Speeches

I am in favour of the European Parliament's recommendation on Investigating the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware, as are the majority of EPP Group colleagues. Unfortunately, due to force majeure, I cannot be present at this vote.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, as shadow rapporteur on the discharge reports for the financial year 2022, for the Court of Justice of the European Union, for the European Data Protection Supervisor, for the Committee of the Regions and for the European External Action Service, I would like to express my thanks to all the parliamentary groups and colleagues who have acted positively and constructively in our cooperation. As regards my country, Cyprus, I am disappointed that it is the most underrepresented country in terms of workers, with only two people in permanent and temporary posts at the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European External Action Service. Furthermore, in the report I stress that women are significantly under-represented in senior positions, such as in scales 9 to 12 and 13 to 16, while they are over-represented in secretarial or assistant positions. This is unacceptable in terms of equal representation and equal professional development of the two sexes. As regards the report on the Court of Justice of the European Union, I regret that the Court of Justice of the European Union accepted unpaid trainees in 2022. Furthermore, in the report of the European External Action Service, I note that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in Gaza place a financial burden on Member States, European citizens and the functioning of European institutions. I stress the importance of proper scrutiny for transparency of the financial resources allocated to Ukraine and Gaza to ensure accountability in the use of these funds.

Mr President, achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is a central objective for the European Union. To move in this direction, it is necessary to tackle poverty and strengthen all our policies with a gender perspective. Firstly, we must act actively to eradicate poverty, which affects women and girls the most. This includes promoting equal access to education, health and work for all women, as well as implementing gender-specific social programmes to allow women and girls equal access to employment and employment opportunities. Secondly, it is necessary to promote the equal participation of women and men at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and social life around the world. Finally, we must ensure that the funding and resources allocated serve to achieve gender equality. This means taking action to promote women's and girls' rights in all EU programmes and policies. Gender equality concerns us all over the world and that is why our actions, both within and outside our development policies, must aim for a more equal and fairer society for all.

Mr President, education practices are a crucial tool for the development of young, and not only, professionals. It is our duty to ensure that these practices are quality and fair for trainees. We must protect the interests of trainees by ensuring that they are adequately remunerated and that they receive the appropriate material and professional experience that will help them in their future career and recognition, as well as in their personal and professional development and training. Exploitation of trainees for unpaid work is unacceptable and contrary to the principles of justice and dignity advocated by this House, as well as by the European Union. Through policies and measures that protect learners' rights, we can ensure a fair and constructive environment for their professional development. Let us join efforts to ensure that every trainee has the opportunity to develop their potential, without being subject to exploitation and other unfair practices.

Madam President, we cannot turn this respectable Convention into a field of debate guided by political considerations, which threaten the objectivity of our debates, especially in the run-up to the European elections. We noticed this phenomenon when we discussed allegations from journalistic investigations concerning Cyprus. Claims not verified by official competent bodies. Today we are experiencing it again with Greece, discussing for the umpteenth time the state of the rule of law in the country. The Government of the Hellenic Republic has presented its action plan in areas such as the rule of law, the fight against corruption, freedom of the press and the framework for checks and balances. However, we are once again witnessing a debate the sole purpose of which is a war of impressions against a government belonging to the European People's Party. Let us promote a debate based on objectivity, preserving the unity and integrity of the European Parliament as the guardian of European democracy.

Madam President, we are being crushed by civilian casualties, which must be reduced as much as possible. We must support the provision of humanitarian aid to the innocent population of the Gaza Strip until it is rid of the yoke of Hamas terrorists. The responsibility for the civilian casualties that tan our hearts lies with Hamas, which orchestrated the horrific attacks on 7 October. These attacks provoked the reaction of Israel, which has every right to defend its country and the safety of its citizens. Even today, 136 people remain hostage in the endless tunnels that the terrorists built under Gaza. Israel is trying to destroy this inhuman ideology that calls its followers to darkness and death and covets the freedom of our modern societies, with support from the well-known axis of evil, Iran, Russia and Turkey.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, today I have the opportunity to speak in the Chamber of the European Parliament on a subject which is very close to my heart. It is about the adoptions and difficulties that all those who wish to adopt in our Member States are going through. The procedures governing adoptions are time-consuming, bureaucratic and exhausting for stakeholders and children alike. Valuable time and money is wasted, and at the end of the day all you need is love and the will to create a beautiful family. Very often because of the problems, couples inadvertently end up even in child trafficking rings, with tragic consequences for everyone. That is why we must seek bilateral agreements between the Member States of the European Union. This would facilitate adoption procedures while promoting recognition between countries, as today the contradictions between legal frameworks create problems for couples and their children. Despite the fact that adoptions do not fall within the legislative jurisdictions of the European Union, I believe that we can help create the momentum to facilitate transnational adoptions and their recognition, to help our Union couples, as well as the thousands of babies in orphanages and welfare systems, to gain the warmth and love that a stable and warm home can offer them.

Mr President, we are facing an unprecedented crisis of accuracy. Inflation has been successfully curbed, but this has not been done without unbearable increases in interest rates, the level of which limits the purchasing power of citizens and boosts their debt obligations. At the same time, urbanism and the modern way of life have weighed on cities and, as a result of the increasing population flow into them, have spiked rent and property prices, making housing very expensive for young people who start their lives full of dreams and appetite. The European Union is committed to supporting young people. It must show this in practice by tackling the housing crisis and the increase in the cost of living, through financial programmes, European funds, by legislation and by correcting distortions of exploitation and profiteering. We need to adopt initiatives for affordable housing and to address the increase in borrowing costs for homes and apartments by investing in socio-economic programmes. We create an environment where young people can build their future with hope and stability. Cooperation at European Union level opens new horizons for youth, offering practical solutions to the challenges of our time. Young people do not expect from us either ready money, ready housing or ready jobs. They expect us to break down the obstacles that have been created and that have become burdensome in the fulfillment of their dreams.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I have seen the brutality of Hamas' war against the territories of Israel during my recent visit to the war zone and I can say to everyone with certainty: We must eliminate this terrorist organization. Hamas opened Pandora's box on October 7 and, unfortunately, the drama has since been enormous in the Middle East, with enormous human cost to the civilian population on both sides. We have to protect children who are not to blame. In the midst of all this, there are also the innocent hostages held in the underground tunnels that the terrorists have built. We call for the immediate release of all hostages and the surrender of the Hamas criminals responsible for this war. In this way, hostilities will cease and we will be able to achieve the goal of a peaceful solution.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, today, on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, it is our duty to stand united against this inhumane practice. The European Union is committed to combating violence against women by promoting legislation and policies that protect women's rights and offer support to victims. It has ratified the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. This powerful tool sets standards for defining crimes and providing support to victims, as it strengthens the legislative approach against female violence. Its implementation is key to promoting an environment where every woman lives without fear and in full respect of her rights. At this point, I would like to thank my fellow Members of the Commission for their hard work and dedication to the issue. Let us join forces and raise our voice against all forms of violence, promoting equality and respect for all women.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, it is with regret that I am here today. As a Cypriot citizen and MEP, the first thing I have to say is: All in the light. The competent authorities at national and European level should investigate the allegations in depth and act accordingly. These reports go back thirty years. I must point out the enormous progress Cyprus has made in recent years in terms of transparency, oversight and laundering, as expressed by the statements of American and European officials praising the progress of the Republic of Cyprus. Despite traditional relations with Russia, the Republic of Cyprus immediately supported all sanctions against it, unlike other much stronger member states. We have done so, since for 49 years we have remained divided by the Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern part of our country, which leaves the European Union undisturbed, since it displays the same sensitivity that it displays in other similar cases of violation of international law. We would like to see the same sanctions imposed against Turkey.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to offer my congratulations to all those who participated in the full day conciliation meeting, particularly Mr Siegfried Mureşan for his contribution, which was a catalyst for the final agreement. Nevertheless, we managed to claim an increase in funds for our young people, the Erasmus+ programme, young farmers, research, innovation, military cooperation, programmes to protect children, young people and women against all forms of violence, the Daphne programme and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. We also managed to maintain the level of funding of the Committee of Inquiry into the Missing Persons of Cyprus, which is very important for one of the most sensitive issues of the Cyprus problem of invasion and occupation. Finally, I would like to stress the great success of increasing funding for the European Union's humanitarian aid, as well as in addressing the huge problem of migration.

Madam President, the world of work is changing rapidly. Digitalisation has brought new forms of work, including artificial intelligence, that have affected workers’ occupational safety and health, and in particular their mental health. Psychosocial risk factors, such as high workload, stress, toxic work culture and discrimination, can lead to burnout and negatively affect physical health, reducing workers’ productivity. Therefore, mental health is not only associated with the personal well-being of man, but also with the success of business and the economy as a whole. Mental health is just as important as physical health. We need to create the framework that will break all taboos and allow more people to find the help they need to be truly happy and productive. We call for mental health issues such as depression, burnout, anxiety and stress to be included in the European list of occupational diseases, and we call on the European Commission to present a proposal for a directive setting out a basic list of occupational diseases, minimum requirements for their recognition and compensation criteria, taking into account gender discrimination and others.

Madam President, I have personally experienced the brutality of the Hamas war in the territories of Israel and I can tell you one thing with confidence: This terrorist organization must disappear from the face of the earth and with it all the atrocities it commits against humanity must be eliminated. But I have to refer to the axis of evil, which at the moment is cooperation between Russia, Turkey and Iran. The Hamas attack is far from accidental; It is part of an orderly effort by the axis of evil to divert from the remaining open fronts, Russia's war against Ukraine, Iran's nuclear program, Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. We are spectators of the betrayal by Erdogan who supports Hamas with political and financial assistance, as he does with Russia's war, supporting Putin. If we want to be a global and political force based on our principles and values, we must have a unified strategic partnership.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank my fellow rapporteur Siegfried Mureşan and the Committee on Budgets for their effort to draw up the 2024 budget. We owe it to our citizens to demand a European Union that is more developmental, more innovative, more social, ready to solve the ongoing problems facing humanity. The events that have unfolded in recent times are shaping the context in which we must move if the European Union is to continue to face the challenges that the Member States are facing. The defence of our countries and the security of our citizens cannot be guaranteed without our joint investment in defence shielding. This is clear, from the invasion of Ukraine to the wars in the Caucasus and the brutal war unleashed by Hamas. In addition, natural disasters are intensifying as a result of climate change, having an adverse impact on the way of life of our citizens. I welcome the proposed increases in the respective funds that we have and that allow us to cope with every crisis.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, 100,000 Armenians are being forced by the Turko-Azerbaijans to leave their ancestral lands. The Armenian nation has always been plagued by hostilities and violations of its right to self-determination, while thousands of years of Armenian culture in Anatolia and Artsakh are erased from the map of history. This is the result of the selective imposition of sanctions on countries that engage in human rights fragmentation and systematic violations of the sovereignty of other countries. Had Turkey been sanctioned for violating the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus – a country that is a full member state of the European Union – Azerbaijan would now not have dared to attempt the second Armenian genocide under the Erdoğan regime. This is the time to stand up for our principles and values and lend a hand of substantial help to the Armenian people.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union urgently needs an instrument against the threatened or actual imposition of economic costs by third countries, with the aim of exporting a political concession, as is clear from the lacuna in European Union law. Today, Europe is under economic coercion in the form of a threat from countries such as China, Russia and Turkey. The unavailability of a means of combating is a weakness of the European system, while the mere existence of such a tool would have a deterrent effect on third countries, which have corresponding tools and regulations. In recent years, we have experienced global trade tensions, and the impact of the pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, which have been further exposed following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. To maintain our credibility, as well as our economic dynamism and diplomacy, we must have an instrument that preserves our interests, rights and sovereign political choices. Equally important is that my country, as a result of the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the continued occupation of the northern part of my homeland, is suffering from military, diplomatic and economic coercion by Turkey. Ships flying the Cypriot flag are not allowed to dock in Turkish ports, while the Republic of Cyprus is not recognised by the Turkish authorities, with all the resulting financial consequences. This is Erdoğan's message when he says that no one should think that we are missing opportunistic initiatives in relation to the rocky islets in the Aegean and gas explorations off the coast of Cyprus.

Mr President, first of all I would like to thank the rapporteur and the shadow rapporteur of the European People's Party for this report. This is undoubtedly an extremely sensitive issue. However, we must remember what is at stake, which is nothing more than the protection of women and girls, which must always be our priority. I would like to draw your attention to the amendments I tabled concerning the occupied territories of Cyprus, which are used by traffickers to systematically exploit vulnerable women and young girls with the promise of a better life. They are then forced into prostitution and inhumane living conditions. Importantly, this report recognises how the occupied territories of Cyprus are being used as a place of impunity, with the tolerance of the occupying authorities and the Erdoğan government. Ursula von der Leyen has said in the past that getting out of prostitution should always be the goal. He's absolutely right.

Madam President, I must refer to the ongoing and unresolved problem of invasion and occupation facing my country. We cannot accept any suspicion or reference as to the attitude and actions of the Republic of Cyprus towards our Turkish Cypriot fellow citizens, since they themselves suffer because of the policies of the pseudo-state. A pseudo-state that is completely controlled by Erdogan's Turkish government. The recent sad events in the village of Pyla, where the occupation forces injured four United Nations personnel, are the latest example of the occupation provocation against my country. This is a provocation repeatedly expressed in the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. We can't accept any equation between the victim and the perpetrator. The European citizens of Cyprus expect from the democratic institution of the European Parliament the support and assistance to which they are entitled as citizens of a semi-occupied homeland.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, as the Republic of Cyprus, we are sending out a signal of danger to migration. The magnitude of the problem facing Cyprus is evidenced by the numbers, since our island accepted 50% of the migrants who arrived in the countries of Europe in 2022. Cyprus, like the other frontline countries of migration flows, is called upon to deal with disproportionate flows in terms of the size of our country and the number of our population. Over the past six years, Cyprus has consistently been the Member State of the European Union with the highest number of applications in relation to its population, with an increase since 2016 to 490%. What's the use of borders when you can't protect them? The organized invasion of thousands of illegal immigrants into the European territory of our countries is the result of the instrumentalization of migration, mainly by Turkey, which exploits the illegal occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and uses the green line, which divides the European Republic of Cyprus in two, to achieve its geopolitical goals. The answer is not extremes, no matter where they come from. We must urgently and boldly address the problem of the ever-increasing flow of irregular migrants in order to protect the demographic character of our countries. (The President interrupted the speaker.)

Your Honour, President of the Republic of Cyprus, I welcome you in turn to the European Parliament. Mr President, the moments are extremely critical. It takes unanimity and vigilance to prevent new faits accomplis and to counter Turkish rhetoric, such as the one we heard yesterday from Mr. Erdogan. But I would like to hear from you some words, apart from the Cyprus issue, about gender equality and women's rights, which is a fundamental value of the European Union. As the only Greek Cypriot female MEP, I feel much more responsible for the need to solve this problem. What is your vision for Cyprus and the Europe of tomorrow in terms of gender equality and how can we effectively address this problem with determination, for every woman and every little girl who watches over us and looks forward to a future without discrimination?

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, today, 12 June, is World Day Against Child Labour. While taking immediate and effective measures to end child labour in all its forms is a firm commitment of the European Union and one of the Sustainable Development Goals, the reality is that we remain far from that goal. According to the most recent estimates, the number of children in employment has increased to 160 million worldwide. We must encourage forms of work that are beneficial to children's personal and social development and that do not interfere with their childhood and schooling. However, dangerous forms of work that endanger the health, safety and moral development of children should be eliminated without exception and without hesitation. Equally important is the fact that more than three and a half million children are in forced labour worldwide, accounting for almost 12% of the total. As shadow rapporteur on an opinion on forced labour, I repeatedly stress that children are disproportionately affected by forced labour and that this is a dimension that needs to be addressed concretely, effectively and promptly.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, we must bear in mind the scale of the problem of violence against women. The numbers speak for themselves: one in three women in the European Union has been the victim of physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15; more than 50% of women have experienced sexual harassment; one in five women has experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a current or former partner. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women (Istanbul Convention) is the first legally binding instrument to prevent and combat violence against women and girls at international level. The Convention is an important step towards a universal response to violence against women and girls across Europe, covering prevention, protection of victims and prosecution of perpetrators through comprehensive and coherent policies. As the only Greek Cypriot female MEP, I feel much more the burden of responsibility and the need to solve this problem. Gender-based violence remains one of the biggest threats to the full enjoyment of human and fundamental rights in the world, which disproportionately affects women. We must address the problem of violence against women with holistic solutions, for all women and especially for the little girls to whom we owe a future away from discrimination, intimidation and abuse.

Madam President, we all know that matters of adoption are a national competence for the Member States. However, what is happening with the trafficking of children by networks active in illegal adoptions outside the European Union is forcing this Parliament to take action. Equally important is that there are many families who would like to offer love to these children who are in orphanages and welfare and welfare systems within the European Union. Unfortunately, these families are frustrated by the terrible bureaucratic hurdles and complicated and lengthy procedures. As a result, there are couples approaching third countries and trying to speed things up, choosing the wrong adoption service and ending up with these children being victims of child trafficking rings. Therefore, if there were easier adoption between Member States, we would greatly reduce these risks. Adoption is an issue close to my heart for personal reasons. As a Member of the European Parliament I feel that the European Union, our family, needs to take some initiatives together with the European Commission. We need transparency around adoptions taking place across borders, cutting red tape, eliminating conflict of laws and promoting a smooth process of recognition of adoptions between Member States.

Madam President, dear colleagues, I will speak on behalf of my colleague Petri Sarvamaa, who is the rapporteur of the budget opinion on the European Semester for Economic Policy Coordination 2023. First, we would like to thank Ms Tinagli for this report. It raises important and topical issues related to the current challenges and opportunities of the EU economy. The annual European Semester cycle has also an important role in anticipating the EU’s economic outlook. Coming from the Budget Committee perspective, Mr Sarvamaa has a few observations. We need to remember how uncertain times we are living because of past current and future crises. All of these relate to the uncertain economic outlook of the European Union. On the other hand, it is good that we have been able to respond to this crisis. The most concrete example is the Recovery and Resilience Facility and its stabilising impact on the EU economy. It is also good that we have started to discuss the economic sustainability of the EU in the long term, especially bearing in mind that government debt-to-GDP ratios are historically high. Member States should be able to return to a sustainable budgetary approach eventually. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the introduction of new own resources, as agreed also in the interinstitutional agreement, is crucially important so that the Next Generation EU debt can be refinanced without detriment to future programmes.