What Paulo spoke about.

15

Feb

2023

PT Speech

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EUCO conclusions: the need for the speedy finalisation of the Road Map (debate)

Madam President, honourable Member, first of all you must ask Prime Minister Sánchez why he has walls in Ceuta and Melilla. Secondly, you have to ask Prime Minister Costa why he approved the Council's conclusions. That should be your question. And as far as we are concerned, I can tell you that, in general terms, we do not need walls or fences. From the point of view of the PSD, such a policy is n…

15

Feb

2023

PT Speech

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EUCO conclusions: the need for the speedy finalisation of the Road Map (debate)

Madam President, Minister, Commissioner, I have already said and I repeat: in the PSD and the EPP, we strongly defend the dignity of all people, be they refugees, asylum seekers, economic migrants, foreign or European citizens. As Pope John XXIII said, everyone is a person and that is why we only accept a policy of migration and a policy of borders that are humanistic. Fortunately, the consensus o…

15

Feb

2023

EN Speech

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The erosion of the rule of law in Greece: the wiretapping scandal and media freedom (topical debate)

Madam President, Council, Commissioner, dear colleagues. I believe that the rule of law is indeed under constraint across the European Union, and not only in Hungary or Poland, but this must not be a shabby peeking exercise for some political groups, especially when the criterion is the colour of the government and the electoral period. Mr Babiš was received by President Macron. We all know Mr Bab…

13

Feb

2023

PT Speech

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Electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in European Parliament elections - Electoral rights of mobile Union citizens in municipal elections (debate)

Madam President, the free movement of persons within the Union is undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements of European citizenship. It also implies that European citizens residing in other Member States can participate in the European elections, which in itself was obviously already an imperative of European citizenship, but also in municipal elections, because they are part of the life of the…

2

Feb

2023

PT Speech

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Preparation of the EU-Ukraine Summit (debate)

Madam President, Council, Commissioner, almost a year ago, Ukraine was brutally attacked by the Russian regime. Every day, every week, war crimes continue to be committed in this war of aggression. At this summit between the European Union and Ukraine, it is crucial to maintain financial support, humanitarian support, logistical support and all the support needed to strengthen Ukraine’s military c…

1

Feb

2023

PT Speech

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Preparation of the Special European Council meeting of February, in particular the need to develop sustainable solutions in the area of asylum and migration (debate)

Mr President, Council, Commissioners, the fact is that the issue of migration tests our democratic system and our system of fundamental rights, but the PPE Group, ladies and gentlemen of the Greens, S&D, does not receive lessons on anyone's fundamental rights or on the dignified treatment of people because our Christian roots are clear and present in all our policies. The problem here is how to be…

18

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Protecting the Rule of Law against impunity in Spain (topical debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, we are deeply concerned about the situation of the rule of law in Spain. We are used to speaking here about Hungary and Poland, and rightly so. But the measures that the Spanish Government has taken in the last year – and in the last years – are very, very concerning. We cannot forget that the Consejo General del Poder Judicial, the Judicial Council, is totally …

18

Jan

2023

EN Speech

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Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022 (continuation of debate)

Madam President, happy birthday! President of the European Council, Vice-President of the Commission, first I would like naturally to show our deepest concern with the news that we receive from Ukraine and Kyiv. Then let me say that I would like to congratulate again Croatia for joining Schengen. However, two Member States, Bulgaria and Romania, were left out, and a major injustice occurred. It is…

14

Dec

2022

PT Speech

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022 (debate)

Mr President, Minister Mikuláš Bek, Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, I shall of course begin by congratulating Croatia on joining the Schengen area, but also by saying that it is a huge disappointment, a huge injustice to know that the government of Austria and the government of the Netherlands have not accepted the entry of Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area. Romania and Bulgaria fulfi…

13

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession (debate)

Mr President, Council, Commission, first, I would like, naturally, to congratulate Croatia on becoming a full member of Schengen. But my joy with this accession is unfortunately in contradiction of my deep sadness and regret at the decision of the Council, which is unfair and unacceptable, to reject the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area. I have to say to my dear friend, Jan-Ch…

13

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob (debate)

Madam President, dear Prime Minister Golob: let me warmly welcome you in such a bitter moment for this Parliament. Slovenia was the first country of former Yugoslavia to join the European Union. This stands, and should stand, as an example and a role model for the Western Balkans. And I must congratulate Slovenia on its great integration process that you have just described as a great example for …

12

Dec

2022

EN Speech

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Order of business

Madam President, the EPP requests an additional debate on this issue of rule of law, strengthening the institutions and judicial independence. There are worrying developments in some of your countries, namely in Spain, towards less independence of the judiciary and more governmental intervention in it, in breach of the rule of law principles. The President of the Government has recently announced …

23

Nov

2022

PT Speech

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The need for a European solution on asylum and migration including search and rescue (debate)

Mr President, Minister, Vice-President, Commissioner, the fundamental values of European democracy always imply respect for human rights in all circumstances. Every person, regardless of their origin, ethnicity or religion, deserves protection. There is no doubt that such protection requires balanced solutions. And that the challenge of migration and refugees is not made with demagoguery or populi…

22

Nov

2022

PT Speech

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EU response to the increasing crackdown on protests in Iran (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, the Ayatollah regime, a theocratic religious fundamentalist, oppresses the entire Iranian people. Since the age of 79, women, in front of everyone, have been the regime's greatest victims. But also young people, also men, also the whole of civil society, in all provinces and in all cities. In schools, on the streets, in universities, people of all professions, social…

21

Nov

2022

PT Speech

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Situation of human rights in the context of the FIFA world cup in Qatar (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, the decision to organise the World Cup in Qatar was taken wrongly, but it was taken. Then that championship was also an opportunity to improve Qatar's rights and political situation. It's a missed opportunity. There is no doubt that today we know that women's rights, the rights of sexual, religious and ethnic minorities, we know that workers' rights and especially th…

9

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in Croatia (debate)

Mr President, dear Vice-Presidents, I’d like only to make two or three comments or remarks on issues that were raised during this debate. First, to say that all of us, we all agree that Schengen has two main purposes. One is to defend our external borders – security, safety. The other is to respect all the fundamental rights of European citizens and of the citizens that are non-European and that w…

9

Nov

2022

EN Speech

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Full application of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in Croatia (debate)

Mr President, Vice-Presidents, Schengen has been waiting for Croatia. The Croatian people have also waited and now the moment has arrived. It is time for the final steps towards full European integration. Croatia has shown it is fully prepared for the lifting of internal border controls at the same time that it is joining the eurozone. Croatia has successfully completed the most comprehensive and …

19

Oct

2022

PT Speech

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Preparation of the European Council meeting of 20-21 October 2022 (debate)

Madam President, the victims of Russia's war of aggression and the brutal attacks of the last few days are, of course, Ukrainian citizens, but across Europe we suffer the consequences of this war and Putin will exploit those consequences. We see how the most vulnerable classes, but also the middle classes in our countries, are suffering from the rise in the price of energy, of fuels, with the incr…

18

Oct

2022

PT Speech

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Impact of Russian invasion of Ukraine on migration flows to the EU (debate)

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has several facets that are increasing migratory pressure and humanitarian aid pressure within the European Union. On the one hand, the Ukrainian citizens, where the European response was excellent, has been very, very, very strong, has been very helpful to these families who, hopefully, are in a position to return. We cannot, however, exclude, with th…

5

Oct

2022

EN Speech

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The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area (debate)

Madam President, Minister, Vice-President, first, I would like to say to Mr Reil that there are only two countries that are the far west. One is Portugal and the other is Ireland, because they are geographically the far west of Europe. Nothing more. Let me tell you that, 11 years after stating that Romania and Bulgaria are ready to be full members of Schengen, the Council has not been able to issu…

5

Oct

2022

PT Speech

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Countering the anti-European and anti-Ukrainian propaganda of Putin’s European cronies (topical debate)

Mr President, Minister, Commissioner, Vice-President, it is not only since 24 February this year, but since the invasion of Crimea and even before that, that certain European political actors have taken the side of Russia and that many others are influenced by Russian propaganda and disinformation. We must not forget what happened in the US elections in which Donald Trump was elected, or in the Br…

5

Oct

2022

PT Speech

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Russia’s escalation of its war of aggression against Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, the escalation of Putin's war, with the mobilisation of reservists, illegitimate annexations, nuclear threats, means that the European Union must be more united than ever and that support for Ukraine must be systematic. That is why we must ask the S&D Group, the Greens, the Liberals what position they take on the unilateral action of the Scholz government, the green liberal socialist…

14

Sep

2022

EN Speech

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Existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded (debate)

So it’s a pleasure to reply to you, colleague Trócsányi. It’s very clear that very different organisations, independent and impartial, have said that the judicial independence in Hungary is at risk. And the example that you gave on France or others that sometimes Mr Orbán has given in the electoral system about England, they are examples that don’t see the context. (Reactions from the floor) Yes! …

14

Sep

2022

PT Speech

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Existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded (debate)

Madam President, Ministers, Commissioner, in this report Parliament once again lists the evidence, the evidence, which shows that there is an autocratic deviation in the Hungarian government. Now, as I have always said on this subject, the primary responsibility for this situation, beyond, of course, those who have committed the violations of Article 2, lies with the European Council, with the Cou…

14

Sep

2022

PT Speech

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State of the Union (debate)

Madam President of Parliament, Madam President Von der Leyen, first of all I express all solidarity with Ukraine and I welcome this initiative to bring the First Lady here as a symbol of our commitment to the Ukrainians, and I am very grateful for the commitment you are putting into the Convention. For the EPP, it is crucial that we already start designing the future of Europe in order to have a E…