António TÂNGER CORRÊA

Policy topics António TÂNGER CORRÊA is active on

What António TÂNGER CORRÊA has said (37)

• 2026-07-13 “(16:38:30 - 16:41:13): Thank you, Mister chairman. First, I'd like to note that everybody in the middle is still very obedient to Missus Van der Leyen because those who voted against the document of the irrigation in March, they voted now in favor by a scheme organized by our president of the parliament. So it was everything in order according to the commission and Missus Van der Wein. I'd like to notice this. Secondly, I'd like to say a few of our red lines on this matter. First, measures should remain targeted, proportionate, and subject to judicial authorization. Second, we cannot accept generalized scanning or any form of general monitoring of private communications. Third, end-to-end encryption must be fully protected, and I must say that this was the motion with most votes on last Thursday. It was our motion, and it was voted by total majority of the parliament. Fourth, audio communications must remain outside the scope. Fifth, we also oppose mandatory age verification or age assessment like Mister Macron is doing in France with terrible results. Voluntary scanning of private communications for new material or grooming is equally unacceptable. Finally, the future of the EU center must not become the operational center of the system. It should be the countries and not the in Brussels. It should not search content of its own initiative. Pressure providers directly request removals or bypass national and judicial authorities and mainly do not distribute money from the commission to these platforms. The choice is not between protecting children and protecting privacy. We must protect children through the rule of law with effective action, clear limits, and proper judicial safeguards. Combating child sexual abuse is an absolute obligation. There can be no ambiguity on this point. However, protecting children cannot justify the creation of a system of generalized surveillance, meaning dictatorship or the weakening of fundamental rights of the citizens.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• 2026-07-08 “(15:33:47 - 15:34:48): President, colleagues. Let's turn to a history lesson now. Since the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin War, talked very little about Russia and energy dependency on Russia. This war was predictable because of our political decisions and the way that we embraced economic, energy economic dependence. But way way back in history, there were those who criticized the regime, but we should not, nevertheless, get involved in the internal affairs of other countries. We need to focus on European matters and European problems before we try and interfere in, foreign agendas that we had in a way which may not be clear or honest. Again, we need to ensure that Europe, is fit for purpose and able to resolve its own problems”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• 2026-06-16 “(10:35:33 – 10:37:48): Madam president, high representative, madam Khaya Kallas, dear colleagues, the announced deal between United States and Iran is being presented as a possible opening for peace and stability in The Middle East, But Europe must not confuse an agreement with peace, and it must not confuse diplomacy with weakness. If European Union wants to play a serious role after this deal, it must begin by naming the real obstacles to peace with political clarity. On very important. On 08/05/1980, Yasser Arafat, leader of the PLO, made the following statements. Peace for us means the destruction of Israel. We are preparing for total war, a war that we lost for generations. We will not rest until the day we return to our home and until we destroy Israel, end of quote. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the root of the problem in The Middle East. It is called terrorism. It is called hatred, and it's called Hamas. It's called Hezbollah. It is called Muslim brotherhood. Peace requires Hamas to be disarmed, Hezbollah to be declared terrorist in its entirety and disarmed, and the Muslim brotherhood to be considered as a terrorist movement. And the financing of structures that live off the destruction of Israel must be cut off. With that without that, no peace deal can work in the region. So, yes, Europe should support serious efforts to reduce tensions, but support cannot mean naivety or it means conditionality, transparency, and enforcement. Please will not be born from submission to terror. Peace will not be born from lies. Peace will begin when Europe says, not 1 more arrow, not 1 more excuse, not 1 more inch of legitimacy for those who live off the destruction of some countries. That is a 1st step towards peace, and that is Europe's duty.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• 2026-03-23 “Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission 19.5.2026 Written question ProtectEU [1] embeds in its core the respect for fundamental rights, which is ultimately ensured also by the co-legislators, the Council and the European Parliament. In accordance with EU law, each proposal announced in ProtectEU needs to respect the principle of proportionality. When preparing legislative initiatives, EU Better Regulation rules [2] require the Commission to prepare impact assessments where the possible impacts of the initiatives on fundamental rights are assessed. This evidence-based approach, overseen by the independent Regulatory Scrutiny Board [3] , ensures legislative initiatives are consistent with EU values and allows the co-legislators to take an informed decision. Furthermore, during the preparation for ProtectEU, the Commission consulted the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. As one of the central principles of ProtectEU, the ‘whole of society’ approach intends to involve all stakeholders that can meaningfully contribute to the security of the EU, including citizens, civil society, academia and the private sector. Thus, public consultations made available on the Have Your Say portal accompany all impact assessments. This stakeholder engagement plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability, and in building trust in the drafting and implementation of EU security policies. [1] COM (2025) 148 final. [2] SWD (2021) 305 final. [3] https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/regulatory-scrutiny-board_en.”
  Privacy & law enforcement · Surveillance equipment & spyware
• 2026-03-05 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission 4.5.2026 Written question The Commission rejects the report’s unsubstantiated and unfounded allegations. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right enshrined in the Charter [1] . The Digital Services Act (DSA) [2] protects users by entitling them to explanations, appeals and redress when their content is removed or restricted. Since its application, online platforms have reversed almost 50 million decisions [3] , demonstrating how the DSA empowers users and effectively protects them against arbitrary platform moderation. The DSA does not prescribe which content is illegal; this is determined purely by national law or other EU laws. The Commission cannot order providers of online services to remove or amend specific content from their services . Platforms remove content based on their own policies. The DSA mandates the largest platforms [4] to identify, analyse and assess systemic risks in the EU stemming from their services, and to mitigate those risks. This includes risks to electoral processes. The DSA brings accountability and transparency. For example, it requires providers of online platforms to issue statements of reasons explaining their moderation decisions in a Transparency Database [5] . Here, providers must specify the reason for restricting or removing content. The DSA requires the Commission and national competent authorities to publish all key enforcement decisions. This is done through a dedicated website [6] , with due regard to the rights and legitimate interests of providers and to the protection of confidential information concerning other persons involved, in line with established practice amongst all similar regulatory and enforcement frameworks. Moreover, the Commission’s general transparency rules apply to meetings involving Senior Managers. [1] https://fra.europa.eu/en/eu-charter/article/11-freedom-expression-and-information. [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng. [3] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/two-years-digital-services-act-allows-50-million-content-moderation-decisions-platforms-be-reversed. [4] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/dsa-vlops. [5] https://transparency.dsa.ec.europa.eu/. [6] https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/list-designated-vlops-and-vloses.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms · Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• 2026-02-17 “E-000680/2026 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission The creation of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience was announced in the Joint Communication on the European Democracy Shield (EDS) 1 , after extensive consultations with Member States, EU institutions, as well as the public. The European Parliament and its Special Committee on the EDS significantly contributed to the design of the EDS and the Centre. The Centre, its framework and responsibilities, is being set up in close consultation with Member States. As outlined in the European Democracy Shield, its aim is to offer a framework to strengthen coordination and information sharing between EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, and Member States, building on existing networks and structures, such as the Rapid Alert System. This is done in full respect of the allocation of competences provided for in the Treaties and the independence of existing structures at national and EU level. Participation is voluntary. The Centre is not an EU institutional oversight body, nor will it have decisionmaking powers. The Commission will continue to engage with the European Parliament, notably the Special Committee on the EDS, as it is progressing with the setting up of the Centre and the implementation of the measures announced in the EDS. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025JC0791.”
  EU political integration · Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• 2025-10-10 “E-003990/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission Brazil is a strategic partner of the EU, one of the biggest democracies worldwide and a trusted member of the international community. In 2025, it celebrated the 40th anniversary of its return to democracy. Since then, the country has built a robust system of checks and balances, where executive, legislative and judicial powers operate with distinct responsibilities and the capacity to hold one another accountable. Its independent democratic institutions – from the Supreme Federal Court to the Electoral Justice system – have played a crucial role in safeguarding free and fair elections, protecting constitutional rights and ensuring that political power remains subject to the rule of law. The alternation of political forces in power through legitimate electoral processes remains a hallmark of Brazil’s democratic framework. The EU trusts in the functioning and independence of Brazil’s democratic institutions and in its adherence to shared values such as the respect for human rights, democracy, the rule of law and free speech. Therefore, there is no intention to propose to the Council the use of any common foreign and security policy instruments.”
  EU-Brazil Relations
• 2025-07-01 “E-002679/2025 Answer given by Mr Kadis on behalf of the European Commission Under the principle of subsidiarity and shared management, the Commission has a supervisory role to monitor the implementation of the European funds in support of fisheries and aquaculture 1 , and the national authorities of Member States manage them. Member States, including Portugal, have set up a management and control system (MCS) that must comply with EU rules and regulations. Member States must ensure that their MCS functions effectively for the implementation of programmes. The selection and control of supported projects also fall under the responsibility of the national authorities, which decide on the selection criteria and specific conditions for support in line with their national programmes under the EU funds. For specific information on the implementation of aquaculture projects in Algarve, the Portuguese Managing Authority should be contacted 2 . The performance of the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture fund in Member States is assessed based on indicators. Member States report on progress towards established milestones and targets in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 3 . The Commission established a monitoring and evaluation framework for this purpose. The Commission carries out audits of Member States’ management and control systems in accordance with its audit strategy and audit plan based on a risk-assessment 4 . If an irregularity, including bankruptcy, leads to the misuse or loss of EU funds, Member States are required to take corrective action, recover the funds, and adjust their accounts accordingly. If the Member States fail to take corrective actions, the Commission may apply financial corrections by reducing support from the Funds 5 . 1 European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (2014-2020) and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (2021-2027). 2 https://mar2030.pt/#contacts. 3 Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng. 4 Article 70 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060. 5 Article 104 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060.”
  Funding for fisheries and aquaculture · Environmental regulation of fisheries
• 2025-03-06 “E-000959/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission Democracy is a founding value of the EU. The essence of democracy is that citizens can freely express their views and participate in democratic life, choose their political representatives, and have a say in their future. Freedom of expression and freedom of information are both enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 1 and respected across EU legislation. EU law and policies do not aim to regulate the content of messages. On the contrary, they promote transparent access to an open democratic space. As long as legal boundaries are respected (such as respect for hate speech prohibitions and national defamation rules), citizens and political actors should be able to express themselves freely. Citizens have a right to seek and receive information and should be able to form their own opinions in a public space where a plurality of views can be expressed, where they have a right to disagree and where they can take part in elections which are free from interference, whether foreign or domestic. Foreign interference in the context of elections and democratic debate happens when a foreign state or foreign actor undertakes or triggers a covert operation, directly or through proxies, which aims to harm the integrity of the democratic debate, institutions or processes. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A12016P%2FTXT.”
  Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• 2025-01-29 “E-000405/2025 Answer given by Mr Serafin on behalf of the European Commission The EU programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) provides financial support for the functioning of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), supporting civil society’s participation to policy making. The Commission has no indication that ongoing LIFE operating grants breach the LIFE Regulation 1 or the EU Financial Regulation 2 . Operating grants are awarded competitively, and applicants submit proposals that include the description of their work-programmes of activities in areas under the LIFE Regulation. This description is annexed to the grant agreement. The work programme may mention, among other activities, advocacy activities. The Commission does not prescribe the specific activities. The Commission agrees that funding agreements involving specifically detailed activities directed at EU institutions and some of their representatives, even if they do not breach the legal framework, may entail a reputational risk for the EU. To mitigate this risk, the Commission issued guidance 3 clarifying which activities should not be mandated as a requirement for EU financing. The Commission adheres strictly to its transparency obligations 4 by publishing information about LIFE recipients and the amounts received in the Financial Transparency System 5 and on the LIFE website 6 . In addition, the Commission proactively shares the objectives and outcomes of funded projects on the Funding and Tenders Portal 7 . Furthermore, interest representatives are required to report their lobbying activities and main funding sources as well as the amount of each contribution above EUR 10 000 exceeding 10% of their total budget in the Transparency Register 8 . 1 LIFE Regulation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/783/oj/eng 2 Financial Regulation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202402509 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/guidance-fundingdev-impl-monit-enforce-of-eu-law_en.pdf 4 Article 38 of the Financial Regulation requires publishing information about recipients and does not require the disclosure of advocacy activities funded through grant agreements. 5 Financial Transparency System https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-transparency-system/index.html 6 https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en 7 EU Funding and Tenders Portal https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home 8 Transparency Register https://transparency-register.europa.eu/index_en”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget · Regulation of NGOs in Europe
• “Madam president. Commissioner. This pact has some positive aspects, but also some negative ones. There's an attempt to protect biodiversity, but at the same time, there are projects being supported which are going to drive out fish and push to more privatisation. Even though this is a public good, and also wind power parks, which are damaging for fisheries, for maritime environments and the people who work there. Aquaculture being promoted by the EU while in Portugal. This wasn't a success. Many people getting money are giving up aquaculture endeavors as well. So I think this needs this package needs to be revised. It needs to be revised with the objective to make sure that the lives of European citizens are being improved, because maybe we won't be able to eat fish tomorrow if there are wind parks everywhere, and if there are no fish, there'll be no fishermen.”
  Environmental regulation of fisheries
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm on duty today. Sebastian Stetler could not be here. He's a shadow, so I'm replacing him. Thank you very much. Well, first of all, I'd like to thank the rapporteur for a solid and technologically grounded draft. It is very good. Congratulations. We welcome the pragmatic and positive approach by the rapporteur, including an emphasis on defence, trade and technology cooperation. Although our shadow rapporteur is totally myself, we think that a more geopolitical emphasis would be nice in the report and we will, uh, table amendments with you on this purpose and we will look forward to cooperating the report. We welcome your stance that the recognition of NATO's essential roles, role in collective European defence, which is obviously the cornerstone still of European defence. And this comes to us that we we need to stress that we are against a centralised EU defence union, because of course, this will not be a good news for the smaller countries and smaller defence budgets of the smaller countries. And I can give you an example, for instance, that I'd like also to to be part of the report is that the importance of the Atlantic Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, if you consider the Arctic, the Greenland, the all these geostrategic position of of the North Atlantic for us is crucial. And we are a small country. So we need to have, uh, as much emphasis on, on the security and, and the importance of North Atlantic as any other region in, uh, European continent. We don't think that the Eastern European continent is more important than the western part of the continent. Therefore, we we we would like to emphasize the growing importance of the western part of the continent, namely the North Atlantic. And if you, uh, if you, um, if you are aware that we have our Atlantic islands like a source of Madeira, that gives Europe a real strategic, uh, added value in this standing, uh, defense position. So that's this small subject I'd like to raise with you. And we I repeat, we are willing to cooperate with you in the report. Thank you very much.”
  EU competences on defence
• “Thank you. Madam Chair. Madam Commissioner. Well, this is the first 100 days European Commission promised transparency. But instead we have seen allegations of corruption, abuse of power and lack of accountability. The European Union should serve its citizens. Yet it has become an isolated bubble, funding its own narrative than fostering democratic debate. The European Commission in the former legislature and the former Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, funneled millions of euros into environmental NGOs to push the Green Deal agenda without proper oversight. This raises serious concerns about the misuse of public funds to shape policy behind closed doors to the expense of businesses, jobs and families. The European Commission allocated 45 billion to the Resilience and Values Programme, including 1.5 billion to NGOs aligned with its political agenda. The issue is not the funding itself, but the lack of pluralism. Public money should foster open democracy debate, not reinforce a single political perspective. When confronted about these things, the European Commission refuses to provide concrete answers and avoids open debates. The double standard is evident when the UN establishment pushes its narrative. It is considered legitimate policy, but if it is challenged, it is dismissed as misinformation. The European Commission cannot continue to operate without scrutiny. European citizens deserve to know where their money is going. Democracy cannot be just a slogan, and we will accept nothing less than full pluralism, transparency and accountability. Thank you very much, Madam President. Thank you.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dear colleagues. This situation that we have in North Macedonia is a bit difficult for so-called the old hands because the Macedonians, the people of northern Macedonia, is as rightly so. You said they are tired, they are away from the European Union more and more, and they are much more away than they were ten years ago, 15 years ago. And I think that's a problem. And this is partly our fault, not only from the council, like our colleagues said, but also from the Commission as well, because both of them did allow this situation to happen. First, I would like to to say that without hesitation that we should say that the North Macedonia has done an effort to approach the European Union and the EU screening process for all six negotiation clusters were completed in 7th December 2023. And this is not symbolism. This is our technical work done and we have to concede at this point, we have to understand that they are doing what they can in this particular point. Second, Skopje has maintained a clear political commitment in the European path with the reform agenda. They also have been they reform the Constitution, they reformed some laws and so on. And North Macedonia was also covered by the EU Rule of Law report, which was quite positive, about which I think it's I'd like to underline this, but on the other hand, the treatment of minorities, the treatment of the what what's going inside? Politics in the northern Macedonia must be assessed on a different way.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioners, what do you think about this? Global Europe must deliver first stability first is the neighborhood prevent state collapse, conflict spill over, and energy. Food insecurity. Because instability drives migration, migration realism. External action must reduce irregular flows through effective border cooperation, anti-smuggling and readmission returns arrangements. Otherwise, external spending becomes a pull factor. Results based aid fund. Core services water power, health, schooling, local resilience and conditions for people to stay or safely return with strict performance indicators. Direct question for the commissioners how will prove that global Europe spending reduces instability and irregular migration? Two what safeguards will you apply to? The 9.52 billion cushion is used only for genuine emergencies and EU strategic priorities. Closing global Europe must be strategic, accountable and An interest driven or it will lose Democratic support at home. A credible Global Europe policy must be interest driven, not ideologically driven.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)
• “Of course not. Not forgetting the contraction of Cristiano Ronaldo in for one of the main clubs in Saudi Arabia. When when one issue remains and I would like we would like to tackle that as well is the how is the Shi'ite Shiite minority being treated in Saudi Arabia, and how is it going to be in the future? It's very important for us. Uh, looking ahead of Saudi Arabia's central diplomatic role positions, uh, mainly in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority areas after the end of the conflict and therefore countering the negative influence of Qatar in that region and Saudi Arabia can play a much more constructive, constructive role in the area. So finally, the EU and Saudi Arabia share a common interest in ensuring stability, prosperity and security in the wider region. And also finally, this partnership is not only beneficial, it is essential for addressing today's crisis and building tomorrow's solutions. Thank you very much.”
  EU relations with Qatar
• “We have to give more support. We are not demanding but supporting because otherwise we will not reach our goals. The other thing all the way I agree with the with the with the colleagues who spoke before me. So I think it's done what they said. I'd like to say that from the regional point of view, the European Union should be a stability factor and not a polarization factor. That means it's our responsibility to keep the region on a way, a path for cooperation and peace and not polarization. I mean, allowing different minorities or majorities, it depends on the case to, um, to to take advantage of these negotiations and take advantage of the weak position of some of the countries that are trying to join the European Union. So as a whole, as a regional approach, the European Union has a great responsibility, should assume that responsibility and has to understand that the Balkans are part of Europe, because if we don't integrate the Western Balkans, we have security problems, economic problems, social problems, immigration problems, all kinds of problems. So for our own sake, we should integrate the Western Balkans within the European Union, of course, within the rules with the Copenhagen criteria and so on and so forth. But we should make from our part a big effort as well. And that's what I try, we try to do together with the rapporteurs in the future. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “President. Commissioner. I liked your speech on Bosnia. I didn't enjoy your speech on. And I listened to your speech on the Democracy Shield. We need to ensure that people are informed the way to deal with this problem. So we're. Really, we have to think about what's being lost and what's being gained. We defend democracy, freedom of expression. That's the politically correct discourse. So we're saying what we're supposed to say. And that's all about playing to fears. Now, my friends, it's not as simple as it may look, because if we're going to build democracy, then democracy is the people in charge. We have to listen to what people want to say. And it's not enough to simply say that everything's a lie and it's fueling hatred. Obviously there are risks, but risks don't disappear through dictatorial or autocratic means. It's the people, the people who are sovereign and who can decide for themselves. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Uh, excuse me, Madam Chairman. No, because I was elected to the European Parliament, not to the Portuguese Parliament. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “I must say I'm surprised. I was not supposed to. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Minister. I, um. I, um. I heard you very carefully. Mainly in the area of the enlargement. So as I was not supposed to. To to to speak anyways. But I'd like to ask you a few questions in that area. First, how can you, uh. I mean, in those conversations between, um, Serbia and Kosovo about the mutual recognition. If there are about five European Union countries that do not recognise Kosovo and to make it a precondition for accession, accession. I don't think it's it's within the parameters of the Copenhagen criteria. Uh, on the on the other hand, some colleagues pointed out that the situation in Albania is not as clear as it should be. And I'd like also to have a little bit more explanation from you on on that item, and I congratulate you about the your position vis a vis Montenegro, because I think it's an essential step to go through in this Balkan accession, which is very important for Europe. We consider the Balkan accession to the European Union an essential step for the Union to be really a continental force. Uh, finally, uh, regarding Bosnia, I think there has been a misunderstanding about the position of both entities. We are the privileging the federation of Bosnia Herzegovina instead of the Republic, meaning we are using, uh, two kinds of weights and two kinds of approaches regarding the two entities, and we think that's not the way to go. Because the more you ostracize the Republicans, the more possibilities are. That Russia and China will invade our own space, because we have to consider that. Regarding Serbia and Republika Srpska. Part of the problem is the European Union, meaning we left them alone for too long. And I'd like to know, what are you thinking about doing in your presidency? About this. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “We have to give more support. We are not demanding but supporting because otherwise we will not reach our goals. The other thing all the way I agree with the with the with the colleagues who spoke before me. So I think it's done what they said. I'd like to say that from the regional point of view, the European Union should be a stability factor and not a polarization factor. That means it's our responsibility to keep the region on a way, a path for cooperation and peace and not polarization. I mean, allowing different minorities or majorities, it depends on the case to, um, to to take advantage of these negotiations and take advantage of the weak position of some of the countries that are trying to join the European Union. So as a whole, as a regional approach, the European Union has a great responsibility, should assume that responsibility and has to understand that the Balkans are part of Europe, because if we don't integrate the Western Balkans, we have security problems, economic problems, social problems, immigration problems, all kinds of problems. So for our own sake, we should integrate the Western Balkans within the European Union, of course, within the rules with the Copenhagen criteria and so on and so forth. But we should make from our part a big effort as well. And that's what I try, we try to do together with the rapporteurs in the future. Thank you very much.”
  EU relations with Western Balkans
• “President. Colleagues, the. The commission is talking about a digital sovereignty. Sovereignty. But it is forgetting the freedom and the sovereignty of the citizens. What it is proposing is a control, centralization and lack of freedom and also vigilance and censorship. This is what we see in totalitarian regimes such as China and Russia, where with with centralized ID ah and Venezuela, centralization is to uh, is is to control decentralization is to, uh, for greater freedom. The the Portuguese government is now under subject to the globalization agenda. Thank you.”
  Electronic identity
• “President. Commissioner. Well, the key word here is fear. Fear. Democracy cannot be protected with words. It's protected with deeds and freedom and truth. So I'm asking this Parliament where is democracy when we're the third largest force in this House? And we're subject to a firewall which does not allow us to be chairs of committees or hold rapporteurs ships, or carry out other activities here in the Parliament. Is that how you protect democracy with bans and exclusions? No, this is completely the wrong way round. It's aimed at protecting the Commission and other institutions from the European people. It's the people of Europe who decide. It's the people of Europe who should be, uh, have the say in a democracy. Democracy comes from the people. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “President. Commissioners. Minister. I apologise for my irreverence, but this session basically reminds me of this well-known piece of music. Parole, parole, parole. Everyone's talking as though everything was roses. But it's not. Many things are changing, but we're not. What do I mean by that? Well, what I'm saying is that we need to adapt our positions and policies to the changes we're seeing happen. The fact is that Volkswagen is going to be dismissing 5000 workers very soon, and other businesses will do exactly doing exactly the same. And the reason is our internal legislation. It's the lack of vision that we have. It's the fault of our long term policies. We only think about renewables. Renewables. We don't think about people. The future depends on us. We have an important role to play in the future of our citizens, and that's what we should be focusing on. Thank you very much.”
  Climate efforts
• “But still they don't speak with them. It's amazing. The the Dayton Agreement says you probably know are completely outdated. They must be reviewed. The presence of the high representative also must be reviewed because it was not. It is not in Dayton agreement. It's a pick decision peace Implementation Council, which is no longer a fact. So we have to to have a different look about Bosnia than we have now. Serbia. Uh, another case I was instrumental after Bosnia went to to Belgrade, to instrumental in the dawn of Milosevic. And, you know, one of my arguments is the future in Europe for the Serbs till now, after all these years, what's the future of them in Europe? Nothing. Zero. Of course we created a void, and the void was occupied by Russian and Chinese. And I can tell you something. I'm. I'm only one thing I know. The the time is up. Is that Mr. Vucic? His party is a member of TPP. So I think I think that says a little bit of things. I mean, if they want to work, either they expel them or they talk to him. They don't do either. So thank you very much.”
  EU relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina
• “34:05 – 16:36:19): thank you mister chairman i speak for a change in portuguese so we can get used to the language dear dear colleagues water is necessary good for life but then there are some who treat it opportunistically it means sovereignty security is a national interest and that is exactly what we're shining a spotlight on in this report the first debate has to be centered correctly on international law the un charter also centers on national sovereignty and the right sovereignty over national waters that is why we want to include the nineteen fifty eight convention here so that we're not parading other motivations as cooperation there's no room for gray areas here when it comes to state sovereignty some want to reduce everything to climate action as if geopolitical matters were secondary we require realism and not slogans and now i come to the heart of the problem we cannot accept this sliding to the eu rep replacing states we must ensure that this is not a trojan horse for more centralization and more legislative power in in brussels if there is conflict around shared waters that should be resolved by sovereign states if we refuse transforming the eu into something that acts everywhere it should only act on member state initiative we reject the idea of financing being increased as if bureaucracy was an end in itself the objective is to protect states' populations and stability finally when there are dispute we don't want to strengthen international tribunals as a first line of response we should give priority to national courts these are the amendments that we will be tabling to this report on water whether it we're talking about seawater or fresh water thank you”
  EU harmonisation vs national subsidiarity on water management
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, thank you very much, Commissioner. I got exactly the same idea of, uh, the speech of Director Zannino last time, which is, uh, a lot of ideas, but very few concrete steps. Uh, you want to make the whole world as members of the pact for the Mediterranean? Uh, maybe sometime in the future, Mr. Musk. Maybe Mars and the moon and other other places like this. Anyways, so, uh, what I'd like to say is a very few questions. Uh, first of all, the migration and burden sharing we have been, uh, witnessing burden sharing by the southern countries of Europe like Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, uh, and Malta, uh, and the other ones very concerned. But in fact, they did not share did share the burden. On the other hand, from energy, we need some realism. What kind of energy do we want to export? The same energy that caused the blackout in Iberian Peninsula last year. Is that the kind of energy you want to export? Because if it's that kind of energy. Thank you very much, but no thanks. Uh, security. Does the pact considers the strong security in our borders stopping illegal immigration and filtering illegal immigration? Uh, sovereignty and quotas. Are you going to establish quotas for the countries to accept immigration, legal and illegal. And finally, some reciprocity actually in the line of to the representatives of TPP. Are they going to accept our cultural heritage like do we accept them? There will be a common interest in this reciprocity, or it's just one way trip like it has been before. Thank you very much.”
  EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dear colleagues. This situation that we have in North Macedonia is a bit difficult for so-called the old hands because the Macedonians, the people of northern Macedonia, is as rightly so. You said they are tired, they are away from the European Union more and more, and they are much more away than they were ten years ago, 15 years ago. And I think that's a problem. And this is partly our fault, not only from the council, like our colleagues said, but also from the Commission as well, because both of them did allow this situation to happen. First, I would like to to say that without hesitation that we should say that the North Macedonia has done an effort to approach the European Union and the EU screening process for all six negotiation clusters were completed in 7th December 2023. And this is not symbolism. This is our technical work done and we have to concede at this point, we have to understand that they are doing what they can in this particular point. Second, Skopje has maintained a clear political commitment in the European path with the reform agenda. They also have been they reform the Constitution, they reformed some laws and so on. And North Macedonia was also covered by the EU Rule of Law report, which was quite positive, about which I think it's I'd like to underline this, but on the other hand, the treatment of minorities, the treatment of the what what's going inside? Politics in the northern Macedonia must be assessed on a different way.”
  EU enlargement
• “Madam president. Commissioner. Colleagues. Now, we have said that on the 28th of April, Portugal and Spain had the biggest blackout of their history. And we've had smaller ones in the past with fewer consequences. But we could have forecast this blackout. It was going to happen, and others will happen because of the policy and energy policy that is ideological. It's a it's a suicide and it's irresponsible. Now. We could have approached this differently. There have been plants that have been closed and we need to understand the result of that. Therefore we don't want we want more sovereignty. We want more Portugal and less EU Commission. It is not with an EU approach that we are going to resolve our problems, and it is not with a green fetish or green economy approach that we're going to be able to save our countries. We need to think about ourselves. Cooperation, yes, but sovereign countries and not a supranational entity, a federal one at that, which is what is happening where there's a control of a European grid. We do not want this. We are against this. We defend interconnected grids, but that are anonymous, autonomous. Who if a country doesn't have energy, it doesn't have sovereignty. And Portugal has existed much longer than the European Commission and would vindicate its sovereignty. Thank you.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Madam chair, madam Commissioner, I know there is no doubt that there are major changes afoot in the Middle East right now. Part of the circle of terror has been smashed. We're now going to see a transition that is ineluctable, and we're now going to see citizens at the helm. We're going to see change from within in Iran and Hamas and Hezbollah. The useful idiots are no longer going to have an Iran to support. It is a time of change, but it's not that straightforward. Syria is in a difficult situation to that is not going to be easy to resolve during a period of transition, even towards the end of that period. So we have to be very attentive, attentive, very vigilant. We have to look at human rights as others have said, they are in danger. We have to look at the entire geopolitical landscape of the region. It's all changing and it's going to be very difficult.”
  EU foreign policy approach
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr.. Carlos. Uh, we, uh, while we are rightly focused on Ukraine in the Middle East, quite unsuccessfully, I must say. And in some elections we are turning a blind eye to other conflicts that are tearing, namely Africa apart. It's about these conflicts. I like to speak because everybody else will speak about Ukraine and the Middle East in Sudan. The world is the world's largest displacement crisis. Around 14 million people have been forced to their homes, and tens of thousands have been killed in Democratic Republic of Congo. Over 7 million people are internally displaced and some 7000 people have been killed in the East this year alone as camps for displaced people and are shelled and destroyed. In Nigeria, tens of thousands of Christians were killed. More than 2.2 million remain displaced. In the northeast. Around 295,000 were newly displaced last year. In northern Mozambique, a jihadist violence has displaced over half a million people in Cabo Delgado with churches burdened and Christians and converts from Islam deliberately attacked. These are not major crises. Mrs. Carlos, they are mass graves, mass displacements and systematic religious persecution. That is what I call strategic myopia towards Africa. Also in Brazil, it's a situation very serious is going on against the state of law, uh, and arbitrary judicial, uh, actions that are tearing the country apart. Uh, this, uh, should be of concern of our external policy and not only a few conflicts, because in these conflicts, we can intervene and we should intervene, and we can be successful. Mrs. Carlos. That's why I'm mentioning them. Because it's very important that we assert our policy in these theaters that are classical theaters for the European Union. Thank you very much.”
  EU engagement with Christian communities inside and outside the EU
• “President, commissioner, colleagues. The abuse of children is a monstrous crime which we must clamp down on with heavy sentencing practices. Protecting children is an absolute moral obligation. There's no relativism there. And digital monitoring is needed, but not at any cost. Totalitarianism begins by controlling people's speech and privacy. We can't transform all citizens into suspects. There are technological alternatives to this. Ai is being talked about. Ai can admittedly be used for bad purposes, but also for good as well. There are technical solutions which work and which will ensure that children aren't bullied or able to see pornography or fall into the trap of other threats. What's important here is to not use children to create a monitoring system. We need to protect children without turning our societies into totalitarian systems and societies. Once the instruments are in place to monitor parts of society, then those instruments and those tools will spread. The scope will be too big, bigger than the original purpose, and will end up with a society where we're constantly watched over a totalitarian system. And all of it starts because we wanted to protect children. Let's separate these issues and let's not go too far.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “(11:49:11 – 11:51:21): Thank you, mister chairman. I represent here the Liber Committee as a rapporteur for the NRPP. Dear colleagues, thank you for the opportunity to reach to react briefly on behalf of the Libbey Committee. Our draft opinion is guided by a simple objective, to ensure that this important regulation remains legally sound, proportionate, and firmly anchored in the treaties. We feel fully recognize the importance of protecting the union budget and ensuring that the union funds are managed properly, properly. And it is it is why we firmly believe that any mechanism affecting excess funding must be based on objective, verifiable, and duly substantiated evidence and on a sufficiently direct link with a sound financial management of the union budget or the protection of the union financial interests. Our concern is that the proposed dual horizontal conditionality framework combining charter and rule of law conditionality risks creating duplication, legal uncertainty, and excessive discretion. Nonbinding instruments, report, or recommendations might support policy coordination, but they should not, by themselves, justify adverse financial consequences for member states. We also underline that this regulation must fully respect the principles of conferral, subsidiarity, and proportionality as well as the constitutional structures of the member states. Multilevel governance and partnership are important, but they must remain compatible with national institutional arrangements and clear public accountability. Finally, regarding the EU facility, we believe it should complement, not replace, or override national and regional programming priorities. Its use should be limited to cases of clear urine added value and should not become a vehicle for centralizing competences beyond what the treaty show. Thank you very much.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Uh, thank you for the panelists. Uh, the principal, the active principle of this Democratic shield is to contradict, um, or to support democracy with autocracy. Obviously, it's a non-democratic tool in the hands of the European Union. And it's it's it's very interesting. We want to support independent media. How? Giving them money. €5 million here, €10 million. And they will become independent afterwards, for sure. I mean, you receive five, €10 million and you will become the most independent people in the world. I mean, give me a break. Uh, the other thing we are not discussing is the influence of the European Union in these countries, namely in the Balkans. I will focus on Republika Srpska, for instance, or in Bosnia. I was in Bosnia, predating during Dayton, after Dayton. Both as Portuguese ambassador and special representative of the European Union. And what we are doing with Republika Srpska is very simple. We are pushing Republika Srpska to secession. We are doing that, not the we are creating the conditions to do that. We don't talk to them. We don't go there. We don't do anything we went last week for the elections. Presidential elections. They went well. Democratically? Well, which was recognized by everybody.”
  EU relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dear colleagues. This situation that we have in North Macedonia is a bit difficult for so-called the old hands because the Macedonians, the people of northern Macedonia, is as rightly so. You said they are tired, they are away from the European Union more and more, and they are much more away than they were ten years ago, 15 years ago. And I think that's a problem. And this is partly our fault, not only from the council, like our colleagues said, but also from the Commission as well, because both of them did allow this situation to happen. First, I would like to to say that without hesitation that we should say that the North Macedonia has done an effort to approach the European Union and the EU screening process for all six negotiation clusters were completed in 7th December 2023. And this is not symbolism. This is our technical work done and we have to concede at this point, we have to understand that they are doing what they can in this particular point. Second, Skopje has maintained a clear political commitment in the European path with the reform agenda. They also have been they reform the Constitution, they reformed some laws and so on. And North Macedonia was also covered by the EU Rule of Law report, which was quite positive, about which I think it's I'd like to underline this, but on the other hand, the treatment of minorities, the treatment of the what what's going inside? Politics in the northern Macedonia must be assessed on a different way.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Well, uh, I agree with the EPP representative I think is pretty balanced report, and I think we can work out some good solution with that. Um, of course we we also think that Saudi Arabia is a key stabilizing partner in the region, as it was proven recently in Gaza, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Sudan. The humanitarian support and the mediation efforts in Gaza have been a very positive, uh, aspect of this, uh, Acting of Saudi Arabia as a concrete examples of regional leadership, I would like to underline the Riyadh roadmap talks in January 2025 regarding Yemen, the Ukraine war ceasefire negotiations, although it was not very successful in its substance from the formal point of view, was very good cooperation with the European Union through the eunavfor. Um, in the in the Red sea also has been a positive, uh, point of cooperation. The European Union, from the modernisation and opportunity of the country. I would like to underline that the major reforms have advanced women's participation in the workforce. It's very important. Now it's about 36%, uh, in building a very good civil society, ambitious infrastructure projects like the Expo 2030 30 and the FIFA World Cup 2034 are also good examples of the forthcoming efforts of Saudi Arabia.”
  EU-Saudi Arabia relations
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Commissioner, thank you very much for your explanation. Interesting. As usual, we have some concerns that I'd like to put forward. First of all, I think that we can never forget the cohesion between the Member states and to put in question that cohesion among ourselves. Secondly, we think that the Copenhagen criteria You must continue to be the cornerstone of the cornerstone of the of the criteria. And obviously we have to divide these criteria into the technical ones and the political ones, and not to value too much the political ones, because we may end up in situations that will inevitably will do not permit the accession. You spoke about the bilateral issues. I think you're absolutely right. I mean, we should keep bilateral issues away from the process. Accession process. Uh, another thing that concerns me very much is Bosnia. Bosnia is a very complicated situation. We all know that. And we should pay more attention and more diplomatic attention to To Bosnia, then we do know, and I'd like to thank you for the answer to me and to my colleague, MEP Sturza, about the expenses your office is doing. And I see that you are funding the High Representative Office in Bosnia. It's a it's a role that we think that should not exist anymore because we cannot we cannot give a seniority to a country and at the same time to be like a father and son situation. So I'd like to clarify this and to have food for thought, if you don't mind, to take this thing a little bit further in the future. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement