Speeches

Madam President, Mr Borrell, I would like to thank you for your work and also for the consistency and courage of your voice. Thank goodness that, at least in these dark moments, we have counted on his voice. There is a plausible ongoing genocide, according to the International Criminal Court, that Israel's military is committing, possibly in Gaza. Since that declaration, all signatories to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide should have taken precautionary measures to prevent it. And those precautionary measures are none other than suspending the shipment of weapons, imposing sanctions on Israel and, of course, in our case, suspending any association agreement. We have not done so and today the tanks are at the gates of Rafah. If they enter, nothing will be comparable to the horror we have known. But we have to be aware that, if Israel does, it is because it has necessary collaborators. Today the people inside tell us that there are no words to describe the horror, but I have no doubt that the story will tell what is happening and place those responsible for the crimes and their collaborators before the courts.

Mr President, there is absolutely nothing to justify the European Union not having a directive to combat gender-based violence when, according to the latest data from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 50 women and girls are killed every week in European territory as victims of this scourge. That is why it is absolutely important that we take this directive forward tomorrow. We have not managed to incorporate into it everything that the victims deserve for the prosecution of the guilty, for the prevention of crimes, for the assistance of the victims... But we have achieved everything we have been able to reach. Rape without consent is a crime in the European Union. We have not been able to include it in the article, but it is in article 36. bis of this Directive, in the prevention part. Yes, unfortunately with many large states like Germany, with a socialist government, and with France, but also with many others, we did not have a sufficient majority. I therefore ask you to vote tomorrow with the victims, those killed, those women who are suffering violence and whom we can protect, and the millions of victims - women and girls - that this directive can prevent. Vote for me, please.

Madam President, indeed, the first report on the EU’s climate resilience is very clear: Europe is not prepared for the rapid increase in climate risks. We are the continent of the world that is warming the most, which affects our energy system, our food system, our ecosystems, our water resources, the health and future of our citizens and even the stability of the financial system. Many of these risks are already at a critical level, but failure to act urgently and forcefully can have catastrophic effects for millions of European citizens, especially in southern Europe, where I come from. That is why, Commissioner, I ask you, on behalf of all European citizens, to assume that this is not the time to lower our climate ambition. This is not the time to reverse environmental protection measures and policies. Let us not allow political interests of some parties for the next elections to put the interest and future of future generations at stake.

Mr President, International Labour Organisation Convention No 190 recognises the universal right to a world of work free from violence. A right that is still a mirage in the European Union, since a third of women who have suffered sexual harassment and violence have suffered them in their workplace. However, to date, only seven Member States have ratified this Convention. This is unacceptable. To the 20 Member States that have not yet done so, this Parliament sends a clear message today. The time for excuses is up. Comply with their responsibility and ratify the Convention. It is a powerful tool to fight gender-based violence. It is a powerful message for young Europeans. In the European Union, 42% of young women under the age of 30 have experienced gender-based violence and sexual harassment in their workplace. We all have a responsibility: Governments, employers and workers. We must join forces so that, effectively, the world of work is free of violence.

Mr President, I believe that, for the most part, there is broad agreement in this House to give consent to a good agreement which, rather than a trade agreement, is indeed a political cooperation agreement. We have heard here from the extreme right and the extreme left exactly the same arguments of an identity nationalism that, of course, supports a populism that is contrary to the shared values of the European Union and Chile. Shared values such as multilateralism, sustainable trade and human rights. I would also like to point out, out of respect for the great country with which we signed this agreement, that it has been signed and negotiated with all the guarantees and is a commitment of the country of Chile - as we have spoken, Madam Ambassador, on many occasions -, started its negotiation with Bachelet, continued with Piñera and ended with the Boric government. It would therefore also require more respect for certain interventions. In any case, we have not heard much in this rostrum about the message to be sent to working, self-employed men and women and members of small and medium-sized European companies who, after the signing of this agreement, will have a much easier time entering into commercial relations with Chilean companies and, on the contrary, will be able to import or export goods or services more easily and invest better. European and Chilean large and small companies will also be able to work and invest together. This is the essence of a trade agreement within a large political agreement. That is why, as it is a political agreement, of course, this agreement effectively respects the basic principles of two great democracies. Respects human rights, very high labor standards and environmental standards. Therefore, I ask you to do nothing but what must be done today: take a step forward and vote and give your consent.

Mr President, today marks a milestone with the approval and consent of the European Parliament of the new Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and Chile. It will be the first free trade agreement with Latin America approved during this mandate. This agreement is a true example of the realization of our commitment to strengthen political, commercial and social ties with the region and, in particular, with a country as important as Chile. This new agreement comes 20 years after the signing of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Chile in 2002, since just over a year ago, in December 2022, the European Union and Chile closed the agreement for this new advanced cooperation framework. It is a historic agreement, let me say so, of great geopolitical importance, as the European Union and Chile are going to take their partnership to the next level: a reinforced level of political dialogue, deepening cooperation and fostering new investment and trade opportunities. The provisions of this agreement create strengthened trade relations and, more importantly, promote very high standards of environmental and labour protection, with special emphasis on sustainable development and the European Union's investment in renewable energy. All this happens in a context in which the European Union aspires to growth based on the green development agenda, the digital agenda and the social agenda and, for this, we must look for the right partners and, without any doubt, Chile is. I would like to point out some truly innovative aspects of this new Advanced Framework Agreement. Firstly, for the European Union it will be the first trade agreement with a chapter on trade and gender equality. I say for the European Union, not for Chile, because Chile aims to facilitate the participation of women in trade and has promoted the inclusion of specific provisions in this regard in other agreements with other countries, such as Argentina, Canada and Uruguay. But the European Union and Chile are committed to the effective implementation of the Istanbul Convention, not to weaken or reduce the levels of protection of equality laws and we point to gender equality as one of the priority areas for sharing information and joint initiatives. Another truly important and innovative element is the Sustainable Food Systems chapter, which is also the first of its kind in a trade agreement and has the common objective of making our food supply chains a much more sustainable and resilient instrument. Faced with this major challenge, we are committed to joint initiatives to improve animal welfare, phasing out the use of antimicrobials and increased cooperation in reducing food waste, pesticides and fertilisers. Another key element is the fight against climate change and this agreement is a clear example of this. Both Chile and the European Union are committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and promoting the energy transition. I would like to point out that this is very important, but, in addition, we cannot forget that Chile is only part of Annex II to the Paris Agreement and does not actually have any reduction targets associated with it. However, the country has made a commitment to address the fight against climate change in the protection of biodiversity and emission reductions in its bilateral and international relations. And this is a sample of it. On the other hand, we know that Chile has enormous potential for renewable energies and the joint commitment of the European Union in this regard with Chile is clear. Recently, the European Union launched a €225 million green hydrogen initiative to support precisely this energy transition in the country. In conclusion, I would like to point out that this agreement establishes elements to overcome trade barriers that disproportionately affect SMEs and is an instrument that really favors the exchange of small and medium-sized enterprises, both European and Chilean. I hope that today the decision of this Parliament will be to give its consent to this new Advanced Framework Agreement for cooperation because, of course, it is the right path that we must follow.

Mr President, Commissioner, I was at the Rafah border crossing. What we could see and hear there was the smell and horror of genocide. If it were not, a new word would have to be invented to describe what was happening there, but the International Court of Justice had said that it was plausible that genocide was being committed and the precautionary measures imposed on Israel were legally binding. Can you tell me whether the Commission is considering any measures to enforce these interim measures of the International Court of Justice against Israel? We also know that false accusations against UNRWA are part of the Israeli government's strategy to prevent humanitarian aid from entering and distributing it. Can you answer me, Commissioner, if there is any evidence of Israel's latest accusation regarding the involvement of UNRWA workers? And can you also confirm to me, Commissioner, whether, knowing that UNRWA is irreplaceable - there is no agency that can replace it - the Commission will disburse the corresponding 82 million aid before the end of February?

Mr. President, 6 containers of the vessel Toconao, 1,050 bags, each with 25 kilos of pellets. This is an environmental tragedy, but it is not an isolated case: We know that between 52 000 and 184 000 tonnes of pellets are dumped into the environment in the European Union every year. That is why, Commissioner, it is absolutely necessary for the pellet regulation to include the maritime transport of pellets within its scope. We need a European law that imposes clear obligations on economic operators and carriers to prevent the loss of these pellets. But we also need, Commissioner, a law that establishes a clear protocol of how the 27 Member States must act so that it does not happen, for example, what has happened in Spain, where, since 8 December, we do not know exactly what the Spanish Government has done to prevent these pellets from reaching the coast and where the regional governments are wondering whether the pellets are toxic or not. They are plastics that are drowning our oceans. Really, this political battle is not worth it. Elections galegas They will pass, but plastics will remain in our seas and on our shores.

– Madam President, the proportions of the humanitarian situation in Sudan are dramatic and alarming. That is why today, in this resolution, we recall that more than 18 million people are food insecure in Sudan and, of them, 5 million are in a situation of alarm. More than 7.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes from violence and conflict. We are facing the world's largest forced child displacement crisis. Today, in this resolution, we call on the parties to the conflict to respect civilians, to respect humanitarian law and to cease violence against humanitarian workers. We call on the Commission to increase emergency funding to address the critical humanitarian situation in Sudan and we also call for sanctions against those responsible for attacks on the civilian population.

Madam President, more than seven million children are deprived of their liberty in the world. Many of them are held in adult centres, where they are subjected to all kinds of risks and abuses. More and more children stop in the world, younger and longer. To deprive a child of liberty is to deprive him of his childhood, it is to subject him to structural violence. This clearly violates the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. By adopting this report, this Parliament is committed to calling on the international community to be able to prevent this situation. There must be alternative measures to the deprivation of liberty of minors. I would like to thank all the rapporteurs from all the political groups for the commitment to take this report forward. I ask for your vote. Today, if we adopt this report, we are sending a message to millions of children: Your life, your childhood and your freedom matter to us.

Mr. President, the elections in Guatemala were flawless, they were clean. Citizens were able to freely and democratically manifest their will at the polls. This was verified by the European Union observation mission and other international observation missions and, most importantly, by the Guatemalan institution responsible for these elections, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, whose members are now being persecuted and subjected to repression by Guatemalan judicial institutions. I would like to point out that we have already seen that a coup d'état was under way after the first round and the international community was able to prevent it. But this coup d'état seems to be consummating. Today, from this rostrum, I also want to make a very clear appeal to President Giammattei. He has to take the necessary steps to restore constitutional order in his country and he has to favor and allow President-elect Arévalo to take office on January 14. It has to act, because if it were not to collaborate with what Consuelo Porras and Rafael Curruchiche are orchestrating, they are instrumentalizing Justice to turn it into an instrument of the coup d'état.

Mr President, indeed, one more year we are meeting here to talk about a terrible drama, which is violence against women and girls in the world and a cruel reality in our space in the European Union. According to the latest data we have, 50 women are killed every week in the European Union. We knew we needed a directive to fight gender-based violence. Today I honestly thought that on this lectern all our speeches were going to be to celebrate that we had this directive. We cannot do this because of a reality that must be denounced today in this Parliament: because there is no political will in the Council to make progress on this directive. They're all obstacles. There is a major problem, which is to include rape in the list of crimes. And you have to do it. I also want to be very clear today, here. This Parliament is not going to say yes to a directive that does not treat rape as a crime within it. We are not going to do it for many reasons, but there is one very important one: because we would be defrauding millions of women in Europe, millions of women's organisations who have been fighting for this directive for a long time and we cannot offer them an empty directive where Member States are not going to change any of their laws to protect them more, where they refuse to include violence and make any changes to their internal regimes. We want a directive to protect women's lives and, if we do not get it, the message to the Council is clear: We will not say yes to that directive.

Mr President, today there is a glimmer of hope with the release of Israeli hostages and a four-day ceasefire. But we all know that this is clearly insufficient. What is happening in Gaza is terrible: Gaza today is a grave in which more than 16,000 bodies lie, and I want to say that we are not doing everything we must to prevent this humanitarian catastrophe. The European Union would not allow any other country that was violating the basic rules of international law, the protection of civilians, the protection of humanitarian personnel, the protection of the press, the prohibition of attacks on hospitals... International Humanitarian Law and its enforcement is what divides democratic countries from autocratic regimes and terrorist organizations. Our double wand of measuring the defense of human rights, of international law, in this conflict is insufferable. And it's going to take its toll on us. It will take its toll on the necessary role that the European Union has to play in the solution of peace, which is none other than the two-state solution.

Mr President, today marks 601 days since the start of Putin's criminal war in Ukraine and the situation of Ukrainian refugees cannot be forgotten. In particular, the reality experienced by refugee women and girls. As we know, displacement increases the risks to them. One in twenty-two Ukrainian refugee women has been victims of sexual harassment, one in fifty of physical violence. And the data we have on sexual violence is tremendous. We know that things are not being done very well in the European Union when these refugee women do not have access to sexual and reproductive health services. In Ukraine, abortion is legal. If they request it, they are entitled to it during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. But the reality is that many Ukrainian women do not have access to these services in Poland, in Hungary, and they have to return to the country at war to be able to access these services. We need to do more, Commissioner. We need to make a review for proper implementation of Article 13(2) and (4) of the Temporary Protection Directive for adequate medical care. We need to review our strategies with the Member States and, of course, we need to prevent a Ukrainian woman who has been subjected to sexual violence as a weapon of war from being forced to return to the battlefield in order to receive assistance.

Mr. President, death, torture and abuse are the faces of this Taliban regime. Since taking power, there have been more than 800 extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and ill-treatment documented by the United Nations. Not to mention the living hell in which Afghan women and girls subjected to the cruelest gender apartheid known in the world live. In the face of this suffering, we can and must do more. We must hold these criminals accountable to international justice. We need to increase our humanitarian aid. The humanitarian situation is a catastrophe. We must – all Member States – give more humanitarian visas to people fleeing this hell, especially women. The Afghan people are resisting. Opposition exists. Please, let's not turn our backs on them.

Madam President, the players of the Spanish national football team have had to win a World Cup for the world to hear them. They had raised their voices many times because they had been living for years in a situation of discrimination, of vexatious treatment contrary to the professional dignity of sport and also personal. Therefore, what was seen in the celebration of the World Cup was not an isolated event, it was the end of what they had been living. The difference is that it was watched by millions of viewers. Look, if the political leaders in Spain of football had acted earlier, Rubiales would not have resigned, he would have been dismissed and this would not have happened. Rubiales' non-consensual kiss to Jennifer Hermoso is in the hands of the courts. The future football triumphs of these champions are on their feet, but the responsibility for this not happening again is also in this Parliament. This shirt is the shirt of the women's soccer team signed by several commissioners, by colleagues from all democratic parliamentary groups. It is a support to say loud and clear: zero tolerance for discrimination and sexual violence in sport.

Madam President, what is happening in Guatemala is the illicit and abusive use that the Public Ministry and some members of the judiciary are making, using judicial measures, to annul the electoral result freely manifested by Guatemalan citizens. I was also in the elections in Guatemala and had the opportunity to observe how the candidate and today elected president, whom I congratulate, Bernardo Arévalo, achieved a clear victory, bringing together 60.9% of the votes in the framework of a clean, transparent and legitimate electoral process, observed also by the international community. And despite this, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, the highest electoral authority in Guatemala, is being harassed and threatened by a prosecutor's office, by Attorney General Consuelo Porras, by the anti-corruption prosecutor, Mr Curruchiche - some of these prosecutors included in the Engel List of the United States - to prevent the result, the will of the people of Guatemala, from actually bearing the fruit of legitimate elections. From the European Union we will support the people of Guatemala and the democracy of Guatemala.

Mr President, our first words today are of solidarity with the victims of these disasters. Morocco, Libya, Europe (Greece...). The summer of 2023 has been a season of record temperature increases, the hottest summer on a global scale. The Mediterranean Sea reaches its highest temperature ever recorded, 28.71 °C, and Greece's DANA has caused more water to fall in two days than in the last three years. Europe is an area at risk of natural disasters. Climate change is caused by global warming and we indeed need a European plan for prevention, adaptation, mitigation and resilience to cope with these changes. But we have to keep in mind that the best resilience, the best response to natural disasters is to achieve a more resilient nature. Restoring nature is a fundamental objective of this plan. This is not the time to call for moratoriums on our Green Deal measures. It is time to accelerate them, along with increased investment in prevention, to curb these disasters.

Madam President, today we are presenting this report, which is absolutely necessary in order to deepen relations between the European Union and the Palestinian Authority. It makes recommendations to the Palestinian Authority to strengthen democracy, respect human rights, fight corruption and immediately hold elections. But we do so in the context of a military occupation, living in Palestine, which every day seems more and more like an illegal annexation of the territory that, as you know, clearly puts at risk the two-state solution. That is why I ask you to support the report and I ask you to reject the ECR and ID amendments, which deny this reality and impose their political agenda which, on the other hand, is increasingly similar to that of the ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious groups that make up the Government of Israel. The Commission has not found any evidence of diversion of European funds to terrorist organisations. The Commission has found no evidence of hatred in textbooks used in Palestinian schools. The 27 Member States have disavowed Várhelyi for the temporary suspension of funds, which has caused a devastating humanitarian situation, because the Palestinian population lives in this situation.

Mr President, outside this House, the nature restoration law has a lot of support. The entire scientific community says it's necessary. Like large companies, renewable energy companies, our citizens, young people, the Committee of the Regions, mayors, presidents of regions and the Council, the majority of the Council. So, the problem is here, it's in this House. There are no arguments to oppose the restoration of more than 80% of our ecosystems, which are in a deplorable state. The proof that there are no arguments is that there is no Weber today. Theirs are the fake news, not argument and debates. Ladies and gentlemen, we must ensure that tomorrow there is a mandate for this law to enter into trilogues. Our growth will depend on it. This law does not prevent economic activities. What he is telling us is that it is necessary that our way of production coexists in a sustainable way with the maintenance of our ecosystems. This law does not undermine food security, when 70% of European agricultural soils are in a process of continuous erosion. This law not only affects scrublands, it not only affects biodiversity, it affects the rights, the rights of today's citizens and those of tomorrow. It is often said that to act we need more scientific evidence. Scientific evidence is what's left over. Political courage, what's missing. Mrs. Aubry, don't be confused as an enemy. Tomorrow, the commitment of my group, of Renew, is essential for this law to go ahead.

Mr President, it will be two years since we adopted the last sanctions against the Ortega Murillo regime. And in these two years things have only worsened dramatically, as the first report of the Group of Experts on Human Rights on Nicaragua points out. A systematic and widespread cruelty that can constitute crimes against humanity. It has already been said, more than 316 people, political opponents, have been sentenced to "civil death". It's terrible what's going on. That is why we need to do more and in this resolution we call for it. We need to adopt more sanctions. Ortega and the judges who are issuing these sentences clearly contrary to the highest principles of human rights must be punished. The avenues of universal jurisdiction in the countries of the European Union must be opened to put an end to the impunity of these dictators. And the summit of the European Union and CELAC has to pronounce itself concretely on the violation of human rights in Nicaragua.

Mr President, the vote on this directive on corporate sustainability due diligence is an unprecedented moment, because it lays down binding obligations and has a scope that is unparalleled at the global level. I, today, would like to call on all Members to support this directive and to vote against the amendments. That they support it, because it is a step forward towards honesty and coherence of the values that we claim to represent, so that, effectively, these values are respected. It is a very important step for the victims of disasters such as those in Bangladesh or Brumadinho, and for their families. Families seeking truth and justice, to which this Directive guarantees access and, also, the right of non-repetition. Vote in favour, because the majority of European citizens – more than 76% – want it. Let them vote in favour, because the majority of European companies want it, because the majority of European companies act with due diligence and we have to ensure that those that do not do so do so. For who we are, for the defence of human rights and the environment.

Mr. President, how to imagine greater horror in a country that is the country with the highest number of executions of women, torture and murder in the world. Yes, an action unprecedented in its magnitude and nature; the most criminal attack on girls and students we have ever known: massive poisoning. And Iran's health minister indicated on February 26 that it is a mild poison. We cannot rely on any internal investigation of this country. We need an international investigation. Afghan women created a slogan that has crossed borders: "woman, life, freedom". But more than words are expected of us. Really strong actions are expected: Emergency visas, more opportunities for European integration, support to connect Iranian women in the diaspora – numbering more than 4 million – with women resisting inside the country. Because it is not true, as the autocratic regime says, that it is them or chaos. No, Iran has the right to a real democratic transition.

Madam President, frankly, I cannot believe that neither the Council nor the Commission condemned what happened yesterday here in the European Union: An activist was convicted for the first time in decades in Europe for helping a woman exercise her right to abortion. It's unbearable, Commissioner. "They want to silence us, make us invisible, frighten us so that we leave our activity": These are Justyna's words. Silence is the greatest accomplice to violence. Today a Member State wants to gag its citizens so that they do not denounce the violation of their rights. Poland needs a clear reaction that neither the Council nor the Commission has had today, but it will have it from this Parliament. There is no vibrant democracy, no possibility of democracy with gagged citizens. This is not possible, Commissioner.

Madam President, Simone de Beauvoir said that a political, economic or religious crisis was enough for women's rights to be questioned again and that they could never be taken for granted. Unfortunately, he was right. Today we realize: in so many places, in Iran, Afghanistan, the United States, and here, within our borders, in Poland, where yesterday a woman activist was condemned precisely for helping others to exercise their right to abortion. It is an honour to have people like Shirin Ebadi, who today remind us again in this House of the cry of woman, life and freedom. The cry of millions of women to a regime that has killed thousands of women and poisoned 7,000 students and is the first country in the world to execute women. We must remember Afghan women who live in a real apartheid and we have to do a lot for them. Above all, not recognizing the criminal regimes that oppress them. It is also an honor to be able to be with women like Samantha, because education is the most powerful engine for equality. In a sector where 90% of astronauts are men, she changes the narrative of stereotypes, gender biases, and sends a message to girls: They can be all they want, they can fulfill all their dreams. But it's also a reminder to us, to know that we have to keep working every day so that all women have access to all rights. You can't ask less of a democracy because women can't expect less. That is why we must continue to work on the directive on combating gender-based violence, which comes late, when 50 women are murdered, victims of violence in the European Union, and on equal pay, equal representation. Today is a day to remember that no right to equality can be taken for granted.