What Tilly spoke about.

Dear President, dear Commissioner, this is a democratic House, so why can we not listen to our citizens? Over 1.5 million people have called for an end to the keeping and the killing of animals for fur, and on a ban on placing fur products on our European market. For months we have been waiting for the Commission to respond, and still nothing. But in the meantime, the EU has opened the door to Rus

Mr President, Commissioner, one in five people in the European Union are now over 65. So, our societies, yes, they are ageing and we need to rethink what this means for people's rights. There is a risk when people are getting older that they are increasingly pushed at the margins of our societies and of public life. This is particularly true when it comes to new challenges like climate change, for

Mr President, dear Commissioner, in yesterday's State of the Union, President von der Leyen told us about how precious water is and that the leaks need to be fixed. Precious for whom? For industry, for farmers, for food security? Yes. But she did not speak about people's fundamental right to have access to clean, toxin-free water. Look, yes, at Gospić in Croatia – thousands of tons of hazardous wa

Mr President, dear Commissioner, the agenda of our plenary weeks can sometimes seem quite absurd. Yesterday, a right‑wing coalition pushed through the Return Regulation – a measure that risks normalising child detention, unsafe returns and violations of fundamental human rights. Today, we stand here debating the International Day of Play and championing children's right to play. The contradiction

First of all, with pleasure, I will send you the recent figures on vegetarianism and people that eat meat. And I'm persuaded – and it's not only me – that in order to survive as farmers we need to go into diversification. Also regarding protein production: that is the future and that is the only one that is sustainable. Do you have the figures for how many farmers today have to give up under the p

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear Christophe, look at me: yes, I'm a vegetarian, and I have been for many years – and yet, I am a healthy woman. And in this report on the future of livestock in Europe, conservatives teamed up with far-right politicians to bash vegetarianism and veganism, claiming it would not be healthy. Intensive livestock farming harms the environment, driving pollution and

Madam President, dear Commissioner, what we are hearing from many colleagues this evening is the result of a sustained and aggressive lobbying. It's deeply shameful that a measure designed to deliver clean water and safeguard public health is being deliberately distorted, simply to protect profit margins from companies that continue to generate billions each year. Industry demanded a reassessment

Madam President, dear CommissionerIn Luxembourg, almost one in five adults is obese. This figure has increased in recent years and continues to increase. It is often said that willpower is enough to fight obesity. Well, no, that's not the case. This is a real public health challenge. Obesity is linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and social inequalities. And we need to focus

Mr President, dear Commissioner, on behalf of the Committee on Public Health, I would like to remind you that Europe's health objectives can only be achieved if we provide the necessary budget. The Commission must by no means lower the level of appropriations for health budget lines in the 2027 budget. The challenges for public health are enormous. We agree this across committees and across this H

Mr President, we must be serious about gender equality. It is a fundamental principle of the European Union, and I want to believe it is a principle we all share. Being serious about gender equality also means being serious about the health of half of the population. Universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, access to safe abortion without discrimination and without exceptions is key

Madam President, Commissioner, only social Europe is a strong Europe. Europe's strength and competitive advantage lie in strong social policies. It's about quality employment. It's about social protection. It's about health. Today, we cannot lose what we have achieved over decades. There is a growing attempt from the right and far right to dismantle social protection and social progress, often bec

Madam President, dear Commissioner, the Critical Medicines Act means more independence, more security and more European cooperation. It will make generic medicines available and it will make innovative medicines cheaper. We will produce more medicines in Europe, we will avoid dependency and we will do this together. The Critical Medicines Act is about more Europe exactly where people need it the m

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, the world around us is changing, often rapidly and often not for better. While Europe is fighting its big economic battles and is facing challenges arising from other world powers, often those overlooked or sacrificed are patients. From the risk of tariffs through global dependency in supply chains to devastating climate change impact, global chang

Madam President, dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, even one animal killed for fur is one too many. But today's debate is not only about animal welfare: it's about public health; it's about the environment; it's about economy. This industry is already collapsing. Citizens are asking for urgent action – and 22 Member States have already taken action through bans or phasing-out. Meanwhile, the indu

Madam President, dear Commissioner, what does it say of our society when 1 in 4 Europeans lives with a disability, yet millions still face discrimination – when fundamental rights like independent living, voting, equal access to healthcare or simply moving freely are still not guaranteed? They are our family members, they are our friends, our colleagues, our neighbours, or just us. Yet, too often

Madam President, Commissioner, one in eight women in Europe will face breast cancer in her lifetime, but early detection can save lives. Screening must be accessible and affordable for all women – not only for those living in cities, but also in rural areas; not only for those who can pay for it, but also for those living in vulnerable conditions. While screening should be available for everyone,

Mr President, dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, almost 300 000 hunting trophies of wild animals listed under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) were imported globally between 2013 and 2023, with hunters killing animals simply for personal glory and the sale of their remains. Let me remind you that in 2022, this Parliament clearly demanded

Mr President, dear Commissioner, mental health is one of Europe's greatest public health challenges today, and it needs urgent action. Mental health is also extremely political, and it needs courageous political solutions. Seventy-five per cent of young people believe that the future is frightening. Just imagine you are a young person in the world today. Your future is full of uncertainty. You str

Madam President, Prime Minister, Commissioner, it is a pleasure to welcome you here to the European Parliament. Today, there has been much talk of competitiveness and administrative simplification for businesses. Yes, let's talk about competitiveness, but in the context of a socially just and environmentally responsible transition. This is essential for the well-being of citizens and fundamental f

Mr President, dear Commissioner, when we speak of dementia, we often hear the numbers – 9.1 million people in Europe living with the condition, projected to rise to more than 14 million by 2040. It is the third leading cause of mortality in Europe. But dementia is not just about statistics, it's about people. It's a grandfather forgetting the faces of his grandchildren, someone who no longer recog

Mr President, Commissioner, heatwaves are caused by climate change. They disturb our lives, our sleep, they are dangerous and often deadly. Among floods, droughts and fires, it is heatwaves that are the most dangerous. I am thinking of many people here: of children, of elderly people, of people with chronic diseases, of people living in overheated apartments. They cannot escape from the heatwaves.

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, today I'm here to speak for millions of women across Europe. Women who have been ignored, misdiagnosed and dismissed for far too long. They are called hypochondriacs, pill poppers, hysterics or attention seekers simply because they are in pain. Real, chronic, paralysing pain. Women with endometriosis are told, that's just the way you are. They are