misclassified/meps_speeches huggingface dataset:
Question Time (Commission) - Protecting critical infrastructure in the EU against attacks and countering hybrid attacks
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-10-18

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Dear Commissioner Schinas, ευχαριστώ πολύ – thank you very much for being here today with us. I believe this debate is extremely timely indeed.
The sabotage of Nord Stream 2 can be seen as an alarm bell that is telling us that we can be hurt substantially through physical actions, not to mention the already well—known capacity of third actors to interfere in our democratic processes through hybrid means.
While it is certainly true that we must create and empower ad hoc bodies and entities such as the hybrid response team, I have always considered it essential to follow a whole—of—government and whole—of—society approach in order to increase our resilience. To this extent, the strategic compass clearly states that one of the main points will be a reinforcement of the cyber diplomacy toolbox. Therefore, I would like to ask you to elaborate further on the way forward for moving this will from paper to concrete actions.
Will it be possible to include provisions on cyber actions in the international agreements that we signed for trying to prevent cyber attacks as much as possible?
And what about the diplomatic responses to be put in place in case these efforts fail?
Humanitarian situation after the devastating floods in Pakistan and the climate crisis (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-10-05

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, Commissioner, torrential monsoon rains triggered the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s recent history, washing away entire villages, killing over 1 600 people and displacing more than 33 million. This climate-induced disaster is leaving behind a trail of destruction, starvation and diseases. With a vast area of Pakistan likely to take months to dry out, waterborne diseases are spiking, as well as malnutrition, especially among children. 
Despite all the efforts of the international community, volunteers and the government, the unprecedented nature of the floods has resulted in a huge resource gap and Pakistan’s already overwhelmed health—care system lacks the resources to help all those who need treatment now. The lives of 100 000 more people are under threat as a second disaster looms within the first one. 
It’s imperative, under our principle of international solidarity, commitment and burden sharing, to answer the demands to increase cooperation and mobilise much more funds. But it will not be enough to increase humanitarian aid in an attempt to curb the possible risk of epidemics. To support the country at this dramatic time, action will have to be taken to support Pakistan’s reconstruction, rehabilitation and resilience, including through debt relief measures. It is not a time for fine words, but for immediate and effective action.
The Media freedom crackdown in Myanmar, notably the cases of Htet Htet Khine, Sithu Aung Myint and Nyein Nyein Aye
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-10-05

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, ‘the only security of all is in a free press’. These were the words of Thomas Jefferson, and they are more appropriate than ever to describe the appalling situation in Myanmar. Indeed, abolishing media freedom the military junta has razed whatever level of security for the people of Myanmar, granting itself liberty and impunity for committing barbarian acts such as those described in the resolution presented today.
What is even more impressive, yet very far from surprising, is that this brutal junta enjoys support from those authoritarian states we constantly criticise from this House, namely Russia and China, who are blocking every action potentially taken by the UN Security Council.
From this House, we must be absolutely firm in condemning the behaviour of the Tatmadaw and those who stand on their side. We should suspend the preferential status for commerce and every privilege they have and encourage the EU delegation and the diplomatic missions of the Member States to offer all practical support to those who risk their lives every day.
We call for an immediate arms embargo on Myanmar. The people of Myanmar have been forced to silence. We must be their spokespersons. Otherwise, also our freedom will result void and useless.
The recent humanitarian and human rights situation in Tigray, Ethiopia, notably that of children
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-10-05

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, in less than a month, the conflict in Ethiopia will enter its third year. Thousands of people have lost their lives and children and women, as usual, are the first victims. We have discussed this topic dozens of times, and I believe it is time to scale up our efforts, acting in three main ways. 
In the immediate term, we must guarantee humanitarian support to those in need, making sure that this aid reaches the local population. Then we must exploit this momentum, which seems favourable for the reopening negotiations. Indeed, our Union should provide all diplomatic support to the African Union without the intention to guide the process but assisting the negotiators in finding African solutions for two African problems.
And afterwards, in the medium term, we need to be on the forefront for ensuring that any peace agreement can last, providing financial and practical expertise for the retrieval of weapons that are currently in possession of combatants, especially civilians forced to embrace the arms. 
Our African counterparts have created an ambitious agenda for silencing the guns. Let us show that we are on their side, not only when tragedies happen, but every day until the guns will leave space for real human development.
Question Time (VPC/HR) Heightening tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan following the recent military escalation
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-10-04

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, io vorrei protestare perché lei ha detto, durante questo dibattito, che avrebbe applicato il metodo D'Hondt e lei ha escluso dal metodo D'Hondt il raggruppamento dei non iscritti. 
Io ritengo che questo sia fortemente antidemocratico perché siamo anche noi deputati. In democrazia i voti si contano e non si pesano e credo che anche noi avremmo avuto diritto, come per tutti gli altri gruppi, che infatti hanno avuto almeno un oratore, di poter fare un intervento. 
Io ho seguito tutto quanto il dibattito. Mi sono prenotato per tempo e reputo questa scelta fortemente antidemocratica e ingiusta. Abbiamo il diritto di essere deputati come gli altri. Non siamo figli di un Dio minore in questo Parlamento.
Impact of new technologies on taxation: crypto and blockchain (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-10-03

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, in May 2021, there were about 9 000 different cryptocurrencies with a market capitalisation of almost EUR 2 trillion, driven mainly by Bitcoin, the most popular one with a market capitalisation of Bitcoin that was about 850 billion. The simulated potential revenue of taxing capital gains from Bitcoin in 2020 amounts to EUR 900 million, almost 0.3 % of total tax revenue for property taxation in the EU. These numbers make enough clear how much is urgent to act on the taxation of cryptocurrencies. 
First, the Commission should assess the ways in which different Member States tax crypto-assets and the different national policies regarding the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion in the field of crypto-assets, underlining best practices and potential loopholes. Then the Member States should consider the specificities of the use of those assets in their national tax reforms to implement more effective systems that guarantee the fair, transparent, proportionate taxation of crypto-assets. 
Would that be enough? Of course not. The only real solution always remains a unique fiscal policy at the EU level. How many years will we still have to waste before figuring it out?
Human rights violations in the context of forced deportation of Ukrainian civilians to and forced adoption of Ukrainian children in Russia
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-09-14

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, Madam Commissioner, dear colleagues, according to reliable estimates, several hundred thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been forcibly deported to Russia, especially to the unpopulated regions in the far east of the country. This is also the area from which the overwhelming majority of the reportedly dead Russian soldiers were coming. Furthermore, and even more detestable, more than 250 000 children have been listed for adoption to Russian families, again in the least populous areas of the country. 
The plan here is crystal clear. The Russian regime does not plan to stop sending these young men and women to die for a brutal and unjustifiable war. Instead, they have already started to substitute those who fall with other innocent human beings, disrespecting all basic international laws. 
Dear colleagues, it is not the first time that this happens. Some of you perfectly know what Russian deportation looks like, since your countries have experienced that during the 20th century. From this House, we have already said, ‘never again’. Yet it is happening right now again. We must stand firm in condemning these atrocities, and we call on the international community to immediately open an investigation and to bring all those responsible, including Putin, of this atrocity accountable in front of the International Criminal Court.
Question Time (VPC/HR) The state of play of the war in Ukraine
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-09-13

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – At the G7 summit earlier this month, the leaders of the participating countries agreed to set a price cap for Russian oil exports, triggering a strong reaction from the Russian side, with Putin declaring that in case this happens, he would stop exporting oil to Europe. Therefore, dear Josep, I would like to ask you to elaborate a bit further on our possibility to enforce this decision without generating a boomerang effect on our economies and on our citizens. One of the main options put forward by the analysts is to deny Russia the access to the London insurance market, which covers around 95 % of the global oil shipping. Do you think this would be a sufficient deterrent? And is there a consensus among the EU Member States to proceed this way? Also, I believe that one of the main objectives of our elections should be to enlarge the number of countries worldwide that would support this initiative, in order to consolidate the bloc of liberal democracies opposing this barbaric war. Is there any outreach plan to foster cooperation with our partners? And how is it looking at the current stage?
The situation in the Strait of Taiwan (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-09-13

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, Commissioner, High Representative, when we talk about Taiwan, there’s only one question that really matters: what can we do in practice to avoid the conflict that has been long predicted, that could have catastrophic human costs, and that would represent yet another attempt from autocratic powers to eradicate democracy from their neighbourhoods as it is happening in Ukraine?
I believe there is only one answer. We have to support Taiwan in making clear that the costs of an invasion would be unbearable for Beijing. As we cannot the risk of military escalation, we have to rely on what has always been the hallmark of our external action: diplomacy and commercial strength. To do so, it is paramount that we remain united among ourselves, willing to scale up our relations with Taipei, including through our bilateral investment agreements, and act as a monolith in countering China’s attempts to destabilize us through propaganda and trade retaliation. Therefore, I commend Lithuania for opening its trade office in Taiwan, and I expect more Member States as well as our Union as a whole to show the same courage, demonstrating to the world that we stand united in defending our defining values, that we stand firmly next to the brave and democratic people of Taiwan.
Taxing windfall profits of energy companies (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-07-06

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, Commissioner, as inflation in the EU shot to a new record in June, cost increases are exacting a deep toll on the economy, eating into most Europeans’ wages.
But for many of our largest companies and their shareholders, it has been a very different story. The pandemic, the war and the supply chain bottlenecks have created a smokescreen that allows companies to pass on inflationary costs to consumers via price increases. Is it appropriate that during all this uncertainty that this be a moment in which large corporations continue to enjoy huge profits?
A temporary tax that would apply to excess profits of all multinational companies is for sure a good starting point. But the long—term solution must be to reform our laws to tax the companies that benefit most from the EU’s internal market, and to stop the corporate tax-dodging that is rampant today through a global minimum tax.
Let’s bring in the revenue we need to support working families, and accelerate the shift to renewable energies. And let’s make this year the last year any company with massive profits pays almost no corporate tax in the EU. Now it’s really time for change.
2021 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-07-05

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, dear colleagues, as the main outcome of the last European Council, we have applauded the decision to give Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate status. While this was an essential political message aiming at reaffirming our undiminished commitment for the future membership of the countries in the Western partnership, this fast track is causing turbulences in the Western Balkans.
For this reason, the Council’s readiness to grant candidate status to Bosnia is a very important step as we cannot risk further disenchantment and we cannot give the impression that we are leaving the Western Balkans behind. The implementation of the commitments, as set out in the political agreement reached on 12 June 2022, will be paramount and I strongly hope that after the Commission reports on the 14 key priorities, as requested by the Council, we’ll swiftly welcome Bosnia Herzegovina as an official candidate.
Dear colleagues, delaying further the inevitable EU perspective for the Balkans in the EU is like playing with fire as there is a concrete risk that they will look elsewhere. As we perfectly know where this ‘elsewhere’ is, I am sure we don’t want that to happen.
2021 Report on North Macedonia (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-05-18

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, dear Commissioner, despite undiminished popular support for European integration, trust in the EU as the most important partner and ally for North Macedonia has dropped by 30% in the last two years. This tells us a lot about our relationship with this country which, since it embraced the European perspective in 2004, has undergone significant reforms and international efforts – even changing its official name. Now it is time to give concreteness to Macedonia’s EU aspirations, or it will be too late.
June may represent the point of no return. Supporting the accession negotiation means strengthening the EU’s role and credibility in the whole Western Balkans region. It means strengthening reformers throughout the region and contrasting and weakening those anti—European forces that depict us as unreliable, and the European future of the Western Balkans as an illusion.
The Commission report on North Macedonia stresses once again how the country has met all the conditions to start negotiations. This Parliament strongly agrees. Our High Representative agrees and – as he referred – the Foreign Affairs Council agrees. We owe it to this country. We owe it to the leaders who reach out to neighbours and minorities at home in the true spirit of reconciliation. We owe it to the North Macedonian people.
2021 Report on Albania (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-05-18

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, the status in which we have relegated Albania is something we cannot afford anymore as the geopolitics of our neighbourhood is showing us once again, if there was still any doubt, how the enlargement perspective of the Western Balkans is more important than ever.
I fully agree with High Representative Borrell when he says that this situation is not only harming the candidate countries but is also harming us, presenting tremendous costs in terms of credibility and political perspective. It gives to Russia and other players who want us weak and divided.
Dear colleagues, Albania has made its homework. Albania has achieved concrete reforms and real progress, and is demonstrating its willingness to advance in its accession process. Now it’s our turn to deliver. There’s still a chance in the June Council to remedy this historical error.
My plea to our Bulgarian friends is to lift their veto so that the Council can do finally the right thing. We have huge challenges coming in the near future. We are all aware of that, and I strongly believe that we can better face them if we overcome our divisions.
Dear colleagues, the time is now. We can’t wait anymore because the rest of the world won’t wait for us. Albania is Europe. Europe must be together with Albania.
Reports of continued organ harvesting in China
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-05-04

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, Madam Commissioner, it is beyond reasonable doubt that in China forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience has been practised – this is the conclusion of the China Tribunal – from persons not clinically dead, according to a recent study by the Australian National University. 
The targets are well known – Falun Gong, Tibetans, Muslims, Christians and Uyghurs. People treated like livestock, subjected to compulsory health checks, just to be sure their organs can be harvested. 
Dear colleagues, this is the one of the worst atrocities committed in modern times and without a doubt an outstanding crime against humanity. Despite our helplessness in affecting Beijing policies, as seen yet again at the recent EU—China summit, we can’t stop trying to use all our pressure to finally achieve some concrete steps.
For this reason, I call for a full and transparent international investigation to shed light on these appalling violations, as well as for additional strong, targeted sanctions for those who are responsible for that. 
We need to use all means at our disposal, including commercial tools, so that Beijing faces up to its responsibilities. More than anything, as EU representatives and even more as human beings, we need to keep being the voice of those who do not have one – loudly denouncing a situation which is just unacceptable. Because if we don’t do that, no one will.
The follow up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-05-03

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, thank you very much, dear colleagues, despite the initial scepticism of some Eurosceptical governments, the Conference on the Future of Europe turned out to be a success, empowering participative democracy at its outmost and putting long-sighted proposals on the table.
Now it is time to move forward, to achieve citizens’ goals and hopes, turning them into concrete actions. And there is only one way to do so. We must open a new convention for discussing the much-needed deep revision of the Treaties towards a federal Europe. And as this would be a clear divide in the history of the European integration, there would be no better place than Ventotene Island, where everything began, to do so.
We are in front of a crossroads. We can move towards a genuine political union, a strategically autonomous union, moving to qualified majority, and thus growing into a real player at the global stage. Or we can remain divided, becoming the chessboard where other actors play their geopolitical games as is happening with the criminal aggression of Ukraine.
Only a new treaty of Ventotene can allow us to pursue the first option. And if the main road is the convention, we must also be prepared to cope with certain national reluctances or blockages, thus foreseeing back-up solutions, including the possibility to set up new forms of reinforced cooperations. Let’s finally sit around the negotiation table. There will be an understanding of who wants to be on the right side of history and who does not. We stand for a Treaty of Ventotene, for a free, democratic, sovereign and federal Europe.
(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card speech)
The follow up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-05-03

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI),  blue-card reply. – Thank you, my answer is very clear in that regard. I stand for the strengthening of the European integration moving towards a federal Europe because I truly believe that, otherwise, facts will decide instead of us.
As is happening right now with the criminal invasion of Ukraine, as happened many times also with the multiple crisis we were experiencing in the last decades. And I must, of course, underline the fact that we did not always have all the tools we needed to face and tackle these crisis. Sometimes we have been a bit original and creative, we found an ambitious solution, like Next Generation EU, but I am calling for a permanent structural common European debt and a real federal budget to tackle the global challenges in front of us. So, for me, this is the main road that I am going to stand for and defend as well as you. But I also hope that it will be the outcome of the Conference and the Convention, because the citizens were very clear in that regard and their voice must be listened to. Otherwise, we will just fuel and foster frustration instead of more commitment towards European integration.
EU preparedness against cyber-attacks following Russia invasion on Ukraine (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-05-03

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, according to some analysts, after the Russian criminal invasion of Ukraine, cyberattacks against the EU and its Member States have increased by 1000%. It goes without saying that these numbers must represent a wake—up call for us. 
The number one priority must be to pursue strategic autonomy and technological serenity, pledging adequate resources to this end. In particular, a shift of approach is really required. We can no longer focus only on hardware capabilities, but we need to include ambitious projects on the research and development of specific software. Otherwise, we will always remain dependent on third parties.
Second, we should insist on those success stories which already exist, such as ENISA, whose role should be further enhanced. At the same time, and even more in line with the prerogative of our House, we need to streamline cyber diplomacy with the final aim to create a safe, reliable and open cyberspace worldwide. The cyber domain represents the apotheosis of interconnection among EU Member States and, even more than in other fields, there are no individual countries that can boast a satisfactory and independent level of security. Let’s make this field the pilot for further European integration.
Question Time with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Security and the EU's strategic compass
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-04-05

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Dear High Representative, first of all let me congratulate you and the whole EEAS for having completed this unprecedented exercise that will give more coherence, ambition and renewed impetus to our approach to global politics. 
Moving decisively towards the Europeanisation of security and defence is something we cannot delay further, and the Russian criminal invasion of Ukraine represents yet another wake—up call. Eventually we have a guiding light, well—intentioned, in the Strategic Compass. 
My question for you is the following: the Russian criminal invasion forced us to react swiftly and in an unprecedented manner, and we could do it only thanks to the European Peace Facility. This instrument has proven to be an added value to our toolbox, allowing us to transfer military equipment to Ukrainian armed forces. However, the resources allocated for 2022 are already over, while the challenges we are facing are definitely not. 
Therefore, I would like to ask you whether there is an intention to frontload the resources in order to keep on supporting Ukraine, while also providing sufficient funding to several other partners, especially the African Union and its neighbours, to set up an effective continental security apparatus.
Question Time with the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Security and the EU's strategic compass
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-04-05

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Thank you very much. It’s certainly true that the most urgent issue to be addressed is the criminal invasion of Ukraine. And I am convinced that we can be a decisive actor in the conflict with several means in our variegated toolbox. However, we must not forget also the threats that we are facing, that they are variegated and they come from all strategic directions. 
Therefore, how will we ensure that sufficient attention and funding will be given also to the European Southern Neighbourhood? Will we increase our capabilities for operating theatres that are different from those present in the East and will the renewed impetus for military mobility keep this need into account?
Outcome of the EU-China Summit (1 April 2022) (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-04-05

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, High Representative, dear colleagues, I appreciated the EU’s approach to the last summit. A difficult meeting where we arrived with many colleagues still under sanction by Beijing, let’s not forget it. And in an extremely complex international context, the results have been underwhelming, but not because of the EU’s lack of trying and this adds to its importance.
The elephant in the room has obviously been the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the EU’s calls for help to end the conflict being answered by deliberate ambiguity, evasive responses and no explicit assurances from China. As politicians, we have to call facts and actions as we see them. And what I see is that China, with its wait and see attitude and its unwillingness to take a clear position, is in fact buying time for Putin, de facto helping him to continue with his bloody aggression war on the ground and attempting to change borders through the use of brute force.
The U.S. must continue to call out Beijing to abandon this ambiguity, stressing that the step between a guilty silence and complicity is a short one, not compatible with China’s proclaimed aspiration to be a global player for peace and stability. If China wants to be on the right side of history, it has to take a decision now and it must be a clear one.
Urgent need to adopt the minimum tax directive (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-04-04

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signora Presidente, signor Commissario, onorevoli colleghi, l'accordo quasi unanime che abbiamo firmato in seno all'OCSE per introdurre una tassa minima sulle multinazionali ha rappresentato un passaggio importante. Ma ci è stato presentato come un momento storico: si tratta invece di un compromesso già nettamente al ribasso, che risolve solo parzialmente il problema di un sistema fiscale internazionale, che è stato programmato per non funzionare.
Troppo poche le multinazionali incluse; l'aliquota al 15 %, inferiore perfino alla normale imposizione sui redditi dei lavoratori, è simile, molto simile al regime agevolato di alcuni Paesi europei, che non esito a definire paradisi fiscali di fatto.
Certo, col tempo queste soglie potrebbero essere alzate ma non se questo accordo viene blindato con l'intento di precludere qualsiasi potenziale cambiamento. Il testo della direttiva, ancor più nella bozza del Consiglio, non lascia alcun margine di manovra per future modifiche alla tassa minima.
Intanto gli Stati Uniti hanno imposto che gli altri Paesi ritirino le tasse digitali nazionali non appena le nuove regole entreranno in vigore e questo può essere accettabile solo se non si blocca una revisione possibile del quadro in futuro.
In un mondo afflitto da una pandemia e dalla guerra, finché le multinazionali non pagheranno la loro giusta parte, il prezzo vero lo pagheremo tutti quanti noi.
The situation of journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-03-10

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, the growing stigmatisation, the weakening of institutions, the increase in violence and the diffuse impunity all provide a clear message: in Mexico, the press and freedom of expression overall are under siege. Since his election in 2018, López Obrador has not only failed to improve the country's human rights record, but he has allowed the loss of many of the hard-fought gains activists, rights groups and campaigners have achieved since the end of one-party rule in Mexico. 
The Western world, the European Union included, has been noticeably silent regarding these accelerating attacks on democracy and fundamental rights. So far, the democratic clause of the global agreement has not resulted in any decisions or measures that help alleviate the continuous violation of human rights. If journalists and activists, especially activists for indigenous people’s human rights, are deliberately targeted and threatened while those who attacked them go unpunished, democracy itself is also under threat. 
As we are working at the modernisation of our joint comprehensive agreement, we need to be clear with the representatives – Mexico is a long-standing and, we stress in our resolution, vital partner of the EU – that the prospect of ratification is heavily reliant on improvement on human rights and on the government's clear commitment to international standards and obligation.
¡Derechos y libertad para todos los periodistas y los activistas mexicanos! ¡No estáis solos!
Myanmar, one year after the coup
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-03-10

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, the recent events made clear that we are facing a global battle: democracy versus authoritarianism; the rule of law versus the rule of power; respect for human rights against their total disregard. It’s a battle fought in different places with different means, and Ukraine’s invasion is only the most evident example. Nevertheless, it is the same fight.
One of the battlegrounds is in Myanmar. Since the coup in February 2021, the situation has continuously worsened. Some 1 500 civilians were killed, 12 000 arrested, 84 sentenced to death. Numbers that bring back ghosts from the past. China and Russia have taken a clear position in this fight. They block any attempt of the United Nations Security Council to draft a resolution. They legitimise the junta, which supports Putin’s war on Ukraine, also providing it with military means that are used every day in the repression.
Words fall on deaf ears. We need strong action instead. New and more stringent measures, coordinated international pressure, the referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court and the immediate suspension of Myanmar from GSP and EBA trade preferences. Yesterday was already late, Madam Commissioner. We need to use all instruments at our disposal and stay united, because their civil society should not feel abandoned and because this is a fight for democracy we can’t afford to lose.
Destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-03-10

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Madam President, in these days, we are all deeply moved by the criminal invasion of Ukraine, for which Putin created unacceptable justifications. He falsified the past, bending history to his propaganda needs, and he is trying to prevent a sovereign country from choosing its own future. 
Similar trends are present in Nagorno-Karabakh, where Azerbaijan’s authorities are trying to eradicate the cultural heritage of the autochthonous Armenian population in the territories they occupied with brute force. Monuments, medieval monasteries, churches, tombs: there is no respect for either the living or the dead. Cancelling the past, their leadership intends to criminally justify the future they have in mind for the region, and we cannot accept and let it happen. 
From this House we must speak clearly. We call on the Azerbaijan authorities to immediately halt this barbaric vandalism and to open a constructive and inclusive dialogue in the region. Furthermore, we encourage UNESCO to put in place its fact-finding mission, and we must support their endeavours, also taking a strong position vis-à-vis Baku’s reluctance to allow such deployment. As the Roman philosopher Cicero said, history is the witness of time, the light of truth, the teacher of life and is committed to immortality. Therefore, it cannot be rewritten to justify expansionist and imperialistic ambitions.
The situation in Bosnia Herzegovina (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-03-08

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, a un mese dal trentesimo anniversario della sua indipendenza la Bosnia-Erzegovina sta attraversando la sua peggior crisi politica dalla fine della guerra dei Balcani. Vecchie e dolorose ferite tornano a sanguinare. Addirittura viene affissa una placca celebrativa a Vračar di Ratko Mladić, criminale di guerra e genocida.
L'Unione europea ha espresso tutto il suo oltraggio per la situazione, ma non basta minacciare dure sanzioni e inviare 500 soldati per scongiurare la spirale di tensione interetnica, per scongiurare ancora il rischio che Dodik cavalchi il malcontento economico e sociale trasformandolo in sentimenti nazionalisti, mentre già partono tanti volontari filorussi dalla regione verso l'Ucraina.
Serve un nostro coinvolgimento diretto sempre più forte, con maggiori investimenti, per contrastare una crisi che oltre ad aspetti etnici ha anche connotazioni economiche molto chiare. Per proteggere l'importantissima prospettiva di integrazione europea va rivalutata profondamente, insieme ai diretti interessati, l'architettura stessa dello Stato bosniaco, superando i limiti emersi da trent'anni di crisi perenne e instabilità, altrimenti sarà sin troppo facile per Mosca continuare con la sua opera di destabilizzazione del paese, alimentando l'ennesimo scontro per procura e aprendo un secondo fronte nel cuore dell'Europa.
Russian aggression against Ukraine (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-03-01

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Mr President, today, we are not simply condemning an unjustifiable aggression. Today, we stand up united in this House to face the criminal invasion of an authoritarian regime against international law, our principles, our values, therefore against all of us.
Putin’s cynical bet assumes he would quickly overthrow the Ukrainian democracy with these divisions on the ground, but also brings other divisions no less dangerous through propaganda and fear within our countries, among our peoples. Our bond and duty is to make sure that he will fail. With our resolute support to the resistance in Ukraine and its official recognition as EU candidate and with the immediate adoption of a new solidarity package based on common European bonds. We must immediately support also our companies and families who will suffer the dire consequences of the dutiful sets of sanctions aimed at bringing Moscow to the negotiating table.
This is not the war of all the Russians. This is a crime perpetrated by a tyrant and his accomplices. Thousands of citizens are bravely taking to the streets to shout their clear ‘no’, risking their lives to oppose his imperialistic ravings. They deserve our full support.
This existential threat is a crucial moment in our history and calls for exceptional efforts. If we really want to protect peace, democracy and our common destiny, sometimes it takes courage to grow up and become who we really are. 
Slava Europa, slava Ukraini.
Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2022-01-19

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signor Presidente Karas, onorevoli colleghi, grazie davvero di cuore a tutti quanti voi.
È con forte angoscia che commentiamo quanto sta accadendo a Hong Kong, mentre la vediamo cedere sempre di più sotto i colpi decisi di Pechino, che incessantemente e con metodo quasi scientifico attacca e limita la libertà dei media, della società civile e delle organizzazioni internazionali, lasciando veramente pochi dubbi su quale sia il suo obiettivo finale.
Abbiamo pochissimi strumenti per supportare Hong Kong in questa improba contesa ed è per questo che dobbiamo usarli al meglio. Dobbiamo sollevare la questione in tutti gli incontri diplomatici sia a livello bilaterale che multilaterale, senza esitare a usare anche la leva commerciale per ottenere risultati concreti. 
Dobbiamo anche ottenere quanto prima, come richiesto dalla risoluzione in voto, forti sanzioni mirate e rendere inequivocabile che l'approvazione dell'accordo sugli investimenti non potrà mai avvenire fino a quando non ci saranno anche chiari segnali di miglioramento nella situazione di Hong Kong e dei diritti umani in generale.
La pressione economica e politica cinese è tremenda, ma proprio per questo servono la nostra solidarietà e la nostra comunità d'intenti per proteggere chi oggi non ha più voce, perché l'Europa che vogliamo, l'Europa per cui ci battiamo non potrà mai essere un'Europa forte con i deboli e debole con i forti.
Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2021-12-16

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, sono 750, per lo più vietnamiti e lavorano alla costruzione di una fabbrica di pneumatici e vivono in condizioni da incubo. L'inverno è alle porte e non ci sono né riscaldamento né vestiti pesanti. Tanti vorrebbero tornare a casa loro in Vietnam ma non possono perché gli sono stati ritirati persino i documenti. 
Si tratta di quella che viene definita schiavitù moderna. Non stiamo parlando di qualche situazione drammatica dall'altra parte del mondo, ma della Serbia nel cuore dell'Europa. La partnership sino-serba è fiorita negli ultimi anni, ma nasconde un lato oscuro nella forma di vistose violazioni ambientali e dei diritti dei lavoratori. 
Gentile Commissario, sottoscrivendo il processo di adesione – processo che io sostengo pienamente peraltro – la Serbia ha accolto specifici obblighi ambientali e sociali che devono essere rispettati, dobbiamo ricordarlo con fermezza. Dobbiamo essere in grado però di fornire anche un'alternativa concreta ai soldi cinesi sia con il piano economico di investimenti dei Balcani occidentali sia con il prossimo Global gateway. 
Dobbiamo fare sì che il messaggio che esiste un'altra strada arrivi forte e chiaro ai nostri partner di Belgrado affinché non si ripetano situazioni come quella di cui oggi stiamo discutendo.
Situation at the Ukrainian border and in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2021-12-14

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signora Presidente, signor Alto rappresentante, onorevoli colleghi, i movimenti di truppe orchestrati da Mosca sono sempre più preoccupanti. 
Vorrei ricordare a tutti, cari colleghi, che la minaccia, al pari dell'uso della forza, è una chiara violazione dei principi fondanti delle Nazioni Unite. Sì, ancora è poco probabile un'invasione diretta, ma vedere pressioni militari di questo tipo verso un paese democratico, unite a minacce cibernetiche costanti e disinformazione di massa è inaccettabile e deve indurci ad agire.
Sarà necessario adottare sanzioni economiche pesanti in caso di aggressione. Ma queste inquietudini rispetto alla possibilità di un'escalation devono farci comprendere i limiti delle nostre attuali capacità di risposta e l'importanza di procedere speditamente verso l'Unione della difesa, poiché solo con essa potremo sfruttare appieno le nostre capacità di mediazione e di peacemaking, solo con essa saremmo credibili se decidessimo di dispiegare, anche lì, una missione CSDP sul terreno.
Non è il momento di farci trovare indecisi, divisi o ancora impreparati. I decisori politici a Mosca devono sapere che un'aggressione militare avrebbe durissime conseguenze e altissimi costi. Solo in questo modo avremo quella credibilità ai tavoli negoziali che talvolta ci è mancata. Solo in questo modo la nostra voce sarà veramente ascoltata per proteggere un'Ucraina democratica.
Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2021-12-14

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, la criminalità organizzata non conosce barriere e confini e solo se saremo in grado di trovare soluzioni concrete ai problemi che affliggono i Balcani occidentali, potremo garantire anche la nostra stessa sicurezza.
Per farlo occorrerà innanzitutto rafforzare e favorire la cooperazione transnazionale, sia su base regionale che con gli Stati membri dell'Unione europea, questo anche attraverso il rilancio delle varie iniziative intergovernative che sono attualmente esistenti.
Sarà poi necessario procedere speditamente verso una piena partecipazione del Kosovo alle attività di Europol e di Frontex, trasformando i working arrangement esistenti attualmente in veri e propri framework agreement.
Allo stesso modo dovremo continuare a facilitare il dialogo tra Belgrado e Pristina per permettere l'ingresso del Kosovo in Interpol, stimolando così uno scambio di informazioni e di best practice, che è necessario per apportare soluzioni tanto nel breve quanto nel lungo periodo.
Supportare e guidare gli sforzi dei paesi dei Balcani occidentali nel contrasto a problemi endemici che ne ostacolano l'inclusione nella grande famiglia europea non è solo un atto dovuto verso una regione nel cuore dell'Europa, ma rappresenta anche e soprattutto una priorità strategica per plasmare insieme il nostro futuro comune.
European framework for employees' participation rights and the revision of the European Works Council Directive (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2021-12-14

  Presidente. –   L'ordine del giorno reca la relazione di Gabriele Bischoff, a nome della commissione per l'occupazione e gli affari sociali, sulla democrazia sul luogo di lavoro: quadro europeo per i diritti di partecipazione dei lavoratori e revisione della direttiva sui comitati aziendali europei (2021/2005(INI)) (A9-0331/2021).
Ricordo agli onorevoli deputati che per tutte le discussioni di questa tornata non è prevista la procedura "catch-the-eye", né saranno accettate domande "cartellino blu".
Inoltre, come nelle recenti tornate, sono previsti interventi a distanza dagli Uffici di collegamento del Parlamento europeo negli Stati membri.
Vi ricordo inoltre che gli interventi in Aula continueranno ad effettuarsi dal podio centrale. Vi invito quindi a consultare l'elenco degli oratori e ad avvicinarvi al podio quando il vostro tempo di parola è imminente.
European framework for employees' participation rights and the revision of the European Works Council Directive (debate)
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2021-12-14

  Presidente. –   La discussione è chiusa.
La votazione si svolgerà mercoledì 15 dicembre 2021.
Dichiarazioni scritte (articolo 171)
Agenda of the next sitting
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2021-12-14

  Presidente. –   La seduta è tolta e riprenderà domani, mercoledì 15 dicembre 2021, alle ore 9.00 con la dichiarazione congiunta sulla preparazione del Consiglio europeo e risposta dell'UE alla recrudescenza della COVID a livello globale.
L'ordine del giorno è stato pubblicato ed è disponibile sul sito web del Parlamento europeo.
Situation in Somalia
Speaker: Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (Italy, Non-attached Members / Movimento 5 Stelle)
Date: 2021-11-25

  Fabio Massimo Castaldo (NI).   – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, signora Commissaria, nonostante tutti i nostri sforzi in questi anni, gli sforzi dell'Unione e dell'ONU per la ricostruzione e la stabilizzazione politica della Somalia, purtroppo questo sventurato paese è ancora oggi dilaniato da violenza, terrorismo jihadista, carestie, malnutrizione, corruzione e, ancora, anche criminalità.
Sì, dobbiamo garantire che le elezioni non siano ritardate oltre la data di dicembre, altrimenti questo fornirebbe ancora più spazio ad Al Shabaab per riguadagnare terreno di influenza, ma dobbiamo anche riflettere sull'imminente scadenza del mandato dell'AMISOM, per pensare a come possiamo garantire, aiutare, contribuire a costruire sicurezza in Somalia. Dobbiamo avere un approccio realistico e accessibile, che spinga per un maggiore coinvolgimento dell'ONU, ma che debba anche cercare di garantire che venga fornita una sicurezza a guida somala, rispettosa dei diritti umani, capace di fornire soluzioni concrete agli africani per problemi africani.
Proteggere i giornalisti e i difensori dei diritti umani, impedire che i bambini somali siano condannati o a essere bambini soldato o a morire di fame, questo è quello che noi dobbiamo realizzare stando al fianco delle comunità locali, stando al fianco della società civile e di tutti coloro che non vogliono che la Somalia diventi uno Stato fallito.