What Evin spoke about.

16

Dec

2024

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Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023 (debate)

Madam President, first and foremost, I want to start by thanking you for your vital work, EU Ombudsman O'Reilly. In these challenging times of backlash against fundamental rights and democratic erosion your role as a strong EU Ombudsman with integrity has been crucial. Transparency and access to documents are essential for democracy, protecting against corruption and authoritarianism. Unfortunately, the Commission and many Member States have consistently failed to meet these expectations. The Commission has excessively restricted access to documents and missed legal review deadlines in 85 % of cases. Even President von der Leyen has denied public access to SMS communication with a pharmaceutical CEO, overlooking that content defines a public document, not the medium. Even a pigeon – a message sent by pigeon – would and should have been seen as a public document. It's disheartening that Member States refuse to resume negotiations on the regulation of access to documents. The situation undermines the trust in the public institutions. It undermines the trust in democracy. Once again, I want to say thank you for...

28

Nov

2024

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Strengthening children’s rights in the EU - 35th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (debate)

Madam President, 'in all actions involving children [...] the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration' is stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Despite this, children continue to face significant challenges, and government responses are lacking. Eurostat reported that in 2023, 24.8 % of the children in EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Additionally, there was 1.3 million reports of child sexual abuse in the EU that year and many children are being recruited into organised crime. How a society treats its most vulnerable is a measure of its humanity. While all Member States have ratified the convention, we must move from words to actions. We need to implement an EU-wide strategy to prevent child recruitment into organised crime; hold social media platforms accountable to ensure we protect children from online sexual abuse and recruitment, and ensure that all Member States provide provides housing, education, healthcare and basic needs for all children so that achieving one's dreams is not dependent on parental welfare. And finally, I want to say to the far right here, there is one sick ideology in here, and that is your ideology that is depriving so many children their right to be themselves, that even leads to...

27

Nov

2024

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The increasing and systematic repression of women in Iran

Mr President, 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî', 'Women. Life. Freedom': these three Kurdish words resonate deeply, instilling fear in the Iranian regime. The words embody the strength, the wrath and defiance of women across the whole of Iran. That is why the regime is so afraid. Women, girls and other groups in Iran need our support. We must strive to be at least a bit as brave as they are. In September 2024, the Iranian regime approved the oppressive protection of the family through promoting the culture of hijab and chastity law. These disgraceful measures must not go unchallenged. We must impose sanctions on those responsible. Colleagues, the Iranian regime is on edge and so is also the Turkish – recently, the slogan 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' was banned in Diyarbakır, my birthplace. This is unacceptable, especially as the EU Member States remain silent. Let us be clear: our priority should be democracy, peace and adherence to international law. If we fail to defend these principles, we will face grave consequences. You cannot pet a snake and expect not to be bitten.

27

Nov

2024

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Critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and hybrid threats in the Baltic Sea (debate)

Madam President, the latest developments in the Baltic Sea have highlighted the growing threat from Russian hybrid attacks, particularly targeting critical infrastructure such as undersea cables. Attacks from Russia and other anti-democratic countries against our societies are increasing, and their dreadful actions constitute a form of covert warfare. Hybrid threats know no borders, which means that Sweden and our neighbouring countries need the strong support of the EU to handle the situation. A threat to one of our countries is a threat to all, unless you are Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Hungary. It is shameful that we have a government in one of our Member States that acts as Putin's lapdog. It is a shame he can continue holding the EU presidency. At the same time, criminal gangs are being recruited by third countries to carry out terrorist attacks as part of hybrid warfare. We must take strong actions and utilise all of the EU's resources to protect our collective security.

27

Nov

2024

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Stepping up the fight against and the prevention of the recruitment of minors for criminal acts (debate)

Mr President, gangs across the European Union are recruiting children and young people. Society has failed our children. Growing up in the district of Bergsjön in Gothenburg in Sweden, I loved my community, but we faced challenges I wouldn't wish on anyone. Already in the 1990s, we witnessed schoolmates being recruited. Today, in 2024, the situation has worsened, with even younger children being targeted and involved in violence. Children are killing grown‑ups. Children are killing children. New technology has made also homes unsafe and a place for the gangs to recruit. Gangs, exploit digital platforms to recruit children using influencer tactics and emotional manipulation. They frame illegal activities as challenges or missions, giving kids a false sense of purpose. We must act now to ensure that every child belongs in school, not on the streets with weapons. I urge, therefore, to the Commission to create a strategy to prevent the recruitment of youth into organised crime. Additionally, we need to hold the digital platforms accountable for protecting our children's welfare and to ensure the security of the whole European Union.

26

Nov

2024

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Continued escalation in the Middle East: the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, UNRWA’s essential role in the region, the need to release all hostages and the recent ICC arrest warrants (debate)

Mr President, let's be clear about the actions of some individuals and political groups in here. It is hypocrisy to question the ICC arrest warrant. It is shameful that the far-right groups and the conservative EPP attempted to block this issue from today's agenda. I expected such behaviour from anti-democrats, but what justification does the EPP Group have? The ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Gallant and Hamas commander-in-chief Deif should not be questioned by anyone. It is an obligation of all our Member States to implement it. It is their obligation – not question it, by anyone. Respect for international law must be maintained consistently, regardless of who is the aggressor and who is the victim. And as far as I know, there is not an international law for Israel and another international law for the rest of the world. There is no difference between perpetrators and those silently and actively watching people being killed. Don't forget that silence is to be complicit. Stop defending war crimes, for God's sake!

25

Nov

2024

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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, I could shout at the top of my lungs, but it wouldn't compare to the cries of women and girls suffering right now. Women and girls face various forms of violence throughout their lives, including physical violence, threats, psychological violence, sexual violence, socio-economic violence. The reason for this? We are women and girls. We are female. Each year, over 2 300 women in Europe are killed by their partner or ex-partner. In our European Union, 31 % of women are survivors of physical or sexual violence. In the EU in 2015, more than 90 % of rape victims and 80 % of sexual assault victims were women and girls, while nearly all perpetrators – 99 % – were male. Behind each statistic is a person whose life, freedom and dreams have been shattered. Colleagues, it has been an honour to lead the fight for the EU's first and historic directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence along with so many strong feminists, but this is just the beginning. However, it is shameful that some Member States rejected the inclusion of consent-based rape legislation. While I expected misogynistic policies from the far right and national conservatives, it is particularly disgraceful that those who claim to be feminists have acted against the inclusion. One major obstacle was President Emmanuel Macron in France. Only 'yes' means 'yes'. This must be stated clearly and enshrined in law. The horrific experiences of Gisèle Pelicot must mark the turning point in recognising the necessity of consent-based rape legislation in France and across the EU. Colleagues, we need a Gisèle Pelicot law: legislation that ensures that only 'yes' means 'yes'.

13

Nov

2024

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Deplorable escalation of violence around the football match in the Netherlands and the unacceptable attacks against Israeli football fans (debate)

First and foremost, I think Charlie Weimers knows himself that what he just said were lies. But I'm happy that he's condemning his own party colleagues, because it's actually the first time I've ever heard a Sweden Democrat take responsibility and condemn the antisemitic words that have come out of many of the leading figures in the Sweden Democrats. So thank you for daring to do that, Charlie Weimers.

13

Nov

2024

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Deplorable escalation of violence around the football match in the Netherlands and the unacceptable attacks against Israeli football fans (debate)

Mr President, on the Socialists and Democrats, and on the Left bench and the Green bench, we are being very, very clear. We have been condemning all kinds of hatred: antisemitism, islamophobia, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, all kinds of hate. I haven't heard Charlie Weimers or his friends with one word condemn any, any of those points that we have raised. You said you want to take citizenship from some people. Would you, say, deprive your own party colleagues of their citizenship, those that have made antisemitic comments also? It's a concrete question.

13

Nov

2024

Answers EN

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Deplorable escalation of violence around the football match in the Netherlands and the unacceptable attacks against Israeli football fans (debate)

Well, first and foremost, I didn't compare anything; I just said what happened. I also clarified that any kind of hatred – verbal or physical – is unacceptable. And those that have committed crimes need to be put on trial and need to be convicted – and be put in jail. So I didn't compare. But one thing that is for sure is that I haven't heard one word from anyone from the right side to condemn the anti-Palestinian or anti-Arab hate that has been spread by some of the Maccabi hooligans. I have been clear on the condemnation of antisemitism. Can you be clear on the anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab hate speech?

13

Nov

2024

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Deplorable escalation of violence around the football match in the Netherlands and the unacceptable attacks against Israeli football fans (debate)

Hate and violence has no place in our Union. When we say 'never again', it must mean 'never again'! Nie wieder! Nunca más! Aldrig igen! Our Union must be a place where all people – Jewish, Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, Israelis or anyone else – can live in peace and freedom. The behaviour showed by Maccabi hooligans, characterised by anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian hate speech and vandalism – taking down the Palestinian flags and singing awful songs glorifying the murdering of people in Gaza – is completely dreadful. The horrific violence that followed – which was driven by antisemites actively searching for Jewish people, and screaming antisemitic insults and physically abusing people – was heinous. Hate and violence must be condemned with the strongest terms, prevented and combated. Furthermore, it is unfortunate that the far right has exploded this situation to promote once again their own hateful agendas. Hate and violence cannot be countered with more hate and violence. It is essential that law enforcement is equipped with the necessary resources to ensure that all crimes are met with judicial trials and convictions.

23

Oct

2024

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Seven years from the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia: lack of progress in restoring the rule of law in Malta (debate)

Madam President, Hungary ranks 31st, Bulgaria 30th, Greece 29th, Croatia 28th, Romania 27th, Poland 26th, Slovakia 25th, Italy 24th, Cyprus 23rd. Following this, Malta ranks 22nd among the EU, EFTA and North American countries according to the World Justice Project's Rule of Law Index. Now, let's discuss corruption and the rule of law in the EU as a whole, even though the EPP and its far‑right allies seem disinterested in addressing these issues, likely to avoid drawing attention to the many countries that they govern that rank lower than Malta in this index. Instead, they attempt to exploit our democratic platform in here, in the European Parliament, to score political points. The murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia should not be politicised for gain. Such behaviour is disgraceful. The EU Rule of Law Report for 2024 clearly states that Malta faces challenges and concerns regarding the rule of law, and no one disputes this. Much more must be done to guarantee media freedom and the rule of law. The same must apply in all countries with all different governments, regardless of colour.

23

Oct

2024

Answers EN

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Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

Madam President, the last time I checked, it's not the man who carries the child. It is the woman who carries the child. So the person who carries the child has the right to decide what the person does with their body. Nobody else – you or any other person – has the right to choose for that person what to do. And don't forget, there is really a special place for women who don't support other women.

23

Oct

2024

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Findings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Poland's abortion law (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, it's outrageous that we continue to face backlash regarding our rights, women's rights within the EU. What we choose to do with our bodies should not be dictated by men or women that hate women. No woman has ever sought to control what men do with their bodies. So why do we still encounter this outdated mentality and obsession with regulating women's autonomy? The report on Poland's abortion laws highlights the severe discrimination faced by women in Poland and the immense suffering and challenges imposed by the laws in the country. To all the women haters here who believe they know better than us women what we need: how are you any different from the mullahs in Iran when you seek to imprison and punish women simply for wanting independence and the right to make decisions about our own bodies? These laws in Poland target women specifically, stripping us of our bodily autonomy. Enough is enough.

22

Oct

2024

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State sponsored terrorism by the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the recent attacks in Europe (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, from the streets of Tehran to outside of the Israeli embassies in Stockholm and Copenhagen, the tentacles of the dreadful mullahs reach. Its influence extends far beyond what one can imagine, and its regime of terror knows no limitation. The sacrifices the 'woman, life, freedom' movement have made seem to not have been enough for the European governments to label IRGC as a terrorist organisation and properly sanction the mullahs, even though our Parliament have asked for it for almost two years now. Many governments, including the Swedish right wing in my country, had been sleeping while the Tehran regime plotted its heinous attacks against the Israeli embassies in Stockholm and Copenhagen. The mullahs in Iran are now seemingly exploiting our children, forcing them to conduct the crimes of the mullahs via their regime's proxies: organised criminal gangs, such as Foxtrot. Europol must prioritise these cases and our governments must start acting.

22

Oct

2024

Answers EN

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General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections (debate)

Colleagues, everybody knows that when referring to the textbooks, the person who is doing that is trying to undermine the work of UNWRA. This is co-related in the discussion, and it's been done year after year. When it comes to the textbooks, we have had the Georg Eckert Institute report, done by the EU, which has said that the Palestinian textbooks adhere to UNESCO standards, but that there are still some problems within them. Of course, those problems need to be addressed. I totally agree with you. Hatred doesn't have a place in any textbook. But it doesn't do it in the Israeli textbooks either, because in Israeli textbooks, Palestine does not exist. So I agree with you, but I would say that we should demand the same from the Palestinians and the Israelis.

22

Oct

2024

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General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections (debate)

Madam President, colleagues, the EU annual budget plays a vital role in upholding our commitment to global humanitarian efforts. One crucial partner in this is UNWRA, the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza. We must continue supporting it, especially as Israel continues its military attack against civilians, health and humanitarian staff, journalists and hospitals. Unfortunately, there are sustained disinformation campaigns and blunt lies against UNWRA, even here in our Parliament. The extreme right, but also, unfortunately, some liberals – I'm referring to the previous colleague from Renew – have taken a one-sided view of the conflict, ignoring war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. We cannot allow such extremist actors to shape our policies. I therefore urge all colleagues here today to vote against Amendments 1, 36 and 69, which are attempts at undermining UNWRA and the Palestinian Authority. I urge all colleagues to stand on the right side of history, by saving lives and not being complicit in the current ongoing horror.

22

Oct

2024

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Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks (debate)

Madam President, I'm a bit shocked at what was just said. Am I understanding it correct that the colleague from the far-right bench of this Parliament is saying that it is okay for Israel to attack the UN Blue Helmets, to attack UNIFIL? Is that correct?

22

Oct

2024

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Urgent need for a ceasefire in Lebanon and for safeguarding the UNIFIL mission in light of the recent attacks (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, this show in here unfolds a tragic scene. The name Gaza is being systematically erased from titles of the debate by the right wing and the far-right factions in here. Meanwhile, horrors erupt in front of our eyes; children of Gaza in anguish. Their cries fill the air and they are burned alive. This is a nightmare created by humans that history really will tell about. No refuge remains – not even the hospitals. Even there, the world watched them burned alive. Sha’ban al-Dalou was one of their names. How many must suffer? How many must die? Palestinian souls, Lebanese in need, humanitarians driving, journalists, bold UN peacekeepers, and many stories are yet untold. I turn to the EPP, ECR, Patriots and ESN. Tell me: how many must be killed before you let go of the hands of Netanyahu, and your empathy rises for the Palestinians and Lebanese also? How many must die before you can say 'ceasefire now' for the people of Israel, Lebanon and Gaza, too? The greater the number, the less is your humanity.

22

Oct

2024

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Establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine (debate)

Mr President, colleagues, in September I had the privilege of visiting Ukraine. There we witnessed the unwavering resolve and commitment of the Ukrainian people to defend their freedom, dignity and sovereignty. Their struggle is not only a national Ukrainian cause, it is our shared European cause. It is a cause of international law. In discussions with Ukrainian officials, we talked about their urgent needs and the further direct support they need to win the war against Putin. That is why the Ukrainian facility is important, and not least – as my colleague Raphaël Glucksmann said – to make the aggressor pay. Furthermore, it is crucial that the support also addresses the need of vulnerable groups in Ukrainian society. While Putin's dark forces unleash war and destruction, we must continue to stand firm for prosperity, democracy and victory of Ukraine. And it is also sad to see over and over again that the far-right side of this Parliament manages to constantly stand on the wrong side of history over and over again.

10

Oct

2024

Answers SV

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The rise of religious intolerance in Europe (debate)

Where hatred and threats against our religious groups in Europe primarily come from is very, very clear. It's from your group and like-minded people. If you listened to what I said at the end, I said: All hate is hate and is unacceptable and we must be able to have multiple thoughts in our heads at the same time. I condemn all forms of hatred, including against Christians. Do you condemn the hatred of Muslims and Jews?

10

Oct

2024

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The rise of religious intolerance in Europe (debate)

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Religious people, especially Jews and Muslims, feel unrest and fear in our Union. The extreme right and other dark forces are actively working to contribute to this. It feeds this fear and division. The extreme right wants to spread and normalize its worldview that hatred of certain people is acceptable and that there is a difference between people and people, that there is a difference between people depending on their country of birth, skin color, ethnicity and religion. This is the ideology of the far right. These forces and ideas are threatening to society and have already historically ruined the whole of Europe. Just under three weeks ago, I stood here and condemned the Swedish Democrat Richard Jomshof, who was then Chairman of the Justice Committee in the Swedish Parliament, when he had been notified of the suspicion of a crime by sharing racist images of Muslims. I then urged the Moderates, Liberals and Christian Democrats to stand up for what is right and to end their cooperation with the Sweden Democrats. That didn't happen. What happened instead was that Sweden's prime minister, the moderate prime minister Ulf Kristersson, chose to reduce the vulnerability that Muslims are exposed to. He said in an interview that there is a difference, that anti-Semitism is worse than Islamophobia. A prime minister who is the prime minister of all must be able to have two thoughts in his head at the same time. All hate is hate.

9

Oct

2024

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Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law

Madam President, colleagues, the proposed legislation in Iraq is a disgrace and yet another proposal to limit women's and girls' rights. Thirty thousand girls are married off every and each day globally. One out of five girls are already married. Girls are not brides: girls are children and should be playing with toys, not giving birth and satisfying a man. We live in a world where gender equality is on backlash: our bodies, our voices, our lives, our existence are still not in our hands today, regardless of if we talk about the Middle East, Europe, South America, North America, or Asia. Patriarchal norms, a medieval mentality, cemented gender roles, poverty and lack of respect of children's rights: the reasons are many, but the consequence is the same – a violation of our fundamental rights as women and girls. Iraq risks taking a step towards a gender apartheid, as in Afghanistan and Iran, with this new legislation. The Iraqi people are very clear: over 73% strongly oppose this evil proposal. The Iraqi government should listen to its people and consign this proposed legislation to the dustbin of history.

9

Oct

2024

Speeches SV

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Prevention of drug-related crimes, their effect on European citizens and the need for an effective European response (debate)

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your While young people in rich areas of Sweden and the EU engage in the use of illegal drugs, the justice system targets almost exclusively those who supply the drugs, who often live in less affluent areas. To effectively prevent and combat drug-related crime, society needs to address both demand and supply. Without demand, there is no supply. Drug sales, which are largely run by wealthy people, feed the gangs and lead to gang wars. It has also led to the recruitment of children into crime. The EU urgently needs to put in place a task force under Europol to fight drug and arms smuggling more effectively. It should cooperate with Eurojust and Frontex and bring together top experts across Europe to provide support and coordination for operations. And the EU needs a strategy to prevent and combat the recruitment of children into gang crime. Drugs and gangs pose a threat to our democratic societies, and kill. Today we even see children killing children. Children should play with toys and have fun, and not sell drugs and carry weapons.

8

Oct

2024

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Situation in Sudan (debate)

Mr President, the situation in Sudan is urgent: millions of people are facing unprecedented suffering due to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis since the outbreak of the armed conflict, and especially the recent escalation in Khartoum and El Fasher. The humanitarian impact is one of the worst in the world. Over 10.9 million people have been driven from their homes, and out of them, 2.9 million have fled to neighbouring countries. Access to food, water and healthcare is severely limited and the most vulnerable, including women and children, bear the brunt of this crisis. We should enhance our humanitarian aid effort, ensuring that assistance reaches the most in need, in particular women and children. We must also advocate for an immediate ceasefire and support a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Women are playing a key role in local peace and mediation efforts, and we stand in solidarity with them as part of the social-democratic feminist foreign policy. Furthermore, we must hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against civilians and violate international humanitarian law. We can do so by supporting the ICC Prosecutor's investigation into apparent war crimes and other atrocities in Sudan. There is also a critical need to strengthen civilian protection mechanisms and programmes in the country.