Speeches

The next vote concerns the agreement between the EU and the Republic of Serbia on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia (see point 5.1 of the Minutes). (This concludes the voting session) (The sitting adjourned at 12:28)

On behalf of the President, I would like to warmly welcome you to the diplomatic gallery, where a delegation of presidents and representatives of the outermost regions of the European Union is present today. I would like to inform the House that I have received three requests for a point of order. So, let's proceed with the first one. Mr Mariani, for one minute.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, it was on 1 July 2013 that Croatia became the first of the seven Western Balkan countries to join the European Union: It is a historic event, a symbol of hope and a new beginning for the whole region. A little over ten years have passed and today we are again at an equally crucial crossroads. Since then, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have embarked on a path of bold and difficult reforms: They are strengthening their democratic institutions, modernising the economy and demonstrating a clear willingness to share European values. Every step taken has brought these countries closer to the heart of Europe. Integration also has a clear and tangible economic dimension, as it is a strategic asset for the European Union, with 18 million citizens and a constantly growing GDP – more than 3% per year. Their geographical location, a natural junction between Europe, Asia and the Middle East, makes this region an essential crossroads for supply chains and international trade. We are talking about a process that is not just about geopolitics, but about the security and stability of Europe. Italy has always believed in this perspective and continues to play a leading role. Integrating the Western Balkans means strengthening the Union's external borders and building a bulwark against external influences.

The next item is the Commission statement on Misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, such as TikTok, and related risks to the integrity of elections in Europe (2024/2967(RSP)). I give the floor to Commissioner Virkkunen, on behalf of the Commission.

The next item is the statement by the Commission: The right to drinking water in the EU. The floor was given to Commissioner Fitto, on behalf of the Commission, for five minutes.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, let us think big, let us think small. These are the words that I spoke in 2019 during my administrative mandate on my territory and I speak them today, with the same conviction, from this European Parliament, because the future of Europe is built precisely on the basis of our children. Today, as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is a fundamental pillar, which has enshrined even more strongly how children are full citizens and bearers of inalienable rights. But is that enough? Europe must have courage and we are saying this today, at the beginning of the parliamentary term. We need to strengthen the rules to ensure full safety and equal rights for all children and also a safe digital environment, where everyone is protected and can grow up without fear. Online security isn't a luxury either, but it's a right. Children live our communities together with their families, in that wonderful intertwining of generations where the present coexists with the memory of the past and looks with hope to the future. Governing the passages of life means precisely this, so that no child is left behind and every family can feel part of a Europe that does not forget but that builds. So here is our task: Think big with the little ones in mind.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, the silence you have just heard is the silence of millions of women who live every day: is the silence of fear, humiliation, isolation; It is the silence of those who no longer have a voice to ask for help. But we must break this silence with strength, determination and concrete action. The numbers are terrible: One in three women in Europe has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. And we know that behind these statistics there are faces, stories, families destroyed: They are mothers, women, sisters, daughters, friends. They are people who demand justice, protection, security and attention. And we representatives of the institutions have and must have the duty to defend them, to be their voice, their strength and their hope. Every year, Parliament organises the Gender Equality Week to take stock of achievements and identify new measures. As Vice-President in charge of the initiative, I invite everyone to take part, contributing ideas and reflections. We must ensure that those who denounce are believed, those who suffer find refuge and those who commit violence pay without mitigating circumstances. We need to educate: Women's dignity is non-negotiable! There are no traditions, religions or ideologies that can justify even a single act of violence. We will not stop our efforts until every woman is free to live without fear.

The Minutes of today's sitting will be submitted for Parliament's approval at the beginning of the next sitting. If there are no objections, I shall forward immediately the resolutions adopted at today's sitting to their addressees.

Motion for a resolution on the misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758 by the People's Republic of China and its continued military provocations around Taiwan (2024/2891(RSP))

Motion for a resolution on the situation in Azerbaijan: violation of human rights and international law and relations with Armenia (2024/2890(RSP)).

The next item is the Commission statement on the protection of the oceans, persistent threats to marine protected areas in the European Union and their benefits for coastal communities (2024/2888(RSP))

The sitting has resumed. The Minutes of yesterday's sitting and the texts adopted have been distributed. If there are no comments, the Minutes shall be deemed to have been approved.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, the skills gap risks holding back our development and penalising Europe's competitiveness, and gender competitiveness in particular, continues to penalise women's potential, especially in strategic sectors such as technology. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality, closing this gap in STEM sectors could lead to the creation of an additional 1,200,000 jobs. On the occasion of the European Year of Skills, in Italy the Meloni government introduced, with Law 187 of 2023, the National STEM Week, with the aim of raising awareness and stimulating the interest of boys, and especially girls, towards these disciplines. It is a good practice and therefore can inspire the work of other member countries. In Europe, on the other hand, the European Commission has promoted the Pact for Skills, an initiative that we consider important, which calls on public and private organisations to join forces and take concrete actions to improve – especially also retrain – people in Europe. But it is not enough: there is a need for a genuine skills union, in which access to key disciplines is fair and accessible for all, and training for the retraining of less attractive sectors. We must ensure that skills acquired in one country are easily recognised in all Member States, promoting mobility and job inclusion. Only in this way can we face the future with confidence and strengthen competitiveness in Europe.