Speeches

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Madam President, colleagues, transforming talks about peace into actions has maybe never been more urgent now than for long. The Summit of the Future that took place on 22 September was therefore welcomed and urgent. It is now time to go from words to action to turn the Pact for the Future – which include intensifying diplomacy to peacefully resolve conflicts and disputes – into concrete actions. As a Swede with Kurdish roots, I know too well how oppression and wars affect a people, a society. Wars and conflicts are on the rise. We need to ensure respect for international law and the norms-based international system, and increase multilateral cooperation, so that we can find a shared solution for challenges we face today and will face in the future. As a Swedish Social Democrat, I'm proud that my former party leader and prime minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, has been one of the driving forces in preparing the Summit and the Pact. We have a long way in front of us to ensure peace and security, but the work must start now. I want to end with quoting Olof Palme, another former Social Democratic Party leader and prime minister of Sweden: 'No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.' Colleagues, it takes our joint effort to create peace and security.

Madam President, in comparison to Ms Teodorescu Måwe, I don't make any difference between suffering and suffering. Hamas' terrorist attack on 7 October last year was heinous and rightly condemned. Can you condemn Netanyahu's actions? Killing over 40 000 Palestinian people, over 40 % of them women and children? Can you condemn those pictures of mutilated bodies that we constantly see in the news after news? Can you do that? I condemn Hamas. Can you condemn Netanyahu?

Madam President, Gaza, Gaza, Gaza. Despite Netanyahu's tentacles in our Parliament's efforts to silence discussion on Gaza by taking 'Gaza' out of the title of today's debate, we Social Democrats will keep repeating: over 42 000 Palestinians have been murdered by Israeli bombs and tanks in Gaza alone. More than 1.9 million people are displaced, and even Israeli-claimed safe zones are not safe from bombs and tanks. Why is it so difficult for some to acknowledge that war crimes are taking place? Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October last year were despicable and rightly condemned. But Netanyahu's heinous attacks on the entire Palestinian population are equally reprehensible, and so is the over 50 years of occupation. Images of the mutilated bodies of children, women and the elderly should horrify us all in here. The lives of Palestinian children deserve the same value as anyone else's. All this bloodshed, death and suffering, what purpose does it serve? Palestinians, Israeli and Lebanese are in danger. A full-scale war is around the corner if we don't act. No one – not Israel, not Hamas, not Hezbollah or the regime in Iran – is above international law, and the credibility of the EU is at stake.

Mr President, at an early age, we women, when we are girls, learn that we need to struggle hard to protect ourselves against both physical and psychological violence. This applies in times of peace as well as in times of war. The perpetrators are spelled M-E-N: men. When we point this out, remarks from offended men quickly arise, saying, 'not all men'. These voices are becoming increasingly common even here in our Parliament, as the far‑right bench grows. Unfortunately, we are also seeing far‑right women joining the chorus. No, not all men commit horrific crimes against women. However, nearly all who commit crimes against women are men. Some 22 % of women in the EU have at some point experienced physical or sexual violence from their partner. This means that the most dangerous place for a woman is their home. Some 55 % of women have experienced sexual harassment, and nearly half of these incidents have occurred in their workplaces. Colleagues, I'm honoured to have had the possibility to lead the effort to establish the EU's first legislation to combat violence against women and domestic violence. However, this legislation is far from sufficient without consent-based rape legislation, because only 'yes' means 'yes'. And finally, I want to end with thanking Commissioner Dalli for the very important work that you have been doing during the mandate that has passed and the courage that you have shown.

Mr President, colleagues, women in Afghanistan are facing a horrific life under the new law enacted by the Taliban regime. This law imposes horrific restrictions that effectively erase women from public life. Women are mandated to cover themselves entirely, their voices silenced in public spaces. Moreover, they cannot move freely unless accompanied by a male relative. It is men who decide over their bodies and voices, perpetuating a cycle of oppression. This extreme gender oppression is not just a violation of basic human rights: it is an affront to dignity and equality. We must stand firm against the systematic targeting of women and girls. Just as we continue supporting the women in Iran and the Jina Revolution, we must also rally for Afghan women facing similar oppression. We cannot turn a blind eye to the gender apartheid that seeks to completely strip women of their freedom. I urge the Commission and the Member States to use all the tools available against the regime. The women of Afghanistan are not alone. Let us press for the immediate revocation of this oppressive law. This is an example of why we need a feminist foreign policy.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Colleagues! Organised crime poses a serious danger to our citizens in our Union. It creates an environment of fear and insecurity and, above all, affects our children and young people. I grew up in the Gothenburg suburb of Bergsjön where organized crime grew stronger during the 90s. I am therefore all too familiar with the ruthless consequences of organised crime on the lives of ordinary honest citizens. These criminal networks know no borders. They operate across borders, now also using digital platforms to recruit young people to their criminal activities. We see criminals sitting in luxurious holiday paradises ordering murders and deceiving innocent citizens, all while using social media to recruit so-called child soldiers. Their vile activities are nurtured by the narcotics of the rich. The whole society has a responsibility to end the misery. It is unacceptable that these platforms are used to spread crime and recruit young people into gangs. That is why we must act vigorously. We cannot allow criminals to live in abundance, free from the consequences of their illegal actions. We need to stop social media from becoming tools for criminal gangs by introducing stricter laws that hold digital platforms accountable for their content and how it is used. Strengthen Europol and police cooperation within the EU. Establish a European Centre of Expertise on Drugs and Arms Trafficking. Develop an action plan to strengthen Member States’ efforts to stop new recruitment, including a dedicated coordinator working on this with European authorities and Member States. Colleagues. Children are shooting children in our communities today. It's a crisis situation. We have a responsibility to act now.

Madam President, Colleagues, the Maduro government continues to govern without legitimacy in Venezuela. Their recent elections were neither free nor fair, highlighting the true nature of a regime that constantly oppresses its citizens and disregards their voice. The human toll is staggering, as over 7 million people, nearly a quarter of the population, migrated from the country due to the autocratic rule and economic collapse. Between 2014 and 2023, Amnesty International reports over 15 700 politically motivated arrests targeting unionists, human rights defenders, civil society members, journalists and opposition figures. These individuals face sham processes, and no one should have to fear for their life, for standing up for their human rights. We should welcome the efforts of Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to seek a peaceful and democratic resolution. However, this must include the release of all political prisoners, ending intimidation and attacks against opposition leaders like María Corina Machado and, ultimately, respect for the true will of the Venezuelan people. Moreover, we must condemn the Venezuelan Government's arrest warrant against Edmundo González, and we should applaud Spain for offering him political asylum. It is crucial that EU Member States maintain unity on this issue. I also want to urge the HR/VP and the Council to consider renewing the EU sanctions regime to hold accountable those responsible for grave and systematic human rights violations, including towards Nicolás Maduro himself. We must also fully support the International Criminal Court's investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela. The Venezuelan people are counting on us.

Madam President, colleagues, more than 41 000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israel, the majority of whom are innocent children and women. Gaza's infrastructure lies in ruins, with a staggering 75 % destruction rate. The European Union must take a firm stance to end this bloodshed. We must also listen to the voices of the Israeli people who have taken to the streets, calling for an end to the violence and the release of hostages. It is clear that both the far-right extremist Netanyahu Government and the terrorist organisation Hamas inflicted trauma on the population in both countries. Now is the time for actions to put an end to the suffering. Suspend all weapon exports to Israel until international law is respected. Even in warfare there are rules that must be upheld. Immediately freeze the EU-Israeli Association Agreement. Implement restrictive measures against the Israeli extremist Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir. Reinforce sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. All EU Member States must vote in favour of the resolution to be presented at the UN General Assembly on 18 September, demanding Israel to end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Territories within 12 months, according to the ICJ ruling. Support the ongoing work of the ICC. Continue supporting UNRWA, as no credible evidence has been presented to justify allegations against them. We must end this witch hunt. Maintain our support for the Palestinian Authority. Those advocating for cutting funding to UNRWA and the PA are inadvertently aiding Hamas. And recognise Palestine. Finally, all Member States should accept wounded Palestinians from Gaza. Unfortunately, my own Swedish Government has rejected this proposal, despite, for example, Karolinska University Hospital being ready to provide care, just as it did for Ukrainian patients. Let's stand on the side of international law. Let's end the occupation!