What Alex spoke about.

18

Sep

2024

MT Speech

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EU response to the Mpox outbreak and the need for continuous action (debate)

Mr President, the last time the world health organisation declared a health emergency was in January 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A few months later, the whole world was in lockdown. From the experience of the pandemic we learned about the importance of having systems to detect these pandemics as soon as possible, respond immediately and about the importance of cooperation on a glob…

18

Sep

2024

MT Speech

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Organised crime, a major threat to the internal security of the European Union and European citizens (topical debate)

Mrs President, organised crime is a serious threat to the internal security of the European Union and to citizens, and it is therefore necessary to devise European countermeasures that are ultimately common. Organised crime, although there are some who try to give a different interpretation even in this parliament, has no borders. According to a report drawn up by Europol, national bodies have ide…

17

Sep

2024

MT Speech

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War in the Gaza Strip and the situation in the Middle-East (debate)

Ms President, this is the first opportunity in this legislature to finally have the opportunity to discuss and analyse the ongoing genocide inside the Gaza Strip. A genocide that has already caused deaths that now number more than forty thousand people killed and ninety-three thousand innocent people injured. I can't even dare or think or imagine the horror that the Palestinian people are going th…

17

Sep

2024

MT Speech

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The future of European competitiveness (debate)

Competitiveness and innovation are critical elements for keeping the European Union alive and functioning. We have no time to waste. We have a hard pit ahead of us. We want to reduce the economic imbalance between the European Union and continents such as the Americas and China. It is crucial to understand that competitiveness cannot necessarily be achieved at the expense of people, workers or the…

17

Sep

2024

EN Speech

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Global measures towards social media platforms - Strengthening the role of DSA and protecting democracy and freedom in the online sphere (debate)

Mr President, social media is by far the most significantly and widely used form of mass media in our modern society. Undoubtedly, social media holds immense potential as a unifying force, fostering communities and bringing people together. Despite this, it is often misused to spread fake news and propaganda, and to manipulate and target people towards a particular way of thinking, which is aimed …

12

Mar

2024

MT Speech

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European Media Freedom Act (debate)

Mr President, the media freedom act is a very important one, the first of its kind, which on the contrary just said my colleague, David Casa, is also a piece of legislation that the Maltese Government has also supported at European level and also in the Council, and has implemented a number of reforms in order to ultimately also strengthen media freedom in Malta. At a time when public opinion is i…

12

Mar

2024

MT Speech

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Resumption of the sitting

Ms President, I would like to make a point of order on the last vote on which we will be voting today - on the extension of Regulation 168 - which ultimately amounts to discrimination against one of the most fundamental principles of this European Parliament; that any member of the European Parliament has the right to speak in the official language of his country. Maltese for twenty years in this …

27

Feb

2024

MT Speech

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Rising inequalities in the world (debate)

Mr. President! In 2015, the international community promised to change the world for the better, agreeing on seventeen development goals so that by 2030 the world will reach a state of prosperity, protection and dignity for all so that no one is left behind. It was no coincidence that the tenth objective is to reduce social inequalities. Ten years later we still live in a world of vast inequalitie…

27

Feb

2024

MT Speech

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War in the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire, including recent developments in the region (debate)

Today I would like to ask where is mankind? I am almost ashamed to sit in this same Parliament and listen to EPP and even far-right colleagues speaking in this way in the face of an ongoing genocide. Thirty thousand people, the majority of women and children, who, if not killed by bombs, are killed by hunger. We then listen to our colleagues, here in this Parliament, and attack UNRWA which is the …

8

Feb

2024

MT Speech

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Working conditions of teachers in the EU (debate)

Mr President, The role of teachers is one: to inspire, motivate, encourage, educate and shape the future of our children. Teachers are essential in our society. It is a fact that no one can deny it: that we cannot have any progress, no future, without quality education, without motivated teachers. Despite their importance, there are and there are several shortcomings for teachers in their poor wor…

7

Feb

2024

MT Speech

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The fight against hate speech and disinformation: responsibility of social platforms within the Digital Services Act (topical debate)

European citizens will be making their voice heard in the elections next June in order to choose their representatives in this Parliament. And it is no surprise that disinformation and hate speech are on everyone’s radar, especially because they have exploded online, at unprecedented levels both during and after the pandemic. It will not be the first time that foreign and malicious actors have use…

17

Jan

2024

MT Speech

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Quality jobs in a competitive future-oriented social market economy (topical debate)

President, Commissioner, I will start with a quote of a great visionary whose work has shaped the European single market and transformed the European Community into a Union of people and nations: "The European dream is not only about economic well-being, but also about social justice and inclusion." In his insidious quote, Jacques Delors emphasizes that the vision of a united Europe extends far be…

17

Jan

2024

MT Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14-15 December 2023 and preparation of the Special European Council meeting of 1 February 2024 - Situation in Hungary and frozen EU funds (joint debate - European Council meetings)

Mr President, it is unacceptable that at last December’s leaders’ summit, our Member States had not reached an agreement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza; although we have also had a number of Member States, including Malta, which have been calling for an immediate ceasefire for a number of weeks now. What do we expect? What we expect in the face of this human tragedy, in the face of this dis…

16

Jan

2024

MT Speech

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Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2022 (debate)

Ms President, first of all, I would like to congratulate Ms Emily O’Reilly on her remarkable work and commitments to continue her efforts to ensure that the European Union delivers on the highest standards of administration, transparency and ethics of the institutions, bodies, officials and agencies of the European Union, as well as guaranteeing the accessibility and quality of the services that t…

16

Jan

2024

MT Speech

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Empowering consumers for the green transition (debate)

Mr. President! Every time we go to a shop, a supermarket, we see many logos, a lot of advertising, which tell us that products are green products, recyclable products, products that are sustainable. Greenwashing is a real problem. A plastic water bottle can never be made of 100% recyclable material. We have a situation today, for example, where Ryanair is telling us, forcing our consumers to pay a…

15

Jan

2024

MT Speech

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The role of social award criteria in public procurement in strengthening social rights, good working conditions and inclusive labour markets (debate)

Mr President, it is very important for Europe to be an excellent place to live, work, raise your children, take care of your loved ones, and even retire and age. A Europe that delivers the European Pillar of Social Rights on the ground. A Europe that truly supports workers and trade unions and is one based on fair pay, quality work, security and respect for the fundamental rights of our workers. E…

12

Dec

2023

MT Speech

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Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)

Mr President, before I started I wanted to convey a message that asked me to deliver Father Dijonsius Mintoff, the founder of the Malta Peace Laboratory. Peace is possible. How can this Parliament, in the face of an ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, remain silent? Eighteen thousand people, within a few weeks, were slaughtered, killed. How can this Parliament remain silent, when you have 70% of t…

12

Dec

2023

EN Speech

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Parliament’s call for the right to disconnect - three years on (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Schmit, digital tools have created an ever-connected, always-on culture that intensifies work and normal working hours. We all know the constant pressure to check work-related emails and messages during our free time, worrying that our employer will demand our immediate attention and that we will not meet the expectations of always being available. Less than two weeks ag…

12

Dec

2023

MT Speech

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Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (debate)

Mr President, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine disrupted global supply chains, caused a shortage of raw materials and forced Europe to realise that strategic raw materials are critical in order to achieve environmental and climate objectives as well as our digital transition. Unfortunately, in the last few decades, we have become too dependent, rather overly dependent on third countries for the…

18

Oct

2023

MT Speech

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Mental health at work (debate)

Mrs President, mental health problems were always with us. However, after the outbreak of the pandemic it can be said that the second pandemic we are facing with great strength not only in Europe, but it has become an international problem. However, mental health problems are also a reality in our workplaces. And so in a world where the field of work is becoming more digital, the line between fami…

18

Oct

2023

MT Speech

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Fighting disinformation and dissemination of illegal content in the context of the Digital Services Act and in times of conflict (debate)

Mr President, at the advent of the tragic events in Israel and Gaza, social media was overshadowed by messages and videos full of disinformation or spreading hatred, or even encouraging the perpetration of terrorist acts. I welcome the Commission’s warning to TikTok and Meta as well as X’s investigation to suppress this type of content. Disinformation is undermining not only the democratic princip…

18

Oct

2023

MT Question

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Rule of Law in Malta: 6 years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the need to protect journalists (debate)

I am, the most incomprehensible thing is when it comes to such a sensitive debate and we are not prepared with the facts. You have just made an allegation that the Maltese Government does not cooperate with the Commission, the authorities - as if nothing had happened. I cannot understand how one speaker behind the EPP - and so I would like to ask you a bit - is saying that nothing has been done to…

18

Oct

2023

MT Speech

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Rule of Law in Malta: 6 years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the need to protect journalists (debate)

Ms President, I do not believe that it was by chance that the European Parliament train, last Monday, ended up at Disneyland station. This is the result of the fact that the People's Group is making this Parliament a comedy. Comedy like this sad resolution that we are seeing today in front of us. If the resolution had stopped by recalling the journalist's murder and the protection of journalists o…

17

Oct

2023

EN Speech

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Commission Work Programme 2024 (debate)

Madam President, first of all I would like to thank the Executive Vice President, Šefčovič for presenting the work programme for our plenary this afternoon. The main priority for the remaining months of this legislature will be to deliver on the outstanding legislation on the table and reach an agreement with the co-legislators. The S&D Group stands ready to play its part and fully engage on all f…

5

Oct

2023

MT Speech

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The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) (debate)

Ms President, one in three people who use the Internet are a child, and every day, thousands of children enter online for the first time. Children are spending more and more time on the Internet - using social media, playing online games and using apps on their smartphones. And despite all the opportunities the Internet offers, the online world is not yet a safe place for our children. Children ca…