misclassified/meps_speeches huggingface dataset:
Deaths at sea: a common EU response to save lives and action to ensure safe and legal pathways (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2023-03-15

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signor Presidente, cara Commissaria, onorevoli colleghi, siamo con Lei sulla velocizzazione, speriamo, del pacchetto "Asilo e migrazione", per una solidarietà finalmente effettiva – ce lo auguriamo. Ma francamente bisogna dirci che non se ne può più di sentire dare la colpa all'Europa, sempre, perché le responsabilità politiche ci sono e si vedono. 
Io non ho mai visto un governo di estrema destra chiedere di rafforzare le competenze europee sulla gestione dei migranti, mentre ho visto fior fior di governi di estrema destra chiedere soldi all'Europa per finanziare muri e ho visto governi di estrema destra, come quello di Meloni e di Salvini, ripetere all'infinito i peggiori slogan anti-immigrati: slogan nativisti "prima gli italiani", slogan neocolonialisti "aiutiamoli a casa loro", slogan cospirazionisti "i migranti approdano in Europa per favorire il grande capitale e sostituire i lavoratori europei", slogan razzisti "gli sbarchi selettivi". 
E poi di fronte a stragi di innocenti, come quella di Cutro, cosa si fa? Si dice che l'Europa non fa abbastanza. Ma è troppo comodo! Ci si inventa un nuovo reato con parole enormi "andremo alla caccia dei trafficanti sull'intero globo terracqueo" – terracqueo, segniamocelo! – e non si chiariscono le responsabilità sui salvataggi quando è lo stesso governo che ha reso una corsa agli ostacoli salvare le persone in mare. E l'omissione di soccorso è un reato, anche questo, oltre a quello dei trafficanti. 
E poi si finisce a fare il karaoke per il compleanno di Salvini e chi se ne frega quando ci sono i morti e le bare. Se avete interesse per la Nazione, non fateci vergognare e assumetevi le vostre responsabilità.
Improving working conditions in platform work (A9-0301/2022 - Elisabetta Gualmini)  (vote)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2023-02-02

  Elisabetta Gualmini,  rapporteur. – Mr President, dear colleagues, today we vote for the mandate of the report on platform work to the trilogue. I’m asking you to vote in favour of this report, which is a very balanced and innovative text. I thank all the shadow rapporteurs because they have contributed to improve the text. 
I would like to immediately correct the political narrative which is going on and on. No later than yesterday I got an email from Bolt saying that we would introduce a general automatic reclassification of all platform workers. This is simply not true, and even impossible legally and technically. 
We are not against self—employment. If you are genuinely self-employed that is absolutely okay. We are not against job creation and innovation. But if you are bogus self—employed and, on the contrary, you are a slave of the algorithm, then you have to have your rights recognised as an employee. That is the point! 
We have reached three goals: we defend the workers; we defend good employers and fair competition; and we are promoting the human use of the algorithm. We do not want machines governing the labour market. Never again should it happen that a young rider like Sebastian Galassi dies in a car accident and then is fired after he dies. This is a shame. This is a shame. 
I ask you to support this text, to support social justice, which is the glue for democracy. I ask you not to disappoint the millions of workers who are waiting outside, and I ask you not to surrender to multimillionaires and powerful lobbies who try to interfere with our democratic process. Really, the conditions of workers are not an issue of right and left. It is an issue of dignity. That is why I ask you to vote in favour of this report, because this is what it is in play: social justice! On va écrire une très belle page de l’histoire européenne!
Order of business
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2023-02-01

  Elisabetta Gualmini,  on behalf of the S&D Group. – Madam President, actually, we are not against the topic itself, but for the sake of compromise we do suggest eventually to leave the debate in this mini—plenary with no resolution, and with a changed title that is ‘Commission statement on anarchist terrorist actions and violent extremism in Europe’. 
I can explain why. It is because we think that anarchism is anarchism. It is not left or right. If you are an anarchist, you are not left or right; you are an anarchist against the institutional order. This is our proposal.
Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2023-01-18

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, quando abbiamo ascoltato Mark MacGann in commissione Lavoro, ex lobbista di Uber, siamo rimasti scioccati. Se le sue rivelazioni e le indagini verranno confermate, siamo davanti a un sistema pervasivo di lobbying illegale su governi europei e non, con tanto di violazioni di legge, di presunta violenza contro i lavoratori, pressioni di ogni tipo. Infilarsi dentro a Facebook e WhatsApp con account falsi per condizionare i lavoratori, pagare ricerche accondiscendenti: questo è stato fatto. 
In questo Parlamento stiamo discutendo molto purtroppo di corruzione, di interferenza di Stati terzi nella nostra democrazia e questo ci fa orrore. Sia chiaro, però, che non ci sono solo i governi autoritari di paesi terzi che vogliono interferire. Ci sono anche le grandi multinazionali, le grandi corporation, i giganti del web. E allora, io mi chiedo, quali forme e quante forme ha il lobbying? Qual è il confine tra lobbying legale e illegale? 
Sia chiaro che lobbying non vuol dire corruzione, ci mancherebbe. Illustrare interessi e punti di vista per migliorare le nostre decisioni va benissimo, ma non ci può essere una sproporzione enorme tra grandi interessi concentrati in poche mani e, dall'altra parte, interessi diffusi tra tanti soggetti debolissimi. 
Non posso dire di avere delle prove, ma io li ho visti i corridoi pieni di lobbisti nel Parlamento durante il negoziato sui rider e i lavoratori delle piattaforme. Sono stata bombardata di richieste di incontri, e per fortuna ho avuto la lungimiranza di incontrare le piattaforme tutte insieme e insieme ai sindacati. E il testo che stiamo negoziando diventa ancora più importante. La Presidenza svedese deve andare avanti perché diciamo cose giuste.
Primo: difendiamo i lavoratori e chiediamo una corretta classificazione del rapporto di lavoro. Se sei un lavoratore autonomo, oggettivamente, ma va benissimo, ma se sei un falso autonomo e sei schiavizzato dall'algoritmo, sei subordinato e hai diritto alle tutele dei lavoratori subordinati. Ma perché abbiamo il terrore del rapporto di lavoro subordinato? Ma perché abbiamo il terrore di dare tutele minime a chi semplicemente le desidera? Io la voglio capire questa cosa qua. 
Secondo: difendiamo i buoni imprenditori perché ce ne sono tante di piattaforme che hanno ottimi contratti con i sindacati. Benissimo, evitiamo la concorrenza sleale rispetto a chi ha falsi lavoratori autonomi. 
Terzo: le regole sugli algoritmi. Vogliamo essere condizionati solo dalle macchine? Serve un controllo umano sulle decisioni del rapporto di lavoro. Ma è mai possibile che un ragazzo di 26 anni sia morto in un incidente stradale, sia stato licenziato da un'e-mail dopo essere morto? Ma vergognatevi! Vergognatevi! E allora dobbiamo andare avanti con il nostro lavoro, perché il nostro scopo è molto semplice: aumentare la giustizia sociale. Lo faremo senza condizionamenti e senza interferenze.
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 15 December 2022 (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-12-14

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Mr President, dear Minister, dear Commissioner, dear President of the European Commission, we are at the end of 2022 and we can say that it has also been an annus horribilis because we face a triple attack on democracy: an attack on democracy by Russia with the criminal invasion of Ukraine; an attack on our economy, our single market with the unacceptable blackmail on gas; and then – I do not want to escape – an attack on the democratic functioning and reputation of this institution by unimaginable criminal corruption. 
But, at the same time, we have stood up and reached outstanding results. We have a more social Europe, a Europe for health, REPowerEU, finally the freezing of resources for Orbán and his despotic regime. So I really hope that the Council tomorrow will go on with the same determination, also by envisaging a revision of the MFF in the summer in the name of a permanent instrument of public support for people and for companies which are struggling with inflation. 
I think that we will get stronger if we do this together. Thank you and Merry Christmas to all of you.
A truly interconnected Energy Single Market to keep bills down and companies competitive (topical debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-11-23

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signora Presidente, signora Commissaria, onorevoli colleghi, il dramma di oggi sono i costi dell'energia e l'inflazione. 
Mi spiace, ma la Commissione europea ci prende in giro mettendo un tetto al prezzo del gas di 275 euro per megawattora che non si è mai visto, mai, neanche nei momenti peggiori. Abbiamo ritrovato l'anima dell'Europa con NextGenerationEU e ora la stiamo perdendo con misure tardive e del tutto illusorie. Serve uno SURE 2.0, un REPowerEU molto più potente. 
D'altro canto, anche i governi nazionali deludono, vedi la destra italiana che non ha fatto nulla per le bollette se non copiare e incollare le misure del governo Draghi e, più che una manovra, ha pensato di inaugurare una guerra tra poveri, abolire il reddito di cittadinanza perché la povertà è una colpa e, come nell'Inghilterra vittoriana, chi non lavora non deve mangiare e chi se ne frega.
È la destra che fa bonus e taglia le accise invisibili, che pensa di aumentare il contante fino a 5 000 euro e appiattisce le tasse a favore di chi sta meglio. La destra che spende moltissimo per le pensioni e zero per i giovani, forte con i deboli e debole con i forti, la nuova ricetta, ma noi non staremo certo zitti.
Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20-21 October 2022 (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-11-09

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Mr President, dear colleagues, we have learned the lesson from the pandemic that from tragedies coming from outside we are able to find our unity and the soul of Europe. What we have done with the common debt, SURE and Next Gen has been revolutionary. 
Now, on gas and energy, we really have the same challenge and we cannot take the luxury of time. So we need again a stronger Europe for at least three things: a cap on gas; a centralised purchasing agency for gas; social investments for families and companies not able to pay their bills. 
But for all that we need a strong Europe, a stronger Europe. I am very tired of listening to anti—European, extreme right parties that are now asking for European money, European assistance, European aid. Where were you when we spoke about strengthening the competences of our European institutions? You always said ‘no’. So now we need a united Europe, a Europe that delivers. We have to decide. We can do things if we are united – and please do tell the truth!
Whitewashing of the anti-European extreme right in the EU (topical debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-10-19

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, io non casco certo nella trappola. Ci vengono a fare la lezioncina, ci spiegano che l'estrema destra in Italia ha vinto le elezioni e quindi può fare tutto quello che vuole e noi dobbiamo solo stare zitti.
E invece no. Noi siamo determinati a parlare, a opporci, a raccontare che cos'è l'estrema destra. Perché questa è l'estrema destra che ha addirittura radicalizzato quel poco che rimaneva del partito liberale di Berlusconi, è l'estrema destra che ha eletto come cariche più importanti un nostalgico del fascismo e un ipertradizionalista per cui l'omofobia è la norma. Questa è l'estrema destra che fa l'europeista in Italia e poi viene qui a smantellare, pezzo dopo pezzo, l'Unione, l'estrema destra dei porti chiusi, dei blocchi navali, per cui tutti i migranti sono clandestini, meglio il nativismo, dove siamo tutti uguali, tutti identici perché abitiamo tutti nello stesso quartierino e non abbiamo paura.
Allora noi di fronte a questo non staremo zitti, a noi nessuno chiude la bocca, noi racconteremo, noi manifesteremo, perché a noi piacciono le differenze, ci piace la democrazia, ci piace il pluralismo e tutto l'odio lo lasciamo a voi.
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2023 - all sections (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-10-18

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Mr President, the general EU budget for 2023 is a powerful political tool. There is a lot of politics inside, not only economics. In times of skyrocketing inflation and economic recession, politics has to deliver. If politics does not deliver, we will have explosive populist upsurges, anti-system protests and nationalist outcries.
During the pandemic, we were able to basically double the budget of the EU: with Next Generation EU, SURE, REACT-EU, we got another EUR 1 000 billion – exactly like the multiannual financial framework. We were kind of magic. Now we have a similar challenge with the energy crisis.
Increasing resources for Erasmus+, the Just Transition, is good news, but it is not enough. We need fresh money coming from new own resources to provide on-the-spot responses to gas deprivation and energy prices. We cannot lose the credit we had during the pandemic. We cannot lose the battle against inequalities and social despair. We cannot lose face in front of our people’s expectations. We simply cannot.
Adequate minimum wages in the European Union (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-09-13

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Mr President, dear Commissioner, what we are voting on tomorrow, dear friends, is simply a revolution – a revolution in the name of social justice, dignity and decency for workers. Today, inflation is skyrocketing. The purchasing power of families is falling down and social tensions are exploding. A directive on minimum wages is precisely what we need. Europe has come first, and now in each country, salaries must be adequate to the costs of living. We recognise the importance of the most representative of trade unions, and we encourage Member States to increase the coverage of collective bargaining.
This is a historic moment. We believe that social rights are more important than the ups and downs of the economy. We believe that the living conditions of millions of workers are more important than partisan interests. And we believe that the younger workers, the most precarious ones, their hopes have to be at the centre of our political action. This is not high politics. This is practical problem solving. It is our concrete step toward a fairer and social Europe.
Competition policy – annual report 2021 (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-05-04

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, Commissaria, l'OCSE ci dice che perderemo un punto e mezzo di crescita economica in Europa, un terzo di quanto previsto per l'esplosione dei prezzi dell'energia, l'inflazione, le sanzioni giustamente inflitte alla Russia.
Le piccole e medie imprese soffriranno particolarmente, eppure offrono 90 milioni di posti di lavoro nell'Unione – cito il distretto ceramico della mia regione, l'Emilia Romagna e la sua rilevanza sulla coesione sociale e il mercato del lavoro. La flessibilità mostrata dalla Commissione sugli aiuti di Stato durante la pandemia e la decisione di prorogare prima il quadro temporaneo per l'emergenza sanitaria, poi il quadro di crisi sono stati indispensabili, hanno consentito di attuare misure nazionali straordinarie, come gli aiuti alla liquidità, l'accesso ai finanziamenti, le garanzie pubbliche, i prestiti agevolati. 
Dobbiamo continuare, la Commissione deve continuare ascoltando il Parlamento per far vedere che l'Europa c'è.
Impact of Russian illegal war of aggression against Ukraine on the EU transport and tourism sectors (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-05-03

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Mr President, among the devastating effects of Russia’s criminal aggression against Ukraine, there are those on tourism – which accounts for 10% of GDP in Europe – a sector which has already suffered a lot during the pandemic.
We are facing naturally a loss of Russian and Ukrainian tourists all over Europe, and the costs of energy, foodstuff and fuel are growing fast. An explosive mix. We ask for financial assistance for big and small touristic companies within the internal market programme, together with a full crisis management action plan.
Putin has invaded a peaceful country in mainland Europe. This is crystal clear. We have to do our part and support the Ukrainian people in the right to choose their own destiny. Why should a country surrender to the arrogance of a despotic leader? Why should a country submit to the invaders’ will?
Putin will respond for his crimes in front of the history, but for now, we have to work for peace. And we have to relieve the most damaging humanitarian, economic and social effects of war, united as ever.
A new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post 2020 (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2022-03-09

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Mr President, if truth be told, we should not die from work. We should not get sick from work. We should not risk burnout because of work. The revision of the European strategy on health and safety at work after the pandemic is totally necessary. 
In Italy, in 2021, one hundred people died at work each month; 10% of these were women. Even two young people, Giuseppe and Lorenzo, aged 16 and 18, recently died during their internship. Non-fatal accidents are also increasing, and risks and serious illnesses, stress, psychological disorders and cancer are growing and growing. The COVID pandemic has worsened the phenomenon. In a labour market which is changing a lot, old jobs are disappearing and new jobs, often precarious, unpaid, discontinuous, are spreading. 
We have advanced the legislation in Europe on health and safety. Now we have to connect the dots with the transformation of the labour market after the pandemic, not to mention the consequences of this cynical and criminal Russian aggression of Ukraine, with refugees who will have to work in European countries in decent and regular conditions. 
Platform workers, writers, remote workers. No big deal. But are we sure that smart working is really smart when you have to balance kids and work? The right to disconnect has to be part and parcel of remote working.
We are now voting for a ‘vision zero’ approach for no more work-related deaths by 2030. This is a huge goal. But, at the end of the day, we have to transform work into what it has to be: good and rewarding. Because work gives you dignity. It gives you perspective. It gives you confidence, self-esteem, and it gives you imagination. This is what we are going to fight for forever, we as socialists and democrats, for decent and healthy work everywhere and for everyone.
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2022 - all sections (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2021-10-19

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Madam President, the 2020 budget is the first after the humongous financial effort of Next Generation EU. We are talking about the EUR 170 billion for the next year. We have asked for more resources compared to the Commission, overall EUR 4 billion more. 
The programmes for which we have asked for an increase range from Erasmus+ to the Child Guarantee, but here I would like to mention the COVAX programme, one which we speak too little about. Its goal is to deliver vaccines to low income countries all over the world. 
We need the EUR 1 billion more in order to reach the 500 million doses announced by von der Leyen. There can be no talk of getting out of the pandemic if it is only us who manage to get out. We cannot think about returning to normal life if it is only us who save ourselves. We cannot think that the right to a healthy life is only for the few and not for the many. 
We have learned that what solidarity means, and now we just have to spread the lesson.
Implementation report on the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2021-10-05

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, oggi votiamo un atto fondamentale sull'utilizzo dei fondi fiduciari europei e del fondo per i rifugiati in paesi come l'Africa Centrale, la Siria e la Turchia.
Parliamo cioè del rapporto tra Europa e flussi migratori, tra Europa e diritti, tra Europa e accoglienza. Allora, se parliamo in fondo di diritti e democrazia, diciamo forte che non possiamo più accettare ricatti da paesi come la Turchia o di recente la Bielorussia, che usano i migranti come merci o come bestie da spostare o trasferire di qua o di là a seconda dei propri interessi nazionali.
Diciamo forte che non possiamo accettare che i paesi destinatari dei fondi usino l'Europa come un bancomat, che non è un optional rispettare i diritti fondamentali delle persone. Diciamo forte che non possiamo accettare che gli obiettivi di sviluppo, occupazione e istruzione siano sottomessi a logiche di potere e allo sfruttamento orrendo di esseri umani. E diciamo forte che non possiamo accettare che i fondi europei finanzino la guardia costiera libica, magari per riportare nel porto di Tripoli centinaia di migranti e mandarli in centri di detenzione dove impera il disprezzo per la vita umana.
Come Socialisti e Democratici chiediamo l'istituzione di un meccanismo di controllo indipendente per monitorare la destinazione di questi fondi. Il Parlamento non può essere tagliato fuori! I diritti non sono in vendita, "les droits ne sont pas à vendre": l'ha detto Ursula von der Leyen, diciamolo forte anche noi!
Fair working conditions, rights and social protection for platform workers - New forms of employment linked to digital development (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2021-09-13

  Elisabetta Gualmini,  on behalf of the S&D Group. – Mr President, platform workers represent maybe the newest form of work of the new millennium. Their numbers have increased with no bounds. Let me say that we are not afraid of innovations. We are not afraid of these disturbing and dystonic times in which you click a button and a pizza meravigliosa arrives directly in your kitchen. We are not afraid even of flexibility – if it is a good thing. 
But innovations and transformations in the labour market have to move forward with social protection – the safeguarding of the dignity and safety of workers. Social rights are, at the very end of the day, human rights. 
We have been ambitious here. There is a three—step revolution going on. The rebuttable presumption of the employment relationship – if you have an obligation as an employee, you must have a right as an employee. There is no third way. 
We have put the burden and charge of solving eventual court conflicts between a platform and workers on the shoulders of platforms, of employers. 
Finally, transparency and clear information coming from algorithms. We do not want to see any more shameful salaries in what we call a ‘democratic Europe’. We don’t want to see new forms of slavery in what we call a ‘social Europe’. We don’t want to see forms of labour force exploitation and abuse in what we call a ‘fair Europe’. 
We do not ask much. We ask simply for a good balance between rights and duties, between economic growth and social compensation. We ask to build a new social, progressive, compassionate Europe.
European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) 2021-2027 (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2021-04-27

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Madam President, there is good news about the revision of the European Globalisation Fund. At least two items: firstly, the use of the EGF has been expanded for all collective dismissals, to include also medium-sized companies with up to 200 employees and no longer 500; second, child allowance. Workers with children will receive funds to help them with their parental duties while coping with their unemployment situation. If there is an unemployed mum who is struggling to survive somewhere in Europe that has to matter to us. 
We are facing a dramatic crisis in the labour market. Millions of women and men have lost their jobs and it won’t be laws or regulations that will create new jobs and opportunities. It won’t be an enlightened leader who will create jobs and opportunities. It won’t be some reiteration of past and pre-defined solutions that will create jobs and opportunities. It will be concrete measures and resources, actions and not words. This is what Europe should be about. This is what social Europe means. We share our faith in this new vision of Europe.
System of own resources of the European Union – Own resource based on non-recycled plastic packaging waste and certain aspects of the GNI-based own resource – Collection of own resources accruing from value added tax (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2021-03-24

  Elisabetta Gualmini,  on behalf of the S&D Group. – Mr President, we’ve been waiting for the revision of the own resources system since 1988. And after more than 30 years, we are close to a historic turning point by approving tomorrow the updating of the implementing legislation regarding new own resources.
Finally, the European budget will become more autonomous, more transparent and stronger. We have a precise roadmap for the introduction of new own resources which won’t touch the pockets of our citizens but which will hit polluting companies, web-multinationals and fiscal free-riders more generally. I’m talking about the digital tax and the carbon border levy, to name but a few.
But today it is less about the budget revenue side, and more about what it means to belong to a fiscally stronger European Union; it is less about technicalities and more about political will and political challenges.
To have a sound and responsible budgetary policy means, in the first place, to have the possibility to pay back the costs of the Next Generation EU that needs to be able to support the giant mobilisation of resources which will help citizens and companies to stand up again after a dramatic outbreak.
It means to give hope and faith to the young generations who are completely lost in the middle of this never-ending pandemic, and it means to care for the most vulnerable people who need protection and solid welfare services, not isolation.
Our pride is based on the spirit and the sense of a community, the European Community. And communities do work if we have a fair and good balance between the promises we make and the financial resources we collect in order to have these promises fulfilled. It is time to accomplish, to get things done – no time is left.
InvestEU programme (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2021-03-09

  Bas Eickhout (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, first of all, I would like to thank the rapporteurs, Mr Fernandes and Ms Tinagli, for their excellent work on the InvestEU programme, and I do think that these negotiations show once more how difficult it is to get serious investment programmes with the Council. Sorry to see that also the Council is not present today, to be very honest, because it still seems a problem for the Council to realise that there is a huge investment gap in Europe and that the only way to address that is by a strategic programme being coordinated at the European level and make sure that we are investing as European countries together into a strategic direction where we think Europe should go. And that should be the primary discussion in the Council, as it is also here in the Parliament.
Of course, the Parliament fought hard and has made some improvements, but to be very honest, some people said that this is a paradigm shift. Sorry to say that it’s not yet, since there is too much resistance in the Council – and also, I dare to say, sorry, Commissioner, you come up with good proposals, but the moment the Council is weakening it, you very quickly sideline with the Council to give up on your demands. And I think that really should change. We really should fight together on a strategic investment programme, not only on public finance, like on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), but also on mobilising private investment through the InvestEU programme, the core of which is now there, but now, of course, we have to look at how it’s going to be implemented. And there, we need to really align the implementation of InvestEU together with what we have agreed in the RRF. That means on financing, on climate, that we use the same climate tracking methodology, but that we also use the same approach to make sure that none of the euros is doing any significant harm to our strategic goals of Europe. And I think that is absolutely crucial to have in place.
My last point, and this is for a future agenda and very important, I think, as well, is there is still a tool that has not been touched upon yet, and that is state aid. Every national Member State is giving a huge amount of state aid. We have to make sure that all that money is going in the same direction and is supporting for the same targets. We know it’s being reviewed now, but until now, we don’t hear the same level of ambition to really make sure that those state aid rules are also going into the same direction that we really can, as Europe, deliver on our strategic targets of digitalisation and the Green Deal.
Decent and affordable housing for all (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2021-01-20

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Mr President, housing is the first and most important among social rights, from which all the others derive.
If you have a roof over your head you can develop social relationships, create a family and raise children, cut down your feelings of insecurity and distress. In Europe, 80 million citizens are unable to pay the costs of their houses and the ranks of the homeless have grown by 70% in the last a decade.
We now have to build up a real European plan on housing, based on sustainability. Fortunately a wind of change is blowing through Europe, since Europe is now able to show what solidarity means in front of the big suffering of the people because of the pandemic. So a good society is the one in which the minimum expectations of each of us are fulfilled. We can’t be indifferent to those who sleep in the streets. We can’t be indifferent to those who simply need to build up a future.
I hope that this House, our House, will strongly support this dossier.
Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020 – MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources – Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 – Proposal for an Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources – Regulation on the protection of the Union’s budget in case of generalised deficiencies as regards the rule of law in the Member States (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-12-16

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Madam President, today it is the time of pride.
We are at the end of the most dramatic year in the history of the European Union and the pandemic is still not over. Yes, people are still suffering a lot and some of them are even dying, but we have done our job, and we have to claim this and tell this with all our voice and our passion.
Today we can say we have finally closed up the agreement on the whole financial strategy, the Recovery Fund, the MFF, the revision of own resources and together with the other programmes we can count almost EUR 2 400 billion for fighting the crisis. 
We have to be proud of this European renaissance. We have to be proud of this huge mobilisation of resources never before put in place for our citizens, and we have to be proud to have strengthened the rule of law. No relativism on democratic values is acceptable. 
We have done our job and it is a good job. We have been united, notwithstanding our work differences. We have been determined, not withstanding our uncertainties. We have been efficient, notwithstanding what were long and sometimes incomprehensible procedures. We have been ambitious, notwithstanding our fears. 
I am on my first mandate. I am proud of having entered the European institutions in such a moment of change and historic commitment and for those who still do not believe in Europe, who think that alone we could face dramatic challenges, let them come to Brussels.
For those who think that Europe is only a giant of hype and bureaucracy, very far from people, let them come to Brussels.
For those who have to use a credit card before entering into a hospital, let them come to Brussels.
Dear colleagues, we have done a huge and terrific job. We just have to go on.
Preparation of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020 (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-11-25

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Madam President, it’s really time to close up the agreement on the budget, the Recovery Fund and own resources. It is not acceptable that countries like Hungary and Poland, which have democracy disregard, which have minorities in disregard, which have women and independent media in disregard, keep on blocking everything. 
We as MPs have to relaunch the conference on the future of Europe and to revise the unanimity rule and real paralysis in decision—making. We can’t be hostages of veto points and national selfishness. We can’t be hostages of despotic leaders and we can’t rely every time on rescue at the last by Angela Merkel, like kids with their mummy.
Chers amis, des millions de citoyens sont en train d’attendre des réponses solides, concrètes et visionnaires. Il ne s’agit pas de nos petites carrières, il s’agit de donner des certitudes et il s’agit de l’avenir de nos jeunes, de la lutte pour la démocratie, le climat et les droits.
Multiannual Financial Framework (including Own Resources), Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism and the Recovery Fund for Europe (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-11-11

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, oggi celebriamo il grande successo che abbiamo ottenuto in questi giorni sull'approvazione del bilancio pluriennale, della riforma delle risorse proprie e del Fondo europeo per la ripresa, ma soprattutto celebriamo la forza del Parlamento europeo, il ruolo che ha giocato con determinazione, un ruolo finalmente non subordinato o piccolo rispetto al Consiglio.
E il risultato c'è stato: 16 miliardi in più, per un totale di circa 1 800 miliardi per questo bilancio pluriennale. Ma non contano solo le cifre e la quantità, contano altri due aspetti che vorrei sottolineare.
Il primo è la logica di sistema che è stata utilizzata per la prima volta, direi rivoluzionaria: il quadro pluriennale è stato approvato insieme alla revisione delle risorse proprie e potremo finalmente chiedere contributi pesanti alle multinazionali del web, potremo chiedere alle imprese che inquinano di non farlo più e di pagare tasse, se per caso lo fanno e non ci aiutano nella lotta al cambiamento climatico.
La revisione delle risorse proprie ci consentirà, in una logica appunto di pacchetto, di finanziare il NextGenerationEU. Questo non era mai successo, sono risposte straordinarie a bisogni giganteschi. In effetti non possiamo farci piccoli quando le richieste sono enormi, non possiamo arretrare quando arrivano istanze colossali.
Il secondo elemento è il rapporto tra bilancio e democrazia: il bilancio è il cuore pulsante delle democrazie, è il modo in cui noi spieghiamo ai nostri cittadini cosa facciamo e come lo facciamo. Abbiamo bisogno di un bilancio dell'Unione europea sano, pulito e trasparente per far capire dove stiamo andando; abbiamo bisogno di un bilancio ambizioso per evitare che questa devastante crisi si diffonda.
Come ha detto Kamala Harris, la prima donna Vicepresidente eletta negli Stati Uniti: "dream with ambition, live with conviction". Questo lo faremo e lo faremo in nome dei nostri cittadini.
Conclusions of the Special European Council meeting of 1 and 2 October 2020 - Preparation of the European Council meeting of 15 and 16 October 2020 (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-10-06

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, lo Stato di diritto non tutela solo la democrazia dell'Unione europea ma difende anche il bilancio delle Istituzioni europee e quindi il loro modo di operare, il loro modo di funzionare.
Servono condizionalità molto più severe di quelle fissate dal Consiglio, che riducono al minimo la nozione di Stato di diritto e addirittura chiedono una maggioranza qualificata da parte degli Stati membri per ipotizzare un eventuale blocco.
L'Unione europea non è un bancomat, né un'Istituzione neutra che distribuisce denaro al di fuori di ogni regola: l'Ungheria ha avuto tra il 2013 e il 2020 circa 47 miliardi di euro dall'Unione europea, un terzo del suo PIL annuale; la Polonia ha avuto 207 miliardi di euro. Questo non è accettabile!
Cosa sarebbe, cosa rimarrebbe dell'Unione europea senza democrazia? Cosa rimarrebbe dell'Unione europea senza un bilancio trasparente e solido? Cosa rimarrebbe dell'Unione europea senza giustizia, se alcuni Stati hanno in spregio la democrazia e mettono sotto silenzio i parlamenti? Servono condizionalità severe!
Emergency Legislation in Hungary and its impact on the Rule of Law and fundamental rights (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-05-14

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D),  per iscritto. – Nelle ultime settimane si sta verificando un ulteriore grave peggioramento per quanto riguarda il rispetto delle norme di Stato di diritto e di pieno funzionamento della democrazia in Ungheria. Prima la decisione di Orbàn di approvare delle misure di emergenza che annullano del tutto il ruolo del Parlamento per un periodo indefinito di tempo e consentono al suo governo di governare attraverso decreti. Poi, la limitazione alla libertà di stampa, dato che il governo che ha imposto pene severe e assolutamente sproporzionate - come la reclusione - a chi è accusato di diffondere disinformazione, come denunciato da vari esponenti della stampa e delle opposizioni. Quindi, la decisione da parte dei due partiti della maggioranza al governo, di non ratificare la Convenzione di Istanbul ''Sulla prevenzione e la lotta contro la violenza nei confronti delle donne e la violenza domestica'', che rappresenta il trattato internazionale di più ampia portata per affrontare questa grave forma di violazione dei diritti umani. Non possiamo più tollerare che un Paese membro violi costantemente i principi fondanti dell'Unione (articolo 4 TUE) e continui a ricevere miliardi di euro in finanziamenti europei. Nel nuovo bilancio pluriennale ci devono essere condizionalità durissime nell'erogazione dei fondi per quei Paesi che non rispettano le regole dello Stato di diritto.
Preparation of the Extraordinary European Council Meeting of 20 February 2020 on the Multiannual Financial Framework (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-02-12

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Madam President, it is really time to stand up and act and the Multiannual Financial Framework is really the last opportunity we have to change Europe for the next seven years and to shock our European citizens – yes, to shock them, to shock every single person in the EU – because we have to increase the total amount of available resources, not renounce it to 1.3 of GNI in order for our promises to become true: a Green New Deal, the additional unemployment benefit and the Child Guarantee of six billion. No one dares to take away from children what are their basic rights – food, health and education – and the traditional mainstream European programmes have to be financed as well, so we cannot deal with a war between the poor – agricultural policies, cohesion policies, Erasmus, have to be financed as well. And on the revenue side, let us think also of a digital tax and the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax for multinationals. 
On this side of the Hemicycle we believe in more Europe and not less. We believe in more public investments and not in cutting down and downsizing. We believe in a good society which is a society for the many and not for the few, so the European Council has to listen to our voice.
Gender pay gap (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-01-13

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D).   – Madam President, I would like to say to the Commissioner that to close the gender pay gap is not a symbol, but a way to restore social justice in our democracies.
Not only is there the pay gap, but women are also victims of glass ceilings since they are not often promoted at the top level of their career. Women are victims of family duties and tasks since they are often the only caregiver in the house. Women are victims of gender bias and often not considered adequate enough. Women are also victims of violence, and more than 30% have experienced one form of violence in their lives.
So this is the real fight, a fight for decency, for justice and for change. We have to fight for a day on which women will be fully equal to men, on which they will be fully aware of their value and their potential, and on which no more women will have to choose between a child and a job.
So please let us close the pay gap as soon as possible within the next three months. You have to promise us: ‘you’re not alone, we are with you and we will never give up’.
“Housing First” as urgent action to address the situation of homeless people in Europe (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2020-01-13

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D),  per iscritto. – Il numero di persone senzatetto in Europa e nel mondo sta aumentando in modo significativo, con qualche rara eccezione. Il problema è urgente e allarmante; sono infatti soprattutto le categorie più deboli ad esserne colpite, penso ai giovani, alle donne, agli stranieri. Categorie sociali già a rischio di povertà che senza un posto adeguato dove vivere con dignità, vedranno irrimediabilmente peggiorare la loro condizione di vita sino talvolta anche alla morte. In numerose regioni europee esistono già esperimenti e politiche di accoglienza degli homeless e di aiuto al ripristino di una vita autonoma e autosufficiente, penso ad esempio al progetto Housing First in Italia e in particolare in Emilia Romagna. Ma servono ovviamente stanziamenti pubblici robusti e politiche di inclusione condivise ai vari livelli territoriali. La casa è un diritto di tutti. La casa consente di sviluppare il proprio progetto di vita e di impegnarsi per il futuro. Senza un'abitazione non c'è dignità. Auspico che la Commissione inserisca un capitolo robusto sulle politiche abitative per i senzatetto nell'implementazione del Pilastro sociale.
EU disability strategy post 2020 (debate)
Speaker: Elisabetta GUALMINI (Italy, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament / Partito Democratico)
Date: 2019-12-17

  Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D),  per iscritto. – Quest'anno ricorre il decimo anniversario dall'entrata in vigore del Trattato di Lisbona, l'ultimo trattato che i Paesi dell'Unione europea hanno approvato per avvicinare l'Europa ai cittadini e ai loro bisogni. Il Trattato di Lisbona ha sancito che i valori della dignità umana, della libertà, dell'uguaglianza e della solidarietà sono centrali al progetto europeo, e di questo dovremmo essergliene tutti grati. Inoltre, a seguito del Trattato, il Parlamento è diventato un'istituzione fondamentale nel processo legislativo dell'Unione europea. Finalmente, da dieci anni a questa parte, i rappresentanti direttamente eletti dai cittadini sono una voce che a Bruxelles non si può ignorare. Ma, come abbiamo visto negli ultimi anni, bisogna fare ancora di più per raggiungere i cittadini europei e dare loro le risposte di cui hanno bisogno di fronte agli enormi cambiamenti economici, sociali e culturali. La conferenza sul futuro dell'Europa sarà un passo in avanti per capire come l'Unione può fare di più per mettersi al servizio delle persone in Europa. Credo che i cittadini, votando in massa alle scorse elezioni europee, abbiano dato un segnale chiaro di partecipazione che deve essere accolto dalle nostre Istituzioni.