Speeches

Madam President, the guidelines for employment and social policies that have been issued by the European Union do not solve the problems faced by workers and the poor: poverty, unemployment, precariousness, low wages and high cost of living. On the contrary, these same policies and guidelines have sought to weaken the public response to the problems of populations, workers and the real economy. They have tried to annihilate universal access to quality public services, collective bargaining and bargaining, and reduce workers’ rights and guarantees. 11 years have passed since the implementation of the European Semester and the problems persist or have even worsened. Parliament is making resolutions which, while containing justifiable concerns, do not put their fingers on the wound. The European Semester is whitewashed by giving it a social and ecological guise in an attempt to preserve an instrument that has already proved to be a weapon against social progress. What is required is the repeal of this instrument which deliberately undermines the democratic decisions of the peoples of the Member States and which every year demonstrates its blackmailing and manipulative character.

Madam President, sexual and reproductive rights go hand in hand with fundamental rights such as the right to life, freedom, equal treatment, education, health or safety. All over the world we are witnessing attempts to impose retrograde and reactionary conceptions on women's sexuality and their role in society. They aim to impose a return to unsafe, clandestine, unprotected and dangerous abortions for women's physical and mental health, thus reversing one of their most important achievements. The way is to move forward, not to retreat. Alongside the defence of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights, advance the strengthening of public services, including free quality public health services, access to reproductive health services, implementation of sexual education, free access to contraceptives and family planning services. Moving forward, not backing down. The struggle of women has shown and will show that it is the only way!

Mr President, this debate is part of the operation of interference and destabilisation against Belarus that the European Union, its institutions and, in particular, some Member States are trying to carry out. The instrumentalisation of refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq, who are on Belarus' borders with Poland and Lithuania, and who are destined for countries that are part of the European Union, is a clear example of this action that has only geostrategic and political objectives, jeopardising the lives and safety of thousands of people seeking a better life. What is required is that the European Union and its Member States act with respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of this country, in compliance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, respecting the right of the Belarusian people, as of any other people, to decide on its present and future.

Madam President, once again the European Parliament is used as an instrument of the campaign against Cuba, aligning itself with the policy of interference and aggression of the United States of America, increased with Trump and now maintained with Biden against Cuba and the Cuban people. Hypocritically, they cry out for human rights while hiding the existence of the blockade imposed by the United States of America, which, contrary to the principle of the Charter of the United Nations, brutally and violently disregards the rights of the Cuban people. Its aim is to question Cuba's achievements, development options, sovereignty and independence. Let's talk about Cuba. Let's talk about the criminal and illegal economic, financial and commercial blockade with an extraterritorial character imposed by the United States more than 60 years ago. Let's talk about the measures implemented by the Trump administration that persist, even in times of pandemic, aimed at preventing access to essential goods such as medicines and food, seeking to undermine rights, such as the right to health or economic development. Let us talk about the destabilising and provocative actions that the United States of America is promoting, cynically exploiting the nefarious consequences of the blockade for which they are responsible, destabilising and provocative actions to which this Parliament is associated with this resolution. Let us also talk about the fact that, in the face of this extremely complex and demanding situation, Cuba and its people have not given up on providing solidarity in the field of public health to other countries and peoples, including countries that are part of the European Union. Therefore, from here we reaffirm our solidarity with Cuba, with the Cuban people, valuing their courage and dignity and their resistance, and we demand an end to the blockade, interference and aggression against Cuba.

Madam President, we are discussing the working conditions of platform workers here. They may come to speak of new forms of employment or new realities of the world of work, but the form of exploitation is the same, and old, remembering the squares, piecemeal remuneration and waving freedom in the form of flexibility to increase labour deregulation and precariousness. Digital platforms mostly resort to the use of bogus self-employed workers who often work with the platform’s uniform and rules and do so for a fee or by paying a percentage of the amount charged always under the rules determined by the platform. There is no other solution than the recognition of the existing employment relationship under the national law of each country. It is unacceptable that, in the 21st century, the technical and scientific development achieved should not serve to improve the living and working conditions of workers and that, on the contrary, it should serve to increase their exploitation.

Mr President, the restrictions on mobility imposed by the COVID-19 containment measures have paralysed around 2/3 of global traffic, leading the sector to the biggest crisis ever, and support is needed to safeguard jobs, workers' incomes and the viability of businesses. It is true that many of these supporters came from the European institutions, but they were differentiated and discriminatory, jeopardising the sustainability of several flag companies. The main victims are workers, faced with layoffs, wage losses, precariousness and exploitation. An unacceptable situation that did not start with COVID-19, which only aggravated and exposed the logic of deregulation, liberalisation, decentralisation and increased exploitation and precariousness seen in recent decades as a result of the European Union's policies for the sector. Finally, a word of solidarity to TAP employees who are faced with reduced rights and redundancies. The number of redundancies continues to rise and today it has been reported that more than 100 workers will be made redundant. Some of those responsible are right here in front of our eyes. The fight continues.

Mr President, the Connecting Europe Facility 2.0 is essentially the revised and updated version of an instrument that pursues the European Union's usual political strategies. The privatization of public services, transport, energy, and communications, the divestment of equipment and infrastructure, the degradation and costly service provided to the populations and the precariousness of labor relations are the watermark of this mechanism. In addition, this mechanism reinforces the financial value for dual deployment, i.e. it finances and facilitates the free and rapid movement of troops and military equipment within and outside the European Union. We believe that the funds allocated to the Connecting Europe Facility should serve cohesion and the development of civilian infrastructure and contribute to the improvement of quality public services for all, allowing countries such as Portugal to pursue public policies that serve the needs of the people and the development of the country.