Speeches

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.

Madam President, thank you very much. I would like to thank you for all the support we have received for Sweden's application to become a member of NATO. Russia’s invasion is a threat to the security of Europe as a whole, and the EU must continue its support financially, humanitarianly and militarily. Now we are being reached by reports that Ukrainian forces are rationing and running out of ammunition on the front lines. That is why we need to strengthen defence capabilities, and this work is now about increasing military support to Ukraine – and time is short. We need to donate more, buy more and produce more ammunition. In Europe, we must stand strong and stick together and not let ourselves be divided by the far-right forces. The EU must continue its sustained support for Ukraine now.

Madam President, dear colleagues, we miss Erik. He was a member of the Swedish delegation and Erik was well known, both as a politician and as a researcher. We will miss his guidance, his wisdom and his humour, and we will miss his genuine commitment for Europe. During this difficult time, let us honour Erik’s memory by continuing the work he has done for the European growth, for the industry, for the Green Deal, for regional development and remember his last efforts, which was sustainable aviation fuel. And now, as you mentioned, dear President, we keep Erik’s family and loved ones in our thoughts. (Applause)

Mr President, thank you very much. Last year I was part of the European Parliament delegation to the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York. It would be reasonable to assume that this year, ahead of the 68th meeting, we are building on a series of advances in women's rights that have taken place over the past year. But we all know that the crude truth is that progress is small. Instead, we must continue to warn of all the threats to women's rights and gender equality that exist everywhere in the world and in our societies. We are also at a time in Europe when pro-Russian, far-right and religious fundamentalist forces want to weaken Europe and divide our community. These forces are doing everything in their power to attack and dismantle everything that gender equality and women's rights are all about. Before this year's Commission on the Status of Women, I wonder how the Council and the Commission will address the threat posed by far-right organisations and anti-democratic movements to women's rights. Equally important is the issue of gender equality in the green transition. The EU must show leadership in a gender-equal climate transition, because gender equality does not only benefit women and girls – it benefits men and boys, it benefits our societies and it is a prerequisite for a sustainable future.

Mr President, thank you very much. Magic armies and fake accounts – behind these foreign agents and extreme ideologies. Words that didn't exist when I first got the right to vote are a grim reality for today's first-time voters. I mean what I say when I say that this year's European elections will not resemble any previous elections. Disinformation is a real threat to our security, both in Europe and in my country Sweden. We saw it in the lies about the COVID-19 vaccine and I see it in the lies about the Swedish social services. We see it in the disinformation that is now spreading in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Whether it is pro-Russian, right-wing or religious fundamentalist forces, there is one thing that unites them and the word is division. For me as a social democrat, it is a development that calls me to action. In Europe, we have recently tightened up the demands on the big internet giants. Why? Well, so that democratically minded citizens do not have to take the fight in the comment fields against Russian robot accounts. In concrete terms, it is about stopping the spread of fake news more quickly. to suspend fake accounts and to limit the misuse of artificial intelligence for disinformation; But Europe alone cannot do everything. It also requires national governments willing to do the job – willing to build resilient societies where free media can act as a counterweight to fake news, where schools are given the necessary resources to prepare our children and young people for the new reality, and where the authorities take seriously the radicalisation that grows in the soil of disinformation. We all have a responsibility to fight hate and disinformation. The alternative is to become Putin's useful idiot. As politicians, our responsibility is extra heavy – to actually think before speaking. Gathering instead of splitting. Not to push send before thinking again. This is how politics can and should be. That's the team before the hunt. It's the country in front of a click and click-friendly headlines. In my own country, Sweden, that reality seems to be far away today. We have a conservative government run by the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats and we now have leading politicians in the public debate who encourage the burning of religious texts. We have leading politicians who question the citizenship of minorities and demonize the Pride marches and who do everything in their power to put a hook on the democratic opposition. Sweden and the people of Europe deserve better than this. We all have a responsibility to keep our continent together at a time of turmoil. I am particularly pleased that our chief negotiator, Christel Schaldemose, from Denmark, has managed to bring about legislation that makes it clear that this responsibility is political and that is a responsibility that we should all take.

Mr President, thank you very much. Russia’s war against Ukraine has made it clear that we need to take greater climate responsibility and make Europe fossil-free as quickly as possible. We must put an end to Putin's grip on Europe. For despite great efforts, Europe continues to finance Russia's war fund by pushing up the price of oil and gas. It is Ukraine and ordinary people who have to pay. I, and we Social Democrats, will fight to tighten Europe's climate ambitions and reduce emissions by at least 95% by 2040. A mere 90% reduction is not an increase in ambition, which we cannot afford. And I must remind Commissioner Hoekstra of the promise you made of an ambitious 2040 climate target. Now it will be business as usual. We cannot accept that. It is about the future of our children and grandchildren and it is about reversing the Russian invasion. That is what is at stake – 95%, please.

Madam President, thank you very much. Unified we stand, divided we fall. It's a well-known expression from a Greek writer, and it's telling. Now, despite Hungary and Orban, 27 countries have agreed to support Ukraine. That's good, but it's not enough. This is about Ukrainian lives, but it is also about our security and Putin knows that. That's why he and his friends are doing everything in their power to divide us. No one can close their eyes to that anymore. No one in here should close their eyes to that. In a European democracy, we need to defend democracy every day, and the right to vote is our most important tool. The European elections will be a different choice. Cohesion and security must overcome divisions and unrest. We're going to have that debate, my friends.

Madam President, thank you very much. The Commission! Yes, the cost crisis is hitting our societies hardest, hitting women and children hardest. Every month across Europe, families worry about whether they will be able to pay their bills. There are parents who can't afford the heating, the clothes or even enough food for their children. In my country, Sweden, every third single mother's finances go down every month. This is absolutely unacceptable on one of the richest continents in the world! We can't wait another day to cut ordinary people's costs. The EU must bring down electricity bills, and we must also become independent of Russian gas and the oil of the rogue states. It is about security, security and climate change. EU policies must make a difference for all. I would like to thank my Swedish colleague, Alice Kuhnke, for an incredibly important report at a time of turmoil and uncertainty. Children, single mothers, yes, all Europeans, should be able to feel safe throughout their lives, even when crises and wars hit our societies and our Europe.

Madam President, thank you very much. ′′My girlfriend gets a fist punch in the face. I'm getting kicked out. Then they disappear just as quickly.'' Yes, the words come from a young woman who, together with her girlfriend, was subjected to hate crime in Sweden. These serious crimes have devastating consequences for individuals, for society and for democracy as a whole. In Europe, strong extreme forces are using just that – hatred and intimidation – to increase division, silence opponents and dismantle democracy. We notice it online, on our streets and squares, and we notice it in this house. Hate and hate speech must be combated. I therefore welcome the work of fighting these divisive forces and standing up at all times for people's right to democracy and cohesion!

Mr President, the Commission and the Council. Yes, Russia's brutality in Ukraine continues, and infrastructure is attacked, families are shattered and lives are shattered. We stand as passive spectators as the people of Ukraine fight in the trenches if we are not prepared to act together. The fact that EU leaders have not yet managed to agree on support for Ukraine is therefore astonishing. Right-wing forces have a big responsibility here. Populism and extremism are a dangerous way forward – dangerous for Ukraine, for Europe and for my country, Sweden. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not just an attack on a single European country; It is an attack on all of us, on democracy and on our security. We need unity, that we stand together at a time of uncertainty, that we have the power to act, that we act together and that we stand up for peace and security in Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. This year's COP28 is taking the first important step to phase out fossil fuels, and it's a big victory. It is thanks to the EU and an alliance of like-minded people. The message was clear – we had to deal with the elephant in the room. If we want to stop climate change, we need to stop fossil fuels. Once again, the EU is the leader in global climate action, and this underlines the importance of gathering around climate policy. Especially since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, fossil dependence is also a security policy issue. We saw at the COP how we are challenged by strong forces. Being in Dubai, one of the world's largest oil producers, was a challenge in itself, and I am so proud of the work of the entire EU delegation in the negotiations and would like to thank the Commission and our colleagues for their good cooperation. Now we will accelerate the pace of the transition and we will move away from fossil fuels by 2030. The poorest countries, which are the most affected, cannot wait. The message is clear – emissions must come down now, not later. And this applies to all countries – not least my Swedish right-wing conservative government, which, contrary to science, the EU and the COP28 agreement, is currently increasing emissions by 2030, while households are becoming poorer. All countries must do their part. Now it's up to the evidence.

Madam President, thank you very much. We are approaching Christmas and it is a time associated with community and joy. But it is also a time that for many means a lump in the stomach, parents who ask themselves whether the money should be enough for Christmas food and Christmas gifts for children and children and young people who feel the parents' worries and carry it with them into Christmas. I hear this from colleagues all over Europe and I see it at home in my country, Sweden. Our countries are getting poorer. It is families with children who are under severe pressure from the cost crisis when food prices and interest rates rise, and it is the young people who will be able to go out and face adulthood. More and more people are finding it difficult to pay their bills at the end of the month; young people who cannot afford to start their adult life because it is too expensive to move away from home. Yes, it is ordinary people who suffer the most, and we can never accept that. Unfortunately, we are seeing across Europe how the right is failing Europe's citizens and young people. Instead of supporting and helping the households that are now on their knees, they choose to divide and increase conflicts. At a time when we need leadership and political responsibility to lift ordinary people out of the cost crisis, the EU needs a strategy, and each Member State needs a strategy to support both families with children and young people facing life. No families with children should have to celebrate Christmas with concern that the money will not be enough.

Madam President, thank you very much. Prime Minister Sánchez. We hear here how forces in Europe are mobilising to increase division and cohesion in the EU. My Sweden has become a warning example. We currently have a conservative prime minister whose government is entirely governed by the nationalist party Sweden Democrats. This is at a time when we need more cohesion. As a Social Democrat, I know that a divided Europe can never lift ordinary people out of the cost crisis, can never face Putin's aggression against our continent and can never take the fight against organised crime. Europe must be a strong and secure force in a troubled world, and that requires cohesion. So Pedro Sánchez, warmly thank you for your work on equality and equality during this Presidency.