Speeches

Today is the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Its tragic consequences, the death of millions of Europeans, economic degradation are still remembered today. The common Europe is its direct heritage, as the shared post-war traumas allowed for the intensification of cooperation in the economic recovery in the years immediately after the war. As the European Union, we have shown how, through joint efforts, peace, security and cooperation between our peoples can and must be achieved. Only united we are strong, only economically united we are safe.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Ladies and Gentlemen, today we are talking about the housing crisis in Europe, but for many people with disabilities, the problem does not start with the price of housing. The problem starts with the fact that there is simply no housing available, as as many as 70-80% of them are not suitable for independent living for people with disabilities. And yet the lack of an available apartment is not only a matter of comfort. It is a barrier that often prevents independent living, work and full participation in social life. I am therefore pleased that my proposals on this very issue have received broad support in the HOUS committee. Regardless of our political affiliation, we have all recognised the importance of the problem. Today I call on the European Commission and the Member States to pay particular attention to the development of accessible construction. We need more adapted dwellings and mechanisms to ensure adequate participation of such dwellings in new investments. Accessibility begins at the design stage. That's when we need to think about space in an inclusive way. The report also stresses the need to fully implement the obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as accessible housing together with environmental support services, including personal assistance, is a fundamental condition for an independent and dignified life. I also want to make it clear to people with disabilities across Europe that your rights are included in this report. Nothing about you without you.

Madam President, I'm sorry. The gender pay gap is still a reality in many European Union countries. In some of them, the pay gap reaches up to 30%. At the same time, it is fair to say that the situation in Europe is not the same everywhere. In Poland, the wage gap is one of the smaller in the Union. This shows that appropriate solutions and changes in the labour market can bring real results. But that doesn't mean the problems will go away. Breaks in work, most often related to motherhood and childcare, remain the biggest challenge. They later translate into both lower wages and lower women's pensions. Therefore, it is not only a question of equality between women and men, it is also a question of the demographic future of Europe. If having a child means serious professional and financial consequences, mainly for women, more and more families will postpone the decision on parenthood. Directive work life balance It's a step in the right direction. The development of paternity leave also shows that the way of thinking about the division of responsibilities in the family is slowly changing. But the rules alone are not enough. We need accessible nurseries and kindergartens, more flexible work and real support for families. Support for parents of children with disabilities is particularly important. Without the development of personal assistance, many mothers remain outside the labour market, and this means lower security for the future. That is why we need a coherent and courageous policy that truly promotes equal opportunities. Equal pay for equal work is not a privilege, it is simply justice.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Dear Commissioner, Dear fellow Members, In my speech, I would like to focus primarily on poverty resulting from disability. According to the European Disability Forum, disability increases the risk of poverty by 61%. That's a lot. So, in discussing today the EU strategy against poverty, I expect the European Commission to be consistent with the EU strategy for persons with disabilities. The fight against poverty requires a real financial reinforcement of the European Social Fund Plus in order to implement socially inclusive projects and support independent living through deinstitutionalisation and support services. The guidelines for Member States alone are insufficient. We want strong legal regulations that would prohibit the financing and creation of new social welfare homes, and in return would support the development of assisted housing, which allows residents to feel worthy, decide on such prosaic issues as: what time they will eat their meals or who and when will visit them. Inclusion in the life of the local community, combined with access to personal assistance, is an investment in self-reliance. This allows persons with disabilities and their carers to lead a truly independent life.

Madam President, I'm sorry. Education is an investment in the future, in self-reliance, professional activity and full participation in society. It is the duty of all of us to ensure that the right to education is truly guaranteed to every child. Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities clearly states: ‘Every child has the right to quality, inclusive and non-discriminatory education.’ The Member States of the European Union have signed the Convention, which is why we call for its full implementation and consistent adherence, for investing in inclusive education, for moving away from segregation, for providing systemic support for pupils and their families. Equal access to education is more than just a place in the classroom. This is real support, personal assistance, tailored teaching materials, prepared staff and schools without barriers. It is a system that allows individual adaptation of schools to the needs of everyone without exception.

Dear Commissioner, Dear Mr President, Deinstitutionalization is not a theory, it's concrete. Instead of putting people in an institution, organise a supportive apartment. Instead of a children’s home, a foster family. Socialization instead of isolation. These are courageous decisions to create assisted housing, where people with disabilities can enjoy the independence of choice, at which time they can have dinner, or with whom to meet. It is also direct support for their families, who will be sure that their family member lives on their own terms, with adequate support, and will not worry about what will happen to their child after their death, after the death of their parents. I call on all the countries of the European Union: implement Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Let us build together systemic services, social services based on respect, accessibility and freedom of choice. Because each of us deserves to live among people, not behind closed doors. Because each of us can be from day to day a person with a disability requiring support in the future.

Dear President, Dear Commissioner, The implementation in the Member States of the Convention for Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and in particular the provision of independent living through personal assistance, will result in the return of their parents and carers to the labour market. Such people want to work, but after many years of caring for their, often already adult children, in order to return to the labour market, they will need appropriate support, appropriate training, which will make them able to work again normally. Such caregivers deserve our special support. We must not waste their potential, because their work is a real relief for social welfare systems in the Member States. Their return to the labour market will pay off for all of us. That is why I am pleased with this proposal, which the European Commission has put forward, and I hope that we will implement solutions that will effectively support carers.

Mr President, thank you very much. Dear Commissioner, thank you very much for your report on the state of play of the implementation of demographic tools in the Member States of the European Union in 2023. It is already January 2025 and the motto of the Polish Presidency is "Security, Europe". I'm going to talk about demographics as well. The de facto support of European demography is a systemic approach to motherhood, so that women, when deciding on the first or the next child, feel safe, know that they are guaranteed to return to work, have available care for a small child in their immediate area. And if a child is born with disabilities, they will also have support for him and their families, regardless of where they come from and where they live. That is why I call on the European Commission and the governments of the Member States to work together and cooperate, which are key to systematically ensuring women's social security. Your joint action and cooperation are crucial to systematically ensure greater safety for women in Europe and to support them in their motherhood.

Mr President, thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and colleagues! The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is a day when we should remember, but above all, also ask for women, for girls who also experience violence in sport. Yes, in a sport that we associate every day with glory, victory, positive emotions. Sport is health, but sport is also the dark side – it is violence. Physical, psychological, sexual violence. Violence is also present there, in the world of sport. We cannot ignore this problem. Violence against women in sport is not a matter of individual cases. Therefore, by introducing relevant EU or national legislation, we must work together to eliminate violence and discrimination in sport. We need to create an environment where every athlete feels safe, supported and respected both in training, in competitions and beyond. What solutions are needed? Comprehensive victim support, legal protection and enforcement mechanisms, training, education and awareness-raising. I would ask you, honourable Members, not to meet here every year and only to talk, but also to take action. I would ask the European Commission to present us with concrete actions on this issue.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. The skills gap in the European Union is a very complex issue. Workers' skills and education systems, on the other hand, labour market expectations do not coincide at one point. This is a multifaceted problem. First, rapid technological change generates new, demanding skills that many people cannot keep up with. Secondly, in many countries of the European Union, education systems and curricula need to be made more flexible. Thirdly, skills gaps also stem from regional inequalities. Local employers are often unable to find suitably qualified staff in their area. Fourthly, another important issue is the issue of an ageing population. This is a challenge, but also an opportunity to build better and accessible care and rehabilitation systems. Let us support the learning of care professions that are invaluable to our family members and that will one day be invaluable to us. We need action on many fronts, but the most important thing is to understand correctly the problem that undoubtedly exists.

Dear Mr President, Dear Colleagues, Housing is also a very important topic for the inhabitants of my region. Those living in large cities, such as Krakow or Kielce, but also for residents of tourist destinations such as Zakopane or Krynica. Real estate prices are so high today that buying or even renting an apartment charges an average of 40% of the household budget per month. This is a huge expense that Polish women and men face every day. The greatest burden of the lack of affordable housing concerns young people, for whom the decision to enlarge the family is directly related to the housing situation. When working on the Commission's proposal, I call on you not to forget the elderly and people with disabilities who are waiting for assisted housing to develop, because their independent lives are also dependent on access to such housing. I thank the European Commission for its commitment and, as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, I count on good cooperation to ensure decent and accessible housing for everyone. Here in Parliament, we need to work out comprehensive and viable solutions supported by cohesion funding. Only in this way can we reverse the current demographic trends in the European Union.