Speeches

We Socialists can be very proud of the balance sheet of the Spanish Presidency, because it has been able to meet its objectives with the adoption of more than 45 legislative files. This is more than the usual average, which highlights our commitment to the major transformations that our Union needs and, in particular, to the reindustrialisation of Europe and the strengthening of its open strategic autonomy, as well as to advancing the green transition and social and economic justice. Pedro Sánchez has once again managed to lead the construction of a more just, more social, more tolerant, more feminist and greener Union, despite the resistance of the right and the extreme right, which only understand the homeland from hatred, lies and disloyalty. In front of the Popular Party and Vox, which have been dedicated throughout this semester to trying to torpedo the execution of the 160 billion of Spain's recovery plan, the Iberian exception and the pension reform, we socialists have successfully promoted an ambitious progressive agenda to improve the lives of our citizens.

Madam President, Madam Vice-President, we Socialists deeply believe in the European social model: social and fiscal justice, wealth redistribution and strong and quality public services. That's the way: ensure, for example, that no child lives in poverty and that housing ceases to be a luxury and becomes a fundamental right. But Europe shows signs of fragility: workers who do not make ends meet, young people without opportunities, families afraid of losing their home... And this is when the extreme right takes the opportunity to sow doubts about the European project and our democratic system – we have already seen it with its questions. And not only does the right not stop it, but it ends up being an accomplice, its white label, defending tax cuts and reductions for the most privileged, which what they do is destroy public systems, as happens in my region, the Balearic Islands, with the Government of the Popular Party of Mrs Prohens. Madam Vice-President, defending democracy and the European project requires measures that integrate, that bring opportunities and rights closer together, and therefore the next anti-poverty strategy must be courageous, consolidate our social model and show that poverty does not take place in Europe.

Madam President, Madam Vice-President Mînzatu, lately we have been talking a lot about defence, and rightly so. However, social cohesion in Europe is also under threat, and the response is not the same. Europe shows critical symptoms of the deterioration of its social welfare and, as a society, we cannot afford to have poor working people or thousands of people without the certainty that tomorrow they will have a roof over their head. Access to decent and affordable housing, housing stability, ending homelessness, protecting tenants from abusive practices and so on are all non-negotiable issues in the new action plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights. Europe has always been a beacon of social well-being, and today more than ever we have to be courageous and take action that restores hope to those who today see and feel that the future is closing to them. Just as Europe is not for sale, neither is social Europe.

Mr President, Commissioner, this summer's extreme heat is not an anecdote, but a real threat hitting millions of people across Europe. It hits workers, who suffer from thermal stress, and entire families, who see their bills skyrocketing because their homes are poorly isolated: Sustainable and efficient housing not only protects the planet, but makes it more affordable, and also saves lives. Denying science, ignoring climate change, not acting in the face of the heat, the denialism promoted by the right... kills. We've seen it this summer: Do you really believe that such denialism protects people, when only one extreme heat wave of this 2025 has claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people in Europe? That is why the Government of Spain proposes this pact for sustainability, and it is urgent to reach an agreement as soon as possible and that is ambitious. Let's be serious. Europe needs urgent responses: investing in sustainable housing, protecting people in their homes and jobs and demonstrating that defending people's health and well-being is above any ideology.