because you left without paying 256 million euros of the private Pascual clinics, in Cadiz, which Mr. Moreno Bonilla has had to pay. As you say, bracelets, the law of yes is yes... Therefore, we must apologize to the women and get down to work, which is what Juanma Moreno is doing in this case. Of course, this is what you have to do for women and not try to use them.

Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to convey my group's consideration of the victims and their families and our warm accompaniment on their anniversary without excluding anyone, because there were floods in Andalusia as well. But in the Dana of Valencia we have all made mistakes. Or is it that Mr Sanchez or Mrs Ribera, in this case, do not still owe the victims 565 million? Or that phrase: If you want help, ask for it. What's up with that? Is that human? Therefore, a resounding no to the use of victims and a yes to unity and recovery. Because the regional government and Valencian society are underway, underway with a recovery plan. And also from Europe, with 1.6 billion euros. Do you know how much has come? 30.8 million to Valencia from that through the Government of Spain. And we hope from the PP that the victims have not gone unnoticed. Because fighting climate change is going to be done without ideological and political sectarianism. 2.49 billion in infrastructure that has not arrived. There is an urgent need to: Vilamarxant, the Júcar and Turia canal, the new SAIH, the work of the Poyo, Pozalet or the Saleta. Sectarianism against reservoirs, regulation or restoration of channels, this costs lives. There is much to do for the victims and, of course, dignity. Recovery plans. Work fast for water security, because we have already made too many mistakes. And humanity. I told him that on the last day, after the damage, they were in the Plenary of the Congress - which they did not want to take away from that Plenary - controlling institutions such as Radiotelevisión Española. We cannot accept lessons from anyone. Let's all get together.

Mr President, Commissioner, Mr Rodrigues and Mrs Imart, congratulations, because I believe that these are two objectives that we are achieving. Simplification was at this time one of the key objectives in agriculture: extension of the payment to small farmers, relaxation of cross-compliance, disaster relief, incentive for agricultural insurance, simplification of strategic plans. Therefore, this is very important. And the most important thing is that it is going to start in the year 2026. Therefore, objective achieved. Now what? Tools for a fair price to the farmer for his product and for his work. I think that the balance that has been given to this study and this report is very important because, in addition to all this, it is essential that cooperatives have been given exceptionalities that can be noted in the statutes at this time to remove problems. Because in my country there was a law reforming the food chain and it was done so quickly – because farmers were on the street – that now what has been written into contracts is sometimes difficult. Therefore, welcome are those exceptionalities. I think it is an absolutely balanced text. Simplification, strengthening farmers in the chain: It's a hit. Now we have to go further: mechanisms for trade control agreements, an absolutely necessary import control office that the European Union must have. And, of course, fix the financial framework. But not only in this case the Commission, but also the Member States. It is very important that we give this signal to all farmers with these two successes today.

Mr President, Commissioner, tariffs are coming at a difficult time from the sector, which has gone from 2.7 billion in 2023 to 1 billion in 2024. It is therefore a difficult time and we need to make a strong and proactive defence from the European Union. It cannot be that the agri-food sector is again a currency of exchange, that it pays for the consequences of other trade wars and, in addition, we must fight because this agricultural sector does not have a mattress, it cannot really endure. As for the United States, we have to negotiate, continue to negotiate for wine, spirits, oil and table olives. And as for pigs, which are essential for rural areas, we must also fight and put on the table each and every one of the possibilities of the European Union. In this case, I think it is essential for the European Union to ask the World Trade Organization for an investigation into what China is doing, which has no basis in the investigation. Of course we must open new markets and of course we must open new trade agreements, but with reciprocity and with that import control office.

Mr President, first of all, I regret the deaths and I send my support to all the extinction teams. We need more rescEU and more coordination, but also more rapid support for those affected – including farmers – and change the policy of the European Forest Strategy. Climate change must be fought, of course. But how? There are more and more scientists who argue that overprotected forest areas are abandoned and, sooner or later, they are pasture of the flames. Therefore: more grazing conducted, more livestock, more agriculture and more means for the rural world, which is not depopulated. Vegetable roofs cannot be covered all year round, and it is a mistake that, in our country, only 221 million of the Recovery and Resilience Facility have been implemented when Portugal already goes for 615 in fire prevention. This is a big mistake, let's not keep losing opportunities. I want to lament the populism and the exploitation that is made of human tragedies because elections are coming. Were communities lacking means at any time? Yes, of course, but above all, to the citizens. So more rigor and more work together.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we have started a proper legislature for agriculture. We clearly started with a strategy for agriculture to simplify all our rules, to give resources to farmers – men and women – and we cannot twist that. It cannot be twisted with a multi-annual financial framework that mixes funds; It cannot be twisted to decaffeinate the CAP, which is serving over the years to shore up rural areas, to give healthy food to Europeans, to export and to create jobs. It cannot be twisted because food security is part of the security of the European Union and therefore has to be particularly reflected in that multiannual financial framework. This Parliament has codecision power, established by the Treaty on European Union, and we have to exercise it, because I know of the goodwill of the Commissioner - without a doubt - and I hope that the Council will also have it. We need to take a decision that will bring the agrarian revolution to Europe – the new revolution – that will allow us to fight climate change with the circular economy, with investments that will lead to new job niches in rural areas, that will balance water and give opportunities to new generations, in this case. I believe that we cannot betray what we have begun to do, which is the new strategic dialogue, well done by the Commissioner, the Commission and, moreover, with the backing of this Parliament.

Madam President, Commissioner and team: First, congratulations. Congratulations on being able to bring such an important European Pact with so many aspects to the entire international scene. I believe that it is an unprecedented success for the European Commission today to propose such a pact. Starting from there, I think everything is positive. It is true that what we have also tried to do is to ensure that fishing has a fundamental role there - because it has always had it, it has earned it throughout history - and, in addition, that the commitment to feeding Europeans through the blue economy and, in this case, through fishing is fundamental in the Pact. I think that, in addition, diversifying, cohabiting, ordering the marine space always positively affects everyone, and I think that betting on carrying out economic impact studies - because it is a common practice to carry out studies of the economic impact of all the decisions we make - is also a good decision. In addition, of course, we must bet on financing through the EMFAF, on the modernization of the fleet and on balanced situations that are based on scientific reports. When 87 areas are closed, areas are being closed for our fishermen, and this has to be very scientifically grounded; If not, we have to do it in a balanced way, just like in the Mediterranean.

Madam President, Commissioner, we all agree this afternoon that it has become impossible to grow food in the European Union, whether it is manufactured or processed. We have entered the European Union in a dangerous spiral. Things are very difficult for those who grow and manufacture and instead we import a lot of food from outside. For example, 70% of the fish we use to feed Europeans comes from outside. In this case, we are losing products, such as tomatoes, to other countries outside the European Union and without having, in this case, in trade agreements, the reassurance that unfair competition with our products is taken into account in their implementation. This is really changing, and it is true that the new Commission has established a formula for competitiveness which we believe is also the basis for simplification. This is the way and you have to follow it fast: the shopping basket in some countries of the European Union, as in mine, in Spain, has risen by 4.6%, and in the member countries the same. On the rise in the tax burden, I am talking about lowering the VAT on food, which, for example, in my country, in Spain, is the real social policy we can make so that it reaches the shopping basket, all pockets and, especially, the most vulnerable. We therefore need to do things in this House, in the European Union, in Parliament and in the Commission, so that we facilitate regulations so that we can grow and manufacture, simplify and empower Member States to lower the tax burden on those who produce food.

Madam President, Commissioner, Mr Bajada, I believe that this is an initiative that comes to improve the capacity of the European Union in what is the comprehensive water policy, which until now was absolutely scarce. There was really nothing to restrict at the moment, and we can make water in the European Union. That is the capacity that this initiative gives us to begin to balance water and not demonize productive sectors such as agriculture, such as industry and also as emerging ones, which at this time are absolutely necessary to pull forward with the water issue, such as green hydrogen. I also believe that we have an opportunity through R&D, research and science: We need to depoliticise water, we need to depoliticise our infrastructure mix capacity, apart from all nature-based solutions – which we also have – but we also need to make a balance between water infrastructures. We have a capacity right now, which is the capacity of the circular economy. Reclaimed water in Europe is scarcely 2% and we have the capacity to balance agriculture with it, to balance industry, to have capacity right now. Let us not forget that water is not only for drinking, it is also for eating and, therefore, for feeding, and for the food sovereignty of the entire European Union and also for the pots of the future that are the aquifers. With them, having the best conditions, we have the best pots of the future for future generations. I believe that the Member States must comply with the management plans, the river basin plans, which are not being complied with and which the Member States can defend at this stage, in this case in Valencia, where the regulatory reservoirs must also be complied with, not denouncing any hydraulic infrastructure and the restoration of the riverbeds. I think we have an opportunity and, with it, we also have a niche of employment for the future: engineers, rural areas, capacity. This can turn the European Union into a water revolution and really the place in the world with more water infrastructure and R&D capacity around water issues.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the 90 days [of suspension of the application of countermeasures] give us a break. I think the European Commission is doing well. He's being flexible, but he's also firm. We know that the trade war does not benefit anyone, but the United States does not know it even though it is resenting it. In 2018, the situation was different, but we now have legislation that we can implement. Tariff policy must be consistent, serious and united. Neither inopportune travel to China nor – of course – in this case, an unconditional stance with Trump. Unity of action is fundamental. The withdrawal of tariffs on soybeans and natural gas is a success, as is the withdrawal of bourbon and wine. The agri-food sector has to be left out because it can't stand it, it doesn't have a mattress. Production costs are high. As the Letta Report and the Draghi Report say, we now have to deal with simplification in many sectors, including agri-food. We must ensure food sovereignty to become more resilient. Yes to trade agreements, but avoiding unfair competition.

Mrs Miranda, the environmental impact reports have to be requested by the autonomous communities and are mandatory for any project that has to be done in that environment. Therefore, it is mandatory according to the law. Moreover, in the covenant we are in it. We've said it: sustainability and conservation, but with the competitiveness and economic assets that this regional environmental impact report approves.

Mr President, Commissioner, I would like to thank the momentum of this fundamental pact for the oceans and the sectors that live in them. It especially balances the protection of the oceans with competitiveness and therefore establishes, in particular, the most social use of the oceans, which is fisheries, which is fisheries. It is therefore a paradigm shift: to restrict everything to providing sustainability, but with competitiveness. I also believe in the priority role that coastal localities have to play through an alliance with them, in public-private funding and also in food sovereignty. Quotas provided with up-to-date scientific studies and, of course, with impact reports and with reforms such as those of the CFP or the Mediterranean Regulation, in a significant way now, or of the 87 areas. We believe in reciprocity, equality and also in promoting the consumption of fish, which is fundamental for our future generations, and - of course! - in the capacity of the ocean to also generate new business niches. Ocean conservation? Yeah, always. But also competitiveness and, in particular, the most social use, which is fisheries.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for European defence and, therefore, the first thing we have to do is to reclaim the role of food as a fundamental European defence weapon for the interests of food and food sovereignty. To this end, shielding CAP funds in the new Multiannual Financial Framework is essential: without a mix of funds, where we would lose out. Trade agreements have to come with reciprocity and always respecting our farmers and also our consumers. We like the proposal of the import control office in Mercosur, it is the way to help farmers with those agreements. And bet on science: new genomic practices need to be unblocked in the Council. Lower the water footprint. Betting on the circular economy, a new business niche in rural areas. Of course, simplifying the lives of farmers – men and women – and looking for a formula, in addition, that allows the integration of the elderly, that does not penalise them and that does not lose out. And that young people have a real opportunity. Let's not demonize livestock, let's try to ensure that tariffs at this time do not involve the agri-food sector, nor the bourbon American and European wine. We have to leave them out because it is a very vulnerable sector that during all this time has suffered the high costs and difficulties and this is the time to protect it. Congratulations on the vision, dear Commissioner.

Mr President, Mr Luena, the NextGenerationEU instrument and the Recovery and Resilience Facility in Spain are at 51% of their commitment, 49% is missing and they have had no water perspective, only an energy perspective. If Commissioner Roswall now establishes a governance to be able to use this money in a water perspective, would this be the case for the Socialist Party and the Government of Spain and would they give the go-ahead for farmers, irrigated areas and the possibilities of water infrastructure? The Honourable Members of Vox voted in favour of Mr Sánchez and gave him the possibility not to use it enough for water infrastructure. Will you be in favour if there is a reprogramming of the NextGenerationEU funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the 49% that you still have uncommitted in Spain?

Mr President, Commissioner, thank you for the push on water from the new Commission. We think it's fundamental. I am from a desert land, next to the European desert of Tabernas, and there it is demonstrated with the orchard of Europe – because 80% of the fruit and vegetable product is exported from there – that it is possible to address this issue. Why? Because there is twenty times less water footprint in all agri-food products. That is the great miracle: for water infrastructure, use the Next Generation funds, the European Investment Bank and create infrastructure where science, with all that is being researched, allows. I believe at the moment that it is essential to pay attention to all water sources: all are necessary, some in prevention and others appropriate to agricultural issues. I think the circular economy is very important, and wastewater gives us an opportunity in Europe to have reclaimed water, which we can even inject into our piggy bank of the future, which is, in this case, all groundwater. Therefore, I believe that it can be done, that we have the obligation to do so and that, in addition, at this time, countries like Spain, like mine, should work on these hydraulic prevention infrastructures - also adapted to what is the agricultural issue - and, of course, lower taxes, VAT on food, which the reduction has not been extended at this time in that cheat decree that yesterday led to the Congress of Deputies. I believe that food security is essential and, to achieve it, we have to work on water infrastructure, as the new Commission and the new Commissioner are doing right now in Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, global warming affects the entire population, European security and the health of Europeans, especially the most vulnerable. We must work to reduce greenhouse gases. But how to do it also without putting Europe's jobs and economy at risk, without radicalism, without sectarianism, with common sense, with correct policies and with economic resources? And inside Europe, but also looking outside: Europe cannot work alone. Situations such as that in southern Europe, such as drought, a direct consequence of climate change, need to be recognised in countries; strengthening regulations and betting on a directive on water scarcity for the population and productive sectors, also working with technology and investing in solving the 16% lost with water leaks. We must also focus on transfer, groundwater, which is our watershed, reservoirs, desalination and white hope: circular economy, reclaimed water. We must also work on the prevention of DANA, such as that of Valencia, where little work has really been done on the prevention of hydrological plans: neither in the restoration of the Poyo nor in the regulatory reservoirs as in Cheste. And, of course, more struggle, more prevention, less sectarianism is needed. In this case, I am talking about not asking so late - 12 weeks later, as Spain has done - for the solidarity funds that Europe has offered. I think that, at the moment, fires are also a very serious problem. We're looking at it. In this case, emissions must be reduced, but above all we must also assess the consequences that extinction equipment could have throughout the year and civil protection strategies, as well as work on the carbon market, as established in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Madam President, Mr Vice-President, access to safe and quality drinking water is a fundamental right of every human being. But the reality is that access to water is not guaranteed in Europe due to drought. With climate change, 45% of the territory is affected and today there are water cuts in southern Europe. So we have to do that, access the water, and then also control the contaminants and microplastics that it contains. It is clear that this strategy of resilient water management is good news. But we must introduce a directive on drought in this strategy, something we ask from the People's Party. Throughout history, water has been dammed in periods of drought, but what is clear is that today, due to political sectarianism, we do not want to dam. This water source has been disdained, with how important the regulation reservoirs are, which in Cheste would have dammed water and also avoided the damage. In this case, I am also talking about improving networks to prevent water loss and the circular economy: reclaimed, desalinated water, very important for injecting into aquifers, which is the piggy bank for future generations. To this end, there are instruments: the EIB is essential, but also the Next Generation EU, which in countries like mine is at 24% of its implementation and only 51%, in this case, is committed.

Mr President, Commissioner, thank you, first of all, for supporting our country in this devastating DANA in Valencia, Andalusia and other regions of Spain; But, above all, in reconstruction, because I believe that this is important for competitiveness. At this time we already have funds in place: with Measure 23 through the EAFRD, with the crisis reserve, but also with RESTORE, with the ERDF and with the European Social Fund. But I want to dedicate a moment to NextGenerationEU, which I think is white hope: 24% has been spent in my country and almost nothing has been spent on preventive water works. And, of course, nothing in agriculture: neither in simplification, nor in technology 5.0, nor in reducing the water footprint of agricultural sectors, which is essential for competitiveness. But today there has been talk of a concept of capital importance that is the circular economy. It is time to have income to fight climate change and for the agricultural sectors: At the moment, waste, by-products, can be an opportunity where we have to work to equip those sectors with technology and make them really competitive: in this case, reclaimed water (to balance the sector in terms of water consumption) and, of course, biogas, slurry or similar issues. I believe that the market is fundamental in these cases. We have to work on reciprocity clauses that allow the sectors not to have unfair competition and, of course, that they are not the ones who pay the tariffs of other countries. We must not only do it with the United States, but also, in this case, with China, and that is why we must have a powerful European legal cabinet that is a specialist in these cases. And, of course, make a CAP for the future that also works for professional farmers, who are the ones who are strengthening the population in the rural territory and will give the access we want to a powerful agriculture where young people - men and women - enter. Europe has to decide what it wants to be when it grows up: whether a beautiful museum or a beautiful and competitive museum. And there, agriculture has a lot to say.

Madam President, Spain and Valencia are deeply saddened by human life and the losses we have had. Today DANA is in my land, in Malaga, but we want to thank Europe for its solidarity. Climate change must be combated, especially DANA in the Mediterranean. But how? We are also fighting against the water denialism represented by Mrs Ribera. Because the Hydrological Plan in 2004 was also done by scientists, but there the Hydrological Plan was loaded, which clearly said that regulation reservoirs had to be made in the upper part of the torrential rivers as in Cheste. And they took it. So this is also fighting climate change. It is also fighting climate change to restore the channels. Of course I do. And they haven't. Who has the responsibility for the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation? Mrs. Ribera. And, gentlemen of the PSOE, everyone will be to blame; But Mrs Ribera, instead of, in the DANA, taking the reins and taking the lead - and you have to think about it - came here to prepare her tour for a personal matter and did not put herself, in the DANA, at the head of a situation of the worst that our country has suffered. That is why she cannot be Vice-President of this Committee. Valencians don't deserve it.

Mr President, we are talking about the future of rail in Europe, but now we have a present and, precisely, in our country, where there is unprecedented rail chaos. And that affects the precarious way the European connection looks. Isolation of regions such as Extremadura, Cantabria, important areas of Galicia or provinces such as Huelva or mine, Almería, which are absolutely isolated. And the latest incident in Chamartín, in Madrid, where a train has been derailed that has endangered users by circulating an uncontrolled convoy. I mean there are delays, cancellations, obsolete trains, saturated knots.... These facts are not isolated and that is why we are asking the Commission to act. Europe cannot afford that image, it has to intervene, and let us also really bet on very important railway axes in the Iberian Peninsula. We are talking about Seville-Huelva-Faro, Madrid-Lisbon, Lisbon-Porto-Vigo or the central corridor and the Mediterranean corridor, which currently has an accumulated delay until Almeria and which we need, with European funds, to be controlled, so that we go faster in all this. Therefore, our country at this moment, at present, has a very important negative in which the European Commission must participate and intervene.

Mr President, Europe has a problem that has already become structural: climate change, especially drought, affects 45% of the territory, but especially in southern Europe, especially in territories such as mine, Spain, especially in autonomous communities such as Andalusia or Murcia. The autonomous communities have worked to have a 20 times lower water footprint in agricultural products, but, on the other hand, the Spanish Government has not used the NextGenerationEU and the Recovery and Resilience Facility on water issues more than very little; Yes in energy, but not in water, and that is the reality. We must work, and we therefore agree that a water police station should be set up at the moment and that a European water plan and a European water pact should be worked on, because this issue cannot be politicised, it is a social issue. In addition, access to water is in the Charter of Human Rights. And we have to work because 60% of crops are being destroyed in many territories. We cannot disdain any water source, we cannot politicize desalination, reclaimed water or interconnections. What is clear is that we must make a water revolution, throughout Europe, and the limit is only put by scientists, not politicians. The common agricultural policy must be a tool for that water revolution, for the water balance we seek, together with other additional European funds. Let us not forget that water becomes agriculture in food, those fundamental foods that Europeans need for food sovereignty and to consume healthy and sustainable food.

Mr President, Commissioner, we welcome this change of position, as we consider the dialogue with the sector to be very important. I also think that the sector has been asking us for help for a long time because of the problems of excessive demand: without time, without resources, with war conflicts, with costs ..., in addition to a Green Deal without resources or time. I think we have to fight to avoid CAP reductions and work to avoid bureaucracy: agriculture can't stand more regulations that, with the best intention in the world, are taking a turn for the worse for arable land. Nor can agriculture be the currency of tariffs, and it is essential to work on a food chain that gives security to the farmer, as well as being fair with their work and their product. We will demand mirror clauses to prevent unfair competition, and of course neither the livestock sector nor the wine sector can be demonised because they are basic to the European rural world. I believe that, in addition, competitiveness is essential if we want young people to be incorporated into the future of agriculture, and true sustainability is both the circular economy, with which we must work with by-products, providing added value, and ensuring access to water for the sector: the most productive areas are the driest areas and we have to fight that consequence of climate change. To the Social Democrats I say that small farms cannot be confronted with competitive and professional agriculture because they are fundamental to the food sovereignty of the European Union. Finally, we believe that fisheries should also benefit from this strategic dialogue.