What João spoke about.

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Written Statements PT

Democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees

We condemn any violation of human rights, whether in Thailand, in any EU country, or in any other part of the world. When the situation in Thailand has been largely ignored in recent years by the EP, it is at a time of rapprochement with the People's Republic of China that this resolution emerges, cynically instrumentalising migration and Uyghurs (who have been detained for ten years in Thai detention centres without any previous consideration). The EU has no morals, because of the policies it defends, promotes and implements with regard to migrants and refugees, to dictate judgments on third parties on this issue. We do not monitor and denounce the instrumentalisation of human rights, so that, under its pretext, coercive policies of relationship are promoted or covert and covert operations of foreign interference and policies of confrontation at the international level, which target, in addition to Thailand, the People's Republic of China. The relationship of the EU and its Member States with other countries should be guided by respect for their sovereignty and independence, in compliance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, respecting the right of peoples to decide their fate, free from external interference, promoting peace, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

21

May

2026

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Need for an adaptation of the EU legal framework on sustainable biofuels (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Tzitzikostas, biofuels appear as a complementary alternative to fossil fuels, which, of course, must be considered, without prejudice to the need for compatibility with other issues as important as the replacement of fossil fuels by fuels of another nature. Biofuels are part of a wider family of bioenergy products and, in general terms, we can say that the production of biofuels from waste treatment or by-product recovery will not pose a problem, because it naturally has a positive impact. The same is not true of agrofuels. Because, in the case of agrofuels, production in this way can mean a pressure to reduce the availability of food or increase prices, a greater dependence of farmers on transnational agro-industry and oil companies, can often entail risks of destruction of biodiversity, the degradation of natural resources and the destruction of natural resources. habitats and ecosystems, land degradation, increased water and energy consumption. And, therefore, it is necessary to reconcile this production with all these elements.

21

May

2026

Questions PT

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Need for an adaptation of the EU legal framework on sustainable biofuels (debate)

Mr Tonin, the question I want to ask you relates to another dimension of the option of producing biofuels, which is the production of agrofuels and the impacts that this may have, not only in relation to the possibility of food shortages, but even to the increase in the price of food. Because production – particularly of cereals for biofuels – can indeed put pressure on food production and food prices. This is a concern that comes from afar. The question I want to ask you is how, in the EPP's view, can these two objectives of increasing the availability of biofuels be reconciled without this having a negative impact on food production or its prices?

20

May

2026

Questions PT

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Financing EU priorities in a sustainable, predictable and resilient way through a new EU own resource from the online gambling and betting services sector (debate)

Mrs Lídia Pereira, since you also referred to illegal gambling, I repeat the question I have already asked Mrs Carla Tavares: if there are fees that are not charged because there is illegal gambling, how do you charge those fees without legalising gambling? And, by legalizing gambling, why is the revenue that is charged with these fees not national revenue? Why should revenue be taken from the national budget and transferred to the European Union? And a second question, regarding the reference to dependence: how do you think that the collection of this revenue can be linked to the objective, which should be a priority, of attacking addiction to gambling and addiction to gambling – including gambling? online — Do they, especially among the young?

20

May

2026

Questions PT

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Financing EU priorities in a sustainable, predictable and resilient way through a new EU own resource from the online gambling and betting services sector (debate)

Mrs Carla Tavares, you are able to ensure that, with the creation of this own resource, the national revenue of the Portuguese budget, with the tax that is applied today on gambling online, Is it still there? Can you guarantee that Portugal will not lose this revenue from its national budget by applying this own resource to finance the European Union budget? Question 2: They support this proposal with the idea that illegal gambling will be taxed, but if it is illegal, how will it be taxed? It has to be legalized. But if it is legalised, why is it not subject to the national contribution and is this revenue transferred to the EU budget?

20

May

2026

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Financing EU priorities in a sustainable, predictable and resilient way through a new EU own resource from the online gambling and betting services sector (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner Šefčovič, the budget of the European Union must be financed by national contributions on the basis of gross national income. That is the fairest solution. Countries benefiting from European Union policies contribute to the budget; countries that suffer from them are compensated by the budget. The proposal for new EU own resources threatens such redistribution and may even have the opposite effect. In the case of taxes on tobacco products or on waste electrical and electronic equipment, Portugal risks contributing more to the EU budget than Germany or France. It is a complete reversal of the compensatory nature of the budget. In the tax on the betting and gaming sector online, the criticism persists for different reasons: Portugal already has a special gambling tax online, with a tax of 25 % on the gross revenue of licensed operators. Is there a bet that this national revenue from the Portuguese budget will disappear if this EU own resource is created? We prefer not to bet. We prefer not to run the risk of losing and we prefer that, in relation to bets, we work to end them, instead of benefiting budgetaryly from this game and this addiction.

20

May

2026

Questions PT

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Advancing towards a care society: addressing the gender care gap (debate)

Mr Nascimento Cabral, there is a clear inequality between women and men in the provision of care, whether paid or unpaid. But there is also a great lack of guarantee of care for those who need it because they are in a situation of dependence – whether they are people with disabilities, or people who, for health reasons, need care, or children and the elderly, because of circumstances specific to the stage of life in which they are. There is a need to ensure care for those in need, and the role of public services is absolutely essential, with a network that provides adequate territorial coverage, with quality care, but also with workers with professional careers and valued wages. And that's what I'd like to hear your opinion about, too.

20

May

2026

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Recent proposals to fight poverty in the EU (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Mînzatu, today we are insisting on some of the central issues that we stated in the European Parliament's report adopted last February. The eradication of poverty requires a change of priorities that focuses on the social and economic needs of peoples. It requires addressing poverty at its root causes, with policies that ensure a fair distribution of wealth. It requires the realisation of human rights – as political, economic, social and cultural rights – as universal and indivisible rights. It requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses poverty in its multiple dimensions and that bears in mind the objective of eradicating it in all sectoral policies. The report that we adopted in this Parliament last February was an important starting point for building that path of poverty eradication. The strategy announced by the European Commission falls far short of what is needed. It is true that we find in the text many of the references left in Parliament's report, but the strategy proposed by the Commission is a proposal that lacks effective commitment, coupled funding and absolutely indispensable for the eradication of poverty. Aiming at the militarisation of the European Union by 2030, it is incomprehensible to leave the objective of poverty eradication to 2050. This is a sign of secondaryisation of economic and social issues that cannot be left behind.

20

May

2026

Questions PT

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High time to deliver on the Single Market, providing certainty and predictability for EU businesses and quality jobs (continuation of debate)

Mr President, Mr Nikolaou-Alavanos, you spoke of concern for workers' rights and that must indeed be a central issue. And the question I ask you is whether there is not a dose of hypocrisy when it comes to quality jobs, but, at the same time, whether it gives the political coverage that the European Union is currently giving in several countries, such as Portugal, Greece or Belgium? There are amendments to labour laws that call into question the rights of workers, that call into question employment, that call into question the rights of those who work. Moreover, in Portugal, a general strike is called, precisely to respond to this policy, which, being a national policy, is still covered by the European Union.

19

May

2026

Answers PT

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Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba (debate)

Mr President, I support all the peoples who are fighting for equality, progress, development, social justice and democracy. All those peoples who, fighting for these goals, face military aggressions, face blockades, face the dramatic situation that, from the humanitarian point of view, today condemns hundreds of children to not have access to medical care in Cuba, because the American power has decided to cut off access to fuel, has decided to prevent Cuba from buying medical equipment or medicines. On the side of history? Mr President, I am on the side of the peoples who are fighting for their rights. Apparently, the honourable Member is on the opposite side.

19

May

2026

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Political repression and humanitarian situation in Cuba (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner Kaja Kallas, the criminal blockade of Cuba by the United States is primarily responsible for Cuba's difficulties. In 1960, a U.S. Undersecretary of State said that it was necessary, and I quote, "to deprive Cuba of money and supplies in order to reduce its financial resources and real wages, to provoke hunger, despair and the overthrow of the government." Sixty-six years after these statements, the plan remains the same because, over this time, Cuba and the Cuban people have defeated these intentions. Cuba is threatened by the world's largest military power, is prevented from having normal economic relations with other countries, is denied access to essential goods for any people in the world. Faced with this, the Cuban people found courage where others would have cowered. It created from scratch what others buy made. It has made reality in education what others only dream of. It gave the world health, culture, Olympic-level sport. He gave an example of dignity and a reference to nonconformity. Cuba is not alone – with Cuba are all the peoples of the world and those in Cuba who see a reference to a people fighting for their right to sovereignty and development.

19

May

2026

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Europe's response to reduced US military deployments in Europe, particularly at its Eastern flank in the light of the latest US decisions (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner Kaja Kallas, the US military presence in some European countries does not correspond to any concern for the security and defence of those countries – it corresponds to US interests and the way in which each US administration interprets at all times the economic, political and geostrategic interests that justify such a military presence. And, therefore, the departure of American military personnel from European countries must not serve either for disputes of other countries for this military presence, or as a pretext for the militarization of the European Union, for the accentuation of the policy of confrontation and war based on the guidelines of the European Union against its national translation. On the contrary, this departure of US military personnel from the European countries where they are should represent an opportunity for the demilitarisation of international relations, for the promotion of a policy of peace, collective security, cooperation, the requirement to respect international law and the Charter of the United Nations. That must be the direction in which we should go.

19

May

2026

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EU governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Šefčovič, we are told about passerelle clauses, about enhanced cooperation, about ways of circumventing or even ending unanimity in the few decisions where it still exists. We know why. They want to accelerate and deepen neoliberal and militaristic policies and to subject peoples against their will. They want federalist solutions that further concentrate power on the major powers of the EU and ensure their dominance over the other states. They want a single voice from the EU to silence the voice of peoples and states and discontent with this neoliberal, militaristic and federalist course. In fact, we have heard these proposals today from those who are calling for the creation of a European army. The unanimity rule is justified because states must be on an equal footing and must be able to refuse decisions against the interests of their peoples. The way is not in the decisions and how they are made taking into account the decisions of the State; It's in politics. That is why we need policies that respect the sovereign equality of states, but that respond to the needs of workers and peoples, to the improvement of their living conditions and that guarantee popular participation in political decisions.

19

May

2026

Questions PT

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EU governance under pressure – institutional responses to global challenges (debate)

Mr Bugalho, is it the unanimity rule that prevents the European Union from condemning the violations of international law by the United States in their aggression against Iran with Israel? Is it the unanimity rule that prevents the European Union from condemning and taking a firm stand to denounce the genocide that is taking place in Palestine? Is it the unanimity rule that prevents the European Union from taking a stand on the warmongering and militaristic path being developed around the world, including with the arms race within the European Union itself? Or are these just excuses of pretext to direct in the same direction the neoliberal and militaristic policies that we have seen in recent years?

18

May

2026

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The impact of the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 2014/89/EU on fisheries in selected fishing areas and sea basins (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Kadis, the discussion on maritime spatial planning continues to be marked by competition between different uses that confront activities and economic sectors with different sizes and economic power. Regrettably, the trend continues to be to support activities such as artisanal and coastal fishing, in the face of activities such as energy supply, maritime transport, aquaculture, the need to preserve and protect the environment, which are, after all, secondary. This report ends up reflecting the contradictions that continue to surround the European Union's maritime policy and the need for an alternative that, starting from the exercise of national sovereignty, builds solutions for cooperation and articulation between the Member States at regional level and also, with another degree of globality, that enhances artisanal and coastal fishing, that safeguards national fishing grounds, that strengthens the protection of maritime habitats against aggressive practices, including leisure or tourism practices, and that ensures a balanced management of ecosystems.

18

May

2026

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The impact of the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive 2014/89/EU on fisheries in selected fishing areas and sea basins (debate)

Mr Nascimento Cabral, this report has several elements, some of which are contradictory in nature, particularly in the relationship – which is still not a relationship – between economic sectors that are treated equally and with particular concern for artisanal and coastal fishing. And that's what I wanted to ask you a question about: do you not think that the various references to the importance of artisanal and coastal fishing, the need to protect it, the need to involve fishermen and coastal communities in the definition of co-management policies are good references to counter policies such as that of the Portuguese Government, which has sidelined and marginalised fishermen and maritime communities?

18

May

2026

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Negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity on the Union steel market (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner Kadis, the defenders of liberal and neoliberal policies are today advocating protectionist measures in the steel sector within the European Union because, after all, the free market, operating freely, can destroy steel production capacity in the European Union. And it is obvious that this is so because markets are not free and because, when markets function and jeopardise production, measures must be taken to protect that production, be it industrial or otherwise. The problem is that what is at stake today shows that not all Member States are equal within the European Union: when it comes to Portuguese industrial production in the textile sector, in the automotive sector, in electrical equipment, there are no protective measures; when it comes to the production of steel in Germany and Italy, which together account for more than 50% of the European Union's steel production, there is concern about the industry, protectionist measures appear, and there the free market comes to life. And it is necessary, Commissioner, to take into account the impacts that these measures have on the manufacturing industry. Because if these measures go ahead, what will happen is that the manufacturing industry will have to buy more expensive steel from Germany than it buys today from other suppliers, and that is not defending industrial production in these manufacturing sectors either.

18

May

2026

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Negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity on the Union steel market (debate)

Mr Francisco Assis, with regard to these measures to protect steel production, I would like to ask you two very specific questions. First: why, when it comes to industrial sectors, such as the relevant industrial sectors in Portugal – in textiles, in the automotive sector, even in the production of electrical equipment – there are never protective measures and the free market and globalisation are always worthwhile, even if this ruins Portuguese industry, and, when it comes to the German steel industry, there are already protectionist measures? The second question: how will the negative impacts on manufacturing be dealt with? Because protecting the German steel industry means buying more expensive steel than what is currently bought from other suppliers, with a very negative impact in Portugal.

18

May

2026

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Order of business

Madam President, I and 74 other Members of this Parliament have asked the President and the Conference of Presidents to schedule an extraordinary plenary session of the European Parliament to discuss the dramatic situation in Gaza and the West Bank as a result of the Israeli government's policy of aggression. The Israeli government continues to murder, destroy basic infrastructure, deny humanitarian aid to Gaza, persecute and expel the Palestinian population from its lands. It passed a discriminatory and racist law condemning Palestinian prisoners to death, and the lack of action by the European Union institutions is politically and morally unacceptable and indefensible. And it is the break with that complicit silence that this Parliament must assume. The convening of this special session of this European Parliament is the way to help break that complicit silence. That is what we are asking you to do here, Madam President, so that this plenary session can be convened.

29

Apr

2026

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Situation in Lebanon: implementation of the ceasefire, support peace efforts and humanitarian access (debate)

29

Apr

2026

Questions PT

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Situation in Lebanon: implementation of the ceasefire, support peace efforts and humanitarian access (debate)

29

Apr

2026

Questions PT

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Danger of normalising relations with Russia, including its participation in major cultural and sports events (debate)

29

Apr

2026

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Roma inclusion, equality and fundamental rights: delivering on Europe’s values (debate)

29

Apr

2026

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EU strategy in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, its implications on energy prices and the availability of fertilizers (joint debate)

29

Apr

2026

Questions PT

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EU strategy in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis, its implications on energy prices and the availability of fertilizers (joint debate)