Ilaria SALIS

Policy topics Ilaria SALIS is active on

What Ilaria SALIS has said (25)

• 2025-11-20 “E-464425/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The applicable rules for granting international protection are laid down in Directive 2013/32/EU 1 , which refers to Directive 2013/33/EU 2 on detention of applicants. The latter sets out grounds and safeguards for detention, without prejudice to other grounds under national law. Under Directive 2008/115/EC (‘Return Directive’) 3 , Member States have the obligation to issue a return decision to illegally staying third-country nationals and to take all necessary and proportionate measures to ensure effective return. When other sufficient but less coercive measures cannot be applied effectively, it allows for detention for the purpose of removal. These directives also set out safeguards to guarantee the protection of fundamental rights during the asylum and return processes, including refugee protection, the principle of nonrefoulement and human rights obligations, which Member States have to respect. Member States are solely responsible for assessing applications for international protection and carrying out return, ensuring compliance with EU law, including the respect of fundamental rights. The Commission cannot intervene in assessing the merits of individual cases. The Commission visited the Busmantsi facility in November 2025, as part of the Schengen evaluation of Bulgaria, to determine if the Bulgarian authorities implement pre-removal detention in line with EU requirements and standards. The outcome of the evaluation will be reflected in the 2025 Bulgaria Report, to be adopted in line with Regulation (EU) 2022/922 4 . It will provide the Commission with a basis for engaging with Bulgaria on structural reforms, including, where necessary, matters related to the use of pre-removal detention. 1 Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection (recast), OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, pp. 60-65, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2013/32/oj. 2 Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast), OJ L 180, 29.6.2013, pp. 96-116, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2013/33/oj. 3 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, pp. 98–107, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/115/oj. 4 Council Regulation (EU) 2022/922 of 9 June 2022 on the establishment and operation of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1053/2013, OJ L 160, 15.6.2022, pp. 1-27, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/922/oj.”
  Asylum & border control
• 2025-11-05 “E-004366/2025 Answer given by Ms Šuica on behalf of the European Commission Respect for international and human-rights law, including the principle of non-refoulement and the protection of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, is at the centre of the EU’s engagement with Libya. EU support to Libyan authorities is intended to improve the protection of migrants and refugees, strengthen rights-based migration management and prevent loss of life at sea and in the desert. Whenever concerns or incidents are reported, the Commission raises them with the Libyan authorities and urges full compliance with national and international obligations. EU support is subject to continuous monitoring through regular reporting by implementing partners, monitoring visits by Commission staff, independent evaluations and, since 2019, a Third-Party Monitoring Framework. In parallel, the Commission maintains a regular technical dialogue with the Libyan authorities, in which compliance with international law and humanrights standards is consistently raised and specific incidents can be discussed. As regards the Italy–Libya Memorandum of Understanding, the Commission recalls, and consistently communicates to Member States, that EU law, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights, needs to be respected in the initiatives they undertake in the field of migration.”
  Asylum & border control · EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood
• 2025-07-23 “E-003048/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is not competent to comment or investigate on allegations related to police operations in individual cases in the Member States. As regards the use of spyware, the Commission’s position has been clear: any attempt to illegally access data of citizens, including journalists and political opponents, is unacceptable. Even where the use of spyware is linked to national security, and in instances where it falls outside the scope of EU law, national checks and balances need to ensure that safeguards are in place. The Commission has followed up on developments concerning the alleged illegal use of intrusive surveillance software in its annual Rule of Law Report, in particular as regards the functioning of national checks and balances in response to such allegations 1 . The EU data protection and privacy acquis offers comprehensive protection to the confidentiality of communications and users’ personal data and terminal equipment. The ePrivacy Directive 2 prohibits the interception of communications and access to information in the terminal equipment without the prior consent of the user. Any exemptions are subject to strict conditions and safeguards. The Law Enforcement Directive 3 is also applicable when competent authorities process personal data for law enforcement purposes. Processing of personal data under these instruments is subject to control by supervisory authorities, which have effective powers to examine any allegations of misuse, as well as subject to judicial review. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/publications/2025-rule-law-report-communication-and-country-chapters_en. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/58/oj/eng. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/680/oj/eng.”
  Surveillance equipment & spyware · EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2025-06-26 “E-002590/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission The protection of the rule of law and fundamental rights are key priorities for the Commission. The Commission monitors and reports on developments, both positive and negative, regarding the rule of law in all EU Member States. The sixth EU Rule of Law report was published on 8 July 2025 1 . The appointment of senior police officers in Member States is not related to the implementation of EU law, and as a result, a matter of national competence. Maintenance of law and order is primarily a competence of the Member States. Consequently, it is a competence of Italy to organise its law enforcement authorities and establish their tasks, organisation and employment conditions in line with its national law and any applicable provisions of EU social law. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1742.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law · Rule of law and democracy in the EU (political compass)
• 2025-04-07 “E-001410/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission Directive 2008/115/EC 1 sets common standards and procedures to return illegally staying third-country nationals. The rules on the assessment of applications for international protection are laid down in Directive 2011/95/EU 2 . When applying these directives, Member States have to respect the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights 3 , including the principle of non-refoulement and the right to an effective legal remedy. The Commission has no responsibility to take decisions relating to assessment of applications for international protection and on the return of illegally staying third country nationals. This responsibility lies entirely in the Member States competences and the Commission cannot intervene in the assessment of the merits of individual cases. The Commission may only decide to follow up on an individual case if the latter reveals a general practice of incorrect application of EU law in the Member State concerned or if it relates to a problem of compliance of national legislation with EU law. The Commission closely monitors Bulgaria’s implementation of the asylum and return rules, including the respect of fundamental rights. Compliance with the return acquis is also assessed in the context of the regular Schengen evaluation mechanism. 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, p. 98-107. 2 Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted (recast), OJ L 337, 20.12.2011, p. 9–26. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12012P/TXT.”
  Asylum & border control
• 2025-03-27 “E-001279/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission Publishing online photos and names of members of the audience attending a court hearing and sharing any lists of such attendees constitutes processing of personal data, which must fulfil the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 1 , including the need for a valid legal basis for the processing, such as the data subject’s informed and freely given consent. The monitoring and enforcement of the application of the GDPR in the Member States falls in the competence of national authorities, in particular data protection authorities and courts. Without prejudice to its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission is not in a position to investigate individual cases of alleged violations of the GDPR or national data protection provisions implementing it. The Commission promotes and protects fundamental rights by ensuring that legislative, policy and administrative measures falling under EU competence comply with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. However, the Commission has no general powers to intervene with the Member States in the area of fundamental rights. It can only do so if an issue of EU law is involved. Moreover, issues related to publicity and security during trials such as the one at hand are not regulated under EU law, and are therefore left to the discretion of the Member States. It is for Member States to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected in accordance with their national legislation and international human rights obligations, such as those stemming from the European Convention on Human Rights. The isolated incident referred to in the question is not directly related to judicial independence. 1 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation), OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1–88.”
  Privacy & digital economy · Rule of law in Hungary
• 2025-03-12 “E-001068/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission Member States are responsible for maintaining law and order and safeguarding internal security, and any action by national authorities, including national police officers, remains the responsibility of the Member State concerned, Italy in this instance. The Commission attaches great importance to the respect for the procedural rights of suspects and accused persons. Based on proposals by the Commission, the EU has, since 2010, adopted six Directives, aiming at a high level of fair trial rights 1 . They cover important procedural rights, including the right of access to a lawyer without undue delay after deprivation of liberty. Another key priority of the Commission is the rights of victims of crime. The 2012 Victims’ Rights Directive 2 provides for a set of rights to all victims of crime, including victims of crime committed by police officers, notably the right to be recognised and treated in a respectful, sensitive, tailored, professional and non-discriminatory manner. In 2023, the Commission adopted a proposal for a revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive which aims to further strengthen the rights of all victims of crime, notably the most vulnerable victims. Member States should promote and apply their law enforcement rules of conduct in full respect of their European and international human rights obligations. According to these obligations, national authorities should investigate individual cases of reported police misconduct and ensure access to justice. 1 Directive 2010/64/EU on the right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings; Directive 2012/13/EU on the right to information in criminal proceedings; Directive 2013/48/EU on the right of access to a lawyer in criminal proceedings and in European arrest warrant proceedings, and on the right to have a third party informed upon deprivation of liberty and to communicate with third persons and with consular authorities while deprived of liberty; Directive (EU) 2016/343 on the strengthening of certain aspects of the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at the trial; Directive (EU) 2016/800 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects and accused in criminal proceedings; Directive (EU) 2016/1919 on legal aid for suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings and for requested persons in European arrest warrant proceedings. 2 Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA, OJ L 315, 14.11.2012, p. 57.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters · Gender roles, equality and inclusion · EU policy on victims' compensation rights
• 2025-02-25 “E-000830/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission As already indicated in the reply to Parliamentary Question E-001970/2024, the European arrest warrant is a judicial procedure between judicial authorities in the Member States based on the particular circumstances of each individual case where surrender is requested. Neither the Commission nor the Member States’ governments can interfere or influence decisions taken by judicial authorities. The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) is tasked to facilitate the execution of requests for, and decisions on, judicial cooperation, including requests and decisions based on the European arrest warrant.”
  Rule of law in Hungary · EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2025-02-07 “E-000568/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU does not comment on decisions of national courts. The EU is strongly committed to international criminal justice and the fight against impunity. As such, the EU supports the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the principles set out in the Rome Statute 1 , and respects the Court’s independence and impartiality. In accordance with the Council conclusions adopted in 2023 2 , the Council calls upon all States to ensure full cooperation with the Court, including by the prompt execution of outstanding arrest warrants. The Commission continues to be very clear in its strong support to the ICC’s independent and impartial work, and its efforts to ensure full accountability for the most serious crimes of international concern and the enforcement of international justice. All Member States are Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, and thus must follow their obligation to cooperate with the Court under the Statute. The EU remains committed to engaging in a constructive dialogue with Libyan authorities. Continued engagement, alongside international partners, is essential to address the complex challenges related to the respect of international law and human rights in the country. Through its cooperation, the EU supports Libya’s transition towards state building, stabilisation, reconstruction, and reconciliation. This includes institutional support and technical assistance in the fields of justice and the rule of law. In November 2024, the EU adopted a EUR 8 million package to support justice and rule of law systems in Libya. This action, to be contracted in 2025, aims at strengthening justice and rule of law in the country, with a focus on juvenile justice, rule of law and anti-corruption institutions. 1 https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/2024-05/Rome-Statute-eng.pdf 2 Council conclusions on the International Criminal Court on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, Brussels 26 June 2023. https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-110822023-INIT/en/pdf”
  EU competences on foreign affairs · Support for International Criminal Court
• 2025-02-07 “E-000583/2025 Answer given by Ms Šuica on behalf of the European Commission The Commission monitors its programmes through several means, including regular reports from implementing partners, on the spot verification missions, results-oriented monitoring exercises and external and independent evaluations. Implementing partners of migration programmes provide comprehensive and frequent monitoring and analysis of the context in which they operate in the country and on the situation of human rights. Moreover, they carry out risk analysis and identify preventive measures to mitigate the risk that EU assistance could result in the violation of human rights. The EU Delegation also monitors the situation through regular missions, meetings and policy dialogue with relevant stakeholders. All this information serves as a basis for dialogue and guides the implementation of EU actions. In line with its commitments and principles, the Commission reserves the possibility to adjust, reprogram, or review its assistance and cooperation with partner countries if values were not upheld. In its decision-making, the Commission also duly takes into account the cost of nonintervention, and any impact its actions or non-action could have on the Tunisian population, people on the move or displaced persons. The Commission supports projects and initiatives in the area of migration governance and protection of vulnerable people, with a specific focus on victims of trafficking and smuggled people. As Tunisia and Libya are not qualified as countries at war, the focus is not on establishing a legal-humanitarian corridor, but rather on providing legal assistance and support to access existing justice mechanisms.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality) · Asylum & border control · EU-Tunisia relations
• “Thank you. And thank you to Mr. Baldwin for the presentation. I was speaking Italian. Investing in building new houses, especially if these are accessible and energy efficient. This can only be a positive choice. But in a neo liberalist context, such as the European Union, with a economy that is, um, not looking at social affairs, then this there's a risk of, um, negative effects, um, housing speculation and, um, an increase in inequality. So how can we avoid these very serious risks? I think that the task force needs to work on three fundamental priorities to ensure real access to housing in a sustainable fashion. First of all, we need, um, to, um, um, use ad hoc funds to rebuy housing stock. Secondly, we need, um, taxation on multiple properties and on, um, lots that are left unoccupied. Thirdly, we need to ban the use of platforms such as Airbnb, which in a growing number of cities is leading to gentrification and, um, an uncontrolled spiralling of rents. We need to address these structural issues because otherwise our response to the housing crisis risks not only being inefficient, but actually will further fuel speculation, and it will destroy the urban fabric of our towns and cities. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you. Chairman, will the spyware scandal in Italy once again shows that the government is operating according to an authoritarian and repressive way of thinking. And this is something we see when it comes to right wing governments. Right across the world, journalists have been spied on and their fundamental rights have been trampled under foot. This attack is worthy of a regime which has shown its contempt for the rule of law and civil liberties, and they've particularly been attacking those who defend the right to migrate for the right of migrants. Now, if Europe is going to be consistent with its values, it needs to come up with binding and clear rules. Firstly, utterly ban the use of spyware against activists, journalists or members of civil society. And they also need to be clear sanctions for those who violate these principles. This isn't just an issue that relates to the victims of the Paragon scandal. They should get official apologies and compensation. But this is something that affects all of us, because if this is ignored, then this kind of spyware will be used in a more a more systematic manner against anyone who dares speak out against those in power. It's a very serious matter that we're not hearing directly from the victims. I'd like to hear. I'd have liked to have heard directly from the victims here in this room. Now, I do have a question for Mr. Scott-railton. Could you give us some idea of how many, uh, how much, how many warnings you receive and how frequently you can look into them? Have you seen new trends or in the use of spyware? Is it more used? Thank you.”
  Surveillance equipment & spyware
• “In Milan, for example, living off a salary is almost impossible. Nurses, tram drivers, teachers and many other workers are obliged to look for a house tens of kilometres away and they face very long and expensive commutes. In other European cities, there are rules to limit short term rentals, but in Italy at the moment, we have no measures that are effective in terms of regulating this sector, and this is even more serious given that over 100,000 people in the country are homeless and 8% of the population lives in inadequate or inappropriate housing, we really need an urgent intervention at the European level, which guarantees everyone an appropriate housing solution. We need to put an end to this speculation that's emptying our cities and denying a future to people who actually live in these cities. So therefore, my question is which measures could be effectively adopted at the European level? Thank you.”
  EU regulation of short-term rentals
• “Thank you. Well, I've got two questions for the commission. Firstly, what are you doing to ask the Italian government to, uh, to bring the Italian government to account with regard to what happened with this spyware. Now, a second, more general question, which measures you adopting at the European level to further protect journalists and activists from illegal surveillance? Thank you.”
  Surveillance equipment & spyware
• “Thank you Tara and thank you commissioner but I must be very direct. The Commission's five year asylum and migration management strategy new will take into account national asylum and migration strategies regarding compliance with EU and international law. Yet what we see right now in member state is the opposite of compliance: growing violations and growing impunity. In Brussels itself, right here in the EU capital, children and families seeking asylum are denied shelter despite Belgium's clear legal obligation to provide reception. This has been happening for years. In Greece we saw a blanket three month asylum ban. People arriving irregularly simply barred from applying for asylum and pushed back without registration. This is a direct breach of EU asylum law. These are not isolated incidents. They are systematic violations of the EU asylum act by member state. Each time the Commission looks away. So my question is simple: what concrete action is the Commission taking to stop these breaches today, not in another strategy or report? And why is there are no infringement procedure again against governments that openly defy EU law? Why are member states allowed to ignore the rules with zero consequences? And right now it looks like the Commission is shielding member states instead of enforcing EU law. That makes EU complicit. We need accountability. We need enforcement. When will the Commission finally act?”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you. In Italy, despite increasingly higher levels of education than men, women continue to participate in the labour market less, earn less, and rarely hold management positions. On the other hand, they do most of the domestic work invisible pay, and are often not recognised even by those who benefit from it. Men, on the other hand, are responsible for paid work. They have their autonomy, independence and power. This is not the result of free choice. It is the result of an ancient, persistent system of power. That's patriarchy. Women have fought and continue to fight to change this state of affairs. And change is advancing, but it's still encounters male resistance. A recent example is the decision of Georgia Meloni's government to reject the introduction of equal leave a shameful, shameful, embarrassing choice, a choice that speaks volumes about the right wing currently in power, radically hostile to women's emancipation and gender equality. It is true, it is not enough to have a woman at the head of the government to make policies in favour of men, especially if she behaves like any other man.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Well, the home is really one of our basic rights. We have no home. Everything becomes fragile. Our jobs, our health, our dignity. But in Europe today, and in Italy in particular, too many people have no home. Too many people struggle to pay the rent, and a lot of workers cannot live in the cities where they work. This is a housing crisis. And we all see this. And I mean, it makes me angry and ashamed. How is it possible that we can't even guarantee a dignified home to all? And this happens when economic interests are put before the interests of individuals. When the market is left without any limits, you know, we need to intervene. We need to find solutions. We need to find political will. We need to actually make the the wealthy pay. And we need to also introduce taxes for. Tourists and also the seasonality of so much of the real estate. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you. Dear colleagues, every day in Gaza and across Palestine, people are injured. Killed, displaced. Land is stolen. Humanity denied. Life suppressed. How did we get to this point? And what is our responsibility? This is not just a matter of international politics. It is also a matter of political economy, of capital, greed and profit. Private corporations actively fuel and profit from the Zionist settler colonial project, the occupation and the ongoing genocide. This is the key message of the latest UN report by Special Rapporteur Francesco Albanese a power for capitalistic machine of profit is feeding destruction. Arms manufacturers like Lockheed Martin, Leonardo and Thales supply the weapons and fuel. Military escalation. Tech giants such as Google, Amazon and Meta enable mass surveillance and repression with no ethical restraint. Construction and machinery firms like Caterpillar and Volvo deliver the bulldozers that demolish Palestinian homes. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a coordinated system of profit. This is racial colonial capitalism. Genocide continues because it is profitable. But we have a duty. The European Union must suspend. Please come to an end. Association agreement now.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Thank you. In Italy, despite increasingly higher levels of education than men, women continue to participate in the labour market less, earn less, and rarely hold management positions. On the other hand, they do most of the domestic work invisible pay, and are often not recognised even by those who benefit from it. Men, on the other hand, are responsible for paid work. They have their autonomy, independence and power. This is not the result of free choice. It is the result of an ancient, persistent system of power. That's patriarchy. Women have fought and continue to fight to change this state of affairs. And change is advancing, but it's still encounters male resistance. A recent example is the decision of Georgia Meloni's government to reject the introduction of equal leave a shameful, shameful, embarrassing choice, a choice that speaks volumes about the right wing currently in power, radically hostile to women's emancipation and gender equality. It is true, it is not enough to have a woman at the head of the government to make policies in favour of men, especially if she behaves like any other man.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Italy is the country in Europe where you have the lowest cost of living, and we see that the average income is one. Sorry, the average rent is €1,000 per square meter. So we're looking at high cost of living and low income. Affordable renting has become a privilege. We're seeing a complete disaster. Social disaster? It doesn't have natural causes. It's basically down to specific political choices, and we can confront those if we want. At European level, there's some simple measures that can be taken. You can tax property. You can have progressive tax on income from rents and looking at short term rentals as well, and how that's dealt with. And make sure that you have a stock of public housing. Now these are things that could be applied. We haven't heard it from the commission however. What do we expect? Do we still think we can avoid this sort of crisis that's hitting millions of people?”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues work on the anti-discrimination directive has basically been stalled since 2008. 17 years, and in 17 years, the EU has not been able to take a step forward on something that should be obvious, fundamental, easy to support. Or maybe it isn't. Maybe there really is someone here in this House, or in the national governments that think it is a legitimate step to discriminate against people for their disability, sexual orientation or belief. And if that's the case, then please just say it openly, because here we're not talking about a radical reform, which is nonetheless necessary. We're talking about a very basic minimum guaranteeing everyone excluding no one fair treatment. But unfortunately, this Europe of rights is being held back by a majority on the right, and they can even defend the basis for human dignity. Discrimination is not a freedom. It is an abuse. It is an abuse that makes our society more violent and less fair. And if the EU is not able to, um, take action here, then we need to ask ourselves seriously what Europe is today.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for, uh, thank you to. I'd like to say thank you to our speakers in Italy in 2020, for over 600,000 houses were being used for short term rentals. That's almost twice as many as was the case in 2017. And during the same period of time, we've gone from 2.5 billion to over €9 billion in terms of income. But this is an incredibly serious issue. Firstly, you've got a speculation which is benefiting owners. And on the other side of the coin, you've got people struggling to find affordable housing. Many owners now prefer to prefer to rent to tourists rather than families, workers and students, and that dramatically reduces the supply of long term housing available. Millions of houses in Italy. Properties in Italy have left the rental long term rental market, and that means that prices have almost doubled in less than ten years. In 2018, average rental was less than €8 per meter squared. At the start of 2025, it was over €15 per meter squared, and with rental prices even higher in some cities where there are more tourists, and this has caused massive problems in urban areas, even large numbers of the middle class can't afford housing, and our city centers have basically become become open air hotels, which has a massive effect.”
  EU regulation of short-term rentals
• “Thank you. In Italy, despite increasingly higher levels of education than men, women continue to participate in the labour market less, earn less, and rarely hold management positions. On the other hand, they do most of the domestic work invisible pay, and are often not recognised even by those who benefit from it. Men, on the other hand, are responsible for paid work. They have their autonomy, independence and power. This is not the result of free choice. It is the result of an ancient, persistent system of power. That's patriarchy. Women have fought and continue to fight to change this state of affairs. And change is advancing, but it's still encounters male resistance. A recent example is the decision of Georgia Meloni's government to reject the introduction of equal leave a shameful, shameful, embarrassing choice, a choice that speaks volumes about the right wing currently in power, radically hostile to women's emancipation and gender equality. It is true, it is not enough to have a woman at the head of the government to make policies in favour of men, especially if she behaves like any other man.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Ladies and gentlemen. While in Trump's US academic freedom is under attack, Talk. We cannot not worry. In Europe, we saw the protests against what was happening in Gaza being cracked down. We saw conferences cancelled. And I think that this is very worrying. The Chose Europe for science initiative is extremely important and I back it. Europe should always be a refuge, a haven of peace, cooperation and hope. It would be beautiful if that were the case, if it were also this for immigrants who come from other parts of the world. But it's not. We only open doors to excellence. As if excellent weren't the fruit of collective work often invisible and underpaid? I think that's shortsighted. And I think this is a very capitalist approach. Universities need to be protected as a whole, as not as a showcase of individual merit. In Italy, those in research are often poor, trapped in chronic poverty. That that also have the issues they have also have a psychological impact and a physical impact on them. Universities aren't built by a handful of very skilled people. I believe that we need ambitious public policies that are inclusive and that involve everyone. We need proper investment in research because knowledge is the best added value, not only for economic reasons but also for cultural, social and democratic reasons.”
  Research priorities within the EU
• “Thank you. I will speak in Italian. Thank you. By now it's very difficult to get away from the feeling that this is an exercise of pure institutional hypocrisy. We've got to base ourselves on the rule of law, fundamental rights and protection of human rights. When we're talking about migratory policies, we talk in abstract terms. We, um, are in a political time where we're watching a return of racism, nationalism, and also all this propaganda which. Which claims to have security at its heart. And basically what people are trying to do is to stop migrants leaving cost, whatever this may cost, flouting human rights. Let's stop telling fairy tales. We've been known for years what's been going on in in Libya, rapes, extortion, torture. The United Nations have documented this. We all know about this. And the survivors also tell us what's been going on. And we continue to cooperate. And in fact, we talk about it. We talk about the need to reinforce cooperation with those people who, um, uh, with cooperation with these Libyan militia, with this Libyan militia, those people who are structurally involved in human trafficking. We continue to equip and finance and train a military militia, the so-called Libyan Coastal Guard. This coastal guard, which six months ago, just to mention one episode, um, uh, shut down a a vessel off its coast, um, with total impunity. Many people died, but this is systematic and it concerns many countries from Tunisia to Turkey. Now, I would like to ask a question to the Frontex representative. If Frontex really does work to respect its own mandate, guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights across all of its activities, respecting international law, community law, how is it that you're not aware of these? How is it that there are no consequences for this, for these activities. Or are you just taking taking the Mickey? Thank you.”
  Asylum & border control