Speeches

Mr President, digital infrastructure has become as important as traditional infrastructure such as our bridges and roads. And I come from Malta, a small Member State, an island, I am more aware of the importance of this infrastructure, especially for thecables submarine internet, which are equally crucial for the functioning of the lives of our citizens and critical infrastructure in every Member State. And so I think it is time for the experiment we have done with the setting up of the agency ENISA, to ensure that we have coordination when it comes to cybersecurity, cybersecurity, it would also extend to this critical infrastructure by either setting up a separate agency, or giving ENISA more and more expertise to ensure that we have more coordination, more protection, on this infrastructure. In addition, we need to further strengthen resilience and therefore, the Digital Sovereignty Fund should be set up as soon as possible.

Mr President, Mental health problems among young people, among our children are a very serious problem. It is a problem that is making suicides the second largest cause of death among young people across the European Union. However, I believe that as a European Union, it is important to focus more on prevention. And today we had a golden opportunity as a European Union, in theCommission Working Programme and its presentation, in order to take the first step. The Internal Market Committee in the European Parliament has, during the past legislative term, prepared a report on theaddictive designs platforms. Something that is intrinsically affecting so many and so many young people, whether it's about cyberbullying But even depression, burnouts, which are something that is directly linked to the enormous time our young people are spending on an online basis. And so today we had an opportunity, as we called several times in different committees, for the European Parliament and the European Commission to take the first action with thedigital fairness act. Unfortunately, because of thedigital fairness act nor theright to disconnect, two important legislations to protect mental health, did not see the sunlight. A great misfortune.

Thank you Mr President, What are the real factors that make the European economy more competitive? Is it the fact that we are the cheapest continent? No, Europe is built on quality products, produced by qualified workers working in the best conditions. We can look at cutting red tape, reducing red tape in order to reduce a number of burdens on companies. It is not a bad thing, but to go in a direction where we lower and restore our standards in order to safeguard competitiveness, where we are grappling with ourselves. Firstly, because it is not true that regulations make Europe less competitive. Our industry needs to have reliable governance and even clear regulations. And this week I was amazed to hear Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen talking about reversing the digital standards we have worked so hard for over the past years. It is something, and we were speaking in this same plenary a month ago, where we started to say that we have attacks coming from other continents. It is something that is showing the attacks not only come from the US and Trump's presidency, but are unfortunately also coming internally and so it is essential that we continue to work on the best conditions for our workers, because the social compass remains that compass that makes us really different from others and more competitive. We need to work towards a directive on AI in workplaces and a directive on the right to disconnect implemented as soon as possible. Let's invest in our economies and not reduce conditions.... (the Chair interrupted the speaker)

Madam President, first of all, I would like to speak about the disrespect shown today in front of this House when we were treated – and it was clearly stated by the Commission – as not ‘high-level’ enough. And I ask the Commission, what is 'high-level' enough for the President of the Commission? Today I would like to talk about the ambition we need as a European Commission and also as a European Parliament. It's a feeling that we're totally missing out on this program that has just been presented to us. First of all, important initiatives that have been totally sidelined and do not appear entirely anywhere in this plan. First of all, a month ago we were here in this plenary talking about the importance of having protection for digital legislation at European level. What was the result? Two days ago we saw the Vice-President of the European Commission, Virkkunen, tell us that she should remove the red tape from legislation that this Parliament has just approved in the past legislature. AI Act, DSA, DMA: that is how the European Commission will be protecting our digital and other legislation: Right to disconnect, the European social model that is totally missing from this plan. We heard the right to disconnect be approved in this Parliament, about four years ago. We saw him introduced into the Charter of Digital Rights presented by the European Commission, we also saw him humbly in the State of the Union, in the letter given to the visitor, but once again he is totally missing. This shows that the European Commission is completely disconnected from our citizens.

Today is the first day of Trump's second presidency. While pledging a golden era for the United States, it must make this achievement by placing America first and foremost, also on the basis that it plagues our rights Europeans. Its approach to negotiations is either to swallow or to swallow. It places the health exhibition on cooperation across the Atlantic. The Commission must be prepared for this behaviour and must demonstrate the economic strength of the European Union as the largest economic market in the world. American Big Tech companies and their billionaire owners need access to our markets to make money. Let's not let them make money at the expense of our citizens, our democracy. We cannot throw away our reputation as an advanced world force in technology legislation. The rules of the Digital Services Act and other measures are not an exchange tool nor an exchange tool, investigations into X, Meta, Apple and other giants. The Commission must show strength and resist the pressure it will face for the interests of technology oligarchies. We either fight back or throw away weapons. We socialists and democrats have made our choice.

Madam President, when we saw Musk walking into the Twitter office with a sink two years ago, did we expect things to escalate so quickly? It is sinking in that tech billionaires going rogue pose an existential threat to democracy in Europe. Meta's Zuckerberg has joined in and urged the newly inaugurated Trump to force the EU to roll back European rules. We cannot accept these provocations and interferences with democratic processes when Musk uses X to support the far‑right AfD and algorithms are tweaked to spread disinformation in the process. The silence from the European Commission and the lack of appropriate reaction have been deafening. In this game with bullies from the other side of the Atlantic, we must show strength and determination. We would be making a fool of ourselves if, after spending the last five years creating a digital acquis, we did not even sovereignly enforce the common European rules when the first difficulties arose. Investigations have been launched into X and other platforms, but none have been concluded. We have penalties, up to 6 % of the global revenue, but to be credible, these should be applied more swiftly. The announced Commission's European Democracy Shield looks ridiculous if they didn't apply existing European rules. Besides defending fact‑checking, we should also invest in fact‑telling. We cannot rely on US tech oligarchs to provide us with platforms for trustworthy information. We need to invest in alternative digital infrastructure in Europe, a Eurostack with an EU‑made and democracy‑proof alternative for social networking platforms. European citizens deserve a safe digital public space where quality journalism can find its place.

Madam President, in recent years, TikTok has been transformed from a simple app into the fastest-growing social network in the world, particularly amongst young people. It has become a space where millions of voices are heard. Still, it has also been a breeding ground for anti-democratic and anti-EU narratives – a place to instigate disinformation campaigns and political opinions that undermine the very foundations of our democracies. What happened in Romania is another example of how malicious actors can easily manipulate social media platforms, such as TikTok or X, to distort public perceptions and undermine the democratic processes within our Member States. If not addressed now, this will not be an isolated case. It could happen at any moment. It can happen anywhere, and will have a lasting impact on the health of our democracies, not just in Romania, but across Europe and across the rest of the world. TikTok itself does not allow for paid political advertising, yet someone was paying for the political ads in Romania. Not to mention that their ownership and close coordination with third-country governments and politicians raises serious concerns about their political affiliations. How TikTok will handle the issues of disinformation, fake accounts, data privacy and manipulation of young people on their network is no trivial matter. They have a legal and a moral obligation to comply with the DSA, preserve the integrity of elections, and protect democratic values. While the Commission's efforts are commendable, they are not sufficient. The urgency of the situation demands immediate and decisive action. If we want TikTok and X to take the responsibilities under the DSA seriously, the Commission should immediately use all the available tools under the DSA. If this is not enough, then we need to discuss whether platforms that do not follow our rules should be allowed or not to offer their services in a union that they don't respect. There is no time to waste. The future of social media – and indeed the future of democracy itself – hangs in the balance. The consequences of inaction are too grave to ignore.

Mrs President, it seems that as a Parliament we are all on the same line when it comes to the importance of transparency, when it comes to the importance of having more accountability in the European institutions. And in the end, all the groups have delivered a message, today, that they are all looking forward to having tomorrow in the important vote that we will have here in the European Parliament, a continuation of the great work that the Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly has done over the past years. The new Ombudsman should not only do and carry out what the present Ombudsman has done, but should also see that his work is related to new challenges, to situations that are changing very rapidly here on a European basis in the way the institutions work so that we can combat conflicts of interest, we can enforce our standards more strongly, but also by seeing that the Ombudsman's office continues to serve as that bridge, an important bridge between citizens and the European institutions. So tomorrow is a very important day, not only because we will be approving Emily O'Reilly's last work report after eleven years, but also because we will be choosing us, and we have this opportunity and luck to choose the successor who will occupy this very important position. A position which, as I have already said, is important so that among others we also see that the rights of persons with disabilities on a European basis are respected and these rights are no longer just beautiful written rights on paper. And so I appeal to all of you, in the choice you will be making tomorrow, to keep in mind the work Emily O'Reilly has done and to make the right choice to ensure that accountability and transparency on a European basis continue to be strengthened.

Madam President, Madam Ombudsman, colleagues, first of all, let me begin by expressing my gratitude to the shadow rapporteurs for their constructive collaboration and also commitment on working together on this very important report. I would also like to commend the remarkable work of Ms Emily O'Reilly and her team. The importance of the European Ombudsman role in protecting citizens' rights and strengthening public confidence in all EU institutions cannot be emphasised enough. Over the past eleven years, O'Reilly and her office have done an outstanding job in enhancing transparency, enhancing accountability, enhancing the effectiveness of the EU's administration. In my report, I address a number of issues and highlight the work of the Ombudsman for the past year. First of all, the Commission's maladministration due to systemic and significant delays in processing requests for public access to documents is – and remains – a key concern. I stress in my report that such documents may be in written form or paper or stored electronically. I also suggest in my report to revise Regulation 1049/2001 on public access to documents, and recall several instances where the Commission failed to grant access. For instance, regarding the EU's soil, forest and climate adaptation strategies or exchange of text messages between the Commission President and the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. The report stresses the importance of respecting fundamental rights in migration-related actions. It emphasises the obligations of all EU institutions, all EU bodies, all EU agencies to uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this context, the report notes the Commission's efforts to conduct fundamental rights impact assessment for EU-funded migration management facilities. The Parliament's response to Qatargate, particularly the new Code of Conduct for Members of the European Parliament on integrity and transparency, underscores the need for its proper implementation and monitoring. I stress the importance of the Parliament and the Commission consistently paying close attention to direct and indirect lobbying activities in order to identify gaps and weaknesses that could compromise transparency, that could compromise accountability. The report highlights the risk of conflicts of interest arising from 'revolving door' cases, where senior staff of EU institutions or bodies transition to the private sector. It underscores the need of the highest ethical standards, including transparency and public accountability. Furthermore, the report raises concerns about the Commission's interactions with the tobacco industry. Transparency and functioning in EPSO selection procedures are vital to ensure a fair and inclusive recruitment process, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the EU's institutions. The report urges selection tests when it comes to addressing EPSO issues and also ensuring that technical requirements do not disadvantage candidates. The European Accessibility Act, adopted in 2019, was a vital step towards improving the life of 87 million persons with disabilities, facilitating access to essential services like transport, banking, computers, television, e-books and online shops. Yet, despite the 2022 deadline, Member States have failed to fully transpose it. Delays confirm the ongoing infringements that we have. The violation of EU law undermines disability rights. I call on the Ombudsman to prioritise this crucial issue with the UNCRPD framework to resolve it as a matter of priority. Last but not least, I am proud to stress that during the committee vote, the report received an overwhelming majority supported by all political groups. This reflects our shared commitment to enhancing the efficiency and the transparency of all EU institutions, bodies and agencies for the benefit of all our citizens.

Ms President, as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on children, let us remember that children are not only the future but our present. Children are active members of our society and are formed according to the world we create around them. The European Union has made giant strides in advancing children's rights, and I congratulate the Maltese Commissioner Glenn Micallef for his commitment to build on these foundations. Its commitment to intergenerational justice, child safety in the digital world, the fight against cyberbullying are crucial in a world more dependent on technologies. However, strong strategies are not enough. The strategies need funding, implementation and should be executed. We must increasingly engage in ensuring free and accessible education for all, fighting poverty and prioritising children's mental health and well-being in the digital sphere. Together we must continue to put the rights of the child at the centre of European Union policy and ensure that the decisions taken today create a better and safer future for future generations. Children's voices must be heard. Their needs must be prioritised and their rights must always be safeguarded. Let us act urgently, committing ourselves to creating a Europe where every child has the same success.

I am proud that the next college will have a Maltese Commissioner with a portfolio that reflects our progressive policy priorities, a unique role that will bring new ideas and perspectives to the table. Malta and Europe will have not only the youngest ever Commissioner in charge of the youth portfolio but also the first European Commissioner for intergenerational justice who will speak on behalf of present and future generations. The Maltese Commissioner will play an important role in engaging with young people in order to give them a voice in their future. It will play a role in driving forward a priority, which is an important priority for our long-standing political group, that of putting young people at the centre of the European Union's agenda and policy-making. It will also work to protect the youngest members of society – our children – by implementing the European Union Strategy on the Rights of the Child, a crucial step in ensuring their well-being and future. Last but not least, it will put culture, sport, mental health and cyberbullying at the centre of its portfolio, ensuring that these important aspects of our society are given the attention and resources they deserve. Glenn congratulations, congratulations to the whole Commission.

Madam President, we must act now, for Europe and also for European people. More than ever, in the current challenging geopolitical context, we need stability, a properly functioning Commission and progressive European agenda and cooperation.

Madam President, what is illegal offline should be illegal online. Tech firms often use every dirty trick that they can think of to maximise their profits and keep their audience hooked through sensationalist and harmful content. Unfortunately, violent extremists are using the same tricks, and with predatory algorithms, troll farms and bots spewing misinformation and disinformation, catchy memes and short clips are finding ways to recruit, socialise and target young people that are particularly vulnerable to online propaganda, hate speech and violent content. The problem is not a new one, yet for many years we have treated the web as the digital Wild West, where everything was allowed. To change this, we must ensure that companies running social media platforms are not exploitative and do not cause harm, and that they keep their services safe and free from hate speech, misinformation and malicious algorithmic activities. To this end, we need to properly enforce the legislation already in place, demand results and impose larger sanctions on tech giants that fall short. Second, we need media and digital competences enshrined to all educational levels and for all generations. This will help young people, in particular, to develop critical‑thinking skills and build resilience to violent, extremist and terrorist content online. Young people need to know their rights, distinguish facts from opinions, understand how societies work and should work, the value of privacy and the protection of their personal data, and how technologies and social media can be manipulated, and how to safeguard themselves against it. Last but not least, we need to address the root causes of radicalisation, since there is no single cause or pathway into radicalisation and violent extremism. The digital technologies might be a facilitator, but they are rarely the cause. Radicalisation doesn't happen overnight and, as a community, we all have a crucial role to play in ensuring our young people remain safe.

Mr President, Europe is suffering from a skills gap in critical sectors. Many workers are not fostered in digital skills and are unprepared to exploit the digitalisation of our works and for the environmental transition of the economy. This failure requires our immediate attention. We have to radically change the way we view the teaching of trades. Otherwise, we risk exacerbating this problem over time. It is crucial to remember that the burden cannot be borne solely by workers. With the necessary help and fair opportunities, workers can adapt and thrive despite the challenges of digital and environmental transition. It is therefore indispensable to ensure the right to paid training and education for all workers. A European directive on workers' right to training would be a crucial step towards achieving this goal. Specific sectors and trades require targeted interventions and personalised training that meets the needs and abilities of each individual. Recruitment strategy, decent working conditions, quality work and wages. Telework, flexible working hours and access to housing, childcare and private health insurance are all incentives that must be part of the new way of looking at skills.

Mr President, millions of euros are invested in our cities and regions through the European Social Fund. With these investments we have created thousands of jobs, trained millions of workers, invested in housing and strengthened job creation and even social inclusion. This is evidence of the positive impact and crucial role that the European Social Fund is playing in the development of our society. I am therefore concerned about the Commission's plans to combine European Social Funds with other funds, and to impose more onerous conditions for interested organisations to gain access to these funds. This is a dangerous idea. Instead of improving the current funds available, the plan proposed by the European Commission damages cities and regions, further widening the economic and social imbalance. The proposed plan would create obstacles to enabling cities and regions to obtain social funding for education, training, employment and social inclusion, as well as to fight poverty. We must ensure that the next multi-annual financial framework includes a better and more robust European Social Fund. The European Social Fund is and must remain an important means of strengthening the social dimension of the European Union. The Fund is the main tool to help overcome the consequences of climate change, digitalisation, the cost of living and wage stagnation. This Fund must continue to address the unique specific challenges of each region, be they islands, rural regions, or remote ones.

The colleague of the Popular Group has just insinuated that in Malta there is impunity because all those involved in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia - the principal and even those who committed the crime - are still running out with impunity and are not facing justice. I'll ask you: you used the word "impunity". Do you know that the commander and all the people who were involved in this murder have been arrested for years and the vast majority of them have already been sentenced for this brutal murder? Prepare a bit before you come here and tell the facts as they are, from twisting the facts in order to please your friends of the Popular and attack where you are not right.

Ms President, while I would like to start by greeting the memory of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, today I cannot help but comment on the hypocrisy and double standards of this Parliament. While today we are holding the fifteenth debate on the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, because for the Popular Group they feel that when they are doing so, as we have seen from a Maltese like us, David Casa, who by attacking the Socialist Government is winning a few political points, this Parliament, this same Parliament is still silent, remains silent and is still deaf in the face of the massacre of one hundred and forty journalists in Gaza and Lebanon over the past year alone. We have not seen any debate. We did not see any discussion. And the message that is being sent by this Parliament is that for us there are first and second class journalists. In the case of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the mastermind and all the criminals behind her brutal murder are all under arrest, and the majority of them are already facing long prison sentences. The Government, as the Commission has also said, has already undertaken successive reforms to strengthen institutions, the rule of law. Reforms, which even the European Commission, today, praised that we are pushing forward. And so I appeal to this Parliament to focus on the real problems of journalists who are facing us around us. One hundred and forty journalists killed...

Mr President, today we are celebrating World Mental Health Day. Awareness of mental health, especially in these times in which we live, is more important than ever. The need for prevention, the need for this European Parliament, on a European basis, to have more horizontal legislation in order to break first and foremost the taboo that still exists when it comes to mental health, but also to take action as a European Union so that we can prevent a number of problems that are ultimately predictable. And today I will be focusing, as rapporteur of the European Parliament during the past legislature on the right to disconnect, on the importance of being brave as a Parliament, the new Commission being bolder than we are, ultimately, and pushing forward this right as soon as possible. Why? Because many and many problems that are predictable that we are seeing when it comes to mental health we can solve them in our workplaces, among others. But I would also like to use this opportunity, on this day, today, to appeal to all MEPs to make an effort as all political groups to establish, for the first time officially, the European Parliament Intergroup for Mental Health, so that all together we can be one voice throughout the legislature, more coordinated to combat and prevent many mental health problems.

Mr President, Over the past year we have begun an aggressive Israeli war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. Genocide condemned by the United Nations International Court of Justice. Nearly 42,000 people were killed and killed this year alone. The majority of women and children. More than 97,300 people were injured. The numbers continue to grow with each passing day. The entire population living in Gaza suffers from food shortages, acute hunger, especially among children. After a year of genocide in Gaza, Israel escalated its aggression against Lebanon. It has thus created a threat of regional conflict in the Middle Orient. The war must stop. We want to put an end to the genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. We must recognise the so-called Two-State Solution. We must call for an immediate, permanent ceasefire. We must urgently provide access to humanitarian aid in Gaza. Last but not least, to end genocide and aggression we must impose strong political and economic sanctions and suspend the treaty between the European Union and Israel immediately.

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 global scale. Thanks to these experiences today we are in a much better position to deal with health emergencies. However, I am afraid that the 77% increase in the number of confirmed Mpox cases since June indicates that we have learned nothing from past mistakes and that we are condemned to repeat them unless we take immediate steps to stop the spread of Mpox. No one is saved until everyone is saved. We are in this challenge together and if we take steps now we can cope with the situation. The European Union should immediately launch a coordinated response on an international scale. Countries need to invest extensive resources in order to contain this outbreak despite our small size. I am proud that Malta was among the first European countries to donate Mpox vaccines to African countries, contributing to global efforts to control the spread of the virus. There is no need to create an alarm. We have everything we need to control this pandemic, but we must give priority to robust systems of surveillance, contact tracing, tests, transmitters, preventions, controls and even exchange of information and research. Preventing this outbreak from escalating to another pandemic is not a task for one country or entity, but for all of us.

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 identified 821 networks of organised criminals operating within the European Union and threatening our internal security. The situation is therefore extremely alarming. Terrorism is a permanent, Union-wide threat that is directly impacting our fundamental rights. Terrorism can destabilise and destroy entire societies, defuse peace and security and threaten economic and social development. Terrorism is an attack on democracy and the sovereignty of law – a pillar on which respect for our fundamental rights is based. Moreover, the market for illegal drug sales remains the largest market for organised crime – as it easily moves from one place to another, often involving massive violence. Drug trafficking is a challenge for our safety and health, especially for the younger generation. More work is therefore needed to protect our people, especially our women and children, and to safeguard fundamental rights. We want to strengthen cooperation between Member States in the fight against crime. We must strengthen the link between Member States and Europol. Last, but not least Member States must become more effective in sharing information both between themselves and through Europol.

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 through in this minute. Ankles, refugee camps, people in shelters and bombings in which people are often targeted by civilians. Hospitals and schools bombed up to a few hours ago. And the lack of the most basic services such as sanitation services and even the provision of water and food. Ultimately, they are nothing more than measures that are certainly contrary to the most fundamental principles of international law. And so I ask that this parliament be more vocal in order to ultimately condemn in the strongest, most clear terms, what is going on in the Gaza Strip against an innocent people. I would like to see more discussion in this parliament and condemnation of what Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip, for example, are facing. More than a hundred journalists were killed and slaughtered, while in the end he was doing his job. Where's the conviction? Where is our call to protect broadcasters and journalists in war zones? And so I believe that as a European Union, as a European Parliament, we should be more vocal in condemning this genocide, calling it by name, and ultimately continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, without seeing more innocent victims losing their lives.

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 environment. We can strike a balance where we ensure our livelihoods without sacrificing our values. Survival and values are not mutually exclusive, but both are necessary to achieve successful economic development over years. We have many examples on wisely written European legislation that has contributed to both environmental protection and innovation. The common charger is an example of how we can create a circular economy with more innovation and competitiveness. Deregulation is not the answer to this challenge. We must increasingly focus on sustainable competitiveness and innovation, a change that is crucial to succeed not only in having competitive prices but in securing our future.

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 at destabilising modern democratic processes and societies. We increasingly see malicious motives and dishonest rhetoric from powerful, influential people, using social media's ability to circulate and disperse both information and also disinformation. The recent wave of violent riots in the UK after the spread of misinformation online, and Elon Musk's decision not to comply with Brazilian court orders leading to the blocking of X in the country are other examples of how tech giants are increasingly behaving with impunity before governments and before our courts. It is not the first time that lies and hate spread on digital platforms are sparking and fuelling violence, or changing the course of elections in countries around the world, even in Europe. A recent report commissioned by the S&D Group clearly shows that coordinated disinformation networks flooded X before the EU elections in France, in Germany, in Italy. The scale of disinformation networks shows they could – and did – take over an entire debate, changing its narrative completely by flooding X with posts, reposts, comments and likes. Social media companies need to be held more accountable for spreading disinformation. The Digital Services Act represents the EU's first step in protecting ourselves against the spread of misinformation and preserving our democracies from such influence. However, the effectiveness of the DSA hinges on robust enforcement and a firm commitment from the new Commission. We need assurance that the multi-million euro fines under the DSA will be used to rein in social media companies that break the law and exploit our democracies. Last but not least, it's crucial to acknowledge that we cannot combat the issue in isolation. The S&D Group strongly advocates for the EU to strengthen the global roles of the DSA and heed the UN Secretary-General's call for global measures to safeguard our democracies from the digital chaos that social media platforms have unleashed.

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 increasingly fragmented and exposed to manipulation, particularly on an online basis, this legislation is needed more than ever. This law concerns media freedom, editorial independence, access to quality information and the protection of journalists. Although it is not a perfect law, it is clear that this is a step in the right direction with the aim of leading to more free media, more vibrant media on a European basis, and how we will be doing so: by protecting journalists and the independence of the media, by safeguarding freedom from editorial interference and unlawful surveillance, by guaranteeing media pluralism, by safeguarding the independence of the media and even those of the public service, and by ensuring an economic environment in which independent journalism can continue to flourish. We have improved the Commission’s proposal, and to this end I will support this media freedom act.