Speeches

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.

Madam President, thank you very much. The Commission. Finland's business is ours. It was said almost 100 years ago and that solidarity with our neighbouring country is still valid today. Because in Sweden, in Europe and in the world around us, forces are now mobilising to tear apart the cohesion of our countries and undermine our support for Ukraine. We see it in Russia's energy war against Europe. We see this in how Putin is mobilizing to challenge European unity. The message of the Democrats is clear. At a dangerous time, Europe must stand for stability, security and cohesion. It is a safeguard against uncertainty in a changing world order and it requires resilient external borders, a functioning common response to migration and, last but not least, a readiness to support Finland as it strengthens its border – for Finland it is ours.

Madam President, thank you very much. The Commission! This mandate in the EU has been exceptional – pandemic, energy crisis and war in Europe. Nevertheless, the EU is strong. We have faced the crises with action. Over the past two years, we have doubled the share of renewable energy in Europe. It shows what we can achieve when we come together and decide to act. At COP28, we need to show the same momentum. We need to show and push for the rest of the world to follow the EU and triple investment in renewable energy by 2030, double investment in energy efficiency by 2030 and ensure that the Damage and Loss Fund is up and running. It is about justice and respect. Our focus on COP28 must be action to bring emissions down now. Not late, but now. Point.

Madam President, thank you very much. The EU has been severely tested in recent years – the migration crisis, the pandemic, the energy crisis and a war against international law in Ukraine. Children are affected. Children are particularly vulnerable to all crises in our societies. Children's safety, health and schooling are affected. The financial situation of families is affected. Families with children across the EU cannot pay their bills and cannot afford food. One in four children is at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU. One of four children! Growing up in poverty has a negative impact on children's rights, both here and now, but also later in life. The Child Guarantee is therefore an important tool that we must comply with. If Europe fails to ensure the safe upbringing of our children, here and now, it will affect both the children's and our common future.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner Dalli! whereas sexual and reproductive health is a prerequisite for women’s health and a right that must be prioritised even in times of crisis and conflict; Due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, access to sexual and reproductive health and rights has been restricted. These are clinics in Ukraine that are forced to shut down, but also serious restrictions on SRHR in countries where women and girls are fleeing to. Let me be clear: The right to sexual and reproductive health must always be respected. Access to SRHR is about contraception, maternal health, safe childbirth and abortion. It saves lives and it alleviates suffering. There are many important issues linked to the situation in Ukraine, but the situation of women and sexual and reproductive health and rights are just such issues, and I expect both the Commission and the Member States to act accordingly.

Mr President, thank you very much. The Commission! Clean water is a human right, a human right, and at the same time we see how pollution and drought make clean water a luxury for more and more people. This is totally unacceptable. We need to invest properly in water and sewage networks for a future where clean water really becomes a right and not a luxury. Two weeks ago, we voted in this House to increase investment in Europe's water and sanitation. Right-wing parties want a larger share of the costs to be borne by ordinary people, not polluting companies. We do not agree on this. I hope that the Commission and the Council understand the seriousness and explain how they see the risk of increasing the costs of clean water when companies do not take their full responsibility. I want to see a strong producer responsibility so that it is the polluter who pays, not ordinary people.

Mr President, thank you very much. I would like to thank the Commissioner for his answer. It is incredibly important for us in Sweden with the support we have from the Commission when it comes to action, but also that we have laws, rules and tools in place. I would like our Commissioner to make a visit to Sweden. It is a very urgent situation with violence and shootings. I know I can speak for all parents. You have a lump in your stomach every day when you wake up to news that you have shot a teenager, a child, again. So I am looking forward to the conference, but also to these measures being put in place, and that we can start working very quickly directly with Sweden, and of course with those Member States that are in the same situation or a similar situation.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. Thank you for the important work that the Commission is doing in the fight against terror, and now it is more important than ever in Europe. In Sweden, we have a situation where children shoot children, and organised crime puts Sweden in a national emergency. As a Social Democrat, I know that the national welfare of schools and associations is the strongest tool for vaccinating our local communities against violence and gang crime. But I also know that it takes political aggregation, police work and European cooperation, for weapons, drugs, criminals and money to move constantly across borders. So my question is: What does the Commission see that you can do here and now to support Sweden in the very urgent fight that we are waging against gang crime?

Madam President, thank you very much. Colleagues! Going to football, it's party, joy and community. To dress in the colors of your own country is to show pride in your team and where you come from. In my family we have been to many matches and in several of Europe's arenas. And every time Sweden plays, I wear my blue-yellow football shirt. This terrorist attack, this shooting where two Swedish supporters in their blue and yellow shirts have to do their duty with life, is an attack on our open, free and democratic society. It is an attack on Sweden, but it is also an attack on Europe. My thoughts, together with you, today go out to the families of the victims. I would also like to thank you for all the support we have received for Sweden, from the stadium in Brussels, here in the European Parliament and around Europe. We are not alone and we will not be defeated.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. This year, the Swedish tenant movement celebrates 100 years. Side by side with the Swedish labour movement, they led the fight for everyone's right to a good home. And now Sweden and the whole of Europe are once again facing a historically important choice. When the pace of construction drops dramatically, when renovation needs increase and when the cost of living rises. For many, living has gone from being a safe place in their lives to being their biggest concern. And at this point, I would particularly like to warn against the political forces that in this Parliament claim to represent ordinary people, but as when they gain influence in their own country, as in Sweden, they cut support for investments for window replacement, additional insulation and housing construction. Sweden and Europe need more good accommodation at reasonable rents, not more high and conservative air castles.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. Football is the world's largest sport and the world's largest cultural expression. It does not matter where in the world you travel, you will be met by children in football shirts, children with dreams of once playing in a World Cup final. What we saw after the World Cup final now was a professional athlete who at her greatest moment is being abused. This, in turn, has led to more people stepping forward and telling about their experiences. Now it is important that we stand on Jenni's side and on all other football girls' side and make sure that we do everything we can to make a change. For the little girls who today for the first time want to dream and discover the joy of football, so that the joy can lead them to experiences in football in the future. Our girls deserve it.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. We have to say it like it is: If men did not buy sex, there would be no market for sexually exploiting girls and women. The connection is very simple. The bigger the market, the more abuses. And no matter what the buyers tell themselves, it is not possible to pay for consent. You buy an assault, you buy a rape on another person's body. Nor can we deny the link between prostitution, trafficking and organised crime. The sexual exploitation of girls and women is a common European problem, which is why we must also take joint responsibility. It is almost 25 years ago that we adopted a Swedish sex purchase law. It criminalizes the men who buy a woman's body, but not the woman who sells herself. It is historical and the result of a long struggle in Sweden from the women's movement and many social democrats. I know because I was there. I have also been able to follow and see the effects. They're clear. We have changed norms and values, and we have slowed down demand. I have two daughters, and I have two girls like my grandchildren. I think I can speak for all parents when I say that no one wants our daughters or our grandchildren to end up in prostitution. Our Swedish sex purchase law has almost 25 years on its neck. It has become Norwegian, French and Irish. Now it also needs to become a common European project. I want to see a modern sex purchase law in the EU. We need to be able to send a clear message. It should not be possible to buy girls' and women's bodies in the EU's internal market.

Madam President, thank you very much. President of the Commission! Storms, torrential rains, heatwaves in Europe – climate change is affecting us here and now. We have wars in Europe with higher food prices and more expensive electricity bills as a result. Violence and abuse are increasing at a time of turmoil, not least against girls and women. We see a setback for gender equality in the EU. Parents worry about which planet we will hand over to our children and grandchildren. I therefore welcome von der Leyen's announcement here today that we will pursue the Green Deal, despite the right-wing conservative forces in here and despite the governments, like the one we have in Sweden, that are working against the climate transition. But I lacked a clear target for the EU's climate ambitions for 2040. Finally, the message from Ursula von der Leyen on consent in the law on combating men’s violence against women was important. A "no" always means a "no"!

Madam President, thank you very much. Imagine waking up on a normal morning. You get up and turn on the coffee and pour a glass of water. At the same time, you hear on the radio that the water in your area is poisoned. You are told that the water you and your family have been drinking for years has contained carcinogenic poison. In Swedish Kallinge, this became a reality. In their Swedish tap water was the dangerous substance PFAS. No one should have to worry about drinking water from the tap! With the strengthened Groundwater Directive, we are tightening the limit values for hazardous substances such as PFAS, glyphosate and antibiotics. That's good. This brings us one step closer to our vision: a Sweden and a Europe free from hazardous environmental toxins. I think it is important that we continue to work towards a total end to PFAS at EU level. It's about everyone's health.