Speeches

Madam President, Venezuela has long faced a deep political and humanitarian crisis rooted in years of authoritarian rule. Nicolás Maduro did not have democratic legitimacy, and yes, he is a dictator. The 2024 elections lacked basic guarantees, and his government has long been responsible for serious human rights violations. But this cannot justify abandoning international law and giving a green light to US unilateral military actions. Rule must always apply to all countries and in all situations, whether in Venezuela, Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, Syria or elsewhere. Selective respect for international law undermines the very order meant to protect all of us. The EU must support the opposition, put pressure on the regime and use the sanction tools. We need to help people to take power, but not through violating the multilateral structures and international law that we put in place after the Second World War. International law is here to defend all of us and ensure that people like Trump cannot claim countries like Greenland either.

Mr President, there is no force more powerful than a united people who refuse to kneel. From the streets of Tehran to the plains of Fars, from Kurdistan's mountains to the Baluchistan shores, from Khorasan to Azerbaijan province, the entire country is standing up. This brutal Islamic regime must not be managed, negotiated with or normalised. It must be ended. Casting it into the dustbin of history must be our shared responsibility. To the Commission: what are you waiting for? Label IRGC as a terrorist organisation, throw Iranian diplomats out of the EU, sanction the mullahs and support the opposition. Condemnations without real words are meaningless. Act now! And to those who are exhausted, wounded and grieving: we are with you. The day is coming when the prisons are silent, when the streets belong to the people, when children learn the name of the tyrants – the mullahs – only in history books. Justice will prevail, dignity will be restored, and Iran will once and for all stand in freedom and equality for its whole population – rich, poor, middle class, Persians, Kurds, Baluchis, Baha'is, Azeris, Arabs and all others.

Madam President, thank you very much. What crazy world do we live in? With AI tools like Grok, the threshold for creating fake nude images with sexual abuse material has effectively been erased. The result is a pandemic of involuntarily sexualised images that spread uncontrollably online. We see that many people have been affected, including politicians, but mainly women and children in our Union. Moral calls to think do not bite those who want to harm others, nor do they bite the industrial mass deployment of AI pornography. Especially when tech oligarchs like Musk and Zuckerberg make billions from deepfakes and scams thriving on their platforms. The only thing that can stop this is clear and binding legislation. I therefore honestly do not understand the position of the EPP Group and the Swedish Moderates and Christian Democrats when you crave deregulation – or, oops!, simplification, as you pretend it is – in the digital field. It's completely incomprehensible. Let us protect Europe's women and girls, not the tech oligarchs!

Mr President, it is unacceptable that a handful of powerful online platforms shape what our citizens see, while their algorithms amplify lies, fuel polarisation and distort public debate. The Digital Services Act gives us, yes, the tools to hold them accountable, but without enforcements it is meaningless. It is also crazy that there are people in here from the far right who are defending these platforms and their super rich friends, instead of defending our democracies. Member States have even exposed coordinated disinformation campaigns designed to interfere in EU elections and undermine trust. The European Democracy Shield must protect our people, our democracies and our elections against threats coming from the platforms Meta, TikTok, X and other spaces. With power should come accountability and responsibility, and this is something that these platforms refuse to understand and even accept. We need rapid crisis response tools, real oversight of platforms, algorithms and cooperation with fact‑checkers and civil society. Democracy will not defend itself. We must defend it and defend it now.

Mr President, colleagues, first to the far right MEPs, yes, it is true that we have citizens in Europe that are worried about European democracy right now, but why they are afraid is actually because of you. Please stop crying over us not wanting to cooperate with you. Yes, in a democracy we are all elected, but in democracies we also choose who to cooperate with. Commissioner, frozen funds must stay frozen until real actions are taken. No bargaining, no excuses, no shortcuts. Whistleblowers must be safe. Civil societies, universities, local government must get support directly. Parliament must see everything on time, fully without delay. Europe's values are not negotiable. Our taxpayers' money must be protected at all times. No compromises and no delays. Hungary is a net recipient of EU funds, while my country, Sweden, is a net giver.

Madam President, colleagues, let's be absolutely clear. No decisions about Ukraine can be made over the heads of the Ukrainian people. The negotiations where Russia, with support from the United States, demand that Ukraine surrender territory it has defended with extraordinary courage, is shameful. And at the same time, there are calls to weaken Ukraine's military and deny its right to choose its own future, including NATO membership. It is important that Europe secures the resources Ukraine needs to continue defending itself, using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine is not only reasonable, it is justified given the immense destruction caused by Russian war, but it is not trustworthy to, as EPP on one hand echo the same words and amounts as us, and at the same time cooperate and legitimatise as the best friend of Putin. Colleagues, pro-European forces must unite. We must deepen our unity and take greater responsibility for our own security, not illegitimate ties with Putin's friends.

Mr President, colleagues, I am tired – tired of cherry picking and tired of hypocrisy. Debate after debate we talk, yet no concrete actions are taken against the Israeli far-right Government. The EU-Israel Association Agreement continues as business as usual after two years of genocide in Gaza. We are told there is a ceasefire. But let's be clear: there is no ceasefire when Palestinians are still being killed every day; when children are dying because they are denied food, water and medical care. Continuing calling this a ceasefire and refusing to act doesn't make it a ceasefire. It only masks ongoing crimes. Settlements expand. Severe violence and impunity is a fact. What business as usual is contributing to is complicity. Yes, Commissioner, it is important to help out to build up Gaza again. And it is important to support the Palestinian Authority. But it is equally important to ensure that Israel stops committing its crimes; stops destroying Palestine; stops killing Palestinians; stops demolishing and confiscating EU-funded projects and structures. So I will not ask what more Netanyahu must do for the EU to act. The time for statements is over. The time for action is long overdue.

Mr President, the horror in Iran continues, yet the world behaves as if nothing has happened, as if the Jina revolution never took place. 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi – Women, Life, Freedom' once echoed across Iran, echoed across Europe, even in this very Parliament. But those words risk being forgotten. Oppression touches every corner of Iran and minorities Baha'is, Kurds, Baloch and others are hit the hardest because of their religion and ethnicity. Today we focus on the Baha'i community who for decades have faced systematic injustice: homes seized, women arbitrarily detained and an entire faith denied the right to existence. This is not random abuse; it is persecution by design – a state-engineered crime against humanity. Commissioner, we are still waiting for the IRGC to be labelled as a terrorist organisation. And yet, in the brutality, hope endures. It lives in Iran's minorities, in its women, in its students, the courageous forces still demanding dignity and democracy. They are the future of free Iran, and despite the regime's rage, the future will come. To them, I say: we see you, we stand by you, and we will not stop until every person in Iran can live freely without fear.

Colleague, thank you for the question and it is, of course, a very important question. As we can do offline, we should also be able to do online to safeguard privacy and integrity at the same time as we combat crimes and prevent harmful exposure that our children are exposed to. So if we can do it offline, we should be able to do it online also. There is something called safeguards and we need to have safeguards in place regardless of whatever tools we use online. I am very much convinced that we should be able to ensure that our children can grow up in safety and security online as they do offline, because the online world is also the real world. Do not forget that.

Madam President, thank you very much. The digital world cannot continue to be a lawless wild west. Today, criminal networks and organised crime and terrorism use social media to target and groom children into crime and into terrorism. Many young people are sexually abused, and every day children are bullied, threatened and humiliated online. It destroys young lives and weakens our societies. Online safety is crucial. Digital age verification is an important tool. There is no magic solution, but combined with digital skills for young people and greater responsibility for social media platforms, we can create a much safer digital environment. Today, online platforms are our modern streets, squares, schools and rooms. That is why Europe needs clear rules and real responsibility for platforms. Children's safety must never depend on the goodwill of Big Tech. While right-wing extremists in here lie flat for tech giants, we want progressives to protect our children. Every child deserves safety online and offline.

Thank you very much for taking the question. First and foremost, you claim that you are on the side of children. You claim that parents should have the main responsibility. Nobody is talking about depriving parents of their parenthood – but parents cannot monitor children 24/7. Social media platforms are the modern-day squares, even children's rooms and streets. How do you intend to ensure that children are not harmed by social media platforms, when the parents cannot be there? To not do anything means harming children.

Madam President, colleagues, the far right continues to read their speaking points as if migration is the evil source of everything. I would actually want to know where your forefathers migrated from to where you live today, that would be very interesting, and then you could continue your narrative. But seriously, what planet do you live on? If you think that rape and gender-based violence increase due to migration, your racist worldview fits only in one place and that is in the garbage can. Let me tell you that your patriarchal ideology, that's what legitimised a violence culture, a rape culture even. Our daughters should be protected from your ideology. Gender-based violence exists, unfortunately, all through history, in all classes, offline, online, and we need to act. I'm proud to have been one of the two co-rapporteurs for the EU's first, and historical, directive on gender-based violence, but I also acknowledge that we need to do much more. We need to act. We need – at last – a consent-based rape legislation in place, because it's long overdue. No other crime would have been accepted in our societies as the violence against women and girls that exists in all our 27 Member States. So to the Commission, I just want to urge the Commission to please ensure that you, during this mandate, put forward, once again, a proposal for a rape legislation, because women and girls have had enough.

Madam President, we face serious challenges to our security and to our fundamental rights. Organised crime is a cancer that poisons our societies and robs our children of a safe and hopeful childhood. We must ensure that the European Union is fully equipped to both prevent and fight these threats. That is why the LIBE Committee has proposed to strengthen Europol, Eurojust and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) with larger budget and more staff. Without the right resources, these institutions cannot deliver on the promises we make to our citizens. The EPPO plays a vital role in protecting the EU's financial interests, investigating and prosecuting crimes, like VAT fraud and corruption, that steal from us all. But today it remains chronically underfunded. That means crimes go unpunished and stolen funds remain unrecovered – this cannot continue. As we step up our efforts, we must never lose sight of our fundamental rights. Security and justice must always go hand in hand.

Mr President, I am asking for the floor in accordance with Rule 10(1), 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4). During the debate on Gaza, Patriot MEP Anders Vistisen was throwing out lies and accusations that I am an Hamas apologist. I have had enough! Demanding an end to the genocide is standing up for international law. Unlike him, I can actually condemn the Israeli far-right government's war crimes and Hamas war crimes. You know, you need to have two cells in your brain and make them function at the same time! If anything, he's making himself Hamas's and the Israeli far-right government's useful idiot. Mr President, slander is not a political opinion. Lies are not a political opinion. And his ways of debating don't even fit in a playground. I therefore call for action according to Rule 182.

Mr President, security isn't just another cost; it is to protect our societies, communities, our homes and our businesses from deep harm – from stopping crimes before they happen to fighting terrorism and safeguarding information. We need strong systems and strong police cooperation as organised criminal gangs operate across borders. Over 70 % of criminal gangs are active in at least three countries in parallel. And they are toxifying the lives of our children. Collaboration between EU Member States has never been more vital. The Commission's proposal to make Europol stronger is welcome, but it must be based on real needs, and the needs of the Member States. Coordination must be strengthened within the EU and it must also be strengthened with global partners. But with greater power must come greater responsibility. Intelligence-sharing must improve, yes – but always with strong safeguards. Expanded surveillance must protect rights, because in the end, one truth remains clear: security matters to ensure safety, but it must be done in a secure way.

Colleague, I have a simple question to you: what do you call it when the bombs are falling down on an area? When civilians are being been killed, when civilians are being slaughtered, what do you call it? Do you call it a ceasefire? Do you call it peace? Would you call it what it is: war?

Madam President, so much for a peace deal, so much for a ceasefire. The so-called peace deal, ceasefire plan or name it whatever you want is declared – but a few moments pass and the story rewinds once again. In the last two days alone, Israeli airstrikes have resumed, and – once more – innocent Palestinians are paying the price – victims of crimes. The Israeli far-right government has proven to not be a partner for anything right now; not for peace, not for ceasefire, nor for justice or anything else. How much more must Israel do before the European Union finally acts for real? There are no words left. Time and again, Israel commits war crimes and not even humanitarian aid is still let into Gaza. Do not let us fool ourselves! That's the reality right now while we continue to debate whether to suspend a mere fraction of our association agreement. Suspend the entire EU-Israeli Association Agreement, impose a full arms embargo, sanction the entire Israeli Government, recognise Palestine. The claim that Israel's war is against Hamas is still a lie. In reality, both Israel and Hamas are terrorising innocent Palestinians. Israel claims that innocent Palestinians are collaborating with Hamas, Hamas claims innocent Palestinians are collaborating with Israel. In reality, Israel and Hamas are each other's best friends. Leave innocent Palestinians alone. Let's talk about the West Bank; Hamas does not rule there, so why are Palestinians in the West Bank being punished simply for existing? Every settler in the West Bank and beyond lives in violation of international law. Sanction them all, not just the most violent ones. They live on stolen land – land stolen from the Palestinians. Those settlers who hold dual EU citizenship should lose the citizenship. Let's call violent settlers what they are – terrorists because they terrorise Palestinians every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month and every year. My friend Abu Hassan was one of their victims. What those settlers tried to do as the Israeli military stood by and watched, is something no human being should ever have to endure. Do not misunderstand me – the initial step of releasing hostages on both sides was crucial, but much more must be done to put an end to the bloodshed that is continuing to take place right now.

Mr President, power is not license to abuse. It is a responsibility to uphold rules and fairness, something Google and its peers should have realised by now. Abuse can never be tolerated, not by anyone. Not by individuals, not by states, not by institutions, and certainly not by tech giants who refuse to take responsibility on their own. It always seems that accountability must be forced upon them, and that is a shame. Their creed is simple: money rules. It is capitalism in its worst form when trying to crush fair markets. For too long, Google's power in the ad market has crushed fair competition, it has bled local publishers dry, weakened investigative journalism and shaken the very core of editorial independence – the lifeblood of a free press. It violates the core of the European Media Freedom Act: transparency, diversity and independence in media. Finally, some courage: the Commission setting limits for one of the world's mightiest corporations, at last. This isn't just about markets, it's about the society we stand for. Digital markets must be built on trust and fairness, not act as if its platforms are the Wild West. When they fail, democracy must act. Let this be a turning point. Let it remind us that technology and platforms must serve democracy, not rule it.

Madam President, thank you very much. Ten years ago Gui Minhai lived in freedom. Ten years since he met his loved ones. Ten years since his voice – a voice for freedom of expression – was silenced by the Chinese brutal regime. Gui Minhai's only crime was to publish books and dare to tell things as they are. For that, he has spent a decade behind bars without a fair trial and without consular access. My thoughts go first and foremost to his daughter Angela, who for ten long years has fought for her father's freedom. Her courage reminds us that behind every political fall there is a family waiting, hoping and suffering. We reiterate our call for Gui Minhai's immediate and unconditional release and for China to release him. No man and no family should be compelled to endure such silence. Gui Minhai must be released now.

Madam President, no regime must ever succeed in silencing our voices when we speak out against its crimes and violations of international law and human rights, including those committed by the regime in Tehran. The reimposition of the UN sanctions on Iran is a direct response to Tehran's repeated breaches of its nuclear commitments under the 2015 agreement. The European Union must remain fully engaged, ensuring that the implementation of these sanctions is closely and effectively monitored. The situation in Iran has deteriorated further in recent years, despite the hope ignited by the Jina Revolution. The regime's repression of its people, especially women, remains severe. Minority communities, including Kurds, Baloch, Ahwazi, Baháʼís and others, continue to suffer systematic discrimination, compounded by a disturbing rise in executions that has disproportionately affected these groups. When is the EU going to label the IRGC as a terrorist organisation? We cannot and must not allow intimidation or setbacks to deter us from standing up for peace, justice and dignity.

Madam President, the European Union's partnership with Latin America has never been more important. As the international order undergoes profound change, our cooperation must become even stronger with like-minded countries – more strategic and more ambitious. I warmly welcome the many new political and economic agreements between our regions, but we must go further. Together, we face common threats: organised crime and drug trafficking that devastate families, endanger children and undermine the security of both our continents. The flow of illicit drugs from Latin America to Europe is not just a regional issue; it's a shared challenge that demands a united response. I call, therefore, on the Commission to deepen cooperation between our Latin American partners and EU agencies such as Europol, CEPOL, Eurojust and EUDA. Only by standing shoulder to shoulder can we protect our citizens and secure a safer future for Europe, for Latin America and for all.

Mr President, we must express our deepest solidarity with all those affected by the devastating earthquakes in Afghanistan, and especially with the brave Afghan women and men working tirelessly in relief efforts. But we have also seen how the cruel restrictions on Afghan women and girls have blocked life-saving aid to half of the population. Even before the earthquake, Afghanistan was already one of the worst places in the world to be a woman, a place where gender apartheid takes its most brutal form. It reminds us of The Handmaid's Tale, but this is no fiction. It is the daily reality for millions of Afghan women and women and girls living under a regime of fear and oppression. We must stand firm for the Afghan women and for women everywhere, especially during a time where we see attacks on women's rights in Afghanistan, but we also see different kind of attacks on women's rights here in our own Union. So, for all women and girls out there, we need to ensure that we the European Union, in all our efforts, ensure to support targeting women and girls, especially during a time of crisis, as right now in Afghanistan.

You and your colleagues in ECR are shamelessly blaming Greta Thunberg and migration for antisemitism, but I have a question for you. Have you discussed with your colleagues in the Sweden Democrats, why they support a government in Sweden that made an agreement with the antisemite and Hamas-loving Prime Minister of Somalia? They made a secret agreement wherein Somalia will take 28 Somalian refugees, and they will get SEK 100 million – EUR 10 million – as an exchange. A Hamas-loving, antisemite Prime Minister. How does the discussion go in ECR about your colleagues in the Sweden Democrats?