Speeches

Mr President, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the economies of the Member States, the Commission tried to resolve the issue with reckless debt. Citizens were promised that the recovery package would be the solution to put the European economy back on its feet. Do you feel that this has happened? The recovery package brought increased risks of fraud, opacity and hastily distributed money. It is not even possible to properly monitor the use of funds. According to the study, the climate impact of green projects implemented through the package may have been exaggerated by up to EUR 30.5 billion. It's obscene. Now that the time for repayment is coming, the price tag of the Commission's project is starting to hit the minds of many decision-makers. Interest expenses have also swelled like bun dough. Well, it wasn't a good package. The use of EU money must be justified and transparent, i.e. anything other than what the recovery package represents.

Mr President, the EU's spending priorities are seriously flawed. For example, we are calling for accelerating the green transition and for stronger support for it. It is not enough for the EU to manage its own property; it is required to act as the world's leading provider of climate finance and development aid. The EU is confusing not only social policy, but also housing policy, even though these are the sovereign prerogatives of the Member States. Of course, a substantial increase in EU funding is required for both sectors, as well as for the tourism and cultural sectors. Additional money is required in all directions, and there are hardly any targets for surgery. New own resources are also planned for the EU, which also means a transfer of power from the Member States to the Union. No, no, and again no. EU spending must now focus on what is essential: support to Ukraine, internal security and external border control.

Mr President, our greatest adversary is not the United States, but a dictatorship far more dangerous to Europe's trade future: China. It is quite astonishing that some in Europe have started to seek closer cooperation with the Chinese dictatorship as a response for the US. You are willing to turn a blind eye to what China presents, just to get to show your middle fingers to the other side of the Atlantic. Are you really that childish? You're all acting like a bunch of high school divas. But I say we take a different approach. I say we grow up and work towards finding a meaningful agreement with the United States – one that benefits both parties. And we can start by cutting back on our dependence on China. Let's do that for our own sake as well, before it's too late.

Mr President, up to 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by an empire determined to erase them. Men, women and children were deported, tortured, raped and murdered. Türkiye's refusal to confront its dark history is one example of why its membership in the EU cannot come into question. They may attempt to bury their history, but the truth cannot be silenced. Just as the Turks sought to destroy Armenians, another empire, the so-called Russian Federation, now threatens Ukrainians. We must ensure that such evil never prevails again. We cannot allow the work of the devil to succeed. Oppressive empires must fall.

Mr President, European day of the righteous is an opportunity to honour those who have dared to stand against injustice and oppression. Too often, people tend to speak grand words, but hesitate when real actions are needed. This must not be just another symbolic gesture. Today I want to highlight a group too often forgotten ‑ those brave Russians and Belarusians who risked their lives resisting authoritarian regimes. They are imprisoned, silenced and even murdered for defending human rights and democracy. The tragic death of Alexei Navalny is just one example. We must actively courage these people who dared to stand up against the regimes of Russia and Belarus, the very devils of oppression and control.

Mr President, in my country, Finland, the forest industry is an example of a success that has not been built thanks to Brussels, but thanks to a Member State. The forest industry alone accounts for 17% of our goods exports and directly employs tens of thousands of people from the south to the north. We have modern factories, such as the Äänekoski advanced bioproduct mill. Finland has used hydropower and bioenergy to keep costs under control. This is not because of directives, but because it has been profitable. The best decisions for industry can be made by the Member States and their companies. The model of Finland, which is small but has a large area, shows that vitality comes from local expertise, not from centralised steering. I therefore call on the Commission to respect national strengths and to give freedom to the growth of the Member States.

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 suffering. The growth targets, which sounded great on paper, do not come true. What is the EU inventing now? A Late Plan of Action as Jobs Disappear and Imports Grow from Abroad? But that doesn't solve the problem. The problem is an overly tense green policy that has been widely overwhelmed in Europe, pushing production even narrower and giving a competitive advantage to others. European industry deserves to be honoured.

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 due to their faith, people were executed for refusing to convert to Islam. Churches have been bombed. Christian villages are being abandoned. Where is the outrage? Where is the action? Europe must not stay silent. We share a long Christian heritage. We must protect it against jihadism that is a threat both globally and in our home continent.

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 is killing civilians or hiding beneath hospitals. They will not rest until all the Israelis are expelled or murdered from the river to the sea. So we will not rest either. We will not rest until the whole world sees that the biggest obstacle to solving the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians is the mere existence of the terrorist organisation called Hamas.

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 all the restrictions, threats and violence from their ruler. It takes guts. We, as the defenders of fundamental rights and democratic values in this world, must extend our full support to the brave protesters. One protester wisely stated that during the history of humankind, the people who have stood up against oppression have always won eventually. I hope this victory comes sooner rather than later.

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 overhaul of Europe's immigration policy? No, we haven't, even though past mistakes are now risking our security. Or have we been strong enough to push Russia away from Ukrainian soil? No, we haven't. Now it's time to do what the people are asking us to do: focus on solving security problems, not creating them by repeating our previous mistakes.

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 and less regulation, Europe is still hanging on to the unrealistic green ideology. Let's face it, our green goals from the past are not compatible with our current priorities. Overly strict green policies are the very reason European companies and households have been struggling. To my leftist and green colleagues, you had your time and it didn't work out. Now it's time to do things differently.

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 own decisions – not to follow a one-size-fits-all EU uniform that fits no one properly. We have seen enough to say that EU centralisation often ignores local needs, adds bureaucracy and takes power away from where it should be: close to the people. I urge you to protect national sovereignty and reject those measures that undermine Member States' rights to govern themselves.

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 massive corruption from EU funds. That is the post-COVID Economic Recovery Fund. Last year, in one investigation alone, a fraud of over EUR 600 million was uncovered. The lesson should be clear for all of us who want to fight corruption. The recovery fund is a horrible model to base future policies on.

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 groups – where was the outrage? A bloated DEI bureaucracy demanding teachers to sign diversity statements in prestigious American universities like Harvard and MIT – where was the outrage? A study on the ineffectiveness of puberty blockers going unpublished because of politics – where was the outrage? Actually, you wanted this to continue, and now you are outraged when a lot of people are saying to all this, 'No, thank you.'

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 democracy, equality and freedom are drifting away and replaced by imported ideologies. We are talking about ideologies that neither integrate nor respect the European way of living. Tolerance should never mean that we have to abandon the things we cherish. This is not progress. This is surrender. If we don't stand for our own culture and values, who will?

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 push EU-wide pension regulation alongside financial regulation, while trying to channel people's savings into projects that the EU deems worthy, such as climate and green investments. We must bear in mind that the solutions for EU citizens' prosperity lie in the financial decisions of Member States, not in the gold-plated promises of the Commission.

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 economic growth has fallen behind. A lot must change. It is time to reconsider ideological green goals, and instead shift our full focus towards creating a mighty Europe that allows our businesses to thrive instead of transferring factories to China. We have to take these steps if we want to ensure our resilience in times of a crisis. And all of my colleagues: look around, the crisis is already here. Let's act accordingly.

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 energy. The only appropriate amount of Russian oil and natural gas in Europe is zero. We have to invest in our energy infrastructure and close every loophole that allows importing of refined Russian oil to Europe through third countries, like India and Türkiye. It is our responsibility to do everything we can so that the brave people of Ukraine can live their lives in peace. Let's cut our reliance on Russia!

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 Ukraine's benefit. Even this decision took ages. The decision to use the frozen assets was postponed, waiting for potentially darker days. Now, if ever, is the moment. Europe's slowness is a real threat to our own security. If we truly want to show our support for Ukraine and defend our continent, Russia's frozen assets must be released for Ukraine's use. Tough times call for tough measures.

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 handbrake for the emergence of new industries in Europe and as a gas for the escape of old industries from Europe. The result is fewer jobs. An effective defence of workers' rights would be to oppose this policy, which has been advocated by left-wing parties in Europe in recent years. However, it does not seem to interest trade unions that have become red-green. But I and many other right-wing conservatives are interested, and that is why I will defend European workers against the insanity of this Chamber.

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 communication. It speaks of a Union of Skills. This isn't a coincidence. This is a clear choice to try to promote an ever-increasing deepening of the EU and a fledgling towards the federal state. Ladies and gentlemen, it is not and should not be the EU that solves these issues in terms of skills, education, lifelong learning or jobs. Issues relating to education and employment policies are and should be the responsibility of the Member States. Decision-making must remain in national hands.

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 is a striking example of this. I support the European automotive industry, which is the backbone of our economy and our self-sufficiency: 7% of total EU GDP and jobs for more than 13 million people. Who's a fool who wants this kind of power to go smacking? We need to ensure that the transition to low-emission transport takes place within the limits of our carrying capacity – consumers, industry and society as a whole.

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 Brussels. What if the indebtedness was managed through the EU and thus through other Member States? This is what I say absolutely no to. Recently, Spain's centre-left government was reportedly asking for a doubling of the EU budget, and that this should be done with the joint debt of the countries. It would be another EU disaster. It's not Brussels' job to take on debt. This is a clear game. Debt collection and control are the responsibility of each Member State.

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. Improving returns is also a security issue. Migrants, especially from countries in the Middle East and Africa, are clearly overrepresented in crime statistics. When will Europe wake up? Those who have received a negative decision and who have committed serious crimes must be returned without delay. Development aid must be made conditional on countries agreeing to receive their own citizens. Return centres must be located outside the EU. Ladies and gentlemen, let's make this a year of returns.