What Loucas spoke about.

30 Mar

2023

EL Speech

Strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, well done to the rapporteurs for their very important work! Today a very important step is being taken, because in a Europe that wants to be defined as a Europe of equality and equity, the pay gap between men and women is not acceptable. Not only is it not acceptable, it is also sad, unacceptable and insulting to all those who came here with the vote of European citizen…

15 Feb

2023

EL Speech

EUCO conclusions: the need for the speedy finalisation of the Road Map (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, the conclusions of the European Council are in the right direction. But is that enough? I hear strong criticism, but I do not hear from some sides suggestions on how to solve migration. I hear not on fences, not on walls. I hate fences and walls more than anyone, because Turkey put a fence in Cyprus and divided my country. I hate fences. But tell me what we can do wh…

13 Feb

2023

EL Speech

EU response to the humanitarian situation following the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria (debate)

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Madam President, I would like to express my shock and condolences to those affected by the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey. Cyprus has the victims in mind. We mourn 48 Turkish Cypriots who perished in the ruins, including dozens of children. Their pain is our pain too. At times when nature reminds us that we are weak, unity and solidarity are required. We as the European Union must resp…

17 Jan

2023

EL Speech

Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Borrell, Europe without a common foreign policy and common security is a giant standing on clay feet. Europe without a common foreign policy and security is doomed to remain a global payer, but it will never become a global player. There's a lot going on, you said it yourself, but we still have a long way to go. If you want, I can share with you many examples where Europe pays, bu…

14 Dec

2022

EL Speech

Defending democracy from foreign interference (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, we are talking about interventions and I am one of the people who does not chew on my words. I feel shame and anger at what has come to light in the last few days. Allegations of serving the interests of foreign powers that have nothing to do with European principles and values are extremely worrying and insulting. The credibility of the institutions has been greatly da…

22 Nov

2022

EL Speech

Promoting regional stability and security in the broader Middle East region (debate)

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Madam President, we are talking about stability in the wider region of the Middle East, an area in which my homeland, Cyprus, is the extreme European border. I am therefore well aware of the importance of stability and security in our region, but also of the importance of more active European involvement in achieving this goal. Let's not hide behind our finger. Stability is not self-evident when d…

9 Nov

2022

EL Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20-21 October 2022 (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, energy policy is being raised for the first time as an important issue in European affairs. A strong Europe must have energy security and a common foreign policy. The crisis in Ukraine has highlighted our energy dependence on Russia. We have to turn to the inside of Europe and my country, Cyprus, can play an essential role through the important deposits found in the Cyp…

17 Oct

2022

EL Speech

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, the impoverishment of millions of European citizens is a reality that we must face up to. For many months we have been experiencing the impact of a war that broke out in our yard with tragic results in all areas. The sharp increase in prices exacerbates the problem and, unfortunately, makes it utopian to achieve the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. The number …

6 Jun

2022

EL Speech

2021 Report on Turkey (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, I do not really know how hypocritical it is to talk about a report in which the words 'Turkey' and 'progress' coexist in the same sentence. I no longer know how useful it is to draw from this step all those arguments that clearly prove that Erdogan's Turkey has nothing to do with the European project. So even if some people have their ears closed, we ought to stand here…

18 May

2022

EL Speech

Commission’s 2021 Rule of Law Report (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, I have seen colleagues thundering and giving lessons in democracy here today and not waiting to hear an answer; As soon as they say their poem, they leave without having a controversy. This is democracy as they see it. The rule of law is the basis and shield of the European Union, whether some like it or not. Any actions that challenge the rule of law, challenge the …

4 May

2022

EL Speech

The case of Osman Kavala in Turkey

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Mr President, Commissioner, once again we are talking about human rights violations in Turkey. Once again we are talking about a blatant violation of human rights and a violation of the rule of law by the Erdoğan regime. The Kavala case is yet another proof of who we're dealing with. A fascist regime with a leader who counts nothing and no one. A few days ago, one of my Turkish Cypriot compatriots…

5 Apr

2022

EL Speech

Implementation of citizenship education actions (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, first of all I would like to congratulate the rapporteur and friend Domènec Ruiz Devesa on his excellent work and I would like to thank colleagues for the excellent cooperation we have had in writing this report, a report that reflects all our concerns and at the same time provides answers to the challenges we face as a Union in the area of citizenship education and edu…

5 Apr

2022

EL Speech

Outcome of the EU-China Summit (1 April 2022) (debate)

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Mr President, Mr Borrell, I have judged you too many times, but tonight I thank you very much, because you have been here too many hours and you listen to us patiently. We are talking tonight about China, a country which we rightly condemn for its behaviour. My question is this: When are we going to talk about other countries not participating in the sanctions? For countries that undermine Europea…

9 Mar

2022

EL Speech

European Semester for economic policy coordination: annual sustainable growth survey 2022 – European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social aspects in the annual sustainable growth strategy survey 2022 (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioners, Minister, today with the pandemic crisis and the war in Ukraine raging, low-income households are facing a very serious problem of poverty. There is an urgent need to promote family-friendly policies that safeguard the rights and well-being of our children. The European Semester should also focus on persons with disabilities. These people face a particularly high ri…

8 Mar

2022

EL Speech

The deterioration of the situation of refugees as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, we have done our duty and Europe, united, has responded immediately to Russia's invasion with unprecedented sanctions. When international law and human rights are violated, this must be our reaction. Clear and without giving second chances. I know as a Cypriot what war, refugees, uprooting means. I know what it means to leave your house with a suitcase in your…

7 Mar

2022

EL Speech

Role of culture, education, media and sport in the fight against racism (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, I begin with an admission: that racism and discrimination continue to plague Europe. Anyone who doesn't see it just hides his head under the sand and turns a blind eye. There is no greater racism than attacking someone's country, Ukraine, because you simply disagree with them or want to gain something. For me, this is the biggest racism. What we experienced and are e…

16 Feb

2022

EL Speech

EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine (continuation of debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, Mr Borrell, it is important that Europe speaks with one voice. You said that earlier, Mr Borrell. But I will not say that we all do it; Let's be honest with each other. If Europe spoke with one voice, we would be much more substantial in terms of Cyprus, threats against Greece, Armenia and many other issues, about which we talk a lot but do little. The question of Uk…

15 Feb

2022

EL Speech

Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2021 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2021 (debate)

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Madam President, Mr Borrell, I would like to thank the rapporteurs for the excellent work on this report, which is more relevant than ever. Geopolitical developments, challenges and crises erupting, even in our neighbourhood, underline that the implementation of a common security policy is an absolute necessity. The European Union cannot be lagging behind and merely an observer of what is happenin…

15 Feb

2022

EL Speech

Strengthening Europe in the fight against cancer(debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, I would like to congratulate Véronique Trillet-Lenoir on the excellent work, as well as the rapporteurs. I would also like to extend a big thank you to Manfred Weber, because his vision has led us here today. Today is an important day for Europe and the European Parliament. Today, World Children's Cancer Day, after two years of hard work and hard work, we send a stro…

16 Dec

2021

EL Speech

MeToo and harassment – the consequences for the EU institutions (continuation of debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, I am speaking last and will be very brief. Once, a girl, a victim of systematic harassment by her boss, asked him: Why do you do that? His answer was very simple. He replied: Because I can. Who gives a man the right to verbally or physically attack another man because he considers him vulnerable? Who gives a man the right to regard another fellow man as the object of un…

13 Dec

2021

EL Speech

Equality between women and men in the European Union in 2018-2020 (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, as a man, I want to express my admiration and respect for women who are fighting for the obvious, their rights, what must be given. It would be hypocritical to claim that there is equality between men and women in the European Union. Let's start from the beginning. At work, a pay gap of 14.1%. Harassment in the workplace: The evidence is depressing, really. Internet:…

24 Nov

2021

EL Speech

A European Action Plan Against Rare Diseases (debate)

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Madam President, Commissioner, rare diseases are not so rare. Thirty million people suffer from rare diseases in Europe. I will focus on the role of companies. It is unacceptable that there are no medicines for children with rare cancers, because it is not cost-effective for large pharmaceutical companies to produce them. Many of these diseases require chronic, costly treatments. If we want to tal…

10 Nov

2021

EL Speech

Strengthening democracy, media freedom and pluralism in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, I would like to congratulate the rapporteur, Roberta Metsola, who has taken careful note of the recommendations of the corresponding opinion of the Committee on Education and Culture, for which I was rapporteur. Giorgos Karaivaz, Daphne Caruana Galizia, Irina Slavina, are some of the names that will haunt us, that will give us strength to fight for the defense of freedom of expressio…

18 Oct

2021

EL Speech

The situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, culture is the mirror of our society. It contributes to maintaining democratic, sustainable and inclusive societies, and only these societies have a place in our European family. All these ambitious and beautiful things, however, we can achieve in a single way: If we manage to turn the "I", which unfortunately prevails today in Europe, into "we". Only "we" can take us f…

4 Oct

2021

EL Speech

The protection of persons with disabilities through petitions: lessons learnt (debate)

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Mr President, Commissioner, what have we learned from the pandemic in relation to the rights of people with disabilities? Most importantly: We experienced for some time what they themselves experience in their daily lives, exclusion and barriers to free access. So I hope that we learned our lesson and finally take on our duty to ensure the obvious: accessibility and the right to work integration. …