Speeches

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, for too many years in Europe we have underestimated the problem of foreign interference in our democracies and we have not considered the disastrous consequences that would have had and unfortunately have had, the images of war these days are confirmation of this. Attempts at foreign interference are increasing all over the world and are increasingly sophisticated, also thanks to the use of artificial intelligence. It is not always easy to identify them because they take different forms and often find allies and accomplices within the systems to be conditioned. We must become aware of this risk and make our communities more resilient and more ready to repel any form of attack. Today, with the work of the INGE Committee, Parliament wants to give a strong signal to the citizens and institutions, but also to those countries that for years have taken advantage of our lowered guard to convey and amplify messages of hatred and disinformation to fuel fears and fragilities, to delegitimize a system and weaken a model like the European one. Indeed, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union is frightening: Our democracy, the standards of freedom and the defence of human rights, economic prosperity are all elements that frighten those countries that make coercion and fear the only means of controlling the population. Today we decide to raise our guard, to be more vigilant and to start a path that allows the European Union and its states to develop a coordinated strategy to combat foreign interference to defend themselves against those who manipulate information at will and spread lies. We must defend our model and be a reference point also for other democratic countries outside the European Union, so that they can be able to protect themselves from external attacks and threats.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, this very day this House has debated and approved the report on a European strategy against cancer, so that the European Union can strengthen its research, prevention and treatment activities to combat this insidious disease. We have all recognised that the fight against cancer must be a priority and we have shared the need to do more. Meanwhile, millions of Europeans continue to get sick or die of cancer. What I would like us to reflect on today is the data that has been set out by the rapporteur, the Commissioner and colleagues, impressive data, data that we cannot accept. A few hours after the adoption of the BECA report, Parliament is called upon to decide on another measure that, although apparently different, sees cancer as the connecting factor, making us understand how necessary it is to intervene on several fronts to eradicate this disease from our continent. Cancer is especially dangerous for the ways and times in which it develops. Prevention therefore becomes the most effective weapon to combat it, together with increased research and joint actions, which can be better addressed through joint Union action and legislation at European level that can adapt to the new dangers faced by workers. It is estimated that the rules we adopt today will reduce the exposure of our European workers to cancer-causing chemicals by around one million. In the measure, I appreciate the attention that has been given to workers in the hospital sector, who have been at the forefront of the pandemic for two years. Healthcare professionals, in fact, deal daily with HMPs, half of which are reprotoxic, for which it is necessary to have the right and adequate training to handle these products. Today, therefore, with the fourth amendment that we are making to this directive, we are not only updating the list of carcinogenic substances, which should be further revised with a shorter period of time, but we are also setting a European level of exposure limits to them. Today, ladies and gentlemen, let us take another step forward to protect European citizens who, even in the workplace, must feel safe thanks to a Europe that exists and protects their health.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, some time ago I was reading the news of an interactive plush teddy bear that made it possible to send messages between children and adults. This toy was hacked and allowed malicious people to acquire private video and audio images, but above all related to minors. This is just one of the unpleasant scenarios that we face if we do not ensure higher and adequate safety standards in the production of toys and electronic devices. We must not underestimate the insidious dangers arising from the increasingly networked toys that interact daily with our children. Toys smart They can collect an infinite amount of sensitive data and the problem is that often you do not know where they are stored and if the manufacturer of the smart toy sells them, sells them to third parties and for what use. I thank the rapporteur and I am glad that we have all shared the need to update the current safety legislation in order to adapt it to what are the significant and potential risks on the market. In particular, at the production stage and with regard to the presence of chemical or synthetic substances, it is necessary to establish clear requirements and values that are also up-to-date with new scientific findings, to ensure safety thresholds that exclude all forms of danger. Finally, it is necessary to provide for stricter rules for toys from non-European countries and especially for those sold on online platforms, both to ensure quality standards but also to avoid unfair competition with our European producers.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I too would like to begin by thanking the rapporteur for her work with the political groups. A demanding job, certainly not simple, a complex job where certainly not all aspects have found a widely shared definition. And unfortunately, I believe that in some passages of the text, especially in the light of some amendments, we have gone beyond the initial purpose of this text, which - I would like to remind you - is to ensure that everything that is illegal online is also illegal offline and to first ensure that our citizens are defended in the use of digital services. That is what we must keep in mind when we approach the vote. That is why we must be careful not to undermine freedom of expression and information, especially by the media and newspapers. We must also be cautious when evaluating this text and understand what its impact may be on the important regulation of the GDPR, which is also the result of excellent work, which has ensured that in recent years important doctrine and jurisprudence were formed and consolidated that cannot be ignored. The aim of the text must be to avoid a system that crushes small and medium-sized enterprises and imposes too stringent requirements that prevent their development on our continent. In this regard, I must point out that the text is not perfect, but I hope that it can be improved in this way in the trilogue. Our Union must be the first to set standards in areas that the whole world is looking at today, in particular the regulation of the new sectors of the economy, which are currently legislative jungles. We did it for the protection of personal data and now the world is following our example. We will and the time has come for digital markets to prevent web giants from legislating instead of citizens. These are not my words, but those of the late President Sassoli at the last European Council. Today we are disciplining our digital markets and services, creating a model for others and laying the foundations for a more democratic and secure Europe for future generations.

Mr President, Mr Vice-President, ladies and gentlemen, for me, COP26 means that 25 years have passed during which we have always questioned ourselves, whether we agree or not, how many and what results we have managed to achieve. In the meantime, however, nature has given us, unfortunately, many more signals and warnings than have come from activist squares and theoretical debates. I am one of those who believe that we have made progress and we still have to make progress, but I am convinced that the strong impetus made by Europe, with an ambitious and courageous strategy, must be characterized by a practical sense, which in many cases has been overwhelmed by demagogy and ideological clashes, favoring the mistaken belief that the theme of the environment belongs to some and not to all. The environment is not a religious faith. What nature has given us belongs to everyone and we must all work to safeguard it and allow those who come after us to enjoy it. Europe has done well to occupy the world stage for the fight against climate change, stimulating even the most reticent countries such as China. However, in my opinion it is necessary to do so by involving our production system, which should not be demonised, also because we Europeans are already the most virtuous in respect of the environment, as opposed to those who continue to produce under different conditions, generating unfair competition and weakening European production autonomy. One thing is certain: If Europe really wants to be a leader in the fight against climate change, it must have a strong and competitive economy to also help developing countries and to finance a green transition where sustainability is expressed in an environmental, social and economic version.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, today's debate confirms that asbestos, although its use is prohibited, remains a serious problem. Unfortunately, it has been said, many citizens still die and many others are affected by pathologies deriving from exposure to asbestos, many of which are not even recognized among the professional ones and therefore do not give the right to any type of compensation to the victims and their families. I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Villumsen, and all the colleagues who have worked on this report, which makes it possible to update European legislation, especially, as has been said, in the light of the measures with which Europe is promoting the renovation and regeneration of the building stock, so that it is necessary to introduce the obligation of a check to establish the presence of asbestos and a subsequent removal before the start of any work, as well as a certification attesting the absence or regularity of asbestos before a sale or lease for buildings built before 2005. Pending the new measures to be presented by the Commission, I would like to draw attention to some elements. First of all, it is necessary to recognize among occupational diseases all those that are objectively and scientifically linked to exposure to asbestos. If we really want to remove asbestos, we need to streamline bureaucratic procedures and help property owners economically, train technicians and workers properly. Finally, non-invasive techniques must be encouraged so that the risk factor is completely reduced even at the screening. Let's remember that investing in screening, but above all in the removal and remediation of asbestos means investing in the health of our citizens.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the proposal for an Agency to replace the current European Asylum Support Office is a step forward after years of stalemate on migration at European level. But we must not be too enthusiastic because to date, after numerous migration and humanitarian crises on all the continents close to us, the European Union has not yet adopted a real migration policy with which only those who are entitled to it can truly welcome and integrate. The facts of Afghanistan must make us even more aware that we do not have a strong and common foreign policy, within which we must also envisage a structured migration policy. It is clear that the new Agency aims to support national systems to facilitate and streamline asylum procedures and make them uniform, but we are faced with a measure that will serve to give a momentary breath especially to the States that have been taking the weight of all the arrivals of migrants on our continent for years. We really need a long-term sustainable solution. The Union must give a strong signal of credibility in the area of migration, because citizens are asking us for concrete measures that can only be achieved through a single package of Community policies. We hope, however, that this Agency will be a first step towards a more significant change in terms of the common migration and asylum policy, and above all we believe that this Agency can also serve to stimulate a different culture and approach from all the Member States, so that they understand that the weight of arrivals must be shared by all and it is necessary to be supportive and not solitary.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, today's debate sees us all agreeing that the European Union needs a single, coordinated, more ambitious and stronger cybersecurity strategy, with serious commitment from all Member States and a strengthening of cyber diplomacy. Cyberattacks are increasing, both in quantity and sophistication, and are set to grow in the future. This poses a serious risk to Europe, which is certainly fragile and lagging behind. Mr Paet's report, which I thank for the important work, is a step forward to share a defensive strategy that protects citizens and businesses and makes our critical infrastructure more resilient. International scenarios, also in the light of what has happened in Afghanistan, must make us even more aware that we need a common European defence system to react and resist present and future attacks, carried out above all by those who see European democracy as the greatest enemy. Just as we have reacted to the pandemic, it is necessary to show the same strength to contain the risk of cyber-attacks that can become more dangerous than the pandemic itself.

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, as long as there is a debate or a measure on the rights of persons with disabilities, it means that there is a problem and that there is still much to be done. This resolution ignites the responsibilities of everyone, so that we can intervene in defense of those people who face obstacles and discrimination every day and are deprived of the freedom and fundamental rights at the base of the European Union. Surely today Parliament is taking a step forward to make the European Union's action in defence of almost a quarter of its citizens suffering from a form of disability even stronger and more credible. With this resolution, the European Parliament does not limit itself to statements of principle, sometimes neglected or little considered, but commits the Commission and the Member States to take concrete action to improve the quality of many people with disabilities, but above all to remove the physical and cultural obstacles that prevent social and economic inclusion and generate hateful discrimination that undermine the fundamental right to equality. There are many elements of sharing this resolution, but I want to highlight the importance of the commitments made to prevent violence against women and the commitments made to overcome the employment and wage inequality of women with disabilities, which adds to and amplifies the equally deplorable one that affects the entire female gender. Finally, I would like to point out that this report is the result of many petitions submitted by many European citizens in the interests of millions of other citizens and confirms, in my view, the need for our Parliament, as a directly elected Parliament, to have the power of legislative initiative to express the interests of all the citizens who have elected us.