Speeches

Mr President, if my calculation is right, we are holding the sixth debate on Gaza, and we have had two resolutions, in four months. If anyone is taking good note, I think that we are breaking all the records in this Parliament. We did not break these records for Ukraine in four months. Neither for Bosnia. No we didn’t, no we didn’t. Not in four months, my friends. Because this is not about ideology. I know that some of you are looking for votes in the next European elections, but this is about the sufferance of the Palestinian and Israeli people and how we can mediate on that. And then I have to hear the High Representative attacking again the President of the European Commission. Why? Because we have elections in two months? Is this the role of the High Representative? Is this the role? People of good, and there are many in this Parliament, have voted in favour of two resolutions in this Parliament. We were the first to talk about the humanitarian process, we talked about the ceasefire condition to the release of hostages and the end of Hamas. We have been first in everything. We will continue that line. Yes, yes, you will lose the elections, my friends. The polls are showing you are not reaching the European population. Unfortunately, because of the reaction against you, they are turning to the other side. You will not be there in the next Parliament with all your rhetoric because you take this ideologically, not from the humanitarian approach that this question needs, and Europe at its centre to be the mediator between the parts. As long as you don’t understand this, then we cannot be part of the solution, and that’s what many of us would like to be.

– Mr President, first of all, I would like to thank the authors for this very timely resolution. Today we address the assassination of yet another young Iranian man who died at the hands of the tyrannical regime of the Ayatollahs. Three people die every day in Iran – including women and children – but it’s also important to know that this is not only happening in Iran, but also in the streets of Europe against people that are fighting for democracy in Iran. A former Member and Vice-President of the European Parliament, Alejo Vidal-Quadras was shot in the face on 9 November 2023 in Madrid, Spain – in Europe. This is happening here; the regime is trying to silence all those who speak the truth, denounce the atrocities and fight for a democratic future in Iran. Mr Borrell, European governments, no more shady deals with the regime.

Madam President, Vice-President, the fight against anti-Semitism is a constant and never-ending battle. We must never lower our guard. It surrounds us in Europe. I want to let all the victims know that we are taking this very seriously here. Thanks to the efforts of the President of the European Commission, von der Leyen, and Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, we are making important steps forward to fight this in the European Union. I wish and I hope that the European governments are up to doing what we are doing here in the European institutions about it. They have to do it. Anti-Semitism is anti-European, it does not belong in Europe and we will keep up the work and the fight to make Jewish people safe and happy, working and interacting in our Europe. Now more than ever in these difficult times, after the horrific attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October, now more than ever is the moment to show our European principles and to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves here in Europe.

Mr President, it must be said loud and clear: The continuation of the bloodthirsty Maduro regime is one of the biggest failures of the European Union's foreign policy. Twenty-five years of dictatorship, thousands of Venezuelans persecuted, tortured or killed and eight million exiled is the result. Half of the European left is silent and the other half collaborates, as they did with the Soviet regime in Eastern Europe until the Berlin Wall fell. And now Macron and Sanchez join in taking photos and protecting Delcy Rodriguez, the regime's financial agent in Europe. Gas and oil in exchange for human rights. That is European hypocrisy with Venezuelans. And, now, the voice and image of the democratic opposition, María Corina Machado, is disabled by the regime of terror. Good Europeans - those of us who don't want blood-stained gas and oil - say no to Maduro's electoral farce. We want free and transparent elections and María Corina Machado as a candidate. Any other option must be considered collaborationism with the repressive regime and must be denounced.

Mr President, we all want the conflict – in this room also – the conflict in the Middle East to end. But, Minister, apart from five minutes talking about Israel, it would be good, and it would be a European solution, if you would dedicate maybe one second to talk about Hamas, Hezbollah, and about future perspectives. That would be a European solution. But your people forgot about it. As nobody can turn a blind eye to the losses of human life in Gaza and the humanitarian challenges faced by the Palestinian people. True. As we cannot forget either the pain of the Israeli families waiting in despair for the return of their loved ones. We all want it to end, and there is a solution for that: the release of Israeli hostages and the demilitarisation of Gaza. On 19 October, this Parliament agreed by a compelling majority that Hamas can no longer be part of the future of Palestine. As we have always done, we keep supporting a two-state solution. But sustainable peace cannot exist as long as Hamas and other terrorist groups hijack the Palestinian cause and threaten the existence of Israel, the only democracy of the region. Remember, we are talking about two parts, okay? Not only one. We cannot ignore either the elephant in the room, the puppet master: Iran. It is now clearer than ever who is behind and benefiting from this crisis. Do we want to be puppets of the regime? By failing to keep our unity, we are just taking us further away from peace. Dear colleagues, at some point this Parliament will have to make a clear choice to say no to those who murder women, homosexuals, Christians, Jews; to say no to those who reject our democratic principles and deny Israel’s right to exist; or face a future where Iran and their proxies will succeed in denying any hope for democracy and peace in the Middle East. Make no mistake: Europe is the next target. From the beginning, our position was clear. October resolution that we made. We set the conditions for peace. I hope – and the EPP will collaborate – that we will do this this time again.

Mr President, the coincidence of the visceral attacks by the Greens and the far right to the results of the COP indicates to me that it has gone well. It is not the solution to all the evils that afflict us, of course. I am proud of the role played by the European Union, as always, in these meetings. We can aspire to more, no doubt. But, instead of this destructive criticism, let us celebrate that experts, governments, the private sector have met and reached agreements, some of them historic, badly despite those who are seeking the immediate vote in the next European elections. They're wrong. It is not the future of their vote, it is the future of Europeans. And that's what unites us to moderate, right-wing and left-wing politicians: saving European citizens from climate change; help them face these challenges. Therefore, congratulations to the Presidency on the results achieved.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr High Representative, I was listening to your speech and the truth is that I agree on many points. On the recognition of Palestine, which the Europeans - myself - have defended in this two-state solution, what has to be very clear is that it will not be done as a victory for Hamas, but as a question of building a genuine, democratic one, not dependent on Hamas or Hezbollah or Iran, a Palestinian state. When those circumstances arise, I am convinced – and I tell you – that everyone will accept it. But first, let's go in parts. I would like to thank the remaining moderate politicians, and I am very proud of them, in this Parliament, in the Socialist Group, in the Liberals, in the Greens, who voted against the introduction of resolutions. We have a resolution that unites us all on October 19. I understand that the Communists, the Left Group, do not like it and this is the fourth attempt to undo that unity. They've been wrong again. Moderate people - many of us are sitting here - are not going to use this use of the word to put our finger on Mr Borrell or the rotating presidency of the European Union. We are here to be part of the solution, to try, at least, to be part of the solution, which is the European Union. We can ask both sides a lot of things. We can ask that Hamas stop being claimed by the Palestinians for the kidnapping they are doing of the humanitarian aid trucks. We must once and for all put an end to this intervention on behalf of the Palestinian people – which is not true – who are being the human shield of these terrorist organisations. Let us see if, in today's statements, my colleague, the Chairman of the Delegation for relations with Palestine, and others will speak in the same terms, in European terms, of solution, of collaboration, so that this does not end in a conflict that can drag us all in the end. Let's see if I hear it this afternoon from even the far left. I believe that with the European spirit we can achieve many things together and be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Mr President, on 19 October we adopted by an overwhelming majority in this European Parliament a resolution condemning the attacks by Hamas and echoing the suffering of the Palestinian people as Hamas' human shield. However, of the 20 Members who voted against that resolution – an absolute minority in this Parliament – two have been appointed ministers of the Spanish Government. Mr Borrell explained that he finds it very difficult to reach agreements within the European Council. But how will it be able to do so if the Presidency of the European Council is held by the Government of Spain with these two ministers? Parliament has done its job. Our President was where she had to be at the beginning, as was the President of the Commission. Financial funds have also been launched. We're there to help. But this is European history: Here we are debating again after two weeks, I don't know why, when what we have to do is find solutions. Financial aid, European presence... It has been the United States and other countries that have achieved this humanitarian pause. Where were we? Well, that is the explanation, with this European Council that we have.

Madam President, if there's a ceasefire, if there's a humanitarian pause... Here they have us arguing and dividing. I believe that this debate was absolutely unnecessary. I am proud of the debate on 19 October and the resolution on 19 October, in which we all condemned Hamas' attacks on Israel and also echoed the suffering of the Palestinian people, the victim, the human shield of Hamas. And we are playing the game - and let us see if we already know, here in this European Parliament - of Iran, which is the black hand that has always been behind these attacks. And you are achieving your goal with this division that many of you want to make in this Parliament. Let's stick with that resolution. United and clear: It is the best way to help those who are prisoners to get out, so that they can return to Israel, so that civilians stop suffering. Let us see if we are already taking these things into account here in this Parliament. Let us return to the spirit of October 19.

Madam President, thank you very much, dear President of the Commission, for your leadership. Once again – like during COVID and the war on Ukraine –you have spoken for all of us, not like others that are here only for political gain or for sectarianism. You are representing the true heart of this European Union. Señora presidenta, hoy tenemos ante nosotros una responsabilidad histórica. Y eso es lo que va a ocurrir mañana. Este Parlamento debe decidir mañana si condena o no el terrorismo. Van a escuchar hoy muchas intervenciones favorables, contrarias. Lo que sea, da igual. No se dejen llevar. Mañana en el voto se demostrará quién está en contra del terrorismo y quién no; y hace falta esta firmeza y esta unidad de criterio más allá de las ideologías. En la lucha frente al terrorismo no hay medias tintas. Desgraciadamente, eso lo aprendimos en nuestro país, en España. Esos discursos melifluos y contemporizadores sobre quienes han decapitado a bebés, han violado a mujeres y han matado a gente inocente no es lo que se debe escuchar en las calles ni en los órganos institucionales de esta Unión Europea. Cincuenta años tras la Guerra del Yom Kipur, Israel ha sido atacado una vez más. Una vez más. De manera cobarde y brutal. Y sigue habiendo quien se niega a condenar lo que ha pasado, que es lo más increíble. Además, acusan, critican e insultan a los que condenamos el terrorismo. Nada nuevo para nosotros, los españoles, ya lo sabemos. Lo hemos vivido. Pero venceremos. Venceremos al terrorismo, venceremos a sus terminales, porque esta es la defensa de los principios de esta Unión Europea. No hay nada más. Si no, no sobreviviremos; y lo estamos empezando a vivir ya en las calles de Europa. Sabemos quién está detrás de este conflicto: Hamás, Hezbolá —peones de Irán, un régimen extremista que no podía aceptar la normalización de las relaciones del mundo árabe con Israel. Esto es lo que hay: manipulación de este país para conseguir la desestabilización de nosotros, los demócratas europeos. No lo permitamos, y mañana dejémoslo claro en la resolución.

Mr President, the Iranian regime is sanctioning dozens of European national Members and Members of the European Parliament. European silence. It directly or indirectly finances populist political movements in Europe and supports terrorist groups operating around the world, including Europe. European silence. It shoots down a passenger plane in 2020 of Ukraine International Airlines with twenty European passengers killed. European silence. He kidnaps European citizens: we learn – and we have to learn from the American press – that an official of the European External Action Service has been imprisoned in Iran for more than a year. After the vile murder of Mahsa Amini, 30,000 Iranian citizens are arrested and another 750 are killed following anti-regime demonstrations. Today, here in this European Parliament, for once I have been proud to see the left and the right condemn all this and I hope that the officials of the Council, the Commission and the European governments will at once learn that we cannot play or continue to act with the Iranian regime.

Madam President, Commissioner, this is a message for Mr Nicolás Maduro, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I am pleased to inform you that you are not welcome in the European Union. This European Union was created precisely to avoid dictators and autocrats like you. The principles and values on which this Union is founded cannot be stained with the blood of torture and murder of its regime. Millions of innocent Venezuelans retaliated for you have sought refuge here in Europe, in the painful exile to which you have condemned them. They have come to Europe in search of democracy and freedom. These aspirations cannot be betrayed by his criminal presence and that of his vice-president Delcy Rodríguez on European soil. Know also that your partners in terror, the Cuban and Nicaraguan regimes, are not welcome. Finally, I want you to know that, despite the silence of Pedro Sánchez, current president of the Council of the European Union, this Parliament will not whitewash your regime and we will continue to denounce your crimes and demand democratic elections in your country.

Madam President, the report in question is a report that aims to make a recommendation to the Council, Commission and the High Representative on relations with the Palestinian Authority. There is nothing wrong about that. The problem is that, once again, some in this Parliament have been trying to take advantage of a legitimate debate about our relations with the Palestinian Authority to attack Israel. Another lost opportunity for this Parliament to be a moderating and balancing factor. We have heard here today ‘Israeli regime’ – it is a democracy, you can like the government or not, but it is a democracy – ‘apartheid state’, ‘criminal state’, ‘criminals of war’. How can we become a moderating factor? That is what the EU and our values are about. Shame on the declarations I’ve heard. We want to be a balancing factor, we have to be. The EPP tried: we brought amendments to try to balance the text. All rejected. And now you are facing other amendments. Radicalisation, in the end: that’s what you obtain with these declarations, it is not for the cause of peace and understanding. From different positions we are all trying to find and to help as Europeans. We need this balanced approach. We cannot ignore the problems, but here we are and we should do our work. Maybe next time.

Mr. President, this is the balance sheet of the corrupt regime of the Ortega Murillo family: 50 media outlets closed, a thousand NGOs closed and expelled from the country, thousands of tortured Nicaraguans and political prisoners of conscience in Nicaragua’s prisons, and 222 political prisoners now expelled from their country – including my good friend Ana Margarita Vigil, who does not have a passport, but I hope that Spain, has the government that it has, will grant it, like many of them who are fighting for freedoms. We need clear measures. I am grateful, Mr Borrell, for the question of sanctions. We will always ask for more, we must go for them. As for the Ortega Murillo family, I also ask that we consider whether it should be present at the EU-CELAC summit. You have to wonder if these people can be there. We must also demand the release of Bishop Rolando Álvarez and an end to the repression, and I am glad to have heard from previous speakers, including from the left, that we all agree on this point.

Mr President, the situation in Lebanon must concern us all Europeans. The issue of security is fundamental for us and it is a country that socially and culturally is the closest we have. Our trade relations and many other things unite us with the Lebanese people, whom I believe we are failing. We are not following closely or intervening in an improvement of the situation of the people, especially the Lebanese youth who are leaving the country and fleeing. Cases such as that of Omar Harfouch, who simply for intervening in an act in this European Parliament - where there were supposedly Jews in the Chamber - are now being tried by a military court. The influence of Iran and Hezbollah, which many deputies here try not to mention, even if it has to be done with a loud and clear voice, makes these cases happen. Simply put, these military courts in Lebanon are even acting against homosexuals; They are persecuting homosexuals in Lebanon. I therefore hope that many colleagues, particularly on the left, will join in this call to put an end to this situation in Lebanon.

This has indeed been contacted and, above all, the President’s cabinet, which – as you know and have been told – is following the case. On this particular case, I will make a statement on this - I am glad to be able to tell you now in public - at the next meeting of the Israeli delegation, which I think is in a week or two. Soon you will have the answer about everything we have recovered.

Mr President, thousands of people are demonstrating peacefully in Israel defending the rule of law. The same has happened recently in Spain too, due to manoeuvres by my government – right? – in judicial matters. What it shows is that it is a democratic country, like anyone here. But the proposed judicial reforms in Israel are now going through an intense legislative and political process, a process we are still unaware of. I believe that we lose some credibility, Mr Borrell, as strategic actors if we rush to debate a law in the process of being created in a democratic country, not like those around it, of which we speak little many times. Of course, I share the concerns about these proposed reforms as they stand now. What's more, I don't share them. But we must remember that one of the advantages of democracy – if any have been forgotten – is the negotiation and participation of different actors in legislative processes. We must rely on the Israeli democratic system, which will reflect the will of the voters and also the diverse opinions on this sensitive issue such as the rule of law. The Israeli citizens, politicians and society, and you mentioned it, Mr Borrell, and others mentioned it, the President of Israel, President Herzog, are going to intervene in this process, logically. Unlike other countries, Israel enjoys excellent democratic health. Only in the event that its weight and counterweight mechanisms fail, will we have the authority and, of course, the time to criticize what is decided there. (The speaker agreed to respond to an intervention under the "blue card" procedure)

Madam President, of course we all want the best relationship with Latin America. Here in this European Parliament, many MEPs from all political groups are always advocating for that better relationship. But how can Europe best help? Or, rather, what Latin America are we talking about? Are we talking to Latin America that wants to live in freedom, in prosperity, or with which it is immersed in this Bolivarian left that is conquering all the governments in the area? And, once in the governments, bloody dictatorships like those we have in Nicaragua, in Venezuela or in Cuba are established. I condemn what has happened in Brazil, we all condemn it in this European Parliament. When will the left of this Parliament condemn the bloodthirsty regime in Nicaragua that is torturing religious people, women and children? When will he condemn the Maduro regime instead of maintaining that complicit silence in exchange for oil? We already see Macron's hugs now with Maduro. Finally, we must, of course, do a great deal of thinking about who we Europeans want to work with.

Madam President, Commissioner, I fully subscribe to your words and I very much appreciate the effort that the European Commission is making diplomatically, as are many Member States, towards a stability that is absolutely necessary for Europe's security in the Middle East. The interest commissioner has spoken. We have interests in the area. Is something wrong? Why can't we recognize him? We have to say it. Europe currently has interests. This report was, as the rapporteur said, a consensual report. Indeed, because we have managed to stop the extreme left of this House, which, as always, is dedicated to insulting countries that currently have a strategic relationship with this European Union. Incredible things are happening in the area, which can create prosperity, such as the Abraham Accords, which have been cited, the maritime agreement between Lebanon and Israel, the agreement between Egypt, the European Union and Israel. That sick obsession with the only democratic country in the area is Israel. Let's be clear: Europe has a role to play, and no longer as a former colonizing power, nor do we have to be giving demonstrations here to anyone or lessons to anyone. What we have to have is the best of relations with these countries and we must undoubtedly maintain the defence of our principles and values, based also on the relations that Europe must maintain with all of them.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the humanitarian situation in Haiti has deteriorated due to political instability and persistent insecurity. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, several organised gangs have increasingly gained power, creating a sense of danger for the population. The increase in violence and the escalation of human rights abuses weakens the government and its actions, which already affect more than 1.5 million people in a situation of genuine humanitarian catastrophe. With this resolution we once again call the attention of the international community to this tragedy. We call on the parties involved for an approach that allows for law enforcement, the fight against these violent organizations and their connection with political actors, the improvement of the control of illegal weapons and, at the same time, the investment of resources in socio-economic projects that generate prosperity. Finally, we insist on transparent, free and fair elections in accordance with international standards.

Mr President, Mr High Representative, ladies and gentlemen, the protests of women and young people have spread throughout Iran. Hundreds have been killed because they want to live in a free, democratic country and have the freedom to live their lives without being held accountable to the Ayatollah regime. The fundamentalist regime continues to fail its people steadily and brutally. Instead of listening to the voices of reform, they have once again opted for repression, brutality and the death of their citizens. Instead of listening to Iran's mothers and daughters, the regime chose to censor their voices, shutting down the internet across the country and persecuting them. It is our duty to shed light on what is happening to the people of Iran. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you: Is a regime that does not listen to and respect its own people trustworthy? Is it a legitimate actor to negotiate with? This Parliament is constantly asking not to negotiate agreements with one or the other country for lack of respect for human rights. But we negotiate in the European Union with a fundamentalist and dictatorial state, such as the regime of the Ayatollahs. No more negotiations with the Ayatollah regime.

Madam President, the arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez is a new low blow of a bloodthirsty regime with an expiration date that continues to persecute freedoms in Nicaragua. They persecute the Church because their devotion and service to underserved people highlight the incompetence of a corrupt regime that does not care for Nicaraguan citizens. The hard work of a Church that does not shut up and goes to the rescue of the people is something very annoying for the dictator Ortega and therefore suffers reprisals. The people of Nicaragua know that they deserve better and that is why they continue to fight against the regime of the bloodthirsty dictator. Ladies and gentlemen, our heart goes out to Bishop Alvarez and all Nicaraguans who today face torture and persecution. But to them we all say: A regime that oppresses its people for praying and supporting the vulnerable is a regime with its days numbered. And it is our obligation to denounce the tyranny of the Ortega government and all those on the Latin American Bolivarian left who support it. We must all denounce that without remission in this Parliament continuously. And I would like to thank all the Members of Parliament from different political options who have united around this resolution.

Madam President, as I told you in my speech at the beginning, you have clearly seen the interventions of the far right and the far left. They've come to sell their slogans, they haven't told us anything new. Some want to climb walls. Others want to talk about conflicts that only exist in their imagination. I thank the other sensible and sensitive political groups in this House, who are worrying and have spoken - many of these speeches I have heard - on the issue of the food crisis, on immigration, on the problems of lost youth in many of these countries. How can we help? I am very grateful for the Commissioner's words in that regard, although my duty as a Member of the European Parliament is to thank him for the effort that the Commission is making at the moment with the food crisis sending funds, approving funds for these countries in the Southern Neighbourhood. But my duty as a Member is to ask for more, to have a much greater presence at this critical time in these countries and to give them more support. As for the food emergency, which my friends in Egypt recently told me about, it is now vital to be able to work on it. Our security is in this, and it is in this that the mediation efforts of the European Union, which has historically worked on it, always go, because we have always been there. Let's not miss this opportunity now. That is why the unity that we demonstrate and that we will demonstrate tomorrow around this report is a very clear signal that the European Union has that concern for our southern neighbours. And we want to go deeper into not only theoretical but also practical relations, based also on what the European Commission is doing, which we, as MEPs, must ensure tomorrow. Let those countries mentioned in this report be comforted, because we are with them at this time also of particular difficulty, not only for us – let us not look only for ourselves – but also for them.

Madam President, Commissioner Várhelyi, I would like, first of all, to thank the shadow rapporteurs for their contributions and the support for the ambition of this text that we had in common, and I am particularly proud that it was the extremes of the left and the right that did not join this, with the main groups in this consensus that we have generated around this report: I am very grateful for that. We wanted effective proposals that would be a strong and clear political signal on the importance and urgency of the renewed cooperation model with the Southern Neighbourhood, namely Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Tunisia and Libya. Europe is under threat, our enviable model of coexistence and social status is a threat to the autocratic regimes around us: With this report we are building and creating the basis for a new model of strategic autonomy for the European Union. We have, more than ever, to come up with solutions, and not to hinder by promoting hatreds and divisions; We have to look south, create a new relationship characterized by the treatment of you to you, renouncing all forms of paternalism, and creating and solidifying a new, our, strategic autonomy: It is time to wake up and resume privileged relations with our southern neighbourhood. It is no coincidence that this report is voted on this week, precisely when we are discussing the state of the Union and its priorities for the next twelve months. As a politician, I have been highlighting the strategic relevance of the Southern Neighbourhood for many years and have worked on creating a permanent political dialogue with various political parties in these countries. To this day, the strategic relevance of this neighbourhood is evidence: The conclusions of the NATO summit in Madrid reflected this only a few months ago when they acknowledged the interference of strategic competitors in the area, namely Russia and China, and the danger this poses to Europe and, more broadly, to the democratic world. There are several key pillars on which we need to work, for example the diversification of our energy suppliers: As we are seeing, this is key to ensuring our autonomy, new suppliers with shorter and more reliable supply routes for our companies. Let's be clear, we can't depend on China or get into its game of controlling the global economy: A globalised world requires global solutions and the opportunities we have together with our neighbours in the Mediterranean basin are clear. Another issue is migration: How can we tackle such a problem without improving living conditions in the countries of origin? No one leaves their home for pleasure; They're looking for a better world here in Europe. Let us help to improve their living conditions also in the countries of origin; all, in the end, we will benefit: stability, economic development, prosperity of the Southern Neighbourhood, is also ours. The threats following the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have an impact on both shores of the Mediterranean: we are facing an unprecedented energy crisis, and the countries in the Southern Neighbourhood are facing a food crisis. What we are discussing today is crucial: coherent priorities and identification of additional synergies. This Thursday marks two years since the Abrahamic Accords; I am also grateful to all the groups that have allowed us to refer to this in a positive way. There is a new geopolitical context that we cannot ignore and that is bringing new bilateral opportunities in our cooperation and trilaterals in cooperation with our neighbours. I would like to highlight the measures to empower young people and women in the fight against disinformation and political interference, the promotion of food security, and above all also conflict prevention and, in this case, control as regards the protection of European borders and the fight against mafias and jihadist terrorism: We have to be relentless in these areas if we want to have a space of security between us.

Mr President, my colleagues and I in the intergroup for defence of children’s rights we have been many years denouncing what is going on with the children escaping from wars in Syria, in Iraq and Afghanistan. And now is the question of Ukraine. And I have to tell you ... – Los niños y los jóvenes son siempre los que pagan el precio más alto en las guerras. Aquellos que tienen la suerte de escapar y sobrevivir quedan con traumas indescriptibles que cambian sus vidas para siempre. Otros son víctimas de aún más terror: caen en manos de mafias que se aprovechan de su vulnerabilidad, monstruos disfrazados de voluntarios que secuestran a niños para explotarlos, obligándolos a la explotación sexual, el trabajo esclavo o incluso el tráfico de órganos. Hay toda una generación de niños en riesgo aquí. Debemos construir un sistema robusto y coordinado en la frontera con la presencia de oficiales de protección de la niñez. Debemos ayudar a los países vecinos para que los niños estén matriculados en las escuelas y no se les roben sus años formativos, tan importantes en su educación. Debemos rescatar a los niños ucranianos vulnerables, en particular los que se encuentran en instituciones de acogida, los niños en hogares de guarda, los niños en hospitales, los niños con discapacidades, los huérfanos de guerra y los niños no acompañados, que en estos momentos, a miles y miles, están en las fronteras de países nuestros europeos. Colegas, frente a la barbarie que vivimos en Bucha, frente a la pura maldad y paranoia, debemos defender nuestros valores europeos. Y una cosa que nos tiene que quedar muy clara: los hijos de Ucrania son nuestros hijos, su futuro es nuestro futuro y ha llegado el momento de actuar.