Speeches

Mr President, well-functioning electricity grids keep Europe safe. Without them, our security of supply and resilience would collapse. Cross-border electricity distribution also plays an important role here. However, this is always the responsibility of the Member States themselves – Member States that are even able to deliver with exemplary splendor. According to Fingrid's statistics, the reliability rate of the main grids in Finland last year was 99.9995 per cent - a remarkable figure. Would it have been this high if the electricity grids had been run by officials in Brussels and not by domestic operators with the best knowledge of Finnish conditions? Not sure, I say. The best thing about Europe's security of supply is to allow the Member States to do their job and to cooperate internationally, which will surely benefit all parties involved. That is why I decided to vote against the motion, because even if we move electricity far away, the decision-making power must remain close.

Mr President, access to food is one of the pillars of security that Europe must also awaken to. The EU’s common agricultural policy has a budget of almost €400 billion for 2021-2027. However, the EU has been plagued by a disease called green ideology. The focus is on everything that meets the hallmarks of ideological greening, including in the vital agricultural sector – at the expense of food production. Now, more than ever, we need to focus on the most essential things, including the small ones – literally. Up to 80% of our crops depend on pollination by insects, from which bees play a major role. Their positions are now falling. The crude fact is that without bees, our food security will collapse. Preventing this horror image is something that we in Europe should drink to.

Mr President, the security of Europe is under serious threat: China is strengthening and taking over the world, Russia is cutting up new territories for itself, and in the Middle East the blocks are being rebuilt. There is a cold race for power in the world. In the midst of all this, we Europeans must look at our neighbourhood with new eyes. Russia is waiting in the water language for our neighbours to fall into their arms. This must not happen and the EU's enlargement policy is an important tool for this. We must be a credible partner for our candidate countries. When convergence with our standards occurs, we do not hold back. But at the same time, we must ensure that we do not make exceptions to what values we believe in for reasons of geopolitics. If an incompetent country, such as a country that supports imperialist Russia in its foreign policy, enters, then the destabilisation of Europe will also, and especially from the inside, be successful. That's when we jump out of the ditch.

Madam President, the further escalation of violence in South Sudan has plunged the country even deeper into a devastating humanitarian crisis. Civilians are experiencing the full force of intensified clashes, leading to mass displacement, food insecurity and even a cholera outbreak. South Sudan is already scarred with past civil wars. We do not want this young country to face another one. We must urgently call for a ceasefire and a renewed commitment to peace negotiations. The European Union has a critical role in fostering diplomatic solutions that protect vulnerable populations. Failure to act risks prolonging this tragedy and destabilising the entire region. Let's act as mediators, call for peace and end the suffering.

Mr President, European countries must invest in the functioning of electricity networks. Access to electricity is a prerequisite for virtually everything from households to productive economies and for the security of the continent as a whole. The EU's motion for a resolution on electricity grids also contains good points, but, once again, unnecessary rhetoric has been inserted between the lines of an important topic, such as gender balance in the distribution network company. But do you know what sounds like an expensive sentence for a Finn? This is a direct quote from the text. The European Parliament states that “more than 40% of the distribution networks in the Union are more than 40 years old and need to be updated”. What are the networks of the Union? They are networks of member states and companies operating there. It is not the task of Finns to start updating the networks of other countries. Let everyone deal with this on their own.

Mr President, it has been extremely disturbing to learn about the serious accusations of corruption and abuse of power on behalf of the leftist government in Spain. It is disgraceful that these kinds of acts still take place in Member states. Such actions should have no place in a democratic society. They pose a serious threat to the rule of law and undermine the legitimacy of democratic institutions. We live in an era of significant geopolitical turmoil. It is imperative that citizens can trust elected representatives to defend their interests and help them through these difficult times. What we have witnessed in the Spanish Government is the exact opposite. It is called betraying your people. I call for all those involved to take responsibility and answer for their crimes.

Mr President, I am a conservative man, and that image Green MEP showed does not make me gay, I already am, but I cannot endorse everything that pride in the Western world has started to promote, including the idea that children should be taught they might be in the wrong body and that we should support the mutilation of their genitals. Insanity. I have chosen the conservatives because they have not lost their minds, unlike you on the left. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and the biggest Pride organiser in the world. Yet you on the left keep attacking it. Today you even came to the defence of Iran's nuclear sites. A country that imprisons women for not covering themselves and throws us gays off rooftops. Leftists, I am not on your side because you are not on the side of us gays. We are just a toy for you. To Orbán I say, do not ban protests because I am also supporting freedom of speech.

Madam President, if we dare to look at the facts, we will see that it's not Israel committing genocide. Let me be clear. Hamas, which launched a massacre on 7 October, is a jihadist death cult that is dedicated to erasing every Jew from the river to the sea. That is a genocidal agenda. And what did Israel do? It defended itself – as any democracy must. It is ironic how parts of this Parliament cry genocide at the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, while ignoring an Islamist regime that uses children as shields, aid as propaganda, and rapes women. You want to talk about war crimes? Then ask why Hamas builds tunnels under hospitals and fires rockets from schools. If Israel laid down its arms, there would be another Holocaust. If Hamas laid down theirs, there would be peace.

Madam President, for decades, NATO has guaranteed peace, security and stability on our continent. However, in today's world, raising our defence spending is more critical than ever. Europe has underinvested in its defence for far too long – we can't speak of autonomy, deterrence or a stronger NATO unless we are willing to pay for it. We must be ready to face it: NATO's 2 % of GDP target for defence spending is no longer enough. A stronger and better equipped European defence strengthens NATO, our own continent and global security. The transatlantic bond needs to be unwavering, but we must take responsibility for our own defence spending. Security is not an exception – like anything else, it must be paid for and protected.

Mr President, democracy and safety from political violence are not self‑evident. They are the results of hard work, blood, sweat and tears. Still, the work is far from over. The recent assassination attempt of senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe in Bogota paints a horrifying picture of the democratic state of Colombia. In Colombia, the criminal networks have grown so large that they have created parallel societies who use severe violence in order to further advance their own goals. Unfortunately, the same phenomenon is also becoming ever more apparent in today's Europe. This nightmarish bloodshed must be stopped. Violence cannot continue to cast a shadow on the democratic processes of the world. I wholeheartedly wish Mr Uribe a swift and full recovery.

Mr President, the world cannot afford a nuclear Iran. A regime that openly sponsors terrorism, destabilises its neighbours, and calls for the destruction of Western democracies cannot be trusted with nuclear capabilities. Only the idea of such a regime with nuclear material – or worse, such a regime giving it to terrorist proxies like Hamas – sounds horrific. Israel's pre-emptive strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities were not only justified, but also necessary. These actions were not acts of aggression, they were acts of global defence for which we should all be grateful. We saw again an example of how Israel strikes military targets, including nuclear sites, while Iran's Islamist regime deliberately targets civilians. Preventing Tehran from crossing the nuclear threshold is not just in Israel's interest, but in the interest of every nation that values peace and stability.

Mr President, public transport is a local issue that should not be steered from the European level. For example, it is not possible to move around in Lapland's frosts with the same solutions as in Brussels. Helsinki metro, Turku archipelago traffic or the sparsely populated areas of Kainuu require completely different systems. It is precisely for this reason that citizens choose their municipal decision-makers so that they can decide on which equipment and how to move. Local residents know their area best. EU officials should not dictate what is the best solution in an area they have never even visited. Too many EU decisions bring more bureaucracy to the local level, but not better service. I do not think it makes sense for us to discuss public transport services at all here in the European Parliament. Public transport must be decided locally. It's a point.

Mr President, anti-racism measures in the EU, 40 kilometres of new cycling routes to Belgium and window renovations in Italy. Among other things, this was offered by the recovery package. Can any of you with a serious face say that this has anything to do with the recovery from COVID-19? But this peak of your scams went through the Europeans, and that's why I'm not surprised that you seem to be trying to repeat the same trick again. What was still a one-off emergency solution four years ago is now being taken as a basis for future EU action. This report, which is now before us, does make a few correct observations about what was wrong with the recovery package, but the conclusion is wrong. We want to use the lessons learned from the recovery package when designing future solutions. Stop right there. The only conclusion to draw from these mistakes is that this expensive bump will never be repeated again.

Madam President, over 400 poor condition vessels sailing with a heavy oil load, day after day. This is called the Russian 'shadow fleet'. It is a fleet that poses two types of massive security threats. But now it should be crystal clear for all of us that this fleet is funding Putin's expansionist policy and war crimes in Europe. But now, as we discuss the European Ocean Pact, we should not forget the huge environmental threat that this bloody fleet poses constantly for our oceans. The European Ocean Pact is built around pillars such as protecting ocean health and enhancing maritime security and defence – good goals. I think the biggest deed we could now do for our oceans would be doing everything we can to get these Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels out of our seas.

Mr President, there is a special place in hell for those who harass, abuse and rape children. Many people repeat these crimes time and time again. We talk about monsters among us. Whether online, in the streets or in dark rooms, silk gloves and sensitivity must be thrown into the junkyard when considering penalties. The tighter the line against these criminals, the better. We do not need any new criminals within our borders. I strongly support measures to make Finland and Europe a safer place for our children. This applies both at our borders and within our borders. Children have the right to live a child's life without fear.

Mr President, military mobility is an area where the EU can have a crucial role. Without military mobility, Europe's defence capabilities go to waste. Currently, key transport infrastructure across EU territory is not certified for fast and heavy military transport. Bridge weight restrictions, customs formalities and a lack of common standards are key problem areas. For example, moving a single Leopard 2A6 main battle tank, weighing over 60 tonnes, across Europe faces serious obstacles. NATO's own rapid deployment forces require cross-border access within 48 hours – a goal that is currently logistically unrealistic in large parts of Europe. Without the ability to move troops and equipment, deterrence fails before the first shot is fired. That is why military mobility must be treated as a strategic priority.

Mr President, for every euro paid, Finland only receives about 20 cents back from the EU. This is the EU's cohesion policy for Finland. Does this make any sense? Whether it is a gigantic recovery package or cohesion funds distributed every year, Finland has a spike open. And other countries are laughing on the way to the bank. It's time to start demanding. I am pleased that the Commission is finally also taking Eastern Finland into account in its future cohesion policy. However, this is not enough. The EU's eastern regions need a financing solution of their own - a solution that does not leave the money in the hands of others. Finland stands at the forefront of more than a thousand three hundred kilometres in Europe against an attacking country. It's not our time to pay for other people's violins. Now is our time to get.

Madam President, the recent prisoner exchanges have given us hope. Hope that it is possible to survive horrifying conditions, that many families will get their father, mother, sibling or child back alive. But dear policymakers, I remind you, Putin does not want peace. He wants to destroy the Ukrainian people and state. Russian invaders have kidnapped nearly 20 000 Ukrainian children. These children are being brainwashed to become Russians and fight against their own country. Ukrainian civilians are under systematic Russian bombardment. In Kherson, Russian drones rained upon the inhabitants under a terror campaign entitled 'Human safari'. The murder of civilians on behalf of Russia is a calculated effort. There is only one acceptable solution for such a country. We must force Russia to retreat from Ukraine.

Mr President, protecting journalism and freedom of speech is a fundamental part of European democracy. It is our job to preserve it. But our democracy is under threat from hostile foreign countries such as Russia. Its agents are conducting hybrid welfare operations to destabilise our daily lives. They are using technology to attack our critical infrastructure and democratic democratic institutions in cyberspace. In this new era of warfare, we cannot be bystanders. The use of digital technology has become a necessary tool for monitoring malicious foreign actors. But while protecting our citizens, I want to stress the following. A potential European response to the use of spyware. Must respect the right of Member States to preserve their national security.

Madam President, referring to Rule 10(3) of the Rules of Procedure, I would like to bring to your attention to the fact that equal treatment of Members was not upheld during the last plenary session concerning the Israel‑Gaza debate. My ECR colleague Kristoffer Storm had a very small pin removed from his jacket – a pin calling for the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas who had been tortured and raped. Meanwhile, when MEP Lynn Boylan from The Left Group approached the podium to deliver her speech wearing a Palestine lanyard, it was not removed. And this despite the fact that I had informed the President well in advance that the MEP in question would soon be speaking and was wearing that lanyard. She was allowed to wear that political symbol throughout her entire speech and only after she had finished did the President simply remark that political symbols are not permitted while speaking. How can it be that some MEPs are stripped of political expressions while others are not? The plenary is the most sacred arena of democracy in the European Parliament. That is why I urge the President to ensure that Members are treated equally in the future and that such blatant double standards become a thing of the past.

Mr President, it is vital for democracy to take account of the wishes of the citizens of the Member States, and I therefore welcome the fact that everyone has the opportunity to submit petitions at EU level. However, I would like to remind you that the Treaties clearly define the areas that fall within the EU's decision-making powers. Over the past decade, these Treaty requirements have been violated and the right of Member States to decide their own affairs has been broken down piece by piece. This systematic pursuit of hidden federalism must be stopped immediately. Each country is unique and different. Not everyone fits in the same mold. Therefore, when it comes to dealing with petitions at EU level: This whole thing has to happen too. within the competence of the European Union.

Mr President, the EU's decision to spend a staggering EUR 500 million on the Choose Europe for Science project is incomprehensible, especially at a time when our security is screaming more money than Europe has put into it. The presentation of the package clearly revealed what this money pool is in response to: In the United States, there has been a tight line of funding for diversity and anti-racism research. This giant package is likely to attract researchers who have been deprived of this research money on the other side of the Atlantic. The U.S. has already abandoned these academic efforts. If they had made America strong, they would not have been abandoned. It is worth thinking about in Europe as well. If individual Member States want to support this from their own pockets, please pay it from your own resources. Europe needs growth, innovation and genuine science. No more studies impregnated by woke.

Mr President, the EU's internal market is one example of how the Alliance of Independent States can actually benefit its members. The free movement of goods and services is one of the bright spots that still illuminates Europe from the gaps of all the shadow of arbitrary EU regulation. As an export-led country, Finland benefits significantly from free and duty-free trade with its European neighbours, especially now that we have made the only right decision and stopped trading with Russia, which is waging a brutal war of aggression. Disengagement from China is still ahead of us. Unfortunately, such EU-level issues, which really benefit the Member States and citizens, are increasingly becoming a side-effect of the EU's endless regulation and federal development. That is why the internal market, this principle of tangible benefits, must continue to be nurtured and its unnecessary obstacles dismantled.

Mr President, a very worrying law is being drafted in Hungary. This law would give the government the right to conduct raids and impose disproportionate fines on organisations that receive funding from outside Hungary, including from the EU. If this sounds familiar, it's because Russia has a very similar type of agent law in place. It is obvious that Putin-inspired laws do not belong in Europe. The EU has the tools to influence such worrying developments, as is well known in Hungary. Criticism of the EU by an elected government is no reason to freeze EU funding, but if serious steps are taken towards the demolition of democracy, the EU cannot be a bystander. These principles should be remembered both at EU level and in Hungary.

Dear Mr/Ms President of the Republic of Gaza, Why do you hate Israel more than you love your own children? Why have you taught your children from textbooks to hate Jews and to raise fighters from them? Why have you used the cement and supplies Israel has donated for years to build the offensive tunnels? Doctors in Gaza, why have you allowed killers to build command centers in your hospitals? Teachers, how can you allow terrorists to hide in your schools? Fathers and mothers of Gaza, why do you allow your children to be used as human shields? Why did you vote for Hamas and do so again if the elections were held now? Stop Protecting the terrorists and handing over the hostages. Only then will Israel stop. Don't sacrifice any more Palestinian children, for their lives are precious.