What Sebastian spoke about.

2 Apr

2025

FI Speech

European Steel and Metals Action Plan (debate)

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Mr President, what was the basis of the European Union as a whole? It was the steel industry, but how has it been dealt with by European politicians since then? Green policy has disciplined this industry, which has been the basis of European cooperation. It's sad. The Green Deal was a complete failure. Its emission limits are hitting the steel and metals sectors, and factories across Europe are su…

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security (debate)

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Madam President, the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation that is 95 % Christian, has become a slaughterhouse for Christians. Let us not forget that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Now, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, our fellow Christians are being abducted, butchered and driven from their homes by bloodthirsty jihadists. People were massacred in a church d…

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Dramatic situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement (debate)

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Madam President, why is it that even after over 500 days, the war against Hamas is still raging in Gaza? It is because Hamas has not laid down its weapons and released all of the remaining hostages. There is one thing we all have to understand about Hamas. Hamas is not fighting against for our two-state solution. They are fighting for the destruction of Israel. Whatever means necessary, whether it…

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Crackdown on democracy in Türkiye and the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu (debate)

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Madam President, Türkiye has become an authoritarian state. The arrest of Erdoğan's political rivals shows the step-by-step process of democratic destruction. It goes against our most fundamental European values. This is why I want to voice my support for the brave people of Türkiye, who have been protesting against authoritarianism in their country. They are ready to fight for democracy, despite …

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

CFSP and CSDP (Article 36 TUE) (joint debate)

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Madam President, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 36 % of Europeans named security and defence as the EU's top three priorities to focus on. This was the highest vote share amongst all the options given. The results are clear: the European people want their leaders to focus on providing safety first and foremost. Is this body acting accordingly? It is not. Have we seen a total overhau…

1 Apr

2025

EN Speech

Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 March 2025 (debate)

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Madam President, I like how the tone of Europe is changing at the moment. Europe will not survive if we do not strengthen our security and competitiveness. I think most European leaders are starting to realise this. Good for Europe. But when I start to read how European leaders handle climate and energy policy, my positive feelings often disappear. While people are calling for lower living costs a…

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Common data platform on chemicals, establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals (short presentation)

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Madam President, I stand here as a voice for citizens like those in Finland, who value their country's independence. These proposals – centralising chemical data collection, reassigning tasks to the EU level, and thus empowering the European Chemicals Agency over local actors – strip away control from Member States. Member States, with their unique industries and features, deserve to make their ow…

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Need to ensure democratic pluralism, strengthen integrity, transparency and anti-corruption policies in the EU (debate)

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Madam President, corruption scandals are shaking this Parliament. A former MEP was convicted of misusing Parliament funds. Foreign governments like Qatar and Morocco, and companies like Huawei have paid bribes for favourable votes. Corruption and misuse of public funds must absolutely be condemned, regardless of political affiliation. Colleagues, let us not forget a major source that has enabled m…

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Situation of European academics and researchers in the US and the impact on academic freedom (debate)

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Madam President, during the latest years we have witnessed a huge threat to academic freedom. When woke, DEI and critical race theory flooded the great intellectual institutions of the West, this body was silent as a crypt. Here are a few examples. Mandatory critical-race-theory training that sought to indoctrinate students into rejecting their unconscious thoughts and behaviours towards minority …

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

European Cultural Compass as a driving force for economic competitiveness and resilience (debate)

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Madam President, Europe is losing itself. We were once the heart of courage, innovation and cultural pride. Now it feels there is only left the fear of being called intolerant. We have been too weak to stand for our own traditions and heritage for too long. Our neighbourhoods have become ghettos where European laws and values hold no ground anymore. Across our cities, we see clear signs of how our…

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Savings and Investments Union (debate)

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Madam President, the EU Commission's savings and investments union promises piles of gold, but it delivers chains of iron. We cannot escape the fact that this playbook sets the basis for more EU regulation, and more EU involvement in the lives of citizens. Educating people to invest is a good goal, but the devil lies in the details of this paper. The Commission is planning through this tool to pus…

31 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Guidelines for the 2026 budget - Section III (debate)

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Mr President, the European Union is facing many challenges, both from outside and within our borders. If we want to provide a safe and competitive Europe for the next generation, we must change our priorities. Our economic competitors are celebrating massive investments into new technologies, while overregulation and high costs keep European companies in a chokehold. The numbers don't lie. Our eco…

12 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Accelerating the phase-out of Russian gas and other Russian energy commodities in the EU (debate)

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Mr President, every cent that we spend on Russian oil and natural gas results in the loss of Ukrainian lives. Last week, in a single night, Putin launched over 60 missiles and 200 drones towards Ukraine. These weapons are funded by Russia through the sale of natural resources. If we want to stop Putin's imperialistic regime, we must increase our efforts to completely end our reliance on Russian en…

12 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Frozen Russian assets (debate)

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Mr President, over EUR 200 billion in frozen Russian assets. Assets that could make a real difference on the battlefield. Assets that hold the power of life and death have been gathering dust in European bank vaults for a third year in a row. I ask: what are we waiting for? Last May, more than two years after the war began, Member States agreed to use the profits from these frozen assets for Ukrai…

12 Mar

2025

FI Speech

Social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights (debate)

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Mr President, workers are a pillar of Europe's success. In many areas, however, the future of workers looks blurry. Massive mistakes made at EU level, for example in the form of a loose immigration policy and an arrogant climate policy, have not been free. Who will pay for these mistakes? Ultimately, a European worker. For example, the European Commission's Green Deal initiative acts as a handbrak…

12 Mar

2025

FI Speech

Union of Skills: striving for more and better opportunities to study, train or work in the EU and to bring our talents back home (debate)

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Mr President, the skills strategy just presented by the Commission is right that educated citizens are the cornerstone of European competitiveness. People and their skills must be invested in. It is also important that skilled people trained with European taxpayers' money stay in Europe to build their own economies and societies. However, let's take a look at the title of the Commission communicat…

12 Mar

2025

FI Speech

Action Plan for the Automotive Industry (debate)

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Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, you are to be blamed. The European automotive industry has been pushed into crisis with a silly green policy, including overly strict emission regulations. For example, we will not be able to compete with the Chinese industry as long as the additional and over-stretched regulation slows down our investment and disciplines our companies. The automotive industry i…

12 Mar

2025

FI Speech

European Semester (joint debate)

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Mr President, putting the economy in order, cutting it, is not a nice job. When government spending is overexpanded, cutting it means that someone has to be taken away. This is what responsible governments should do. Balance the economy, because debt cannot be taken indefinitely or the bomb explodes into your hands. As our own debt spike begins to stall, many countries have begun to look towards B…

11 Mar

2025

FI Speech

Presentation of the proposal on a new common approach on returns (debate)

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Mr President, every year more than 300 000 foreigners who are illegally staying in the EU are ordered to leave. However, only about one-fifth of them can be returned to their countries of origin. The return system is a big joke. Europe is proud of the rule of law and its respect. That is fine, but what principle is it that does not allow the return of those who are illegally present in the country…

11 Mar

2025

FI Speech

Presentation of the proposal on Critical Medicines Act (CMA) (debate)

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Mr President, access to medicines in crises is the lifeblood of the Member States. It has to be certain - hopefully not. The EU is currently pushing for better supply chains for medicines, but there is still work to be done. The beginning of the corona era revealed our weaknesses. The tools needed were in China and the Europeans in panic. The same must not happen again. As with many other things, …

11 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Roadmap for Women`s Rights (debate)

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Mr President, one in three women report having experienced physical or sexual violence in the past 12 months. This should be a wake-up call. It begs the question: why have our streets become so unsafe for women? The Finnish police recently published statistics on sex crime rates by nationality. The results are revealing. Compared to Finnish nationals, the rates of sexual offences committed are six…

10 Mar

2025

FI Speech

European Social Fund Plus post-2027 (short presentation)

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Mr President, 'many cakes are beautiful' is a Finnish proverb. The European Social Fund Plus is just such a cake. The stated aim of the fund is, among other things, to integrate foreign people into our labour market and to promote gender equality. But these can be decided better nationally, because the situation in each society is different. Through the EU, this effort costs taxpayers around EUR 2…

10 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova (debate)

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Madam President, this proposed investment package is a crucial step for Moldova's EU integration. However, Moldova still faces major challenges like poverty and inequality, requiring real development beyond financial figures. These are challenges we must not forget. Yet their greatest threat is Russia. The terrorist state does not only focus on Ukraine. No. They are trying their best to destabilis…

10 Mar

2025

EN Speech

Cutting red tape and simplifying business in the EU: the first Omnibus proposals (debate)

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Madam President, companies are the backbone of the European economy. However, Brussels has been shutting off the engine of Europe by being the champion of overregulating. These new Omnibus proposals cut regulation and limit sustainability reporting to major corporations. A small step forward, but nowhere near enough. The real obstacle remains massive climate regulation compared to our competitors.…

12 Feb

2025

EN Speech

Need for targeted support to EU regions bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine (debate)

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Madam President, 1 300 km. Imagine that your country would guard the longest EU border against a country that is attacking in Europe. A border that is as long as it is from Tallinn to Vienna. That's what Finland is doing for the security of whole Europe, and with an economy of a population of just 5.5 million people. Let's face it: for Europe, Russia is the single biggest threat. The EU regions bo…