Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. An equal society must not just become a vision, it must become a reality. Beautiful words do not change anything for girls and women who are subjected to violence and abuse, who do not have their own job or power over their own lives, or who have a salary that is much lower than that of men. So now the Commission must deliver a real gender equality strategy where we guarantee the right to legal and safe abortion in the EU Charter, where we get a consent law where only a yes means yes and where we simply ensure gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting. Finally, I also want a feminist foreign policy. It started once in Sweden. It has been extremely successful there and now it is time for the EU to do the same.

Madam President, thank you very much. Threats to Europe are increasing. We see drones over my neighboring country Denmark. We see Russian fighter jets over the Baltics. That is totally unacceptable. That is why, together with my Nordic colleagues, I initiated this debate. We must send a clear signal to Putin that we are united, that we stand up for our countries and our borders and that we do not accept any form of abuse. For Sweden, my country, the drone threat is also real. Gotland is only 300 km from Russian Kaliningrad, and our location in the Baltic Sea means that we are also a front state. Therefore, we and Sweden's Prime Minister must show leadership, just as Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Fredriksson does. We have to stand up for creating a European drone wall, and we have to do it now.

Mr President, thank you very much. We have to tell it like it is. Climate change is no longer a future threat. The effects of global warming are already here. Our new reality is what we have experienced this summer, with heat waves from north to south. People suffer and people die. Our societies are not designed to withstand this extreme heat. We need to act and we need to invest in our homes, in cities, in our infrastructure, to adapt to our new reality. It costs huge amounts of money to deal with the consequences. This is precisely why emissions must be reduced, and this is precisely why we must continue to invest in renewables. We simply cannot afford to listen to the climate deniers, the far-right, as they try to set the agenda. We can't afford to be passive either. It takes political courage and we will show that here in Europe. We're going to take leadership.

Madam President, thank you very much. President von der Leyen. During the last mandate, you led a successful Commission, which, in crises and wars, took Europe forward in democracy, security, climate and gender equality. Now we see how conservatives and right-wing extremists are jointly trying to dismantle not least our climate ambitions. We Social Democrats want to work together, and it is therefore good that the Commission continues to act clearly against the far-right forces. We also think it is important that we stay on course in the green transition and ban and phase out PFAS once and for all. Equally important, however, is the priority given by the Commission to women's rights. I want to see a law on consent and the right to safe and legal abortion. I am disappointed, because the word equality was not included at all in the speech today, and it is not good enough. I want my grandchildren to live in a green and equal Europe.

Madam President, thank you very much. The world order is rocking and Europe is facing its most difficult test in decades. Ukraine is fighting not only for its country but for our entire continent. In recent days, Ukraine has been hit by new major drone attacks, including the hitting of a government building in Kiev. A mother and her baby were killed and many more were injured. Yet we see that several EU countries are still not living up to their responsibilities in supporting Ukraine. The Nordic and Baltic countries are leading the way, but several Member States are far behind. We now demand a new handshake from the Social Democrats: by the end of the year, each Member State will provide at least half a percent of its GDP in support of Ukraine, for our common security, for the peace of Europe and for the freedom of the Ukrainian people. Slava Ukraini.

Madam President, thank you very much. Dear Mette, I welcome the Danish Presidency. Mine dating Neighbouring country. Welcome to us! At a time when the world is shaking, Europe needs leadership that stands firm for our security, for the climate and for our democracy. Mette, you're a strong leader. You are a prime minister who is on the side of the citizens, and we in Europe need that today. Denmark's priorities are very clear. The EU will continue to take the lead with an ambitious climate policy. A green transition with green investments driving Europe’s competitiveness and growth – yes, that is the way forward. But that also requires a clear target for 2040. I say at least 90%, with target 95, because science says that. This is about the future of our children and grandchildren, so I wish you every success with the presidency. Good luck!

Madam President, thank you very much. Behind every abuse, every image, every click is a child. A child who has been betrayed, a child whose life has changed forever. Children, not least girls, have the right to grow up free from violence, abuse and exploitation, including online. What is illegal offline should also be illegal online. As rapporteur for the opinion of the Committee on Gender Equality, I have worked to strengthen the rights of the child, make gender-based violence visible and ensure that we get consent for older children. I would like to thank our rapporteur and my colleagues for their very good cooperation. This Directive is essential for the protection of children across the EU. It is our duty and our responsibility and now it is time to move from words to action, for the sake of our children.

Madam President, thank you very much. The war in Ukraine is not just a battle for territory. It is a struggle for freedom, peace and democracy. Every day, civilian homes are bombed, children grow up in shelters and people are imprisoned and tortured. According to UNICEF, children on the front line have spent over six months in shelters, and one in three young people feel hopeless, especially girls. Right now when we are debating here, civilians and prisoners of war are being illegally detained and bombed over the homes in Ukraine. We must never, ever get used to this reality, and we can make a difference. Our support for Ukraine must be clear and strong. We must do everything we can to increase support for Ukraine economically, militarily and humanitarianly. I therefore want all EU countries to reach, already this year, at least half a percent of their GDP in support of Ukraine. It looks very different and I want all EU Member States to stop buying Russian gas. It feeds Putin's war treasury. We can make a difference, we can act here and now. Slava Ukraini.

Mr President, thank you very much. Since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine, the EU has shown strength together. We acted quickly and we did so with severe sanctions. But we are now at a critical juncture. Europe is buying Russian oil and gas for more money than we are providing in support of Ukraine. Europe should not fertilize Putin's war fund and we should not buy fossil energy. We have to live up to our own climate law. It is therefore good that the Commission has now presented a plan – a plan to phase out Russian energy imports by 2027. It should have been done already. But it is also clear that more countries need to do more to support Ukraine. I would therefore like to see a handshake in which all EU countries already this year reach at least half a percent of their own GDP in support of Ukraine. Ukraine's security is also our security. Slava Ukraini!

Madam President, thank you very much. Clean water is a right, not a privilege, but today it is threatened by climate change, pollution and a lack of political courage. In our Europe, every child and every family should be able to trust that the water in the tap is actually clean and safe – thank you to our rapporteur, Bajada, who has worked hard for this. That is why we need to invest in modern water systems and make climate adaptations and protect our natural resources. I've been saying this for years: We also need to stop and phase out PFAS, a perpetual chemical found in our drinking water and in our bodies, PFAS that stays in nature for generations. In the European Water Strategy, it is our duty to ensure access to clean and safe water for today's children and future generations.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner Lahbib. Yes, when crises hit us, it is always the most vulnerable who are hit first. Women and children are the victims of brutal violence. We see it, for example, in Ukraine, where thousands, tens of thousands of children have been kidnapped. And behind every number is a child with a name and a story. A child whose hopes and dreams have been shattered. A resilient Union must therefore be prepared for more than cyber threats and sabotage. Our preparation is also about protecting lives. To ensure that those most at risk are not left alone. This is why we need to strengthen preparedness at all levels, from the EU to local communities and civil society. For a real security, it is only built together by everyone and for everyone.

Mr President, thank you very much. Europe is in a very serious situation, and I see two existential threats globally. It is about our peace and freedom and about our survival, and therefore it is about both security and our climate. The way forward is therefore that we in Europe strengthen our own security, our defence, while pursuing the green transition. It is not possible as the right wants, to now press the pause button when companies and citizens expect us to take responsibility. Today, we buy Russian gas for more money than we provide in support of Ukraine. That is totally unacceptable. We have to shut down the Russian gas crane now. It is absolutely crucial that we stick to our 2030 targets and take responsibility for a green, clean and safe planet for us and for future generations.

Thanks for the question. Your colleague sitting next to you, Timgren, was standing right in the pulpit talking about the fact that in Sweden only foreign-born men rape women. And then my question is back: Are you so naive that you do not see that there is constant oppression of girls and women's rights, regardless of which men and boys we are talking about? We have to deal with this. We must stand up for the rights of girls and women. Unfortunately, we cannot count on you in this fight. But we're gonna take it.

Madam President, thank you very much. Women's and girls' rights are under attack. In one of four countries, progress has turned into setbacks. A Roadmap for Women's Rights is a welcome step forward with several important actions, with rights that we fought for. But it is also a reminder that women's freedom is constantly being questioned. whereas the right to safe and legal abortion remains controversial in some parts of Europe; It shows that our rights cannot be taken for granted. We are without a law of consent in the EU. We also need a European law on the purchase of sex. Thousands of women and girls are left unprotected. If we keep this pace, it will take at least 60 years before we achieve gender equality in Europe. My message is crystal clear: We need to do more, here and now!

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The fact that Trump and the United States were leaving the Paris Agreement could not have come as a surprise to anyone. Trump's statement "drill, baby, drill" now affects the entire world. Fossil energy will flow and international efforts for sustainability and humanitarian action will be dismantled in the United States. This is exactly why the EU must continue to take the lead, invest in people and businesses, drive the green transition. But then the Commission's work programme presented today is not enough. We now need both strength and leadership in the EU. It is not Trump who should set the agenda for us in the EU. Last year's Green Deal campaign was a success. That path is still possible – to choose the path to the future.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. The Green Deal was a project for the future during the last parliamentary term. Then we stood together in the broad middle and the right-wing climate deniers stood outside. In my country, Sweden, the right-wing extremists went to elections to tear up climate legislation, and now we are risking it. If we reverse the green transition, we risk missing the climate targets, losing the EU’s green jobs and our industrial opportunities. If the Conservatives hook their arm with the far-right, we face a serious development. Our industry here in Europe needs long-term rules of the game, clarity and political leadership that enables us to invest in both people and companies. The EU – and this is a warning on my part – must not become the biggest threat to growth and green transition in Europe.

Madam President, President von der Leyen should be here. Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The Commission presents the most important documents of the year and the President does not have time to come to Parliament. Could it possibly be because the Commission's programme is difficult to defend today? There's a lot missing. Where did the green transition come from? Where did investments in people's health come from? And equality? Girls' and women's rights were not mentioned in a single word at the presentation. We Social Democrats want men's violence against women to become an EU crime, for the EU to have a law on consent, for the right to safe and secure abortion to be included in the Charter of Rights. We would also like you to present a Health First Act, which ensures access to medicines and strengthens our crisis preparedness, not least at a time when we need to stand strong against climate change. We've seen floods. We've seen fires. We need a plan on how to deal with this together in the EU. And we need investment. We need investment in people, investment in businesses. The Commission needs to show strength and leadership in a difficult time. So my greeting to von der Leyen is: Do it again, do it right, for the good of the EU.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. A regular Tuesday at a regular school in Sweden, a training center for adults. So this ordinary day turns into one of the darkest days in Sweden's history. A Swedish young man shoots recklessly inside a school. Han dödar tio människor, flera av dem med utländsk bakgrund. Today, after this mass murder, many people with other backgrounds in Sweden feel fear and insecurity. And it is a failure for our society, in Sweden, in Europe and in the world, when violence and division extinguish people's lives. Or as our Queen of Sweden, Queen Silvia, put it when she was in Örebro. Where did the beautiful Sweden go? Words matter. We need to know this, especially in the public debate. We all have a responsibility. Hatred and threats don't belong here. For a school, an ordinary day, it should be a place that is safe. A place that makes people's dreams of the future possible. Our thoughts are with all those affected today. The mother in Orebro who did not come home to her children. Our thoughts are with all those who were trapped in the school in fear and heard and saw shootings and blood. And for all those who did a great job of saving people's lives. We are at a time when we need to come together. So many thanks to all of you who stand with us in Sweden in our grief.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Commission and Council! 2024 was the year when we would finally get a globally binding plastics agreement. A deal that both we and our oceans so badly need, but the deal never came to fruition. Our daily lives are still filled with a lot of plastic items. Millions of tonnes of plastic end up in our environment, in our oceans every year, every day – and when we are standing here. Plastics that damage all living things and threaten human health and our ecosystems. We don't want our oceans to be rubbish dumps, do we? It's time we put a stop to it. We need to reduce the use of single-use plastics. We need to increase recycling and we need to find sustainable alternatives. We're in a hurry now. Here, the EU must show leadership for a globally binding plastics agreement - now.

Mr President, thank you very much. The Commission and the Council! In recent months, we have seen a growing threat and damage to submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. I come from Sweden, and I live with my family on the Baltic coast. We know that we are particularly vulnerable to the Russian shadow fleet, because about half of all Russian oil exports pass through our waters. This creates major environmental risks and threatens our security and infrastructure. It is also a clear example of how Russia is trying to circumvent international sanctions. We must therefore put an end to imports of Russian oil and gas going to our Member States. We've made a decision here, and we need to stop now. Finally, I also welcome measures to increase cooperation around the Baltic Sea. It is about our safety and our environment.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. 2024 was the warmest year ever. It's not just statistics, it's a reality that affects all of us here and now. Higher temperatures, heatwaves, fires, extreme weather that kills people and destroys our ecosystems. My home country, Sweden, has long been a role model when it comes to climate and the environment, but that is no longer the case. The current liberal-conservative government, which is ultimately governed by the far right in Sweden, has in a short time destroyed Sweden's reputation in climate issues. Instead of a policy that increases emissions, Sweden has gone from being the best in class to being a deterrent. This is while the EU has shown leadership in the last parliamentary term, but after the European elections we see the same development here. Here are the right-wing forces, as climate deniers, and want to tear up the whole green deal. And now we heard Trump's inaugural speech saying that they intend to leave the Paris Agreement again. We know that competitiveness and climate transition must go hand in hand if we are to increase investment, secure jobs and achieve more growth. We have no time to lose. We need to do more. My wish is that together we increase the ambitions of the 2040 targets to 95%.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. In the heart of democracy, threats and violence should never silence women. But in our neighbourhood and in candidate countries, we see female politicians being subjected to harassment and cyber violence. This is nothing more than a democratic failure. Parliaments should be role models for gender equality, not arenas for sexism. This is also the case here in the European Parliament. We Socialists, we demand immediate action from the Commission. A strengthened action plan to prevent harassment and to create safe workplaces. And we demand a zero-tolerance approach to violence and sexism. Democracy must be based on equal representation, and this requires women to be able to participate on an equal footing with men, that is, freely, safely and fully in society. Action is needed now, from the Commission.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Russia’s war against Ukraine is not just a brutal attack on a sovereign state and people. It is also an attack on the truth. Because through disinformation and falsification of history, Russia is trying to justify its vile war against Ukraine and create divisions in Europe. But we must not allow ourselves to be deceived. The story is clear. Ukraine's right to independence and freedom is unquestionable. Russian propaganda not only threatens the cause of Ukraine, but it also undermines our European values and the foundations of democracy. Resisting these lies is crucial to protecting our common future. We Social Democrats stand firm in our support for Ukraine – militarily, economically and humanitarianally. And we stand up for the fight against disinformation every day. Truth and solidarity, that's our strongest weapon. This is how we defend democracy. Together we are sending a clear message: a message of freedom, truth and justice. It will always triumph over oppression, lies and aggression. It shows the story. There must come a day for Ukraine's freedom and our peace in Europe. Slava Ukraini!

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Children are not just our future – they are our present. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has changed children's lives. In my Sweden, the Convention on the Rights of the Child is Swedish law, but major challenges remain. Today, one in four children in the EU is at risk of poverty. It means lack of good health, schooling and meaningful leisure time. One child in four – this is completely unacceptable. We can't close our eyes. There are things we can do, there are things we should do, and there are things we need to do. We have the responsibility and the tools to create societies where all children have equal opportunities and where their rights are always respected, both in real life and online. It is our duty, both now and for the future. Those of us who own the decisions must take that responsibility.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The next five years here in the European Parliament will certainly be a challenge, as is already apparent in the run-up to today's election of the Commission. It is a provocation that President von der Leyen is proposing a far-right candidate from Italy to be her Vice-President. We risk a weaker Commission than the previous one. For us Swedish Social Democrats, it is crucial that the moderate and conservative forces stand by their promises to us when we now choose to take responsibility and support the Commission, because together we choose broad cooperation in the broad middle with pro-European parties. We do it for democracy and security, for the climate and the environment. We do it for jobs and equality. We need a strong Europe that continues to take leadership in a time of war and crisis, and we are doing it for the future of our children and grandchildren. Now it is up to the incoming Commission to prove it.