Speeches

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.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. One in three women in the world suffers physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. This is not news, yet we are not doing enough to put an end to this. Orange Day It is therefore an important day in which we pay attention to this pandemic of violence. The EU has taken important steps forward. The historic first law against men's violence against women, in which my colleague Evin Incir was the negotiator, is important. But that is not enough to combat this violence. We need to have a consent law in place across the EU that states that sex must take place voluntarily. In addition, we see how girls and women are subjected to violence when there is war. Rape and sexual assault have become a weapon of war. We Social Democrats want to add men's violence against women to the list of EU crimes. And we Social Democrats intend to take the fight and be at the forefront of making Europe a safe place for all girls and women. We hear in here that we need to fight the far-right parties, which are failing when it comes to girls' and women's rights. It's time to look our daughters in the eye and say: "We do it!" We intend to take responsibility for their safety.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. The green transition is not just about industry becoming sustainable, vehicles becoming environmentally friendly and households becoming waste sorting experts. We must also invest in our own skills. The knowledge gap can be fatal at a critical time. If the EU wants to take real responsibility for the green transition, we need to continue to raise our ambitions and increase investment. I welcome Draghi's report. More people need the opportunity to transform their lives, educate themselves and contribute to a sustainable future. But this should also apply to all women in Europe. One third of women in Europe today do not have a job of their own. If we are to face the future and increase skills, green transition and gender equality must go hand in hand.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your In Sweden, we are particularly vulnerable to the Russian shadow fleet. I live on the coast of the Baltic Sea myself, and we know that about half of all Russian oil exports are made through our waters by old and rusty ships. In order to conceal the origin of oil, it is often transferred between vessels on the high seas. There are major risks that can lead to environmentally hazardous emissions. Yet EU Member States continue to buy Russian oil, thus endangering both our environment and our security. We have to deal with dependence on Russian oil, because the more we buy, the bigger Putin's war chest will be. This is both about our environment and about ending Putin's war in Ukraine. Let us, together in the EU, be clear and put an end to Russian oil – and do it now.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your We know that in Poland the right to abortion has been dismantled step by step, and today it is practically forbidden for girls and women to have a legal and safe abortion. We know that it also affects women where pregnancy is the result of rape. This is completely absurd. We Social Democrats have always defended the right to abortion and we will continue to be a driving force in this matter. That women should have the right to their own bodies should be a matter of course in our modern times and in the European Union. Here in the EU, we need to ensure that the right to safe and legal abortion is protected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This is not one of many political issues. It is, in fact, a matter of life and death, of dignity and freedom for girls and women. Abortion is a human right.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. There is increasing evidence that social media has a very negative impact on young people's well-being and health. Platforms are now a natural part of their everyday lives, and the negative consequences can no longer be ignored. Eternal scrolling and excessive screen time creates an addiction that affects young people's mental health. We also see how children and young people are exposed to harmful and extreme content on social media. It can be about young girls who get intrusive advertising about makeup or anti-wrinkle creams. Or even worse: This may involve children who are bullied, sexually abused or recruited into gang crime online. The European Commission therefore needs to identify the practices that make social media addictive and act vigorously against them. We already have certain rules, such as television advertising aimed at young people, and now it is time for us to do the same with social media. It is about the health and well-being of our young people. They have to come first. This is what their future is all about.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Hungary's presidency began with Viktor Orban shaking hands with Vladimir Putin. The same Orban then called on Ukraine to surrender. Mr. Orban, this is a betrayal of the whole of Europe and it is a betrayal of our common values. At a time when democracy is being challenged by authoritarian leaders and far-right forces, Europe must stand united. Ukraine's struggle is also our struggle. My grandmother has told me about 1956, when Swedish families stood in the harbour welcoming Hungarian refugees. Then we stood up for Hungary and now we stand up for Ukraine. But Viktor Orban instead plays into Putin's hands and jeopardizes everyone's safety. This is a disgrace to the whole of Europe.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Commissioner Dalli. In our Europe, thousands of women are killed by their partner or ex-partner. whereas one in three women in the EU has experienced violence, and half of all women have experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15; Behind each figure is a woman, a mother, a sister, a girl, a daughter. How many more women and girls will have to die before we act? We can't wait another day; Violence must end. Recently, we adopted a directive to combat men's violence against women, which was negotiated by my colleague Evin Incir. Each Member State must now assume its responsibilities. We need to move from words to action. We have no time to lose. Thank you very much, Helena Dalli, our Commissioner for Gender Equality, for all the commitment you have shown over these years to eliminating violence and increasing gender equality.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Climate change is here. No one can deny it. People are affected by floods, water shortages and forest fires. For our farmers, also in my Sweden, the effects have been particularly noticeable in recent years. Droughts and floods have led to reduced crop yields. For many farmers, this means an uncertain future with reduced incomes and increased vulnerability. But it's not just about financial losses. It is about our food supply, our countryside and the future of our local communities. The EU's agricultural policy must therefore be part of the solution. We need to support our farmers to reduce emissions, invest in climate-smart farming practices and ensure sustainable water management. That's the only way we can face the future and leave a healthy planet to our children and grandchildren.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. The extreme weather and floods in Central and Eastern Europe have caused a devastating loss of life and destroyed entire communities. Our thoughts are with those affected. This disaster shows once again that climate change is a fact and that its effects are undeniable. We know that climate change is driving extreme weather. In fact, it is not really wise that we have climate deniers here in Parliament who believe that extreme weather is not real. People are dying, people are fleeing and cities are being destroyed, a reality that the Sweden Democrats and their party friends deny. We Social Democrats see that we must continue to adapt our societies to climate change, strengthen Europe's common civilian crisis preparedness and stand up for an ambitious and fair climate policy. Now!

Madam President, Commissioner Dalli. We are facing a world where inequalities continue to grow, both within and between countries. The recent G20 Ministerial Declaration on Reducing Inequalities is therefore a very important step in reducing inequalities. I particularly welcome the fact that the G20 reaffirms its commitment to promoting gender equality. Recognising that this is crucial to achieving social justice and contributing to global economic growth is of the utmost importance, because we know that it is always girls and women who are most affected by wars, crises and poverty. Together, therefore, we must ensure that the declaration does not become empty words, but that we put it into practice, because we want to achieve a more equal world. Thank you for taking the floor.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Mrs. von der Leyen. Putting an end to Putin's war and increasing support for Ukraine and increasing ambition in the fight against the climate threat is crucial if we are to come together in broad cooperation in the EU. But then we need to close the door on right-wing extremist and Russian-friendly parties. We welcome your pledge to achieve the EU's climate goals. But 90% is not enough by 2040. We Social Democrats can lead the way so that the EU becomes the world's first climate-neutral continent. We also welcome a new gender equality strategy, a Commissioner for Gender Equality and a roadmap. But abortion rights need to be strengthened and secured in the EU. It must be enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. We need broad cooperation for a cohesive Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. In 2019, we Social Democrats went to the elections for a Green Deal in Europe; a Green Deal to reduce Europe’s emissions, strengthen our nature and make the transition just. During this mandate, together here in the EU, we have decided on the largest climate package in history. And we've done it. Despite a pandemic, a war in Europe and an energy crisis, we have doubled renewables and are now reducing emissions in Europe. But despite this, we see how far-right forces are mobilising to stop the Green Deal. I see it in Sweden: The Sweden Democrats are going to the elections to tear up the EU's climate policy. It is the right-wing populists who are the greatest threat, both to a peace in Europe and a peace for the Ukrainian people, and a threat to achieving our common climate goals. That is why the European elections on 9 June will be an election about our future – and I am just saying: We do it for our children and grandchildren. Cheer Green Deal!

Madam President, thank you very much. The Commission! The struggle in the Ukrainian trenches, it is about Ukraine's right to freedom and democracy, but also about our freedom in Europe, in my Sweden, about our safety and security and about defending our way of life. Because it's serious now. Putin is building a new iron curtain in Europe. Children and civilians are killed. And when Ukraine warns that it lacks enough ammunition to defend itself, well, then we have to act. We have imposed sanctions. We have increased support, but it is clear that it is not enough. Thanks to the sanctions, we have been able to freeze Russian assets for billions. It is high time to use this money in the way we can, to support Ukraine with both weapons and ammunition. It's time to let Putin pay for his vile war. It is about the people of Ukraine. It is also about peace and freedom in our Europe.

Mr President ! Yes, the upcoming European elections will not resemble any previous elections. In the aftermath of the revelations, the links between Putin and far-right and right-wing populist parties are now being unravelled in the face of an open curtain. The intentions are obvious, to undermine support for Ukraine, to weaken our democracy and to divide our continent. The security of Europe as a whole is at stake. We must not allow Russia to influence this election. So let me be clear. We social democrats, we demand strong action. We urgently need answers as to what people and parties this is about and what the contacts with Russia actually looked like. And for me, it's clear that affected people need to be shut down. It is ultimately about safeguarding our democratic institutions and our democracy.

Madam President, thank you very much. The Commission! In recent decades, large parts of the welfare society have been privatised and deregulated, and this has led to poorer welfare and increased inequality. This became particularly clear during the pandemic. The shortage of medicines and import bans showed that the pharmaceutical market did not work when we so needed it, not least for our elderly and severely ill. Society must function in everyday life, but also in crisis and at worst in war. And that's why I want us to make up for this drug failure. With this new type of medicine in the EU, everyone should have access to medicines no matter where they live. Preparedness and stockpiling should be increased so that we never have a shortage of important medicines. And we will restore the dignity and security of all. A new direction for my Sweden and for Europe is possible when we regain democratic control. This is the direction of the Social Democrats for both my Sweden and for my Europe.

Madam President, thank you very much. Thanks for the question. We are sitting in the European Parliament at a time of crisis and war in Europe. The actions of each Member State make an important difference to the way our cooperation works. Therefore, it is very relevant to point out that when cooperation is strengthened in our Member States where we bring the far-right into government work, then we also open up to challenging our common European democratic values. That's why I'm talking about what's going on in Sweden and Finland.

Madam President, thank you very much. The Prime Minister! Finland and Sweden have so much in common, not least our Nordic labour market model. The Nordic model is based on dialogue and negotiation between strong and equal partners. It has been a source of pride, strength and prosperity for our countries. But what I see now is going on in Finland makes me worried. Attacks on the right of association, on the right to strike and on labour law. I also hear that civil society organisations in Finland warn that the government's planned cuts risk pushing almost 17,000 children below the poverty line. This is at a time when many are struggling with higher prices. Both Finland and Sweden have governments that have chosen to cooperate with the far-right. The Prime Minister! My call is therefore to you that in a troubled world, politics must create cohesion and consensus, not division and confrontation. (The speaker agreed to reply to a post ("blue card"))

Madam President, thank you very much. In war and conflict, it is always the children who suffer the most. Children are killed, injured, affected by lack of food, water and safe places. Children are forced to leave school or be separated from their parents. whereas the forcible displacement of children to Russia is totally unacceptable in this Russia’s illegal, brutal and ruthless aggression against Ukraine under international law; The Russian regime must be held accountable for its war crimes and the rights of children must be defended. We Social Democrats took the initiative for a child protection package that the EU has supported. Because it is about the freedom and future of children and Ukraine. But it is also about our European cohesion and about the security of Sweden and the security of all the countries of Europe. We stand up for the children.

Madam President, thank you very much. Climate change is becoming increasingly evident in our daily lives. In Sweden, harvests have decreased in recent years due to floods and droughts. Fires ravage our forests more often and floods and landslides often lead to flooded basements, sewers and ruined roads. Adapting our societies to climate change is therefore crucial to strengthen our preparedness and it needs to be done here and now. This work cannot be postponed in the future. Functioning railways, sewers, climate-proof houses and more resilient ecosystems are essential to increase our security, livelihoods and safety. We Social Democrats want to continue strengthening Europe's common civil crisis preparedness. We will continue to stand up for an agricultural policy that strengthens nature and land and we want to increase investment in rail and sewerage. No cooperation is stronger than its weakest link and just as we here worked together during the pandemic to overcome the crisis together, we must now be able to work together to meet the climate crisis as well. Because that's just how we build the strong society where we hold together in the EU.

Mr President, thank you very much. The Commission! The COVID-19 pandemic may already feel far away from the challenges we are facing now. But there are lessons from the pandemic on how to strengthen our preparedness, which of course we need to take advantage of today. Equivalent access to care is crucial for our preparedness. It is a matter of life and death, of the equal value of all human beings. We see that health care is still under severe pressure. In my country, in Sweden, we have cuts in healthcare. Lessons have not been learned from the pandemic; There are longer waiting times and many people do not get the care and treatment they need. That is totally unacceptable. At the same time, we must ensure that the high pressure on healthcare does not endanger the health of patients. I welcome the Commission's proposal to extend the transitional period for new diagnostic tools, so that manufacturers have enough time to meet all the criteria. Some of the problems we can solve. For example, we have far too few authorities to certify the new tools, and we cannot continue to simply extend this transitional solution. I therefore call on both the Commission and the Member States, but also my government at home in Sweden, the right-wing government, to ensure that the authorities are given more resources and conditions to actually do their job, so that more patients can get better diagnostics and care. The citizens of Europe deserve that.