Speeches

Mr President, when he kills a journalist by car bomb, the victim is not only the journalist but also democracy. On the day we were commemorating the eight years since Daphne Caruana Galizia's brutal anniversary, news of another explosion comes, and it is not by chance that the criminals who committed the attempt on Sigfrido Ranucci chose that particular date. Colleagues, I have no doubt that this is a message aimed at fear and silence. But we can't let them be afraid. We can't let them silencing us. This Parliament has been and continues to be at the forefront of our fight for press freedom. What happened in Rome is a reminder of the current threats faced by journalists today. The worst danger is impunity for criminals, because it is when the journalist is the most vulnerable, when there are no consequences for the evil he exposes, when he is left alone. And so I call on all governments to protect journalists. Make sure there is concrete action by the authorities for their stories, because democracy depends so much on your work. Yes, dear Sigfrido Ranucci, this Parliament is behind you. All journalists, this Parliament stands behind you, now and in the future and forever.

Mr President, Commissioner, I want to start by thanking this Parliament. Thank you for having been on the side of the Maltese and Gozitan people for eight years. And thanks for being here today, continue to honour the memory of Daphne Caruana Galizia. What we have achieved so far is also a result of the scrutiny of this House. It is, of course, incorrect to say that there were no changes. For example, the low-level criminals who committed the assassination were sentenced to prison. The way the judiciary is appointed in our country has changed and European laws protecting journalists have entered into force. But there is still a lot to be done. For example, Daphne's family is still awaiting the outcome of the case against the alleged mandant. There are recommendations of the public inquiry, an inquiry that this Parliament has repeatedly said should be made that, to date, they have not been carried out. The first of these is that everything that had to be changed to overcome the climate of impunity, to date, has not been done, has not changed. Why, colleagues, justice for Daphne means justice for the crime that has been killed to stop her from exposing. But eight years after the assassination, there is still no single condemnation that is one of all that corruption it had exposed. Nor did we learn the lessons of the importance of journalism in a democracy. Suffice it to say that last week, on the anniversary of the assassination, an employee from the Prime Minister's office went to throw away the flowers left to remind Daphne of her memorial in Valletta. It was condemned by several European embassies but not by the Prime Minister. And so, yes, there is a lot to do in our country, but also around the world. Those who do not believe that we still have a journalistic problem in the world, look at what happened in Gaza and look at what happened even in Italy. Let's defend journalists to continue doing their work and reveal the truth.

Ms President, Commissioner, the ongoing human tragedy in Gaza is naturally intolerable. We are all witnesses of blatant violations of international law, of unprecedented cruelty. And all this as a reaction to the terrorist act of 7 October. At that time, more than a thousand innocent people were massacred and there are hostages who are still prisoners of Hamas to date. My friends, all too much. There is, however, a light shine: there is a peace plan proposed by the US Government, a plan to release hostages, a plan to stop the attack on Gaza and set out a path for a two-state solution to allow Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace in the region. Let us do our best in this Parliament to make this plan a success. But let us also see that there will be consequences for anyone who has violated international law so that what has been done will never be repeated again.

Mr. President, I had a speech prepared but will change. I want to understand the real reason why the European Socialist Party always defends corrupt politicians. That's what I did about Joseph Muscat. Today we are ashamed. Former Maltese Prime Minister, one of the most corrupt politicians in the world. Today we are ashamed. Why? Joseph Muscat also came to tell us sorry. He told us sorry, but the Maltese people came out protesting on the streets and the Maltese people forced him out and Joseph Muscat is no longer the Prime Minister of Malta today. Prime Minister Sanchez should do the same. Corruption is bad, it is a robbery by your people, it is a robbery even by the Spanish people. Corruption kills, corruption kills Daphne Caruana Galizia and you come here, the European Socialist Party, defends Joseph Muscat, under whom a journalist was killed for speaking out against corruption. You should be ashamed. He is also making great disservices to the Spanish people. I respect the Spanish people. Continue to protest on the streets because with your protests tomorrow Prime Minister Sanchez will be forced to resign: non-Prime Minister, his place faces justice.

Mr President, yes, the attack of 7 October was atrocious. And yes, we reaffirm that Israeli hostages should be released immediately. But now we have a worse situation in Gaza: we are witnessing the killing of innocent people, children, women and men who are starving or even killed while waiting for food. The cruelty and suffering, which we allow to continue, will be a permanent stain in international conscience. Enough is enough and I think Europe should do its part to stop this genocide. There is a need, yes, to immediately suspend the Association Agreement, to recognise Palestine, to sanction politicians who are responsible for unrestrained war crimes, and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable before an international criminal court.

Ms President, we are going through a period of global instability but the biggest threat to our citizens is not from abroad, but from within. We are seeing major challenges in good governance and in several Member States. Corruption scandals, robbery by European citizens and an effort to keep robbers in power at all costs. This is the biggest threat to our citizens, for example, uncontrolled corruption in Spain, rights of minorities lost in Hungary. And in Malta they killed the magisterial inquiry which begins at the request of the citizen. The last remaining tool for the Maltese to defend corruption. Colleagues, our citizens want to see a stronger Europe. It is good that the sale of passports will be stopped, an important step but a small step when you see the grip on institutions. I therefore call for further action by the Commission and all of us to reign the rule of law in Malta and Spain and to protect honest citizens and not corrupt politicians.

Ms President. Yes, we have a worsening humanitarian situation in every second that passes through the Middle East. The Hamas attack, of course, on 7 October, I condemn it and yes, all hostages should be released immediately. I also agree that Hamas should be defeated, but Hamas are not journalists, Hamas are not doctors, they are not innocent Palestinian women and men. Hamas are not children and Hamas are not babies nor are they the ones providing humanitarian aid. Prime Minister Netanyahu's government has exceeded all limits of decency so I also agree that the Association Agreement should be suspended. But I also call on all Member States, especially Malta which is a country: We need to recognise the Palestinian State without further delay. Yes, we need to recognise the Palestinian State without further delay. This is just the test of our humanity.

Sir President. I have not come here to defend the millions that have taken Henley and Partners, millions that have taken from the backs of the Maltese people. I have come here to defend the identity of the Maltese and Gozitan people. I have come here because I respect the decision of the European Court confirming what we have been saying for years, that the Maltese identity and therefore the European one should not be sold. It is good to attract investment and the Maltese government might have wanted to operate a serious genuine investment scheme with robust safeguards, but instead chose greed, excess, lack of seriousness and bribery. And we should never forget that it was Daphne Caruana Galizia who through her work, with her investigative journalism, revealed abuse that was being committed through this scheme, and for doing her work, was threatened by the company operating this scheme, even with the complicity of the Maltese government. They were even planning to SLAPP against Daphne to try to break it. We should never forget how the government attacked the opposition because we could never accept that our identity would be given a price. Both of us are traitors, and they are still. What a hate campaign they did against all those who worked to stop this scheme. The bad thing is that we have been waiting for years until Europe finally came to a halt. Yes, the Court's decision is a victory for the Maltese and Gozitans who have bewildered their country's name to satisfy the greed of the few. More effort is now needed from the Commission because we should not wait for years to address the collapse of the rule of law that still prevails in our country. Men and women are better off than that.

President Jan Kuciak and Martina were killed for investigating the truth. Daphne Caruana Galizia was assassinated for the same reason. In both cases, justice was undermined. Just a few days ago, the alleged mandant of the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia was acquitted, being a shocking fact for the victim’s family and the general public. Even worse, whoever is telling the truth in my country is being left alone, not only without the protection of the State, but also with the whole government machinery against it. The murder of a journalist shows a failure in the justice system. Failure that the European Commission can no longer ignore. You should understand this: that when there are believers who can kill a journalist with impunity, it means that criminals trust in a corrupt system that guarantees their impunity. A rather cumbersome system, which in the case of Malta, is very clear. This system is not yet being addressed and our electorate is awaiting action by the Commission to enforce Member States’ obligations under the treaties. The rule of law is fundamental, and it is time to start giving the necessary priority with all the tools the Commission has. Commissioner, I mentioned the courage of Jan, Daphne and Martina. The Commission now needs to be courageous, defending people and no longer corrupt governments.

Mrs President, in Malta I met a 24-year-old nurse, at her peak. A month ago they found that she had chronic disease - a life-long, incurable RMD disease. This girl knows what it means for her future all this because she saw enough patients who could not go back to work because they did not find the necessary support. There are those who think that diseases like arthritis are something of the elderly, and therefore inevitable. But that is not the case. There are millions of people living with chronic diseases that European policy is ignoring because we are not investing enough either to understand them or to mitigate them. The European Commission thinks it should listen to science and recognise that RMDs are the biggest cause of disability in Europe; that we are keeping many people from the workplace and so we are putting great pressure on the economy and on the quality of life of many families. Europe has of course done a lot for people with disabilities, but now we have a mandate to do much more. And so it is an institution that believes in equality, dignity and solidarity, so we must not leave those who suffer for nothing. For disability strategy, let's be holistic, let's keep citizens at the centre of our policy and leave them a better future they really deserve.

Mrs President, Commissioner, it is certain that in this House, there is not one deputy who does not want a better life for his children than he had himself. The first step is to understand that despite the many decisions we make affect children, children are silent, do not go out to vote and do not go out to protest. They cannot change the situation in which they find themselves. So we want to ensure a better quality of life for them, a better present and a better future for them. Because the quality of their rearing indicates the quality of the rest of their lives. Because poverty is inherited and affects every aspect of their development. For 35 years we have had the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. A historic step, and one that has put children at the centre of our social policy. But despite this, despite the progress we have made, there is still a large percentage of children in the European Union living in poverty. Statistics from Eurochild show that millions of children, millions of children, in the European Union live in poverty. Children's rights must not just be written on paper, they must become a reality. We have done a lot for children: Work-Life Balance, for example, will help their upbringing. We have a Child Guarantee, but we need to strengthen it. We are still able. Every day we ignore the subject of children, we are also ignoring our country’s present and future.

Mrs President, seven years have passed since the assassination of Daphne. Killing that according to a public inquiry, was possible due to a culture of impunity that exists in the country. Theft and corruption. An unbroken pig on the back of the people without consequence. It is impunity that has made criminals so arrogant that they assassinated the most followed journalist in Malta, in the light of the sun, and unfortunately that impunity is still with us today. We have a Government that corrupts everything it touches with its hands, which, for example, left those who stole at the expense of cancer patients, left those who defraud payments from people with disabilities, and sold Maltese and European identity to people from third countries. And when justice moves, it moves because of the work of private persons, it moves because of the journalists and the judiciary that is doing its duty. Justice, if it moves, moves despite the rule over the police and the institutions of our country. And what is the answer, when justice approaches the corrupt, such as Dr Joseph Muscat, the former Prime Minister of Malta? An obscene attack on the judiciary. an attack on journalists. An attack on civil society and these attacks are carried out by the present Government. The Maltese deserve better, and the Europeans deserve better. Because the Maltese Government is failing badly, both to implement the results of the public inquiry and to bring justice to the corruption that Daphne exposed. No Commissioner, tell us more about the rule of law and the report you are talking about. Now there is action and no more reports, because the restoration of the rule of law, of the institutions that protect the people and not the corrupt, is the only suitable legacy that can honour Daphne Caruana Galizia. Now we are saddened by the Commission to speak only, now we need to see that the Commission acts and no longer speaks.

Mr President, one of the most fundamental rights that the European Union gives us is free movement. We have removed barriers between countries, but barriers still exist for millions of people, who, because they live with disabilities, still find obstacles when travelling. We listen to stories of national disability cards that are not recognised in other Member States – which, in the view of many of us, is nothing more than discrimination. It is a situation that we can put an immediate end to together, and strengthen the situation of individuals and families, with a strong message: that we are not second-class citizens, that these people are telling us. And then President, with the Disability Card we will move towards a more equal society, strengthen rights, and ensure that they are protected. And so I call for a vote in favour of all that work we have done on this Disability Card. These are not new rights, but a right that has long been denied to these people, which we finally have a fair solution. Yes, it is good that we will finally have a Disability Card that works at European level. But our work must continue even after tomorrow, because we need to strengthen the substance of rights in Member Countries. It should not be a race to the bottom, but an opportunity for a new start for people with disabilities. So this means having a social Europe, one, rooted in human dignity, working through cooperation, to finally offer concrete and positive benefits for the lives of our citizens. Of course, I thank all the negotiators we had in this Card because we really worked as a team and I think this Parliament was really united in fighting for people with disabilities.

Mr President, democracy suffers when journalists are threatened. Ten days before assassinating her, he was told very clearly by Daphne Caruana Galizia, that there was pressure from the Government on the newspaper where she worked simply because she wanted to silence her, so we acted. And so the Media Freedom Act is so important, because we will finally have a powerful tool capable of ensuring that that pressure is stopped once and for all. We will no longer accept, for example, that public broadcasting is government propaganda, that newspapers suffer a mountain of pressure because the government does not want them to do their job. This law is therefore a response to those who do not like to undermine the freedom of the press. And yes, not least the Government of my country, which even after Daphne, still does not miss one chance to impress journalists for doing their job. So finally, we have another shield for journalism, so I call for a very strong vote and for this fight to continue with all our strength. And thanks, finally, to the rapporteurs who have done a very good job through this law.

Ms President, Commissioner, in each plenary we hear so much about the various crises that have engulfed Europe, and the effects they have on all its citizens. And governments have seen how they will help people protect themselves. But there is one group that cannot protect itself. That is why children are vulnerable. Because they can't change their situation. Because they depend on others. Because poverty is inherited. And we know that the effects of poverty will continue to be felt even when they grow. This is not justice. And today, as we celebrate World Children's Day, we must recognize that there are almost a quarter of all children at risk of poverty. This is despite Europe being a continent based on the values of equality and dignity. And this means that everyone has a chance for a better life, no matter who they are, wherever they come from. Colleagues, I believe our society will not be fair, as long as there are still hungry children, with poor access to education and health. A lot has been done in favour of children, but there is still a lot to do. And this resolution is another step in the right direction. We have a Child Guarantee, true, but we want it to work better. If we want a bright future for our children. We need to cherish children's lives and children's health, in all the work we do.

Ms President, I have said a lot about the protection of journalists and we are working hard on new laws that will strengthen free media. And that's all good. But when is the life of journalists the most threatened? The threat is higher when there is no justice for the crime they uncover. That's why the scandals uncovered by Maltese journalists are so worrying! Not only because they have uncovered facts of pregnancies, where there is a government that there is no unwilling line to jump - the best that remains in power to be able to continue to sink from the backs of the Maltese and Gozitan people - but because despite all this evil, which is ultimately in the public domain thanks to journalism, those in power remain protected to the detriment of the people. This is not new. It is said that, so far, six years after their killing, there is no single criminal conviction that is one for all the corruption that Daphne exposed, let alone for all that was revealed afterwards. And I, let me tell you the truth, do not see any action that deserves the urgency of the situation, particularly by the Commission. Before Daphne was killed, I often came before you and told you that the situation was very serious. Before Daphne was killed, I warned you. But it had to be a bomb in a car that killed Daphne and left three boys without their mother to raise us to the black reality of impunity in my country. Today I am sending you not only my message, but NGOs in Malta, journalists in Malta and civil society in Malta. We are again in the same situation, we have the same previous choice again. Let's learn from the lessons of the past. And let us never let what happened to Daphne happen again.

Ms President, today we have another confirmation that the rule of law is still compromised – that for example the law in Malta does not take everyone into account anyway, because those who are close to power do not suffer the same consequences as those who are small. When the law ceases to be universal, democracy is threatened and remains a stain for the whole European Union. Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed – she was killed to stop uncovering rampant corruption. But for all these cases, no policy has yet been put forward. Plans for reforms are as long as you want. More scrutiny for the little ones is as much as you want. But as long as those who uncovered Daphne continue to enjoy impunity, it means that the rule of law in Malta is not working. And then I'm calling: be on the side of Maltese and Gozitan citizens. There should be no compromises, as we have just heard from my Socialist colleague. And so we must be against crime and against corruption.

Immediately after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a criminal bank started a campaign threatening Maltese journalists. They have been renewed with legal proceedings abroad for millions – procedures that could have broken them down. It was at that moment that we started a campaign to eliminate these abusive tactics which are used by power-holders and money-holders to silence the journalist and avoid public scrutiny. And today so many years later, we reached this stage. My appeal is a clear one – let's not miss this opportunity: an opportunity to disrupt this threat to democracy, to enhance transparency and to protect the free press that is so important in our society. Colleagues in the Council: I hope they do not undermine this law, a law that is so well-known as Daphne’s Law. Be on the side of European citizens instead of helping those who want to keep them in darkness. I want to thank the Parliament team in particular also Vice-President Jourová that without you we would not have arrived here. Let’s make sure Daphne’s Law is the true worthy of its name.

), – Mr President, it is clear that this House is understanding the importance of this Agreement. The message is positive, and the risks are much greater if we don't do anything. Of course, there are those who have not understood the way we worked. Because no, this Agreement does not belong to one side of this Chamber, but belongs to the whole Parliament. We have all worked together to ensure that we have the best deal to defend our climate, to defend families, to defend workers, the elderly, pensioners. And of this we are proud. All the political groups in this House worked to arrive at this Agreement, often for long hours, if I do not also mention the last weekend we had before Christmas, where we all made sacrifices and saw what are the aspects on which we can agree. And I am proud, then, to have this Agreement before us and assure you that it was not easy. Please note why the Social Climate Fund is the most significant social measure in this climate transition. And so I encourage all colleagues to support this Agreement tomorrow. Tomorrow’s vote is crucial. We are writing history. Be part of this story. Be part of this Agreement because this Agreement must be done not only by those of us who have worked in it, but also by the European Parliament as a whole.

– Mr President, this debate will end with a historic vote because climate change is among the biggest challenges for humanity and therefore requires great ambition. The European Parliament was obliged to act and to acknowledge all these challenges, offering an acceptable and effective solution in response to citizens, governments and the international community. We have addressed these challenges and with its vote tomorrow, this parliament can close a process that lasted a year and a half. On the table we have an agreement addressing important aspects for European industry, addressing important social aspects and above all maintaining the ambition to combat the effects of climate change. And, as we know, the effects are not just environmental. Just as the pandemic was not just a medical disease but brought about social symptoms, so also climate change is capable of bringing bad weather to our families, our workers, our smallest enterprises - those we consider to be the foundations of the society of the European economy. I remember that if the pandemic has affected everyone, not everyone has been affected anyway. But they are the ones who always have the least to suffer the greatest impact in our society. It was therefore a priority for the Parliament to address this reality and to leave no one alone. The Social Climate Fund is a product of one and a half years of hard negotiations and broad consultation. It is an agreement that represents a tough battle with the Council, but also a result that has achieved a very good balance and balance that ensures an effective fund. In the Social Climate Fund we have an investment of €86.7 billion to invest in homes and the smallest businesses across Europe. We will see long-term investments such as solar panels, better insulation and more energy efficiency. We will see more sustainable transport - investments that deliver benefits for our citizens, cut energy consumption, cut emissions and pollution, and also cut electricity bills. And where necessary we have measures such as direct income support to support those families and small businesses with limited measures until long-term investments can take effect. Yes, we are pleased that we have been able to strengthen the involvement of the social partners. I am glad that the funds will come where they are most needed and where they have the most impact. I am happy that we have obtained a co-financing rate and that they have all won throughout our negotiations. I must say that the negotiations were complex, we had many challenges throughout the process, but we had an extraordinary team that brought us here. I want to thank first of all the Czech Presidency for its cooperation, the Swedish Presidency with which we have closed this process, the European Commission for its assistance, and above all the team of parliamentarians, rapporteurs, all shadow rapporteurs, and the advisors and secretariats and all members of their support over the past months in particular the co-rapporteur I had with me Esther de Lange, with whom I worked to secure this arrangement. To conclude, we have a significant social achievement, a fund of billions with investments that will ensure that the climate transition is truly social.

Mr President, the rule of law is a fundamental principle of the European Union, so we must act when it is threatened. And as far as Malta is concerned - yes, it has been under threat. And the situation is getting worse. The institutions have been conquered to protect the people in power. To enable those who are supposed to be there to serve people to be sown on the back of the people – to be sown from the bog, to be sown from the workers, to be sown from the families. Daphne Caruana Galizia has been murdering her for more than five years. She was forced to close her mouth so that she could not continue to uncover the theft of the present government. Five years have passed, and do you know how many prosecutions have been made against the people in power for that corruption that has revealed? Zero! We recently had a confirmation from the Court of Malta that our biggest ever public contract was plagued by fraud. Contract where they sold the hospitals. And imagine reading this: Even those on the back of the sick are grubbed up. And what did our institutions do? Investigations that have never been completed. Prosecutions that cannot succeed due to bold incompetence. Let's say it as it is: intentional incompetence! This is so unless, of course, corruption is detected. There yes, they quickly complete the investigations, there they quickly take criminal proceedings against you. For example an author, who recently published evidence of bribery and abuse of power between a parliamentarian and the alleged murderer of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the police take action against the perpetrator and not against the corrupt. No. The magicians and the magicians deserve to be better. And they are asking, "where is Europe?", "what is Europe doing?". And so I call on the Commission to do its duty in accordance with the treaties and to ensure that the institutions protect the Maltese, not those who trade them, and that they seek the corrupt, not those who expose them.

Mr President, Mr Commissioner, more than 10 years have passed since the last revision of this directive, and many things have changed since 2009. Different trends in the labour market, digitalisation and the green transition are naturally affecting workers in unprecedented ways. A review, then, is very necessary. We can no longer accept that consultations take place after decisions have been taken. We cannot, for example, further accept that information is retained on false claims. We can no longer ignore the fragmentation of access to legal systems and courts. And then, this report identifies these issues and paves the way forward. I want here to thank Dennis Radtke and the shadow rapporteurs for the work they have done and of course I believe we will have, I think, a good report by which we can pave the way forward. These are proposals that will benefit both workers and, I want to say, employers. Proposals that will also add value. Through this report we see how we can ensure, for example, the worker's right to be informed, that workers are involved in decisions that affect them directly and that we facilitate access to justice systems. With the best policy we are facilitating a constructive dialogue. And the advantages now seem to be enjoyed by everyone.