Speeches

Mr President, Commissioner, it has been more than four years since Aleksandr Lukashenko stole the elections from the Belarusian people. By crushing and imprisoning those who opposed him, he managed to remain in power, in the purest tradition of authoritarian regimes: lack of rule of law, lack of freedoms and absolute prevalence of force. The situation has not changed. He continues to imprison those who still have the courage to oppose him, on the eve of new or purported ‘elections’. We must not stop denouncing him, just as we must remember that Lukashenko is a dictator who, as a faithful ally of Russia, second Vladimir Putin in his unworthy war against Ukraine. For the Belarusian people, but also for ourselves, we must denounce the ongoing human rights violations in Belarus and actively fight the hybrid war waged by Minsk – and, through it, by Moscow – against the European Union, whose most despicable form is undoubtedly the use of human beings, migrants brought to our borders with the aim of destabilising our Union. Let’s stand united, defend democracy inside and outside our Union, wholeheartedly with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and all democratic forces in Belarus!

Madam President, Commissioner, thank you for your commitment to the rule of law over the past five years. It has been seven years, seven years of justice, seven years of impunity for those responsible for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. His family is fighting a huge battle, and their courage, the example they set, also means that we have no doubt and that we continue to hold people to account, to demand justice. They do not give up; We certainly do not have the right to give up. It would be a game of corruption and criminals to forget. But seven years... What example do we set for our young people? How can we make them believe in democracy when we allow democracy to leave such crimes unpunished? We must do justice for the murder of a woman, a wife, a mother, but also a journalist who was fighting for the truth. She knew the risks she was taking. It has accepted all dangers to make the truth triumph, to defend a world where truth prevails. His commitment cannot have been in vain. We have a duty to do more than demand the truth. All the culprits, all, in particular the sponsors, must end up in prison. Otherwise, our world is not worth defending. I believe in our democracies, but impunity must stop. This world needs to look like the one we're fighting for. We must defeat a democracy where truth and justice prevail.

Madam President, Commissioner, thank you for your words. Her name was Victoria Rochtchyna, she was 27, she was a journalist, she was Ukrainian. She disappeared on 3 August while in Russia to investigate Russian military strikes against Ukraine. Some 25 Ukrainian journalists are now imprisoned in Russia. Victoria Rochtchyna was also locked up in a Russian prison. And that is where she died. Independent fact-finding journalists are particularly hated by tyrants because they are dangerous for regimes that impose a truncated, false view of reality. Journalists are pillars of democracy. They enlighten people, tell the facts, debunk lies and expose corruption and abuse of power. Information work: their information work – we need it. The Russian government does not hesitate to imprison journalists who are only doing their job, honestly. Moreover, just like other ordinary Ukrainian civilians, many of them have also disappeared into Russian jails. I cannot conclude this speech without mentioning all the Ukrainian children deported to Russia. It is high time the Western world did much more to help Ukraine win this war. Dear Victoria family, we offer our sincere condolences and assure you that Victoria will not be forgotten. We call for the circumstances of his death to be clarified.

Madam President, Parliament has chosen to draw attention today to the situation of journalist Bülent Mumay. Bülent is the coordinator of the Turkish editorial board of the Deutsche Welle in Istanbul. It also publishes, among other things, in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He is known for his commitment to free and independent information. However, he was once again targeted by the Turkish authorities. Unfortunately, his case is not isolated. It is part of the systemic trend in Turkey to suppress press freedom and undermine freedom of expression, the right to inform, but also the right of citizens to access reliable information. Mumay's case is emblematic of a regime that seeks to silence critical voices, control political discourse and censor those who dare to question the ruling power. Journalists are regularly subjected to arbitrary arrests, intimidation and unfounded politically motivated prosecutions. This deliberately creates a climate of stifling self-censorship. The numbers speak for themselves: in the 2024 ranking of Reporters Without Borders, Turkey comes in 158e position on 180 countries. This is not just a few isolated arrests, but a veritable repressive machine, aimed at eradicating all forms of media opposition. These attacks on press freedom have consequences that go beyond the individuals they target. It is democracy itself and the rule of law that they threaten. It is therefore our duty to condemn these violations in a clear and firm manner, and to recall that access to independent information is a fundamental right, essential for the proper functioning of any democracy. The right to be informed is intrinsic to democracy. It is also our duty to recall that the right to a fair trial, to strict respect for the principle of the presumption of innocence and to due process are universal rights that must be fought for where they are in danger and where they do not exist – but also where they do exist, because we cannot take them for granted. Journalism is not a crime and press freedom cannot be treated as a threat to stability. The case of Bülent Mumay reminds us of the urgency of defending these rights, but unfortunately he is only one face among hundreds of others who today are fighting for their freedom of expression in Turkey. Our action must not be limited to words; it is essential that the European Union exerts stronger diplomatic pressure and that the defence of press freedom is a constant in the European Union's relations with Turkey. We cannot accept journalists, like Bülent Mumay, risking prison for simply doing their job. The European Union must use all the levers at its disposal to support Turkish civil society and protect those who defend freedom of expression. I will conclude with this: together, let us reaffirm, again and again, our support for these courageous voices, those who risk everything and who nevertheless rise up against repression, because Europe cannot remain silent in the face of these injustices.

Mr President, Commissioner, I stand before you today to denounce in the strongest terms the adoption by the Taliban of the so-called 'Law on the Promotion of Virtue' in Afghanistan. Under the guise of morality, this law is a direct attack on the human rights of women and girls. It imposes draconian restrictions on their freedom of movement, their right to education, to work and even to participate in public life. It is part of a broader and systematic attempt to deprive women of their rights, even the most basic ones. This law sounds like a return to the darkest hours of Afghanistan, where women are relegated to silence and invisibility, to the point of imposing that in the public space we no longer hear any woman's voice. This is a gross violation of human rights. The European Union cannot and must not tolerate it. We have a responsibility to condemn these acts. Whether under the Taliban regime or elsewhere, women's dignity cannot be sacrificed in the name of retrograde ideology or authoritarian social control. Deprived of education, they are deprived of their future, deprived of their liberty, they are deprived of their dignity. Locked up in their homes, silenced, they are deprived of their rightful place in society. These women must not be left to their fate, and their courage in the face of oppression must inspire our action. We must step up our support for those in Afghanistan and beyond who are fighting for a future where women's rights are unconditionally respected, protected and promoted. Let's give Afghan women platforms where their voices will have international resonance. We cannot remain silent in the face of the injustice done to them. These attacks on Afghan women are attacks on the universal values of freedom, justice and human dignity. Respect for human dignity is non-negotiable.

Mr President, Hungary, by extending its national card system to nationals of Russia and Belarus, allows them to enter Hungary and thus the Schengen area, without the usual security checks for visas. This undoubtedly poses a security risk to the European Union in the current situation of Russia's war against Ukraine. It is simply not acceptable for a country in the European Union to allow nationals of countries that are waging a hybrid war against us to enter the European Union without a security check. One cannot help but note that this decision by the Hungarian Government is in line with actions in which Hungary is dissociating itself from the European Union since, on many occasions, it has blocked European aid to Ukraine, both military and financial. Viktor Orban also allows himself to visit Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This is even though Hungary holds the presidency of the European Union. This is completely unacceptable. Returning to visas, it is imperative that they are only issued within an effective security framework that also takes into account the hostile attitude of some countries, including Russia and Belarus. This must also be respected by Hungary. This security is indeed imperative if we want to continue to benefit from the opening of our internal borders, a major achievement for our citizens. Visas are part of the protection of our external borders and without effective protection of our external borders, Schengen cannot work. However, we see how Schengen is being undermined on all sides. Let us therefore protect our external borders and keep the freedom of movement within Schengen, as the citizens of the Union are asking us to do.

Madam President, we cannot repeat this enough: This brutal and illegal war was initiated by Russia on Ukrainian territory. The day the Russian aggressor withdraws from Ukraine, this war ends. Our assistance to Ukraine is helping to ensure that it is not wiped off the map. Ukraine has the right – at home, they say the duty – to defend itself. It is about allowing the Ukrainian people to remain free and decide their own future. We have continued to increase this aid, but in too small a dose, with delays that could have been avoided. In our countries, we are reluctant to give permission to use Western weapons to strike on Russian territory the military bases from which the missiles leave. But in Ukraine, these same Russian missiles reach vital infrastructure and kill. The Ukrainians bury their dead. The European Union has been determined and has responded with unity. But we absolutely must continue for as long as necessary: as long as it takes must remain the watchword. We must be grateful to Ukraine, because despite the massive destruction of its infrastructure, despite the human cost of this war, the Ukrainian people continue to defend their country and its values. Let us do everything in our power to help him.

Mr President, Commissioner, Hungary is once again in Parliament's plenary. Yes, again in Parliament's plenary. Unfortunately, that is the whole problem. The Hungarian government does not accept its breaches of the rule of law, does not accept criticism from the EU and does not want to amend itself. The measures taken are obviously simply to throw powder in the eyes, so they are not effective and do not produce the expected effects. This is the case for the Integrity Authority set up by the Hungarian Government to satisfy the Commission’s requests. This authority does not have the powers to carry out its anti-corruption tasks. The Commission must therefore pay close attention to the burdens it imposes on Hungary in the area of the rule of law. It is by no means sufficient to require that means be put in place. It is not enough to demand measures, it is necessary to demand results. And it is on the results that Hungary needs to be measured, also in the case of the Integrity Authority. Thus, apart from all the existing rule of law problems, including corruption and judicial independence, there is now the creation of a Sovereignty Defence Authority, which allows the Hungarian state to use a so-called ‘foreign anti-influence’ law to effectively gag any opposition to the government. This is the typical case of embezzlement of a law originally inspired by Europe, but used in the "Russian" fashion which, instead of protecting citizens and democracy, is transformed into an intimidation law to prevent civil society, journalists and politicians from expressing their opposition to power. The Commission has, moreover, quite rightly launched proceedings against Hungary following the introduction of that law. Finally, I would like to point out that the Council did not play its part in Article 7 and also raise once again the difficult situation in which the European Union will be at the time when Hungary assumes the Presidency of the Union on 1 July, at a crucial moment for the European Union, in the aftermath of the elections and at the time of the constitution of a new Commission. In this Parliament, we asked the Council to take its responsibilities and to consider postponing this Hungarian Presidency to a later stage. This was not done. The 26 must now be particularly vigilant.

Mr President, the death of Alexei Navalny, a crime for which the Russian regime is responsible, has brought back to me a huge cry of anger, a deep revolt. This authoritarian, dictatorial regime of Vladimir Putin’s Russian regime crushes all those who oppose it by eliminating them as if they were pawns, not human beings. Il écrase les opposants politiques, mais aussi tous ceux qui, simples citoyens, avocats ou journalistes, expriment la vérité. Prisons are full of prisoners who have committed no other crime than telling the truth. I will mention the name of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who is waiting in prison without knowing anything about her fate. It is our duty to support those in Russia and around the world who are fighting for truth, freedom and democracy. And at home, we have an obligation to fight these extreme parties that justify the Russian regime, that participate in the threat against our democratic values and institutions in an open or underground way. I would like to end with Alexei Navalny: If they decide to kill me, you are not allowed to give up. We will continue to wage a constant struggle for freedom and democracy.

Mr President, the rule of law is still not guaranteed in Hungary. New laws, contrary to the fundamental values of the European Union, continue to be passed. Therefore, the fact that the Commission is releasing funds for Hungary poses a danger to the defence of EU rights and the safeguarding of EU funds. While it is important to ensure that the institutions are not blocked – and Viktor Orban does not hesitate to block our Union by abusing the veto – we cannot in any way agree to be blackmailed. The credibility of the European Union is at stake. If we disapprove of the release of funds by the Commission, it is above all the Council that we criticise for its lack of effective action under Article 7. It is the Council that has the power to decide on sanctions, which would prevent the Hungarian government from blocking the Union. It was the Council that had the power to decide that the Hungarian government would not hold the presidency in the next half of the year. It is the Council that must shoulder its responsibilities and do everything in its power to prevent the Hungarian President, from July onwards, from assuming, in addition to the Presidency of the European Union, the Presidency of the Council. This scenario is absolutely unacceptable and even unthinkable.

Madam President, Commissioner, six years have passed since the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Two days ago, we marked this sad anniversary, for a Maltese journalist, who had made the defense of the truth her struggle, at the cost of her life. In a letter we received from his family yesterday, we learn that the public inquiry that was conducted comes to the conclusion that the state bears responsibility for his death, as it created an atmosphere of impunity that led to the destruction of the rule of law. The rule of law must guarantee fundamental rights, including freedom of the press. It must also, in a consistent manner, fight corruption, which is its worst enemy. The killing of journalists like Daphne Caruana Galizia and Ján Kuciak is a disgrace to our democracies, and the work of investigative journalists deserves our utmost respect. Because they face all kinds of threats, but they still continue. Awareness of the importance of these journalists for democracies is paramount. They provide information so that citizens can know and judge. They are at the heart of a democracy worthy of the name. We need to protect them. This is the intention of the resolution presented to Parliament, and I would like to refer to the directive on manifestly unfounded or abusive court proceedings against public participation – SLAPP – which must enter into force during the current parliamentary term. Let us adopt it and attack corruption, as Daphne's family demands.

Mr President, Mr High Representative, the death of Mahsa Amini remains in our memories as a thorn, a thorn that will never come out of it again. A year later, we do not forget. We do not forget this tragedy, which was the spark of a movement, unprecedented in its scale and duration, against power in Iran. One year to condemn the murder of Mahsa Amini, this young woman of just 22 years. One year to condemn the brutal repression, executions, imprisonments, torture, the use of violence against women and demonstrators, against all those who fight for freedom. Unfortunately, a year later, this regime continues to crush its population and violence against it has increased further in the run-up to this anniversary. We admire and stand in solidarity with the Iranian population in revolt. She shows exceptional courage in the face of a shameless regime that oppresses its people and supports Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Your fight is also ours. I would like to close with this powerful formula that unites so many men and women: (speaks in a non-official language) woman, life, freedom.

– Mr President, the scale and severity of attacks on journalists have increased considerably and this goes hand in hand with a decline in democracy worldwide. Journalists’ investigations, their fight to inform, are essential for the preservation of the rule of law and democracy. But in doing so, journalists expose themselves to the repression of authoritarian states, criminal networks and all those who are willing to do anything to prevent the disclosure of their dishonest, often corruption-related, cases. Intimidation, online defamation, imprisonment, torture, disappearances, assassinations. Unfortunately, this is what many journalists around the world are exposed to. We must denounce these facts and give every possible support to journalists who face reprisals against themselves and their families in order to divulge the truth. In this report – and let me also warmly thank my shadow rapporteur colleagues for the teamwork we have been able to achieve – we make many and various recommendations to strengthen the European Union’s policy on the protection of journalists. We mention, among other things: media literacy; combating the dissemination of messages that incite violence against journalists; an emergency plan to be followed by EU delegations, including visits to journalists at risk, prison visits and trial assistance; assistance to third countries, at their request, in designing legal frameworks favourable to the promotion of journalism and the protection of journalists; Finally, exchanges and training for journalists and judges concerned. I would like to make one more point. Disinformation and propaganda now used on a very large scale, in particular by authoritarian regimes, endanger the very profession of journalist, all over the world. Fact-checkers also play a key role in supporting the credibility of investigative journalism. They are particularly vulnerable to reprisals. However, it is crucial that citizens know that they have access to trusted information. If citizens doubt the very possibility of obtaining credible information, they will no longer have confidence in democracy. Citizens have the right to be informed, journalists the right to inform.

Mr President, when the safety of journalists is not guaranteed, citizens can no longer rely on free and fair information. As we know, investigative journalism is an indispensable part of democracies. Journalists must be able to work serenely and without self-censorship. This freedom is not given in totalitarian countries, but it is not given in our countries either. When journalists face abusive lawsuits, harassment, intimidation, reputational damage, these abusive lawsuits have the sole purpose of morally and financially exhausting those who fight to reveal the truth. This is simply not acceptable. Daphne Caruana Galizia had provided an enlightening definition of what an abusive prosecution is. I quote her: “laws that have been designed to protect genuinely injured people are used as a tool for abuse and aggression by those in power against powerless people”. The proposal for a directive against abusive prosecutions is an important step. It gives the tools to enable the judiciary to prosecute those who abuse our laws and thus protect the spirit of the law. We must give ourselves all the necessary means to protect our journalists, as well as human rights defenders, and thus safeguard democracy.

Mr President, in 2017, the European Parliament launched the Article 7 procedure against Hungary. Since then, the rule of law in Hungary has steadily deteriorated. The government of Viktor Orbán now allows itself to legislate by decree and pass laws at night, without Parliament having a say. We have a different conception of democracy. We are tabling a resolution in plenary for the umpteenth time covering old, but also new, breaches of the rule of law by the Hungarian government and reaffirming our determination to protect the EU budget. In addition, we draw the Council’s attention to the fact that Hungary is due to resume the Presidency of the European Union from July 2024. This is the moment when a new Parliament will start its work after the European elections. This will also be the semester in which a new Commission will be appointed. This is therefore a particularly important moment in the legislature. Therefore, the authors of this resolution would like to express their deep concern, because the statements that Viktor Orbán was able to make on the European Union, but also the official visits that he might decide to make, or the characters he might decide to receive during a Hungarian presidency, could pose real problems of credibility for the European Union. We respect the treaties. It is not for us to tell the Council what it has to decide in the circumstances. However, it is our duty to make the Council attentive to our concerns more than justified, and to ask it to act. And there's an emergency. Article 7 gives the Council a wide margin of manoeuvre, but it still needs to act.

Mr President, Commissioner, there are times when we miss words. In front of a mother whose child committed suicide because of the harassment inflicted on her, we feel completely helpless. Yet the courage of this mother also makes us want to fight. Jackie Fox turned her grief into strength, and acted to prevent other young people from the fate of her daughter. His struggle in Ireland led to the passing of a law, Coco’s Law, which criminalises online harassment. Today, Jackie is speaking to the European Union. The Internet and its social networks are powerful tools that allow us, among other things, to stay connected to our families and friends. Unfortunately, they are also instruments available to unscrupulous and malicious aggressors. Faced with the intention to harm, the anonymity of the executioner, and the lack of accountability, the victim is destitute. We must be aware that this brutal persecution affects almost half of young people in the European Union, too often leading them to scarification, self-harm, if not suicide. It is therefore inconceivable that harassment be taken lightly or minimized. Some Member States have already adopted legal provisions against cyberbullying, and we need to take this up at European level. The European institutions have well recognised the dangers posed by online harassment. But in order to be efficient, it is necessary to adopt a concrete strategy in all Member States in order to cope with the scale of the phenomenon. Online harassment kills. It is up to us to make it a criminal offence throughout the European Union. Now is the time to act. Thank you Jackie!

Madam President, Prime Minister, the European Union, and within it Luxembourg, continues to be a haven that attracts and welcomes. Our strength today lies in this. But the European Union is also at a crossroads. We need more Europe to face a world that has become much more hostile to democracies and has seen the return of war on the European continent, due to an autocratic and hegemonic Russia that has invaded Ukraine. We need more Europe for more autonomy, especially in relation to China, and the crises that have followed in recent years have also brought this certainty to our citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired the will of EU citizens for a European Health Union. It seems to me, in this context, Prime Minister, that Luxembourg should play a leading role, especially since we have the European Health and Digital Executive Agency in Luxembourg. The pandemic has also resulted in shortages and has shown that for essential goods, whether medicines, food or life-saving technology, we cannot depend on other continents. We need to bring production back to Europe, also to Luxembourg, both to ensure our autonomy and with environmental protection in mind. And the same goes for our safety. Our citizens know that peace is not a given and that European defence has become indispensable. We need a Union that is militarily capable of making decisions, and autonomous decisions. The dependencies in which we are entangled – energy, economic and military – weaken us. We need decision-making autonomy and de facto autonomy. This will be done – or not done – together. In the European Union, every country has an important voice. We expect Luxembourg’s foreign policy to take these realities into account and that, within the European Union, for our security and peace, we act in favour of a powerful Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, dear rapporteur, in a world where authoritarian regimes are developing in a worrying way, human rights defenders play an absolutely essential role in promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law. In this sense, they are true allies of the European Union. We have a responsibility to protect and support them in their activities in defence of democracy. It is difficult to imagine what many human rights defenders endure, but also their relatives, families and friends, harassed, imprisoned, tortured and sometimes even murdered. These lawyers, journalists, politicians, members of organisations, but also ordinary citizens often put their safety, when it is not their lives, at stake to defend the values we believe in. So when they risk imprisonment, when their lives are threatened, we owe it to them to facilitate their urgent relocation and access to a visa. Beyond that, there is also a need to combat impunity for those who persecute human rights defenders. Because committed people who organise demonstrations or defend their ancestral lands or simply document human rights violations cannot be tolerated to be persecuted. The EU’s global human rights sanctions regime, the Magnitsky Act, allows us to target serious human rights violations and abuses around the world. It must be used against the culprits. To conclude, I would like to repeat that these men and women are fighting for the most basic of rights: human rights. They oppose injustice. Their situation is unacceptable and we owe them a great deal. We really owe them a lot.

Madam President, the Istanbul Convention is a flagship tool to combat violence against women and girls, and domestic violence. It is first and foremost a question of preventing such violence, but also of eliminating impunity, which all too often reinforces the aggressors. There is a huge amount of work to be done to ensure that there is awareness on the part of the people who are able to help. The victim’s listening must be empathetic, as soon as he or she has spoken, his or her protection must be effective and, lastly, the prosecution of the aggressor must be effective. Because when the victim fears not being taken seriously, when she fears not being protected, when she often fears for her life, when she fears that the only consequences of her denunciation are that she will be punished by her executioner, the vicious circle is never interrupted. The European Union has signed the Istanbul Convention, but has not ratified it. Twenty-one EU countries have signed and ratified the Istanbul Convention. The remaining six countries have also signed, but not ratified, and oppose ratification at European level. Article 2 of our Treaty obliges us, even beyond obvious moral considerations, to sign this Convention. Qualified majority voting in the Council is sufficient, and it allows the European Union to move forward. Let us therefore ratify the Istanbul Convention!

Madam President, first of all, I would like to thank you for the debate that has taken place. But given some statements, I would really like to reiterate that I am proud to be the rapporteur for a text that, here in Parliament, reaffirms the dignity of every human being, the right to be who you are, to love who you love and to believe or not believe. I would really like to thank my colleagues for this text, which we were able to produce in this way. Some totalitarianisms also seek at international level to change the very definition of human rights. I must say that I am rather saddened that they have found a relay in this Parliament for this. Then I also hear colleagues, when they are told: Here's what's wrong, answer: We're looking at what's wrong with another place. It is a way of diverting the conversation that is excessively unpleasant. Finally, I would like to thank Commissioner Reynders once again for all he has said and for the Commission's action. And I must say that I am particularly pleased that the European Union’s global sanctions regime, which has been called for many times by Parliament, has emerged. Two points, if I may, will, I believe, really increase its effectiveness. First, the request, already made by another colleague, to add corruption. Second, qualified majority voting, which would be very welcome when it comes to sanctions when it comes to human rights. Thanks again to all colleagues, it was a pleasure to work with them.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, when presenting the European Parliament’s annual report on the state of democracy and human rights in the world, let me start with a few positive notes, thinking of all those women and men around the world who stand up for democracy and for human rights. Their dedication and self-sacrifice inspire and give courage. The risk to their lives to obtain freedom and dignity must give us the measure of these values that we defend. In this document, Parliament reiterates the extent to which the European Union is and remains committed to fundamental values, the rule of law, democracy and human rights. It emphasises what we are doing to support democracy and human rights and, above all, reaffirms the universality of human rights, rights that seek to protect human dignity, just as it reaffirms our unconditional choice of democracy. These speeches, which today want to denigrate democracy, portraying it as ineffective and undesirable, inferior to authoritarianism, we reject them and refer to the unprecedented number of people around the world who are ready to sacrifice themselves for democracy and the freedom it entails. The report also provides new avenues for our positions and actions to become more effective in defending human rights and democracy. If I felt it necessary to reaffirm this evidence and speak of courage, it is because the state of democracy in the world is worrying and the evolution is ongoing, even more so. Countries that lean towards authoritarianism are twice as numerous as countries moving towards more democracy. Even long-established democracies, as we have unfortunately seen, are not immune. A real awareness is therefore needed to understand the global atmosphere, where false propaganda and large-scale disinformation reign, which is suitable for populism and endangers our democracies. We must take full measure of the challenges that, under these conditions, are before us. In defence and democracy, we must make this fight against disinformation a top priority. Because if democracies do not win the battle for information, for freedom of expression, if we do not guarantee a place for independent journalism that succeeds in making itself heard, we will not win against the interference of authoritarian countries at home and elsewhere in the world. Freedom of the press is an indispensable condition for democracy. However, the attacks against it are constant. The oppression of journalists is therefore one of the many issues addressed in this report. The situation of women in the world is also declining. The Covid crisis and food insecurity, further exacerbated by the war against Ukraine, are heavily affecting women, as are children who have been left out of school. And many women and children have been severely affected by domestic violence. Rising populism is fertile ground for intolerance, xenophobia, racism and discrimination. The importance of education in this context is self-evident. Finally, I would like to end with Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. It seemed to me a necessity that in this 2022 report of the European Parliament the atrocities committed on Ukrainian soil on our doorstep should be condemned and that EU solidarity should be reaffirmed. I very sincerely thank my colleagues, the shadow rapporteurs, their teams and those of the political groups, as well as my own team. Only exemplary collaboration and mutual respect have allowed us to achieve this result.

Madam President, I believe in our democracy and I believe in our values. To protect them, to even allow them to exist, journalists play a key role. They are indispensable to democracy. Defending journalists also means safeguarding freedom of expression and the independence of the media. Reliable information enables citizens to make informed decisions. It is by creating the necessary area of freedom and the required security conditions that journalists will be able to exercise their profession: inform the public, with all the seriousness that this task entails. It is up to us to create the necessary legal conditions for their work environment to be safe. That is why I welcome our texts, which seek to prevent abusive legal proceedings or, where necessary, to promote close police protection. Today, however, forms of harassment of journalists have multiplied and are taking unexpected forms. On the net, using social media, it is often the reputation that is sought to be destroyed, especially when it comes to investigative journalists or fact-checkers. Unfortunately, the figures show that women journalists are even more targeted than their colleagues. We need to be aware of this new data and adapt all our measures, including at Member State level.

Mr President, what can we say today about foreign interference endangering democracy? We are now – and I would say – focusing on disinformation by foreign bodies, on China’s disproportionate influence on our economies and infrastructure, and on Russia’s disproportionate economic and political influence, with its active party support or influence in elections. We must protect ourselves and detect the flaws in our system that allow these power grabs, which I would call underground. Our openness to the world, our freedoms of expression, the press and many others, these values that are so dear to us, contain in them the risks that sometimes prevent us from protecting ourselves. However, it is imperative that we find a way to counter these attacks and decisively prevent disinformation from circulating, while protecting our freedoms. Yes, it is a war of disinformation that is being waged. The goal is the weakening of our democracy. Maintaining our freedoms by preventing foreign interference: This is the challenge. Today, we need to talk about corruption, which is causing damage that also undermines trust in democracy. When a foreign power uses it, it is foreign interference. Corruption is illegal, our laws punish it. We have confidence in justice at home, where the rule of law is in place.

Mr President, the death of Mahsa Amini is a tragedy. The Iranian population in revolt demonstrates exceptional courage given the brutality of the repression. I thought that the most appropriate way to condemn the violence of the Iranian authorities against its population, and women in particular, was to give a voice to those who revolt. So I will quote one of those anonymous but determined young Iranians who are rising up and putting a lot of hope in us. This young Iranian intended to leave his country but decided to stay and fight. I quote it in English. “We believe the world might have a wrong and distorted image from Iranian people, especially over the past decades. But we want to correct it. We are not this government, we hate it. We are Iranians, from a country with more than 2,500 years of history. We believe in love, peace, human rights. We hate brutal Islamic laws. And for this, our children, our young people are killed by the regime. We might be arrested or killed.’ – But, he continues, this is only the beginning for a profound change. They ask us Europeans to help them by refusing any compromise with an oppressive regime. Let's support these young Iranians in their fight.