Speeches

Mr President, may I begin by congratulating my colleague Nacho Sánchez Amor on this report and take this opportunity to address the Turkish authorities as rapporteur for the missing persons in Cyprus during the intercommunal clashes of 1963-64 and the Turkish invasion of 1974. I am witnessing the suffering of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot families, almost half a century after the last events and when 769 Greek Cypriots and 200 Turkish Cypriots are still missing. They are all victims and all suffer the same pain. This is a humanitarian issue. There is no room for divisions. I therefore call on the Turkish authorities to release the crucial information from the military archives and to access the land and fenced areas in order to carry out the necessary exhumation, identification and return of the remains to the families. Time is our greatest enemy. There is an urgent need to act quickly. History would not forgive us.

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, after listening to the legitimate representatives of European citizens, we have only one conclusion: this agreement on migration policy with Tunisia must be stopped immediately. Over the past six years, the European Union has invested more than €6 billion in such agreements with neighbourhood countries. What is the result? 25,000 deaths, more than 25,000 deaths in the Mediterranean! These kinds of agreements don't save lives. Such agreements condemn lives. And this agreement with Saied is to reinforce his dictatorship, his autocratic regime and to condemn more migrants to death, to the most vile violation of human rights, to abandonment in the desert.

Madam President, only Venezuelans and Venezuelans, all Venezuelans and all Venezuelans, will have to decide the future of their country in elections that are fair, inclusive and transparent. This was the contribution that the European Union Election Observation Mission tried to make in 2021 through 23 recommendations, 23 key steps towards free and fair elections in 2024. I had a responsibility to be the leader of that mission and it is precisely under that responsibility that I am here today to appeal to all Venezuelans, to unite, to discuss the conditions for holding elections in 2024 and to find a definitive solution for their country. Because Venezuela cannot continue this impasse. Humanitarian conditions cannot continue to worsen and we cannot continue to see Venezuelans having to leave their country.

Madam President, in 2019 we were here in this plenary having an identical debate, an identical debate, also motivated by another tragedy in the Mediterranean. Since then, more than 10,000 lives have been lost. And the only question we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is: how long? How long will a group of rich, developed countries committed to the protection of human rights continue to turn a blind eye to this tragedy and allow this situation to remain unaddressed? How long will we remain without a search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean, coordinated between the different countries and Frontex? How long will we continue to criminalise non-governmental organisations, which are often the only rescue response, operating in the Mediterranean for lack of state presence? It is up to us, ladies and gentlemen, to put an end to this shame, because what we are talking about is really a shame for all of us.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to note the broad consensus in the debate on this report, a consensus which has been noted throughout the discussion and which has allowed the text to be as comprehensive as it is and to contemporaneise the most diverse solutions. As the Commissioner has rightly said, Albania has made serious reforms, very important reforms which are important not only for the accession process, but also for the quality of life of its people and for the quality of its democracy and its rule of law. Speaking of democracy and the rule of law, I would like to echo the concerns expressed by several colleagues from various groups regarding Mayor Beleri. It is a case that is being followed by the judicial bodies of Albania and we, with the strictest respect for the separation of powers, must respect those which are judicial decisions. However, I leave here my personal assurance to all colleagues in all parliamentary groups that I personally will monitor the development of this case and ensure that the principles of the rule of law are scrupulously respected. And I think that, with this guarantee and with this frank and direct approach to the problem, any other discussions that go beyond the temporality of this report and that should not remain in this report should be remedied. I hope that my appeal and my determination to address the problem will be taken into account and that we will be able to address this issue in a coherent and consistent manner.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to address all of you and, in doing so, to address the Albanian people who, with courage and determination, have persevered on the European path. Last year, when we debated this annual report, we had before us a very different picture from what we have today, much darker, given the situation of injustice that caused the First Intergovernmental Conference to be postponed consecutively. Today, after that phase, we face the present and the future with a new breath. The process of screening progresses rapidly and will be expected to be fulfilled in a record time of 13 months. In view of the level of commitment and responsiveness demonstrated and the need to make up for the time lost due to other people's problems, this report presents the year 2030 as the target for completing the accession process. There's no time to waste. This report covers a wide range of ongoing reforms and makes recommendations that we believe are important to take into account. It is important to continue the path of reforms in the area of the rule of law and justice, to recover from the delays due to the decrease in human resources that the vetting led and citizens’ access to justice improved. The fight against corruption and organised crime is non-stop and constantly challenging. SPAC has brought significant progress in a process that must be continued in strengthening the transparency of institutions and democracy. We note the legislative advances on the protection of minorities, but they need to have a real translation in the protection and inclusion of LGBTQI+, Roma and Egyptian populations. With regard to press freedom, we underline the importance of withdrawing the anti-defamation law, but underline the need to promote greater protection of journalists and to promote the freedom and independence of their professional practice. On environment policy, we note the acceleration of the diversification of energy sources and the transition to renewable, solar and wind energy, and the swift implementation of the European Union support package for the Western Balkans in this regard. We welcome the creation of the Vjosa River National Park, the first of its kind in Europe, but we call for the strengthening of environmental policies. We have to demand this. As far as foreign policy is concerned, we must not forget, at a critical time such as the one we are going through, that Albania has proved to be a reliable partner and aligned with the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy, including in its role as a member of the United Nations Security Council. Ladies and gentlemen, youth will play an important role in Albania's European future and it is therefore essential to involve it in decision-making right now. The accession process represents the construction of a project of society to which everyone has to be summoned: civil society organisations and individuals. This process also requires the strengthening of inter- and intra-party dialogue, overcoming the polarization that has marked the political life of the country and that both conditions it. The process is ongoing and reforms are being implemented, but it is time to move beyond the trivial fulfilment of commitments. It is time to do more and better and build an inspiring vision around Albania’s European future.

Mr President, Xi Jinping's steamroller does not slow down in crushing all forms of freedom and human rights. Pro-democracy parties, journalists, activists, media outlets such as the Apple Daily and Stand News, civil society organisations, nothing and no one in Hong Kong is left unscathed by Beijing's repressive crackdown. The National Security Law has been a useful instrument in the hands of the regime for the production of the greatest arbitrariness, putting an end to the principle of "one country, two systems" and violating the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a process that is also being replicated in Macau, in clear violation of the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration. Jimmy Lai risks life sentence in a court case without guarantees of impartiality. We call for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as Chow Hang-tung, Albert Ho and all victims of arbitrary detention. The European Union cannot be silent or close its eyes, nor can it be silent or close its eyes in the case of Joseph John, with dual nationality, Portuguese and Chinese, and the first European Union citizen victim of the web of persecution that the National Security Law helps to weave. We demand the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong and also in Macao and reiterate the call on the Council to activate the European Sanctions Regime for human rights violations against John Lee and other officials from Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the endemic corruption, the political system based on the blocked division of power between religions, the bankruptcy of the banking system, the impunity installed have led Lebanon to the most complete chaos in recent years. Without a president and with a transitional government, when it is urgent to guarantee the intervention of the IMF and implement an economic recovery program, the one that, in the past, was considered the Switzerland of the Middle East, currently sees 82% of its population in poverty and with access to only two to three hours of electricity per day, which blocks the economy, paralyzes schools and hospitals that face shortages of medicines and professionals who have already left the country. Humanitarian aid within such a framework, and when the country is home to around one and a half million refugees from Syria, is very important. But it is not enough, Commissioner, as you have rightly said, it is not enough. Reforms must be demanded and clear signs must be given that we are not compromising with those who destroy the lives of the Lebanese. We know their names, we have the mechanisms in our hand, it's up to us to act, because the country can't wait any longer.

Madam President, talking about the future, a future of reunification and reconciliation also means looking to the past and healing the wounds of the past. I therefore come here to talk about the 2 000 Cypriots who disappeared in 1963, in the tragic clashes between communities, and in 1974, at the time of the Turkish invasion. After all this time, the whereabouts of 772 Greek Cypriots and 200 Turkish Cypriots are still unknown. In this matter there is no room either for indifference or for divisions of any kind. Cypriots are approaching the end of their lives, tormented by the pain of the disappearance of relatives, friends and neighbours, without having had the opportunity to mourn. There is an urgent need to race against time, break down barriers and, building on the work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, close this dark chapter. I know that this is your personal and political commitment, so I would like you to give us a perspective on resolving this conflict.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, 30 years after the creation of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and 28 years after it came into operation, here we are marking a recognised success story and taking a final step towards the establishment of the European Union Drugs Agency. A step up to the challenges posed to us by increasingly complex market and consumer dynamics, which require a new capacity for intervention and policy design. But let me first underline – because it is right to do so – the cooperative and constructive attitude of the shadow rapporteurs, as well as the convergence effort made by the three institutions – Parliament, Commission and Council – that enabled us to reach this provisional agreement, defining the mandate of the new European Union Drugs Agency. A strengthened mandate, focusing on an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to this phenomenon, from the point of view of the complexity of market and consumer dynamics, health, treatment, social reintegration and safety. At a time when the increase in available drugs, the growing variety of means of circulation and marketing and even the change in production geographies are putting us in front of the demand for more effective responses and enhanced skills in anticipating scenarios, here we are setting up a new Agency where issues relating to health, prevention, treatment and social reintegration go hand in hand, as the European Parliament has demanded. An Agency, it should be stressed, with an enhanced capacity to involve civil society, which is a clear added value in fulfilling its mission. The new Agency will have a more robust budget as was long needed, a greater allocation of human resources, more autonomy and capacity to act. Strengthening the network of focal points will allow for wider data collection and analysis, information production, as well as the detection of new market and consumption dynamics, and the issuing of early warnings. In this way, we move decisively towards the deepening of a pragmatic, balanced and scientifically founded approach, which we have established over 28 years. The Observatory has been an essential tool for building integrated and sustained responses at Union and Member State level, as well as attesting to its reputation within and outside the European Union. And the Agency will continue to do so in a strengthened way, and the conditions are now being created for greater international cooperation, with which we all have much to gain. I am convinced that the Agency, by increasing the capacity to make science-based information available to the European institutions and the Member States, will contribute to significant progress in public policies, making them more effective and efficient in responding to present and future needs. The timing of the approval of this provisional agreement is undoubtedly extremely satisfying, but our work does not end here. A future-proof agency that fully fulfils our mandate now will require the effective implementation of its regulation. This is a task for all of us, both in the scrutiny of the Agency here in Parliament and through the representatives we have appointed to its Management Board. Let's do this!

Madam President, in Myanmar, mass killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, sexual violence, severe restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, executions in custody, now joins, more recently, also the dissolution of more than 40 political parties and the imminent call for puppet elections to legitimise an absolutely undemocratic and absolutely criminal regime. In the face of this, there is little left to say more. We can only hope that the European Union and the Commission, representing the executive side of the European Union, will take steps to sanction the military junta. We cannot go on without sanctioning. I am starting to be a little skeptical about the application of sanctions, but in this case, Commissioner, I am not at all skeptical about the application of sanctions. We must sanction the military junta and support civil society in an attempt to reverse this truly uncontrollable situation.

Madam President, the topic brought to our attention today is absolutely degrading and regrettable and is promoted by a far-right whose inflammatory and toxic rhetoric should embarrass us all. Migrants and refugees are not commodities. They're people. They are not a bargaining chip and our foreign policy and cooperation and development policy is not an exchange policy in this sense. Our values, the values of solidarity, the defence of human dignity, the defence of the right to asylum are not for sale. Dear Colleagues, to those who, here and abroad, seek to impose the narrative of hatred, fear and thereby capture public opinion, we say: They won't pass. In the name of solidarity, protection and welcome for those seeking an opportunity to live in safety and dignity: They won't pass!

Mr President, the International Organisation for Migration reveals that the first quarter of this year was the deadliest in the Mediterranean since 2017. In three days, 3 000 people have recently disembarked off the coast of Italy. A migration crisis, as Meloni and Salvini and company want to make believe? No, no. The smooth entry and reception of millions of Ukrainian refugees on EU soil since 2022 is proof that this is not the case. But yes, we have a humanitarian crisis, and above all a crisis of political will and a crisis of the humanist values on which we are founded. The criminalization of rescue, the declaration of a state of emergency to speed up the expulsion of immigrants, the walls defended by Mr. Weber, will never be able to stop the sea crossing of people in despair. Solidarity is not an option. It's a duty. If we are not able to launch a European search and rescue operation based on mandatory solidarity, welcoming and protecting those who seek an opportunity to live in safety and dignity, we will all be guilty.

Mr President, let us be serious: The crisis we are discussing today is nothing more than the tip of the iceberg of a tremendous crisis that has been installed in Peru for decades. It is a crisis that broke out in the face of the instability generated by the deposition of Castillo and the rise of Baluarte, but which has behind it the revolt of the people against endemic corruption, against inequality, against structural poverty, against the centralism of Lima, against the exclusion of indigenous populations and the widespread abandonment of populations by a political elite alienated from the reality of the country and hated by its people. And we have to face this problem clearly. And in the face of the violence that broke out and caused 68 deaths, this violence cannot continue to be sustained by the impunity that feeds the population's distrust of institutions. Therefore, our role as the European Union must be to continue to support the strengthening of institutions and to support progress towards elections monitored by the international community, in addition to investigating the acts of violence that have occurred.

Mr President, the situation in Cambodia is deteriorating with each passing day. Activists are spied on and arrested, non-governmental organisations are criminalised, the media are shut down, trade unionists, activists and journalists are persecuted and arrested. Censorship spreads to social media, with citizens detained for the content of their publications and messages against the Hun Sen regime, which has ruled for four decades. Kem Sokha, a former leader of the Party for the Salvation of Cambodia, was arbitrarily detained in 2017 and is now sentenced to 27 years in prison for treason and conspiracy with the United States in a politically motivated trial in a country that mimics the Chinese regime. We call for the immediate release of Kem Sokha and all political prisoners, and for the European Union to suspend all benefits of the Everything But Arms regime.

Madam President, five years have passed since the murder of Marielle Franco, a young Brazilian activist who defends the rights of minorities and the poorest. Around the world, human rights defenders face arbitrary arrests, torture, disinformation campaigns and it is estimated that more than 1700 people were killed between 2012 and 2022. The proliferation of authoritarian regimes and the fact that 75% of the world’s population has experienced a deterioration in the human rights situation in their troubled country in the last year shows us that the protection of activists requires increasingly comprehensive, multilaterally concerted responses. More than ever, these guidelines are needed. The European Union cannot divest its global role and its presence in the world and its delegations should be active actors in this matter. Human rights dialogues must cease to be mere soliloquies for diplomatic record. We need to be more effective and address these cases.

Madam President, as the rapporteur Zovko has already mentioned, whom I welcome, since 2018 there has been no report on EU-Azerbaijan relations, but, under the authoritarian regime of the Aliyev family, little or nothing has changed in Azerbaijan. Talking about the rule of law remains a mirage in the face of a controlled and obedient judicial system. Human rights violations add up. The repression and arbitrary detention of activists, political opponents and journalists continues, a situation that worsens when we talk about women, activists and journalists, or attacks on the rights of the LGBTQI population. A muscular attitude is in clear contrast to the inability to clear the corridor of Lachin, blocked by so-called environmentalists. Another provocation, with the aim of deteriorating the living conditions of the Armenian population of Nagorno—Karabakh. The constant provocations, attacking the sovereignty of Armenia and causing the resurgence of conflict in this region, the subjection of prisoners of war to torture and acts of humiliation, and the extrajudicial killings of Armenian civilians and military personnel constitute violations of international law that cannot be tolerated. It is imperative to find a sustainable peace solution to this armed conflict, putting an end to the devastation and prolonged suffering of the people. We therefore call for the abandonment of warmongering rhetoric, the unblocking of the Lachin corridor and the return to the strictest respect for the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and the basic principles of the OSCE Minsk Group. And we welcome the European Union mission recently sent to help stabilise the security situation and strengthen peace efforts. However, Commissioner, in a framework such as this, it is obvious that any deepening of the European Union's relations with Azerbaijan must be subject to conditionality on respect for the principles of democracy and human rights and a positive attitude towards building conditions for peace in the region. If we are not able to learn from distant history, Commissioner, it is good that we learn from the present and avoid the proliferation of mistakes that it is up to us alone to avoid.

Madam President, Mr Nausėda, allow me to begin by expressing my gratitude for the courageous and determined way in which Lithuania has defended European values against the autocratic regimes, not only of Putin and Lukashenko, but also, and it is good to say, of Xi Jinping. It really is an example for many other countries in the European Union. However, I have to say that I was in Lithuania exactly one year ago and I was able to witness the inhumane conditions to which migrants and asylum seekers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa were subjected after being used by Lukashenko as weapons of firing. A year later, many of these people have been released and conditions have improved, we know that. However, Médecins Sans Frontières had to close their operations due to the restrictions imposed on them and warn that more than 8000 cases occurred in 2022. push—backs committed by Lithuanian border guards, which continue to occur. Mr President, human rights violations and violations of international law cannot be combated with more human rights violations and more violations of international law. I am sure that they will be able to have the same degree of humanity towards refugees from other countries as they have towards refugees from Ukraine.

Mr President, Mrs Gregorová has just touched on the fundamental point of this whole debate. This is already the sixth resolution we have been discussing here since 2020. And what happens? Lukashenko continues to oppress his people and ally with Putin in the war in Ukraine. We continue to call for sanctions, more sanctions. And what does the Commission do? What does the Council do? We can no longer wait and we are indeed engaged and committed to the only path that seems right to us: more sanctions on Putin and his puppet Lukashenko, but also holding them accountable for the human rights violations and crimes against humanity they have committed together. Violence against the Belarusian people and the Ukrainian people must not go unpunished. And once again, we are raising our voices today to support the journalist Andrzej Poczobut, who has been sentenced to eight years in prison, and the Nobel Prize winner Ales Bialiatski, who is on the same path and whose sentence we are awaiting, but also all the more than 1 400 political prisoners in Belarus. I recall here the case of Palina Panasiuk and other women detained in the new gulags Existing in Belarus... (The President took the floor from the speaker.)

Madam President, in Equatorial Guinea, attacks on fundamental freedoms victimise opponents and activists, who have been kidnapped, held captive, tortured and murdered at the hands of the dictatorial Obiang regime, which has been in power since 1979. Julio Obama Mefuman was arrested in 2019 and died in one of Equatorial Guinea's prisons. He was one of more than 500 political prisoners in this country. He also had Spanish nationality and died at the hands of the political power of a country that has been a member of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries since 2014, without fulfilling its reform commitments. To the shame and indignation of all those who love democracy and speak Portuguese like me. We must not turn a blind eye to oppression, the perpetuation of human rights violations and the death penalty in Equatorial Guinea. We demand the repatriation of the body of Julio Obama and the immediate release of all political prisoners, and that the European Union act to protect its citizens from the actions of Equatorial Guinea, violators of human rights.

Madam President, this debate does not allow us to be entangled in naivety or laxity. It is absolutely clear the authoritarian drift of Mitsotákis and his implication in the use of Predator against Nikos Androulakis and other political opponents, journalists and military ranks. The sharp fall of 38 positions suffered by Greece in the ranking Reporters Without Borders' press freedom is one of the reflections of the country's regression on press freedom and the rule of law. In addition to this, there is corruption and a series of reforms that have affected the independence of the judiciary, media pluralism and the space for civil society. It is a regrettable and absolutely dangerous path. And now, Commissioner, in the face of all this, what I ask is: will the Commission remain entangled in an exchange of letters or will it trigger Article 7? When are we going to trigger Article 7? That is the big question, Commissioner.

Mr President, 12 years have passed since the end of the Jasmine Revolution. The strength of the people made Tunisia, in this period, synonymous with hope for all of us. However, from a year and a half ago to this part, the disillusionment is clear. President Saïed's political manoeuvres, arrogating full powers and sacking Parliament, put an end to the Tunisian dream. Popular dissatisfaction was clearly reflected in the participation of the last parliamentary elections, boycotted by a good margin of political parties. Only 11% of the electorate voted. There is no doubt about the despondency of Tunisians. The lack of respect for democratic values and the lack of a sense of state have added to the country's economic weakness and have definitely jeopardised its future. The future, which was once auspicious, becomes more and more distant. So it is up to us here, Commissioner, to ask you very clearly: how does the European Union intend to position itself in relation to the future of the country, making it clear that any support from the European Union is in a position? And that these conditions are of respect for democratic values and respect for human rights.

Madam President, I must begin by expressing my shock at some of the speeches made here today. There is no beauty in the violence, humiliation and suffering of anyone, in whatever form. We cannot normalize gender-based violence. We must criminalise it in the European Union and that will be our next step. But until then, we have the Istanbul Convention, which presents itself as a fundamental legal tool in combating violence against women and domestic violence. Its ratification is therefore an obligation not only for countries that have not yet done so – being Member States of the European Union – but also for the European Union itself, and intolerable cases such as Poland, which, after banning abortion, immediately announced its withdrawal from the Convention. Commissioner, we must leave here with clear political signals. The progress which the majority desires cannot in any way be hindered by the inertia and indifference of some. We owe this to all the victims.

Madam President, I begin by expressing my condolences to the Turkish and Syrian peoples and my appreciation for the excellent work being done by all those who are currently providing humanitarian aid on the ground. In my country, we say that a disgrace never comes alone, and in the martyred north-west of Syria, this earthquake has come on top of the devastation generated by 12 years of a war that has caused an endless trail of death, destruction and extreme poverty. It is specifically there, where 90% of the population needs humanitarian aid, that international support is most lacking. It is important to re-establish the two humanitarian corridors in Syria and extend Bab al-Hawa to transport survivors. But that's not enough and that's not where the problem is. The problem lies in the political will and in intervening quickly, mobilising us in the help that is needed. Humanitarian aid cannot be held hostage by warlords. We cannot abandon those who are in particularly vulnerable conditions in Syria, be they Kurds, internally displaced persons or Palestinian refugees. It is a matter of humanity.

Madam President, after the collapse of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the only news that comes to us is absolutely disturbing news from that country. Last December, women's access to education was definitively barred. The exclusion of women from universities and the banning of young Afghans from school is a blatant violation of the right to education. The ban on women's participation in work has hit humanitarian aid atrociously in a country where international and non-governmental support is critical to the survival of men, women and children. But it is not enough for us to be here diagnosing the situation, we must be active and join forces with the United Nations to bring humanitarian aid to the population, preventing it from being taken hostage by the Taliban regime. And we also need to move forward with targeted sanctions on the perpetrators of human rights violations. But we must not forget to give humanitarian visas also to lawyers and all those who are being persecuted in Afghanistan and who need these humanitarian visas.