What Brando spoke about.

14

Feb

2023

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CO2 emission standards for cars and vans (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Vice-President Timmermans, with the regulation on CO2 emissions for cars and vans, the Union is providing itself with an essential instrument for achieving the decarbonisation objectives of the European Climate Law, a strategic legislative text that will lay the foundations for an industrial policy geared towards the future. Those who oppose it, thinking of slowing down change, do only damage to the economy and workers. Like the Italian right, which here in the European Parliament will vote against it, but then the representatives of our government in the Council voted in favour. The reason is obvious: confusing the waters and escaping responsibility in the face of such an important choice. The agreement maintains a technologically neutral approach and a strong social footprint to ensure investments for the fair transition, two key points to allow the industry to remain competitive compared to American and Asian manufacturers, already far ahead in the market for zero-emission vehicles. To vote against today is to make citizens pay a very high price. Instead, let's really commit ourselves to a just and sustainable transition socially and ecologically.

13

Feb

2023

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Following up on measures requested by Parliament to strengthen the integrity of European institutions (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for the European Parliament to act. We must consider the proposals on the table and demand that they finally be implemented. Hurrying doesn't have to be bad advice, though. We will be as demanding and ambitious as possible in making our institutions more transparent and impervious to corruption, along with measures to be implemented immediately and supervised. We also want deep structural reforms, the results of which will only be visible in the medium term. I am thinking of the new independent ethics body, which as Socialists and Democrats we have always asked for together with other political groups, but which some other groups have always hindered. This requires the concrete commitment of the European Commission. President Metsola's proposals are a good step forward, but they are not yet sufficient, first and foremost to address the issue of revolving doors, for which a cooling period of five years is required. Today only six months are proposed, too few, especially compared to the twenty-four months currently in force for the European Commissioners. We must produce a balanced result, not by undermining Members' freedom of mandate, which is a key principle of democracy, but by being sure that we will radically avoid any attempt to pollute and manipulate our democratic bodies.

1

Feb

2023

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Preparation of the Special European Council meeting of February, in particular the need to develop sustainable solutions in the area of asylum and migration (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, shared responsibility: This is the principle that must guide the European Union and all Member States in tackling migration with humanity and sustainability. The Commission’s willingness to speed up the migration pact so as not to go beyond 2024 is positive and the Swedish rotating presidency cannot overlook the topic. But that's not enough. I address President von der Leyen and President Michel: it is not acceptable for the European response to migration to be limited to speeding up returns, ignoring the structural weakness of the European asylum system. Just as we do not accept that the Union finances the Member States to build walls at the borders, nor scandalous illegal pushbacks against those fleeing war and poverty. We will not tire of remembering that the priority action must be the revision of the Dublin Regulation, so that the management of the first reception is no longer the burden of a few but the permanent commitment of all. The emergency logic imposed by the nationalists has only resulted in more irregularities and more deaths. The time has come to create clearer and more humane rules, also through strengthened cooperation, also through departure from those who are there, without being vetoed.

19

Jan

2023

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Revision of the European Works Councils Directive (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to congratulate the rapporteur and my fellow shadow rapporteurs on the excellent work they have done together in recent months on this legislative initiative file for the reform of the European Works Councils Directive. The text that arrives in plenary leaves no room for interpretation. Almost thirty years after the first directive, a complete revision of the directive is urgently needed, so that information and consultation rights are no longer understood as optional by multinational companies operating in Europe. Too often, in recent years, the rights of workers to be informed in good time by companies and to be involved in their strategic choices have been trampled on, choices that in many cases have had a dramatic impact on the jobs and working conditions of millions of European workers, such as decisions to close a plant in a Member State or in the face of company restructuring. In order to stop this happening, we need a European directive that introduces a better definition of the transnational character of a decision, a new system of sanctions that effectively discourages any attempt to circumvent these obligations, new rules to strengthen access to justice for works councils and finally the possibility of requesting a competent national court to suspend a business decision when information and consultation rights have been violated. The report that arrives in plenary presents important innovations on all these points and I hope that colleagues will reject with the vote in plenary any attempt to weaken the text. The European Commission is now called upon to do a very delicate but extraordinarily important job. As Parliament, we expect a broad and general proposal to revise the directive, which is indeed one of the pillars of the European social model. The world has changed. Our companies operate in a global context. The single market, which celebrated its 30th anniversary just a few days ago, is a reality of the European Union and the choices of companies go beyond national borders, but must never - and I say never - go beyond the fundamental and social rights of workers.

18

Jan

2023

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The storming of the Brazilian democratic institutions

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the very serious assault by Bolsonaro's supporters on Brazilian institutions is unfortunately in continuity with other incidents in other countries. A situation that is repeated because of a right-wing ideology that does not want to accept the popular vote. I was in 2018 at the World Social Forum in Salvador de Bahia, where Lula intervened and then was imprisoned and hit by accusations that turned out to be a major political plot. He was re-elected President of Brazil today, and he is our hope to reunite and reconcile the Brazilian people after President Bolsonaro's disastrous four years. At stake is the future of Brazil, of a great democracy, but also of our planet, for example for the fight against climate change, defending and preserving the Amazon, as Bolsonaro did not know how to do. So we are and must be, like Europe, on the side of Lula and on the side of the Brazilian people who must be able to defend their democracy.

18

Jan

2023

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Terrorist threats posed by far-right extremist networks defying the democratic constitutional order (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, 6 January 2021: Assault on Capitol Hill with the approval of Donald Trump. 9 October 2021: attack on the headquarters of the CGL, the main Italian union in Rome, concocted together with the Italian neo-fascist far right. 7 December 2022: An attempted coup in Germany, devised by German neo-Nazi militants, including some former AfD deputies, was thwarted. 8 January 2023: assault on the Brazilian presidential palace and other institutions by Bolsonaro's followers. These are not episodes of a television series about dystopias, but dramatic real-world events, tied by a well-defined thread, a black thread characterized by contempt for democratic rules and the rule of law. The transnational black thread of the far right networks, which threaten the constitutional order of our institutions, from outside as from inside the buildings, using fake news and conspiracy theories. Fears of the rise of a certain reactionary and coup right were mocked, sometimes even in this House. Well, these events that I have remembered, like others, tell us that there is nothing to joke about. We must invest in a culture that rejects any kind of surrender to this message, which is instead an anti-racist, anti-Nazi culture for young Europeans. We have always been told that as long as illegal acts are not committed, they cannot be banned from playing the democratic game. Well, I think that this threshold has been largely crossed in too many cases. It is necessary to ban neo-fascist and neo-Nazi organisations in Europe, not only because they are incompatible with the values of our democracy, but because they act to subvert them. I will strive to ensure that the founding character of the Union's anti-fascism is included in the future revision of the Treaties. I do not think that European democracy is taken for granted or rained down from the sky, it must be defended, as other events of recent weeks also show.

17

Jan

2023

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New developments in allegations of corruption and foreign interference, including those related to Morocco, and the need to increase transparency, integrity and accountability in the European institutions (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, more than a month after this scandal began, the feeling of anger and disgust has not changed. The European Parliament, our home, has been undermined by tenants and guests who have had as their only value their own gain, trying to trample on the fight for human rights, so important in this institution. Now is the time for responsibility. It is necessary to bring out the truth to the end, punishing the guilty. It is necessary to renovate this same house to make it as impenetrable as possible to future external and internal threats. We fully cooperate with the judiciary to clarify, including the choices on the waiver of parliamentary immunity that we are going to examine. We need new rules, more checks on lobbying, strengthening the transparency register, which is currently being used poorly, and establishing an independent and accountable European body on ethical issues by the end of the parliamentary term. And it is necessary to ban for at least five years the mechanism of revolving doors between public and private for former parliamentarians. This also requires more ambition than the proposals put forward so far by the Presidency. The house of European democracy has been violated. But let's be clear, you can't allow anyone to sell or buy it. We will continue to fight for our integrity.

17

Jan

2023

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Consumer protection in online video games: a European Single Market approach (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, it is very important that the European Parliament has decided to make these reports on video games and sports. It is a theme that must be treated carefully, with care, also enhancing actions such as the PEGI approach, which has been put in place, which allows you to have clear rights and transparency, as well as the work that we have carried out to increase the protections and enhancement of the positive aspects of videogames, which are many, learning, cognitive development. Obviously the risks must be verified, they must be contained, they must be controlled, but I think that with an action like the one we are carrying out we will be able to enhance a sector that creates a lot of work, creates opportunities and that must be one of our areas of commitment in Europe to have a healthy and safe gaming environment for all.

17

Jan

2023

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Presentation of the programme of activities of the Swedish Presidency (debate)

Madam President Metsola, Prime Minister Kristersson, ladies and gentlemen, Sweden is taking over the Presidency at a crucial moment in history. For example, we need to continue working towards a greener Europe, which confirms its role as a global leader in the ecological transition, climate neutrality by 2050 and a reduction in net emissions of at least 55% by 2030. Let's not stop, let's not step back. There is also a need for solidarity between the countries involved in migration. You cannot ignore this need. You cannot postpone the work on the Pact for Migration until 2024. This approach is unacceptable. Europe cannot remain hostage to vetoes of the sovereign right, doing harm to its citizens, blocking common solutions. Finally, as rapporteur for the regulation on artificial intelligence, I look forward to starting negotiations with you, together with my fellow co-rapporteur, Mr Tudorache, but know from now on that Parliament will stand firm in defending people's rights against all forms of mass biometric surveillance and will not accept compromises on the downside. Good work to all of us for a Europe that is more united, stronger and closer to its citizens.

16

Jan

2023

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30th Anniversary of the Single Market (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, among the many shortcomings of an unfinished Union in many areas, the internal market is undoubtedly one of the most successful projects for a united Europe, for its image in the world and for economic development, as well as for the benefit of European consumers, who are among the most protected worldwide from unsafe products and other risks. A success that should not be taken for granted, but rather must be continuously updated and supported. I am therefore proud to have worked as rapporteur on the internal market programme that finances its functioning within the current multiannual budget, and no less important is the work we are doing with many colleagues to modernise the legislative framework in the area of the digital single market, among other things, with the world's first horizontal regulation on artificial intelligence, on which we have worked hard, together with Vice-President Vestager, who is here. In short, only if we are united as Europeans can we give our continent a future. Let us do it more and better, giving even greater strength to our economic and social integration to overcome the crises of our time.

14

Dec

2022

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Defending democracy from foreign interference (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the fight against external interference and disinformation, now more than ever, must be the priority for this Parliament, which is clearly under attack by external actors seeking to destabilise our democratic institutions. We must react, our democracy is not for sale. What the European Commission has announced, a plan to defend European democracies, is a sign of awareness that must be implemented with concrete and courageous actions. It is no longer time for optional recommendations. But the European Union does not start from scratch. Thanks to the work done by the INGE Committee - I am thinking in particular, among others, of the work of my colleague Majorino and the work of my colleague Glucksmann, who have identified the weaknesses we need to work on. I am thinking of the need for the independent European body for public ethics, the transparency of relations with stakeholders, all the risks associated with actions of all kinds that carry out the realities of foreign countries, in particular authoritarian countries, and many issues have also been mentioned in previous interventions. Europe's credibility is at stake and so is the credibility of the European Parliament, which is by no means a small thing, in defending human rights. These years, achieving with this commitment also important results, must not be soiled by a story and a disgusting story.

14

Dec

2022

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Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes (debate)

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the veto on the establishment of a common European debt; a veto on the gas price cap; a veto on the entry of certain countries into the Schengen area; Orbán's latest blackmailing veto, later lifted, of 18 billion euros in aid to Ukraine and the European minimum tax on the turnover of multinationals. A European Union full of nationalism and selfishness does not work. That is why, in order to put an end to the iron arms between Brussels and the Member States, and between them, it is finally necessary to abolish the right of veto and build a true supranational democracy. Today, European citizens are asking us to decide quickly on the most important issues, namely completing an energy union, increasing social security and wages, defending the rule of law, and creating a common European defence. The Conference on the Future of Europe and the resolution voted by this Parliament last June point the way in this direction: the establishment of a treaty reform convention for genuine European integration. I also say building different levels of integration, allowing those who want to do more without preventing it from those who want to do less together. States that want to move forward must be able to do so, a united Europe can do more, better and faster. We listen to the demands of European citizens and do not veto the future of the new generations.

13

Dec

2022

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Prospects for the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the nationalist right is growing in Israel, the Palestinian National Authority is experiencing a serious crisis in the West Bank and Hamas is holding civilians hostage in Gaza. Faced with this lack of politics and the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine, Europe cannot limit itself to condemnation but must now create a just peace for the peoples involved. The resolution we are going to vote on tomorrow goes in this direction: two peoples and two states with Jerusalem as their sole capital, following the 1967 borders. The illegal Israeli occupations in the West Bank must end, as must the blockade of Gaza and, at the same time, action must be taken against Hamas, which still calls for the destruction of Israel and carries out anti-Semitic terrorist acts. I am convinced that the European Union, taking the leadership of a new international conference, can and should finally be a decisive diplomatic actor in relaunching a real peace process between Israel and Palestine.

13

Dec

2022

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Suspicions of corruption from Qatar and the broader need for transparency and accountability in the European institutions (debate) (debate)

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the investigations are revealing an aberrant situation, which must lead the whole of the European Parliament to be united on what needs to be done. I am shocked and disappointed but above all furious at the probable involvement in a criminal affair of parliamentarians, former deputies and assistants who have for years attended, as colleagues, these institutions. Justice will take its course to ascertain responsibility, but I want to make it clear that any attempt to influence my party, the Democratic Party, has failed and we will make sure that it continues like this. Our delegation was the one who, also within our own political group, chose to vote firmly on the strengthening amendments of the Left Group on human rights and workers' rights in the resolution on Qatar, rejected by the right, as well as having submitted tough questions to High Representative Borrell in recent months on the World Cup. We will take every initiative necessary to bring out the truth and ensure the honorability of our work and our battles. In addition to the announcement of a new anti-corruption law by the Commissioner, an important initiative is the creation of an independent European body on ethical issues. We have always voted for it and we expect, now, that even those political groups that opposed it will change their minds. It is time to go all the way and save our democracy from those who want to destroy it for personal interests or those of other states.

13

Dec

2022

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A need for a dedicated budget to turn the Child Guarantee into reality - an urgency in times of energy and food crisis (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, these are dramatic moments for the European Parliament, dragged into a scandal of unprecedented gravity. As President Metsola has said, we are under attack by those who want to influence our democracy and we must square up to punish corrupt people and those who have acted to tarnish the dignity of our institution and of the European Union. We will do our checks and we will do our part, but today we still need, more forcefully, to continue our work on all the issues that honour the European Parliament, and no doubt the Child Guarantee is the perfect example. Without the push of the European Parliament there would have been no child guarantee; Without the European Parliament's push today there would be no political demand for its €20 billion budget increase to cope with the human tragedy caused by Putin's war in Ukraine, which spills over to millions of displaced children and families seeking protection, but also to millions of families in Europe struggling to get to the end of the month due to rising bills and inflation. This Parliament has already called for an increase of EUR 20 billion in four resolutions, and on Thursday we will vote on an amendment that I tabled to the report on the multiannual financial framework, together with 80 colleagues from different political groups, to reiterate this position further. Dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, I appeal for our institutions to be able to show the whole world that our work, our mission, is to be at the side of those in need. Strengthening the child guarantee is not only a necessity, but a necessary acknowledgement of reality; Strengthening the Child Guarantee today, especially at this time, would be a source of pride for Parliament, for all the institutions, for the European Union.

23

Nov

2022

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The need for a European solution on asylum and migration including search and rescue (debate)

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in Italy the new right-wing government of Giorgia Meloni has been in office for a month and instead of dealing with the real problems of the country has already attacked the humanitarian ships Geo Barents, Humanity, Ocean Viking, a shameful action, with the sole aim of sending a message apart from the electorate on the skin of human beings. This is counterproductive. Today we need a shared solution at European level. The Mediterranean Action Plan is an important proposal, but more needs to be done to coordinate search and rescue operations. The first country of arrival criterion should be removed and Member States' solidarity and responsibility should be strengthened, not only by focusing on returns. My Italian colleague Mr Bartolo is doing a great job in this regard, also on behalf of our political group. Migration is a global phenomenon and as such needs to be addressed. EU countries will only achieve results if they can cooperate, with shared solutions, starting with those that are most ready to take them forward. We must move forward in this direction together.

19

Oct

2022

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Outcome of the first meeting of the European Political Community (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the first meeting of the European Political Community was a success because it managed to create a forum in which all the countries of our neighbourhood were able to participate and express themselves, even in those situations of tension that we are observing, indeed the context of this meeting led to lightening them, as was the case with the approach between Armenia and Azerbaijan at this meeting. Now we need continuity of action and credibility, to shape a platform that can facilitate a common response to the threat brought to our borders by Putin and act in an increasingly coordinated way to face the consequences of the war, which affect everyone. Be careful, however, to consider the European Political Community as an institutional alternative to joining the Union, in particular for the countries involved in the Eastern Neighbourhood. I believe that it will be our task in the coming months to discuss how we can incorporate this political Community into the framework of the Treaties and better define its areas and limits, guaranteeing a central role for the European Parliament, as soon as the Convention which we have called for to profoundly reform this union opens its work.

19

Oct

2022

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Whitewashing of the anti-European extreme right in the EU (topical debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, could one ever imagine in Germany a portrait of Adolf Hitler at the Chancellery? In Italy, however, the second office of the State, Ignazio La Russa, asserts that removing a portrait of Mussolini from a ministry is a shameful cancel culture, but the President of the Senate La Russa must be ashamed, because anti-fascism is the foundation of our Republic born from the Resistance. But Italy is now in danger of losing its compass for other reasons. How can we fail to remember today Berlusconi who, after initially condemning the Moscow war to hiccups, now continues to renew his historic loyalty to the Kremlin's master, going so far as to affirm without shame that he has recently exchanged gifts and letters with Putin, despite the sanctions, and that he is the first of his five true friends. This serious drift of the European People's Party affects not only Italy, but many other countries. It is time for the true moderates and liberals to take another path, just as it is necessary for the left to be able to play its part without hesitation. In Italy we will not look at this dangerous drift and we will carry out a tough opposition, in the interest of Italians and Europeans. Europe and Italy deserve a real alternative, out of the old compromises of the past, that can give hope to those who have lost it today. We'll do our best.

5

Oct

2022

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Countering the anti-European and anti-Ukrainian propaganda of Putin’s European cronies (topical debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, anti-European and anti-Ukraine propaganda is everywhere between the Member States and Italy. Time passes, but a certain right appears of Putin, self-styled guardian of the national interest, but in reality with his gaze turned to the Kremlin, continues to wink at authoritarianism, ignoring persecution of minorities and forgetting the gag to free expression. Silvio Berlusconi, a prominent leader of the EPP, said on live TV that Putin invaded Ukraine to "replace Zelensky's government with a government of good people". The League continues not to denounce the cooperation agreement signed with Putin's party, United Russia, and maintains a veil of ambiguity regarding the relations that have also been the subject of investigation with Russian worlds, as well as regarding Matteo Salvini's secret visits to the Russian embassy in Rome, a few hours after the invasion of Ukraine. I remember then how the Moscow regime scientifically used anti-Ukrainian media throughout Europe, spreading fake news, pointing to Ukrainian refugees as dangerous criminals or presenting them as wealthy men who arrived here without real need. This is not a witch hunt, but a matter of national and European security and also a matter of humanity. In the face of a regime that violates international law and threatens to use atomic weapons, there can be no ambiguity. We need unanimous condemnation and strong actions such as those announced by the European Commission in defence of the integrity of our democracy and which we support with all our strength.

5

Oct

2022

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Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, it has been more than seven months since the Russian army, on the orders of Vladimir Putin, began to invade Ukraine. Now confronted with the facts and the failure of its plan, the Russian regime is acting increasingly criminally and blackmailingly. The European Union must be united in condemning the illegal annexations that took place through farce referendums and must instead strive to bring to the table all the main world players to work for a just peace. On Thursday, the European Political Community will meet for the first time, a project born to immediately give a stable anchor to European integration and the security of Ukraine. Let's move forward in this direction. Europe's autonomous role and strong voice can be decisive in preventing an escalation that sees Russia and the United States implant a new Cold War bipolarity. We don't need it. Instead, we need courage and ambition. The world has changed. It also changes the European Union, overcoming divisions and working to build lasting peace.

4

Oct

2022

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AccessibleEU Centre in support of accessibility policies in the EU internal market (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner Dalli, in recent years the European Union has tried to invest a lot in creating, with new legislation and good practices, an accessible ecosystem that would allow all citizens, regardless of their disability or not, to spend their lives and live their interpersonal and social relationships with the greatest possible degree of freedom and independence. Transport, services, workplaces, websites, procurement, built environment: Everything is tailored to each one. Unfortunately, this effort has not yet been adequate. There is a lack of coordination and coherence of measures and actions, a lack of a universal approach to the design of public and private interventions. Establishing the European AccessibleEU Centre is a small step in this direction, as indicated by the European Union Strategy for Persons with Disabilities. A place of research, of expertise, knowledge and exchange, a valuable resource for national and local authorities who want to design with the universal approach, but need guides for technical aspects. Let us not waste this opportunity to create inclusion and move forward in this direction.

4

Oct

2022

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Radio Equipment Directive: common charger for electronic devices (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, at last, the single charger will soon become a reality not only for mobile phones but also for laptops, e-book readers, earphones, cameras and other devices, which we will no longer be obliged to buy together with the cable, finding ourselves then with various unused chargers in the house different from each other. A seemingly small improvement in the daily lives of individual consumers, but which will lead to annual savings of EUR 250 million at European level. This is a big step in terms of sustainability. We think that the reduction in e-waste is estimated at around 1 000 tonnes per year. I would therefore like to congratulate the rapporteur Alex Saliba on the excellent results achieved very quickly, a sign that when we have clear and concrete proposals, even in limited areas, Europe is able to stand up to large companies and large companies for a goal that must unite us, namely to improve people's lives step by step.

14

Sep

2022

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State of the Union (debate)

Madam President, Madam President von der Leyen, ladies and gentlemen, 'we have hope when we do not close our eyes to those in need, when we do not raise walls at our borders, when we fight all forms of injustice'. These words of David Sassoli must also be remembered today and are a warning to all of us. Our Europe, as you rightly pointed out, must open a convention to reform itself, to abandon the right of veto, to finally have the necessary powers to protect our citizens from war, from inflation, from the European cap on energy costs, which is still blocked by the nationalist right in Poland and by the ultra-liberal right in the Netherlands. The defence of democracy package you announced today is very important. I hope that the League will vote for it, after abstaining on a resolution on the same issues, the only party in my country, Italy. Unfortunately, the Italian right has not broken with these ambiguities and, with Fratelli d'Italia by Giorgia Meloni, hopes for Trump's return and flirts with those who achieved Brexit. This is why they are, as always, against our interests as Italians and Europeans. But nationalism has already lost on this continent and, despite the shameful complicity of the so-called moderates, even at this time it will be stopped. I'm sure of that.

7

Jul

2022

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Recent heat wave and drought in the EU (debate)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, drought kills. We are still looking for the missing in the collapse of the Marmolada secateur a few days ago, after victims and wounded. A terrible tragedy that tells us that there is no more time. Even the right is forced to admit, after years of denial, that climate change is before our eyes today, it is undeniable. It is a phenomenon that leads to the rapid disappearance of glaciers, to a terrible drought, it is a macroscopic manifestation of something that happens around us. After this very heavy heat wave, we see the risk of a drought, the worst in decades, which drains rivers and water reserves with very serious damage to the environment, agriculture and citizens, we see it in Italy and we see it in Europe. What are we waiting for to radically change our economic systems? What needs to happen to open everyone's eyes? We work together because there really is no more time.

6

Jul

2022

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The relations of the Russian government and diplomatic network with parties of extremist, populist, anti-European and certain other European political parties in the context of the war (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, in order to be aware of the Russian influence in our democracy, it was not even necessary to hear the words of my colleague Donato in this Chamber a short while ago, just look at what is happening in our territories every day. Let me give you some examples from Italy: the then League Councillor Edoardo Rixi even decided to go on an official mission for the Liguria region in Crimea immediately after the illegal annexation to Russia, the Councillor of Fratelli d'Italia in Piedmont, Maurizio Marrone, for years qualified as a representative in Italy of the Donetsk Republic and still does not answer when questioned about this link, and Salvini, in addition to links with Putin, recently tried to organize a trip to Russia through the Russian ambassador to Italy without the knowledge of President Draghi. I could move on. There is a right that, especially in some countries, has not fully overcome its ambiguities in relations with Putin and his entourage. It is therefore necessary to continue with journalistic and judicial investigations and to strengthen the instruments of protection of our democracy, first of all to make it work and show that, with the culture of rights and freedom, we are stronger than any authoritarianism.