What Raquel spoke about.

21

Jan

2025

Speeches EN

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The Hungarian government’s illegal espionage of EU institutions and investigative bodies (debate)

Mr President, we have yet another debate about the Orbán Government undermining the European Union, and it turns out that Orbán has most likely been spying on the European Anti-Fraud Office, which was investigating his abuse of EU taxpayers' money through corruption and nepotism. Now, in a healthy system, there should be, at the very least, tough reactions from the other governments. But instead, Hungary's fellow members of the Council keep silent. What are we dealing with here? A group of adults keeping a clean house together or school buddies that don't tell on each other? As for the Commission, can the Commission give an advice on whether it is still safe for the EU agencies to operate in Budapest, or to meet with the Hungarian authorities? Clarity must be given, and the Commission – yes, the Commission is the relevant authority – must open an investigation into these allegations immediately. The Council, under the leadership of Poland, should strongly support this action and if proven, espionage on the EU must be dealt with swiftly and forcefully.

20

Jan

2025

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One-minute speeches on matters of political importance

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, first of all the best wishes for this new year. May you and your loved ones know good luck and enjoy good health. Unfortunately, that will not be the case for the thousands of victims of fireworks during the turn of the year. Two Dutch people lost their lives, including a child. There were five people in Germany. Every year we see victims of very heavy fireworks, which come legally from the factory in one Member State and are illegally sold or imported in another Member State. Children play with fireworks with the explosive power of a hand grenade. Our streets are turning into a war zone. And this happens not only at the turn of the year but throughout the year. Criminals use this fireworks for their attacks all over Europe and this is a failure of the internal market, for which too high a price is paid. Our police officers, emergency responders and local administrators have had enough. Basta! Now is the time to intervene...

19

Dec

2024

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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, it is a pity that Mr Kraus immediately walked out of the room, because I would have given him a chance to pronounce my name correctly with a blue card. Madam Commissioner, the figures cannot be repeated enough. We have heard a lot of them today: one in three adult women in the EU have experienced violence; One in six have experienced sexual violence. Someone said to me recently, 'Are you going to get mad again in Strasbourg?' Yes, I am, because one number that I cannot and I will not forget is 'one in eight'. Only one in eight aggressions is reported to the authorities because women do not feel safe to talk about what happened because we/they fear not being taken seriously, because they fear being blamed, being shamed. 'Oh, was your skirt maybe a bit too short, or did you drink a bit too much?' Those are the things that we, women, still hear in Europe when we report an act of sexual violence. So, Madam Commissioner, what can we do together to ensure that women are heard? Today, of all days, in the words of Gisèle Pelicot, 'shame changed sides' – from the victims and not for the abusers. I thank you in advance for your work on this crucial matter.

19

Dec

2024

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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)

Dear colleague, thank you for for your intervention. I do have a question, because as we are used to from the interventions from colleagues from your party and your group, you tend to blame migrants for violence against women. I won't deny that migrant women are definitely at risk of violence, just like any other vulnerable population in Europe. But I would like to ask you very specifically about the latest data from the Commission, where Hungary, with about 0.5 % migrants, has much more violence against women than countries with many more migrants. How do you explain that?

19

Dec

2024

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

Mr President, Commissioner Lahbib, which of those present has never lost their way here in the European Parliament? Try imagining what that would be like if you couldn't read the signs, because they're not in braille. Look around this building. In 2024, people with disabilities in Europe, including the Netherlands, are still often unable to move freely, attend education, exercise or work. Non-binding programmes, roadmaps and improvement projects have not yielded enough results in recent years and patience is running out. Hard rules are needed. People with disabilities must be actively involved in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies at national and European level. Civil servants, here too, must be structurally trained on their rights. And the UN treaty must be fully implemented. No more excuses. It's time for action.

18

Dec

2024

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Need to ensure swift action and transparency on corruption allegations in the public sector to protect democratic integrity (debate)

Mr President, having listened to the other speakers, one thing that is clear is that fighting corruption should have the highest priority. Because corruption kills. It kills trust in public institutions. It enables organised crime and allows foreign interference in our democracy. And it literally kills young people in a train accident in Greece or journalists such as Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta. But corruption also kills our prosperity, costing the EU economy at least EUR 120 billion per year. Draghi's 800 billion is hiding in plain sight. So no effort can be spared in rooting out corruption. The new anti-corruption directive, as the Commissioner well said, will be key to achieve this in our Member States. But recent events have shown that much more is needed within our own European institutions. So, dear colleagues, Commissioner, are you willing to work together to fight corruption at all levels in the European Union? Citizens expect us to lead by example and we shall not fail them.

27

Nov

2024

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

Madam President, Madam Commissioner, I heard a colleague saying 'we can't negate nature, we can't deny nature.' But you know what nature is? Nature is the pain in the eyes of the Bulgarian LGBTIQ+ activists who came to visit the European Parliament when they were telling us about being targeted by their own government. And you know why governments are targeting them? It is to hide their own corruption, their own clientelism, their own nepotism. Either they can't solve their real problems or they are part of the problem. So to distract society, they limit the rights of innocent people, keeping the lid on their own mess. We need to keep the pressure high. From the brand new Commission, I expect immediate action towards Bulgaria and any other country breaking down our fundamental freedoms. And no endless exchanges that take years. Close the money tap for the guilty governments and ensure that those who protect our Union values do have the means to keep doing so. And to those brave activists, I will tell you: you will always find partners in the European Parliament. We will stand with you and we will fight for you.

27

Nov

2024

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

Madam President, thank you, colleague Wąsik for accepting my blue card and my question. You spoke about the right of parents to bring up their children according to their convictions. Do you think that parents also have the right to inflict enormous pain on their children when they subject them to conversion therapy?

13

Nov

2024

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Fight against money laundering and terrorist financing: listing Russia as a high-risk third country in the EU (debate)

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, thank you for your work the last few years and especially also for your efforts into this request, looking at the possibilities. But, colleagues, let's just face it: Putin can still continue his war of aggression against Ukraine, among other reasons because of corruption and money laundering in the European Union. Because money laundering is still too often facilitated by corruption, and Russia is using corruption in our Member States for the purpose of laundering money and interfering with our democracy, getting in the way of us achieving our common European goals and, above all, aiming at shifting public opinion about Russia and its war. Corruption kills in the EU and outside. So, we must do more. We must develop and enforce stronger anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering laws. In the coming days, as budget negotiations go on, Parliament and Council need to keep in mind the need to equip the European Public Prosecutor, Europol, Eurojust and the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority with all financial means necessary to do their job and keep Europeans and Ukrainians safe.

23

Oct

2024

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The important role of cities and regions in the EU – for a green, social and prosperous local development (debate)

Mr President, here stands today a Spanish by birth, a Dutch and Frisian by choice, and a European by conviction. Because thanks to the European Union, I was able to follow love, work, study and start my family. From the capital Madrid to the Frisian village of Gorredijk: I have been able to seize all the opportunities that Europe has to offer. I give my daughters the same freedom. The freedom to choose to fly away, but above all to choose to stay close to the place where they feel at home. That they can then enjoy a clean Wadden Sea and a thriving, promising region, which is connected to the rest of Europe by means of the Lely Line. And easy access to European programmes, including to protect their language, Frisian. And that they can soberly answer the question ‘Is Europe here for us?’: “Yeah, sa is it, and like oars.’

23

Oct

2024

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Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

My opinion is very simple: my opinion on abortion follows the guidelines of the World Health Organization. And, if you have not read those reports prepared by the best experts on issues of reproductive and sexual health of women, I invite you to do so. In those reports you will see my position.

23

Oct

2024

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Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, Ms de la Pisa Carrión, two years ago, Izabela Sajbor, aged 30, a European citizen, died because of the Polish abortion laws, because doctors would not help her when she went into premature labour and got sepsis, because they risked going to jail. Two months ago, a United Nations expert established that the Polish abortion laws discriminate against women, constitute unjustifiable, state-sanctioned coercion, causing intense physical and mental suffering and in some cases could amount to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The UN experts put into writing what most of us in this House know and feel is wrong, because we cannot let women suffer and be criminalised for their reproductive choices. Abortion bans do not lead to fewer abortions. How many more women need to suffer and die in Europe? Because before we enshrine access to safe and legal abortion in our Treaties, we owe it to Izabela, we owe it to our daughters, and we owe it to all of us.

23

Oct

2024

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Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

Mrs De la Pisa Carrión, you said that we all have the right to our life and dignity. In your opinion, did Izabela Sajbor not have the same right to his life and dignity? I was thirty years old.

9

Oct

2024

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Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, since the beginning of this mandate, one thing has become crystal clear to me. A majority of this House wants an operational, well-funded Frontex which can enforce the law while respecting fundamental rights. It is therefore difficult to explain to our citizens back home that the Member States – the same governments who talk with big words and tear down the Schengen Area and steal our freedom of movement – those are the ones who are actively pushing for less money for Frontex, cutting its requested budget and making it impossible to perform adequately in the light of tremendous challenges. There are, of course, governments and groups in this Parliament who are not really interested in controlling migration and crime at our external border, because it takes away the oxygen from their populist message. But I also believe that many other governments, just like this Chamber, do see that this is the moment to put our money where our mouth is. And I trust your sense of responsibility. Let's work together.

9

Oct

2024

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Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support (debate)

Mr President, for a very long time, about three quarters of women in my country, the Netherlands, and everywhere in Europe, have been at some point in their life – and that has been so for a very long time – a victim of sexually inappropriate behaviour or harassment. I have been a victim of that, and a lot of women in this House probably as well, seeing the statistics. Your constant repetition that migrants are a main reason for that sort of behaviour and crime is just spreading hate. Should I be afraid of all the white men born in Europe in this House?

7

Oct

2024

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The reintroduction of internal border controls in a number of Member States and its impact on the Schengen Area (debate)

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, I was very happy to hear you say that 50 million Europeans live in border regions. They work across the border, they do their groceries across the border, they do business across the border. You mentioned to be proud of this, and I'm also very happy to hear this. But these people, these businesses are being hurt by internal border controls. In Germany, in Austria, in France, in Denmark, their freedom – which is our freedom – is being limited. And we don't even know if this is legal. Please correct me if I'm wrong because, since 2015, there have been 440 border control impositions, but the Commission has questioned one. One! Are the other 339 correct? Are they protecting us? The Commission concludes that the external borders are leaky, and Member States are failing to properly protect those borders, but are not ashamed of robbing us of our freedom of movement. So I'm sorry to say, but this Commission is failing EU citizens while trying to appease national governments. Please do better.

18

Sep

2024

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The case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba

To hear the colleagues speak about the treatment of criminal offences in Germany, it's funny, because I never hear them talk about the 28 945 extreme right-motivated crimes in Germany in 2023. And why don't you talk about the 1 270 incidents with violence in Germany at the hands of the extreme right in the same year?

18

Sep

2024

Speeches ES

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The case of José Daniel Ferrer García in Cuba

Madam President, Commissioner, thank you very much for your presence on this long day for you, for your presence tonight, although I must say that, from the Renew Europe Group, we would have preferred it to be Mr Borrell who appeared in this house, but, again, thank you very much for his presence. The Renew Group condemns the Cuban regime's repeated human rights abuses. We want to show in particular on this occasion our concern for the state of health, according to critical reports, both from José Daniel Ferrer García and from other groups of political prisoners within the regime. We therefore demand that the Cuban regime be released immediately and that they be offered adequate medical care. And we would also like to recall, especially at the beginning of this parliamentary term, that the diplomatic and foreign policy instruments of the European Union, such as the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba, instruments based on goodwill and reciprocity on both sides, will not be effective if we do not make it abundantly clear that their continued breaches must lead to the implementation of their sanctions regimes.

18

Sep

2024

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The Hungarian “National Card” scheme and its consequences for Schengen and the area of freedom, security and justice (debate)

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, Mr Bóka for the Council, you know, when listening to the colleagues and thinking about this debate, I had to think at about my children. All three of them – three daughters, which, I guess, from the Hungarian Government, I would get a medal or something, given their obsession with women's reproductive function. But that's maybe for a different debate. But the thing that parenthood has taught me – and maybe a lot of us here who may be parents – is that boundaries are really, really important. And we all know what happens when boundaries are trespassed but no consequences follow, time and time again. How empty the phrase 'If you do this one more time, dear...' becomes. Mr Orbán behaves and has been behaving for a very long time like a spoilt toddler whose temper tantrums were tolerated for far too long and now has become a rowdy teenager, playing with real fire and threatening to burn down the entire house. Mr Bóka, you said you were here representing the Member States in the Council at large, then I will tell you: this is the time to step it up. Member States, please suspend – temporarily maybe – Hungary's voting rights in the Council for the sake of our family.

16

Sep

2024

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Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return (debate)

I grew up in Madrid. Terror and cruel attacks Different species are no stranger to me. The fear and pain that people in Germany and elsewhere in Europe feel is not strange to me. What unites all terrorists is their desire to divide us. They want us to change our way of life, give up our values and hard-won freedoms, and live our lives in fear of others. They want us to be less tolerant. This debate suggests that less migration is the only way to less terror. The Commissioner endorses this approach. Is irregular migration the main cause of terrorism? There is a lack of money for the real solutions. This is not the time for the Council to spend too little money on increasing police cooperation through Europol.