Speeches

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, an effective climate strategy is based on two pillars: mitigation and adaptation. For many years, we’ve focus our policies on mitigating the effects of the climate change. We were convinced to have enough time to avoid drastic consequences. We did not pay enough attention to the consequences that climate change was already having, and the need to address them. With the Green Deal and the related legislation that we have adopted so far, the EU is leading the world in the fight against climate change, but mainly on mitigation. However, science is showing us that what we have done so far is not enough. Mitigation must continue, but we must adapt more rapidly, especially in southern Europe, islands, coastal areas and outermost regions. Phenomena like extreme heatwaves, intensive floods, severe droughts are intensifying their frequencies. We need concrete actions, bigger financial support and a coordinated approach to equip our society and prepare our ecosystem to face what has become unavoidable.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, Dear Colleagues, the European Artificial Intelligence Act is a world-first legislative initiative. It is based on strong ethical principles, transparency and reliability. With this legislation, we can more safely exploit the enormous potential of artificial intelligence, but we need to create the ecosystem that will power this use. Currently, I have in hand the report on the Artificial Intelligence Factories initiative. This initiative aims to create a supercomputer-based infrastructure dedicated to AI applications, promote scientific research and the development of the necessary skills. I hope that, for the remainder of this parliamentary term, we will also be able to approve this very important initiative to put Europe at the forefront of artificial intelligence.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, half of European women have already experienced some form of harassment. This scourge is also common in workplaces, where it is a severe form of gender-based discrimination – yet another form of discrimination, alongside known inequalities in pay and access to leadership positions. The International Labour Organization’s 2019 Convention 190 is the first international treaty to recognise the right to work in an environment free from harassment and violence. The European Union and the Member States individually support the principles of this Treaty. However, despite this, only seven Member States have ratified it so far. It is time to correct this serious flaw. The European Union has an obligation to set a good example for the world.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, Dear Colleagues, in the European Union, buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. This Directive is therefore of great importance for the climate transition and is also key to tackling energy poverty and ensuring thermal comfort for Europeans. In Portugal, people still die because of the cold. Many homes are degraded and poorly isolated. We must not waste this opportunity. The text we are going to vote on has been much improved compared to the original proposal. Member States now have the flexibility to define plans tailored to their specific needs. It is important that these plans translate into opportunities for national and local economies, employment, the use of locally sourced materials, the upskilling of construction and related workers. And the public sector and the financial sector need to be involved in the investments to be made. We have a big task ahead of us, but it's a worthwhile one, because it will result in less emissions, more comfort, more health and more beauty for our beautiful cities.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, Dear Colleagues, we have had a great deal of discussion about cybersecurity, technologies, processes and measures to prevent cybercrime. We do not talk so much about what happens when these barriers are insufficient – the huge waste of time and money caused by these attacks. In Portugal, cyber-attacks increased by 23%, starting to seriously compromise the security of business and other companies’ systems and data. Cyber-resilience means precisely the ability to keep systems operational, with minimal impact on their efficiency, when the unexpected happens – not only cyber-attacks, but also other unforeseen ones, such as natural disasters. The text we are about to adopt seeks to establish this complementarity between cybersecurity and cyber resilience. The proposal strikes the right balance between the proposed objectives and the concern to avoid an administrative burden, in particular for SMEs and software. open source for commercial use. Law enforcement, within three years, gives companies the time to prepare.

Madam President, thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your contributions. I do not have much more to add to what I have said and what has been debated here. However, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to completing the review of this regulation in such a short time: colleagues and especially shadow rapporteurs for good cooperation; the Council, in particular the Spanish Presidency; to the European Commission, in the person of Commissioner Kadri Simson; and to DG Energy, for always being available to dialogue with us. The technical teams, all of them, and in particular the advisers and assistants of the European Parliament, and my assistant who coordinated the technical work in my office, Andrea Leonardelli. Everyone has done a remarkable job in a short time, in a report that is extremely technical and demanding. I am convinced that the fruit of this work will ensure greater transparency in a sector that is so important to our economy and I believe that European consumers, all consumers, individuals and businesses, will thus be better protected. I can only hope that both the European Commission and the Member States will be quick to implement what remains to be done, because this is very important for the resilience and strategic autonomy of the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, this new regulation on the transparency and integrity of wholesale energy markets, which we are about to adopt, is an important component of the reform of the design of the electricity market. Important, because it reminds us of a fundamental dimension that is trust. Confidence in the markets, confidence in the operators operating in them, both in the energy sector itself and in the financial sector. Confidence of European consumers, individuals and businesses. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the known consequences on energy prices, has made it clear that we need to strengthen the mechanisms that protect us from these crises. REMIT has been a relevant mechanism in preventing attempts to manipulate markets. National regulators have fulfilled their role, as attested by the many cases of violation of this regulation in which they have acted and, where justified, punished offenders. But in the wake of the energy price crisis, weaknesses have been identified that need to be overcome. Among them, legal loopholes that were exploited and also some overlapping of standards, difficulties to articulate the investigation in certain cases, notably in transnational cases. In order to overcome these shortcomings and weaknesses, I have sought, as rapporteur, to introduce amendments guided by three fundamental and guiding principles, a stronger European dimension, legislative coherence and transparency and a strengthened market. In the negotiations with the Council it was possible to reach an understanding covering all these areas. Among the progress achieved, I would like to mention, in the European dimension, a strengthening of the powers of the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, ACER. The criterion for identifying cross-border cases that can be investigated has been modified. So far these cases would have to involve at least three Member States, now the minimum will be two. But ACER also sees its research capacity strengthened, allowing it to trigger and conduct investigative processes. In addition, it may impose financial penalties on operators who do not cooperate with its efforts. At the same time, we also strengthen national regulators. In terms of legislative coherence and transparency, we have achieved better alignment of energy market definitions to avoid overlaps and administrative burden. Appropriate integration has been made of other relevant rules, notably the provision on liquefied natural gas, which were adopted in a transitional manner during the crisis. When it comes to strengthening the market, we have cut red tape, secured adequate access for third-country actors and protected investments, which will only be made public when it is clear that this information could affect the market. I could add a lot more, but it is time to give the floor to my colleagues and start this debate, which I hope will be enlightening for all of us.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, gender equality, the empowerment of women in all sectors of society and the economy is a matter of concern to all. Tackling social inequality and the increased risk of poverty linked to gender should be a foreign policy concern for the European Union, including in the framework of the United Nations, but it should also be a priority at home. The risk of poverty in the European Union is higher among women and this trend has been accentuated in the pandemic years. We also know from a number of studies that ensuring gender equality in the labour market would have very positive impacts on our economy, notably by increasing GDP. per capita of the European Union between 6% and 9% and creating around 10 million additional jobs for the Union. Promoting the inclusion of women in sectors where they are underrepresented, such as the digital economy, energy, the fight against climate change, is not only a moral imperative, but also a necessity. These are sectors in which we have a shortage of qualified resources. It makes no sense for us to continue to disperse our human capital.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Internet is increasingly a place where young people interact, play, learn and discover. In this space rich in opportunities, the dangers are also abundant. These include cyberbullying, exposure to illegal content and attempts at manipulation and indoctrination. We know that social media is a preferred stage for those who are dedicated to promoting hate speech. They are used as a spotlight by extremists and populists in several countries. These are starting to attract young electorates through these platforms. The Internet should be a space that tends to be free, but safe, through the Digital Services Act. The European Union has pioneered the adoption of a regulation that seeks to address these challenges, including by banning advertising targeting minors, making the use of sensitive data such as sexual orientation, religion and ethnicity illegal, imposing fines on large platforms, imposing the removal of content and ultimately suspending services. But we must stand ready to act to prevent and combat abuse.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, drought and water scarcity are not a passing problem. We have more than enough scientific evidence that they stem from climate change and will tend to become more pronounced in the future, especially in the countries of southern Europe, particularly in Portugal. Unfortunately, in view of all these facts, several Member States are slow to take the necessary measures, measures aimed at saving, reusing water and also, where appropriate, resorting to solutions such as desalination. In my country, despite numerous appeals, the incumbent government has never put forward concrete measures for this problem. Instead of acting, it simply reacts to crises. This is what you are doing now, in the face of a severe drought in the Algarve region, which threatens agricultural production, tourism and urban supply itself. At European Union level too, we need to study this phenomenon better and find solutions. We need a European water strategy. We need more science and innovation in this area. And that is why I have been striving for the creation of a knowledge and innovation community within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, dedicated to the study of water. An initiative in which, I hope, my country, Portugal, will play an important role.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, until the beginning of 2000, the European Union was the world leader in the production of solar panels and their components. Today, this control belongs to China and China's quasi-monopoly position in this market poses real risks to our energy transition goals. We have very ambitious targets for solar. We want to triple the production capacity of this energy by 2030 compared to 2022. But if we want to lead the energy transition, we have to be more autonomous in the production capacity of the necessary components. We cannot allow the same thing to happen with solar energy as with natural gas from Russia. Dependence on third countries, which are our competitors in the economy and with which we have political differences, is a risk that we cannot take again. We must diversify supply chains, exponentially increase our own production capacity. The Net-Zero Industry Act sets the target that by 2030 at least 40% of the components of solar panels we use will be produced in the European Union. But we are only six years away from this deadline and the reality of the figures shows us that we are no closer to the goal. It is therefore urgent that we take action, that we strengthen investments and commitments, so that we do not regret in the future what we have stopped doing today.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, protecting the ocean must be a priority for the European Union. But protecting is much more than forbidding. In the maritime sector, as in all others, successful environmental protection is based on cooperation. It is by involving all actors, including businesses, local communities – often dependent on the resources we want to preserve – that sustainable change is achieved; creating alternatives rather than simply closing doors; by making companies and people agents of change, rather than targets to be shot; It always decides on the basis of solid scientific evidence and not on the basis of ideologies or states of mind. Environmental and economic sustainability are not competing concepts – on the contrary. The best way to protect and preserve is by demonstrating the added value of this action for our planet, but also for people's daily lives.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, geothermal energy is a renewable energy with unique characteristics. It allows for continuous and reliable production. It can be used in the production of electricity, directly for district heating, or in industrial processes. It is a resource of great value, particularly for some remote and outermost regions. In the Autonomous Region of the Azores, in Portugal, it is estimated that close to 60% of electricity needs will be covered by existing geothermal plants still in this decade. But it is also a resource that can benefit Europe as a whole. The untapped potential is immense. Even, for example, Italy, the largest producer in the European Union, still uses only a small fraction of its capacity. I would like to welcome the rapporteur for this report and I support the call for the European Commission to promote a comprehensive mapping of the potential of geothermal energy in the European Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union's external dependence on critical raw materials is an obstacle to our future. We need to harness the resources we have by removing bureaucratic barriers to responsible and sustainable mining. This Critical Raw Materials Act is a step in the right direction. At the same time, at Member State level, it is crucial that processes are conducted in a transparent manner, involving local authorities, people and the social fabric of business in the decisions that are taken. In Portugal – my country – unfortunately, the incumbent government has opted for an opaque strategy in relation to the exploitation of lithium and the consequences, as would be expected, have been very negative. The public interest is not defended by acting outside the public interest.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in our efforts to decarbonise the European economy, we must always bear in mind that the choice of energy mix is a matter for each Member State. But if there is technology with the potential to produce clean energy in a safe and affordable way for consumers, this technology should be considered in the equation. This is the essence of the principle of technological neutrality that the European People's Party respects and defends. Personally, I do not see nuclear as the best option for my country, Portugal. But in terms of innovation, the sector has taken important steps, especially with regard to SMRs. The idea dates back to the 1950s, but it was only in recent years that technological advances made it possible to consider them as a viable solution. Existing prototypes are encouraging, especially in terms of safety, waste reduction and efficiency. We still need more scientific research and technological development to improve economic viability and design. In addition, a great deal of regulatory work and development of standards at international level is needed. European companies can play an important role in this technology, which could also help third countries to reduce the environmental impact on energy production.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, young researchers are faced with a very demanding reality, working in precarious conditions, and often forced to leave their countries in search of opportunities. All of this is leading the European Union to a situation in which talent is being wasted or lost to other economies. Their situation got worse in recent years. The COVID-19 crisis has hit many young researchers, who faced worse conditions, funding problems and reduced access to laboratories and other essential facilities. In fact, the mentioned problems were the subject of an ‘Open letter on behalf of young researchers’ sent to the European Commission during the pandemic, of which I was one of the subscribers, together with many colleagues. The European Commission’s own communication on a new European Research Area for Research and Innovation identifies a series of problems holding back the careers of young researchers, in particular in terms of access to employment. A significant imbalance exists between the growing number of PhD graduates and the small number of positions, especially in public science systems. On the other hand, in another communication, on Harnessing Talent in Europe’s Regions, the Commission highlights the talent development trap in European regions suffering from demographic decline and a stagnant share of the population in higher education, and the significant departure of young people from such regions. I could go on quoting other documents from the different stakeholders, mentioning these and the other issues, such as the gender imbalance in access to many different fields, or the rise of the cost of living and its impact on young researchers. However, I believe this introduction is enough to establish a general picture of what we are facing. At the same time, the solutions are clear. Part of the responsibility belongs to Member States, and the time has come for them to reinforce strategies aiming at absorbing, in universities, public and private institutions, the young researchers that we are training. The EU shares responsibility in several areas and, in fact, has been following this subject quite closely. Different European Parliament resolutions on this subject have offered concrete solutions, notably the European Parliament resolution of 11 November 2021 on the European Education Area, that stressed the importance of more research and training opportunities for young researchers across Europe, as well as the mutual recognition of diplomas and qualifications that can facilitate the career of the young researchers in Europe. I believe that we can all agree that the European funding for research and innovation activities needs to be adjusted, not just in terms of total amounts, but also of the duration of certain programmes and grants, in order to offer more promising, more long-term career prospects for young researchers. The European Union should further promote cooperation in human capital development, especially through researchers’ training and mobility schemes, in particular the Marie Curie Actions. The need to increase women’s participation in STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – is also clearly identified, as is the need to improve the attractiveness of research careers in social science and humanities, which suffer the most from funding shortfalls in many Member States. Therefore, dear Commissioner, considering that there is a general agreement on what the problems are, and what the solutions could be implemented, and considering that preventing the brain drain of our brilliant young minds is key for the future of the European Union, I would like to ask you, what specific measures is the European Commission planning to take in order to change the current status quo for young researchers?

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, since the beginning of this year 15 women have been killed in my country by their current or former comrades. Last year there were 22 femicides in the context of existing or past intimate relationships. These figures, which embarrass me, are not unique to Portugal. Violence against women in various forms remains entrenched in several Member States. We must act together to solve a problem that belongs to everyone. The European Union is much more than an economic bloc. Promoting the well-being of its citizens is an objective enshrined in the Treaties, such as combating discrimination in all forms and promoting equality between men and women. Gender-based violence has no place in this common space that we share. Complacency with violence against women is not acceptable either within our borders or in our relations with third countries. These principles must be absolutely clear to everyone. In February of this year, the Council finally approved the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on Combating Violence Against Women. But it is imperative that all 27 Member States, without exceptions, do the same and it is imperative that we adopt a directive criminalising all forms of violence against women, including rape based on lack of consent. It is not enough to proclaim our values. We have a moral obligation to apply them and to hold accountable those who do not respect them. Silence and inaction are forms of complicity with violence.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, for the European Union the green transition is not only a strategy to combat climate change, it is also our growth agenda for the coming decades. It focuses on the objectives of job creation, wealth, strategic autonomy and competitiveness in global chess. If we are to succeed on this path, it is essential that we ensure that the European Union is self-sufficient in the development and production of so-called essential technologies. In particular, those connected to energy, a key pillar of the green transition, such as renewable energy technologies, electrolysers and fuel cells, carbon capture and storage and utilisation, electricity grid technologies, among many other technologies. We will only succeed in the fight against climate change by ensuring the success of the energy transition, not only by replacing fossil fuels, but also with very significant gains in energy efficiency. And we will only make this transition by supporting our industry with particular attention to small and medium-sized enterprises. I want to congratulate my colleague Christian Ehler on the excellent report on the Net-Zero Industry Act, which is built on these principles and puts us on the right track to achieve our goals.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we have seen a lot of progress in the energy sector. We have reduced the total consumption of natural gas, the European Union has freed itself from Russia's dependence on pipeline gas and oil, we have broken records in the installed capacity of solar photovoltaic energy. We have managed to revise a very significant set of directives and regulations in the energy sector, notably the Renewable Energy Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive. We are currently in the final stages of negotiating the electricity market design and REMIT, aimed at combating manipulations in the energy market. But we can't assume we did everything right. At the supplier level, in particular for liquefied natural gas, the rules continued to be circumvented. We cannot accept these practices. That is why I included liquefied natural gas in the REMIT report on monitoring energy market manipulation.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, there is an urgent need to restore the culture of production in Europe and our industrial autonomy. In particular, we need to invest in critical and emerging bio, digital and energy technologies. This is a fact that has been well demonstrated in the recent crises we are experiencing. The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) will be the Union’s instrument to mobilise the necessary funds to achieve these objectives. It is undoubtedly a step in the right direction towards a more internationally competitive Europe and an industry better prepared for the challenges of our times and the future. I am concerned, however, that this is an initiative based mainly on existing funding lines. The Commission proposes only EUR 10 billion of the estimated EUR 160 billion of investment, this additional EUR 10 billion. To this EUR 10 billion, the European Parliament is calling for an additional EUR 3 billion. I hope that with this effort the conditions will be created for STEP to be a success. I also hope that this success will not be achieved at the expense of disinvestment in other programmes and, in particular, no budget for science, innovation and technology. Finally, many congratulations to my fellow rapporteurs José Manuel Fernandes and Christian Ehler.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, respect for diversity and non-discrimination in any form are the basic principles of the European Union. These principles give rise to clear duties for all those in each Member State who carry out political functions. It is not acceptable for European political parties to link, both domestically and internationally, discriminatory speech by people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is not permissible for governments and legislators of Member States, under the false pretext of defending values, defending traditions, to condition in any form, by action or omission, the rights of the LGBTI community.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, the Energy Charter Treaty is an international trade and investment agreement for the energy sector. It has been important to attract private investment in energy, even more in the current situation. The EU and its Member States were keen to modernise the treaty’s outdated text from the 1990s. Efforts were made to align it with the new approach to investment treaties, as well as the Paris Agreement, in order to support the fight against climate change. Member States met all requirements of the negotiating mandate given by the Council. However, they did not reach the majority needed to ratify the modernised treaty as proposed by the Commission in 2022. As a result, the Commission proposed a coordinated withdrawal by the EU, Euratom and all the Member States. I regret the outcome. I value the efforts made by the Commission and the EU and its Member States to drive the modernisation process of the Energy Charter Treaty, which, if well updated, could be very needed, in particular in terms of investment protection standards as well as on fostering sustainable development. Acceleration in global investments in clean energy is a priority and a modernised treaty would provide the necessary legal framework to boost investments, also in renewable energy. Leaving the treaty without any protection for investments will make it harder for us to turn the page and to do the energy transition and to get out of the energy crisis. And it will deepen the regulatory chaos.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome the announcement of this long-awaited package of measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises in this sector. Now it needs to be adopted quickly. There are several relevant novelties. These include actions related to tax incentives, improved access to finance as well as skilled labour. I would also highlight the actions aimed at reducing the burden of red tape on businesses by 25%. Of course, the regulation to combat late payments to SMEs is very important. The limit indicated in this 30-day proposal is ambitious in view of the current reality, in which the 200 days of delay are easily reached, but it is also possible to achieve and necessary. It is crucial that penalties are sufficient to deter offenders, in particular the state. In my country, Portugal, the State is a bad payer, it has been a failure with impunity and this is suffered by small and medium-sized enterprises, which represent more than 99% of our economy.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, without a real commitment to renewables, the energy transition is not possible. And this revision of the Renewable Energy Directive is proof that we are aware of this and that we are willing to act. The work done by the co-legislators in revising this Directive is remarkable. The amendments introduced are victories for Parliament and I would like to give a very special compliment to the rapporteur, our colleague Markus Pieper. As a result of this work by the European Parliament, we will have an ambitious but realistic directive. The target of 42.5% renewables is binding and can be complemented with an additional 2.5% if conditions allow. In the design of the electricity market, we have also introduced the possibility for these additional 2.5% to be achieved through auctions at European level. I would also stress one fact which is very important to me: the 5% for innovative renewables included in the final text, for example, ocean-based renewables. We are investing in scientific research and innovation, which are essential if we are to make the European Union more competitive on the global stage.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the European economy. They employ 100 million people and account for more than half of the Union's GDP. Most of these companies are small family businesses, businesses that face administrative barriers and costs, including tax costs, much higher than the equivalent elsewhere in the world. European small and medium-sized enterprises are also required to meet the objectives of the twin green and digital transitions. However, support and incentives are scarce. As a result, only 17% of SMEs successfully integrate new technologies into their activities. The European Union cannot be competitive internationally without its small and medium-sized enterprises. It is therefore our responsibility to provide them with the conditions to succeed in this transition, to guarantee them access to digital on equal terms, with particular attention to data, to artificial intelligence, to facilitate strategic alliances and to ensure that the competitiveness factor is pre-checked in our activities and legislative initiatives.