Speeches

Mr President, war always has many dimensions and the cost of human fate is immeasurable. We Finns know this well. We fought against Russia decades ago, and the consequences of its war are still visible in our tombstones and in the human fates that pass through generations. With more than one hundred thousand Ukrainians dead, four hundred thousand wounded and tens of thousands of children forcibly taken to Russia, Ukraine must not be treated as yesterday's news. People are still dying in Ukraine, the tragedy is real. The statement by the Council and the Commission is very important. Together we must remain resolute. By supporting Ukraine, we are also safeguarding the very foundations of European peace and security. One of the most important ways to find a path to lasting peace is to keep Europe relevant even in the midst of geopolitical plate collisions. This can be achieved by working together on the basis of European values. Europeanism is at its best when solidarity links individuals and governments to a collective effort, and here we have a place of effort.

Mr President, I am very shocked when it is said here that women's rights and fighting for them are out of the hands of men. I don't understand such rhetoric at all. Where women are equal, societies thrive. Women, men and children are better off. You said just now that people are talking bum and subjugating men. How does the promotion of women's rights subjugate men? Not in any way. Answer me, what do you base your claim on?

Mr President, right now, as we speak, thousands of Ukrainian children have been ripped from their homes, torn from the arms of their families, forcefully deported to Russia and Belarus, detained in Russian prisons, forced into adoption, stripped of their identities. These children are being erased. A grave violation of international law. Even in this room, I have heard Russian propaganda attempting to twist this horror into something it is not. Let me say this plainly: this is not a topic for propaganda. This is a moral line that demands the united will of the entire European Parliament. We must act. We must act now. The EU must impose sanctions against those responsible for these atrocities. And more than that, we must demand that these children, these stolen lives, are returned to their homes, to their families, to their loved ones. These children are not just numbers in a report; they are lives stolen. And we cannot, we must not let them be forgotten. So bring them home.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, in light of current developments, it is crucial that the EU strengthens its resilience against disinformation. Russia has announced that they are preparing a war against NATO in the next 10 years. Shame on those in this House that make way to Putin to gain a foothold across European societies. This is not a time to surrender. This is a time to demonstrate our values of freedom, democracy and just society. There should be no room for disinformation that corrupts the minds of our innocent and weak, our children, our youth. It is unacceptable that platforms such as TikTok and X deny their responsibility where it is evident that their aim is not to uphold democratic values, but, on the contrary, to cause chaos and damage to our European way of life.

Mr President, all children should have the right to a good and safe childhood, one in which they feel loved and accepted. There should be room to play, make contact, move and be creative, but the picture of this time is more loneliness and anxiety than ever before. According to studies, children's disordered behaviour has also increased, and various diagnoses related to this have increased. Instead of social contacts, children are increasingly confronted with the flood of the internet and virtual reality. These challenges apply to all children in EU countries. Social inequality also includes playing and playing with inequality. The problem is already so big that we need to see this not only as a personal tragedy, but also as a major economic issue. I would therefore like to draw the attention of the new Commission to safeguarding and increasing the opportunities for children and young people to engage in recreational activities. All possible tools must be used for this. It is about the future of Europe and Europe's resilience.

Madam President, we all know that supporting Ukraine is also about defending European values and principles: peace, security, democracy and rule of law. We also know that eventually, if Europe is weakened, it affects the whole global balance. So, my words go to across the Atlantic to Trump. If Trump wants to make good deals, he should see Europe as equals and partners. And Trump should treat Putin as he would treat someone attempting a hostile takeover, because that's what Putin is trying to do: attack our freedom and sovereignty. In this House, we should be united. No one should for a second think that the future of Europe is secured with Putin's doctrine. North Korean soldiers brought to a European war is just one example that Putin's Russia will proceed. It will not stop if we are not going to stop him.

Mr President, President Niinistö's speech in this Chamber was extremely wise. We need to be prepared, but we also need to be able to work together better. Now I would ask you, representative, how can we plant more of this Finnish spirit here in the European Parliament? In the light of these recent developments, there is division here, there is strife here, when we need more cooperation so that we can cope with these enormous challenges that Europe will have to contend with in the years to come.

Mr President, representatives of the Commission, the EU should be the safest place in the world to buy goods. We have strict standards for what kind of products can be sold here, so how on earth is it possible that, in recent tests, up to 80 per cent of toys sold, for example, in Chinese online stores, did not meet the safety requirements for toys. It is about the health of consumers, especially children. It is about protecting our environment. It is a question of security and it is a question of the ability of European companies to succeed. Chinese giant online shops, ignoring the rules, are delivering goods to Europe at an accelerating pace. According to Finnish Customs, the huge number of Chinese parcels already endangers customs' ability to function. The Product Safety Directive, that is a good start, but it is important that we do not increase the regulation of responsible European companies, but that we ensure that Chinese shops comply with European rules. There is an urgent need to resolve this issue. The Commission must play its part in this. Europe must be united on this issue. It is about the health of Europeans.

Mr President, it is tremendously tragic that you see families on the streets of Europe, people sleeping on the streets. In Finland, the streetscape is different. In Finland, we have succeeded in reducing homelessness so that we have fewer than 3,500 people without a home. Less than 3,500. This is a miracle. But this has required the will of all parties. And yet it was only Sanna Marin's government that set the goal of ending homelessness completely by 2027. Finland's starting point has been the Housing First principle. It first guarantees permanent housing regardless of substance abuse or mental health problems. This has required cooperation between the third sector, public authorities and volunteers, and has even helped many marginalised people to find employment. In addition, social housing has provided affordable housing for people on low incomes. I wanted to share this with you as an encouragement, but also as a warning. For now the Social-Democratic government is a thing of the past and has been replaced by a bourgeois government that cuts subsidies, cuts social housing and turns back the clocks. This should not be allowed. Take an example from Finland in a good way, not from what the bourgeois government is doing in Finland now.