Speeches

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, I very much appreciated what the Commissioner and the Council representative said. The EU must do its best to ensure that Syria's future is no longer characterised by the terrible lacerations of the last 15 years. A brutal dictatorship, finally over, must not slip back into blood, hatred, sectarian overwhelms and external power games. We have a part to play: We must really support, in political-diplomatic, humanitarian and financial terms, the transition to a democracy that values the cultural, ethnic and religious characteristics of this mosaic country. A transition that does justice to the victims of dictatorships and war and that is based on the strong involvement of civil society, including the diaspora, on respect for international law. The Syrians are asking for our support. Let's make sure.

Mr President, Madam High Representative, ladies and gentlemen, the brutal Assad regime has passed and that is enough to hope for. However, the path to peace, security and democracy in Syria is still steep, uncertain and long, as you said. That is why a strong political and diplomatic commitment from the EU is needed here and now: pressure must be exerted with all the instruments at our disposal on the transitional government, so that a democratic process based on respect for the rule of law, equality between women and men and the affirmation of the fundamental rights of all that Mosaic people – Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Circassians, Armenians, Muslims, Sunnis, Shiites, Alawites, Druze and Christians – is initiated, guaranteed and respected. And, if we truly believe in the importance of involving all the people in the transition process in a Syria that does not fall apart, we can only be astonished by the statements and actions of some Member States. Rejecting Syrian asylum claims is madness today: Syria is not a safe and peaceful country. Rather, there is an urgent need for an increase in humanitarian aid, because the situation of people and communities is dramatic and we should wisely give ourselves innovative and flexible regulatory frameworks on asylum, which allow Syrians now welcomed in the EU to be able to return to their homeland to contribute to the transition process, without risking losing refugee status. Finally, rightly, there is much talk of Russian and Iranian influence over Assad's Syria. Yes, certain chains must disappear. I trust that you will also be able to remind the allies of the West, Turkey and Israel, that international law can never make exceptions. May the EU rise to these challenges!

(IT) Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Madam Commissioner, defending freedom of association, workers' rights, essential human rights and acting to protect the environment cannot be grounds for prosecution or in any case a pretext for systematic pressure and attacks typical of illiberal governments. It happens, unfortunately, and it continues to happen in Cambodia. The EU must not stand idly by while the government in Phnom Penh holds civil society in a real grip. All the tools at your disposal should therefore be used – and I expect you to provide us with answers in this regard: political-diplomatic, commercial and fiscal, so that the Cambodian authorities withdraw the accusations against the humanitarian trade union organization CENTRAL, seriously and clearly unfounded accusations. Stop once and for all attacks against activists of civil organizations, including Equitable Cambodia, Mother Nature, committed to defend noble causes such as environmental protection, sustainable development, social justice.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty born at the G20 in Rio is a very important step. Now we have to move forward, not backward. We will never achieve the UN 2030 Agenda without an alliance of partner countries that are aware of the cornerstones of fair and sustainable development: international cooperation, combating inequalities through the redistribution of resources and accessible and high-level education, combating discrimination, strong and widespread social and environmental protection measures. In order not to go back we need Europe and therefore we need the next Commissioner for International Partnerships to proceed on this path, which is not that of the extractive and market economy, but is based on collaboration between peoples, social organizations and States. Reducing inequality must be the goal. Here in Parliament we will do our job: We expect others to do their part.

Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the massacre and hostage-taking of so many Israelis on 7 October 2023 perpetrated by Hamas is a horrendous crime. It's been said by everyone, here, tonight, again. But no crime justifies another crime. Members of the Netanyahu government display contempt for the lives of Palestinians, empty and violate international law, and concoct provocations. Finally, the change in the status of holy places in Jerusalem. From Gaza to the West Bank, we are witnessing a real "murder", the destruction of places of habitation to eradicate a population. It is time for more decisive choices on the part of the European Union. It is time for personal sanctions against the perpetrators of this policy of war and ethnic cleansing, a total halt to arms exports, a ceasefire and the release of hostages. And, above all, it is time to recognize the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel: This is where the path of peace begins.