Speeches

Madam President, Commission, Prime Minister, first, I'd like to say that you have my deepest respect for your leadership on Ukraine. From a Swede to a Dane, mange tak. I would also like to state that the EPP have very high expectations of the Danish Presidency. We need a stronger defence – S&D Group, please, your Prime Minister is here, welcome to this debate – from the EPP Group, we need a stronger defence. We need to tackle and combat organised crime. We need to take back control of migration and we need to make Europe more competitive with more growth instead of decline. Therefore, we need to deliver on the omnibus proposals and also make sure that we sign more free trade agreements. Prime Minister, if you deliver on this, you will have an ally in the EPP. We will support you and we will work with you. And I would say that I hope that the voice of the Danish Government, the Danish S&D, would also be the voice of S&D in this House, because then we could really get things done. We wish you luck and we would like to cooperate with you. Good luck.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, today we need to address something that is extremely worrying. We have come to a point where we need to be crystal clear. We have a serious problem with the rule of law in Spain: corruption, abuse of power, weakening of institutions. This House and the Commission can no longer stay silent. The escalating corruption scandal linked to the Spanish Prime Minister, his close relatives, his party and government are, frankly speaking, unacceptable, as are the attacks on the free press, law enforcement bodies and the judges and prosecutors investigating these scandals. Colleagues, the rule of law is not something that is optional. It does not apply to certain cases or to certain Member States. It is a foundation of our democracy and we need to defend it all over Europe. The people of Spain deserve more than an apology. They deserve a serious commitment to rooting out corruption at the highest level of government and real accountability, because in democracy, no one – no one – is above the law. When public trust is broken, there is only one way forward; if something like this would happen in my home country, Sweden, the Prime Minister would resign and call for elections. Please, Mr Sánchez, Prime Minister, the fiesta is over.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, the people of Hungary have the right to live free in a democracy that upholds the rule of law, respects their dignity and protects the fundamental freedoms of all citizens. That is actually what sets Europe apart: a union of freedom. History has taught our continent the fundamental importance of defending these basic rights and values, and Hungarians know all too well the horrors and oppressive regimes that seek to destroy these liberties. The current government of Hungary should work for the people, not to enrich themselves. Colleagues, opposition is rising in Hungary, and Orbán is clearly afraid, desperately trying to silence dissent and ensure that he and his corrupt inner circle can cling to power. They are doing everything they can to limit freedom of speech, restrict freedom of assembly and prevent people from determining their own future. It could not be clearer: Hungarians deserve better, a free and prosperous nation. Hungary's place is in Europe, and the EPP will always stand on Hungary's side. We call on the Commission and the Member States to defend the fundamental freedoms of the Hungarian people and to prevent the kidnapping of Hungarian democracy.

Madam President, colleagues, the Schengen Area is one of the EU's greatest achievements. For 40 years, it has meant freedom, prosperity and opportunity to millions of people in Europe. Schengen drives our economy and competitiveness and unites us as Europeans. Without it, we would be weaker and poorer. But let's be clear: the freedom of Schengen can only survive if we protect it, and the growing threats to our internal security needs a strong European answer. The EPP Group calls for a pact for security. We see three major security challenges. Firstly, migration and border security: we need to regain control over our external border. This means fully implementing the migration pact and ensuring effective returns of those who do not have the right to stay in Europe. Secondly, the rise of cross-border organised crime: Schengen is for citizens, not for criminals. We cannot allow the freedom of Schengen to be exploited. Europol must be transformed into a truly operational police agency, with more tools and resources. Thirdly, we need to be ready to counter hybrid attacks from hostile actors. We have seen how migration is being used as a weapon to undermine our borders and to destabilise our union, and here we need to face those threats and we need to do it together. Security must be a top priority – because a safe Europe is also a free Europe, with a strong Schengen.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, Europe is facing major threats to our internal security. Organised crime is on the rise, hostile state actors are attacking our critical infrastructure and sometimes migration is weaponized at our external borders. This is why the EPP has called for a European security pact to protect our citizens. We welcome that the Commission is now taking crucial steps because this will be needed now to make Europe safe, but also safe for future generations. The new internal security strategy sends a clear signal that Europe will defend itself against threats – foreign and domestic – and it's also a clear signal to EU citizens that safety needs to be a top priority because without security there is no freedom. Now, we must also move from words and make sure that we deliver on the content of this strategy. I can assure you, Commissioner, that the EPP is fully committed to achieve this. We will push in this House to make sure that Europe steps up the fight against organised crime, that we tackle illegal migration and that we protect ourselves against hybrid threats. To make it clear: we want a Union for citizens, not for criminals.

Mr President, colleagues, global instability is on the rise, and I would argue that many European companies are falling behind. We must start to act now. We need to strengthen our competitiveness. The Omnibus package is a first good step in the right direction. This is not only about protecting jobs in Europe; it is to make sure that we again can have growth – growth which is needed to secure that we have wealth in our continent. The EPP Group calls on all constructive forces of this House to support the 'stop-the-clock' proposal. Clarity and breathing room are needed for our SMEs so they can grow and innovate. That is basically what is on the line in the vote today. So please vote 'yes' and make sure that we can work together to make Europe competitive again.

Madam President, dear colleagues, as was mentioned, this court ruling came today, only a couple of hours ago. The EPP Group, we are clear in our commitments to the rule of law and democracy, and we fully support the work of our European courts. Let me also point out that this week, here in Strasbourg, we will have a debate on transparency and anti-corruption policies in the European Union. But I do not think that this Parliament should make a habit of adding additional debates on specific court judgments, especially not on the same day that they have been made. I think this has been our position in the past. It will be our position also for the future. Therefore, we are against the Greens' proposal.

Madam President, Vice-President, a clear EPP priority for the coming years is to make Europe safer and more secure. We need reforms that ensure an independent, free and prosperous Europe, speedy investments in security and defence, and we also need to pave the way for economic growth and job creation and keep cutting red tape. Citizens also rightfully want to have a European migration policy that is firm, fair and enforced. The EPP called on the Commission to take decisive action in the first 100 days. We now welcome that we have concrete proposals on the table. But this is just the start. In Parliament, the EPP Group will push to make these initiatives even more ambitious. We need a new European security architecture. We need it actually now, I would say. The omnibus needs to be a true game changer for our European companies. The new regulation on returns must come with strong and effective measures to ensure that those who do not have the right to be in Europe should be returned. And future initiatives – for example, the internal security strategy and the strengthening of Frontex and Europol – will be crucial to protect our Union and citizens. Europe must step up and the EPP is ready to do the task.

Madam President, Commissioner, the migration pact was a crucial step in taking back control of Europe's external border and also creating a framework for a more European common approach on migration. I would like to thank the constructive political groups in this House who actually made that happen in the last mandate – extremely important. But one major thing still remains and that is returns. Too many people without the right to stay in Europe are still in Europe. I would say it's quite hard to actually find Member States across Europe that are effective in their work that a no actually means a no. So, as the EPP, we have been calling for this proposal and we welcome it because we cannot have a system where people that are denied asylum can simply move to another Member State to avoid being returned. There must be clear rules, firm obligation and real consequences for non-compliance. I think this proposal in general creates now the common framework that we need. It closes many of the loopholes and it puts forward also a legal framework for return hubs. These are key messages that ensure that the people that do not have the right to stay in Europe also must leave Europe. But this is only a starting point. Negotiations must make this proposal as strong and effective as possible. Our system demands results and I think that those days of wishful thinking are over. Now we need a policy that is in contact with reality and from EPP we are ready to deliver and we are ready to get to work.

Thank you, colleague Wolters, for your intervention. I understand that S&D is not welcoming this proposal, but I think it is extremely important for our competitiveness and that we understand that we need also to grow our European economy. That is actually also good for sustainability and for our climate goals – we have the most ambitious climate policy on our continent. And my question is – to S&D – you ask to work with us, we are ready to work with everybody here. But the question is, what is S&D actually ready to change in the current proposals? What is it?

Mr President, Europe is falling behind in growth and competitiveness, and in these uncertain times, we must act decisively and, of course, try to boost our economy. Europe needs a game changer and the Omnibus proposal is a step in the right direction, but more is needed. Growth, not bureaucracy, will drive our economy forward and power the green transition. To deliver, we need two key things. First, clarity and breathing room for our European companies. The 'stop-the-clock' proposal must enter into force as soon as possible. That is why EPP is calling for a faster approach under an urgent procedure. Second, we have to deliver on content. We can do more to simplify this legislation and the EPP will push for further measures in the upcoming negotiations. We can, and we also call on all constructive forces of this House to join us in this. Europeans expect us to protect their jobs and improve their lives. The EPP is ready to lead and try to unlock the potential of our economy. This is also what is best for climate and for sustainability. I would argue that a growing European economy is the best climate policy that we could have. On our continent, we have the highest standard and also the most ambitious climate policy in the world. Taking down European economy is counter-productive. So the big debate here now, and especially I'm turning to my friends and colleagues on the Left, now the question is: will you stand for growth and jobs or red tape and bureaucracy? Europe cannot afford to wait. It is time to act.

Madam President, Commissioner, the EPP Group is determined to make Europe safer and more secure for our citizens, because without security, there is no freedom. And it is clear that immediate action is required. Organised crime is on the rise, hybrid attacks have intensified, and illegal migration remains a key challenge. The EPP Group welcomes that the Commission has heard our calls. We are fully committed to deliver together on a stronger and more effective return policy for people who do not have the right to stay in Europe. We will push to implement a new internal security strategy that makes Europe safer now and for future generations. And as rapporteur for the European democracy shield, I am personally committed to make sure that we more strongly defend the values on which our Union is built. These are important steps, but more will be required, not least when it comes to stepping up the fight against organised crime and securing our external border. The EPP will continue to fight for a strong Europe that protects its people. We have the mandate from our citizens and we will deliver.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The brutal mass murder in Örebro on the black day of February 4 was carried out by a single perpetrator. But Sweden is also exposed to a wave of violence of a seldom seen kind. Bombings of honest people's homes, almost day after day, directed by ruthless gang criminals who seem to shun no means. The Swedish government is now carrying out an absolutely necessary change of legal policy in order to crush the gangs. But we also need to do more at European level. 70% of criminal networks operate across borders. Team leaders coordinate attacks from abroad. Weapons and drugs are flowing. It's going to blow up and it's going to blow up. These are cross-border problems that no Member State should have to face alone. That is why we in the EPP believe that there is now a need for a European security pact against organised crime. Removing the free movement of criminals. Make sure that it does not pay to commit crimes. Strengthen European police cooperation; makes Europol both stronger and operational. We can and we will make Sweden and Europe safe. The Commission has promised a tougher strategy against crime. The EPP will make sure you deliver.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Colleagues. Tomorrow at 12:00 the whole of Sweden will gather for a minute's silence. We are still a country in mourning after ten people were brutally murdered in the worst mass shooting in Swedish history – in premises where they only came to learn Swedish or to educate themselves in order to contribute to our society. The testimonies from Örebro are difficult, impossible, to take in. But the sea of lights and flowers outside the school is nice to take in. It tells of course about great sadness and loss, but also about the humanity and empathy that exists in our fine Sweden. Colleagues, thank you for honouring the victims and for the support you have shown Sweden. Together we grieve and together we will get through the darkness.

Madam President, Commissioner, Prime Minister Tusk, thank you for bringing Poland back to Europe. At this crucial time we welcome your strong leadership and your Presidency of the Council. The EPP, and also my home country, Sweden, fully supports your priority to make Europe more safe and secure, to strengthen our defence and support Ukraine. And you are right that we need to take back control of our borders, and on migration. Europe is strong, but we need to get to work to make Europe more competitive, now and for future generations. Prime Minister, you can count on MPs' support to deliver on this.

Mr President, Commissioner, when the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, there was hope for millions of people who had suffered for decades under communist dictatorship and oppression. We were right to be hopeful. Just look at the Baltic states: prosperous democracies, and a proud part of the European family today. However, as we all know, freedom is not yet won everywhere. Therefore, we must stand with the people of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and, of course, Belarus, in their pursuit of democracy. Not in this fake election, but one day Lukashenka's regime will answer for its crime. I will continue to hope until the white, red and white flag once again flies over Minsk.

Madam President, Commissioner, the EPP welcomes that migration remains at the top of the agenda of the European Council, because the citizens of Europe rightfully also expect that we take back control of migration. The October conclusions show a clear political will among the Member States, and let me be clear – the EPP Group stands ready to push it forward in the European Parliament. We need a full implementation of the migration pact, no exceptions. We need to reinforce our external borders, increase cooperation with third countries and speed up the return of irregular migration. The EPP also welcomes that the Commission recently decided to step up support for Member States to counter the weaponisation of migration by Russia and Belarus. This is key to also strengthen our security at the external borders. The next crucial step should now be to deliver a new proposal on return. This is actually a matter of urgency and we need a full regulation, not a weak directive. And we need also to make progress on different ways to counter illegal migration with more and new solutions outside of Europe, for example, with return hubs. This is a matter of urgency and we need to deliver to our citizens. Let us do this together.

Mr President, Commissioner, the European Union is actually facing what I would call an epidemic of cross-border organised crime and this is a serious threat to our internal security. Our top priority from this House must be to completely break down the criminal networks and make Europe safe and secure. The targeted recruitment of minors that are used very tactic by the criminal gangs across Europe, is now also concluded by Europol that minors are involved in more than 70 % of the existing criminal markets. In my home country, Sweden, it has been reported that we have over 200 children under 18 years old that are suspects in murder investigations. And this is a problem that is not only solely in Sweden. We see this in many, many Member States now and that is why we also need to make sure that we have a strong European response. Firstly, we need more cross-border police cooperation and a truly operational Europol. We see that when we do things together, we can actually be successful. Just before a couple of weeks, we had an operation coordinated by Europol, but with Spanish, Swedish and Danish police and that led to the arrest of gang members, specifically on the accusation of recruiting minors abroad. Secondly, we also need to combat the recruitment of minors by criminal networks on social media platforms, and lastly, we also need to work, of course, with crime prevention efforts because that is what is really going to make a result in the long term. So I very much welcome that we can have this debate today, because we need to go beyond the nice words and actually go into action and stop the criminal gangs.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your More than five months after the European elections, a new Commission needs to be put in place. Europe needs to be led. Now is not the time for poster politics, it is actually time to start working. But obviously the outer edges to the right or to the left of this house don't want that. It's more important to pose and obstruct instead of actually getting something done. We Conservatives and the EPP will now focus on delivering, taking back control of immigration, strengthening our competitiveness and fighting organised crime with full force. We need to strengthen our security in Europe and our defence capabilities, and we should not give in to our support for Ukraine. We need a stronger Europe in a troubled world. That is why I will be voting in favour of this Commission.

Madam President, Mr Niinistö! Three young men were arrested last month after a blast near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen. We have had a shooting at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm. Since then, we have received information that the attacks were carried out by gang criminals on behalf of the regime in Iran. The Swedish security police confirmed earlier this year that hostile states are using criminal gangs to carry out explosions and other acts of violence in Europe. For the EPP Group, the security of citizens is the major freedom issue of our time. Mr Niinistö, as your report makes clear, safety is the foundation on which everything else is based. As we now see how hostile states use proxies to carry out attacks, we must do more to strengthen our resilience. Strengthen and expand Europol, suspend the free movement of gang criminals and strengthen the control of the EU's external border. We must immediately and forcefully put a stop to gangs not being used as agents for states that want us badly. I hope we can agree on that.

Mr President, Vice‑President Schinas, in Europe and beyond, Jews are living in fear again. The horrific antisemitic attack in Amsterdam reminds us of our darkest chapter in our history. We have to be clear: this was not a clash between football hooligans, as some might say. These were anti-Jewish and anti-Israel attacks, and there is no excuse, absolutely no excuse that can justify this type of hate and violence. This is not an isolated incident. We see daily the despicable calls for violence against Jews across Europe and in the world. Only a few days after the attacks in Amsterdam, police in Antwerp stopped another violent attack against Jewish people. Antisemitism does not have any place in our society and the EPP group is clear. We have to push back against the rise of antisemitism. We have to call it out. There cannot be any doubt. We must condemn any kind of hate or violence towards the Jewish people and we have responsibility. Never again is now.

Madam President, Commissioner, the EPP Group strongly welcomes the clear and coherent position that was taken by the Commission President and the European Council last week. We need to take back control of migration. We have common borders and therefore we need a common European response. With the adoption of the migration pact, we took the first major step that we, and not the criminal smugglers, should decide who can enter Europe. However, it was always very clear to us that more would be needed to secure our borders and increase returns of those who do not have the right to be in Europe. The EPP want to be very clear with what we expect: a speedy and full implementation of the migration pact; a new proposal on returns presented within the first 100 days of the next Commission; increased cooperation with third countries, who should also explore new solutions like return hubs outside of Europe. We need a stronger Frontex, and on the instrumentalisation of migrants that we see from Russia and Belarus, we need a full stop. The EPP will continue to lead the way forward, together with responsible political groups of this House. I can see that parts of the left and parts of the far right are united in their resistance to a common European policy. But EPP stands ready, together with the Commission and the Member States, to deliver.

Madam President, I think it is clear and already stated that this request should not be supported. It's very clear. It's not about a protocol about Italy and Albania, as you say in what you're asking for. Also, it's not even a final decision in the court, and it's also a decision based on an EU directive that actually will be replaced once the new migration pact is fully adopted. I think it's also about the general question, because we had a request in plenary before, from the Patriots, about another decision. We could, of course, make this Chamber nothing else than debating different court decisions. I think when it comes to migration policy, we should be serious, we should be balanced, and we should use our time to actually debate real things and not only try to make court decisions that you may like or not like to be in favour of them. So that is why the EPP will reject this request.

Mr President, Vice‑President Schinas, colleagues, let me start by reminding you that we had a debate in this plenary on Monday evening about internal border controls and the state of Schengen. Now we're about to discuss the external borders. For me, it is clear that these issues are connected. Yes, the European Union is about free movement. For this to be possible, we must regain control of our external border with an expansion of Frontex, more cooperation with third countries, full implementation of the Migration Pact and EU funding for border infrastructure. I would like to use my time actually to address some of the colleagues in this House. Let me start with the colleagues on the left. I very often hear you talk about the right to asylum, but at the same time you are delaying efforts to differentiate people with grounds for asylum from those who have not. I hear you talking about abolishing internal border controls, but at the same time, whenever the EPP suggests that we need to take back control of our external borders, you are against this. To some of the colleagues on the populist far right side, you very often talk about how we need to stop illegal migration, but you also say no to EU cooperation on migration. Your aversion to the European Union trumps your desire to control migration with common measures. For the EPP, it is clear that the European Union must take control of our external border jointly. We need a bigger and stronger Frontex, and this cannot be guided by either 'abolish borders' fantasies or the fact that we cannot work together. We need to work together to have a strong Europe and a safe Europe.

Madam President, Commissioner, Prime Minister, the presidency of the Council comes with both great opportunity and great responsibility. Prime Minister, you say that you want to discuss the political priorities of the Hungarian Presidency. For example, you say that you want to reinforce European defence, you want to regain control of the external border. I welcome these priorities. The problem is that you and your government act in the opposite way. Instead of focusing on strengthening the defence of Europe, you went to Moscow to shake hands with Putin, the man who wants nothing else than to destroy Europe. He is the man who has launched a war of aggression against your own neighbour, Ukraine. Instead of ensuring a strong external border and increasing the internal security of the Schengen Area, your government have decided to make it easier for potential Russian spies and saboteurs to access the Union. That is the truth of what is happening. We have no problem to discuss your priorities, but I would argue that the citizens of Hungary and Europe deserve better. Trust me: change is coming, also to Hungary with the Tisza Party. Get ready.