Speeches

Madam President! I am deeply concerned about the thousands of perpetual chemicals we find in our water and our soil, in our drinking water, our kindergartens and our rainwear. In Denmark, we have some of the cleanest drinking water in the world. We can be proud of that, but it's not a free ticket. On the contrary, it obliges. In Denmark, for example, we have just found chemical residues from car tyres and plastic tracks. More than 400 different types of chemicals have been found in our drinking water. This is a much bigger problem than PFAS and pesticides. Therefore, we need to take all kinds of perpetuality chemicals seriously, and we need to test widely. We need to replace the everlasting chemicals with innovation and bio-solutions. Only then can we ensure clean drinking water and protect our children and grandchildren.

Madam President! The EU must be independent and self-sufficient in energy. This is crucial for our future and a crucial element in our energy storage. But first and foremost, we need to make sure that we have enough green energy and energy production. We simply need all the tools we have in the toolbox. It is, of course, solar and wind energy, and then we must have turbocharged the entire biogas production. And at the same time, we must turbocharge nuclear energy so that we can go the completely green way out. We also need to ensure that we have access to the essential minerals so that we can store our energy. This is crucial for the green transition. We must be self-sufficient in energy in the EU. We simply need to make sensible legislation that actually contributes to what we want, and not delay it. We must be the master of our own house in terms of energy.

Mr President, Commissioner. This is a very, very serious situation we are in right now. The supply of fertilisers has been greatly affected by the situation in Ukraine. Fertilizer prices have risen dramatically, we have seen. This is a serious situation for our farmers. This is a serious situation for food security. That is why this decision is so important. We need to produce fertilizers to get food. That's how simple it can be said. The thing is, if we don't have fertilizer, we can run into a problem with the world starving. We need to focus on solving the problem both in the short term and in the long term. Firstly, in the short term, it is quite important that we have enough fertiliser, and we can do that by reducing import duties on fertilisers that can enter Europe. Secondly, it is vitally important that we have an independent fertiliser production in the EU. We do this by having competitive energy prices, and it is absolutely essential that we have competitive energy prices, because otherwise we will not have that fertiliser production in the European Union. We simply need to become independent from other countries in this area. We are to be the master of our own house. And this is necessary if we are to guarantee food security. Not only in the EU, but also in the Third World.

Mr President! Since 2016, the wolf population has grown by over 30% in the EU. This means that there are over 20,000 wolves in the EU now. There's no room for that. Neither in the EU nor in Denmark. Farmers feel powerless over repeated attacks. Unfortunately, the Habitats Directive is preventing us from solving the problem. It is not true that an old law from 1992 cannot solve the problem. When the population of predators develops beyond the level of protection, then we must act. It's not just about the wolf. The cormorant, brackish geese and seals are also a growing problem in the Habitats Directive. Both animals and humans are suffering under the legislation we have right now. Neither fences nor money solve the problem. We need to reopen the Habitats Directive. The Habitats Directive needs to be modernised to fit the situation in reality and today.

Mr President! Commissioner, please! 70% of the European fertilizer industry is closed. This has already had a major impact on farmers and the food crisis is worsening. We have now opened up grain exports from Ukraine, but that is not enough at all. If we do not act now, the situation in 2023 will be much, much worse. The average European is currently seeing food prices rise and rise. In third world countries, millions of people will go to bed hungry. We are living in a time of widespread famine. We are entering a time when we are risking large migration flows to Europe if we do not act now. Therefore, we must prioritize energy for the fertilizer industry. At the same time, we must ensure that our European colleagues can buy fertiliser at a reasonable price so that we can alleviate the food crisis. Filling the plate is just as important as having enough energy to warm the houses. Gambling with food security can lead to chaos across Europe. I would just like to remind you that three days of bread shortage in Paris created the French Revolution.

Mr. President! Thank you to the Commissioners and the President for allowing us to have this debate. I am a farmer and the first time I entered the Hemicycle three years ago, it was wearing rubber boots. I promised then that if it was a difficult time for agriculture, I would do it again. And that's it now, so that's why I'm wearing the rubber boots today. The problem is that there is a shortage of fertilizers in Europe. Without fertilizer, no crop and no food. As much as 60-70% of European fertiliser production is down, with dramatic consequences for the upcoming 2023 harvest. And it is difficult for farmers to run a profitable business. We, who are sitting here now, have a huge responsibility to get this sorted out. We are in the midst of a serious food crisis. It will be harder day by day for our European farmers to produce enough for the world's population. And it will get even worse in 2023. That is why we need to produce our own fertiliser in the EU. Our agricultural production should not be taken hostage. This requires that we prioritize the energy for fertilizer production, and at the same time that farmers can buy fertilizer at a profitable price. At the same time, we must ensure that the plate is filled everywhere in the world. That is why we need to support fertiliser production with our solidarity fund and recovery plans, which can compensate for the high fertiliser prices. And, of course, we must support all forms of new technology. It's time we put on our work gloves and rubber boots.

Mr President! I have a fundamental belief in the freedom of nation states to decide and choose where they want to belong. Therefore, it is completely unacceptable with the annexation that Russia has made starting on 24 February, and now most recently with the sabotage we have seen close to Denmark and Sweden in the Baltic Sea. So in the aftermath of the war, we see war crimes that are 2022 entirely unworthy. The Russian aggression puts an end to food exports from Ukraine, with the major consequences for third countries. The war has also brought with it a serious energy crisis, which is causing energy prices to skyrocket and which is having a major impact on European households and businesses. We are looking into a long and cold winter. That is why we must act now. When Putin forces us to turn down heat, we must increase our energy production from renewable energy, coal, oil and shale gas. This is how we protect European sovereignty.

Mr. President! Thank you for allowing me to speak. For me, it is very important that we have a sustainable and sensible forest strategy in the European Union. But it is not sensible and sustainable to leave the forests untouched, as the left will. We need active forestry. Active forestry is green forestry. We must thin our forests so that the rest of the trees can grow large, and use the thinning tree for biochips. Of course, we use the trunks for furniture, wooden structures and so on. It is sustainable and common sense, and it is climate-friendly. I am currently depleting my own forest, which was hit during the hurricane in 1999, and where 25 percent of the trees fell. We're in the process of first-time thinning. And the thinning tree, it's being used for biochips. That's common sense. In Denmark, 80% of forests are privately owned. We should not deprive forest owners of an opportunity to make money from forestry, but rather make rules that help them. Biodiversity, carbon storage, I am absolutely convinced that we can achieve that. That's common sense.

Mr President! Today, we are probably discussing the most ambitious law we have to adopt in this mandate. But now we must put into words the great ambitions that we have set in our climate law. For me, it is absolutely crucial that these are realistic targets that do not just push production out of Europe. I am a farmer and for me it is important that we also set some big, ambitious goals for agriculture so that we can contribute to the green transition more than we have done in the past. But we must remember that, at the same time, European agriculture is the greenest agriculture we have in the world, the most sustainable we have in the world. When I look at my home country Denmark, we are probably one of the most sustainable and climate-friendly in the world. This is due to innovation and new technology. And innovation and new technology will help solve our climate goals, including biogas, carbon farming and many other elements that we need to apply. But the balance is fine. If we are not careful, we are pushing production out of Europe. As I usually say: We need to reduce emissions, not production.

Madam President! Commissioner! The war in Ukraine has shown that energy policy is security policy - and security policy is energy policy. If we play the cards correctly, both safety and the environment can go hand in hand. The war has sent gas prices skyrocketing. European businesses and citizens are already facing fatal consequences. There is an urgent need for us in the European Union to do everything in our power to break away from Putin's iron grip. We must work to become an energy union. If we in the EU are to achieve the goal, one of our best cards on hand is biogas. There is a huge untapped potential in biogas - a solution I have long advocated. Biogas is a fast, efficient and green form of energy that can help us get rid of organic waste in society, move us closer to the climate target and contribute to the circular economy. We need to turn down the Russian fossil gas and turn up the biogas, now! Biogas has the potential to supply European households with a quarter of gas demand. In Denmark, new figures show that we can cover 100 percent of gas consumption in 2027-2028 - if we play the cards right. For Denmark, biogas is a good and efficient solution. We must find common solutions, because the crisis is cross-border. However, it is important that we ensure flexibility for individual Member States. Biogas is not the best solution for everyone. Therefore, it must be up to the Member States to choose which forms of energy are best suited to the resources that each country now has. The EU must ensure a wide and flexible choice of energy sources. Because it is crucial that we use the crisis to boost the green transition. We need more renewable energy and the crisis has indeed shown that it is possible to act quickly. We're gonna take cutlery off that! For our safety, for the climate and for the environment.

Madam President! Animals should always feel good, whether it's at home in my stable or it's during transport. As a farmer, it's a big deal for me. This is also the case for citizens across Europe. We have been discussing this for a year and a half in the ANIT Committee. Today we are taking a big step towards animal welfare, and I am proud of that. This is also needed. We need to update the outdated rules that we have from 2005. In the Committee on Transport, we have presented a very balanced report which focuses on improving the conditions of animals during transport. For me it is crucial that we have a better implementation and a better control of the transports. Unfortunately, we have seen in all the consultations we have had that it is lagging far behind in some countries. We must have a clear division of responsibilities between farmers, transporters and drivers, and then we must focus on digitalisation. We must bring the present and the future into transport with GPS monitoring, temperature measurements, air conditioning, CO2 measurements, i.e. digitalisation in transport, so that we can control cars and animals better. Denmark is a pioneer country. Therefore, I am pleased that I got the opportunity to invite my colleagues to Denmark to look at the transports. That is why I regret that the left is proposing a time limit of no more than eight hours of transport. This shows that the left has never really been out on a farm. The proposal will put an end to a great many small farms across Europe and cost thousands of jobs. It is not in Paris, Copenhagen or Berlin that jobs are lost, it is in rural areas. This will lead to many family insolvencies. We know that we can transport the animals in a proper and good way. There are many examples of this. Therefore, we demand that there should be a better effort for the conditions under which animals are being transported now. It is crucial that all countries implement the upcoming rules. For me, this is what will happen in the future. This will ensure that all animals are well throughout Europe.

Mr President! Today we finally adopt the expected agricultural reform after three years of long negotiations. The new CAP of '23 provides us with good, healthy and competitive food in Europe. The agricultural reform also significantly strengthens the security of food supply. I am quite proud that today we are also adopting the gross area model, which has been one of my great passions during the agricultural negotiations. At the same time, agricultural reform is a major step towards greener and more sustainable agriculture in Europe. Agriculture and the green transition are not opposites. We're proving that today. It is the greenest agricultural reform ever adopted in Europe. It is the greenest agrarian reform ever adopted in the world. We farmers need to grow something other than grain, grass and corn. We also need to cultivate biodiversity. 40% of the agricultural budget will be devoted to environmental objectives. Farmers can and will do that. The agreement provides an economic incentive and tools to give even more impetus to the green transition, which is so important, also without compromising our production. The strategic plans ensure greater flexibility in the Member States, and this is very important because there is a huge difference between Sicily in the south and Finland in the north, which is why we need to have some national self-determination built into the future environmental measures in the agricultural part. And last but not least, the agricultural reform provides clarity for our colleagues across Europe and ensures their future.

Madam President! Methane reduction is extremely important because what we decide today, we can see the result of tomorrow. As rapporteur for the Committee on Agriculture, I would like to thank the other committees for the excellent cooperation we have had on this report. My mantra has been that we need to reduce methane emissions and not production. For me, it is absolutely crucial that we do not push agricultural production out of the EU. This will only increase the climate impact. Therefore, we need to focus on new technology, innovation that can reduce methane emissions. It is absolutely necessary that we use all the tools that are in the toolbox. For example, new feed additives that can reduce the methane emissions of cows. We also need to make better use of our livestock manure for biogas. Here, the new technological developments around biochar will really push us in the right direction. In this way, agricultural residues can be used to produce renewable energy, green energy. This is a win-win situation for farmers and for the climate. I am very optimistic that we will find the solutions to reach our methane targets. The strategy emphasises that agriculture is part of the solution to the climate challenge.

Madam President! As a farmer, I am very proud of our work in the Farm to Fork Strategy. We are laying the groundwork for European food production and consumption for many years to come. For me, it has been crucial that the strategy is both sustainable and competitive. I have fought for very ambitious targets for agricultural consumption of pesticides, fertilisers and antibiotics and we must halve food waste by 2030. The Farm to Fork Strategy must focus on all stages of the food chain. Right from the farmer in the field, the animals in the stable, the shopkeepers in the supermarket and the food that ends up at home on the kitchen table of the European families. I strongly believe in green and European food production in the future. And technology must play a key role in the transformation of agriculture. Here, the new genetic technology CRISPR is a very important part. We're already well on our way. We must not push our good food production out of the EU. Everyone must take responsibility and contribute to the green transition – including the farmer. The future legislation must be based on impact assessment, and our core task remains to produce good and healthy food. Everything of high quality and with a focus on animal welfare. The Farm to Fork strategy helps to ensure this.

Mr President! Every day, thousands of people in Europe and around the world are oppressed because they have a different sexuality, gender or skin colour. We must not accept that there are any countries in the European Union that oppress minorities. In the EU, we have a free internal market for trade. We must also guarantee the freedom to live as we please. Our European community of values is central. We need to embrace each other's differences. But basic human rights are under attack both in Poland and Hungary. We see homophobic violence in many countries. I speak from experience. I have a son who is gay. Some countries are fiddling with our democratic principles. Democracy is not self-evident. It's something we have to work for day and night. We must fight for equal rights and say no to countries that do not live up to these common values, otherwise the money box must be slammed in.