Speeches

Mr President, it is a shame how the EPP and the far-right are using our democratic House in their witch-hunt against the socialist government, one of the most successful governments as regards civil rights and social rights. The allegations against the sitting government are serious and should be handled as such and, by all indications, that is also what is happening. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acted forcefully as soon as the allegations against the former organisation and secretary of PSOE was brought to the table and expelled him from the party, as well as deprived him from the positions he had, while the PP in Spain has acted shamefully. Colleagues, it is a shame to politicise such a serious situation, especially when the Prime Minister acted as a decent person should act. Furthermore, according to the Rule of Law Index, Spain is above the United States, on the 25th spot in the global ranking. So, what are we actually talking about here? We are spending the Parliament's time on political smear campaigns, not actually concern or debate about the state of the Union. The right and the far-right are only pretending to be concerned about the rule of law, only pretending to be. If the right and the far-right was actually worried about the rule of law, we would be discussing the fact that, according to the same Rule of Law Index, where Spain is ranked number 25, Hungary is on spot 73, in the bottom half of the ranking, below Kazakhstan, and with the same score as Sri Lanka. We might have been discussing as well Greece, which has the same score as Georgia, and Croatia is only narrowly better. The situation in Slovakia is deteriorating rapidly. There is no credibility behind the empty words and dishonest gestures of EPP and the far-right.

Mr President, welcome to 'Orbánistan', where the government has made it their primary goal to dismantle the rule of law, human rights and democracy. Mr Orbán, being elected does not grant you the right to transform Hungary into an Iran within the EU. By attacking LGBTQI rights, women's rights, migrants and civil society, you are not much different from the mullahs in Tehran. The Hungarian people are brave and will ultimately consign you to the dustbin of history. Patience with Orbán has long since run its course. The Commission should, without delay, make full use of its toolbox to force the Hungarian regime to correct its unlawful measures. Meanwhile, for colleagues that believe in equality for all, let us stand with the courageous people of Hungary on 28 June as they celebrate Budapest Pride. The very first Pride was a riot defending themselves from hate and violence. Let's show Orbán that all Pride marches are powerful expressions of resilience and freedom.

Madam President, history will not be kind to those who stand by while innocent civilians in Gaza are being slaughtered and starved by the far-right Israeli Government. If this was a war against Hamas, there would not be so many civilian casualties, so many children. Moreover, we must not overlook the ongoing attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank also, including the expansion of Israeli settlements. If these actions are not a violation of international law, then what is a violation of international law? If it looks like a genocide, smells like a genocide, let me tell you what it is: it is a genocide. Let us put an end to this hypocrisy. It's time to call out Netanyahu's war crimes and to end the slaughter of innocent Palestinians; suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, sanction Netanyahu and all his ministers – not a single one, all; implement the ICC and ICJ decisions, and ensure to adopt a weapon embargo against the far-right government, which slaughters children. Today's debate concerns the very soul of our union. We can no longer claim to be committed to peace, respect for international law and promoting these values globally if we fail to stand up for them universally, everywhere. Free Palestine.

Madam President, the most urgent priority at this moment is to prevent further escalation of wars and conflicts worldwide, before past mistakes become a harsh reality once again. Both the European Union and NATO bear a responsibility to act. We have rightly supported Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we must continue to do so to ensure its victory and bring an end to Russia's ongoing acts of aggression. Putin has repeatedly demonstrated his unwillingness to engage in genuine peace negotiations. The only way to force him is to continue strengthening Ukraine. The recent escalation, specifically between Israel and Iran, is yet another deeply concerning conflict. This conflict is costing innocent civilians their lives. While I hold zero sympathy for the regime in Tehran, Israel's actions are also unacceptable. Respect for international law must be upheld by all parties, as there should be no special legal privilege for war criminals and oppressors like Netanyahu, Khamenei or anyone else.

Mr President, the war between Israel and Iran is unfolding before our eyes, with civilians on both sides bearing the devastating consequences, not Khamenei nor Netanyahu. We must stand firmly against war, against oppression, terrorism and violation of international law. We must oppose the use of weapons of mass destruction, genocide and occupation. No person or entity, be it Netanyahu, Khamenei or Hamas, stand above international law. The actions by Israel in Gaza is claimed to be self‑defence. There is no self‑defence in killing over 60 000 civilians, many more injured and on the brink of starvation. These actions violate international law. Those who fail to see that Israel is breaching Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement are either blind or complicit. It is time to suspend this agreement. The maniac Trump's possible actions right now are dangerous. The EU, however, must play a crucial role in de‑escalating the conflict and preventing the heinous Tehran regime from accessing nuclear weapons. Our collective responsibility is to promote human rights, rule of law, democracy, peace and uphold international law.

Madam President, Putin's tyranny can only be brought to an end through EU unity and decisive actions. The continued import of coal and oil by some Member States directly enables Putin's war efforts, filling his war machine and enabling him to escalate missiles and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and civilians, as he has done over the last months. It is good to condemn, but more important to act. We must support Ukraine with all available means to ensure that they not only withstand the war, but win the war. This support must be comprehensive: sanctions, military aid, humanitarian assistance, macroeconomic support – there can't be any limits to our support. However, right now, EU Member States are pumping more money into Putin's war machine than support to Ukraine. How is that going to ensure that Ukraine will be in a position of strength? Because a position of strength is important to ensure that Putin is forced to the negotiating table and to ensure that Ukraine wins, that we win.

Mr President, sometimes I wonder if the Commission thinks we are a Mickey Mouse Parliament. Two years have passed since the Parliament's PEGA Committee issued a forceful recommendation to combat the illegal use of spyware within the EU. Yet two years on, the Commission has utterly failed to take decisive actions. It seems like we have a Mickey Mouse Commission – because it is either that or that the Commission refused to defend the people of Europe and uphold democracy, rule of law and human rights. In fact, some Member States, such as Italy and Hungary, are now in an even worse state than before: Hungary has been caught spying on EU officials and Italy on activists – clear violations of fundamental rights that remain unpunished. The European Media Freedom Act was passed, but it protects only journalists and only narrowly. What about political opponents? What about activists, lawyers, ordinary citizens? It is high time for bold, unwavering actions from the Commission. Accountability must be enforced and Member States must be held to strict standards. It is time to end the Big Brother society some of our Member States have turned into.

Madam President, genocide, ethnic cleansing, annexation and war crimes are the actions currently inflicted upon the Palestinian people by the Israeli far-right Government. The goal of Netanyahu's criminal regime is clear: to completely destroy Gaza so that the Palestinian population is forced to leave. These are actually the words even coming from Minister Smotrich. I find no better summary than what Yair Golan, the leader of my sister party, Israel's Democrats Party, recently said: 'a sane country doesn't engage in fighting civilians, doesn't kill babies as a hobby, and doesn't set as its goal the expulsion of an entire population.' Colleagues, silence in the face of such crimes is complicity. The EU is already on the wrong side of history. The question is, are we going to continue down this dangerous path? Yesterday's decision in the Council was a disgrace. Are you serious about evaluating the Association Agreement with Israel? The time for evaluation is long overdue. What we need to do is immediately suspend the trade agreement, allow humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza ASAP, impose sanctions on the entire Netanyahu Government – not single ministers – and implement an EU-wide weapons embargo. Right now, 14 000 children are at risk of starving to death within the next 24 hours. The atrocities against Palestinians are among the worst since the Second World War. The EU must act swiftly and decisively. Free Palestine.

I think it's very clear that, as I said, Nazism is pure evil. The ideology that put Europe into the atrocities of the Second World War, of course, is pure evil. And we need to ensure that those who put us in that position can never, ever put us in the same path. One important action is, therefore, to draw the lessons of history, and ensure that whatever Germany can do to pay back for the atrocities that took place back then also is being done.

Mr President, colleagues, today, 8 May, is the time to commemorate. This is a time to remember, but also a moment to reflect on the lessons – the evil the Second World War emerged from. And it is a time to warn against the far-right ideologies that once drove our continent to the edge of complete self-destruction. The same ideology that, unfortunately, is embraced by some – even here in this Parliament, in Europe in 2025. The generations that survived the Second World War, those who knew the very essence of 'never again', understood that the tragedy of the 20th century did not begin with bombs or bullets. It began with words, with rising intolerance, and it continued to mass killing of men, women and children by the thousands, by the millions. In our European society today, we are once again witnessing this rise of political forces that set people against people. Colleagues, do not forget that EU was built to ensure that 'never again' means 'never again'. Let's ensure that 'never again' is transferred into words every day, with every action that we take.

Mr President, 'journalism is not a crime, not in any country'. These are the words of the Swedish journalist Joakim Medin from the notorious high-security prison, Silivri, in Türkiye. Joakim must be allowed to return home to his freedom, to his Sofie and their awaiting child immediately. Since 28 March, he has been detained in Türkiye. The allegations of insulting President Erdoğan and membership in a terrorist organisation are baseless and lack evidence. So far, the Swedish government has not succeeded in influencing the situation through diplomatic efforts. The Foreign Minister took time to contact her Turkish counterpart and, as far as we know, the Prime Minister has not lifted the phone to reach out to his. In this very delicate situation, it is crucial that the Commission and the whole EU stands behind Joakim and demands that he be allowed to return home immediately. He is a Swedish citizen and, therefore, also a European citizen. It is our duty to defend all our journalists and all our citizens. Joakim's case is also a matter of every journalist's rights to operate freely, beyond oppression and beyond fear.

Mr President, in the face of the devastating Israeli warfare and a suffocating humanitarian blockade, the people of Gaza, especially its children, are being killed in tens of thousands and denied their most basic rights, including humanitarian aid, healthcare and education. At such a moment, our support for UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority must not waver. Following the 7 October 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks, the Commission reviewed all financial assistance to Palestine, including UNRWA, and confirmed its compliance with the legal guarantees under the pillar assessment and the contribution agreement. I wish the same was also done for Israel, who right now commits atrocities we could never imagine in 2025. To withhold funding or to echo false narratives promoted by the Netanyahu regime would punish innocent people of Palestine and will only serve as supportive actions for Hamas. The EU must stand with those building a better future in Palestine, not with those defending the Netanyahu regime, which is accused of mass killings, genocide and use of starvation as a weapon of war.

Mr President, colleagues, Commissioner, EU's budget for a changing world requires EU's courage for a better world. International institutions and civil society organisations are essential for a better world – the ideas that have influenced us since after the Second World War. But we see how forces influenced by the ideology of the Second World War have grown and are now, in budget after budget, trying to cut support to civil society organisations and attacks important international organisations as UNRWA. There must not be any under-funding of EU external action, particularly in crisis-affected regions like the Middle East. It would be shameful and a failure towards the people of Gaza that right now already suffers because of the Israeli far-right government. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza calls for immediate and long-term engagement. Once a political agreement for reconstruction is in place, we must be ready with a robust, predictable financial instrument dedicated to Gazans and the whole Palestinian people.

Mr President, to US President Trump: you are a loser. Because there are no winners in this trade war; it drives up prices, destroys jobs, stifles growth and hits the most vulnerable the hardest. It affects everyday people the hardest; Trump's heavy tariffs are disturbing supply chains and, in a few weeks, shelves in the US could be empty. And it polarises a world that already is facing many challenges with, among other things, Russia's unlawful attack on Ukraine. Trade barriers should be dismantled, not built. As the United States retreats from the global stage, turning its back on the very order it helped build after the Second World War, Europe must step up. We need an open world beyond Trump's ideology and the ideology of his extreme right-wing puppets in the EU. We need politics for the many, we need politics for the people. We must strengthen our relationship with other like-minded countries: Ukraine, Australia, Canada, Japan, India, Brazil, Mexico and many, many others. Through unity, we will ensure that today's craziness will also soon pass, and openness, cooperation and freedom will prevail.

Mr President, every misuse of taxpayers' money is essentially theft. Viktor Orbán, the leader of the far right in Europe, is one of the biggest ones. The European Commission is currently withholding … So are the colleagues going to be silent or am I allowed to continue? (The President asked for silence in the room) Every misuse of taxpayers' money is essentially theft. Viktor Orbán, the leader of the far right in Europe, is one of the biggest ones. The European Commission is currently withholding many billions in EU funds from Hungary due to rule of law and corruption concerns. This is corruption. Anti‑democrats remain anti‑democrats. Transparency and accountability are their greatest enemies. Their shamelessness knows no bounds, even extending to spying on investigators from the EU Anti‑Fraud Office, OLAF. Those who misuse public funds and target our anti‑corruption agencies also attempt to demonise the cornerstone of democracy: civil society. A vibrant civil society is a vital pillar of healthy democracies, which explains why Orbán is attacking it. Let us also not forget the baseless allegations against important international organisations like UNWRA. Democracy is currently in jeopardy.

Madam President, today the far‑right Israeli Government shamelessly approved a plan to unlawfully seize full control over Gaza and escalate its brutal assault on the civilian population. Since 7 October 2023, over 50 000 people have been killed. While the Israeli Government violates international law day after day, the EU keeps staying silent. We are supposed to prevent historical atrocities from happening again. These atrocities must also include those happening against the Palestinians. International law is not cherry‑picking. The European Union's passivity reflects a profound moral failure and is damaging the Union's reputation on the global stage. Madam President, on behalf of the S&D Group, I urge you to condemn this unlawful decision made by the far‑right government in Israel and do that on behalf of the whole European Parliament, recognise it as a breach of international law, and also acknowledge that it is time to terminate the EU‑Israel Association Agreement. For how much longer will the Union remain complicit in these war crimes that are taking place?

Mr President, one hundred and ten years have passed since one of the darkest chapters in human history – a genocide that killed and deported millions, with people mass murdered and families destroyed. One of those families was my own great‑grandfather's. Many survivors were scattered across the Middle East, Europe and the world, carrying a grief that has pierced through generations. This is not a distant memory. It is a wound still felt today. Yet even now, nationalistic and autocratic forces, most notably in Turkey, seek to deny this truth. Denials do not erase history; it deepens the pain. We will never forget the Armenian Genocide and we will commemorate its victims each year in this Parliament. There is still much work to do on memory and reconciliation. The steps taken in recent years, like building memorial sites in cities such as Diyarbakır, must continue. Let us ensure the truth prevails and justice, however delayed, is never silenced. The genocide must be recognised everywhere and by everyone.

Mr President, since the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi, Women, Life, Freedom uprising in 2022, the regime has escalated its repression. Iran now holds the highest per capita executions rate globally. While the Iranian regime aims to install fear through its policies, it has only galvanised the resolve of those advocating for equality and fundamental rights. We have as a responsibility as the EU to support these brave individuals and to take actions. The EU must unite to secure the release of all political prisoners. Our EU citizens deserve to return home. And every and each Iranian deserves the right to live in democracy, freedom and equality. As this brutal regime continues its violence and the EU does only the bare minimum. Commissioner, when will the EU classify the IRGC as a terrorist organisation? This is something we have asked for for over two years now, and I know that sometimes there are challenges, but I think also if there is a will, there is a way.

Madam President, I am an unwavering ally of the LGBTIQ community. LGBTIQ rights are human rights, but what I am not is an ally to those who cling to regressive ideologies, such as Viktor Orbán and his ilk, who embody a medieval mentality that seeks to fight progress. Those of you in here that support him, you should be ashamed. The recent legislation aimed at banning Budapest Pride and all public LGBTIQ events is nothing less than an assault on fundamental human rights. It is a deliberate act to silence voices that demand dignity and respect and to install a culture of fear in the heart of those who dare to love and be themselves. The right to love, to express oneself and to assemble freely are not mere privileges granted by the state. They are non-negotiable freedoms etched into every fabric of our humanity. There is no difference between Orbán and the Taliban leaders in Afghanistan and the mullahs in Iran.

Madam President, a new debate, a new watered-down title. Let's see what Elvis Presley said: 'Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away.' Let's talk about the Israeli far-right government: an ICC arrest warrant on Prime Minister Netanyahu; over 50 000 people killed in Gaza in just the last 1.5 years – over 70 % women and children; war crimes committed; crimes against humanity; sexual and gender-based violence. On 23 March, Israel killed 50 healthcare workers and threw them into mass graves. Starvation is being used as a weapon through banning the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. But hey, the crimes seem to not be enough for the EU to act – to act in accordance with our own values. Let me remind everybody about the respect for human rights and democratic principle constituting the basis of Article 2 in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. What does the Commission and the Member States do? Nothing. You know what that's called? Hypocrisy.

Well, I think most everyday people know that blue is blue, red is red, yellow is yellow, so it should be very, very clear what is misinformation and disinformation. And in the end also this discussion is about Radio Free Europe and the protection of journalism. And journalism is the ground foundation of strong democracies. If we cannot see that, I don't think we can call ourselves democrats.

Mr President, Trump has made it clear that he doesn't care about free and independent media. I'm not surprised that there are people in here that are making themselves his useful idiots, but I'm ashamed. In an era of disinformation, hybrid warfare and democratic backsliding, the protection of independent media is not just important, it is one of the last lines of defence against authoritarianism. Truth is under attack by the far right and authoritarian regimes that seek to spread their false and dangerous narratives, to polarise, to silence, to dissent and to destroy public trust. Without independent journalism, citizens cannot make informed decisions about their future and their leaders. The EU and all our Member States should be ready and must be ready to step in to secure the future of Radio Free Europe. There should be no doubt that we stand ready to defend free, independent and democratic media. When the US abandons this vital institution, then Europe must take responsibility, because the fight for press freedom is a fight for democracy.

Madam President, democracy must be defended and developed always, all the time. In the past 25 years, we have witnessed the trend towards autocratisation, to the point where seven out of ten persons globally now live in undemocratic countries. It is a global crisis we are talking about. It often starts with a with hate speech and attack on freedom of speech. We see this trend all across the world, including in the US, in the EU, and even in my own country, Sweden, we can see how hate speech from representatives from some political parties has increased. These undemocratic forces wear different masks, but their ideological roots are the same – same-same, different names. What is even more concerning are those who compromise with these forces, normalising them and becoming dependent on them. Undemocratic forces should not be tolerated. We must build a firewall against them. To the EPP Group here in the European Parliament and across the EU: yes, I'm talking to you. Wake up. Join the right side of history and stop bending for these forces.

Madam President, colleagues, I am ashamed of the corruption scandals after corruption scandals. Robust institutions and clear regulations are essential for maintaining strong democracies. At the heart of that is transparency, which ensures credibility and accountability. A troubling example is the President of the Commission's ongoing refusal to disclose her text messages with the CEO of a pharmaceutical company regarding the COVID-19 vaccine purchases. It is therefore perplexing that the Commission withdrew the regulation on public access to documents without offering an alternative. Additionally, the recent corruption scandals involving Huawei is a direct assault on democracy and a disrespect to European voters. This underscored the urgent need for the ethic body that we Social Democrats and other groups have been advocating for. But I cannot understand why any group would oppose it. I can understand that the far right do not care about democracy, but it is a shame that the EPP is opposing this ethic body. For those who value democracy, transparency should be a fundamental principle. Let's put an end to impunity!

I just wanted to ask our colleague a question. First and foremost, we are not talking about surrogacy, because on the issue of surrogacy I can subscribe to that – I also see it as a human trafficking use of women's body. We're not talking about surrogacy. What we're talking about is children who already have two parents and they are of the same sex. This could be in different ways: adoption is one way and there are other different ways, but they do exist today. What are we going to do with them? Are we going to deprive children who already exist today, who have parents who are of the same sex? Deprive their parents because they move from one country to the other? Because right now, freedom of movement doesn't apply to all our citizens.