Ska Keller, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his speech, which I believe was very strong and very pro—European, and I’m happy about that because a lot of people are very concerned when it comes to the future of Europe. We see many governments who are actually falling short of providing rule of law and progress on democracy in their countries. So it’s good to see that things can be done differently – very good to see.

Let me congratulate you specifically on some of the measures that have already been taken in Spain, which reflect the commitments you were voicing here. Namely, first, your decision to increase the minimum salary to EUR 900, which helps many families who suffered considerably in the past from the budgetary cuts and anti—social reforms, and also, especially, in combination with your taxation reform, which will be a great improvement. We want a true social union, and for that we need more effort in the Council and in every single Member State, so I really hope that others will follow your example.

Secondly, your decision to make sure that families who put up solar panels on their roofs will actually benefit from doing so is a way not only to combat climate change but also to reward people for their own initiative and make sure that everyone will contribute in this big quest to save our planet. We need these concrete steps.

Lastly, I’m very happy that, as you also mentioned today, your cabinet has the highest proportion of women in the whole European Union. Women’s rights are human rights, and we’re still far from real gender equality but we need to take progressive steps here. We are seeing a big backlash in many Member States inside the European Union against women’s rights, against human rights, and it’s very good to see that there are still some governments left who can champion an ambitious agenda on gender equality.

However, your job in Spain is certainly not an easy one and, of course, you’ve inherited a lot of problems, among them the situation in Catalunya. The harsh and uncompromising way in which your conservative predecessor dealt with the issue hardened the conflict and made it worse. Now the issue is on your desk, and it’s very clear that only a democratic political solution can open the way forward, and this includes a solution for the prisoners. Two former members of our political group are currently in prison and what they’re accused of does not stand up to scrutiny, as has been pointed out by courts in Belgium and in Germany. So we urge you to initiate a sincere dialogue because only goodwill from both sides will bring us closer to a solution, and that is sorely needed for Catalunya, for the whole of Spain and for the whole of Europe.

Prime Minister, you mentioned European values and how all of us need to stand up for them. I am very concerned in that regard when I look at Andalusia because an extremist right—wing party will be included in a governmental deal and tolerated in the government. I am sad to see that the conservatives and liberals are agreeing to a deal which will not only make sure that those nationalists have a say in our future and the future in Andalusia, but which also goes beyond that context.

I am sure that many of you are concerned about that. I’m sure that many of you are not happy about it, but it is something on which, precisely, you can take concrete action, and all of us and all our groups have to work towards ensuring that this does not happen – because it’s a shameful deal, as it would be for any one of us to make a coalition with an extremist, nationalist, right—wing party. Let’s not do that. Use all the powers that you have in your hands – and you have those powers – to end that deal.

We support the women who are protesting right now for gender equality because machismo and violence against women have no place anywhere in the European Union. I would like to remind you, Prime Minister, that many of the goals that you mentioned – all of them, in fact: gender equality, ecology and social Europe – need action at European level, so we hope you will take the initiative in the Council as well. We hope for your support in the Council, and we hope your colleagues in the Council will follow your example. And, if you are going to continue working for a progressive, social, ecological and democratic Europe, then you can count on our support.