Debate contributions by Hélder SOUSA SILVA

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, this resolution deals with something very specific: how we adapt existing European programmes to a profoundly changed security and defence reality. Many in this house have already identified the problem: Europe needs to produce faster, Europe needs to innovate better, Europe needs to reduce its dependence on third countries and reduce its bureaucratic burden. For these reasons, the omnibus defence represents openness to the Armed Forces as beneficiaries of European programmes and funds; the use of cohesion funds to increase the capacity and resilience of Member States; the allusion to hybrid threats, for which dual-use equipment and infrastructure is increasingly requested; the priority that has now been given to civil protection as well; Ukraine’s access to European funds; and the inclusion of artificial intelligence in matters related to research and development and military industrial production. All these topics are topics that this resolution aims to introduce. So if we want all Member States to contribute, then we must ensure that all Member States participate, that small and medium-sized enterprises have access, that less industrialised regions are not left out and that universities genuinely contribute applied research and development. That is why we are talking about pragmatism, coherence and focus on the essentials. Mr President, it is Europe united around a common security and defence purpose.

Madam President, today I don't accept the blue card question because Mr Oliveira only publishes the questions and he never publishes the answers. And it's the third time. Dear Colleague, in English: That's not fair. I don't take it today.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the regulation we are debating today reinforces one of the most effective instruments for promoting competitiveness, but above all, as has already been said, for leveraging the private investment that the European Union has at its disposal - we are talking about InvestEU. The simplification proposal will bring numerous benefits to businesses but also to beneficiaries: First, it reinforces, as has also been said, by EUR 2.9 billion, the guarantee system, with the reintroduction into the budget of this programme of funds not used so far, which allows to leverage an additional EUR 55 billion in private investment, without asking European taxpayers for more money. Secondly, it strengthens direct support for small and medium-sized enterprises, which are the backbone of our economy and innovation across Europe. Third, it unlocks European funding for new key sectors such as housing and defence. Fourth, it reduces the administrative burden, with beneficiaries expected to save around EUR 350 million – it is a lot of money. By leveraging public and private funds, InvestEU is thus a key pillar of the Union’s long-term growth strategy. In Portugal, the current government has done what it has so often failed to do in the past: use European instruments with strategic intelligence, such as the InvestEU guarantee lines of Banco de Fomento Português. InvestEU is thus a proven instrument, and Europe cannot afford to waste instruments that work, such as InvestEU.

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, ladies and gentlemen, in these difficult times, marked by uncertainty and instability, the adoption of the budget for 2026 is a very positive signal from the European Union for European markets and citizens. In the face of current fiscal constraints, this agreement safeguards the interests of European taxpayers, strengthens investments – particularly in research, competitiveness and also security – and ensures budgetary stability and predictability. I therefore welcome the rapporteurs, my colleagues Halicki and Nemec, for the good agreement they have reached, managing to reverse all the cuts proposed by the Council and securing additional funding of EUR 372 million, focusing on programmes and policies aimed at improving the lives of European citizens, increasing competitiveness and addressing security and defence challenges. I would like to highlight the increase in appropriations for programmes which are Parliament's priorities: Horizon Europe Programme, Connecting Europe Facility, Single Market Programme for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, European Civil Protection Mechanism, Erasmus Plus, Creative Europe and Military Mobility, so important. I would also stress the increase in funding for measures to promote agricultural products and, in particular, the encouragement of young farmers. I will therefore end by saying that it is crucial that the Union budget continues to meet the aspirations of Europeans and our businesses, as well as being a tool that leverages public and private investment. Congratulations to everyone.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, 25 years has been a long time to come to the EU-Mercosur Agreement, but every day that passes is an opportunity that is lost because it is time to move from words to deeds. Europe has woken up late to the issue, but it seems it is still dormant. A trade agreement with the Latin American bloc offers opportunities that the European Union cannot afford to ignore. The final text presented balanced interests, proposing trade openness, protection of the European agricultural sector and greater environmental demand in production chains. It is therefore guaranteed that this agreement protects most of the sensitivities of the European Union, particularly in the agricultural sector. Ladies and gentlemen, this is not just a matter of numbers and statistics. Above all, it is an opportunity to face the economic uncertainties and geopolitical challenges that Europe cannot afford to miss.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the future prosperity of the European Union is directly linked to the internal competitiveness and cohesion of the regions. A modernised, regionally focused and properly funded cohesion policy remains essential and the recent Commission proposal to strengthen the role of local and regional authorities in the preparation of national and regional partnership plans is a step in the right direction, but this step is not enough. We also highlight increased funding for the Union’s new priorities, such as competitiveness and defence. However, a balance between Member States must be ensured in Horizon Europe and the European Competitiveness Fund. It is crucial that we ensure that the next budget boosts competitiveness, preserves agriculture and fisheries, the social model, ensures prosperity and territorial cohesion in all regions of our Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the many challenges facing the European Union clearly set the context for the negotiations on the next multiannual financial framework. To meet the aspirations of our fellow citizens, we must provide the European Union with adequate resources. The next multiannual financial framework should be sufficiently ambitious, ensuring both the stability and autonomy of current policies, including cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy, and addressing new challenges: defence, security, competitiveness and civil protection. In negotiating the next financial framework, it is crucial to adopt a comprehensive approach, and new own resources must be found, without overburdening our fellow citizens with more taxes. Finally, it is not possible to effectively address the challenges we face with public investment alone, so leveraging private investment is key.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union has a direct and strategic responsibility for the stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The appeal that comes to us is clear. This is a European problem that only Europe can and must solve. If it is not us, others will do it for us, with interests in destabilising the region, such as Russia or China. But words aren't enough and looking the other way and even ignoring reality can't be an option. Therefore, progress in the accession negotiations cannot continue to be a political weapon for those who continue with sectionalist temptations. There is no alternative but to promote a constitutional reform that unites rather than divides. It is in the presence of EUFOR Althea, in technical and financial support, in the fight against corruption and external interference that our credibility is tested on a daily basis. Without concrete action, we will lose credibility and, with it, we will lose Bosnia and Herzegovina. So we will never give up. We will continue to support Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mr President, Madam High Representative, the threat of a European invasion is clearly no longer a hypothetical scenario; Today it is a concrete possibility. And it's not just on the border with Russia or Belarus. At every border in the European Union today we have serious threats. I therefore want to congratulate the European Commission on recent budgetary initiatives, notably the SAFE (Action for Europe) and the EDIP (European Defense Industry Program), with an amount of more than €150 billion to help Member States and their defence industries move in the right direction towards European sovereignty in terms of material production, security and defence. In addition to ensuring a more prepared armed forces, this investment will also be the engine of employment, innovation and enhancement of the national economic fabric, as well as alignment with the objectives of investment in NATO. I hope that, at the next NATO summit, the countries of the Union will reaffirm their commitment to the Alliance. But above all, it hopes that they will demonstrate that the European pillar of NATO can and must stand alone to defend our Union and our Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we are debating the evaluation of the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility at a crucial moment, given the approaching completion of this instrument. The state of implementation of this programme is clearly below what is expected and desirable, not even reaching 50% of the implementation rates in some Member States. In this sense, it is crucial to ensure that the financial effort that is being made –– is being made by all of us –– in the RRF truly materialises in a transformation of Europe. We will not give up on the RRF. To do so, we need to ensure that the national recovery and resilience plans maintain or scale up the initial ambition. It is imperative to speed up the implementation of this instrument, giving confidence to the Member States, and for this it is essential that an extension of 18 months is granted, as it is in this report. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is clearly a unique opportunity that we must not miss.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, on 12 June we marked four decades of Portugal's accession to the then European Economic Community, a fundamental milestone in the consolidation of our democracy and also in the modernisation of the country. European integration represented for Portugal an opportunity for economic development, the strengthening of the rule of law and international projection. Over these 40 years, we have benefited from structuring investments, broadened horizons for our businesses and citizens, and affirmed the values we have shared with the other Member States. Values of peace, values of freedom, values of solidarity and values of cohesion. Portugal is now a fully committed member of the European project. And it is with responsibility that we must continue to contribute to a Union that is stronger, more cohesive and closer to the citizens. Celebrating 40 years is, above all, renewing our commitment to the future of Europe.

Honourable Member, thank you very much for your question. You always see the glass half empty. I always see the glass half full and what I can tell you is this: Portugal is an example at European and global level when it comes to innovation and development. Portugal has centres of excellence for innovation and development. An example is the issue of health; the Champalimaud Foundation in particular is a good example of research and development with regard to cancer and the fight against cancer. I am sure that Portuguese researchers will, of course, also use this prerogative of choosing Europe for science to be able to improve and deepen their careers – and I hope that this will happen. It will be a fundamental step in the direction I have mentioned, linking research to the business world as well.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we will only have a developed, prosperous and sovereign Europe if we put science and innovation at the heart of our common project. The Choose Europe for Science initiative is a crucial step in this direction. For the first time, researchers will have not only robust and direct funding from the European Union, but also the guarantee of extended contracts by the institutions and the necessary continuity of scientific career. Moreover, with the co-financing requirement that this initiative imposes, we must ensure that all institutions based in regions with fewer resources can actually participate without leaving anyone behind. But we need to dream bigger. We need to ensure that this initiative positions the European Union as a global leader in science and innovation, offering an open, well-funded, cohesive research environment with strong links to the business sector. It is very important that this happens.

Mr President, Commissioner, we are facing a great challenge when we talk about the definition of the next multiannual financial framework. While, on the one hand, it is essential to safeguard the European Union's traditional policies, such as cohesion policy or the common agricultural policy, they should continue to be properly and autonomously financed in order to guarantee balance, autonomy and territorial competitiveness in all regions of our Union. On the other hand, it is essential to secure funding for new priorities such as competitiveness and innovation, crisis preparedness and response or security and defence. To achieve these objectives, it is time to define new own resources so that the budget increase is not made at the expense of more taxes for European taxpayers. In conclusion, we need to redefine the post-2027 multiannual financial framework so that no one is left behind – neither the European Union nor its citizens. Congratulations to the rapporteurs.

Madam President, Commissioner, I welcome the presentation of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, which enshrines a key approach to strengthening the Union's ability to anticipate, anticipate and face crises. Prepared citizens are the first resource of a resilient society. Promoting risk literacy and ensuring early warning and warning systems are the responsibilities of the various levels of governance. In particular, I would highlight public-private cooperation and civil-military cooperation, two pillars that are inseparable in an era marked by hybrid threats, prolonged instability, moving towards the creation of a genuine European civil defence mechanism. The European Union must assume a coordinating role in pan-European areas, but it is imperative that Member States and local authorities shoulder their responsibilities. Civil protection is truly a everyone's task for everyone.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, with this cultural compass from the European Commission, I believe that Europe is finally realising that culture is not a luxury accessible only to a few elites, but a real engine of competitiveness. The cultural and creative sector accounts for 4.2% of the European Union’s GDP and employs 3.7% of the workforce. But its impact goes far beyond the numbers. Culture is a pillar of our cohesion and security. At a time when disinformation is a growing threat to the stability of our democracies, culture offers an essential defence, forming a critical public and able to distinguish between facts and manipulation. However, we must not forget the geopolitical context in which we operate. In turbulent times, culture is also an instrument of foreign policy. By projecting our values in the world, we strengthen our position as Europeans. And if we want a more competitive, more cohesive and safer European Union, we need a real cultural strategy that goes from Creative Europe to Erasmus+, with no one left behind. We have to level up in the European cultural sector and the cultural compass is just that. Without culture, there is no real European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the guidelines for the 2026 budget reflect a clear vision for the future of the European Union. Including culture and education in the guidelines is a crucial step, reaffirming their essential role in building a stronger, more connected, knowledgeable and better prepared Europe for the global challenges ahead. Protecting and strengthening programmes such as Erasmus+, Creative Europe and the European Solidarity Corps are key steps in promoting inclusion, skills training and strengthening our common identity. These programmes play a crucial role not only in the development of our young people, but also in society as a whole. It is therefore vital to ensure that the 2026 budget secures the necessary resources so that we can face future challenges with confidence, with strength, but above all with unity.

Mr President, Commissioner, the recent mission of the Committee on Security and Defence to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which I was privileged to join, has revealed an unavoidable truth: the country is at a dangerous crossroads, with high internal challenges and unacceptable external pressures threatening its stability. The destabilising forces, fuelled by nationalist and separatist narratives, are driven by powers seeking to push Bosnia and Herzegovina off its European path. Faced with this reality, the European Union cannot hesitate. We need dialogue and we need to strengthen our political and economic presence and support structural reforms to ensure that the country quickly converges with the requirements of the European Union and does not back down in its accession process. Bosnia's history is intrinsically linked to the security of the Balkans, which in turn is linked to the security of our Europe. Let's not close our eyes.

Madam President, Commissioner, Europe clearly faces a major challenge. I am talking about skills shortages and the mismatch between training and the labour market. To overcome this obstacle, we need a genuine skills union, in which education and vocational training are drivers of growth, innovation and also social cohesion. Vocational training is key to continuous learning, preparing individuals for the labour market. In Portugal, 74% of vocational students already participate in work-based learning, but more needs to be done. But this challenge cannot only be faced by the Member States, we need a European strategy for vocational education and training, including the European vocational education diploma, which aligns training with the needs of the labour market and facilitates the mobility of young people and workers. Let us therefore bet on talent and let us bet above all, but always above all, on the future of Europe.

(start of intervention with microphone off) ... tends not to see the true extent of the problem. The left in Portugal sees that China is arming itself, sees that Russia has already armed itself, but wants Europe to continue to bury its head in the sand. What we say is 'no', we want to have minimal deterrence to defend the European people of the 27 Member States. We do not want to make a weapon to the teeth, as it is said in good Portuguese, we want to have a minimal deterrence capacity so as not to be invaded, as was Ukraine, unjustly, by Putin.

Mr President, Commissioner, Europe's security is finally no longer a secondary issue. The White Paper on the future of European defence is a good – it is an excellent – foundation on which we will build a true European Defence Union. Our priorities are clear: a comprehensive approach to European security, significantly increase defence investment and develop a credible, autonomous and sovereign defence industry. The Commission presented the ReArm Europe plan to initially mobilise €800 billion. We support these measures, but demand binding and immediate commitments with responsibilities assigned to all Member States. Diplomacy without deterrence is a full exercise of weakness. It is time to honor the historical responsibility entrusted to us, and history will be written on the basis of our action or our inaction.

Madam President, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, Commissioner, the conclusions of the extraordinary Council represent the recognition of a European strategy which, for decades, has developed a weak and contradictory security model, a Europe that is geopolitically relevant, but without the necessary instruments of power to influence its own neighbourhood. We're running now to make up for lost time. Security is not just another public policy, but the existential condition of all public policies. The time of war is also distinct from the time of bureaucracy in Brussels. As Europe deliberates, the front lines move, defence industrial capabilities change, and vulnerabilities deepen. With the ReArm Europe plan, it is undeniable that a new window of opportunity opens up for Europe. It's really time to change.

Madam President, Commissioner, water is a source of life! And I ask: what is the European strategy for water management? The goal is that we can ensure that future generations have access to water for consumption and also for the various economic activities, particularly agriculture. Southern Europe, and particularly Portugal, currently suffers from high water scarcity. In our case, the regions of Alentejo and Algarve are the most affected. Portugal presented yesterday the National Strategy for Water Management, which is called "Water that unites", which foresees to solve the shortage of water, both for human consumption and for other uses. An investment of more than €5 billion is planned. I therefore hope that the European Union will show solidarity, that it will assume its responsibilities and that it will help the Member States. Water is life in the territories, water is social cohesion, water is economy, water is security. Yes, I am talking about water and the water that unites us in the European Union.