What Pirkko spoke about.

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FI Written Statement

Update of the anti-corruption legislative framework (debate)

Corruption is like cancer that undermines the foundations of society and its balance. I would particularly like to focus on one instance of corruption, namely the risks associated with large electoral funding. According to the European Parliament's rules, MEPs are not allowed to accept gifts in excess of EUR 150. It is confusing that the same MEP is legally allowed to take multiple amounts of elec…

24 Apr

2024

FI Speech

The sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive - Anti-Money Laundering Regulation - Establishing the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (joint debate - Anti-money laundering)

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Mr President, we are fighting against a relentless opponent, money laundering. Europol estimates that up to around 1% of the EU’s annual GDP is linked to suspicious economic activities, including the financing of terrorist organisations. The proposal for a directive before us serves as a barrier against the forces that seek to sow chaos and destruction in our midst, which threatens the structure o…

10 Apr

2024

FI Speech

New allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, in the upcoming EU elections and the impact on the Union (debate)

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Mr President, Russia is trying to influence European politics in particular to undermine the support of the EU and its Member States for Ukraine and its people. Russian disinformation campaigns have been uncovered across Europe. I consider extremely serious the information revealed by Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo that Russia has approached some MEPs and offered them money bribes to pro…

13 Mar

2024

FI Speech

European Semester for economic policy coordination 2024 – European Semester for economic policy coordination: employment and social priorities for 2024 (joint debate – European Semester)

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Mr President, the European Semester is part of the EU's economic governance. During this period, EU Member States adjust their budgets to the rules agreed at EU level. I think it is important to maintain the focus of the Semester on key economic and social policy issues without overburdening the process. Social policy must remain largely in national hands. I am opposed to the reforms proposed in t…

13 Mar

2024

FI Speech

This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo (debate)

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Mr President, for my part, I would also like to welcome you, Prime Minister Orpo, to the European Parliament. In this way, I would also like to take the lead in correcting the harshness of the Group of the Party of European Socialists' speech, and I say that there is no far-right party in the Finnish government. We have a patriotic government that is doing its best to repair the catastrophic legac…

28 Feb

2024

FI Speech

Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement (debate)

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Mr President, I warmly support the orientation of the new candidate countries towards the West and their rapprochement with the Western institutions. At the same time, I believe it is important that accession to the EU must always be a merit-based procedure, and there are no bypasses. Candidate countries must meet the strict criteria they have been given before membership can become a reality. The…

6 Feb

2024

FI Speech

Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union (debate)

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Mr President, Russia's interference in the EU's democratic processes raises concerns and calls for a decisive response. Last autumn's parliamentary elections in Slovakia reported a large-scale spread of pro-Russian propaganda. Generally, public debate has focused on the right-wing parties' ties with Russia. Often the debate forgets the corresponding sins of those representing other political posit…

6 Feb

2024

FI Speech

Water crisis and droughts in the EU as a consequence of the global climate crisis and the need for a sustainable, resilient water strategy for Europe (debate)

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Mr President, the objective of a sustainable water strategy should be to reduce the use of water, to maintain its sanitation and to improve the sustainability of water bodies. Water reuse and rainwater collection should also be promoted. Resolving the water crisis requires broad cooperation – at all levels. Each of us has a role to play in achieving these goals. As consumers, we can make choices t…

13 Dec

2023

FI Speech

One year after Morocco and QatarGate – stocktaking of measures to strengthen transparency and accountability in the European institutions (debate)

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Mr President, the corruption scandal uncovered a year ago has shaken the European Parliament and undermined public confidence in decision-making. Transparency in decision-making is a cornerstone of democracy. Transparency increases voters' confidence in the political system by reducing suspicions of hidden interests and unethical practices. More transparency and stricter rules are also needed for …

13 Dec

2023

FI Speech

EU strategy to assist young people facing the housing and cost of living crisis (topical debate)

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Mr President, thank you for giving us the opportunity to discuss the housing and cost-of-living crisis for young people. I myself will focus on describing the problematic situation in the housing market in Finland, where too many overexpensive dwellings have been built during zero interest rates and over-indebted housing companies have been established already at the start-up stage. The overall si…

22 Nov

2023

FI Speech

Cyprus Confidential - need to curb enablers of sanctions-evasion and money-laundering rules in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, this new leak of information from Cyprus revealed alarming information about the links between the country's financial sector and Russia. For example, the Cyprus office of the accounting giant PwC has been assisting Putin's close circle at the same time as Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Cypriot companies have assisted individuals subject to EU sanctions in circumventing …

21 Nov

2023

FI Speech

Recent developments at the EU’s external border between Finland and Russia and the need to uphold EU law (debate)

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Mr President, let us be frank. Russia has launched a hybrid operation against Finland and is using migrants as a weapon. Young men with inadequate documentation from Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, among others, have flowed to Finland's eastern border of more than 1,300 kilometres. However, we cannot be sure of nationalities, because the identity papers have mysteriously drowned on the way. It is …

20 Nov

2023

EN Speech

Order of business

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No, Madam President.

20 Nov

2023

FI Speech

Order of business

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Mr President, it is important that we talk about things under their proper names. Over the past few weeks, Russia has launched a hybrid operation against Finland. Young men with inadequate documents, including Somalis, Syrians, Yemenis and Iraqis, have increasingly crossed the border between Finland and Russia. There are very strong indications that this is instrumentalised entry promoted by the R…

8 Nov

2023

FI Speech

EU enlargement policy 2023 (debate)

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Mr President, the debate on EU enlargement has intensified as a result of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. I am in favour of the candidate countries heading west. EU countries and the international community must stand in support of Ukraine until Russian troops are evicted from Ukrainian territory. Russia must also withdraw from the occupied territories of Georgia and Moldova. I myself …

18 Oct

2023

FI Speech

Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report 2022 (debate)

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Mr President, the EU and many of its Member States are in debt in a worrying way. Last year, the EU's debt increased by more than EUR 100 billion, reaching EUR 344 billion at the end of the year. The auditors' annual report is a worrying read. There was a significant increase in errors in EU budget expenditure. The total risk to the EU budget at the end of the year was close to EUR 250 billion. Wh…

3 Oct

2023

FI Speech

European Media Freedom Act (debate)

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Mr President, media independence and pluralism are important objectives. In festive speeches, everything seems to be going smoothly, and democracy is flourishing in several EU countries where the media is said to be independent. However, reality may differ much more than we think. And now I'm talking especially about my home country, which is the media world I know best. In Finland, I have encount…

11 Sep

2023

FI Speech

Surface water and groundwater pollutants (debate)

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Mr President, clean surface water and groundwater are a valuable resource that we must protect. I believe it is essential that companies and private operators should take responsibility for the pollution they cause. Environmental crimes should be investigated more across the EU and polluters should be made to pay for the consequences of their actions. Clean water is vital to our health and the env…

12 Jul

2023

FI Speech

Recommendations for reform of the European Parliament’s rules on transparency, integrity, accountability and anti-corruption (debate)

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Mr President, free cheese is only in a rat's trap, according to an old Russian proverb. Since 2014, Russia has secretly diverted hundreds of millions of euros to foreign political parties and candidates in an attempt to influence political content. Apparently, Russia has achieved its goals. An effective way to fight corruption in politics is to make election funding fully transparent. If the donat…

14 Jun

2023

FI Speech

Lessons learnt from the Pandora Papers and other revelations (debate)

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Mr President, it is important to carefully review the experience of the Pandora Papers and other revelations in order to focus in the future on the most effective and efficient methods in the fight against tax evasion. When the richest people in the world don't want to pay taxes, they can easily find experts who help with tax avoidance. Four large audit firms control almost 90 per cent of the tax …