Speeches

Without taking an iota of importance away from the problem you are mentioning. What I say is that the priority is to solve the problem in Syria so that it does not happen again and so that you do not have to waste time with these issues, and to solve the problem of emigration. And what he has to do is talk about what is happening in Syria and what the population is suffering from. That is why they had to leave, for those thirteen years of civil war, for those tortures and those persecutions. And that's what we should be talking about. And so we should not be talking about the problem of emigration.

Mr President, 13 years of civil war and 50 years of a bloody regime are coming to an end, but not yet. Let's see what happens in Syria with the new government and the new situation created. You will understand that I have my suspicions and my doubts about the rebel groups that are part of this new government. We Europeans are also at the root of this problem and no one has spoken about it. At the beginning of the 20th century we drew the lines that separated the Kurds and many minorities. The big problem of this sensitive area of the planet is created by us. Therefore, the truth is that I was comforted to see the high representative sitting with the ministers of the Arab countries, sending diplomatic representation to Damascus. For the first time, I believe that we are present in the decisions. It seems that we are finally up to the task and that we Europeans have assumed the responsibility that we have had for almost two centuries for all this. In the meantime, in this Parliament, unfortunately, we have the usual: to the extreme right talking about immigration, as it is, from minute one and to the extreme left talking about Israel. Hey, can you stop your obsessions now? Don't you see that Israel is defending itself, just as it is defending Europe from these rebel groups, that this is the far West and that someone has to bring order to southern Syria? It's just that these obsessions are an incomprehensible thing. They're ridiculous, really. Let's talk about solutions. They need solutions. Syria needs them and we Europeans have to be there for them, for those millions of people that neither the far left nor the right speak of, who are suffering torture and persecution.

Mr President, 35 years later, we have achieved much but a long journey is still ahead. Children's voices, needs and rights should be at the heart of everybody's work. The anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is not only an occasion for celebration, but also a reflection of the failures. In many parts of the world, with armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, the principles of this convention unfortunately remain unfulfilled. The creation of an Intergroup on Children's Rights here in this Parliament is not a symbolic gesture: it is a profound commitment to place children at the heart of our policies. Across Europe, too many children face poverty, abuse and barriers to opportunities that are their fundamental rights. The EU must lead by example, ensuring that no child is left behind. It is our duty to ensure that every child, regardless of their background or circumstances, has the chance to grow, thrive and contribute to a better Europe. Let us seize this opportunity to prove that in Europe, protecting children's rights is not just a priority: it is an emergency.

Mr President, last month I led the European Parliament electoral observation mission to Mozambique. I would like to thank my colleagues that participated in that delegation and also the Chief of the European Mission, Ms Laura Ballarín, my colleague, for the very good collaboration that we had there. We were welcomed by kind people hopeful to overcome a very challenging social and security context. As Europeans, we have responsibility in Mozambique. Unfortunately, today we still do not have the official results of the elections. The irregularities observed during the electoral process and the lack of transparency from the electoral administration, which is putting into question the integrity of the results, is fuelling social unrest, violence and has already caused dozens of deaths. We must keep urging all parties to exercise restraint. Moreover, the Constitutional Court must fulfil its mandate with responsibility so that the voice of the people will be respected. We have to do this, and it's our responsibility to support the Mozambican people, and especially the young generations that are also speaking in these elections. They voted for that in their aspirations for democracy, safety and prosperity.

Madam President, I am writing to Nicolas Maduro Moros: Your days are numbered. You will not escape justice. Neither all the gold bars of Delcy Rodríguez nor the money of your drug traffickers nor your oil stolen from the Venezuelan people will be able to pay the debts you have contracted with the Venezuelan people and with humanity; Not even your lawyer and ambassador Zapatero will get you out of this. We know that your partners and friends from the São Paulo Forum and the Puebla Group will continue to try to help you: they are not affected by the millions of Venezuelans exiled from their great country, the thousands of Venezuelans persecuted, tortured and murdered; For years they have ignored the same in Cuba and Nicaragua, they have ample experience in supporting bloody regimes. Nicolás Maduro Moros, this European Parliament will have the opportunity on Thursday to denounce your outrages and your attacks on freedom and democracy and will do so humbly honoring the courage of the Venezuelan people who told you "No" last Saturday, July 28; recognizing the victory of the democratic opposition, the dedication and bravery of María Corina Machado, and Edmundo González as the legitimate president of all Venezuelans. Soon, Nicolás Maduro Moros, you will discover that you were nothing more than a bad and tragic copy of Hugo Chávez and that your only contribution to history was to maintain and increase the suffering of the Venezuelan people based on an outdated and finished socialism.

Mr President, gone are the days when some naive politicians in Europe and America thought that they could sit down with the ayatollahs, leave some sanctions, and think that the Iranian regime would no longer pose a threat to us. Iran is a country that supplies the weapons that Putin’s regime is using daily against the Ukrainian population. It is a regime that sanctions Members of the European Parliament. It is a regime that orders assassinations on European soil against those who dare to denounce them, like our friend and former Vice-President of the Parliament, Alejo Vidal-Quadras. It is a regime that kills, tortures and oppresses those who bravely decide to participate in peaceful protests. It is a supporter of terrorist organisations in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Iraq, Yemen. It is an unreliable, autocratic government that is clearly trying to make a fool of us by continuing to pursue the development of nuclear military technology. It is time to illegalise the Revolutionary Guard. It is time we change our approach and stay against the threat, together, of the Iranian regime.

Madam President, the tragic events when seven staff members of the World Central Kitchen were killed by an Israeli strike are regrettable and unacceptable. The distinction that we have to make is the reaction. Whereas Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist attacks butcher innocent civilians and show absolutely no regret, a democratic country, Israel, which is fighting a difficult war to neutralise terrorist groups and recover their abducted civilians, shows accountability and regret. Israel admitted its terrible mistake. It carried out an investigation that showed that the officers in charge of the strike were convinced that the cars were being used by Hamas, something that happens often. It dismissed and reprimanded officers involved in the operation. This will, of course, not bring back those who tragically lost their lives. But at least we know clearly what happened, and hopefully a similar tragic mistake like this will not happen again. This is what democracies do. The attempt of many to use this episode to argue that Israel is deliberately targeting workers of these organisations, like those who easily use the word genocide, are wrong, irresponsible and shameful. What we do not know, or if there are any regrets or investigation, is after the bombing by Islamic Jihad of a hospital at the beginning of the war. Hundreds died. Where is the investigation? Where is the regret? Abuse, rape and torture of Israeli women – where is the investigation? Where is the regret? I have not heard anything, here also in this Parliament, from many. What we do not know is where hundreds of hostages are. I think that we should focus on what we can do to reduce suffering in the Middle East. This will not happen only by accusing Israel of being a genocidal country who is deliberately killing aid workers. It is not true.

Thank you very much, Mr President. The situation in Gaza is dire and concerning. We want this war to end. But it is also our responsibility that the over 100 innocent civilians kidnapped 558 days ago by the Hamas terrorists be released. These are innocent civilians like Tsachi Idan, husband and father of three whose daughter was murdered, or little Kfir Bibas, who turned one year old in captivity. I hope that someone after me will take good note, will also speak about that. We all have to speak about the drama that’s going on also in Gaza, and that here we have to be part also of the solution. I have said this all the times in my interventions and I keep my word.

Mr President, when dealing with a crisis, we as politicians have a duty to look beyond the ballot box. Unfortunately, half of this Parliament doesn’t do it. Twenty-two speakers from the left after me will not speak about Hamas, will not speak about Israeli prisoners. No, they will not. I will speak about all of them. I will speak about the sufferings of the Palestinian children and people and also the Israeli people, because this is the European Parliament. We speak about all of them, not just one part. The situation in Gaza is dire and concerning. We want this war to end, at least on this I’m sure we all agree. Could you please stop interrupting my intervention? Please? Could you please stop? Thank you. Mr President, she’s insulting me. Mr President, are you taking note? Ms Ana Miranda. Could you please stop? I have never interrupted her in her interventions about genocide.

Mr. President, I had the enormous privilege of meeting Alexei Navalny personally, and I was immediately impressed by the humility in his treatment and his firmness of character. Humility and firmness are the attributes of a leader. I feel enormously, dear Alexei, the lack of humility and firmness in Europe. I feel the lack of leadership, a leadership that you did have. We are not used, after eighty years of peace, to suffering or to defending our values and principles. Moreover, we have even in this Parliament members of the extreme left and the extreme right who defend Putin, Maduro, the Iranian regime and, in addition, charge them, and countries in Europe – my country, Spain, among them – that buy Putin’s Russian gas. Those of us who admire you in your leadership continue your work in Europe. We will continue to denounce dictators, corruption and the agents who dwell among us. It's for you and your exemplary life.

Madam President, our Ukrainian friends are fighting a war for us. Once again, others are fighting our wars for us. We must face reality: this is no longer sustainable. Europe needs to be able to protect itself. This is a serious debate that will define our future capacity to protect our democratic societies and our international liberal order as we know it. It requires vision, leadership and responsibility. I am happy to see that this debate is gaining more momentum and that the Commission, led by President von der Leyen, is doing all it can to provide us with more tools to keep strengthening our defence capabilities. There is much still to be done: more commitment from our Member States, especially from my country, Spain. In any case, I am convinced that this debate is evolving and that in her second mandate as President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, alongside this Parliament, will be able to consolidate a European defence policy which will increase our strategic autonomy, bring our European project to the next level and be a real sign to Putin, Xi Jinping, Iranian ayatollahs and all those threatening Europe.

Mr President, if my calculation is right, we are holding the sixth debate on Gaza, and we have had two resolutions, in four months. If anyone is taking good note, I think that we are breaking all the records in this Parliament. We did not break these records for Ukraine in four months. Neither for Bosnia. No we didn’t, no we didn’t. Not in four months, my friends. Because this is not about ideology. I know that some of you are looking for votes in the next European elections, but this is about the sufferance of the Palestinian and Israeli people and how we can mediate on that. And then I have to hear the High Representative attacking again the President of the European Commission. Why? Because we have elections in two months? Is this the role of the High Representative? Is this the role? People of good, and there are many in this Parliament, have voted in favour of two resolutions in this Parliament. We were the first to talk about the humanitarian process, we talked about the ceasefire condition to the release of hostages and the end of Hamas. We have been first in everything. We will continue that line. Yes, yes, you will lose the elections, my friends. The polls are showing you are not reaching the European population. Unfortunately, because of the reaction against you, they are turning to the other side. You will not be there in the next Parliament with all your rhetoric because you take this ideologically, not from the humanitarian approach that this question needs, and Europe at its centre to be the mediator between the parts. As long as you don’t understand this, then we cannot be part of the solution, and that’s what many of us would like to be.

– Mr President, first of all, I would like to thank the authors for this very timely resolution. Today we address the assassination of yet another young Iranian man who died at the hands of the tyrannical regime of the Ayatollahs. Three people die every day in Iran – including women and children – but it’s also important to know that this is not only happening in Iran, but also in the streets of Europe against people that are fighting for democracy in Iran. A former Member and Vice-President of the European Parliament, Alejo Vidal-Quadras was shot in the face on 9 November 2023 in Madrid, Spain – in Europe. This is happening here; the regime is trying to silence all those who speak the truth, denounce the atrocities and fight for a democratic future in Iran. Mr Borrell, European governments, no more shady deals with the regime.

Madam President, Vice-President, the fight against anti-Semitism is a constant and never-ending battle. We must never lower our guard. It surrounds us in Europe. I want to let all the victims know that we are taking this very seriously here. Thanks to the efforts of the President of the European Commission, von der Leyen, and Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, we are making important steps forward to fight this in the European Union. I wish and I hope that the European governments are up to doing what we are doing here in the European institutions about it. They have to do it. Anti-Semitism is anti-European, it does not belong in Europe and we will keep up the work and the fight to make Jewish people safe and happy, working and interacting in our Europe. Now more than ever in these difficult times, after the horrific attacks perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October, now more than ever is the moment to show our European principles and to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves here in Europe.

Mr President, it must be said loud and clear: The continuation of the bloodthirsty Maduro regime is one of the biggest failures of the European Union's foreign policy. Twenty-five years of dictatorship, thousands of Venezuelans persecuted, tortured or killed and eight million exiled is the result. Half of the European left is silent and the other half collaborates, as they did with the Soviet regime in Eastern Europe until the Berlin Wall fell. And now Macron and Sanchez join in taking photos and protecting Delcy Rodriguez, the regime's financial agent in Europe. Gas and oil in exchange for human rights. That is European hypocrisy with Venezuelans. And, now, the voice and image of the democratic opposition, María Corina Machado, is disabled by the regime of terror. Good Europeans - those of us who don't want blood-stained gas and oil - say no to Maduro's electoral farce. We want free and transparent elections and María Corina Machado as a candidate. Any other option must be considered collaborationism with the repressive regime and must be denounced.

Mr President, we all want the conflict – in this room also – the conflict in the Middle East to end. But, Minister, apart from five minutes talking about Israel, it would be good, and it would be a European solution, if you would dedicate maybe one second to talk about Hamas, Hezbollah, and about future perspectives. That would be a European solution. But your people forgot about it. As nobody can turn a blind eye to the losses of human life in Gaza and the humanitarian challenges faced by the Palestinian people. True. As we cannot forget either the pain of the Israeli families waiting in despair for the return of their loved ones. We all want it to end, and there is a solution for that: the release of Israeli hostages and the demilitarisation of Gaza. On 19 October, this Parliament agreed by a compelling majority that Hamas can no longer be part of the future of Palestine. As we have always done, we keep supporting a two-state solution. But sustainable peace cannot exist as long as Hamas and other terrorist groups hijack the Palestinian cause and threaten the existence of Israel, the only democracy of the region. Remember, we are talking about two parts, okay? Not only one. We cannot ignore either the elephant in the room, the puppet master: Iran. It is now clearer than ever who is behind and benefiting from this crisis. Do we want to be puppets of the regime? By failing to keep our unity, we are just taking us further away from peace. Dear colleagues, at some point this Parliament will have to make a clear choice to say no to those who murder women, homosexuals, Christians, Jews; to say no to those who reject our democratic principles and deny Israel’s right to exist; or face a future where Iran and their proxies will succeed in denying any hope for democracy and peace in the Middle East. Make no mistake: Europe is the next target. From the beginning, our position was clear. October resolution that we made. We set the conditions for peace. I hope – and the EPP will collaborate – that we will do this this time again.

Mr President, the coincidence of the visceral attacks by the Greens and the far right to the results of the COP indicates to me that it has gone well. It is not the solution to all the evils that afflict us, of course. I am proud of the role played by the European Union, as always, in these meetings. We can aspire to more, no doubt. But, instead of this destructive criticism, let us celebrate that experts, governments, the private sector have met and reached agreements, some of them historic, badly despite those who are seeking the immediate vote in the next European elections. They're wrong. It is not the future of their vote, it is the future of Europeans. And that's what unites us to moderate, right-wing and left-wing politicians: saving European citizens from climate change; help them face these challenges. Therefore, congratulations to the Presidency on the results achieved.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr High Representative, I was listening to your speech and the truth is that I agree on many points. On the recognition of Palestine, which the Europeans - myself - have defended in this two-state solution, what has to be very clear is that it will not be done as a victory for Hamas, but as a question of building a genuine, democratic one, not dependent on Hamas or Hezbollah or Iran, a Palestinian state. When those circumstances arise, I am convinced – and I tell you – that everyone will accept it. But first, let's go in parts. I would like to thank the remaining moderate politicians, and I am very proud of them, in this Parliament, in the Socialist Group, in the Liberals, in the Greens, who voted against the introduction of resolutions. We have a resolution that unites us all on October 19. I understand that the Communists, the Left Group, do not like it and this is the fourth attempt to undo that unity. They've been wrong again. Moderate people - many of us are sitting here - are not going to use this use of the word to put our finger on Mr Borrell or the rotating presidency of the European Union. We are here to be part of the solution, to try, at least, to be part of the solution, which is the European Union. We can ask both sides a lot of things. We can ask that Hamas stop being claimed by the Palestinians for the kidnapping they are doing of the humanitarian aid trucks. We must once and for all put an end to this intervention on behalf of the Palestinian people – which is not true – who are being the human shield of these terrorist organisations. Let us see if, in today's statements, my colleague, the Chairman of the Delegation for relations with Palestine, and others will speak in the same terms, in European terms, of solution, of collaboration, so that this does not end in a conflict that can drag us all in the end. Let's see if I hear it this afternoon from even the far left. I believe that with the European spirit we can achieve many things together and be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Mr President, on 19 October we adopted by an overwhelming majority in this European Parliament a resolution condemning the attacks by Hamas and echoing the suffering of the Palestinian people as Hamas' human shield. However, of the 20 Members who voted against that resolution – an absolute minority in this Parliament – two have been appointed ministers of the Spanish Government. Mr Borrell explained that he finds it very difficult to reach agreements within the European Council. But how will it be able to do so if the Presidency of the European Council is held by the Government of Spain with these two ministers? Parliament has done its job. Our President was where she had to be at the beginning, as was the President of the Commission. Financial funds have also been launched. We're there to help. But this is European history: Here we are debating again after two weeks, I don't know why, when what we have to do is find solutions. Financial aid, European presence... It has been the United States and other countries that have achieved this humanitarian pause. Where were we? Well, that is the explanation, with this European Council that we have.

Madam President, if there's a ceasefire, if there's a humanitarian pause... Here they have us arguing and dividing. I believe that this debate was absolutely unnecessary. I am proud of the debate on 19 October and the resolution on 19 October, in which we all condemned Hamas' attacks on Israel and also echoed the suffering of the Palestinian people, the victim, the human shield of Hamas. And we are playing the game - and let us see if we already know, here in this European Parliament - of Iran, which is the black hand that has always been behind these attacks. And you are achieving your goal with this division that many of you want to make in this Parliament. Let's stick with that resolution. United and clear: It is the best way to help those who are prisoners to get out, so that they can return to Israel, so that civilians stop suffering. Let us see if we are already taking these things into account here in this Parliament. Let us return to the spirit of October 19.

Madam President, thank you very much, dear President of the Commission, for your leadership. Once again – like during COVID and the war on Ukraine –you have spoken for all of us, not like others that are here only for political gain or for sectarianism. You are representing the true heart of this European Union. Señora presidenta, hoy tenemos ante nosotros una responsabilidad histórica. Y eso es lo que va a ocurrir mañana. Este Parlamento debe decidir mañana si condena o no el terrorismo. Van a escuchar hoy muchas intervenciones favorables, contrarias. Lo que sea, da igual. No se dejen llevar. Mañana en el voto se demostrará quién está en contra del terrorismo y quién no; y hace falta esta firmeza y esta unidad de criterio más allá de las ideologías. En la lucha frente al terrorismo no hay medias tintas. Desgraciadamente, eso lo aprendimos en nuestro país, en España. Esos discursos melifluos y contemporizadores sobre quienes han decapitado a bebés, han violado a mujeres y han matado a gente inocente no es lo que se debe escuchar en las calles ni en los órganos institucionales de esta Unión Europea. Cincuenta años tras la Guerra del Yom Kipur, Israel ha sido atacado una vez más. Una vez más. De manera cobarde y brutal. Y sigue habiendo quien se niega a condenar lo que ha pasado, que es lo más increíble. Además, acusan, critican e insultan a los que condenamos el terrorismo. Nada nuevo para nosotros, los españoles, ya lo sabemos. Lo hemos vivido. Pero venceremos. Venceremos al terrorismo, venceremos a sus terminales, porque esta es la defensa de los principios de esta Unión Europea. No hay nada más. Si no, no sobreviviremos; y lo estamos empezando a vivir ya en las calles de Europa. Sabemos quién está detrás de este conflicto: Hamás, Hezbolá —peones de Irán, un régimen extremista que no podía aceptar la normalización de las relaciones del mundo árabe con Israel. Esto es lo que hay: manipulación de este país para conseguir la desestabilización de nosotros, los demócratas europeos. No lo permitamos, y mañana dejémoslo claro en la resolución.

Mr President, the Iranian regime is sanctioning dozens of European national Members and Members of the European Parliament. European silence. It directly or indirectly finances populist political movements in Europe and supports terrorist groups operating around the world, including Europe. European silence. It shoots down a passenger plane in 2020 of Ukraine International Airlines with twenty European passengers killed. European silence. He kidnaps European citizens: we learn – and we have to learn from the American press – that an official of the European External Action Service has been imprisoned in Iran for more than a year. After the vile murder of Mahsa Amini, 30,000 Iranian citizens are arrested and another 750 are killed following anti-regime demonstrations. Today, here in this European Parliament, for once I have been proud to see the left and the right condemn all this and I hope that the officials of the Council, the Commission and the European governments will at once learn that we cannot play or continue to act with the Iranian regime.

Madam President, Commissioner, this is a message for Mr Nicolás Maduro, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I am pleased to inform you that you are not welcome in the European Union. This European Union was created precisely to avoid dictators and autocrats like you. The principles and values on which this Union is founded cannot be stained with the blood of torture and murder of its regime. Millions of innocent Venezuelans retaliated for you have sought refuge here in Europe, in the painful exile to which you have condemned them. They have come to Europe in search of democracy and freedom. These aspirations cannot be betrayed by his criminal presence and that of his vice-president Delcy Rodríguez on European soil. Know also that your partners in terror, the Cuban and Nicaraguan regimes, are not welcome. Finally, I want you to know that, despite the silence of Pedro Sánchez, current president of the Council of the European Union, this Parliament will not whitewash your regime and we will continue to denounce your crimes and demand democratic elections in your country.

Madam President, the report in question is a report that aims to make a recommendation to the Council, Commission and the High Representative on relations with the Palestinian Authority. There is nothing wrong about that. The problem is that, once again, some in this Parliament have been trying to take advantage of a legitimate debate about our relations with the Palestinian Authority to attack Israel. Another lost opportunity for this Parliament to be a moderating and balancing factor. We have heard here today ‘Israeli regime’ – it is a democracy, you can like the government or not, but it is a democracy – ‘apartheid state’, ‘criminal state’, ‘criminals of war’. How can we become a moderating factor? That is what the EU and our values are about. Shame on the declarations I’ve heard. We want to be a balancing factor, we have to be. The EPP tried: we brought amendments to try to balance the text. All rejected. And now you are facing other amendments. Radicalisation, in the end: that’s what you obtain with these declarations, it is not for the cause of peace and understanding. From different positions we are all trying to find and to help as Europeans. We need this balanced approach. We cannot ignore the problems, but here we are and we should do our work. Maybe next time.