Speeches

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges in Europe today. And this is politics. More than half of European adults are overweight and one in six live with obesity. Against this background, the European response must be clear: strengthen prevention, promote healthy lifestyles and ensure proper diagnosis and treatment for those living with this disease. We need to invest more in food literacy, physical activity promotion and public policies that support healthy choices, especially among children and young people. In Portugal, for example, national strategies to promote healthy eating have been developed that show how public policies can contribute to addressing this challenge. It is now essential to strengthen European cooperation, share best practices and support Member States in preventing and treating obesity.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, poverty in the European Union is no exception. It affects, as has already been said, more than 95 million people in one of the richest blocks in the world. It is a political failure that requires a credible European response. The report we are debating today clearly sets out the objective of significantly reducing poverty by 2030. But this commitment will only be taken seriously if it is accompanied by measurable targets, clear governance and effective monitoring mechanisms, including through the European Semester, to correct policies when they fail to deliver. In Portugal, as in other Member States, we know that economic growth alone is not enough. There are people who work and are still poor. That is why an effective European strategy must focus on quality employment, decent incomes and effective access to essential services. Social ambition must go hand in hand with a strong economy, fiscal responsibility and policies that value work. Fighting poverty is a political choice. Today, this Parliament must show that it is capable of turning commitments into action, objectives into real results for millions of Europeans.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, several million people have died since the beginning of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Six, seven, ten lost their lives. Several million people have been killed, not by a natural disaster, but by decades of war, armed violence, exploitation of resources and serious failures of the international community. Today, in eastern DRC, there are between 120 and 250 armed groups, responsible for a continuous cycle of terror, forced displacement and death. I had the opportunity, with several colleagues, to have direct contact with the communities affected by this conflict. Listening to the testimonies of children, women and men who live in daily fear makes it impossible to remain indifferent. It is a reality marked by pain, loss and difficulty in imagining a different future, a future with hope. The European Union must strengthen its humanitarian support, but also step up its political and diplomatic action, promoting regional stability and respect for the sovereignty of states. Peace in the Great Lakes region requires regional cooperation, strong institutions and a firm commitment from the international community. The European Union cannot turn its back on this crisis. The defence of human dignity and peace must be coherent within and beyond our borders.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Pillar of Social Rights is a fundamental commitment of the European Union to decent work, social justice and equal opportunities. However, despite the 2021 Action Plan, significant inequalities persist between Member States, notably in access to quality jobs, social protection, housing and healthcare. In a challenging context, marked by inflation, digital and climate transition and significant demographic changes, it is clear that the current instruments are insufficient to ensure the full implementation of the 20 principles of the Pillar. I therefore ask the Commissioner and the European Commission whether they intend to present a new and ambitious action plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights, with clear and measurable targets, adequate funding and a stronger social dimension in the European Semester. How do you intend to ensure that this new plan effectively contributes to reducing social and territorial inequalities, improving the living and working conditions of all European citizens?

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, we are living in times of profound geopolitical instability. The sea, which for centuries has been a symbol of trade, prosperity and connection between peoples, has today also become a scene of hybrid threats, environmental risks and growing strategic pressures. It is in this context that the update of the mandate of the European Maritime Safety Agency – our EMSA, which is based in Lisbon – is of decisive importance. With this new regulation, for which I have the honour of being rapporteur on behalf of this Parliament, we have clearly and ambitiously strengthened Europe's ability to protect our maritime space and our citizens. EMSA now has a modernised, legally more robust and operationally more effective mandate – able to help Member States respond to concrete challenges such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Russian shadow fleet, suspicious ship-to-ship transfers or the deactivation of automatic identification systems. In short, it is about ensuring a safer Europe at sea – and therefore safer on land. This regulation has three main objectives: • First, to ensure a high and uniform level of maritime safety; • Second, support the digital and green transition of the sector; • And third, strengthening vigilance and emergency response – from accidents to polluting spills or drug trafficking operations. Portugal, an Atlantic country by nature and with one of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones in the world, plays an essential role in this agenda. EMSA is a concrete symbol of Portugal’s contribution to European security – a bridge between continental Europe and the vast maritime space that connects us to the world. But this regulation is, above all, about people. More than 400 million passengers use our ports every year. Almost 90% of the Union’s external trade is by sea. Ensuring maritime safety means protecting jobs, ensuring energy and food, preserving the environment and maintaining the functioning of the European market. The European Parliament has been at the forefront of defending a Europe that protects – that protects its citizens, that protects its territory and that protects its seas. Dear companions and dear companions, we have arrived at a good port. But this is just the beginning of a new journey: a more prepared, sustainable and united Europe – also at sea.

Madam President, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the European Union and the leading cause of death from cancer among women. Every year, more than 350,000 people receive this diagnosis. However, more than a third of these cases can be prevented. Early detection saves around 21,000 lives per year, but inequalities persist in access to screening across Member States. To talk about screening is to talk about equal opportunities in health. A united Europe must ensure free, universal and quality access to screening. In Portugal, the National Breast Cancer Screening Programme covers almost the entire target population and has survival rates above the European average. But success cannot be limited to national borders, because saving lives is, and must continue to be, our common priority.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the day is already long, on the way to 11 p.m., but let me underline a dimension that Portugal is well aware of: the historical, cultural and linguistic relations that unite Europe and Africa. Lusophony is a natural space for cooperation and dialogue that already serves as a bridge between continents and as an example of how the European Union can articulate with the CPLP for a closer, humane and effective presence. Portugal has demonstrated over the past decades that it is possible to strengthen political, economic and cultural ties between the two continents, with mutual respect and shared gains. I highlight three priorities that cannot be lacking in the renewal of this partnership. First, peace, security and the rule of law; second, digitalisation and connectivity; third, economic integration and fair trade. Africa is not just a strategic partner. It is a partner of the future, essential for prosperity and global security.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in 2022 more than 60 000 Europeans lost their lives due to excessive heat. This requires immediate and effective responses. First, in housing: accelerate the implementation of the Energy Efficiency of Buildings Directive by ensuring better insulation, sustainable climate solutions and tackling heat islands in cities. We cannot accept that our homes remain a risk factor. Second, in health: strengthen coordination between national systems, with risk prevention plans, epidemic surveillance and specific protocols for the most vulnerable – the elderly, children and the chronically ill. Adaptation to climate change requires pragmatism, responsibility and collective commitment. That is what our citizens expect from Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the trans-European transport network will only be credible if it is prepared to withstand such new attacks. For that, of course, we need alternative navigation systems and faster response protocols. But it is not enough to act only within the borders of the Union – the skies and the seas know no political borders. We must cooperate with our neighbours and partners, especially in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Black Sea, to keep international routes safe and open. The European Union has here a clear opportunity to lead in aviation and maritime security and to enhance credibility, competitiveness and security. It is our responsibility to ensure that flying and sailing in Europe remains synonymous with trust and safety.

First of all, Mr Gonçalves, with regard to these forestry policies, we cannot make policy with disasters, with loss of life and with material losses for people. We are talking about a scourge. As for the Pontal party, what I can tell you is that, for the first time, we had a prime minister in August giving his face, taking responsibility and being worried about everything that was happening in Portugal. Policies do not change from one moment to the next; they have to be planned. For example, when the Socialist Party ruled the country for eight-and-a-half years, it cancelled the acquisition of the Canadair for firefighting – this is one of the examples that needs to be developed and planned in order not to have disasters like this year.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, first of all I would like to thank all those who risk their lives fighting fires and fires. We also do not forget the dead and we do not forget those who have lost everything. This summer of 2025 was the warmest in my country, Portugal, in the last 94 years – a clear and undeniable sign of climate change. The fires in southern Europe are increasingly devastating: destroyed forests, affected communities, fragile ecosystems. By August, more than 1 million hectares had burned in Europe. The European Union needs to act before the disaster. rescEU cannot remain temporary; we need a permanent fleet, especially in the most battered countries. It is time to change, it is time for a European forest policy that protects our lives, our forests and our future.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, my teaching as mayor of Portugal has taught me many things, one of which is: “Prevention is better than cure. Better safe than sorry’ The best response to the growing risk of fires and droughts lies in the wisdom of preventing ourselves. It was with a boost from the EPP in the European Parliament that the Union reinforced the rescEU programme with more planes, more intervention teams and more funds for sustainable forest management. This year alone, more than EUR 500 million has been mobilised for the prevention of, and response to, natural disasters. This is the way. A true European Union is a Union that is prepared, resilient and cooperative with each other, ready to share the collective effort for a better tomorrow.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, my teaching as mayor of Portugal has taught me many things, one of which is: “Prevention is better than cure. Better safe than sorry’ The best response to the growing risk of fires and droughts lies in the wisdom of preventing ourselves. It was with a boost from the EPP in the European Parliament that the Union reinforced the rescEU programme with more planes, more intervention teams and more funds for sustainable forest management. This year alone, more than EUR 500 million has been mobilised for the prevention of, and response to, natural disasters. This is the way. A true European Union is a Union that is prepared, resilient and cooperative with each other, ready to share the collective effort for a better tomorrow.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking to you as a European citizen, but above all as the responsible Member of this House, on a subject so significant that it affects the lives of millions and millions of people. We must take a number of points into account, but I am going to tell you about three. First: interconnectivity is important, especially in the outermost regions. Second: automatism of compensation is appropriate as it could increase the competitiveness of airlines. And third: the minimum limit for compensation for a flight delay should be three hours and not four, so that we do not run the risk of sending the message that we are going backwards rather than protecting European citizens. How can we ensure that we stand by the passengers, that we defend them, when in the eyes of the citizens we present to them what is more like a step backwards than a step forward?

Mr João Oliveira, the government I support in Portugal, with great pride, has done all this and much more than I have said. Much more than Russia does, North Korea, or other countries. I believe in the European Union. I believe this commissioner who's here. I believe that the European Commission will, step by step, make us one of the territories with the highest quality of life. This is the path we are taking and will continue to take in the European Union. I am completely convinced of this, and Portugal, of course, is committed to this commitment.

Mr President, Commissioner and friend, ladies and gentlemen, I come from a country that knows very well the importance of investing in sustainable and intermodal public transport. It is committed to strengthening public transport connections in low-density territories and promoting on-demand transport services to combat precariousness and increase inclusion. It is determined to support the transition to clean and low-emission public transport fleets, including a 90% reduction in transport emissions by 2050. It is a country that advocates public transport as a real alternative to the private car, especially in urban and peri-urban areas. To say that Portugal is aligned with European priorities for competitive, efficient and sustainable public transport services at all levels is a great responsibility. First, because we are aware of its importance for the European Union, leader and pioneer. Second, because we know very well the reality of being far away and the need to bet on concrete and practical solutions to get closer to each other.

Mr Oliveira, in a very synthetic way, the party that I represent and for which I was elected in this Parliament is a pro-European party, which is something that your party is not: pro-European. And what my party does in Portugal is just that: when you're talking about farmers, when you're talking about nature conservation, when you're talking about biodiversity conservation. He does this every day and has demonstrated it in the last 12 months of governance.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, 30% by 2030 is a global commitment to increase protected areas and contribute to the conservation of natural resources. habitats and endangered species. Over the next five years, at least half of the land priority areas for conservation should be integrated into sustainable management networks. 100 million hectares of degraded land will be restored to promote ecosystem restoration and improved environmental services. The European Union and international partners have allocated €20 billion to fund global ecological restoration projects, always focusing on areas critical to biodiversity. Only in this way can we ensure the balance of the planet and the well-being of all generations.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, without populism, without demagoguery, what matters is that the European Union acts. And that's why we're here. Protecting jobs and workers' rights in Europe must be, and is, at the top of our priorities. Globalisation, automation, the green and digital transitions have put pressure on our labour market, which in turn is pressing for workers to adapt urgently. And the solution is – and we are acting – to invest in reskilling, continuing education and vocational training, strengthen labour legislation and the monitoring of working conditions, invest in regulated immigration with respect for fundamental rights, attract skilled talent to Europe and realise lifelong learning, which is the key to employability and sustainable economic development. Labour restructuring needs to balance innovation and social protection to create a more inclusive and fair labour market.

Dear President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, in a European Union with diversified health systems, the Critical Medicines Act allows for a more efficient response to health emergencies and so congratulations. We live in a time when access to essential medicines is more urgent than ever and we cannot, as my colleagues have already said, be dependent on countries such as China or India, which provide between 60% and 80% of the active substances used in the production of medicines in Europe. This dependency exposes us to significant risks, as we saw in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chain disruptions resulted in shortages of essential medicines. O Critical Medicines Act It plays a crucial role in ensuring that everyone, even everyone, has access to essential medicines, reducing our vulnerability and strengthening our autonomy, public health and safety.

Dear colleague João Oliveira, answering in a synthetic way, we can only have better jobs if we produce wealth and then distribute that wealth. But we need jobs, and so that's what's been happening. And this government, in Portugal, has done this and has already demonstrated this in less than a year, this bet on training, both in university education and in vocational training. But above all, we need adequate investments to have jobs and to have better incomes and not to see our young people leaving Portugal and to other countries, not only in the European Union, but for the whole world.