Speeches

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, in recent months the issue of competitiveness has been on the agenda, especially in this House. But we read from the recent Letta report that 75% of dangerous products in circulation in Europe come from third countries and this is a worrying increase. You can well understand that this not only puts at risk the competitiveness of our businesses but also the health of our consumers, to whom we must guarantee safe products with strict controls, in particular those purchased on the market.e-commerce, platforms exploded during the COVID period. We must take urgent action to combat the excessive presence of products from third countries, which through platforms can easily reach millions of users in a very short time. This situation creates unfair competition that penalizes our companies, which are instead obliged to comply with increasingly stringent rules, while many products are imported without the necessary controls. Particular attention should be paid to toys, or drugs, because they are aimed at children and people in need of care. We need to ensure safety standards. In this context, the customs union can obviously do much more and we hope that, of course, the reform that has been initiated can be carried out to ensure stricter surveillance of imports, protecting our market and above all our citizens. Only then can we ensure fair competition and a future of growth and security for all.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the Letta report, together with that of President Draghi, arrives at the beginning of this legislature, which I would like to see become reformatory, ambitious, courageous but responsible, so that the European Union is no longer a spectator in a global scene but becomes a protagonist. And we have the tools to do it: a single market that in recent years has not only been an instrument of integration but has allowed our economic growth and prosperity, an instrument that must be simplified from a bureaucratic point of view, but above all strengthened, to further express its potential and face new opportunities. Just as it is necessary to achieve a single energy market, a financial market that obviously makes it possible to guarantee conditions of competitiveness. So we have important challenges ahead of us, for which only a strong single market can guarantee us a future that lives up to our climate, social and productive ambitions.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, today's debate follows and is linked to yesterday's debate on floods. And just last night, in the region of Emilia Romagna, Italy suffered a violent flood that caused over 1 000 displaced persons and showed us once again the devastating impact of climate change on our increasingly fragile territory. This dramatic event reminds us that we can no longer put off concrete and incisive action to address climate-related emergencies. Well, then, the choice of President von der Leyen to entrust the Commissioner for the Environment Jessica Roswall also with the delegation of water resilience. This shows his attention on a now crucial issue, but also the strong concern that we must express with respect to a natural resource, indispensable, irreplaceable, but unfortunately not infinite. During the last legislature, Forza Italia called for a debate in Parliament and obtained a commitment from the Commission to take concrete action to prevent and mitigate the dramatic consequences of this phenomenon. The agricultural sector will be the most penalized, because it obviously affects productivity and jeopardizes our autonomy and food security. We are at the beginning of the new legislature and I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my call for a concrete European infrastructure plan for the use, reuse and storage of water, so that this disaster can be tackled effectively. At the same time, we need to speed up European legislation on the use of assisted evolution techniques, which are very different from GMOs, to develop new crops that are more resilient to new pathogens, but also to water scarcity. The European Union demonstrates a strategic and courageous vision in tackling the water crisis, because only through strong commitment and coordination between states will we be able to ensure the protection of natural resources and the sustainability of our economies.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the pain and suffering that millions of Venezuelans are experiencing under the Maduro regime cannot and must not leave us indifferent. The European Union must not remain indifferent, but must make its authoritative voice heard in a firm and clear position regarding a situation destined to turn, if action is not taken immediately, into an international and humanitarian crisis. For our part, the Italian government, also because of its strong ties with Venezuela, has immediately expressed its deep concern about an electoral outcome without any legitimacy and, through the intense diplomatic work of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, we are urging each other to get to create a strong and coordinated response also at international level. The concern about what is happening in Venezuela, unfortunately, is not limited only to the lack of electoral transparency, for which we insist on asking for clear and verifiable results, but also extends to the systematic violation of all fundamental rights, from arbitrary detention, torture and persecution to freedom of expression and information. It is a moral duty for all of us to support Venezuelans in their legitimate expectations to see their vote respected and to be able to live in a context of peace and justice, free from intimidation and repression, guaranteeing for themselves and their children a future of opportunity, prosperity and democracy. We must insist on putting pressure on the Maduro regime and guarantee our full support to ensure that the will of the Venezuelan people is respected, but above all that democracy prevails over dictatorship. Europe should do its part, use its diplomatic strength, but do it today, otherwise tomorrow we will be complicit in an unacceptable injustice.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the conclusions of the strategic dialogue on agriculture have once again confirmed how vital the agricultural sector is for our Europe and, if necessary, we recall the resilience that our farmers have shown during the pandemic. This document is the part to start a programmatic discourse, which lays the ambitious and indispensable foundations for a sector that is not only an economic pillar, but a bulwark of food and environmental sovereignty, an increasingly strategic sector to ensure our competitiveness and autonomy, even though – allow me – Mario Draghi’s report did not adequately take this into account. The People's Party shares many of these parts, because there is a pragmatic and realistic approach, a vision that focuses on the farmer, innovation and the fight against climate change, where, however, sustainability cannot be understood only from an environmental point of view, but also from a social, economic and productive point of view. We must stand by our farmers, increasing their negotiating power, guaranteeing the principle of reciprocity towards third countries, facilitating the simplification of rules and procedures for access to funds, looking above all at young people, small and medium-sized enterprises and women, who still have too many difficulties in their commitment to agriculture. We are playing a crucial game for the European Union and this document is a first positive sign, which I hope will be followed immediately by the appointment of a strong, credible, authoritative and pragmatic Commissioner, who sees agriculture and the environment as allies and not as adversaries. We cannot get lost in dangerous ideologies as in the past, which have proved useless "I want to, but I can't".

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Convention No 190 of the International Labour Organisation is in fact the first international treaty against violence and harassment, including gender-based harassment, in the workplace. It applies in every sector, public or private; in any economy, formal informal; to every worker, regardless of their contractual status. Unfortunately, this convention, adopted in 2019, to date we must take note that most of the European States have not yet ratified it, and yet in a while, following the discussion, we will also celebrate International Women's Day in this House. Many celebrate it, when in reality it is ignored that every day especially women are subjected to inappropriate and intimidating behaviors, which see their professional careers compromised. This convention is certainly an indispensable regulatory instrument to prevent and combat all forms of violence in the workplace, but it is not enough. The road is very long, it is not enough simply to ratify, we must build together a true and solid culture of work based on mutual respect and the dignity of the human being.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank the rapporteur, Paolo De Castro, for the work he has been able to do with regard to a regulation on geographical indications which, at this very moment of great tension between the institutions and the agricultural world, confirms instead how European policies can concretely benefit the sector, enhancing the work of producers and fostering new opportunities for growth. In fact, this regulation, unlike others, reinforces the positive perception of our European Union. Geographical indications are not just a brand but a guarantee of quality and link with a territory: protect our production methods, preserve the tradition and unique characteristics of our products, which are known all over the world. With the new rules, producer groups will have more rights and a more active role in the management of geographical indications. This means greater autonomy and above all the ability to protect against unfair trading practices, which increasingly threaten the integrity and value of our products. At the same time, consumers will benefit from this initiative because they will have the certainty of being able to buy healthy products linked to the territory. In an increasingly competitive global environment, Europe must be a bulwark of quality and tradition. The new geographical indications, with this revision, are a tool to strengthen the competitiveness of our products on global markets, promote the diversity and sustainability of our agricultural system and create new job and development opportunities for rural areas. This resolution, with a favourable vote, becomes an investment in the future of our agri-food system and in the well-being of our fellow citizens.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, with the proposal to revise the European Treaties, today we are beginning to write an important new page in the history of Europe and our institution. The citizens have asked us loudly: Parliament listened and responded, because we need a different, more pragmatic European Union; a European Union that has the means to react decisively to crises; a Union that is a force of union and not of division, a place where each member can prosper from a social, economic and cultural point of view and not be crushed or isolated by rigid, outdated economic rules. To achieve this, we need a profound change, a cultural change, a change that starts right here, as our rapporteurs have shown, whom I thank. European integration is a step-by-step process that has been stalled for too long, since the 2007 Lisbon Treaty, which today needs to be relaunched with strength and conviction. Our proposal for a revision offers many ideas for a discussion on the future of our Europe, starting with the need to strengthen our democracy through the recognition, for example, of Parliament’s legislative initiative or the role of co-legislator on the budget. But we must also look at the Union's role on the international stage and increase our credibility as a global player, through, for example, a European Defence Community. This report is just the beginning of a long and complex process that we hope the Member States will have the courage to undertake, putting aside prejudices and nationalisms, which should not be confused with national identities, which instead find their recognition and their strength in the European Union.

– Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow's vote on the packaging regulation risks calling into question the credibility of the European Union. We all want a more sustainable Europe, where there is less packaging, but we cannot forget that this same Europe for years has called for and supported research and innovation for recycling, has sensitized, stressed and trained citizens to differentiate and today, suddenly, changes direction, proposing a system of reuse, without considering the extraordinary results achieved in recycling, which instead can and must remain a parallel road to continue to have credible sustainability from an environmental, social and economic point of view. Packaging is not only a problem but in many cases also a guarantee: we think of the world of food, where they allow us to consume fresh, healthy and above all safe foods, helping to reduce waste. If the text passes like this, without the changes, entire production chains would be destroyed, with dramatic consequences for producers and consumers. I call on everyone to make common sense prevail, to show a Europe in which political choices and environmental strategies are coherent, credible and above all pragmatic in the interests of citizens.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the images of destruction, suffering and death caused by the worrying escalation of violence in the Middle East call for reflection. Peace is built neither by terror nor by violence. Hamas's grievous act of aggression has rekindled decades of conflict, territorial disputes and political complexity, creating a cycle of violence with devastating consequences. Peace in the Middle East requires a complex and challenging approach, involving international diplomacy and our Europe, to find a meeting point and encourage constructive dialogue as the only viable way to a just and lasting peace, in the interest of all parties involved and of the global community as a whole. We strongly reaffirm here today our commitment to a two-people solution in two states, respecting the rights, security and dignity of both. We must work tirelessly towards a future where dialogue, understanding and respect replace conflict and violence. Because, you know, the path of violence is a non-solution that has no winners, but only losers and many innocent victims.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, 2024 will be the year of the European elections and that is why our budget must reflect the challenges we face. Among these, there is certainly a need to communicate more and better with citizens in order to raise their awareness of the activities of the European Union, countering disinformation and breaking down the barrier that still exists between citizens and institutions. The European Union is often perceived as an abstract and distant reality, despite the fact that here we make decisions that affect the lives of our citizens every day. There is a need for resources to raise citizens' awareness of the importance of having a strong and cohesive Europe as the only solution to tackle a complex present and an ambitious future. And resources are needed to implement the Conference on the Future of Europe, where citizens have expressly asked us for a different and more concrete Europe, a Europe that is not afraid to question itself and also to initiate the delicate reform process of our Treaties.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, it is also clear from the debate that it is necessary to reduce the use of pesticides, but this can only be achieved if we imagine a gradual programme and sensitise farmers to responsible and moderate use. The Commission's proposal to renew the authorisation for the use of glyphosate was motivated by scientific evidence that we cannot but accept, but it would, in my view, have been more appropriate to prohibit and not only restrict the use of glyphosate at all stages of pre-harvesting and not to leave discretion to individual States. Let us not forget the difficulties faced by farmers as a result of the beginning of the war, as well as families due to inflation, and it is our responsibility not to worsen this situation with practices that would lead to a possible reduction in production, with a further increase in prices. That is why I believe that it is necessary to accompany this proposal with the principle of reciprocity and to ensure that products are not imported into Europe from third countries that use glyphosate disproportionately and improperly even at the pre-harvest stage. This would jeopardise the health of our consumers and also harm competition. No farmer likes to use chemical pesticides, but if we impose a reduction in these pesticides, we also have a duty to promote more research to find alternative solutions and, above all, simplify and reduce authorisation times, because our farmers must be supported and not abandoned.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to recall the 21 people who tragically lost their lives in the accident that took place last night in the city of Mestre, near Venice. A human tragedy, a European tragedy involving Ukrainian, German, French, Austrian, Spanish and Croatian citizens, as well as the driver of Italian nationality. A tragedy in front of which we can do nothing but gather around the families of the victims and wounded, including several children. A special and sincere thanks allow me to do so to the many rescuers who intervened promptly on a scenario defined by themselves apocalyptic. I join in the words already expressed by President Metsola, whom I thank, and express with sincere condolences the condolences of this Parliament to all the families involved, asking all colleagues to join in this moment of condolence.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, today is a day of remembrance, but also of reflection. The human tragedy in Lampedusa and the more than 28,000 migrants who have died and been missing in the Mediterranean over the last decade represent the defeat of Europe, and none of us can deny it. In the meantime we have used and abused the word "solidarity", but it is a boastful and never applied solidarity. And this is confirmed by the fact that at the right time we are backing down and some states are left alone to face a crisis that is no longer emergency but structural, and for which Europe and the United Nations itself must do more, developing a strategy in Africa to create better living conditions. We have a duty to promote regular migration mechanisms, such as that of humanitarian corridors, but above all and above all we must fight without delay the traffickers of human beings who sell the risk of life disguised as a European dream. Let us not make the mistake today of belittling the importance of this day with forms of controversy and exploitation, because today is not the occasion to point the finger at us, today is the day of remembrance, it is the day of pain. And it is precisely this pain that must be the starting point that gives us the strength to find true and shared solutions.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, every year between 70 000 and 90 000 people die in the European Union from previous exposure to asbestos: A real war bulletin. Two years ago this House voted on a resolution in which 675 Members confirmed the need to strengthen European action on the protection of workers from exposure to asbestos. However, the European Commission's proposal that we have seen has not confirmed the ambition that we have requested. Leaving aside the fact that this theme confirms the need for the European Parliament, directly elected by the citizens, to play a greater role in proposing and promoting European policies, especially for the well-being of our citizens, we must remember that the main source of exposure to asbestos is old buildings which, as has been said, obviously become the subject of a general renovation process to ensure their energy efficiency or their seismic improvement. That is why it is crucial that this House votes in favour of the current report to confirm the need to lower occupational exposure limits compared to a Commission proposal that is ten times higher than our request. Obviously, to achieve the required objectives it is necessary to have a global approach, starting from the mapping of asbestos in buildings, a mapping that must take place safely and with the help of new technologies, from the research of alternative methods to landfilling, but also from the simplification of practices and economic support for the detection and possible disposal. There is a need, in fact, for an overall strategy that involves companies, professionals and citizens and provides in an extraordinary way a financial plan in favor of the owners of buildings for the screening and the safe removal of asbestos.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, parliamentarism, citizenship and democracy: three interconnected and vital elements for the European Union and all its Member States. The decisions we make every day in the institutions have a direct impact on the lives of citizens. This is why it is necessary to clarify and reclaim our role and the role of all national parliaments by opening a reflection on the functioning of democracy in Europe and its institutions. We must encourage knowledge of the European Union and a sense of belonging to it, increasing the value of European citizenship, so that citizens clearly know their rights and duties, while promoting European civic education. This will not only strengthen their sense of belonging to the Union, but also their participation in democratic life, also in anticipation of the next elections. In the light of the AFCO proposal for the revision of the Treaties, I call on the Council and the Commission to open a serious debate on the future of the European Union, so as to follow up on the citizens' and Parliament's proposal. The future of the Union depends on our ability to promote these three values and only by making Europe more efficient will we be able to ensure true trust in the institutions and, above all, to make citizens feel an active part of this project, which is the only way to face current and future challenges.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the agreement reached with Tunisia is certainly one of the most important steps taken by the European Union in recent years in terms of migration policies. Of course, the glass in this case is half full and not half empty, as some critics want to represent. The difficulty of managing migratory flows in recent years has put a strain on the resilience of Tunisia, whose instability is a cause for concern for all. That is why I believe that the agreement aims to ensure conditions for greater stability and cooperation, including support for improving coastal control instruments. As I have repeatedly said in this House, countries facing the greatest burden of migratory flows cannot be left alone, whether they are part of the European Union or of our precious neighbourhood. I would therefore like to thank the European Commission for promoting this agreement and also stress the strategic role that the Italian Government has wanted to play and is playing at European level, reconfirming its credibility and, above all, its concrete commitment to finding a common response to the migration phenomenon. The fight against irregular immigration and criminal organisations that endanger thousands of lives every day must be tackled on several fronts. That is why we must continue to work together with all those countries, such as Tunisia, which have proved to be a partner on which to invest in order to ensure that our solidarity is not only proclaimed, but also practiced.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, we welcome the decision to hold a debate on the composition of Parliament before tomorrow's vote, because it is an opportunity to reiterate the importance of our role. We regret, however, that the Council did not accept Parliament's proposal, which provided for a minimum increase in seats for states with a significant increase in population. We take note of the Council's different decision but I would like to point out that the Council not only did not intend to recognise more seats but completely ignored any other indication of our resolution, including, in our view, a provision on the budget It lacks any legal basis. Nevertheless, Parliament, with a great sense of responsibility and within the timeframe indicated by the Council, will express its views on this decision in order to allow the States affected by the amendment to be able to adapt their national legislation. But more interaction with Parliament would have been appropriate to reflect the different needs and perspectives expressed in our resolution. That is why I hope that in the future the Council will be able to pay greater attention to Parliament's will, ensuring in practice the spirit of sincere and mutual cooperation that must characterise relations between our two institutions.

Madam President, the revision of the Rules of Procedure represents an important moment in the history of this Parliament, which, it has been said, is deeply shaken by the scandal of last December. First of all, I would like to thank the rapporteur Gabriele Bischoff, the Chair of the AFCO internal working group, Rainer WIELAND, and all the Members who have worked hard in recent months on the basis of a proposal that President Metsola immediately handed over to us, asking us to strengthen the existing rules to safeguard and make our work more transparent and independent, ensuring greater and further credibility of Parliament. It was a difficult, demanding but necessary job to contain also the easy instrumentalizations and simplifications of the serious events that happened but, above all, to prevent a dangerous delegitimization of a democratic institution directly elected by the citizens. The work that is presented today fully reflects the objectives that the Presidency has given us and has been taken forward within the timeframe necessary to ensure a balanced, correct and effective text. Unfortunately, we must be aware that there is no rule that cannot be deceived by those who intentionally want to deceive her: However, we are going to make the system stronger by stepping up controls and imposing sanctions. This revision is further evidence that Parliament firmly intends to exercise its activity in a free and democratic manner in the interest of citizens.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, last year in Italy there was a film by Paolo Virzì entitled 'Siccità'. A film set in a Rome where, not raining for three years, the lack of water has distorted the rules and habits of everyone. If until a few years ago its plot could have been surreal, today this scenario could become more and more likely if you do not act promptly. I do not think it is necessary to reiterate how water is an essential resource for life and what are the devastating effects of drought on people, the environment and the economy. Surely agriculture is one of the most affected sectors, because the lack of water compromises food production and our food security. Unfortunately, water, imagined by everyone as an infinite natural resource, in fact may not be. Almost a year has passed since the debate requested by the European People's Party on the drought emergency in Europe, where we asked the European Commission for concrete proposals to avert and deal with new emergencies that, let me say, can no longer be defined as such, since these are more than predictable phenomena. In recent days, Italy has approved a law with which it has ordered a series of measures to combat drought and for the strengthening and adaptation of water infrastructure. This is a first step, but it is not enough, because drought also requires a common approach, as we have just heard from the Commissioner. There is a need for an extraordinary medium-long term plan that includes the modernization of old infrastructure, the construction of new reservoirs, the incentive for greater use of space data technologies for the containment and improvement of water efficiency. Faced with such a changed production scenario, we also need Community legislation on assisted evolution techniques, not to be confused with GMOs, in order to guarantee crops resistant to climate phenomena and new pathogens. Meanwhile, the images of the dramatic flood in Emilia-Romagna, as well as those of dry and arid soils in France and Spain, show the face of the same coin represented by water and its management, on which our daily life depends and in particular our food security.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, this agreement, in the form of an exchange of letters between the European Parliament and the European Central Bank, is the result of a negotiation by the ECON Committee, whereby a series of practices and informal agreements between the Central Bank and our institution will be formally defined and structured, allowing the Central Bank to fulfil its obligations of accountability and transparency in compliance with the Treaties. In this context, Parliament acts as a bridge between the Central Bank and the citizens of the Union, exercising democratic and transparent scrutiny, while providing the Central Bank with the opportunity to explain its policies to the public. It is important to support this proposal, as already unanimously supported by AFCO.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the European elections will take place in 2024, against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and under pressure from authoritarian regimes that have been trying for years to attack democracies in general and European democracies, where freedom and the defence of human rights, our values, together with economic prosperity, are frightening elements. The work of the ING Committee was only the first step in recognizing and addressing foreign interference attempting to enter our decision-making processes, using information manipulation and other tactics to weaken our democratic governments. Today more than ever, in anticipation of the next elections, we must reject any kind of intrusion that attempts to condition or compromise the integrity of our electoral processes. Our commitment must continue with a coordinated European Union strategy against all forms of interference, taking into account the complexity of the multidimensional nature of threats, strengthening our cybersecurity and the resilience of our communities. Our citizens have asked us for a stronger and more credible Europe that we could only have by countering even those who try to undermine our institutions.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, this heated debate on the importance of agriculture confirms once again that Europe and this Parliament cannot find a pragmatic and common-sense solution and all this to the detriment of our credibility. Listening to and interpreting what farmers are telling us, someone thinks it can mean denialism and this is a serious mistake. I would like to point out that farmers are probably the most European of all for having experienced first-hand what Europe means. We just have to understand that environmental sustainability cannot be an ideology, we have to make sure that it is declined and implemented with concrete and practicable actions and that support actions are put in place, because farmers mean food security and farmers are clearly those who have also allowed us to identify ourselves on the global scenario as the best producers in the world.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank Mrs Avram, who has worked well with all the groups to share a balanced text, while always keeping in mind the objective of this programme, which I would like to reiterate is exclusively dedicated to the food education of our young people, to a diet in which milk, fruit and vegetables are present, and therefore healthy and quality foods produced by our farmers. However, I do not agree with some colleagues' attempt not to consider the role of farmers and the importance of the work they do and to alter the objective of the programme by proposing alternative vegetable drinks to milk, going against the fundamental principles of the programme itself, namely to encourage the consumption of local and seasonal products. This programme must be strengthened with economic resources and above all with concrete awareness-raising actions to bring the new generations closer to the territories and to make known the work and commitment of farmers to produce milk, fruit and vegetables. I hope that, with tomorrow's vote, this Parliament will also want to confirm its support for farmers and the importance of food education without ideologies.

Mr President, today's debate, as has been said, stems from a request from my group, the European People's Party, which, however, has seen a different wording of the title, demonstrating that some are probably more interested in form than substance. Many, many times in this House we have discussed immigration and every time the word most used, indeed abused, has been "solidarity", which, unfortunately we must take note of, is never practiced, but only announced. It is an objective fact that only a few, few States, including Italy, are engaged in the difficult management of migratory flows, saving thousands and thousands of lives, beyond the speculations or political controversies of the moment. Time and misfortunes have shown, however, that no one can do it alone, including Italy, despite its efforts. One cannot be surprised or even agitated if Italy or other States struggling with a situation destined to increase in the coming months, takes its own measures, with which it only intends to give certain rules to the management of migratory flows. If you do not want this, then let us try to give a real shock to our Europe. We intervene immediately with common and concrete solutions, we strengthen, for example, the border verification procedures, we favor cooperation agreements with the countries of origin, both to contain departures and to ensure the return of those who are not entitled. Above all, however, let us also try to make access to European funds conditional not only on the rule of law, but also on the compulsory relocation of those arriving in the border states. I understand that in the meantime Europe is engaged in many ambitious challenges, on energy, on the environment, on digital, on human rights, but it does not seem to realize that among these there must also be the immigration emergency as a priority, above all to contain that anti-European sentiment that risks taking over in anticipation of the next European elections and leaving room also for extreme solutions, which would obviously become the only response to the immobility of the European Union.