The president of the parliament defended this Friday that there cannot be “so-called illiberal or simply electoral democracies” in the European Union, since “democracy in Europe is either liberal in nature and strongly social in character, or not at all”.
“There cannot be so-called illiberal or simply electoral democracies in our midst: there is no such thing. Democracy in Europe is either liberal in nature and strongly social in character, or it is not at all.” said Augusto Santos Silva at the start of the welcome session for the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, at the Assembly of the Republic.
In a speech in which he listed the four issues on the European agenda that “are of particular interest to the Assembly of the Republic” – with PSD President Luís Montenegro and some MEPs listening to him in the galleries -, Santos Silva particularly emphasized “the democratic values and the rule of law”.
For the President of the Assembly of the Republic, one should not hesitate “in defense of what is the essential basis of the Union, which all candidates must accept and to which all Member States must abide”.
“The defense of the rule of law and democratic institutions, together with social cohesion policies, is the most powerful weapon against mistrust and populism,” he said.
In addition to this issue drawing the attention of the Assembly of the Republic, Santos Silva also stressed “the link between the strengthening of the European social model”, and in particular the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the “development of climate action and digital transition”.
“In the face of voices calling for a halt to the fight against climate change to supposedly satisfy public opinion, it is necessary to be very clear: climate action and the social pillar are not alternatives, they are two mutually indispensable dimensions to achieve a just transition,” he said.
Another issue drawing parliament’s attention, he continued, is “the reform of European institutions and rules, to prepare the European Union for new challenges”.
Santos Silva warned not only “of the immediate challenge” of the war in Ukraine, but also of the “next enlargement, which will have a profound institutional and financial impact”, and the “more general geopolitical and geoeconomic change that is coming to the going” .
Comparison of the differences between the EU’s response to the sovereign debt crisis in 2010 – which was “unfair” and “caused great suffering” – and, in 2020, to the Covid-19 pandemic – which was “swift, fair, solidarity-based and effective” ” was – Santos Silva defended that it is necessary to “learn the necessary lessons”.
“Let us proceed without fear with the revision of the rules and financial resources, to invest more in our security, to preserve the other necessary investments, to promote convergence between us, to increase the strategic autonomy of our Union and to provide it with the necessary tools to respond to the next crises,” he asked.
Finally, the President of the Assembly of the Republic also spoke of “the opening of Europe to the world”, emphasizing that it is “a directive dear to Portugal, which sees in it an application of democratic values and the basis for actions of the utmost importance”.
Such as the promotion of multilateralism, support to Ukraine against Russian aggression, the consolidation of the Atlantic Alliance, the strengthening of economic and political ties with Africa, Latin America and the Indo-Pacific, the humanitarian reception of refugees and the promotion of regular, orderly and safe migration channels,” he said.
The President of the Assembly of the Republic defended that “the EU is the place in the world where democracy, politics, social equality and economic development are best combined” and believed that “a more assertive and cohesive Europe must be increasingly democratic, should pay attention to the citizens and the assemblies that represent them”.
“The consolidation of the European institutions does not diminish the diversity of the Member States, nor does it diminish the relevance of decisions taken as close as possible to the population and the territory,” he pointed out.
Santos Silva stressed that the Assembly of the Republic is one of “the parliaments most interested in European construction”, makes a point of honor “in the permanent monitoring of the European process” and has a pro-European orientation “large majority” . .
“It is the first time that a debate with the President of the European Parliament has taken place here. It will not be the last,” he said.
Source: DN
