Cecilia STRADA

What Cecilia STRADA has said (20)

• 2026-03-26 “Answer given by Ms Šuica on behalf of the European Commission 6.5.2026 Written question In 2026, the EU will sustain its support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). On 16 April 2026, Member States approved the proposal from the Commission to allocate EUR 82 million [1] to the 2026 Programme Budget of UNRWA. Additionally, on 16 March 2026, the EU announced a substantial humanitarian aid package of EUR 124 million for Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. UNRWA will benefit from humanitarian funding, underscoring its indispensable role in delivering life-saving assistance to Palestine refugees. The Commission welcomes the outcome of the conciliation procedure on the 2026 budget, where a EUR 35 million reinforcement for the Southern Neighbourhood was agreed by the Budgetary Authority. The modalities and repartition of that reinforcement will be defined and adapted to the evolving situation on the ground. The Commission remains steadfast in its commitment and support to UNRWA to enable the Agency's capacity to fulfil its mandate. In parallel, the Commission continues to pursue pragmatic solutions in coordination with UN agencies and humanitarian partners, to safeguard the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance, ensuring operational continuity under all circumstances. [1] https://north-africa-middle-east-gulf.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-announces-multiannual-programme-palestinian-recovery-and-resilience-worth-eu16-billion-2025-04-14_en.”
  Support for international humanitarian organisations · EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · Relations with Israel - Palestine
• 2025-11-03 “E-004302/2025 Answer given by Mr Síkela on behalf of the European Commission In June 2025, the Commission formalised an internal procedure to handle human rights complaints in EU-funded projects. The procedure aims to ensure that the complainant receives an acknowledgment of receipt, that a process of verification is conducted and that suspension or termination clauses in contracts are triggered, where necessary and justified. In May 2025, the Commission developed a document to guide staff in applying the human rights-based approach to migration and forced displacement. This applies at all stages of the project cycle and will be used as the basis for staff training, on human rights indicators and monitoring. These measures build on several layers of monitoring by partners, the contracting authority and through results-oriented monitoring. All EU projects must identify risks related to human rights. One of the aims of the new guidance is to further strengthen risk identification, assessment and mitigation. Finally, based on standard clauses in EU contracts 1 , in case human rights violations occur, funding can be suspended or terminated. Those provisions were strengthened in the update to the Commission’s contractual templates in January 2025. Implementing partners must respect EU values, including human rights, and this obligation also applies to their grant beneficiaries and contractors. Partners shall notify the EU without delay of any credible allegations of violations of human rights affecting implementation. Contracts also provide that these values are to be respected when assets are transferred to third parties at the end of implementation. 1 https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/spaces/ExactExternalWiki/pages/152798822/Annexes#Annexes_QW5uZXhlcy1Bbm5leGVzRShDaC42KTpHcmFudHM.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · Conditions to access EU humanitarian aid
• 2025-04-23 “E-001623/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission Hybrid threats arising from the weaponisation of migration by Russia, assisted by Belarus, pose a risk to the sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity of the concerned Member States, and to the security of the EU as a whole. In December 2024, the Commission adopted a Communication on countering hybrid threats from the weaponisation of migration and strengthening security at the EU’s external borders 1 . This Communication provided the legal context in which any exceptional measure to tackle this threat can be taken, taking into account the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Union that provides guidance as regards the conditions and limits. When managing their external borders, Member States have a duty to act in line with their obligations under international law and EU law, including the respect of the principle of nonrefoulment and of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Commission is in contact with the Polish authorities to ensure that the protection of the EU’s external borders against the weaponisation of migration is done in a manner that is compliant with international law and fundamental rights. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52024DC0570.”
  Asylum & border control
• 2025-04-15 “P-001544/2025 Reply Concerning Ukraine, the Council has not discussed the issue of the use of cluster munitions by Russia in the attacks of 13 April 2025. The EU recognises the humanitarian goals of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting the protection of civilians from the devastating impacts of explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions. The EU is concerned by the impact on civilian populations of the indiscriminate use of cluster munitions, including the use of cluster munitions by Russia in its unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine in blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Concerning Gaza, the EU deplores the breakdown of the ceasefire, which has caused a large number of civilian casualties in recent air strikes. It also deplores the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages. The EU has called for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement 1 . Israel is bound by international humanitarian law (IHL) and applicable norms of international human rights law (IHRL), including, as an occupying power, the obligation to protect the population under occupation. The EU has called on Israel to adhere strictly to the rules and principles of IHL and IHRL governing the use of force and the conduct of hostilities, including humanity, necessity, distinction and proportionality 2 . The most recent EU-Israel Association Council, held on 24 February 2025, served as institutional framework for political dialogue and cooperation under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. At this meeting, the EU also recalled that, pursuant to Article 2 of the Association Agreement, relations between the European Union and Israel must based on respect for human rights and democratic principles 3 . Furthermore, following the discussion at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May 2025, the High Representative announced the launch of a review of Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the Association Agreement 4 . 1 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/viyhc2m4/20250320-european-councilconclusions-en.pdf 2 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-6511-2025-INIT/en/pdf 3 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-6511-2025-INIT/en/pdf 4 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2025/05/20/”
  Disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons · Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term) · Relations with Israel - Palestine
• 2025-04-15 “E-001532/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission On 24 February 2025, during the 13th meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council, the High Representative/Vice President (HR/VP) and the Commissioner for the Mediterranean expressed the EU’s concerns in relation to the Israeli legislation on registration and visa issuance for international non-governmental organisations (NGO) as well as with the bill aiming to introduce financial and operational restrictions for internationally funded NGOs. In particular, the ‘risk of restrictions for foreign-funded NGOs, limiting civil society and its democratic participation and activity’ was highlighted in the EU statement 1 . Similar concerns continue to be shared with Israel authorities at different levels of representation, both in Brussels and in Israel. The EU is closely following the matter, including through regular contact with international NGOs. In its relations with Israel, the EU considers that political engagement and frank and open dialogue are the most effective ways to convey EU concerns. The Association Agreement with Israel 2 is the legal basis of the EU’s ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities and it provides mechanisms to discuss issues and advance the EU’s point of view. In this framework, the EU will continue to reaffirm its commitment to the applicability of international human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory. The EU keeps under constant review all agreements with third countries, and the principles and values upon which they are based. The possibility of a review of Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the Association Agreement has been discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 May 2025. Based on this discussion, the HR/VP has announced that such a review will be undertaken. 1 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-6511-2025-INIT/en/pdf. 2 https://eeas.europa.eu/archives/delegations/israel/documents/eu_israel/asso_agree_en.pdf.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine · Support for international humanitarian organisations
• 2025-01-14 “P-000121/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU supports the independence and impartiality of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and promotes the universality and full implementation of the Rome Statute. In leading the fight against impunity, the ICC must be able to work independently and impartially. The EU remains committed to defending the ICC from any outside interference aimed at obstructing the course of justice and undermining the international system of criminal justice. The bill passed by the United States (US) House of Representatives on 9 January 2025, which mandates the administration to impose sanctions on the ICC, represents a challenge to the Court’s independence and risks undermining the international criminal justice system as a whole. The EU is following closely this process, which still needs to go through additional steps in the US. The extra-territorial application of the US sanctions, as well as compliance by operators, could lead to the suspension of essential services and could have serious consequences on the daily functioning of the ICC and on all 17 situations currently under investigation in different regional areas where atrocity crimes were allegedly committed. The Commission is therefore carefully assessing the situation and preparing for all scenarios. The EU will continue its unconditional support to the crucial work of the ICC and will closely monitor any impact in Europe.”
  EU-US relations · Support for International Criminal Court
• 2024-11-28 “E-002697/2024 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU does not comment on the positions of national officials in relation to the decisions of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and their execution. The position of the EU is clear. The EU consistently recalls that Member States, as states parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, have an obligation to cooperate fully with the ICC in the investigation and prosecution of crimes within its jurisdiction, including in the prompt 1 execution of outstanding arrest warrants. In this regard, the EU recalls that any instance of noncompliance hinders the ICC in the exercise of its functions and emphasises the need to fully implement the International Court of Justice orders 2 . The EU is committed to the effective functioning of the ICC 3 and will continue to cooperate in the framework of their Agreement on cooperation and assistance 4 , including, pursuant to Article 6 of the Agreement, by adopting initiatives to promote the dissemination of the principles, values and provisions of the Statute. The EU will continue to fully support the ICC through the means at its disposal, and to double efforts to identify new avenues for strengthened cooperation with the ICC, which is essential for it to fulfil its mandate. 1 Council conclusions on the International Criminal Court on the occasion of the 25 th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, 26 June 2023. 2 European Council conclusions, 17 October 2024. 3 Council conclusions on the International Criminal Court on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, 26 June 2023. 4 Agreement between the International Criminal Court and the European Union on cooperation and assistance, of 28.04.2006 (OJ L 115/50).”
  Support for International Criminal Court
• 2024-10-22 “P-002206/2024 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission When Member States extend the application of national law implementing EU law to situations falling outside the scope of EU law, they must do it in a way that does not undermine or circumvent the application of harmonised rules or obligations under EU law. As regards the initiative carried out by Italy following the signature of a protocol on migration management with Albania, the implementation of the protocol under Italian law must not undermine the Common European Asylum System or be detrimental to common EU rules. Moreover, it needs to be complementary to the existing avenues to access asylum and cannot prevent the aims and objectives of EU law in this field, nor prejudice the rights and guarantees that persons in these situations must be afforded by Member States. Based on the information available to the Commission, Italy’s initiative aims at transferring certain categories of third-country nationals intercepted in the high seas to centres in the Albanian territory, under Italian jurisdiction, to examine their applications for international protection. In case of rejection of such applications, Italy would carry out return procedures from these centres. According to the Return Directive 1 , a third-country national illegally staying on the territory of a Member State can be returned to his/her country of origin, to a country of transit in accordance with EU or bilateral readmission agreements or other arrangements, or to another third country to which the third-country national concerned voluntarily decides to return and where he/she will be accepted. The Commission will continue to follow closely the implementation of the Italy-Albania protocol, monitoring in particular the correct application of EU law in this context. 1 Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals, OJ L 348, 24.12.2008.”
  Asylum & border control
• 2024-09-14 “P-001714/2024 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission 1. In the European Council conclusions of October 2024 1 , the European Council reaffirmed the urgency of full, rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid at scale for Palestinians in need and of allowing and facilitating humanitarian workers and international organisations to operate effectively inside Gaza. The EU continues to pass these messages in statements as well as bilaterally in its contacts with the Israeli authorities. Compliance with international humanitarian law is at the heart of the EU’s external action – as well as ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, supporting and promoting principled humanitarian action and safeguarding humanitarian space. 2. The EU has been clear in conveying its concerns, including to Israeli partners, through political engagement and frank and open dialogue. The Association Agreement with Israel 2 is the legal basis of our ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities and it provides important mechanisms to discuss issues and advance our point of view. 1 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/2pebccz2/20241017-euco-conclusions-en.pdf 2 https://eeas.europa.eu/archives/delegations/israel/documents/eu_israel/asso_agree_en.pdf”
  International humanitarian alignment with UN · Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “(15:48:02 – 15:49:19): you, chair. I was gonna put some technical questions, but other colleagues already put them. I'm interested in fundamental rights. Just trying to understand how how is this meant to work? Because the commissioner's talking about the treaties, and you're saying that, obviously, there has to be a respect of human rights. But we're looking at people today who are being sent from agree from 1 place to another, arriving in whichever country, and their right rights are being abused. So what I'm wondering is what do you want to do differently now to guarantee the respect of fundamental rights in applying this pact? Commissioner Brunner, you were talking about the obligation to provide protection, which obviously is something that that is a responsibility of, the European Union for people who are fleeing disaster in their own countries. But this there's an obligation of protection. But what about third countries and safe third countries? If you're inventing this, then you we never have to, assume that obligation. So what are you gonna do differently to what you've been doing to date to guarantee the respect of fundamental rights? Because today, those rights are not being respected.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you. Good morning commissioner. I have a couple of questions mainly on how this commit—the Commission has been working. Yesterday a Commission approved two files that we consider very severe, very serious as far as the safe countries are concerned. Now why doesn't the Commission set up impact assessment programs which should be essential when we're talking about fundamental rights? This time there was no impact assessment and I would like you to not to answer because it's urgent because if we look at the Eurostat data tells us clearly that asylum requests have certainly dropped compared to the previous year. That irregular arrivals—I'm not saying illegal, please, this Parliament talks about irregular arrivals—they've also dropped. These are the figures from Frontex. So why don't you carry out an impact assessment? Doesn't the Commission do that? The second question is on transparency. The Commission has designated safe countries. This committee yesterday approved the Commission's proposal on the basis of fact sheets set up by the agency for a sign of which we can't publish. Why can't we let our citizens know the data that the Commission is basing themselves? I think my answer is whether these fact sheets show that these countries are not necessarily safe. They're full of death penalties and violating rights and so forth. Now I'd like to reconnect to the question the com—a colleague from the EPP raised: how can we guarantee that the rights would be respected? You said this will be in the agreements but we all know that it's not enough to put in an agreement in writing. Human rights must be protected because we don't do—we have any—we've had the proof with the Albania center even though Italy is over—is watching it. We cannot guarantee human rights. You keep quoting Albania and I'm wondering. I would like to come with you if I've got another two seconds here. Again the colleague from the EPP asked what incentives do you think we can give third countries to set up their regressments? The answer is money. They would do it for money. Question: what's gonna happen when they want more money? Don't you think we're putting ourselves in a position where they can blackmail us? Thank you.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you. Chair. Thank you. Udo and I will speak in Italian. First of all, thank you very much for the details you've provided us with. I've been a humanitarian worker all my life, so I'm particularly open to what you said and particularly concerned by the degradation of our vehicle. And I'm particularly concerned about the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, because I think that as a democracy, we have a great deal of responsibilities. And if we can't call for the respect of IHL by governments such as Israel, the whole system has problems. So I wanted to know whether you had any recommendations for us about the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, about what we could Do to protect the humanitarian area, which has been put under such pressure recently. Thank you.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Talking about the fact sheets, you have the fact sheets. We shared these fact sheets, you got them and you sure you had the chance to look through them. So we shared that because you were talking about transparency. You got these fact sheets, maybe you haven't read them but—Did you—sorry, we had great again. We should understand and maybe as you were talking with him the question is why we cannot disclose these fact sheets to the general public, to our voters, to the citizens.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “04:08 – 12:05:31): Very much Sharon thank you so much Vice President Raet Tala for taking the time to meet us today. I of course I do share all the concern also raised by my colleagues personally I've been asking officially along with other colleagues among those Chloe Riedel I've been asking for over one year to the European Commission to activate the blocking statute and now we have resolutions calling to activate the blocking statute still no reply from the commission actually I find this outrageous and not only because we cannot abandon the victims millions of victims but also because we cannot put at risk the life of the next victims because as I understand it the work of the international justice is not only protecting the victims but also to have accountability to deter the next crimes. And so really I think it's it's outrageous that the commission does not protects the its own judiciary system and I cannot understand why and so my full solidarity to the court then I had some questions in my mind but were already brilliantly asked by honorable Neumann so I will not waste your time and thank you so much thank.”
  Foreign interference in Europe
• “Yes, of course this committee voted. We were against the Commission proposal which basically—was led the Commission. Yeah, but the Commission reply to your—I was just wondering.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioner, when the ICC comes under attack, it's Europe that comes under attack. It's our values that are being attacked. Human dignity, international humanitarian law, peace, the independence of the judiciary. The court convicts war criminals. That's why it's being attacked. Those who are working on the Ukraine case have been threatened and convicted in Russia. And then the United States placed sanctions on 11 judges and prosecutors working on the Palestine case there. They're trying to force judges to do foreign powers bidding. And we can't have that. That's why we need this blocking statute. Okay. It's not perfect, but that's no excuse not to use it for the dignity of victims, for the independence of justice, and for our prosecutors and judges. We need to use it. The court is just the start. If we don't use this blocking statute now, others are going to be targeted. What are you waiting for? Commission.”
  Support for International Criminal Court
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. Israeli soldiers have used children as human shields Palestinian children. There are horrific stories that have emerged. Are the occupied territories? We've seen barbaric acts are instruments of the government have been conducting this ethnic cleansing in the region of Palestinians. These settlers, in other words, are active instruments of the government. Uh, the situation that is developing in Gaza is not satisfactory in any way. Indeed, we have to increase the pressure on the government of Israel, not reduce that pressure, and revisit this particular concept in inverted commas. As the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel, we have to stop the Israeli army. We have to stop financing. We have to stop financing. We have to stop trade, commerce with Israel, and we have to defend the international court as well with its rulings against Israel. Thank you very much.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Thank you. Chair. I would like to speak in Italian, if I may. I would like to thank Mr. Kelleher, the rapporteur for all of the work done so far and for the opinion, which is a very good basis for our work. Through my amendments, I would like to strengthen a couple of points by, first of all, highlighting an essential principle which is health is a fundamental right of an individual. And quality services cannot depend on income where you live. Your migratory status, any disability you might have or cannot be. Or on gender. That's part of the European pillar of social rights and therefore is of paramount importance. And the issues hit women, precarious women predominantly. And there are cyclical inequalities. So we need public services, public health services that are adequately funded and are strong and that work in the public interest. And as Mr. Kelleher said himself, research desperately needs for disaggregated data and we also need an intersectional approach. There's the LGBTQ plus communities, but also migrant women. They come up against many, many problems and it limits their access to treatment. And I also look at sexual and reproductive health as a fundamental right. We need education, we need contraception, which is accessible, and we also need safe and legal abortions. All of this needs to be guaranteed as essential public services. We also need to draw more attention to specifically chronic women female conditions as was highlighted. We also need to look at mental health during treatment. We can't, uh, look, we can't forget, uh, forced sterilization, female genital mutilation and other violence being perpetrated on women. It's a flouting of an individual's rights, but it also has to do with public services and therefore affect all of us. And we also need a European strategy for women. We need to prevent discrimination. Look at make sure that there are health systems that can counter gender violence. I'd like to thank the rapporteur once again. We're ambitious with this opinion. And of course, at the heart of it is women's health and without women's health, the entire society is ill. Thank you.”
  Sexuality and reproduction
• “04:08 – 12:05:31): Very much Sharon thank you so much Vice President Raet Tala for taking the time to meet us today. I of course I do share all the concern also raised by my colleagues personally I've been asking officially along with other colleagues among those Chloe Riedel I've been asking for over one year to the European Commission to activate the blocking statute and now we have resolutions calling to activate the blocking statute still no reply from the commission actually I find this outrageous and not only because we cannot abandon the victims millions of victims but also because we cannot put at risk the life of the next victims because as I understand it the work of the international justice is not only protecting the victims but also to have accountability to deter the next crimes. And so really I think it's it's outrageous that the commission does not protects the its own judiciary system and I cannot understand why and so my full solidarity to the court then I had some questions in my mind but were already brilliantly asked by honorable Neumann so I will not waste your time and thank you so much thank.”
  Support for International Criminal Court
• “So. So two clarifications. First of all, of course, I'm concerned about the issue of the nuclear program in Iran. But let's not forget that we have also on the other side, Israel, which has not signed the Non-Proliferation treaty, there are no inspectors going there. So I think indeed everything has to be done in so that so that the issue not only concerning Gaza and the West Bank as well, that everything be done in order to allow for assistance to be provided and of course, for the necessary controls to be conducted. We're speaking about behavior. We're speaking about international law. Indeed, we cannot cooperate with the country that is violating international law. And indeed, criminals are at foot here. Thank you.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine