What Francisco José spoke about.

18

Jan

2024

ES Speech

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Recent ecological catastrophe involving plastic pellet losses and its impact on micro plastic pollution in the maritime and coastal habitats (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, as I feared, there have been many exaggerations, lies and falsehoods here. I am also convinced that this debate would not take place if there were no elections in Galicia in the near future, we are verifying this. Galicia is the victim of a double injustice on the part of the Government of Spain. Knowing the latter of the accident since December 8, he only informs the X…

12

Dec

2023

ES Speech

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EU-China relations (debate)

Mr President, cooperation with China to address global challenges is essential. In addition, it is a very important trading partner. But it is also true that China is increasingly behaving like a competitor and a rival, as the report that we will vote on tomorrow points out. We therefore need to diversify and reduce risks in our trade relations with China. It's not about decoupling. It would also …

12

Dec

2023

ES Speech

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EU-US relations (debate)

Mr President, thank you to the rapporteur for his comprehensive report and also to the shadow rapporteur, Mrs Zovco, for her work in particular. There are many challenges that the European Union must seek to address in coordination with the United States. I am thinking of Ukraine, the Middle East, relations with China, the Sahel, but also with regard to climate change, terrorism, the threat of new…

12

Dec

2023

ES Speech

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Situation in Venezuela (debate)

Mr. President, for me, our policy towards Venezuela today should be summarized in two words: prudence and demand. Prudence because, since the signing of the Barbados Agreements, the regime's response has been utterly disappointing. He ordered the suspension of the effects of the primaries and reiterated the disqualification of María Corina Machado, and the Attorney General issued arrest warrants a…

22

Nov

2023

ES Speech

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30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, President-in-Office of the Council, enlargement policy is one of the most successful in the European Union. Since the adoption of the Copenhagen criteria, 16 countries have joined the Union and have had to carry out extensive reforms. Now, the Russian aggression against Ukraine has brought back to the present the long-stalled enlargement process. In this context, I thin…

21

Nov

2023

ES Speech

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Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, President-in-Office of the Council, the reform of the Treaties must be approached with prudence and as broad a consensus as possible. In a complex world, the European Union has to be an effective player capable of making decisions. But we must ensure that they rest on the broader consensus in order to have greater legitimacy and ensure its effective implementation. I kn…

9

Nov

2023

ES Speech

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Outcome of the EU-US summit (debate)

Mr President, I welcome the fact that the summit with the United States was finally taking place. I hope the next one doesn't wait another two years. We must return to the annual system of summits, already in place at the time of Clinton. The challenges we share with the United States are many: Ukraine, the Middle East, the complex relationship with China, the instability in the Sahel, the Indo-Pa…

18

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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A true geopolitical Europe now (topical debate)

Madam President, in this globalised and interconnected world in which rivalries and conflicts are growing, the European Union cannot limit itself to being an economic power, a regulatory power and a leader in development aid. We have to be a real global player, also at the political and security level. Europe is experiencing today – it has been said – an unusual and very serious situation in its n…

17

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Question Time with Commissioners - European measures to prevent and to fight the rise of organised crime

Mr Schinas, a further comment: I very much welcome this initiative on ports. I think it's very useful. A lot of this cocaine is coming out there. I have always spoken of the need for great cooperation of the Atlantic facades, including also the United States and even, why not, the countries of the Gulf of Guinea. A quadrangular alliance that would also involve African countries. And I think the is…

17

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Question Time with Commissioners - European measures to prevent and to fight the rise of organised crime

Mr Vice-President, I am very pleased that you are with us today. Organised crime is a very serious security problem in the European Union. It is clear that it is transnational and that it also takes advantage of the single market and Schengen. Cooperation and exchange of information between Member States should be increased. I want to dwell on the threat of drug trafficking, which poses many secur…

17

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Effectiveness of the EU sanctions on Russia (debate)

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, last year the Russian economy suffered the impact of sanctions with negative growth. But it appears to have rebounded by 4.9% in the second half of 2023 and could reach 2.3% growth by the end of the year. Next year the figures will also be positive according to all forecasts. The reality is that the Russian economy is not suffering as much as we expected. I t…

16

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Implications of Chinese fishing operations for EU fisheries and the way forward (short presentation)

Madam President, I welcome the comprehensiveness of this report, which touches on very important and topical issues. I am concerned, like everyone else, about the lack of transparency on the part of the Chinese authorities as regards the number of vessels making up their high-seas fleet and the activities of this fleet. Much of the Chinese fleet is accused of numerous illegal practices, including …

16

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Fisheries control (debate)

Madam President, it has been more than five years since the Commission tabled its proposal. Trilogues have lasted two years. A very complex dossier, therefore. Thank you for your efforts, Clara, as a speaker. The agreement reached in general seems to me to be balanced, realistic and gradual, although some aspects do not fully satisfy me. The text is much better than the one adopted by Parliament i…

4

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy (debate)

–Lady President, the European Union needs trade agreements because its economy is a major exporter of goods and services. It is vital to be able to continue exporting to the world to maintain our industries and create jobs. In addition, while the population is growing in the rest of the world, in Europe we have a shrinking demographic. We cannot do without foreign markets. We also have to import m…

3

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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EU-Switzerland relations (debate)

Mr President, Mr Mandl, we are in an extraordinary situation in Europe because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We must continue to support Ukraine. And I welcome the fact that Switzerland has condemned Russia's behaviour at the United Nations and joined the sanctions packages we have adopted. Ukraine urgently needs more weapons and more war material. Switzerland should lift its limitations on …

3

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations

Mr President, I would like to know this: What reaction did they have in these contacts you had last week about that idea of risk reduction? Could it be a little more precise? And, here, President von der Leyen, a few days ago, in the debate on the state of the Union, announced to us the opening of an investigation against Chinese subsidies to Chinese electric vehicles. I would like to know if ther…

3

Oct

2023

ES Speech

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Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations

Mr President, Mr Dombrovskis, cooperation with China to address global challenges is essential. In addition, this country is a very important trading partner. We cannot ignore China, but we also have to be aware that China is increasingly behaving like a competitor and a rival. I agree with the approach of President von der Leyen, who also endorsed the G7: We need to reduce the risks in our relati…

13

Sep

2023

ES Speech

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Opening of negotiations of an agreement with the United States of America on strengthening international supply chains of critical minerals (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, it is good news for me to open negotiations on an agreement on critical or fundamental minerals between the European Union and the United States. This agreement seems necessary so that our exports of electric vehicles to the United States are not harmed by the Inflation Reduction Act enacted last year, as already stated. In this way, the European automotive industry, wh…

12

Sep

2023

ES Speech

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New Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean in the aftermath of the EU-CELAC Summit (debate)

Mr President, Mr Borrell, there were many expectations for the summit after more than eight years, but we have to ask ourselves whether the results have really been up to par. I am referring to three important points. First, the absence of a firm commitment to close the pending agreements with the region, specifically with Mexico and Mercosur. The brief mention of Mercosur in the final communiqué …

12

Sep

2023

ES Speech

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Question Time (VPC/HR) - Situation in West and Central Africa in the light of the recent coups d’état

Mr President, Mr Borrell, the situation in the Sahel is very worrying, of course: very serious political instability, precarious economic and social situation, very serious security deficiencies, impact of climate change, fragility – almost non-existent – of public institutions... The recent coup d'état is in addition to those that have already taken place in Mali, Sudan - to which I refer later -…

12

Sep

2023

ES Speech

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EU-Tunisia Agreement - aspects related to external migration policy (debate)

Mr President, Tunisia is a very important neighbour, an advanced partner of the Union. We must accompany the Tunisian people in the difficult and complex political, economic and social situation they are going through. Since 2011 we have been supporting change in the country. The memorandum recently signed with your authorities I understand corresponds to this basic position. We cannot ignore Tuni…

12

Jul

2023

ES Speech

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The political disqualifications in Venezuela

Madam President, I join the condemnation for the totally unjust disqualification of María Corina Machado and other Venezuelan leaders. The situation of dictatorship in Venezuela is a source of permanent frustration. The disqualifications cited, the recent one by María Corina, show that the Maduro regime has no will to reform or to listen to the recommendations and warnings of the international com…

11

Jul

2023

ES Speech

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Question Time (Commission) – EU-Africa Strategy

Mr President, I am concerned, as has already been said, about the attitude that a number of African countries are taking in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Only half, practically, have voted in favour of United Nations resolutions condemning aggression. Many remain on the sidelines, as if the war were not with them and it was only a matter between Europeans. There has only been one…

14

Jun

2023

ES Speech

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Extension of the mandate of the EPPO with regard to the criminal offence of violation of Union restrictive measures (debate)

Madam President, restrictive measures have become one of the most important instruments of the Union's foreign policy. We see it now in the case of Russia and Belarus. We see it also with Iran, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Sanctions, of course, are not only to be adopted, but also – and above all – to be implemented. Member States need to monitor sanctions compliance more closely and strengthen their …

13

Jun

2023

ES Speech

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State of EU Cuba PDCA in the light of the recent visit of the High Representative to the island (debate)

Madam President, the institutional relationship between the European Union and Cuba underwent a major shift with the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement in 2016. However, after six years, the result has been disappointing, especially in terms of respect for human rights. The very harsh repression of the demonstrations of July 2021 was further proof of the permanence of the harshest featur…