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Automated data exchange for police cooperation (“Prüm II”) (A9-0200/2023 - Paulo Rangel)
I voted in support for the proposed regulation to strengthen and modernise the Prüm framework, as I believe it is crucial for enhancing cross-border cooperation in combating criminal activities within the EU. The aim is to facilitate automated data exchange among Member States’ law enforcement agencies, and Europol is essential for preventing, detecting, and investigating criminal offences effectively. By replacing and upgrading the existing Prüm decisions, the regulation introduces an upgraded technical solution for data exchange, including new categories such as facial images and the voluntary exchange of police records. Moreover, the inclusion of provisions for searching missing persons for humanitarian reasons expands the framework’s scope beyond criminal investigations. Therefore, I voted in favour of this proposal, as I believe it should contribute to a safer and more secure Union for all citizens.
The EU priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (B9-0091/2024)
I voted with overwhelming support in favour of the motion for resolutions of the EU priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. My Fine Gael colleague Frances Fitzgerald was the rapporteur on this file, and she carried out some fantastic work to get this deal over the line. This marks the first ever EU Directive to Combat Violence Against Women & Domestic Violence, a monumental step forward in protecting women's rights, particularly in the digital realm. Ensuring the safety and well-being of women is paramount, and this directive addresses critical issues like online violence. By prioritizing these concerns at the international level, we demonstrate our commitment to gender equality and ending violence against women in all its forms. This resolution underscores the EU's leadership in advocating for women's rights and highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving meaningful progress on gender equality globally.
Situation in Serbia following elections (RC-B9-0106/2024, B9-0106/2024, B9-0108/2024, B9-0131/2024, B9-0132/2024, B9-0133/2024, B9-0134/2024)
This motion for resolutions concerns the situation in Serbia following their elections. I supported this motion for resolutions. Despite the fact that the international election observation mission (I-EOM) stated that the election was conducted smoothly, the day was marked by numerous procedural deficiencies. I echo the grievances of the Parliament, in that the Serbian parliamentary and local elections held on 17 December 2023 deviated from international standards and Serbia’s commitments to free and fair elections. The Parliament urges the Serbian authorities to investigate, prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for any criminal offences during the elections. Equally, the Parliament underlines that constant early elections, permanent campaign mode and long delays in forming governments do not contribute to efficient democratic governance of the country, but instead weaken the parliament and lead to a lack of parliamentary legislative oversight and legitimacy.
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