Speeches

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Iranian women protest, they risk their lives, they do so with blatant gestures, we can say. Yes, because in Iran taking off the veil or kissing your boyfriend in the square are considered subversive gestures and therefore prohibited. What does the European Union do? Nothing, if not expressing empty closeness, no real condemnation of the Iranian Islamic regime, no real criticism of the abuse of the mandatory Islamic veil, no concrete support for the struggle of women who just want to be free. Your position is shy, but why is it shy? Because for years you have supported and promoted, even with public money, the idea of the Islamic veil as a symbol of freedom. You took a blunder and promoted the wrong model. The Islamic veil is an instrument of oppression, as evidenced by Iranian women tired of violence and religious police orders. Enough hypocrisy, Europe defends the value of freedom and women's rights.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union is increasingly subservient to China. From 2035, in fact, there will be the obligation of the electric car, we will depend on China. The market for electric cars, from batteries to raw materials to rare earths, is in fact a monopoly of the Asian giant. We move from dependence on Russia's gas to that of China practically, to a further dependence on the Asian giant. All this while hiding behind the green, but China continues to pollute and its CO2 emissions account for a third of those worldwide. But also close your eyes to the human rights violations imposed by the Communist dictatorship of the Chinese government. Persecution of political opponents, ethnic and religious minorities. In short, we are tired of your submission to China.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, it must be a priority of the European Union to protect the critical infrastructure that is essential for the functioning of our society and economy. In recent years we have seen a significant increase in cyber-attacks, which have put many states in serious difficulty, with serious inconvenience to the essential services of citizens. Greater security must be ensured for those actors, in particular public administrations, who are lately suffering from cyber-attacks and are also at risk of being potential terrorist targets. The interconnection between networks, operators and infrastructures is increasingly global and it is right to expand the sectors involved. In fact, it is good to have included the agri-food sector among those considered to be of greater critical importance, to have reduced the bureaucratic burden for private subjects and to have made measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Europe is focusing more on defending its citizens and on the security of EU countries.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, thanks to the new centre-right government in Italy, immigration is once again being discussed in the European Union, and no longer only in Italy. Yes, because in recent years the European Union has been in solidarity but with the borders of Italy. Easy like that! The majority of migrants are economic. Think that the first three nations belonging to immigrants who land in Italy are Egypt, Tunisia, Bangladesh, in short, countries where there is no war. Relief is a duty; The other thing, however, is to increase human trafficking. Italy cannot be the refugee camp of the European Union. I wonder, where is the European Union? Where is the rotation of ports? Where is the relocation of migrants? Since the beginning of August, 44 000 migrants have landed in Italy. Do you know how many have been relocated? 112 between France and Germany. Italy only wants to defend its own borders, which are also those of the European Union. Stop illegal immigration!

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the Istanbul Convention is an international treaty to tackle violence against women. Well, today we voted on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023 and there was an amendment calling for the EU budget not to finance any future campaign that could promote the hijab. Well, this House has voted against it. So, on the one hand, you stand in solidarity with the Iranian women who are fighting for their freedoms, including not wearing the Islamic veil, and on the other hand, you have decided that Parliament and the European Union can fund campaigns that promote precisely that veil against which the women in Iran themselves are demonstrating. So, I find it a vomiting hypocrisy and I would ask you at least a little 'consistency out of respect for those many women who are also risking their lives to defend the freedom not to wear the Islamic veil.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, President von der Leyen has said that the Western Balkans belong to the European family, but this statement seems to be dictated more by geopolitical reasons than by real convictions. Europe must work to ensure that these areas do not end up in Russian orbit. In the case of Bosnia, it is necessary to push Bosnian leaders to carry out reforms that they have failed to do in ten years. There is also a great danger in Bosnia: Islamic fundamentalism. It is a Muslim-majority country, with influences from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which finance mosques that are often not moderate. Finally, we cannot underestimate the fact that there is a huge immigration problem linked to the Balkan route, which the European Commission does not address and which can no longer be overlooked.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, this is yet another debate in which the European Union focuses on accusing those who dare to fight illegal immigration. Instead of realizing that there is a huge problem, continue criminalizing those who oppose irregular flows. You have done so for years against Minister Salvini, guilty of having defended the borders of Italy and of having collapsed the landings of those who had no right to stay in Europe: He broke the business of hospitality and for that he ended up accused in two absurd trials. But these beautiful souls who are indignant are the same ones who in France with Macron reject the immigrants on the border with Italy and in Spain with the socialists, also using the army, attack the migrants who try to enter their territory in Ceuta and Melilla. In short, you are welcoming with the boundaries of others. You hope for a "free everyone" from Turkey and North Africa, bringing the countries of the Mediterranean and, in particular, Italy to be even more the refugee camp of Europe. You even ask that no distinction be made between refugees and illegal immigrants, but, incredibly, you do nothing to promote the rotation of ports and the relocation of immigrants. In short, no solidarity. Yours is an unacceptable double standard, and it is also one of the reasons why from Sweden to Italy they assert themselves in the centre-right coalition elections. The citizens are tired of your false goodwill and your inability to deal seriously and pragmatically with the problem of immigration.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Parliament's resolution on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union has some, let us say, frankly absurd passages. I read some of them. In the foreword, point (c), write: The pandemic and restrictive measures have led to an increase in racist incidents. In point (f) I read: The health crisis has often been used as a pretext to attack minorities, including migrants and Roma. Still on the Roma, in point (e) I read that they continue to be one of the most vulnerable and oppressed groups in the European Union, without of course ever mentioning the fact that many communities have no intention of integrating. Then there is a chapter in which you argue that there is structural racism in Europe and whole parts about violations of the fundamental rights of migrants, in which you tell us that we must welcome more immigrants, that we are racist, that NGOs that bring irregular foreigners into Europe are criminalized. In practice, you say that anyone who is against illegal immigration should be ashamed. That's absurd! Then you speak, rightly, of the serious phenomenon of violence against women. But nothing – and I say: Nothing! – tell about the situation of women in many Islamic communities where they are forced to wear the veil, a symbol of submission, and are often deprived of many freedoms. Do not even say anything about the Islamization of many European cities, with the spread of sharia. In short, a lot of left-wing propaganda and a total lack of a pragmatic, objective look at various issues mentioned relating, in fact, to the fundamental rights violated. Here, then, do not be surprised if citizens have less and less confidence in a European Union that is actually so ideological.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, 25 September is approaching, the day of the general elections in Italy. The issue of rising energy costs, high energy bills is the topic most felt by citizens. We in the League are clear on this point: We expect Europe to protect, just as it did during COVID, with a shield, with real money, Italians who can certainly not turn off gas, heating or light or block companies. At the same time it is scandalous the attitude of the Italian left, with Letta's party and all its allies, who voted against Italy saying no to clean nuclear and no to gas in the European taxonomy. 400 reactors are active worldwide and 55 are under construction, from Japan to the United States, via France. In Italy, the situation is clear: on the one hand, there are nos to everything, which endanger Italian energy security and, on the other, there are us in the League who want to project our country into the future and efficiency, with new safe nuclear plants and zero emissions.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, in a context of war, crisis and serious difficulties for businesses and families, how do you respond? With a package of measures that are pure utopia and absolutely do not respond to European problems. The perspective you are giving us is made up of new European taxes, of a conversion to the electric car that puts entire supply chains out of the way, of new companies that will be on their knees for new taxes related to energy efficiency that will affect both companies and citizens, of new conditions and new obligations that entrepreneurs will not be able to support. In the face of your energy mistakes, respond with further wrong strategies, which risk creating enormous economic and social damage. The European Union contributes about 8-9 % to global CO2 emissions but you act as if Europe has a much higher share. That's absurd! European plans, without support for companies and without incentives for investment, risk compromising our competitiveness. Moreover, I must say that the horizon of the electricity transition jeopardises the employment of entire sectors of the economy.automotive. Relying on technology totally in the hands of the Chinese, who control 80% of the raw materials needed to produce batteries, is a resounding mistake. Internal Market Commissioner Breton admitted, I have to say many months late, that switching to electric cars could mean hundreds of thousands of jobs being destroyed along the supply chain. Well, he's got it! And all this while the rises in energy and raw materials prices are sinking companies. Europe is building a future that will find us subservient to the Asian giant: This is not what European citizens are asking for. Before I heard someone say that with this vote we will change history. Unfortunately, history has already changed and you have chosen not to be on the side of the European citizens.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, many reports in Communist China point to the horrendous practice of taking organs from prisoners belonging to religious groups, political opponents, ethnic and linguistic minorities. This consolidated system has been a reality for decades, it is a crime against humanity, but unfortunately the Chinese regime is not interested in respect for human rights. The government detains as many as two million Uighurs and other minority groups in a system of internment camps where detainees are forced to work, torture and are often also killed. For decades now, Christians have faced persecution and discrimination such as the closure of churches, the arrest of priests, and the ban on the spread of Bibles. In this context, Europe often remains culpably silent. He prefers to make trade agreements with China without bringing out the issue of human rights, freedom and democracy in the slightest. Unfortunately, I see the European institutions as too subservient to the Chinese regime. We need strong actions, pressure actions and a blockade of imports of any goods made with forced labour. We cannot continue to close our eyes to these atrocities. I therefore call on the European Union to regain some dignity, to beat its fists on the table with China and finally to assert human rights.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, we are here for the umpteenth time to discuss the human rights violated in Turkey. Free voices, as in the case of Osman Kavala, are silenced. In the country of Sultan Erdogan we see the systematic imprisonment of those who defend freedom and those who dare to criticize the government. In Turkey, Christians and other religious minorities are persecuted and international obligations arising from its membership of the Council of Europe are constantly violated. In recent times, women's rights have also seen a worrying tightening, with associations dissolved because they are at odds with religious morality. Turkey must make concrete progress in respect for law, democracy and fundamental rights, and it must do so immediately. We are here for the umpteenth time to say that Turkey is not Europe. Turkey cannot be part of the European Union and all accession negotiations must be halted. We call on the Commission and the Council to put an end to all funding to the Turkish Government, which over the years, especially with the Pact on Migration, has in effect seemed to be shameful blackmailing us.

Ladies and gentlemen, look, the only one who has to apologise here is you. Go to Poland and Hungary to see how the children who are fleeing the war are there. And then let's talk about who really needs it. There are people who don't want to follow the rules. Maybe you didn't notice? I go to Roma camps, I go there, and unfortunately too many times I see children who do not go to school and are forced to carry out criminal activities. However, for information, I am a woman, I am a mother of two children, I am a Christian and with pride I will always reiterate here, within this Parliament, my thoughts for which I was elected by the Italian citizens.

I would like to thank my colleague for talking about discrimination. That's exactly what I was talking about. In fact, in this Parliament, there is persistent discrimination against all those who are not Roma, and this is what we are talking about. Because carrying out favorable treatments regarding the home or other benefits for one community rather than the other, especially in a context of war, means discriminating against people who are really suffering at the moment. (The speaker agreed to answer a blue card question)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, we are in a context of very violent war: This is a time of extreme difficulty for businesses and households affected by the energy and food crisis. What is Parliament discussing? The situation of marginalised Roma communities in the European Union. Let's say that, in short, the European Union really focuses on priorities, right? But it's not the first time. During the pandemic, we were asked to vote on a proposal entitled ‘Combating negative attitudes towards people of Roma origin in Europe’. But it's not over here. In November 2021, we discussed police brutality against Roma. In short, the Roma community periodically seems to be the only emergency for Europe. Yet I asked a question, in response to which I found that, under the 2014-2020 European Social Fund, EUR 1.5 billion, of which more than EUR 108 million in Italy alone, was earmarked for the socio-economic integration of communities such as the Roma. In addition, for the same period, €1.4 billion from the European Regional Development Fund was allocated for inclusive growth, including Roma communities. In short, I do not believe frankly that there is the urgency of wasting billions of euros, moreover in this context, for those who very often are in the news for consolidated criminal activities. Among other things, I do not think it is even right for Roma to be given preferential treatment for access to work and housing. I myself visit Roma camps in Italy, where some children are not sent to school to be unfortunately directed to activities such as theft and snatching. Here everyone talks about inclusion and the fight against marginalization, when instead every day we find Roma communities that, almost proudly, say that they absolutely do not want to integrate. In short, we are facing an unprecedented crisis: pandemic, war, energy crisis, food crisis. A serious Europe should focus on many other issues. (The speaker agreed to answer a blue card question)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the tragedy of the Ukrainian people must lead us to focus on welcoming those fleeing the war. Countries alongside Ukraine, such as Poland and Hungary, have exemplary behavior. Among other things, the same countries that here were considered by the majority to be unsympathetic. Here, we of the League are very clear: It is right to welcome those who run away from wars. But there is a certain left that exploits a tragedy to fuel another principle, and that is that it is right to welcome anyone, regardless of whether they come from a war or not. Consider that in Italy, for example, most of the landings come from Egypt, Bangladesh and Tunisia, all countries where there is no war. We must stop with the kindness of a certain left, according to which we should bring all the economic migrants arriving from Africa who then, in the end, remain in Italy because they do not go anywhere else. In short, illegal immigration unfortunately only brings social hardship, poverty and crime, so it makes no sense for Europe to continue to stimulate it.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, this European Union action programme for the environment up to 2030, as well as the and other climate proposals, in this context of crisis and war, now seem totally out of touch. Huge increases in energy prices are hitting household and business bills dramatically, with price increases of up to 500%, forcing many companies even to temporarily suspend production. In Italy, in my country, bills in one year increased by 131 % for electricity and 94 % for gas; the cost of gas has jumped to a maximum of 295 euros per megawatt hour, a year ago the same gas cost about 18 euros, the price has therefore increased tenfold. What is the European Commission's response to an epochal crisis like this? It is still empty environmentalism, denial of reality and unreal attempts to oppose the use, at least temporarily, of existing coal, gas and nuclear. In this programme, you propose the elimination by 2025 of all direct and indirect subsidies to fossil fuels at national level and, therefore, also at the level of the whole European Union. An irresponsible choice, especially now. Furthermore, we cannot agree with your request to make the best possible use of environmental taxation. The European Union gets about 40 % of its gas and 30 % of its oil from Russia, and our energy dependence from abroad instead of improving has been worsening in recent years due to the energy transition you have carried out, which has led to the closure of coal-fired power plants; you have totally opposed energy sources such as, for example, nuclear, focusing everything on renewables and not guaranteeing the necessary energy mix. Even in these hours the Commission's answers are rather vague, there is still talk of acceleration on renewables, which in the short term will absolutely not help our continent. Instead of thinking of serious alternatives to dependence on Russia, you have given birth to yet another brilliant idea: lower the thermostat, as if Europeans were not already doing so, given the crazy prices of recent weeks. In addition, with the surge in raw materials there are thousands of farms and breeders totally in crisis. I hope that the ideas of reducing agricultural production by 30% and leaving 10% of agricultural land uncultivated to protect biodiversity will be immediately put to rest. In short, it is time to stop with the "Greta" style ideology; I think companies, consumers and families need seriousness and healthy realism. Realpolitik In other words.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the flight of millions of women, children and the elderly from Ukraine is a tragedy that deserves the utmost commitment from Europe. We must be focused on welcoming and supporting Ukrainian refugees. According to UNICEF, one million children have already fled in recent weeks. I am thinking of the moving images of solidarity and welcome in Poland and Hungary; These are nations that the left has insulted here for months and that have been called fascists and racists because their governments oppose illegal immigration. They now welcome more than a million people fleeing the war. They give us an exact dimension of the differences that exist between the real refugees and the many illegal immigrants that Europe, and in particular Italy, have welcomed and still welcome. We have in our eyes the scenes of women and children greeting the fathers who remain there to defend the homeland and freedom, images very different from the selfies on the boats of the many economic migrants who do not escape from any war and that the left wants in Europe to feed the business of hospitality. This background caciara gives exactly the figure of how true what I'm saying is. Now the time for propaganda and goodism is over, it is time for concreteness, it is time to really help those fleeing war. This is the only real welcome and on this we are and will always be at the forefront.

Yes, but these documents are produced by the Commission. All right, I'll finish. In recent weeks, the European Commission, at the Conference on the Future of Europe, presented another manifesto entitled "The future is in your hands", with the image of a veiled woman, this one. I don't know if he remembers, he was from the Commission. Yes, I put it away, but it's everywhere. Either you are ashamed of it, or I tell you that this is the image of women for the European Commission today. I agree with you, we should take it off. It is bleak indeed that in 2022, for Europe, the muse of several communication campaigns is an Islamic woman with a veil, because it means backing down on rights, archiving our values, our culture and our identity simply to please Muslims. I'm right! But if this is the future of Europe for you, I think it is absurd and shameful!

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Europe must participate by presenting its priorities at the 60th edition of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Well, let us say that the European institutions have shown that they have an image of women that I think is frankly disgraceful. Let's go in order. In November, the Council of Europe carried out a campaign, fortunately then withdrawn due to the right protests, of the title "Beauty is in diversity", as freedom is... (The speaker shows a poster and is then interrupted by the President.)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in accordance with the wishes of the European Union, the European Year of Youth should lead to greater involvement of young people in society, politics and decision-making processes. Apart from the propaganda, however, it is quite clear that Europe is not able to intercept and understand the difficulties of young people. I am thinking, for example, of the growing phenomenon of baby gang, which in many European cities represents a growing scourge and a serious danger to the security of citizens. The risk of emulation, also fueled by social media, is very strong. The baby gang They grow in the contexts of abandoned suburbs and, very often, are linked to real problems of non-integration. In fact, these gangs There is no doubt that inclusion and integration are a mirage in certain communities, especially in Islamic communities. We have seen cases of unprecedented violence and gravity, such as those of New Year's Eve in Milan, with over a dozen girls harassed at the hands of young people of North African origin. I also point out that in juvenile prisons there is a dramatic increase in foreigners. Consider that in Italy, in my country, more than half of the prisoners in juvenile prisons are foreigners. It is a higher percentage than that of adult foreign detainees. New Europeans cannot be represented by those who have no desire to respect our laws and values. The left in this case, as in others, pretends not to see reality or worse minimizes it, linking it, as we have heard, to COVID. In short, it is a justification that cannot be supported. We also cannot remain silent about the alarming loss of centrality of the family, which is no longer taken as a model, often in favor of characters, such as some rappers, who send messages often complacent towards delinquency and violence.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, this debate is also about women's rights. Well, on New Year's Eve in Milan, my city, twelve girls were assaulted with sexual harassment. Twelve is the number we have today, but complaints are continuing to increase. They have been sexually harassed by over fifty boys of foreign origin, have suffered violence sometimes even for twenty minutes and have been thrown to the ground, touched in every part of their body, have been violated. Imagine dozens of hands simultaneously on their bodies without being able to defend themselves. It has been repeated what happened in 2016 on New Year's Eve in Cologne, you will all remember, with many women attacked and harassed by dozens of men. When we talk about respect for women we must have the courage not to turn our heads on the other side and we must also do so when discussing the image of women carried out by certain communities, I am talking about Islamic communities. These violences, which in Milan were carried out by people of foreign origin, have a clear name: In Arabic they are called taharrush gamea, i.e. "collective harassment". They are daughters of an established idea of a submissive woman, to be oppressed. These criminals, these shits are the offspring of unrestrained, unmanaged immigration and are a product of failed, indeed never truly aspirated, integration. We must say it forcefully: Integration in many suburbs of our cities does not really exist and is failing miserably and parallel societies are being created. Here many people will say that wearing the Islamic veil is a sign of freedom. I do not think so, I do not think so, in my opinion it is a symbol of submission, it is a symbol of a woman who does not have the right to be seen for what she is, who cannot show herself. I think of the case of Saman, the girl killed in Italy because her Pakistani family did not want her to go around without a veil and then she also wanted to refuse, think about it, an imposed marriage. But I also think of the many girls attacked in the family because maybe they just want to live in the West. So as a mother, as a woman, I cannot accept in any way the liberal silence of a certain left, which has tried in every way to deny the connection between the violence in Milan and immigration and the role of women in Islamic circles. I close, unfortunately, even in this institution we are more interested in gender language than in defending women from violence.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, arrests of journalists, imprisonment of political dissidents, violence and clashes in the streets: The situation in Hong Kong is increasingly worrying. China's behavior increasingly poses a global threat to human rights. What is happening in Hong Kong is unacceptable and the European Union's attitude towards the Chinese is unfortunately subdued. China is using its growing power to silence critics. We would not want Europe to bend because it is facing a global economic giant. The continuous arrest of journalists, called "bad apples", is sinking Hong Kong into a constant state of repression of opinions. Hong Kong, once a bulwark of freedom in Asia and around the world, has plummeted from 18th place in 2002 to 80th place in 2021 in the world's press freedom indicator. The goal of the Chinese communist regime is to accompany the island on Chinese standards. China ranks third out of 180 countries, with more than 120 reporters and bloggers currently detained. The repression of rights in Hong Kong is a problem that we also see in Taiwan, Tibet and other minorities. It is quite clear that statements of condemnation are no longer enough, but instead it is necessary to impose respect for human rights among the conditions of any kind of trade or political agreement between the European Union and China, including through economic sanctions.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, controlling borders and maintaining order are not human rights violations. It is good to say this and at the same time to reiterate that illegal immigration is a crime and not a right. Too often, however, the Commission and the left carry out policies with propaganda that, frankly, is pathetic and promotes illegal migration, the profits of which end up in the pockets of human trafficking criminals. Europe, both on the border with Belarus and with the coasts of Italy, should carry a message of seriousness and rigour in defense of the borders of state sovereignty and against illegal immigration. It should follow the example of Matteo Salvini, who had blocked the landings and for this reason received insults, threats and absurd trials. On the other hand, too often you have launched slogans on reception, slogans that have only fuelled false hopes of immigrants and tragedies, as often happens to migrants trying to cross the sea. Blackmail by dictators through immigrants can no longer be allowed. At the same time, enough with the ideology of immigration, do neither immigrants nor European citizens a favor.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the Glasgow conference has produced results, let us face it, which are frankly disappointing. Be clear: environmental protection is a top priority, but the ecological challenge must be addressed with pragmatism and seriousness, certainly not with ideology. The green transition, as envisioned by the European Commission, has costs that are often overlooked. The European race towards climate neutrality, not accompanied by that of giants such as Russia, China, India and partly also the United States, risks being a burden only for our continent. Europe accounts for only 7% of global emissions. Only European taxpayers, and in particular the poorer classes, are at risk of paying for the wrong choices, as we have already seen in France for the expensive gasoline. At the same time, rising energy prices with dramatic effects on bills are partly linked to certain decisions. green. These meetings in which hundreds of leaders arrive by plane objectively risk being the pride of hypocrisy and broken promises. Let's also not forget that China is already a leader in many of the commodities products of the future. I am thinking of the lithium of electric vehicle batteries, the semi-metals that are fundamental for wind turbines and also for solar panels. In short, our productions risk being penalized by unsustainable constraints and then becoming totally dependent on the Chinese giant. The environment must be preserved at all costs, but we must have the foresight to calculate the social and economic consequences of the choices we will make. The risk is to see further relocations and redundancies.