Speeches

Madam President, on this point about the persistent threats to marine protected areas and coastal communities, I would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Members to a project for the construction in Gernika (Basque Country) of a new Guggenheim museum in the heart of the Urdaibai biosphere reserve, which is an estuary at the mouth of the Oca River to the Cantabrian Sea, in the Atlantic Ocean. We are talking about a project that violates European legislation by considering the Urdaibai Marsh, a Special Protection Area for Birds or SPA and, therefore, part of the Natura 2000 Network. In this area, declared of special protection, it is estimated that around 140,000 visitors would circulate annually, according to the promoters of the museum, which is absolutely nonsense. This situation means that the project has a huge opposition from the inhabitants of the place, who demand to stop this project because they believe that it puts at risk an area that should be especially protected and that needs a development plan according to the value of the environmental environment of Urdaibai. We want to call on the Commission to act accordingly, to protect the environmental interests of the citizens of the area and not to allow the absolute deterioration of this coastal area, protected by a figure designed by the European Commission itself such as the Natura 2000 Network.

Madam President, like any disruptive change, the enormous advantages derived from the use of new technologies also have another side, in this case provided by the dehumanization that allows anonymity. The growth of far-right positions has a lot to do with manipulation online to spread hateful and undemocratic messages, from the deepfakes the mere mass dissemination of false and defamatory information: anything goes. And even the new majorities in this Parliament have a lot to do with the use of these dark resources. I think you guys understand me. It is especially serious that the platforms that allow this behavior are in the hands of tycoons who exploit them in pure and hard business. They are business accounts that have no interest or social responsibility and those who are not interested in truthfulness or public interest. There is a need for new platforms, new moderated tools in truthful and legitimate content, above profitability and the income statement, which prioritize the public interest. There is no private initiative that ensures the public interest; this can only be guaranteed from the public sphere and, therefore, we call on the next Commission to send us a reflection on how from this European public sphere new platforms can be created that go beyond the current business model and guarantee public utility.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, a year ago Azerbaijan culminated in an ethnic cleansing of absolutely the entire Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, its ancestral land, where Armenians had lived for thousands of years, an ethnic cleansing preceded by all kinds of war crimes. At the moment, the situation of what happens there has been blurred by the magnitude of other crises and conflicts, but the reality is that tens of thousands of Karabakh Armenians are now refugees outside their home and there are dozens of political prisoners held by Baku. The talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be a good step to bring peace and stability to the region, but we cannot forget the reality of the Karabakhs or take Azerbaijan for an allied country of the European Union no matter how much gas it has or how much caviar diplomacy it continues to exercise in the corridors of this House. We cannot forget that Azerbaijan is an authoritarian state where journalists, activists and human rights defenders are detained, peaceful protests are repressed and the work of independent media and organizations is illegitimately restricted. Europe cannot look the other way because it needs to compensate for the embargo on Russia: the Azeri gas that reaches Europe makes it stained with Armenian blood and the violation of human rights against the citizens of Azerbaijan.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the demand for decent and dignified living conditions for all citizens is a transversal discourse that requires taking the initiative from the public sphere, particularly in housing issues. Once again, the great liberal dogma of that supposedly self-regulating market falls by its own weight and proves incapable of guaranteeing basic rights. Housing policies must be approached from the idea that housing is a basic good, a fundamental human right and not an object of trade and speculation. Public administrations need to ensure this exit approach. In Spain, there is a legal tool that allows the price of rents to be bumped up by means of a declaration of tension zone and in its brief application it is already demonstrating some capacity to contain prices. We support this initiative to be accompanied by a restrictive regulation of short and seasonal rentals and a fiscal policy that taxes the holiday rental business, imposes limits on its expansion and, in addition, promotes the culture of rental versus that of property. The competences are basically in the hands of the States, but from the Union measures can be taken to promote this totally necessary change of orientation. Truly, the new Housing Commissioner will not be short of work.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the United Nations-sponsored Summit of the Future has agreed on a document that talks, among other ideas, about security and peace and the transformation of global governance. Both concepts are intimately linked and today it is impossible to talk about international security and peace without referring to Ukraine and Palestine and demanding once again an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine, and now also of Lebanon. A ceasefire is absolutely necessary and enforceable to stop the genocide. International security and peace are the result of respect for international law, which cannot be violated without consequences. If we consider the invasion of Ukraine, which it is, to be contrary to international law, we must do the same with the invasion of Palestine and Lebanon or the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco, and to date the European institutions apply international law according to who violates it. A lot of heavy hand and military escalation against Russia, because it is the enemy to beat, but complicity with Israel and Morocco, because they consider themselves partners of the European Union and NATO. We cannot accept that double standard. Confront Morocco and Israel as you do Russia, Mrs Jourová, because all three are in breach of international law. Denounce the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and start by complying, Mrs Jourová, with the judgment of the CJEU which says that Western Sahara is not Morocco and therefore invalidates the trade agreement. And cut off, once and for all, the privileged status granted to Israel by the 2000 Association Agreement.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, Afghanistan is currently facing multiple overlapping crises: economic, humanitarian, climate and political – each of which is interconnected and exacerbated by the growing women's rights crisis. Over the past two years, Taliban have imposed increasingly abusive policies, particularly against women and girls and religious and ethnic minorities that clearly violate Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law. The situation in Afghanistan demands a women-led, gender-centred and evidence-based approach. The European Union must have its humanitarian efforts and ensure that our aid programmes across the country fight sources of social inequalities and prioritise aid to victims of human rights and gender-based violence. I would like to call on the European Union Member States to establish and facilitate safe and legal pathways for Afghans at risk, including by increasing resettlement quotas, humanitarian visas and easing family reunification, particularly for women and girls. The women of Afghanistan need us and our voice must be used to amplify theirs.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union, and this Parliament in particular, are obliged to denounce the genocide perpetrated by the State of Israel against Palestine with the complicity of the international community. The Palestinian population in both Gaza and the West Bank continues to be attacked and bombed by Israel, and this has to stop now. Pressure against Israel by the European Union should include the suspension of the 2000 EU-Israel Association Agreement: The free trade zone with Israel is over as long as the genocide in Palestine continues. I would like to underline that this did not start on 7 October last. Back to status quo This is not an option and I would like to take this opportunity to mention the important international conference against terrorism. apartheid in Palestine convened by the Palestinian diaspora in Brussels this coming October 19. It was imperative to continue working for an end to the genocide in Palestine, for an immediate ceasefire and for a solution that would enable the Palestinian people to have their own State, viable and respected by the international community.

Mr President, it is essential to ensure that citizens fully exercise their democratic right in the process of European deliberation, ensuring their active role in processes of direct democracy. To this end, it is essential that the institutions deepen transparency, which is often called into question, as was the case with the European Citizens’ Initiative ‘Minority SafePack’, which was ultimately rejected by the Commission. The digital transition is an opportunity to ensure key citizen participation in securing fundamental rights, so necessary in this context of constant threat from reactionary sectors, respecting fundamental rights and fighting discrimination against women, people, migrants and LGBTI+ people. In conclusion, I would like to stress that the text contains the right of legislative initiative on the part of the European Parliament through the revision of the Treaties, for example through the Convention. In addition, it is essential that the channels of participation, including those of the Member States, are opened at local and regional level, as well as that the reality of stateless nations is taken into account.

Mr President, the experience in Navarre from 15 to 19 June has been an absolutely exceptional and unprecedented critical situation. The weather situation around 40 degrees for days, thunderstorms and the dryness of the earth with more than fifty days without rain, have caused several fires with devastating effects. Fortunately, there has been no serious personal damage and the condition in urban centers has been minimal, but some 15 000 hectares have burned in various areas of Navarre, leaving serious damage to the forest mass, fauna and flora; a disaster in environmental terms that the Government of Navarre has already promised to restore quickly. To this end, the process of declaring an area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency to the State Government has already begun. Work is also under way on possible support from EU funds, those from the EUSF, and very significant investment will be needed for reforestation and to support farmers and farms affected. And for that, it is necessary to allow access to the aid of the European Union Solidarity Fund to those who have suffered this type of natural disaster and who probably do not fall into the minimum required for quantified damages but who, for a regional economy such as Navarre, are devastating and of complicated economic resolution. Address this situation and reduce the thresholds for access to the Solidarity Fund so that this emergency mechanism meets the objective for which it was created.

Mr President, with the creation of Northern Ireland in 1921, the British engineered a segregated statelet that denied the most basic rights to Irish nationals for decades. A system of social and political discrimination that sought to prevent their ever gaining proper representation and access to power. The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 put an end to that situation and ushered in a new era of democratic transformation and shared government between Unionist and nationalist. Legislation announced by Boris Johnson could put the Protocol at risk and, furthermore, he said that the UK would proceed unilaterally. There is no question that this would endanger the Good Friday agreement. It would endanger governance on the island of Ireland and it would endanger the progress made over the last 24 years in the peace process. As we know, Sinn Féin won the last elections, but the DUP, led by Jeffrey Donaldson, is refusing to share power. They are playing a bad loser’s role. It’s time for them to abide by, and implement, the full rule of democracy and for the European Commission to increase pressure on the British Government so the peace legacy remains intact.

Madam President, Commissioner, there is a great parallel between Sweden's and Finland's betrayal of the Kurds to please Turkey and Spain's umpteenth stab at Western Sahara. In the Saharawi case, it is evident that Spain has changed its historical position in favor of the Moroccan occupier in exchange for outsourcing the southern border of the European Union in Melilla, with the tragic result of the 37 deaths we met two weeks ago. This is a terrible management of the Spanish Government that also involves the European Union, because Spain has subcontracted control of the southern entrance of the European Union to a country whose respect for human rights is absent. This calls into question the fundamental values of the Union itself. But this is not only Spain's responsibility. The European Union is also responsible for these atrocities when it appeals against the rulings of the Court of Justice, which recognise no sovereignty other than that of the Saharawi over Western Sahara. Commissioner, it is time to put an end to this endless violation of rights, because the lives of Africans matter too. Stop playing with the rights of the Saharawi people and abide once and for all by the decisions of the European courts.

Madam President, dear colleagues, may I call your attention to the situation of Basque students at higher schools sitting the final examination called the Diplôme Nationale du Brevet taking place in the French international system tomorrow and the day after. Students from Département des Pyrenées—Atlantiques that got all their status in the Basque language so far are being requested to take final examinations in the French language. Their protest and claim for the final exams to be done in the Basque language was attacked by a French police baton charge against the students, parents and teachers themselves. This behaviour by the French authorities is not up to the European standards of diversity and human rights protection. These students deserve to be treated as decent Europeans that are doing their best to promote European diversity. The French Republic should protect, and not bother, them because of their linguistic identity. So therefore I want to call, on the one hand, on the French authorities for these final examinations to finally be taken and corrected in Basque with no objection at all and, on the other hand, on the Commission as well to keep vigilant on the issue so the linguistic rights of Basque students are protected in France.

Mr. President, we all have the right to emigrate and improve our personal and economic situation, especially in circumstances of vulnerability or risk to our lives or that of our families. All, absolutely all people are subjects of human and social rights and this cannot be ignored for reasons of race, religion, culture or class. It is not acceptable that the approach proposed to us is solely and exclusively to allow the entry into the Union of third-country nationals who have accredited professional or academic profiles of interest to Europe. I would like to say that this aspect is already covered by the Blue Card Directive recently adopted by this Parliament; It is so recent that there has not yet been time to assess its effectiveness. I would like to underline the irony of the origin of these racist initiatives that are presented to us. I want to remember where European emigration came from not so long ago: from the Nordic countries, from Eastern Europe, from the Southern countries, to the United States, South America, Australia, Africa. Exactly for the same reasons as some who come from places where war, hunger or lack of human dignity are a daily reality. We cannot be so unworthy and deny the right to emigrate and be welcomed that they guaranteed millions of Europeans long ago. I would also recommend that, if your concern is to attract North African talent to Europe, you start by recognising the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic so that the Sahrawi people can also access the European labour market.

Mr President, Commissioner, this motion we are debating today comes from the oral question put by several Members on micro-credentials in education in the context of the European Education Area by 2025. The text contains ambitious proposals in the framework of universal accessibility to education, emphasising topics such as the close relationship between lifelong learning and employability, the strengthening of links with the green transition, the formulation of a framework for the recognition of skills and competences acquired through informal and non-formal learning, and the emphasis on the fact that the available options should not be strictly limited to the needs of the labour framework. In any case, micro-credentials should take into account the situation of people studying in minority languages of the Union. It should be stressed that these languages are vehicular in the education system – in my country, for example, almost 70% of students choose Basque as a vehicular language – and should not be ignored by the European Education Area, and micro-credentials should also serve to promote the movement of students across borders, thus helping them to complete their studies in our European languages.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in a rule of law nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies surveillance by means of Pegasus spy software and similar to elected politicians, journalists and activists. The European institutions must investigate which governments have violated European law and fundamental rights by illegally spying on political opponents. It is important to underline that we are talking about a matter of European scope. It is proven that Hungary and Poland have used Pegasus, and we now know that the intelligence services of the Spanish State have also used Pegasus to intervene the communications of dozens of Catalan and Basque politicians, among others the general secretary of my party. Let us not forget that Pegasus is only available to States. It is particularly serious that a Member State such as Spain illegitimately spies on elected political officials, including Members of this Parliament, violating their privacy and the right to exercise their mandate without external pressure, as enshrined in the Statute for Members of the European Parliament. This Parliament has set up a Commission on Pegasus. We have to examine the industry behind espionage software, because Pegasus is only the tip of the iceberg. Our group has long been proposing a blanket ban on mass surveillance technologies and the European Parliament has to take the initiative to ban illegitimate spyware like Pegasus and for Member States using it to face consequences for it.

Madam President, first of all, we have to be grateful to the citizens who have invested their time in the Conference on the Future of Europe, to those who participated in the citizens' panels and plenary sessions and to all those who left their opinion in the contributions of the multilingual web. These people have shown us once again that citizens are ahead of the European institutions, which are more flexible and effective in detecting what fails and how to fix it. That is why the outcome of the Conference, in general, offers a much more progressive vision than the composition, for example, of this Parliament, which is a source of satisfaction. In that sense, citizens supported as the second most voted contribution on the digital platform an initiative to solve sovereignty conflicts in the European Union based on the application of a clarity mechanism that has not been included in the final text of the Conference. We consider this to be a mistake; Europe cannot reinvent itself by leaving out stateless nations, and we will insist on that. Finally, we support the European Convention's call for a possible reform of the Treaties. It will be an opportunity to separate what works from what does not and to highlight the Europe of human rights, the social Europe and guardian of the rights of peoples, so that they can freely decide their future.

Mr President [...]works of the AIDA Committee. It took a lot of effort and a lot of mutual understanding as well. I have to say that we are highly critical about the main ideas of the final draft. I have to admit that some progress was made in the course of the procedure and that some slight positive elements were introduced as regards artificial intelligence and the labour market, health and data privacy and digital skills literacy as a component of basic education. Beyond those points, the report acknowledges that it’s not possible to devise artificial intelligence algorithms, as our group pointed to. However, our group cannot share the overall flexible and risk-based business approach of artificial intelligence and the dramatic one on the European Union at risk, including a bold narrative of a pro-United States and anti-China approach throughout the report, instead of a broader, multilateral and collaborative global vision. We particularly regret that our proposal to include a multilateral approach for artificial intelligence cooperation with third countries, using international organisations such as the United Nations, was not accepted in the committee. The final report lacks relevant points, like the absence of regulation for high—risk cases and no strong message on the environmental impact of uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence as regards raw materials, CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The report acknowledges the gender gap, but falls short on making clear policy recommendations for increasing the role of women in artificial intelligence research and development. The worst part is the one concerning law enforcement and defence, where it calls for closer cooperation with NATO in cyber defence and calls on NATO allies to regulate the military use of artificial intelligence. No ban on the deployment of facial recognition and no ban on all autonomous weapons systems. These are key points for a civil liberties—compliant development of artificial intelligence. Therefore, we are left with a report with no clear goals except for flexible regulation for business, aligning with NATO and the US in foreign AI policy, and stressing on China’s standard setting of artificial intelligence posing as an evil challenge for the European Union. These issues are crucial for our group and I encourage you all to support our amendments on NATO’s role and on the implementation of AI in the field of the development of European minority languages. But may I call your attention to our amendments, particularly regarding the banning of facial recognition and autonomous weaponry. As I said before, these aspects should be taken on board in a sensitive document like this.

Mr President, the evaluation mechanism must ensure that respect for fundamental rights, as well as the right to free movement, is strengthened. And yet, since 2015, at the internal borders of the Schengen area there are cross-border crossings that have been closed for more than a year, something that initially should have been a temporary measure. This is the case of some steps in the Basque Country, which the French Government has decided to close or where it has put internal controls. Measures that affect the day-to-day lives of people who work and live on both sides of the border and that, in addition, have caused the death of at least eight young migrants while trying to cross the border through the Bidasoa River that separates Irún and Hendaye. Instead, the European Commission, in its revision of the Schengen Borders Code, instead of ensuring that fundamental rights are respected, standardises internal controls and rewards Member States that are violating fundamental rights. It is time to take action against the pushbacks. The proposed revision – it should be noted – will make abuses and deaths of asylum seekers the norm. And the Ukrainian exodus shows us that we need a space reform that ensures... (the Chair took the floor from the speaker).

Mr President, I would like to begin by thanking rapporteur Domènec Ruiz Devesa for the work he has done and for his willingness to include our input since the first draft report was drawn up and throughout the negotiation process. I must say that we are satisfied with the result. The report includes a comprehensive review of actions to implement the concept of European citizenship, taking into account different social realities and paying very specific attention so that the realities of migrants and refugees are taken into account, as well as a specific plan to combat xenophobia in all its variants, with special emphasis on women, LGBTI people and minorities. I would like to stress that the report incorporates linguistic diversity within the European citizenship strategy, focusing on minority languages and those that are in danger of disappearing. In this regard, I would like to bring up as a positive reference the broad agreement reached in the Basque Country on the educational pact, endorsed by the very large political and social majority. Basque, a minority language, will be the axis of education and it will be possible to make a qualitative leap in the acquisition of the Basque language by students and society in general. It also provides the means to end segregation on the grounds of origin and student income. We hope that this reality will be taken into account in the implementation of actions in the field of education for European citizenship.

Madam President, the European Commission recently presented a joint action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy, setting out a plan to make Europe independent of Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, as well as, in the short term, responding to rising energy prices in Europe and rebuilding gas reserves for the coming winter: the REPowerEU plan. On the other hand, the Communication contains worrying measures, such as the option of importing liquefied gas from the United States, the commitment to nuclear energy and limiting independence to Russian fuels and not fossil fuels in general. Faced with the escalation of energy prices, which are particularly suffered by citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises, it is essential to change the marginalist market model with greater public control and increase the taxation of the dividends "coming from heaven" - as they are called - of large electricity companies. And, in the same way, it is vital to accelerate the green energy transition, without prejudice to biodiversity and prioritizing the development of renewable energy communities. I would also like to say that, in this energy context, it does not seem the smart thing to provoke the ire of one of our main gas suppliers, Algeria, for free. President Sanchez's decision on Western Sahara, in addition to being contrary to international law, is awkward and will cause additional difficulties in Europe's energy supply.

Madam President, the Armenian people have known the worst with the genocides perpetrated by Turkey in 1915, and they have longed for freedom and democracy. Two years after the Azeri attack supported by Turkey against the people of Artsakh, the Armenian people and its cultural heritage are still under threat. In this context, we firstly call on Azerbaijan to discard once and for all its militaristic approach and territorial claims in Armenia and engage in good faith in negotiations and under the OSCE Minsk Group on the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh. It’s essential to respect the right to self-determination of Nagorno-Karabakh as a democratic principle in order to deal with conflicts in a democratic way. We cannot accept Azerbaijan’s stance and we must send a clear message. Azerbaijan must stop attacking and denying the existence of Nagorno-Karabakh as a fully independent political entity. Azerbaijan must be respectful of the people of Artsakh and international law.

Madam President, a year ago, the military of Myanmar seized power through a coup d’état and arrested the State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the President. In August, the Commander-in-Chief of the army announced he was appointing himself Prime Minister and since then a mass protest movement has taken to the streets and protested for a return to a democratically elected civilian government. Since the coup, military authorities have once again perpetrated crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Human rights violations, in particular against the Rohingya, have continued. We support the EU-adopted the sanctions against those involved in serious human rights violations in Myanmar, but we cannot limit the scope and not give a look at whom. The derogation that explicitly allows EU oil and gas operators remaining in Myanmar is unacceptable and must be suppressed. It’s time for peace and democracy in Myanmar and that will only arrive along with demilitarisation, dialogue, diplomacy and international law. Europe should make pressure to the Tatmadaw to immediately stop repression against peaceful activists and members of the public in general and transfer powers to the organised civil society. That is the only way forward acceptable.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the more than two million refugees who have fled Ukraine to date need our help and that is why we welcome the Temporary Protection Directive, which gives access to residence, education and the EU labour market, as we have been calling for since 2015. This reflects that, when there is political will, the European Union is a place open to people fleeing war and persecution. In these thirteen days we have welcomed more refugees than in the migration crisis of 2015. There is, therefore, a more humane way of proceeding than that of the European Commission's Pact on Immigration and Asylum, which is limited to organising returns and reducing the rights of those who eventually arrive in the Union. All asylum seekers and their fundamental rights must be equally respected – in the same way! – regardless of their nationality and country of origin: Whether they come from Ukraine or Syria or Afghanistan, whether they are neighbours or not, whether they are Christians or not, whether they are white or not, they are people fleeing war and horror. I am Basque of the nation that suffered the bombing of Guernica and we are a host country and against the war, always focused on the reception of refugees. Always! And that is why we denounce the hypocrisy of Poland, which two months ago closed its border with Belarus to Afghan and Iraqi refugees and left them to die of cold, while, now - with good judgment, it must be stressed - it welcomes Ukrainian refugees. It is a hypocritical and racist act, unbecoming of a European state.

Mr President, rapporteur, the European Parliament has been calling for years for the creation of a statute at European level for associations and NGOs in order to ensure mutual recognition between Member States and to facilitate the cross-border work of such associations. To this day there are still major complications in recognising the activities of international associations and this is particularly serious in cross-border regions, as is the case in my country, Euskal Herria. As stated in the opinion of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, it is precisely in cross-border regions and Euroregions that associations and organisations play a very important role in facilitating work around the interests of which civil society is a participant. And, in addition, there are more and more associations and NGOs that defend the public interest and face different economic, social or environmental challenges, among others, and that operate across borders in the midst of natural communities. But, despite this, they continue to face legal and fiscal obstacles. I would also like to draw attention to the announced reform of the Schengen area, because it can be an obstacle to cross-border community life and specifically to the real functioning of associations working on both sides of the border.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President of the Commission, I would like to begin my speech in line with what one of the honourable Members has said and, once again, to denounce the excessive political hand of the chairman of the Committee on Petitions, who repeatedly acts outside the impartiality that he is supposed to have, as we have been denouncing different Members of Parliament. The agreed text reflects the work done by the Committee on Petitions in 2020, but at the same time public ignorance about the scope of the right to petition is well known; The Committee on Petitions must therefore adopt a more proactive approach and a stronger communication strategy. I would like to express my concern, as a member of the Conference on the Future of Europe, at the diluted version of citizen participation being offered: a golden opportunity is being missed to launch a real bottom-up process to provide greater citizen adherence to the European project. Finally, I would like to say that we welcome the inclusion in the text of the need for the European Citizens' Initiative to be a much more dynamic and attractive mechanism for groups and citizens in general. The stateless nations of Europe also have the need to establish a European framework for the free and guaranteed exercise of the right to decide, the need for a mechanism of clarity at European level, as we presented a number of Members last October.