Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, I would like to warmly thank journalists, including Cypriots, whistleblowers and non-governmental organisations, for bringing Pegasus and Predator to the fore to start this huge effort of consolidation and transparency. I would also like to thank the rapporteur and the chairman of the committee very much. The issue has a pan-European dimension. It is about democracy and safeguarding the privacy of our fellow citizens. Ladies and gentlemen, we are formally faced with a European framework that covers our rights. However, at a time when legislation needs to be implemented in practice, it begins to be dismantled, relying either on national security or on the protection of the public interest. The gold-bearing industry producing and exporting surveillance software continues its work unchecked. The future is likely to be bleak, given the indifferent and even negative attitude shown to our committee by the European Commission and the Council. Unfortunately, the scandal also concerns my country, Cyprus. The recommendations are rigorous and should be taken seriously by both the European institutions and the Member States. After fifteen months of hard work, the issue of surveillance does not end with our vote tomorrow. On the contrary, it's only just beginning.

Madam President, Mr President, I would like to welcome you on behalf of the European United Left in Strasbourg. We will be strict, but fair with you, as my party, AKEL, always behaves. Besides, there are some things we can talk about at home. You are right to call for the European Union to be more actively involved by appointing a high-ranking EU official in the Cyprus issue. To be honest, I don't see them here getting very excited about this proposal, perhaps because they know some things from the past. They probably leave aside the clinically dead process of Turkey's accession and are oriented towards a special relationship. This is how the pressure lever is lost. Turkey, despite the threats and only yesterday Mr. Erdogan, receives gifts of customs union and visa liberalisation, just to not fall into the arms of Russia, to remain a strategic partner of NATO and to serve Europeans on migration. Is it time to finally take advantage of AKEL's proposal? In other words, should energy serve as a catalyst for the solution of the Cyprus problem, as your Minister for Energy recently said? I come back to the immigration issue you raised, to say that this is another mockery after the recent agreement of the Home Affairs Ministers on the issue. They copy the notorious EU-Turkey agreement and do not replace the Dublin Regulation with a binding system for allocating refugees to all Member States of the European Union, according to the capabilities of each state. They are pricing asylum-seekers in an immoral way, with countries in the wealthy North paying 20,000 euros each and countries in the South becoming warehouses for people. This is how international and European conventions go. Mr President, Cyprus is once again on the stool with the issue of the illegal Pegasus software, as a country of its production and export. It's also the result of the black van. I welcome your commitment to take action and take account of the Commission's recommendations. You are well aware of the consequences of the banking crisis. Mr Weber has left, and I would like to tell him that if Cyprus was on the verge of an economic crisis, it is not because previous governments made mistakes - it is because the banking crisis, as a result of the great capitalist crisis and the barbaric imposition of the haircut accepted by his friend, Mr Anastasiades, brought us to where we were. The pandemic and the war in Ukraine are creating a big problem with the foreclosures, and there I expect you to respect some European Union directives and avoid a major social tragedy, which is coming. Lead a small country, know that you have great difficulties here with geopolitical, economic and other interests. I solemnly and responsibly declare that we, Madam President, Mr President, will be by your side if you act bravely and boldly, as you said.

Madam President, Commissioner, the reality is roaring. It is all accepted now through the transmission of the virus from Cyprus to Greece and through Predator, but also through the Greek Intelligence Service, in the knowledge of the Greek Prime Minister, Greek MPs, ministers, journalists and parties were monitored. Mr Mitsotakis should not be held accountable for all this. Greece, of course, does not have a dictatorship. But is this the rule of law? The recommendations of the Pegasus Commission report that you, but also you as the Council and the Commission, are discrediting, show the way forward. Restoring and strengthening legal and institutional safeguards. Urgently remove all export licences for surveillance software. Ensure free and unhindered investigation of all allegations of spyware crises. Restoring the full independence of the judiciary and all relevant supervisory bodies. Protection of whistleblowers. Ensure the independence of the leadership of the National Transparency Authority. Urgent police investigation for misuse of spyware and seizure of physical data of all those associated with it. What about all this, Mr. Mitchell? Will you do something?

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the planet is sending out a distress signal. The destruction of the environment due to the misuse of natural resources and the reckless use and action of multinationals is enormous. At the same time, energy poverty, energy poverty, is afflicting one in four of our fellow Europeans. For the Group of the European United Left, it is clear that new policies are needed with a view to sustainable development for the benefit of the peoples. Green capitalism, which rewards the main polluters as green monopolies with a pile of money, cannot continue. There is an urgent need to promote a comprehensive strategy for the development of renewable energy sources. We welcome, Commissioner, the report's attempt to promote Europe-wide general permitting rules for renewable energy projects and installations, calling for accelerated procedures, public planning and priority in deprived areas. We are, of course, concerned about the risk of reducing the requirements in terms of environmental impact and the protection of Natura 2000 sites. Taking advantage of the European directive, we expect that Cyprus will also proceed with future competitions to ensure cheap electricity for our people.

Madam President, Commissioner, the recession is breaking bones. The whole of Europe is saved by the mobilizations of the workers. Accuracy, energy and a nightmarish inflation that wipes out labour income. You are, of course, giving through the budget some crumbs for poor households. The truth is, however, that the lion's share is shared by the pharmaceutical and energy multinationals. We want another budget. a budget that in practice protects the well-being of citizens, protects wages and labour rights and takes into account the needs created, the new needs in education, health, food, housing. Because – to be honest – not everyone has the same problems. Because some people are gaining from the war, which you finally have to stop. No more militarization of Ukraine. No to new austerity policies. And, finally, Commissioner, tax the super-profits of multinationals. Dare once – can you?

Mr President, Commissioner, under the pretext of fighting terrorism and defending national security, citizens across Europe are being monitored through Pegasus, Predator and other similar software, and in this way, obviously, democracy itself and the rule of law are being undermined. Israeli and European companies sell their illegal and expensive software undisturbed. First was Hungary, Poland and Spain. Now a huge scandal has erupted in Greece, where political parties, politicians and journalists are being monitored at the behest of Mr. Mitsotakis himself and his people. Some people, of course – not unjustly – associate this scandal with Cyprus. And all this, as has been said, because there is also a dark European institutional framework that allows it; a framework that only formally protects personal data and privacy. In the relentless questions of the PEGA Committee, the European Union throws the ball at the States, but they also throw it out of the court. In other words, we have before us a cover-up of illegalities and little hope that at some point we will end this fairy tale about real democracy and human rights in the European Union.

Madam President, I would like to thank Mr Sánchez Amor for his effort to bring forward a balanced report on progress in the Union's relations with Turkey. I do not know, of course, whether there has ever been a light in the tunnel of Euro-Turkish relations. Some Europeans, of course, blatantly pretend to see it in order to serve the so-called "common interest" and place Turkey, in the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on the right side of history. These are shameful things. Is that how we read history? For a Turkey that has done for 48 years in Cyprus what Russia is doing today in Ukraine, that continues to illegally occupy European territory, that is acting in a revisionist way against Greece, that is invading neighbouring countries, that is behaving like a pirate in the Eastern Mediterranean, that is invading the Cypriot EEZ, that is colonising Famagusta, that is deleting the resolutions of the UN and the European Parliament? You want more? It does not respect the decisions of the Council of Europe, imprisons Kavalas and Demirtas and thousands of other Turkish citizens, violates the rule of law and fundamental freedoms in the country, alienates the will of our compatriots Turkish Cypriots, instrumentalizes migration and threatens Europe. Now it is also threatening NATO, and some are putting it on the right side of history. They continue to give her weapons and large sums of money and to pay her back. How will you upgrade the Customs Union when it does not comply with the existing one and does not apply the Supplementary Protocol? Tell us the truth at last. The truth is one: Geopolitical interests and antagonisms override values and law at the expense of peoples. It is a pity, a real pity for the Union.

Mr President, Commissioner, even if I turn off my mobile phone, Pegasus can see me, listen to me and know where I am. Pegasus and software of this type are killing democracy, undermining its basic pillars, such as freedom of expression, freedom of privacy, freedom of the press, the right to organise. Do you know what tragedy is? whereas these freedoms are not limited to authoritarian regimes; Even so-called or real democracies chase political opponents, trade unionists, activist journalists. Obviously, we are facing a new evil digital war. These software must be banned or, at best, regulated under strict operating conditions. Commissioner, we as a committee are counting on reaching the end of the matter. But you have an obligation to protect us from modern cyber-insurers. Should someone start worrying or not?

Mr President, Commissioner, investment programmes that could boost the development of society have finally been transformed into a passport production and production plant. A billion-dollar feast for circuits and middlemen. They squeezed the hen with the golden eggs for many years and finally slaughtered her. Of course, the cost is being paid by the people again. We warned and said that arbitrariness and abuses would turn programmes into hotbeds of corruption and collusion, for circuits that market European citizenship. Unfortunately, as a Cypriot, I know this very well. My government may have stopped examining pending applications, but the damage done to Cyprus and to our people is great. We therefore demand transparency and the fight against corruption at every level. We demand that tax havens be closed. Commissioner, I tell you, and you know it very well: Russian, Ukrainian and other oligarchs did not exist only in Cyprus and Malta; They are scattered all over Europe and there is something else: Too many uncollected taxes from the performance of golden passports. Money belongs to society. They should also be demanded and reclaimed to be given to the states that need them.

Madam President, Commissioners, the CIA was predicting war today. There was no war. Did anyone want him? Do some people need him? That's a lot of money from gun sales, gas sales, trade. The US speaks of aggression by others, when it spends 800 billion on military spending, it has 800 bases around the world and thousands of soldiers in Europe. Mrs von der Leyen is threatening massive sanctions against Russia; It does not tell us who will pay the cost. What about the European peoples? Europe, NATO's tail, is awkwardly watching the developments taking place in its backyard. Chancellor Scholz and President Macron said: Without Russia being safe, not even Europe will be safe. Let's hear the voices of reason. Europe must rise to its feet. This is what its history requires: to stand firmly by the side of peace against war. A diplomatic solution is needed immediately to ensure the non-enlargement of NATO to the East, while at the same time removing Russian troops from Ukraine's borders. To give space to peace.

Madam President, Mrs Trillet-Lenoir, I would like to thank you for your contribution to the creation of the report. Commissioner, when we talk about cancer, the numbers are frightening. Every nine seconds, a new cancer is diagnosed. Enough of the excuses. Public health should take precedence over private profits. Inequities and inequalities in prevention, early diagnosis and quality patient care should be removed. I would like to welcome the adoption of our proposal to strengthen public hospitals in terms of prevention, early diagnosis and quality care. Let me say, however, that we are "fed up" with words. Actions will have to be taken. The report is a very good tool. But I call on the Commission and the governments to show a real will to adopt it. We have a lot to do. Today is World Day Against Childhood Cancer. 6 000, please, 6 000 innocent souls in Europe are lost every year to the contagious disease. That is why we call on you to adopt our proposal to increase funding, to provide quality cross-border care, to remove injustices in the treatment of cancer, to produce new medicines and, finally, to be sensitive. And I am sure, Mrs. Kyriakides, that especially you can show sensitivity, because people's lives are not "play-laugh".

Mr President, Commissioner, he opened Pandora's box - Pandora's jar, better - and justified the title of a book I read: It's capitalism, you idiot. It all came to light and – I cannot hide, of course – unfortunately Cyprus and its president are mentioned again in Pandora’s box. Cyprus should not be targeted. My place isn't what it looks like on the lists. My land, my island, is inhabited by honest people, of toil and wages, with their worries and anxieties. After all, the problem is systemic. Corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, threaten as derivatives of a flimsy system to drown us. Who will wash away the shames of all those leaders who, by shaking their fingers, drink the blood of their peoples and at the same time illegally enrich themselves? The Commission shall implement it; He refuses to comment. Let him do something at last! Here's Rhodes, here's the fuck!

Madam President, Commissioner, the numbers are frightening. Millions of people in Europe will not be able to heat their homes in the coming winter. Already 60% of the population suffers from energy poverty. In Cyprus, my country, energy poverty plagues one in five of our fellow human beings. A reform of the energy market is needed to drastically reduce prices permanently. The European Union must ban the interruption of energy supplies to consumers. Support low-income households and small businesses, support economically important electricity interconnection projects and help states such as Cyprus achieve the European target of 15% electricity interconnection by 2030 and, finally, through state control and public investment, ensure the human right to energy with equal access to cheap energy as a public social good.

Mr President, unfortunately, this year too, in the midst of the pandemic, we have experienced images of biblical destruction throughout Europe. The dangerous side effects of the climate crisis and austerity policies can no longer be ignored. It has been shown in practice that the Rescue EU mechanism cannot respond adequately and that it perpetuates shortages between states by recycling shortages of resources. In my home country of Cyprus, which was also affected by deadly fires, there was no rapid response. Unfortunately, European planes arrived when the fires were extinguished. In the face of the dramatic increase in major natural disasters, the European Union must strengthen its policies of solidarity in response to these phenomena. To this end, we would like to stress that we are calling for the creation of a European Air Firefighting Base in Cyprus. The Commission must effectively support those affected and must also ensure adequate conditions for the sustainability of the Solidarity Fund. Commissioner, fires do not just burn forests. The fires threaten to burn the credibility of the European Union's policies.