What Marc spoke about.

23

Oct

2025

FR Answer

Watch

Combating violence against women and girls, including the exploitation of motherhood (debate)

Definitely. You are a woman, you are elected, but you belong to political groups that always vote against women's rights. When we voted on the pay transparency directive to have the same pay for men and women, your political group voted against it. And I could cite other examples. Yesterday in our resolution on the budget, there were quite a few votes from your group that went against gender equal…

23

Oct

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Combating violence against women and girls, including the exploitation of motherhood (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, one in three women in Europe has faced physical or sexual violence, and the majority of these atrocities happen behind closed walls as intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence against women. We are talking about the lives of millions of women being marked by fear, silence and injustice. And while women fight for safety and equality in…

21

Oct

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, all EU enlargements were not just a success story – enlargement is a beacon of hope, a testament to what we can achieve when we stand strong together. Past enlargements have transformed our continent, bringing peace, prosperity and stability to millions. A new wave of enlargement is now a necessity, but with new members joining, we face real instit…

8

Oct

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Establishment and functioning of European Works Councils - effective enforcement (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, for way too long, European Works Council have existed without real power to influence decisions in transnational companies. Information has come too late, consultation has been too limited, and workers have been often excluded from decisions that directly affect their lives. Today, we have the opportunity to change that. This reform gives the European Works Counci…

7

Oct

2025

FR Speech

Watch

This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Luc Frieden (debate)

Madam President, Prime Minister, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Socialists and Democrats Group, I welcome you, Prime Minister, here in this house of European democracy, a place that embodies history, but above all the future of our Union. Luxembourg and Europe are a historic couple. We are bound by a common destiny. As a founding country, Luxembourg has lived through all the …

9

Jul

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Lessons from Budapest Pride: the urgent need for an EU wide anti-discrimination law and defending fundamental rights against right-wing attacks (topical debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, what did I see on the streets of Budapest? Young and old people carrying Hungarian, EU and rainbow flags, demanding equality, human dignity, freedom and democracy. And none of Orbán's threats could silence them. Quite the contrary! And while the peaceful Pride was banned and vilified, several far-right protests and manifestations were allowed by the Hungarian auth…

19

Jun

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Institutional and political implications of the EU enlargement process and global challenges (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, every single enlargement of our Union has been a major success story, and enlargement has now become a geopolitical necessity to protect ourselves and our neighbours against interference from autocratic regimes. It is important and good that enlargement is, again, high on the agenda. War on our continent, the rise of fascism, the shift in transatla…

18

Jun

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Freedom of assembly in Hungary and the need for the Commission to act (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner and dear colleagues, freedom of assembly is the heartbeat of democracy. And in Hungary, that heartbeat is faltering under the weight of repression. When people cannot gather peacefully to voice their concerns, when their right to protest is crushed by heavy handed tactics, it is a clear signal of a collapse of the very freedoms we claim to protect. It is extremely s…

17

Jun

2025

EN Speech

Watch

The Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law report (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear rapporteur Ana Catarina Mendes, dear colleagues, the Commission's rule of law reports have become a vital tool for democratic oversight. And year after year, they highlight persistent structural deficiencies, attacks on judicial independence, pressure on media and the weakening of civil society. These warning signs are systematically repeated in each editio…

21

May

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Improving mental health at work (debate)

Mr President, Commission Vice‑President, colleagues, more than 84 million Europeans struggle with mental health issues. To overcome this silent pandemic, we must embed mental health in all our social and equality policies, with concrete actions that go beyond the health sector. The European Pillar of Social Rights is the perfect framework to achieve these goals. Policies on employment, housing, ed…

8

May

2025

EN Speech

Watch

80 years after the end of World War II - freedom, democracy and security as the heritage of Europe (debate)

Madam President, dear colleagues, 80 years ago, the guns fell silent across Europe, marking the end of the most devastating war our continent has ever known. And today we honour the memory of those who were murdered, who suffered and perished. And we reflect also on the long, difficult path from destruction to peace. Out of the ashes of conflict, Europe chose reconciliation over revenge. Former en…

2

Apr

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Recent legislative changes in Hungary and their impact on fundamental rights (debate)

Madam President, dear all, today I choose to speak directly to the dear citizens of proud Hungary. For too long, you have been told that Brussels forces you to accept 'foreign values' and that the West seeks to undermine your culture. But let me be clear: our message is not an attack against you. We only ask that every person in Hungary be treated without discrimination and no one be forced to hid…

2

Apr

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Topical debate (Rule 169) - Social Europe: making life affordable, protecting jobs, wages and health for all

Mr President, Commissioner and colleagues, our social model is totally under pressure, because digitalisation, algorithm management and AI have exposed the weaknesses of our regulatory framework, which is totally out of date. Millions of Europeans are impacted. Young people are increasingly caught in the cycles of precarious jobs and minimal social protection, while corporate profits are rising at…

12

Mar

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Union of Skills: striving for more and better opportunities to study, train or work in the EU and to bring our talents back home (debate)

Mr President, Commission Vice-President, colleagues, the belief that deregulation disguised as simplification will solve labour market problems in Europe and make Europe more competitive is misleading. Weakening our values and backtracking on achievements will not strengthen our economy. Real competitiveness comes from unlocking the full potential of our workforce, of human capital. This is why we…

11

Mar

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Roadmap for Women`s Rights (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, Vice-President, Minister, dear colleagues, when talking about women's rights, the European Union has to be clear and precise, otherwise it creates potential for regress. The Commission must unquestionably support the right of women to have authority over their own body. If not, the far right, sponsored by the anti-gender movement, will do its absolute worse to backtr…

12

Feb

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Collaboration between conservatives and far right as a threat for competitiveness in the EU (topical debate)

Mr President, Minister, colleagues, conservatives often take pride in claiming to embody the political centre. Yet, in recent times, their ideas have increasingly resonated with parties from the far right. Whether by crude political design or reckless indifference, this irresponsible game endangers Europe and its competitiveness. We often hear from conservatives and others that we need to use comm…

11

Feb

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Boosting vocational education and training in times of labour market transitions (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, Minister, dear colleagues, digital and climate transitions are transforming our labour markets and challenging millions of jobs, but also bringing millions of new opportunities. Faced with this new reality, we must invest massively in vocational education and training, but not only for young people, but also for workers whose qualifications need upskilling. Training …

22

Jan

2025

EN Speech

Watch

Addressing EU demographic challenges: towards the implementation of the 2023 Demography Toolbox (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, the demographic challenges Europe is facing are among the main threats to our Union's competitiveness. The European Union and the Member States need to create an environment that supports the life choices of our citizens, and we must help them to fulfil their aspirations and to reconcile private and professional lives by ensuring access to quality …

19

Dec

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Commission’s plans to include the revision of the outstanding proposals on animal welfare in its work plan for 2025 (debate)

I really apologise to the interpreters, who do a very good job. I was going to say that improving animal welfare in Europe is not only ethical, but it is also essential to achieve a healthy and sustainable society and it will limit the spreading of zoonotic diseases. So the EU must push for the highest possible standards and the Commission must deliver on their promises, which they have been doing…

19

Dec

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Commission’s plans to include the revision of the outstanding proposals on animal welfare in its work plan for 2025 (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, for many years European citizens have been asking for a revision of EU animal welfare legislation. So far, too little has been done and this must change. While we welcome a Commissioner for animal welfare, the Commission must ensure that any pending proposal will be delivered by 2026. This is in line with the recommendations of the strategic dialogue on the futu…

19

Dec

2024

FR Speech

Watch

Recommendation to the Council on the EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women - EU priorities for the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (joint debate - EU priorities for the upcoming session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women)

Mr President, Commissioner, what do the 1949 Women’s Union for Peace in Belgium, the Mothers of May Square in Argentina and this year’s Sakharov Prize finalists Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun have in common? Well, these are women’s movements for peace. In these turbulent times and on the occasion of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, I believe it is urgent to reca…

19

Dec

2024

DE Speech

Watch

Need to update the European strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities (debate)

Madam President, Discrimination against people with disabilities persists in all areas of our leisure and professional lives – and this is unacceptable. And how can we treat people with disabilities on an equal footing if we cannot even agree on a uniform definition of disability in Europe? How can we speak of a social and equality union when our EU funds still exclude them from the labour market?…

28

Nov

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Strengthening children’s rights in the EU - 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (debate)

Madam President, today we celebrate the first international instrument to recognise children as human beings entitled to fundamental freedoms and human rights. 35 years later, we must continue strengthening these children's rights here in Europe. Therefore, comprehensive and age-adapted sexuality and relationship education is an essential tool to prevent sexual abuse, paedophilia and violence, and…

27

Nov

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Recent legislation targeting LGBTQI persons and the need for protecting the rule of law and a discrimination-free Union (debate)

Madam President, in a union of equality, there is no room for discrimination. I ask the right side of this House, would you not be outraged if one of your relatives or one of your friends would be discriminated against because of the colour of their skin, or because of their religion, or because of their disability? Why are some of you not shocked when people continue to suffer, on a daily basis, …

26

Nov

2024

EN Speech

Watch

Urgent need to tackle the gender pay gap (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner Dalli, a 13 % gender pay gap in our Union is a scandal and is a slap in the face of our core values. And while I welcome EU legislation and in particular the Pay Transparency Directive, we must face the facts: these initiatives will only be successful if there is real political will for change. And I can hear those in this House who will claim that the administra…