Debate contributions by Sérgio HUMBERTO

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Pillar of Social Rights is a fundamental commitment of the European Union to decent work, social justice and equal opportunities. However, despite the 2021 Action Plan, significant inequalities persist between Member States, notably in access to quality jobs, social protection, housing and healthcare. In a challenging context, marked by inflation, digital and climate transition and significant demographic changes, it is clear that the current instruments are insufficient to ensure the full implementation of the 20 principles of the Pillar. I therefore ask the Commissioner and the European Commission whether they intend to present a new and ambitious action plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights, with clear and measurable targets, adequate funding and a stronger social dimension in the European Semester. How do you intend to ensure that this new plan effectively contributes to reducing social and territorial inequalities, improving the living and working conditions of all European citizens?

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we are living in times of profound geopolitical instability. The sea, which for centuries has been a symbol of trade, prosperity and connection between peoples, has today also become a scene of hybrid threats, environmental risks and growing strategic pressures. It is in this context that the update of the mandate of the European Maritime Safety Agency – our EMSA, which is based in Lisbon – is of decisive importance. With this new regulation, for which I have the honour of being rapporteur on behalf of this Parliament, we have clearly and ambitiously strengthened Europe's ability to protect our maritime space and our citizens. EMSA now has a modernised, legally more robust and operationally more effective mandate – able to help Member States respond to concrete challenges such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Russian shadow fleet, suspicious ship-to-ship transfers or the deactivation of automatic identification systems. In short, it is about ensuring a safer Europe at sea – and therefore safer on land. This regulation has three main objectives: • First, to ensure a high and uniform level of maritime safety; • Second, support the digital and green transition of the sector; • And third, strengthening vigilance and emergency response – from accidents to polluting spills or drug trafficking operations. Portugal, an Atlantic country by nature and with one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones in the world, plays an essential role in this agenda. EMSA is a concrete symbol of Portugal’s contribution to European security – a bridge between continental Europe and the vast maritime space that connects us to the world. But this regulation is, above all, about people. More than 400 million passengers use our ports every year. Almost 90% of the Union’s external trade is by sea. Ensuring maritime safety means protecting jobs, ensuring energy and food, preserving the environment and maintaining the functioning of the European market. The European Parliament has been at the forefront of defending a Europe that protects – that protects its citizens, that protects its territory and that protects its seas. Dear companions and dear companions, we have arrived at a good port. But this is just the beginning of a new journey: a more prepared, sustainable and united Europe – also at sea.

Madam President, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the European Union and the leading cause of death from cancer among women. Every year, more than 350,000 people receive this diagnosis. However, more than a third of these cases can be prevented. Early detection saves around 21,000 lives per year, but inequalities persist in access to screening across Member States. To talk about screening is to talk about equal opportunities in health. A united Europe must ensure free, universal and quality access to screening. In Portugal, the National Breast Cancer Screening Programme covers almost the entire target population and has survival rates above the European average. But success cannot be limited to national borders, because saving lives is, and must continue to be, our common priority.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the day is already long, on the way to 11 p.m., but let me underline a dimension that Portugal is well aware of: the historical, cultural and linguistic relations that unite Europe and Africa. Lusophony is a natural space for cooperation and dialogue that already serves as a bridge between continents and as an example of how the European Union can articulate with the CPLP for a closer, humane and effective presence. Portugal has demonstrated over the past decades that it is possible to strengthen political, economic and cultural ties between the two continents, with mutual respect and shared gains. I highlight three priorities that cannot be lacking in the renewal of this partnership. First, peace, security and the rule of law; second, digitalisation and connectivity; third, economic integration and fair trade. Africa is not just a strategic partner. It is a partner of the future, essential for prosperity and global security.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in 2022 more than 60 000 Europeans lost their lives due to excessive heat. This requires immediate and effective responses. First, in housing: accelerate the implementation of the Energy Efficiency of Buildings Directive by ensuring better insulation, sustainable climate solutions and tackling heat islands in cities. We cannot accept that our homes remain a risk factor. Second, in health: strengthen coordination between national systems, with risk prevention plans, epidemic surveillance and specific protocols for the most vulnerable – the elderly, children and the chronically ill. Adaptation to climate change requires pragmatism, responsibility and collective commitment. That is what our citizens expect from Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the trans-European transport network will only be credible if it is prepared to withstand such new attacks. For that, of course, we need alternative navigation systems and faster response protocols. But it is not enough to act only within the borders of the Union – the skies and the seas know no political borders. We must cooperate with our neighbours and partners, especially in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Black Sea, to keep international routes safe and open. The European Union has here a clear opportunity to lead in aviation and maritime security and to enhance credibility, competitiveness and security. It is our responsibility to ensure that flying and sailing in Europe remains synonymous with trust and safety.

First of all, Mr Gonçalves, with regard to these forestry policies, we cannot make policy with disasters, with loss of life and with material losses for people. We are talking about a scourge. As for the Pontal party, what I can tell you is that, for the first time, we had a prime minister in August giving his face, taking responsibility and being worried about everything that was happening in Portugal. Policies do not change from one moment to the next; they have to be planned. For example, when the Socialist Party ruled the country for eight-and-a-half years, it cancelled the acquisition of the Canadair for firefighting – this is one of the examples that needs to be developed and planned in order not to have disasters like this year.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank all those who risk their lives fighting fires and fires. We also do not forget the dead and we do not forget those who have lost everything. This summer of 2025 was the warmest in my country, Portugal, in the last 94 years – a clear and undeniable sign of climate change. The fires in southern Europe are increasingly devastating: destroyed forests, affected communities, fragile ecosystems. By August, more than 1 million hectares had burned in Europe. The European Union needs to act before the disaster. rescEU cannot remain temporary; we need a permanent fleet, especially in the most battered countries. It is time to change, it is time for a European forest policy that protects our lives, our forests and our future.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, my teaching as mayor of Portugal has taught me many things, one of which is: “Prevention is better than cure. Better safe than sorry’ The best response to the growing risk of fires and droughts lies in the wisdom of preventing ourselves. It was with a boost from the EPP in the European Parliament that the Union reinforced the rescEU programme with more planes, more intervention teams and more funds for sustainable forest management. This year alone, more than EUR 500 million has been mobilised for the prevention of, and response to, natural disasters. This is the way. A true European Union is a Union that is prepared, resilient and cooperative with each other, ready to share the collective effort for a better tomorrow.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking to you as a European citizen, but above all as the responsible Member of this House, on a subject so significant that it affects the lives of millions and millions of people. We must take a number of points into account, but I am going to tell you about three. First: interconnectivity is important, especially in the outermost regions. Second: automatism of compensation is appropriate as it could increase the competitiveness of airlines. And third: the minimum limit for compensation for a flight delay should be three hours and not four, so that we do not run the risk of sending the message that we are going backwards rather than protecting European citizens. How can we ensure that we stand by the passengers, that we defend them, when in the eyes of the citizens we present to them what is more like a step backwards than a step forward?

Mr João Oliveira, the government I support in Portugal, with great pride, has done all this and much more than I have said. Much more than Russia does, North Korea, or other countries. I believe in the European Union. I believe this commissioner who's here. I believe that the European Commission will, step by step, make us one of the territories with the highest quality of life. This is the path we are taking and will continue to take in the European Union. I am completely convinced of this, and Portugal, of course, is committed to this commitment.

Mr President, Commissioner and friend, ladies and gentlemen, I come from a country that knows very well the importance of investing in sustainable and intermodal public transport. It is committed to strengthening public transport connections in low-density territories and promoting on-demand transport services to combat precariousness and increase inclusion. It is determined to support the transition to clean and low-emission public transport fleets, including a 90% reduction in transport emissions by 2050. It is a country that advocates public transport as a real alternative to the private car, especially in urban and peri-urban areas. To say that Portugal is aligned with European priorities for competitive, efficient and sustainable public transport services at all levels is a great responsibility. First, because we are aware of its importance for the European Union, leader and pioneer. Second, because we know very well the reality of being far away and the need to bet on concrete and practical solutions to get closer to each other.

Mr Oliveira, in a very synthetic way, the party that I represent and for which I was elected in this Parliament is a pro-European party, which is something that your party is not: pro-European. And what my party does in Portugal is just that: when you're talking about farmers, when you're talking about nature conservation, when you're talking about biodiversity conservation. He does this every day and has demonstrated it in the last 12 months of governance.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, 30% by 2030 is a global commitment to increase protected areas and contribute to the conservation of natural resources. habitats and endangered species. Over the next five years, at least half of the land priority areas for conservation should be integrated into sustainable management networks. 100 million hectares of degraded land will be restored to promote ecosystem restoration and improved environmental services. The European Union and international partners have allocated €20 billion to fund global ecological restoration projects, always focusing on areas critical to biodiversity. Only in this way can we ensure the balance of the planet and the well-being of all generations.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, without populism, without demagoguery, what matters is that the European Union acts. And that's why we're here. Protecting jobs and workers' rights in Europe must be, and is, at the top of our priorities. Globalisation, automation, the green and digital transitions have put pressure on our labour market, which in turn is pressing for workers to adapt urgently. And the solution is – and we are acting – to invest in reskilling, continuing education and vocational training, strengthen labour legislation and the monitoring of working conditions, invest in regulated immigration with respect for fundamental rights, attract skilled talent to Europe and realise lifelong learning, which is the key to employability and sustainable economic development. Labour restructuring needs to balance innovation and social protection to create a more inclusive and fair labour market.

Dear President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in a European Union with diversified health systems, the Critical Medicines Act allows for a more efficient response to health emergencies and so congratulations. We live in a time when access to essential medicines is more urgent than ever and we cannot, as my colleagues have already said, be dependent on countries such as China or India, which provide between 60% and 80% of the active substances used in the production of medicines in Europe. This dependency exposes us to significant risks, as we saw in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chain disruptions resulted in shortages of essential medicines. O Critical Medicines Act It plays a crucial role in ensuring that everyone, even everyone, has access to essential medicines, reducing our vulnerability and strengthening our autonomy, public health and safety.

Dear colleague João Oliveira, answering in a synthetic way, we can only have better jobs if we produce wealth and then distribute that wealth. But we need jobs, and so that's what's been happening. And this government, in Portugal, has done this and has already demonstrated this in less than a year, this bet on training, both in university education and in vocational training. But above all, we need adequate investments to have jobs and to have better incomes and not to see our young people leaving Portugal and to other countries, not only in the European Union, but for the whole world.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, growth requires innovation. We are facing an ever-changing labour market, with adequate investments, collaboration between the public and private sectors of competitive Member States, able to tackle the skills gap and shortages of skilled labour. We need to think, but above all plan and act in the short, medium and long term. The future of work in Europe depends on our ability to readjust and boost vocational education and training. It depends on new digital and technological skills to encourage lifelong learning. It depends on our adaptation to the needs of the job and it depends on reskilling. This is the way. Coordinate efforts among all to boost sustainable economic growth in the EU, seize the opportunities of the digital and green transition, promote the creation of quality jobs, increase our economic and social resilience in the face of geopolitical changes, secure funding for employment and social policies in the European Union and invest decisively in the areas of R&D. This is the way to lead again in knowledge and innovation and to ensure a skilled and resilient workforce.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, today we are short of more than 1 million health professionals in the European Union. By 2030, we will be short of more than 4 million health workers. And yet, when there is a shortage of labor, they are there. When the geographical accesses are not easy, they are there. Even when working conditions are challenging, they remain there. When we need the most precious good of all, health professionals are there to take care of us. And we, the European Parliament, are here to value all those who provide such healthcare, to encourage career development, to support flexible working hours, to attract, retain and qualify healthcare workers. This means that the Portuguese Government is committed to ensuring that all citizens have ‘...’.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, one in four adults in the European Union has some form of disability. In an inclusive, free and democratic society such as ours, it is our duty to continue to create, maintain and develop conditions for the participation and strengthening of all citizens. The main challenges faced by persons with disabilities are discrimination, unemployment, poverty and social exclusion, early school leaving, unmet care needs and violence. A disability can refer to a prolonged, often invisible, physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairment. Now, two things are certain: the first is that the obstacles faced by these people are real, and the second is the increased prevalence of disabilities as age progresses. More than half of European citizens aged 65 and over have some form of disability. And that's where we walk. We urgently need to improve the lives of persons with disabilities, including through accessibility, as an enabler of rights, autonomy and equality, and with a precondition for participation in society and the economy.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, 80% of the European Union's biodiversity is in its outermost regions and Portugal is at the forefront of protecting biodiversity. I can only salute and congratulate the Government of the Azores for protecting 30% of its sea and thus protecting marine biodiversity. This measure increases the network of marine protected areas in Portugal to 17%. Before this decision, it was also an archipelago of Portugal, Madeira, which had the largest marine protected area with full protection in Europe. 15% of European waters are in the Azores. It is the largest network in the North Atlantic. As a result of the action of several Member States of the European Union, the European Union has the best biodiversity protection measures in the world. And this must be a reason for us to act in a united and consistent way in preserving biodiversity and protecting species in order to prevent their extinction. The restoration of ecosystems is advantageous for various economic activities, in addition to strengthening and favoring public health and the valorization of territories, providing new opportunities to create value.

Mr President, Commissioner Roxana Mînzatu, ladies and gentlemen, it is time we defended a better European Union for all our workers. It is time for us to commit to providing a decent life for our citizens and quality work. It is time to ensure a Europe where the rights and interests of workers in sectors such as food, agriculture, tourism and domestic work are prioritised, and where the European institutions put justice, sustainability and social rights at the top of our agendas. Among the many things we can and must do, I would like to highlight, for example, the fight against abusive subcontracting and the regulation of labour intermediation, so that there is equal treatment and fair and decent working conditions. Establish a protection framework for the nearly 10 million domestic workers in Europe who continue to have the most vulnerable and undervalued jobs, despite playing an absolutely crucial role in our countries' care economy. Ensuring a just green transition that benefits workers in our sectors and provides them with opportunities for more and better jobs, stability and fair wages. Defending the strongest social elements in the next CAP reform, so that we have a fair and balanced policy, capable also of defending small farmers and agricultural workers. It's time to look at the labor market that shows us the reality that our countries face and it's even high time to strengthen ourselves through empowerment and autonomous initiative.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, tourism is changing more than ever. It is changing to adapt to local communities living under increasing pressure in major European cities such as Lisbon or Porto, Athens or Santorini. It is changing to align with the transport sector, which is crucial for the flow of tourism. It is changing to offer the consumer solutions aligned with sustainability. As our colleague Mr Giménez said, tourism accounts for 10% of the European Union's GDP, it involves 2.3 million businesses, mainly small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ more than 12 million people. Europe is the first tourist destination in the world. This is a great responsibility for us as Europeans. We must ensure that the measures implemented in the tourism sector contribute to more efficiency, a viable and economically more sustainable management, more comfort, safety and public health, qualification and training of the workforce, promotion of applications in virtual tourism. It is therefore important for the European Union to promote access to finance and facilitate investment. Dear Commissioner Tzitzikostas, for the cohesion of Europeans and the world, it must be said that tourism is changing and will change. Hands to work.