Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, more than a thousand political prisoners, social violence, 88% of families living in extreme poverty, thousands of Cuban doctors and professionals forcibly working abroad, the systematic and unpunished violation of human rights: that's today's Cuba. Six years after the entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union and Cuba, whose key point was the improvement of human rights on the island, Europe cannot continue with its eyes closed. We need to act: suspend the current Agreement and start a new policy towards the island based on support for civil society and respect for human rights. I want to send my message of support to Cubans struggling to improve the future of their country. You're not alone. We will support you until Cuba is a democratic country.

The next item is the debate on the report by Nacho Sánchez Amor, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2023 (2023/2118(INI)) (A9-0424/2023).

I have a short announcement before we continue with the debates. Pursuant to Rule 241(4) of the Rules of Procedure, I would like to inform you that there was no request to put to the vote the corrigendum from the ITRE Committee, announced in plenary yesterday at the opening of the sitting. The corrigendum is therefore deemed to have been approved.

Mr President, Commissioner, testimonials from many stakeholders, from industry titans, to SMEs, to public utilities that are just trying to navigate the complexities of smart grid implementation, underscore the urgent need for reform of the SEPs landscape. The current system just generates long legal battles and restricts innovation. Our industries suffer from prolonged conflicts over patent values, which hinder progress and investment. The proposed measures offer tangible solutions to these dilemmas. Initiatives such as creating an SEP registry or essentiality checks promise to improve transparency and speed up licensing procedures. The jury report supporting in our IMCO opinion therefore embodies a balanced solution. It champions legal clarity, transparency and fair licensing practices. Europe and a European law must move forward to foster the economic growth we need.

Mr. President, this year's presidential election in Venezuela represents a great hope for all its citizens. We democratic countries have a responsibility to help make this electoral process clean, fair and free. Today we send a clear message. María Corina Machado, leader of the opposition, has full right to go to the polls. There will be no democratic elections without their participation. There will be no democratic elections if political prisoners, persecutions of opponents, human rights defenders and journalists continue. The European Parliament will support María Corina Machado and the Venezuelan democratic forces until the end.

The minutes of this sitting will be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of its next sitting. If there are no objections, I shall forward the resolutions adopted at today’s sitting to the persons and bodies named in the resolutions.

The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission by Anja Hazekamp, Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, Stelios Kouloglou, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Malte Gallée, Martin Buschmann, Sylwia Spurek, Róża Thun und Hohenstein, Pascal Durand, Francisco Guerreiro, David Cormand on behalf of The Left Group – GUE/NGL on Recent EU-Audits identifying that Uruguayan and Argentinian meat from horses with unreliable sworn declarations and unknown drug history is entering the EU (2024/2514(RSP)) (O-000054/2023 - B9-0004/24).

The next item is the topical debate under Rule 162 on the EU strategy to assist young people facing the housing and cost-of-living crisis. I would inform Members that for this debate there is no catch-the-eye procedure and no blue cards will be accepted.

The minutes and the texts adopted of yesterday’s sitting are available. Are there any comments? As that is not the case, the minutes are approved.

Mr. President, Mr. High Representative, the Maduro regime continues to violate the human rights and freedoms of the Venezuelan people, persecuting political leaders and NGOs and illegally disabling opponents. Venezuelans are now living through key moments that will determine their future, and I wish them a democratic future. We in Europe cannot stand idly by. On the contrary, we must closely follow the next stages and help them to make the elections in Venezuela free and fair. Now more than ever we have to show our full support for the democratic forces and for María Corina Machado in her struggle for a better and democratic future.

The next item is the debate on the report by Tomislav Sokol and Annalisa Tardino, on behalf of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Health Data Space (COM(2022)0197 – C9-0167/2022 – 2022/0140(COD)) (A9-0395/2023).

The minutes of the sitting will be submitted to Parliament for its approval at the beginning of its next sitting. If there are no objections I shall forward forthwith the resolutions adopted at today’s sitting to the persons and bodies named in the resolutions.