Speeches

The European Union is in an internal context full of major political and social challenges, and in an international context of giants challenged by wars and crises in our environment. The crossroads for the President of the Commission is either to continue building the Union in coordination with the pro-European forces that supported her candidacy or to get carried away by those who want to dismantle the policies that the President herself proposed and that have been built by the pro-European ‘grand coalition’, such as the European Green Deal, the Directive against gender-based violence, the Digital Services Act or the Migration Pact. We Spanish Socialists ask the Commission, and especially its President, for courage and political will to face the challenges that European society faces. Citizens, especially young people, demand that their rights, such as access to decent housing, be guaranteed. We already need a European pact for affordable housing. Citizens want and need peace. That is why we ask the Commission to act and stay on the right side of history, as the Spanish Government is doing, in the face of the genocide being committed against the Palestinian people.

Madam President, an illegal, unilateral military intervention took place in Iran without UN Security Council approval, violating Article 2 of the UN Charter. In this Parliament, we have condemned Iran's repression. We fought to include the Revolutionary Guard in the EU terrorist list. It supports Hezbollah and the violence against women. We rejected Iran's attacks on the GCC countries. Ursula von der Leyen could have done the same. It is possible for her to condemn attacks and interventions without abandoning international law. While she remains silent, she erases the memory of 165 schoolgirls who were killed, 9 Israeli persons killed and 83 kids in Lebanon who were murdered. While she avoids taking a position, Netanyahu's government – I will not confuse it with the Israelis – is not respecting Lebanon's territorial integrity. He is displacing 400 000 people. I want to blame here Hezbollah for that, too. He is also annexing the West Bank. While you keep empty statements, our citizens say 'no' to war. We want peace. President Pedro Sánchez is the one who understands this and represents all of those in this European Union who want peace, security and stability. Because don't forget that we had millions of people here that were killed. After 1945, we gave ourselves the right to have this European Union and international law, which we need to defend, because we don't want more killing here. We are destroying the international system.

Mr President, Commissioner, five months ago, we led a mission, the first one to Syria to witness the country's transition. We spoke with organisations, communities, civilians. Syrians who, regardless of their religion or background, asked for one simple thing: stability and peace. After years of brutal authoritarianism, that is the least they deserve. The images from January are terrifying. Cruelty, persecution, terrorism and the displacement of hundreds of civilians in northern Syria – this reminds us of a past which we must never return to. Kurds do not deserve this. Alawites, Sunnis, Arabs and Christians do not deserve this. In short, Syrians who have fought for a better country do not deserve this. We call for an absolute commitment to equality for all Syrians and for sure we condemn violence. We demand the transitional government to guarantee a ceasefire and to continue the path of political and legal recognition for all people, as it did with the Decree 13 on Kurdish recognition. Syrian democracy will only be achieved with all voices included and with full territorial integrity. Respect for human rights is the only path for the European Union's support.

Mr President, three weeks ago, the Iranian people rose up against inequality, poverty, isolation and injustice with one single demand: their freedom. Today, Europe must look at Iran with empathy and humanity. We see merchants, students and women in the streets. The same women who show that dignity cannot be imprisoned. Young people who did not choose this regime, but who still have the right to choose their future – and it certainly is not the shah, but free elections. We condemn the mass arrests, violence and thousands of killings. We condemn the Iranian regime's support of Hezbollah and the Houthis. From Europe we must speak with absolute clarity. We stand with the Iranian people. We demand the immediate release of all those detained for exercising their fundamental rights, the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, and the extension of EU sanctions to its members. And foremost, most importantly and last but not least – to avoid double standards with other countries' situations.

Mr President, I would like to remember, first of all, today, the recent attack on the Hanukkah celebration in Australia and our solidarity with victims. We must fight against anti-Semitism and terrorism. About Gaza, since the ceasefire, the Israeli Government has killed 356 Palestinians. The humanitarian situation is critical with floods. People are dying of hypothermia in tents. In the West Bank, the situation worsens daily. Civil violence against the local Palestinian population in occupied Palestine does not stop. There are 47 assaults per day. We need to work for the tw0-state solutions. This is what Palestinian and Israeli society want. Extreme Government of Netanyahu is preventing that to happen. In Lebanon, situation is extremely unstable. Priority is to reinforce the Lebanese Army and 1701 Resolution to disarm Hezbollah. Hezbollah has destroyed the life of the Lebanese and is responsible of the killings of thousands of people in Syria. Disarming Hezbollah must go hand in hand with Israeli army withdrawing from the Lebanese territory. We call here for the respect of Lebanese territorial integrity to stop the building of the wall, and we need a date for the Council to see and evaluate all these measures with the Commission.

Mr President, honourable Members. We are living in a changing and increasingly uncertain geopolitical context. This reality requires the European Union to strengthen multilateralism and to diversify its partnerships worldwide, while reaffirming our values. In this regard, we have seen a clear willingness from the European Union to deepen its engagement with other regions, including the Gulf region, where the Commission is launching strategic partnership agreements and free trade agreements that will reinforce our framework for cooperation and deliver mutual benefits for citizens on both sides. In this context, this report seeks to set the course for the future of relations with Saudi Arabia, a country that has undergone significant positive transformation over the past decades. This report was done listening to human rights NGOs, the Commission, national authorities on human rights and the most important actors: people. I want to thank them all. The text has four main sections. First, it focuses on bilateral relations between the European Union and Saudi Arabia. We recognise the progress made towards the strategic partnership agreements with sustainability and the energy transition as central pillars, closely linked to the EU's strategic autonomy. We also call for stronger due diligence processes and deeper cooperation in regulatory, security, education and research fields while promoting academic mobility. At the same time, we support moving forward on visa waivers to boost tourism and strengthening people-to-people exchanges. Since the 'cascade' was granted, which means multiple entries during five years. Second, the report addresses Saudi foreign policy and its cooperation with the European Union. We recognise Saudi Arabia's growing role as a relevant diplomatic actor, as well as its mediation efforts in Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon and Syria. In this context, we propose strengthening cooperation on foreign policy and security, based on the principles of multilateralism, human rights, international law, and maritime security. The third section focuses on socio-economic transformation and opportunities for the European Union. We recognise Saudi's economic diversification and their Vision 2030, highlighting concrete opportunities in infrastructure, digitalisation and critical minerals. We also acknowledge social and economic progress, particularly in the participation of young people and women – they have passed from 17 % to 37 % of the labour force – while stressing the need to fully implement reforms and the abolishment of the kafala system and improve personal status law. At the same time, we call for effective protection of migrant workers, especially in the context of Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup. Finally, relations with third countries cannot be understood without addressing the importance of human rights for the European Union. We welcome the existing EU-KSA Human Rights Dialogue, but call for a more results-oriented approach with clear indicators and timelines. We propose a European monitoring mechanism for the inclusion of human rights, mutual conditions in future bilateral agreements, and the ratification of the remaining international human rights conventions. While recognising recent progress, we are clear that significant challenges remain. We therefore call for the immediate release of detainees, a review of the counter-terrorism legislation, access to foreign international human rights organisations and express concern over the increase of death sentences, calling for a moratorium and the abolition of the death penalty. In conclusion, this report represents a first step towards a necessary, respectful and mutually beneficial relationship. Our leadership is linked to our strategic autonomy, and that is related in how do we address our relations with the rest of the world.

Madam President, today China extracts a majority of rare earths and controls almost all the refining. That is why restrictions on exports have an immediate impact on our industry and supply chains. The last EU-China summit in July was an important opportunity to reset our partnership. There, both sides stressed that cooperation and honest dialogue are the only way forward for our trade relations. To uphold that commitment, China must now ensure that any legitimate measures avoid harming Europe's economy. The EU-China dialogue on export controls is a step in the right direction which should bring effective solutions for European companies. But let's be clear, this debate is not only about China; it is about Europe's place in a geopolitical world where access to raw materials is becoming more crucial than ever. This is why the upcoming REsourceEU cannot be just a set of empty words. The Commission needs to present a strategic plan capable of delivering concrete actions to diversify our supply by boosting recycling in Europe and exploring new partnerships with like-minded countries. Only a comprehensive strategy can reduce dependence on raw materials and secure access to key minerals that will power Europe's future.

Mr President, eight days have passed since the peace agreement for Gaza was signed, and yet the Israeli Government has already killed more than 100 Palestinians and injured 80 more. The Israeli Government has not fulfilled fully the agreement from the beginning. We also condemn any breach of the ceasefire by Hamas. The situation is very fragile. We ask the Commission to closely monitor the situation and keep sanctioning the Israeli Government, who must be held accountable for its actions in Gaza and in the West Bank, where many civilians continue to be killed and are subject to the violence of the settlers. We hope that the ceasefire can bring peace and the possibility of establishing the two-state solution with the '67 borders. For that to happen, the Rafah crossing must be opened and humanitarian aid properly delivered. We call for journalists to be allowed into Gaza and conditional support to the vital role of UNRWA. We need to focus now on the day after: reconstruction, a future government elected by the Palestinians – a horizon of hope, peace and security for Palestine and Israel.

Mr President, Madam Commissioner, today marks two years' of the Hamas terrorist attack that took the lives of 1 200 people and condemned the families of 250 hostages to despair. I want to convey our solidarity with the families of the hostages that are with us today. Believe us, we want more than anything for the hostages to be released and for there to be peace and security within a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. In this already-declared genocide by the United Nations, we are not only seeing the far-right government of Netanyahu killing more than 67 000 Palestinians, but destroying the last resort of democracy in Israel. Israelis are protesting in the streets; the world is protesting to end the suffering and impunity in Gaza. Believe me, we need to end the occupation of Palestine, the occupation in the West Bank. We need to have access for the Palestinians to humanitarian aid. We need a democratic transition in a Palestinian state where Palestinians have an active role. We are not against Israel. We are not against Israel – I repeat this many times – because we are calling and defending the right of Palestinians to have their own state. Peace is not merely the absence of war, it is the presence of justice. Let us avoid double standards, as we have always been reflecting in this Parliament, and fight for what is right. We need the implementation of international law and international humanitarian law, and if we are not on the right side of history, we will regret it all our lives. Every day that passes, many Palestinians are being killed, and we have an uncertainty about the future of each one of the hostages that are still being held by Hamas. So I call here for peace, and for the implementation of an international humanitarian law that brings peace for both states. But we need to be clear and reaffirm and state our position with what is right: justice and security for each one of them; not for one side, but for both.

Madam President, Ms Kallas, thank you for being here – indeed, it's very important that you are here to address the issue of Gaza. Your stance on what is happening Gaza must be more forceful. Just one week ago, during your press conference in Jerusalem, you failed to mention the 50 200 Gazans who have been killed by Israel. You are well aware that every time we have taken the floor in this chamber, we have called for the release of the hostages and unequivocally condemned terrorism. But Israel ended the ceasefire – and this is something we need to talk about. More than 900 civilians, including children, humanitarian workers and journalists, have been killed. 142 000 people have been forcibly displaced in Gaza – 50 000 in the West Bank, because the far-right Israeli government refuses to recognise the two-state solution. And tomorrow, Hungary will host Prime Minister Netanyahu despite the ICC arrest warrant. What are you going to do about this? What are we going to do? Under Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union, you, as High Representative, can propose specific sanctions to the Council. You need to do that – you must propose specific sanctions. Have you seen the violent settlers attacking Palestinians, even film directors? If we do not act swiftly, more children will be killed, more families buried under the rubble. And let us not forget about the hostages in captivity. They have the right to be free.

Madam President, Mrs Kallas, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union is at a geopolitical crossroads that demands strategic clarity. Russia's war of aggression continues to undermine the European order as global rivalry intensifies. Even historic alliances such as the transatlantic are unstable. It is no longer enough to proclaim principles, we must give them political strength and external coherence. In the Middle East, the humanitarian crisis, with the loss of tens of thousands of lives and the destruction of cities in its entirety, demands more than silences or declarations. Our ambiguity has had consequences. We have lost weight in a region that was central to our external action and must be. If we want to recover that voice, we must leave behind the illusion of neutrality between equal parts and the double standards that my colleague Nacho Sánchez Amor commented before. Neutrality in the face of suffering is not balance, it is complicity. We must actively defend respect for the rules-based international order and make decisive use of the instruments already available to the Union, such as making our partnerships conditional on respect for human rights and the rule of law. At the same time we need to weave stronger alliances with Latin America, Africa and Asia and also with some emerging regions such as the Gulf.

Madam President, Commissioner, Gaza needs a permanent ceasefire for both Gazans and Israeli hostages to be released. The Israeli Government's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza is a war crime. The suffering of the civilian population should not be a tool of pressure. Babies are dying of cold in Gaza. The European Union must push through phases two and three of the ceasefire or there will be only two possible scenarios left: a new war or Trump's resort plan. There is a silent Israeli occupation strategy that has appropriated 16% of Gaza's agricultural land, as well as in the West Bank and Jerusalem, where the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, land confiscation and forced displacement have intensified. Border crossings have increased by 228% and entire neighbourhoods are being eliminated. The Palestinians are not to blame for Hamas terrorism, which must be fought firmly. The occupation is consolidated in prime time. Meanwhile, the Israeli far-right government prohibits UNRWA from providing aid to more than 500,000 refugees and asphyxiation, with 80% tax on foreign funding, to NGOs that do not commune with the government, silencing Israeli Democratic citizens. We must continue to talk about peace in Gaza, about the two states and, above all, about compliance with international law.

Madam President, Commissioner, we never thought that we would bring to this Parliament the questioning of an independent tribunal such as the International Criminal Court, whose impartiality guarantees our security and prevents the commission of acts of genocide, violations or any heinous act against human rights. More than ever, we need a European Union that is capable of being the guarantor of the architecture of an international legal system that the signatory States of the Rome Statute endowed themselves with in order not to be vulnerable to abuse. Instances such as the Trust Fund for the Benefit of Victims, for example, support and implement programs to take care of the damages derived from genocide, crimes against humanity, aggression, repair victims and their families, work against jihadist militias and contribute to a long and sustainable peace, promoting restorative justice and reconciliation. We must be consistent with our values and principles, those which are the founding principles of the Union, in whose acquis we have developed our policies. We cannot have double standards: While we have applauded the arrest warrants for African leaders in countries like Sudan or northern Uganda, or even Milosevic or Putin in Russia, we take our hands to the head in some states if it is against Netanyahu. We must protect the International Criminal Court against Trump sanctions, take care of our values, respect the judgments issued by the Court and, above all, what it represents; any day, if not, the system will turn against us.

Madam President, Commissioner Šuica, a few weeks ago we celebrated with hope in this Parliament the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and the reunion of hostages and prisoners with their families who are suffering, but today this agreement is in danger: There is no guarantee for peace either in Palestine with the occupation, the escalation of violence in the West Bank, the displacement of Palestinians and illegal settlements, or in Israel as long as Hamas continues to detain the hostages. We call the two states and the 1967 borders. And as Gazans returned to their homes these days to rebuild their lives, Trump affirmed his willingness to control Gaza against international humanitarian law because he believes he can buy it all. Even the seriousness of these statements has not been sufficient for a strong response from the Commission: We only see impunity and silence. And in this context, Mrs Kallas committed herself to developing a Middle East strategy based on the reconstruction of Gaza. We do not know the progress and it has not even been included in the 2025 work programme, we are late. What reconstruction does the Commission propose? Can you guarantee it? How will you integrate the key players in the region and this Parliament? We need leadership, accompaniment in democratic processes. What are we going to do with Iran - you have asked yourself several times here today - and with parties or with terrorist forces like Hezbollah and also like Hamas? We need a strategy – our priority is peace – and we certainly need to have more of the High Representative in this Parliament, who should come and give us more explanations: If their strategy is that of silence, they are wrong.

Mr. President, Donald Trump's inauguration marks a turning point in international stability. And while the transatlantic relationship is vital, its early decisions - such as implementing an extreme migration policy or putting Cuba back on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism - have a direct or negative impact on global security. In turn, Elon Musk is acting as a political actor de facto with interventionist strategies in Europe through X, and this requires a resolute response. We have made a proposal from this Parliament with concrete sanctions from the framework of foreign policy. We must make strong use of the tools we have to strengthen our strategic autonomy as the European Union, diversify trade partnerships, forge alliances with like-minded partners and consolidate our global leadership and multilateralism. Defending our values and protecting our interests requires unity, clear vision and determination. We understand that we must have a strategic relationship with the United States, but with a leadership of the European Union on the world stage.

Mr President, for the first time since this legislature began, we are meeting in plenary to celebrate great news. The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is one of the most anticipated moments for thousands of innocent victims and for the millions of people who have suffered in the past. prime time the devastating consequences of this conflict and international inaction. After 471 days, 110 000 wounded, 46 913 dead, half of them children, the destruction of 65% of the infrastructure and the displacement of 90% of the Gazan population, 1 200 dead and 5 400 wounded Israelis: All this could have been avoided if this same covenant had been accepted months earlier or if we had acted with more determination. Now we need the ceasefire to be effective; I also want to take this opportunity to remember the journalists and aid workers killed doing their job. Yesterday was a great day, it was a very joyful day: We saw the release and reunion of the first three hostages held by Hamas and that of Palestinian prisoners also with their families. Now we need to talk about the future government in Gaza: Reconstruction linked to reparation with Resolution 2735, with the 1967 borders, is very important and we need the Knesset and the United States Congress to also recognize the work and the work of the International Criminal Court. We need a strategy already from the European Union in the Middle East, to focus our efforts on ensuring technical and financial support – including in the Gaza Strip – for its reconstruction. I ask you to remain united, ladies and gentlemen, to bear in mind that we are experiencing a historic moment of transformation in the region. We must continue to look with hope, to have inclusive democratic governments like in Syria or a new government in Lebanon, without Hezbollah's tyrannical rule and with citizenship. Finally, I ask that we all be empathetic. We need to work together, to lay hands to get two states to live in peace and prosperity on both sides and, for that, we must be together.

Madam President, sexual violence as a weapon of war is one of the most egregious and silenced faces of conflict. These are not isolated acts of uncontrolled soldiers, but a deliberate tactic that deconstructs individuals, families and entire communities. It is a violence that subdues, terrorizes and displaces, leaving physical, psychological and social consequences that last for generations. In Sudan, Rapid Support Forces fighters have committed gang rape and sexual slavery against dozens of women and girls. There are regions where women have been raped in the presence of their families and even kidnapped and subjected to months of abuse on military bases. These atrocities constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, sexual violence reaches harrowing levels. Tens of thousands of women are raped every year. Combatants use this brutality to sow terror and tear apart the social fabric, leaving entire communities traumatized, silenced and divided. Given this, we must be clear: We must end the wars that enable these atrocities, as well as ensure justice and reparation for the victims, ending impunity. That is why directorates-general are as important as those of victims before the International Criminal Court. Above all, no more wars, no more impunity and no more silence.

Mr President, we are witnessing a historic event: the cruel dictatorship of the Assads, especially now of Bashar al-Assad, who has suppressed Syrians for 54 years, has come to an end. Bashar al-Assad's autocracy has left irreparable pain in thousands of tortured, isolated, fled and abused people, whose only crime was to believe that a different Syria was possible. The expression of hundreds of people released from prisons must be the intolerable memory for any country in the world: Syria deserves to see the birth of the flowers that were sown during the Arab Spring and that were oppressed. We are facing the first resolution on the region since the beginning of this legislature and I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, to live up to this process: I ask you for unity, responsibility and accuracy in data and facts. We must vindicate the territorial integrity of Syria: Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights is again a violation of international law that jeopardizes the situation in the region, but we understand that they will withdraw later, which is a matter of security, and we believe that when there is stability everything will improve. We must vindicate the voice and role of the Syrian people in this transition and their right to decide: their independence must be respected in order to achieve a democratic system that will take time. We must claim the dignified life of people from empathy, and not from the express decrees for asylum applications that have been made in some European countries, because this is a bad message. I want to claim that it is fair to remember that repression did not distinguish between ethnic groups, minorities or religions, so we must protect minorities, majorities and women, a very important issue. This Parliament must not be selective and we must not make invisible a large part of the opposition, which are also secular forces: Not everyone is a radical Islamist, and you have to know how the opposition works. We hope that there will be an inclusive Government, which is the most important thing, and that it will also include women. We have a unique opportunity for the change of the nation: Kaja Kallas is making many diplomatic moves that are positive for the role that the European Parliament and the European Union should play in the Middle East.

Mr President, we have to call for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, for humanitarian aid to reach families in northern Gaza. We have always condemned the terrorist attacks of Hamas on 7 October. We demand the release of all hostages with no conditions. Families are suffering and Netanyahu is not bringing them back home. We need an arms embargo that will avoid more deaths. We need the terrorists of Hezbollah to surrender arms and to reinforce the Lebanese Government and Lebanese institutions. We need to support the ICC decisions: we support them for Putin, so we need to support their decisions for Netanyahu, who is responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians. We need to maintain the international law system. We need peace. People in the Middle East have the right to live. The lives of Jews and Arabs are worth the same. They are brothers and sisters. Ceasefire now!

Mr. President, last November 7th we saw how football, a sport capable of uniting people from all over the world, was once again a scene of confrontation and violence in all its forms. The party stands and streets of Amsterdam became a space for unjustified hatred. We must reject, clearly and forcefully, the attitude of the ultras of the Maccabi of Tel Aviv, the boycott of the minute of silence to the victims of the DANA in Valencia during the party, the cries against Arabs and Muslims, the attacks against taxi drivers, Palestinian flags in homes or the vainglory for the murder of thousands of children in Gaza. Es intolerable. In the same way, we cannot, and we must, wholeheartedly condemn the violence against Israeli citizens who had to be rescued. We cannot allow justice to be taken by organized violent groups. We will not acquiesce to anti-Semitic attitudes and riots in the streets that endure to this day. Under no circumstances should violence be allowed or excused. Violence and anti-Semitism are intolerable and unacceptable. There is no place for such attitudes in Europe. Sport must be a space for reconciliation. What needs to be done is to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Madam President, the Netanyahu government has killed more than 600 people in Lebanon, in addition to the 42,000 killed in Gaza and the West Bank. The situation is very serious. Israel has bombed the capital of a sovereign state and launched a ground military invasion. We need to strengthen Resolution 1701 in Lebanon. The Lebanese are very, very unhappy with Hezbollah's Islamist movement, but it is no excuse for killing civilians. The war already involves six Middle Eastern countries and Israel remains unpunished. Right now, as the High Representative said, 20% of the Lebanese population is displaced. Forced displacement is considered a war crime. Imagine for a moment that this same situation was happening anywhere else in the world: That the 1.9 million displaced were on eleven occasions European, that the Israeli attacks were against Germany's largest hospital, that Paris was being bombed, that the villages of southern Italy had been sprayed with white phosphorus or that far-right ministers used religion to justify the occupation of their neighborhood houses. Would you still be quiet? And please stop saying this is all against Jews. We love them and we respect them. It's like saying we are all against Muslims because Netanyahu has killed almost 42,000. Come on. We need joint action by the European Union right now. Inaction has exposed us to the world and we suffer international discredit for defending that only some deserve to live in peace. We want peace for Lebanese, Israelis and Palestinians: a ceasefire. And don't be fooled...