Plenary focus - October II

I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the barbaric attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians, and my thoughts are with all the victims and their families. Every life counts, Israeli and Palestinian alike. I also condemn Israel’s response and the unacceptable attitude of Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government, which refers to Palestinians as ‘animals’ and carries out indiscriminate bombardments and a total siege of Gaza - actions that constitute war crimes. Currently, two and a half million people are trapped in Gaza. The EU must speak out for peace. The urgent need is for a ceasefire. We need an immediate humanitarian corridor to deliver emergency aid to the people trapped in Gaza. We must also do all we can to prevent further bloodshed, secure the release of hostages, and end the illegal blockade of Gaza. Any lasting solution will, in any case, be political: a two-state solution with an end to colonisation and respect for UN resolutions.

Although most refugees from the Ukraine are women, little has been done to ensure their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). In countries like Poland, where all women are denied basic SRHR, the situation is particularly serious. We hear horror stories of women who lack access to adequate maternity care or abortion care in the neighbouring EU countries to which they have fled. Many of them have no choice but to return to the war torn Ukraine to get health care. The EU needs to urgently ensure all women these fundamental rights, Ukrainians as well as EU citizens.

Faced with the cumulative social, economic, humanitarian and environmental consequences of multiple crises, the horizontal cuts proposed by the Council are unacceptable. We are calling for ambitious policies for the future of the EU and its people and for increased funding for social policies, tackling the energy crisis and the increased inequalities, the environment, SMEs, humanitarian aid and natural disasters relief. For a fair, sustainable and inclusive Union.

One in five EU residents face poverty, revealing a widening wealth gap and a shrinking middle class - a systemic issue. The focus on corporate profits and the EU aligning with these interests perpetuate the problem. To combat poverty, it is necessary to advocate for higher wages, fearless wealth redistribution, robust social standards, and comprehensive education across the EU.

There are many reasons to ban the import and production of fur in Europe. Breeding animals, confining them to tiny wired cages and killing them for their fur is the ultimate cruelty. Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic once again made clear that confining thousands of animals together in small spaces poses major risks to public health. Several EU-countries have already banned fur production and more than 1,5 million people signed the Citizens Initiative Fur Free Europe. It is now time for this sick and inhumane industry to be put down for once and for all.