Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, today in this House we are debating the death sentence for blasphemy of Yahaya Sharif Aminu, a young singer from Nigeria, for having written, composed and broadcast a song on social media that, according to the Islamic Court, is harmful to the Prophet Muhammad. At the trial he was subjected to several procedural irregularities that he invoked, which allowed the suspension of the judgment in 2022. This is a situation where Islamic courts operate in parallel with the state justice system, issuing death sentences that are not standardized in law without questioning their legitimacy to do so. The death penalty in this circumstance is a flagrant violation of Nigeria's constitution, international human rights law or even the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory. I therefore call on the Nigerian authorities to release Yahaya Sharif Aminu, drop the blasphemy charges against him and immediately guarantee him all the rights inherent in his condition until he is released. The Blasphemy Act, enforced by religious courts in Nigeria and some of the regions, goes against state laws, against the Nigerian Constitution, against international law and against all rights, freedoms and guarantees that must be recognized and guaranteed by the state to all Nigerians. I appeal here today to the Nigerian authorities to effectively defend and ensure these rights, freedoms and guarantees of their citizens and strict respect for the national Constitution and the conventions and agreements to which it is a party. Dear political and judicial leaders of Nigeria, in the name of dignity, justice and respect for the most basic rights of the human condition, I reiterate the request for the immediate release of musician Yahaya Sharif Aminu, who is literally on death row.

Madam President, Commissioner, the European partnership is a multilateral partnership based on the sharing of common values. It is also a humanistic partnership, in the sense that it focuses on people’s freedom to make choices and choices under the rule of law. And it is these foundations that allow us not to hesitate in the uncompromising defense of Ukraine's sovereignty, nor in the total condemnation of the Russian invasion, without this signifying a path of closure or selfish protectionism. This strategy is an example of this. Health has no borders. The European Union Global Health Strategy is a strong response to protect Union citizens, while sustainably promoting the capacity of other regions of the globe, our partners, to protect their own citizens and build their own prevention and response capacities. This multi-stakeholder approach involves sharing an ecosystem that combines health policies and capacities, skills, new financing models and the use of sustainable development and inclusive digitalisation tools. The dream of better health for a changing world is possible. It is also urgent and it is in our hands to make this happen.

Madam President, Commissioner, I was a member of the committee of inquiry which, in 2017, concluded that discrepancies between nitrogen oxide emissions in diesel cars during laboratory tests and in real driving conditions were effective. The scandal of Dieselgate it had a very negative impact on the reputation of the European automotive industry, in addition to the damage caused to the environment and consumers, which were compensated differently in the different markets. The report of the committee of inquiry was also very clear in its recommendations in order to ensure better legislation, independent testing and better supervision of cars in circulation. It's been over six years. With resistance, the European vision for the future of the automotive industry has increasingly focused on electrification and decarbonisation. The transition has to ensure the competitiveness of the industry, but also the environmental sustainability of the solutions. The progressive weakening of the Euro 7 rules is not a positive sign. To make a mistake once is unfortunate. Repeating the error is unacceptable. As was the case in 2017, there are immediate savings that only carry into the future brutal costs and impacts that leave negative and impossible footprints to erase.

Madam President, Commissioner, predictability and flexibility are the key concepts so that energy can continue to evolve towards decarbonisation, security of supply, efficiency, combating energy poverty and technological innovation. Storage is key to the decarbonisation of the European Union’s energy system. The reform of the energy market must reflect this. In the Commission's basic proposal, now under interinstitutional negotiation, important steps are taken to facilitate and incentivise investment in dynamic energy storage processes and in particular renewable energy. Negotiation needs to go even further in the role assigned to smart grids, interconnections, joint purchasing and other mechanisms that ensure transparency and flexibility in systems and markets. These options, which are in line with the Commission’s recommendations, should also be reflected in the National Energy and Climate Plans, which, now and more than ever, should not only be national optimisation plans to achieve European targets, but should also act as catalysts for public debate and for the participatory transformation of the European energy system and also of the energy systems of each Member State.

Mr President, Commissioner, the Bridgetown Agenda, which was launched by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, in autumn 2022, aims to create a coalition of wills to put in place measures to reform the global architecture of development finance, taking into account the exceptional framework created by the so-called three interconnected crises – namely the inflation crisis, the debt crisis of developing countries and the climate crisis. One in five countries – with a particular focus on middle- and low-income countries per capita – is under acute financial and fiscal pressure. The consequences of this systemic crisis for the international financial system, for political stability and for combating climate change are catastrophic. I commend the European Commission for recognising the Bridgetown Agenda as a key tool for action and for supporting its implementation. As the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union already did on 20 February, the Commission is committed to a reform of the global financial system that reduces the debt pressure of middle- and low-income countries and redirects the priorities of the World Bank and other multilateral development banks towards the achievement of sustainable development goals and, in particular, the climate agenda. As a multilateral power aiming to lead the twin transitions, embedding in it its values of freedom and solidarity, and making a strong contribution to the achievement of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda, the European Union should therefore continue to support the Bridgetown Agenda. In this context, I can only underline the importance of the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union partnership and the urgency of signing and putting into effect the Post-Cotonou Agreement.

Madam President, Commissioner, as we have defined and are implementing a 'Green Deal', that is, a pact for the European Union to be a global reference in the energy transition and decarbonisation, we must also implement a 'Date Deal' for citizenship and competitiveness. OneData Deal» where European values are respected and where privacy-friendly access to data can be transformed into innovation, competitiveness, strategic autonomy and better services for citizens. The rules set out in the regulation under review aim at fair data sharing, with gains for the economy, effective governance and public services, and consumers. They are a pillar of the inclusive digital transition with which the European Union has to make a difference in the data economy and the new society. gigabytes. A digital transition that leaves no one behind, tackles inequalities and promotes dignity. This Regulation provides a strong foundation for a digital decade capable of achieving its objectives and inspiring, in the principles and values that underpin it, global regulatory dynamics in the field of data access and use. It will be built on data spaces that will be pillars of greater integration of concrete policies, such as the European Health Data Space. We have to succeed in this.Data Deal».

Mr President, Commissioner, when this European Commission took office in 2019, it asserted itself as a geopolitical Commission committed to sustainable policies, to building the image of Europe as the guardian of multilateralism. It would be difficult to anticipate, at that time, the importance and strategic foresight of this option. Today, more than ever, the European Union has to assert itself by its geopolitical capacity, to lead the fundamental traditions for the sustainability of the planet, for the defence of democracy, freedom and sovereignty of the peoples. We have a vision, we have powerful policy instruments such as the multiple cooperation and trade treaties, and we have financial instruments for external action (Global Europe, Global Gateway). And, as this report shows, we must organise to be stronger in the world. We need to improve the coordination and integration of the European Union’s foreign policy in critical areas, embedding the values and principles that we share in our action in the economy, trade, development cooperation and security and defence. The message is clear: we will only be strong and credible externally if we combine seriousness and effectiveness internally – there is no other choice. And, Commissioner, choices must be made. For example, the post-Cotonou agreement: 100 countries, 1.5 billion people, and blocked by one country. This is not tolerable.

Madam President, Commissioner, on 21 January this year, two bullets entered through the window of Thulani Maseko's house and killed this lawyer, a political activist, leader of the Multistakeholder Forum (MSF) of political parties and civil society groups, who was leading the campaign for democracy in the kingdom, and was also a human rights defender. By taking nothing away and leaving the trail of death, the killers have recorded the message that fighting for human, social and political rights remains dangerous and highly lethal in Swaziland. This murder is the latest of multiple episodes in this country of generalised limitation of rights, freedoms and guarantees, arbitrary arrests and repression, and limitation of basic social rights. I therefore call on the authorities in Swaziland to grant the right to freedom of expression, demonstration and the formation of political parties, to promote effective social dialogue and to guarantee their citizens – including political detainees – the rights, freedoms and guarantees recognised by the agreements and treaties to which the country is a signatory, in particular the Cotonou Agreement and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr President, Commissioner, there is a security vacuum in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and that vacuum has created a favourable context for the escalation of tensions between this country and Rwanda. A context that has created space for the increasingly aggressive action of the M23 rebel movement, which independent reports indicate benefits from the logistical support of the Rwandan army. Rwanda, which elsewhere in Africa has been engaged in stabilisation and security missions, has, according to international reports, crossed red lines of respect for sovereignty, border integrity and the exploitation of resources based in the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is essential that it ceases to do so, either directly or by supporting groups that undermine Congo's sovereignty. This is the first step towards ending tensions between the two countries. In doing so, it is essential that the institutions of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the international community work together so that the country has the capacity to fill the security vacuum that, as I mentioned earlier, is at the root of the tensions identified. The reform of the Congolese police, a project that has been supported by MONUSCO (United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic), should continue. Such support should also focus on the opportunity for institutional capacity building that may represent the presidential elections scheduled for the end of this year. In liaison with the African Union and regional communities, the European Union should continue to support the Nairobi process and Kenya's mediation, which can no longer be a failed operation or without consequences on the ground, otherwise the conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will spread to the entire Great Lakes region, creating fertile ground for rebel groups and causing politically, economically and socially intolerable damage. The serious humanitarian crisis in a particularly sensitive area must be combated and not aggravated. Ultimately, it is the people who indirectly suffer in their daily lives the consequences of political and military tensions. It is for them and on their behalf that I call for dialogue, common sense and compromise between peoples, an end to violence in the service of obscure interests and its replacement by a process of sustainable development that takes advantage of the region's enormous potential.

Mr President, Commissioner, globalisation is not over, it is in a profound transformation. In this transformation it is crucial to strengthen the European Union as a relevant global actor, defending our priorities and values in equal, open and transparent partnerships. The Global Gateway initiative, for the EUR 300 billion it aims to mobilise, and for the areas it aims to focus on, including digital, energy, transport, health and research, is a key tool for cooperation, diplomacy and economic affirmation of the Union, and for affirming a multilateral and sustainable vision for development. Its implementation should therefore be effective, but at the same time subject to clear scrutiny, ensuring assertive criteria for assessing impacts and reconciling economic viability with key social criteria, such as contributing to poverty eradication, reducing inequalities, empowering the territories in which investments will be made, including to accelerate an inclusive digital transition and a sustainable energy transition. As a co-legislator, but also as a house of democracy and an agent of the Union’s parliamentary diplomacy, the European Parliament should be more involved in promoting and scrutinising this agenda. I therefore welcome the opportunity of this debate. It should be the first of many others throughout the implementation of the initiative, in addition to the necessary creation of other scrutiny and monitoring mechanisms, involving the various parliamentary committees. We must ensure that the concept of partnership between equals is affirmed as a distinctive mark of the European Union's way of acting in the world. To this end, the entry into force of the post-Cotonou Agreement will be a decisive signal that we cannot postpone any longer. The Global Gateway initiative cannot only be a huge opportunity, and it is, for the economic and political community of the Union, but it must also be a transformative mechanism, in line with a multilateral global agenda, which respects common values and helps unite peoples in the search for a more prosperous, dignified and fairer future.

Madam President, Commissioner, the violent repression of the recent demonstrations in Chad has resulted in 50 people losing their lives and more than three hundred people being injured. These clashes also resulted in 400 detainees. Most of the detained protesters, tried without guarantees, were sentenced to two to three years in prison. The opposition from civil society was against the extension of the political transition period decreed by the Military Junta, which dissolved Parliament and the government and promised free and democratic elections, after an 18-month tradition renewable only once. The European Parliament cannot be silenced in the face of this. That is why we are scheduling this debate. I deeply regret that the largest political group in this House, the EPP, does not have the compassion, the empathy, the political responsibility to join this debate and to support the democratic transition that the people of Chad crave. As a member of this House of Democracy, I do not waive my right and duty to call on the Chadian authorities to guarantee and protect the exercise of the rights to peaceful assembly and association, as well as the freedom of opinion and expression of their citizens in Chad, and to create the conditions for a rapid peaceful democratic transition.

Madam President, Commissioner, let us be clear. At a time when we are strongly committed to the Digital Identity at the service of all European citizens, as a basis for a more inclusive and democratic digital television, there is another digital identity that counts: the Digital Identity of our partnership, the European Union. Anchored on common values, which we share for the journey to 2030, of which the following are examples: advocating for a people-centred, inclusive, secure and transparent digital society and universal access for all European citizens to high-quality networks, through technology, economic resources, skills development, enabling them to enjoy available services and, in particular, services of public interest in digital form. It is the affirmation of this differentiated digital identity that can enable us not only to fulfil our goals as a partnership for peace, freedom and democracy, but also to be relevant and competitive on a global scale. So we have to combine all the technologies, including the new generations of WI-FI, following the spirit of the initiative Wifi4EU, for which I was rapporteur, and also to open up a broad front for financing the modernisation of networks, including the platforms that depend on it.

Mr President, Commissioner, there have already been dozens of resolutions debated and voted on in this Parliament on the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent years, but the situation is still deteriorating in terms of security and worsening in terms of human rights. We have to act. Mobilise the international community and actively raise awareness among local authorities to condemn and punish exemplary attacks on civilians by armed groups in the eastern part of the Republic of Congo; to neutralise the armed groups operating in the country with international support; to investigate, denounce and criminalise human rights violations in the country, in particular abuses of girls and women used as weapons of war; to create a platform for dialogue involving all parties to the conflict so that, through negotiation, the conditions are created for the return of thousands of displaced civilians to their homes. The Democratic Republic of Congo is living in a context of great democratic, political and social fragility, which generates strong threats to national and regional stability, with increased interference from terrorist-inspired rebel movements linked to Daesh and ISIS. The disorderly exploitation of natural resources fuels conflict and finances armed groups, while creating an intolerable humanitarian situation. It is not enough to adopt another resolution. We Europeans must also be part of the solution.

Madam President, Madam Vice-President, cybersecurity is a cross-cutting issue throughout the European Union. Applying a common pattern of response is the rational formula for achieving the goals we aim for. The approach of the new directive and this excellent report is of vital strategic importance for the Union, its Member States, businesses and organisations in general. And it is true that European citizens are also increasingly aware that only a common Union response can ensure high levels of security and trust for them. The implementation of the new regulatory framework strengthens safety and oversight guarantees by combining a risk-based and proportionality-based approach, including harmonised sanctions across the European Union. Enhancing security requirements through better communication, less bureaucracy and more transparency is an appropriate way to make each actor more responsible and more empowered to increase their own cyber protection. This will contribute to Europe developing, in line with its common values, a digital ecosystem capable of responding to the complex challenges it has to face in the field of cybersecurity.

Mr President, Commissioner, the oral question we are debating today, on how the European Commission intends to put on the ground the measures advocated in the communication of 15 February this year on the European Union's approach to space management and trafficking and the Union's contribution to meeting the global challenge, could not be more timely and timely. As a representative of the Socialists and Democrats in the negotiations of the European Space Programme, I testify to the effort that the European Parliament has made to ensure adequate funding for initiatives that are decisive in the strategic autonomy of the Union. Initiatives and programmes in areas such as connectivity, tracking and positioning, which are key for the sustainability, security and shared management of geospatial territory. Space traffic management contributes to ensuring the security, reliable and autonomous access and long-term sustainability of outer space and to promoting and ensuring the continuity and competitiveness of the space industry in the European Union. It is therefore crucial to invest in new technologies that provide safe solutions for space traffic, congestion and collision risks. All this is recognised in the Joint Communication of 15 February. However, almost eight months passed, and there was an invasion of a sovereign country in Europe. The context of war economy in which we live is not commensurate with postponements or mechanisms of slow implementation in crucial policies, such as space policies. That is why it is so important to ask the Commission for concrete answers to the questions raised in this oral question. Questions on the European regulatory framework, technical options such as automated collision prevention, research and innovation priorities, budgetary commitments and the possible adoption of an international regulatory framework. We look forward to clear and mobilising responses. That is what is decisive.

Mr President, Commissioner, innocent in the humanitarian situation in Tigray and Ethiopia, only the victims. This is not just a situation in that region, given that the conflict is spreading and creating pockets of humanitarian and rights risk throughout Ethiopia. I deeply regret that at the end of August the ceasefire was broken. The humanitarian consequences of the breakdown of the ceasefire are visible in the brutal figures being released by international agencies and, in particular, by UN reports. War crimes must be denounced, prosecuted and punished under international law. I call for a permanent ceasefire. It is crucial that the international community encourages the dialogue for peace taking place under the auspices of the African Union. It is crucial that, in particular, every effort is made to protect children from the risks of violence and separation from their families. As the European Union, our place is on the side of the Ethiopian people, in the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Madam President, Commissioner, I had the opportunity to join the mission of this Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, which visited Ethiopia and Sudan in September as Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. It was an intense mission of dialogue with government entities, civil society and international interlocutors, in particular with the African Union, in which I was able to witness the enormous topicality and sensitivity of the resolution we are debating here today, and I welcome its rapporteur. A healthy strategic relationship and partnership between the European Union and the Horn of Africa is important for both sides. It is therefore important to create the conditions for it to be possible without misunderstandings or frustrations. It is essential to strengthen the European Union's political commitment to dialogue for peace, addressing security and humanitarian needs, respecting sovereignty and developing a structural partnership of equals based on the universal values of freedom and human rights. At the same time, we must say that, while respecting sovereignty, the European Union is not indifferent to the suffering of peoples, security, freedom and respect for humanitarian aid processes and, therefore, cannot fail to point out and condemn actions that undermine these principles, whatever their origin.

Mr President, Commissioner, who is concerned about the destabilisation of Africa and, in particular, the Sahel region? The African peoples are certainly not. The news we receive every day about the deteriorating political, humanitarian and human rights situation is very worrying. We can therefore only condemn the coup d'état that took place in Burkina Faso on 30 September, the second coup d'état that has taken place in that country in the last eight months. A clear condemnation has also been made by the UN, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. The military action undertaken, without any constitutional framework, calls into question the efforts made, in particular by ECOWAS, to ensure a transition to constitutional order by 2024. At the same time, it creates even more humanitarian and survival difficulties in a country where, according to international agencies, 25% of the population needs urgent help. That is why, Commissioner, it is worth asking the question again: Who cares about the destabilization of Africa and, in particular, the Sahel region? And if the answer is, as it seems, that it is of interest to the opponents of democracy and the rule of law, then it is essential that the European Union and the International Community strengthen their cooperation to fight terrorism in its various forms, in Burkina Faso and in the Sahel. That the conditions be restored for the further elaboration and adoption of a new Constitution, in the framework of the ongoing transition process, responding to the legitimate aspirations of the people of this country to have strong and solid democratic institutions. And finally, that political actors and civil society are encouraged to be involved in the resumption of the transition process, through dialogue and participation, creating conditions for the country to overcome the difficult political, economic and social moment it is experiencing.

Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, the manipulation of the supply and price of energy is a powerful weapon which the Russian Federation has not refrained from using in its aggression against the freedom and sovereignty of the peoples. A weapon that affects the economy and people's living conditions and generates discontent, fuelled by populisms against the courageous response of European democracies. Measures that have immediate effect but do not deviate from the course of the ongoing energy transition are needed. Portugal is one of the leading countries in incorporating renewables into its energy mix. It has taken the political will to rapidly build a new generation pipeline connecting the deep-water port of Sines to European markets, helping to diversify supplies and reduce dependencies. It switched off the price of electricity from the price of gas, which allowed to reduce on average 15% in the final spot price of electricity. It opened up access to the regulated electricity market for citizens and businesses and created the regulated gas market, committing large energy companies to the collective effort, without ruling out taxation on windfall profits if justified. I gave the example of Portugal, because being Portuguese is what I know best, but also because as a European, I feel that it outlines a path that should inspire our joint path and solidarity. We need to act on production and access to energy, but also make markets more resilient and transparent.

Mr President, Commissioner, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, it is unacceptable that the Council is still unable to bring the Post-Cotonou Agreement into force. I respect the independence and legitimacy of the various institutional bodies. I am therefore not going to comment on the reasons why the Post-Cotonou Agreement remains in the drawer, after it has been possible to reach an agreement to move forward with the multilateral partnership of equals, with a strong parliamentary dimension, and aligned with the major priorities for sustainable development, in a very close and committed work of the Commission, the Council, the European Parliament and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States. The truth is that it has been awaiting ratification by the Council since June 2021 and requires a further extension of the Cotonou Agreement, which was due to expire in February 2020. And there is a greater cause, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, which does not allow us to silence the damage caused by the delay in this ratification and the entry into force of the new agreement. Because the world has changed. The geopolitical European Union is now engaged in a brutal fight of relevance and survival, in the name of its structuring values and principles. And the Post-Cotonou Agreement represents a reference for the sense of change of the emerging global order. It includes 106 countries from four continents. It includes the second largest Joint Parliamentary Assembly in the world, three regional Joint Parliamentary Assemblies that follow on from the current EU-ACP Parliamentary Assembly, which I am proud to co-chair. It covers key thematic areas. It is key for an implementation of tools such as Global Europe or Global Gateway. So I insist: the Post-Cotonou Agreement is a crucial benchmark for the direction of change. It is urgent that it enters into force. At the moment, it is up to the Council to do this, and I would like to make a heartfelt appeal to the Council to do everything in that direction.

Mr President, Commissioners, the agreement, approval and entry into force of the Digital Markets and Services Regulations is a historic step in the creation of a digital single market, inspired by the principles and values of the European Union. In the current geopolitical context, that step is even more important, reflecting the shared values that embody our digital identity and that are focused on upholding fundamental rights and the strong ethical commitments and legal guarantees that protect our citizens and democratic societies. As rapporteur for the Digital Markets Act in ITRE, I have, with the support of my co-rapporteurs and a significant majority of members, made full use of the application of Rule 56 Plus in the exercise of our cross-cutting and sectoral competences. I would like to highlight the joint work done with the IMCO Committee and, in particular, with its rapporteur, which has allowed the solutions adopted in the ITRE Committee, in areas as structuring as interoperability, users' access to platforms, advertising, to be reflected in Parliament's final report and ultimately to be decisive for the Interinstitutional Agreement. We have strengthened consumer and user guarantees and created better conditions for innovation and market access, in particular for SMEs and SMEs. startups. Now is the time to act!

Madam President, Commissioner, the own-initiative report we are debating today on the future of trade relations between Europe and Africa was a huge opportunity. The European Union, Africa and their peoples have much to benefit from a partnership between equals that affirms a multilateral cooperation strategy, in which the trade dimension is one of the essential pillars. The European Union and the African Union have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to a joint vision, a vision based on a strategy that constitutes a partnership for sustainable and inclusive development. Trade relations between the European Union and Africa have to take into account the new geopolitical context, where strategic autonomy is the necessary basis to make healthy economic and political cooperation possible and to develop trade ties, as has been the will expressed by both sides. The entry into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area enhances the potential for cooperation between the Union and Africa, at a time when programmes such as Global Europe and Global Gateway are also in their launch phase. Therefore, the comprehensive recommendations of this report in this context are a contribution to mitigating the negative impacts that the ongoing war in Ukraine is already causing on sustainable development, wealth creation and the well-being of peoples.

Mr President, Commissioner, the fragility of the European Union's migration policies has created serious humanitarian and political problems, attracting unregulated flows with a high risk of exploitation of migrants by illegal networks, and fuelling populist, xenophobic and radical discourse against migration in the Union. The European Union needs to attract legal immigrants to cope with the demographic winter it suffers from, to ensure the ambition of the energy and digital transition and to address the lack of qualified human resources in key areas, of which tourism and health are examples. The Commission proposal, which I welcome, includes a more appropriate legislative framework and provides for targeted partnerships with third countries, promoting mobility between them for the purpose of work or reskilling. The pilot project with Ukraine has shown the opportunity and feasibility of the new platform. A partnership with Africa, within the framework of a vision of partnership between equals, is key to give practical awareness to what is set out in the EU-Africa strategy and in the post-Cotonou agreement, which awaits ratification by the Council. A partnership in this context, the establishment of pilot projects with North African countries, inspired by the pilot project with Ukraine, is a step that is urgently needed, also addressing some of the concerns discussed at the 41st ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, of which I am co-chair and which took place in Strasbourg in April this year.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, Minister, ensuring fair, smart and effective decarbonisation is an existential challenge for humanity, for the European Union and for all of us. The choice we face is structural and will mark our collective future for many decades to come. It is an opportunity for the European Union to strengthen its commitment to combating climate change by ensuring, through concrete and wide-ranging measures, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 55% by 2030. Implementing these measures in an integrated and progressive manner is also a way to boost the modernisation of the European society and economy and to consolidate the Union’s leadership in the energy and digital transition. As shadow rapporteur of the Socialists and Democrats in the negotiation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism of the ITRE Committee, I consider it crucial that this mechanism fulfils its function of promoting and supporting the decarbonisation agenda of European Industry, while encouraging dynamics of transformation and innovation that lead it to higher levels of sustainability and competitiveness. It should also encourage the adoption of good environmental practices in other parts of the world, thus contributing to a positive partnership in the name of common objectives. These are not easy goals, but they are possible. To this end, in addition to a reasonable timeframe for implementation and targeted export support where justified and in accordance with WTO law, strong monitoring and continuous alignment of measures with the technology readiness needed to enable them needs to be ensured. We have room to approve solutions in this direction and that is what we now have to focus on.

Mr President, Commissioner, yesterday Mali announced the termination of defence and military cooperation agreements with France and the European Union. This is a very worrying sign, in a context where the succession of coups d'état between 2000 and 2022 in Chad, Guinea, Burkina Faso, twice in Mali, reflects a growing crisis of democracy and the legitimacy of the region's political systems. Continuous dialogue is crucial for a swift return to civilian rule and to ensure the organisation of transparent and inclusive elections. We must guarantee access to humanitarian aid and the right of the citizens of the region to live in peace and to see human rights respected within the framework of the rule of law, and we must denounce, on the one hand, the increasing presence of various terrorist groups in the region and, on the other hand, the presence of the Wagner Group, knowing that the Russian Ministry of Defence is involved in the financing, recruitment, training and protection of its agents. The security, stability and prosperity of the region is a prerequisite for global security, respecting international law. The European Union should work in this direction with the African Union, ECOWAS and the countries of the region respecting the principles and values of multilateral cooperation.