What Hélder spoke about.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, 35 years ago the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child enshrined the fundamental right to quality education. However, according to last year’s European Commission report on monitoring education, only two EU countries – Cyprus and Croatia – were not short of teachers. This is a real barrier to access to education and the full development of our children. Fortunately, Portugal is now making progress in solving this problem, significantly reducing the number of students without a teacher this year. But as long as there is a student without a teacher, we cannot lower our arms. And it is also imperative to improve working conditions in teaching and make it more attractive to future generations of teachers. Because education is the greatest social elevator, we will never give up fighting for the rights of our children.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, decades of underinvestment in security and defence in the European Union have left us completely vulnerable. The Niinistö report stresses the urgency of a response capacity that integrates both the military and civilian sectors. The proposal to strengthen the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which I fully support, is an essential step in this direction, as we have seen in relation to the recent disasters that have occurred in Europe. Between fires in Portugal, floods in central Europe and now in Valencia, no citizen has been immune. In the next Multiannual Financial Framework, this should be a financial instrument that, across the board, is put at the service of this cause. Security is a public good and it is the main function of the state, it is our greatest responsibility towards all citizens of the European Union.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the ocean is clearly an indispensable ally for the European Union to strengthen its competitiveness in strategic areas such as innovation, food security, energy autonomy and environmental sustainability. That is why I say that the European Ocean Pact is a great opportunity. Protecting coastal areas and fishing communities is a clear goal, but we also need to ensure fair remuneration for professionals. I commend the delimitation, last week, by the Azores, of the largest marine protected area in Europe, protecting 30% of its sea. And, as mayor, I actively participated in the delimitation of the protected marine area of Ericeira, Sintra and Cascais, the first in Portugal, which actively involved the local community in its delimitation. Given the intrinsic relationship between our communities and the seas around us, I would say that the preservation of the European Atlantic axis is a goal of all of us.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Draghi's report is very clear: Without skilled workers, our future is clearly at risk. Today, skills go far beyond mathematics and grammar, you need to master digital and also master cross-cutting areas such as sustainability and creativity. Here, Erasmus+ is truly an ally and this programme is much more than mobility, it is a bridge between education and the labour market. Therefore, the cuts proposed by the Council for the Erasmus+ programme are a strategic mistake and are truly unacceptable. This is why Parliament is right to propose a reinforcement for the year 2025 of around EUR 70 million. Now is the time to act, strengthening competitiveness, by strengthening training in our Union.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, at a challenging time when we are living in global transformation, the Union budget remains a fundamental instrument for meeting the needs and also the aspirations of our fellow citizens. The budget proposal that we are going to vote on presents a clear commitment to a stronger Europe, a more competitive Europe and also a safer Europe. In this sense, several priorities have been strengthened and are fundamental to a Europe that leaves no one, no village, no city, no region behind. I emphasise the commitment to innovation and education, with the reinforcement of programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Digital Europe. I also highlight the increases in support for young farmers and for the promotion and consumption of agricultural products produced within the Union. In the important areas of security, I would highlight the reinforcements planned for the European Civil Protection Mechanism and Frontex, as well as the increases in funds – I will say indispensable – for the area of defence. Finally, since we do not conceive of Europe disconnected from the rest of the world, I would like to highlight the increase in funding for cooperation with Africa and the Mediterranean. In short, I firmly believe that this 2025 budget proposal is a proposal capable of making Europe stronger, capable of acting and defending its and our democratic interests and values.

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the paradigm really has to change. We must be clear that we will support Ukraine in time and with the means necessary for Ukraine to win this war. But the words clearly don't stop them. rockets Russians who fall daily on Ukraine, do not rebuild hospitals, nor schools, let alone houses destroyed by Putin's missiles. Through this mechanism, Ukrainians can count on concrete funding of €35 billion for the recovery and reconstruction of their country. Some forces in this Parliament are trying to undermine the debate, as we have seen. But, ladies and gentlemen, let's not be fooled. What these anti-‑ Europe forces never mention is the tremendous negative impact that the Russian victory would have on our Union. Who would feel safe with the Russian troops in Levive? Not me. Finally, I will say that the strategic autonomy and independence of our Union is dependent on the Ukrainian victory and so...

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, organised crime is a serious and growing threat to the internal security of the European Union. According to Europol’s estimates, this criminal phenomenon generates more than EUR 110 billion annually, with highly sophisticated criminal networks operating in various sectors, from drug trafficking to cybercrime, tax crime to human trafficking networks. In Portugal, according to the Annual Internal Security Report, data show that the vast majority of drug trafficking offences involve international networks active in several European countries. In 2023, more than 50% of reported criminal activities in the European Union had a digital component. They have affected critical sectors such as health, finance and even public infrastructure. And these attacks are more and more constant, but also more sophisticated. And so, in order to respond to such a threat, we must strengthen cooperation between European security forces and the exchange of information between Member States. It is also crucial to step up investments in Europol, Frontex and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the latter with brilliant results in recent years. Institutions are pillars in protecting our citizens and fighting criminal networks that do not respect borders. However, it is not enough to act repressively, it is necessary to act preventively. Educational and community programs that strengthen local resilience are essential to avoid recruitment, especially in the younger layers. We need to support a multifaceted approach that combines law enforcement with social inclusion policies, empowering our communities. I will always say that in Europe crime can never compensate.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Ukrainians, it is from this Chamber that the largest have been leaving since February 2022, and I will say the most convinced words of support from the European Union for Ukraine. Today, on behalf of the Portuguese delegation, I would like to reiterate and even reinforce the solidarity that has been assumed. The defence of Ukraine is the defence of European values and principles and is a responsibility, above all, of all of us. At the beginning of a new mandate, when we are defining the strategy for the next five years, it is our obligation to continue to use this plenary to give confidence, but above all to truly support those who defend on the ground, at the sacrifice of their lives, the values that we embody here. The victory of Ukraine, in addition to the more than just victory of the Ukrainian people, will be the victory of Europe and the democratic values we stand for. Long live Ukraine!