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Ms Laura CASTEL (Spain, UEL)

Mandates

In the political groups

  • Co-Chairperson: Group of the Unified European Left since 27/01/2025
  • Vice-Chairperson: Group of the Unified European Left from 29/04/2022 to 26/01/2025
  • Member: Group of the Unified European Left from 28/06/2021 to 28/04/2022
  • Member: Members not belonging to a Political Group from 06/03/2020 to 27/06/2021

In the Assembly

  • since 06/03/2020 Representative - Spain

In the committee(s) and sub-committee(s)

  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Migration, International Protection and Economic Co-operation (since 21/01/2026)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media (since 21/01/2026)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy (since 23/06/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Rules, Ethics and Immunities (from 12/04/2025 to 22/06/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (since 27/01/2025)
  • Ex officio (Rule 19.6 of the Rules of Procedure - Chairpersons of Political Groups): (Former) Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs (from 27/01/2025 to 11/04/2025)
  • Member: (Former) Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs (from 15/04/2024 to 26/01/2025)
  • Third Vice-Chairperson: Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media (from 25/01/2022 to 21/01/2024)
  • Member: Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) (since 24/01/2022)
  • Full Member: Committee on Equality and Non-Discrimination (since 06/03/2020)
  • Full Member: Sub-Committee on Gender Equality (from 26/01/2021 to 27/01/2026)
  • Alternate of Mr José María SÁNCHEZ GARCÍA (Full Member): Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media (since 31/05/2022)
  • Alternate of Mr Iván ESPINOSA DE LOS MONTEROS (Full Member): Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media (from 06/03/2020 to 23/05/2022)

Interventions

Last speeches

23/04/2026 | 15:41:26 Thank you, Madam Chair. Dear colleagues, The aim of this Protocol is to update the Convention, notably by introducing virtual asset provisions, expanding confiscation powers and enhancing cross-border co-operation mechanisms. According to Europol, law enforcement confiscate less than 2% of criminal proceeds, so 98% remain in the hands of organised crime. Our group is in favour of such modernisation, as its core goal is to fight corruption and seek wealth accountability. We must keep in mind... 28/01/2026 | 18:04:16 Thank you, Chair. First of all, let me congratulate the Rapporteur. As it is stated in this report, the draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention is not a step forward; it is a regressive attempt to regulate what should be an absolute exception: the loss of liberty and the imposition of involuntary treatment. From a progressive perspective, we cannot accept this text. All 46 member states of the Council of Europe have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons... 28/01/2026 | 16:11:42 Thank you, Chair. Mr Mihail POPSOI, Two years ago I requested to the Committee of Ministers at what stage of compliance was the resolution regarding Pegasus spyware that urged Poland, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Greece and Spain to provide information, investigate all cases, apply sanctions and provide redress to victims. The answer was that due to a lack of consensus, there was no reply. You will agree with me that this is unacceptable and shows disdain for the victims and disdain for the work of... 27/01/2026 | 12:56:57 Friends, comrades, Today, we bow our heads to remember the six million Jews and the millions of others individuals, who were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime: Roma, Sinti, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and political dissidents, all of them. As it has already been said today, the Holocaust did not begin with the gas chambers, it began with the dehumanization of "the other" and the slow erosion of solidarity. It was the horrific result of unchecked fascism, white... 02/10/2025 | 18:08:54 Thank you Chair. Let me be clear. This draft convention, we think is solid because in a media landscape, dominated by global giants, Europe urgently needs these tools to strengthen our cultural sovereignty, protect our creators and ensure access to a pluralistic media landscape.  But I must say that this opinion surprisingly supports large companies, the strongest players in the audio-visual ecosystem, rather than independent producers, small creators and public interest.  For example, in...

Activities