Speeches

Mr Preisdent, if someone from Belarusian opposition spoke here today, they would be risking for freedom, safety and family well-being. In Belarus, the government doesn't just go after those who speak out inside the country, it also punishes those who voice their opinions, even here in the European Union. Simply travelling to the EU or speaking up can lead to jail time and losing everything they owned. This is one of the regime's many tactics. Take Aleksandra Herasimenia, Olympic medallist. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison and had her property take away just for protesting peacefully. Her story. Just one of the thousands. Belarus is losing what little independence it has left. Putin may soon take full control, turning this country into a base of new wars. That is why standing with the people of Belarus who want freedom is more important than ever. (the speaker finishes in a non-EU language)

Madam President, this report should mark a turning point. We welcome the progress made: higher defence budget, stronger EU- NATO cooperation and increased support for our defence industry. But it is not enough. 2 % GDP target for defence is a peacetime goal. There is a war in Europe. Shouldn't we invest much more in defence? Countries on Russia's border, we allocate at least 5 %. Latvia, for example, is doubling its army and building Eastern Shield and Baltic Defence Line to secure our borders with Russia and Belarus. We are asking for more support, not for ourselves, but to defend European borders and our shared values, peace and democracy. Russia must be defeated right now in Ukraine. If we fail, we will be forced to stop Russia within our own borders. Ukraine needs 0.25 % of GDP on military aid, as it was proposed by Ms Kallas. Thank you for supporting this target in this report. But now every European country must act. This is not just about individual nations. It is about defending all of Europe. Winter is coming. Ukraine has already found ways to create a smart and efficient military industry that produces cost-effective, advanced technology. This means Europe can follow this example. More investment, more cooperation and stronger defence. Europe must act now before it's too late.

Madam President, Europe is a giant in chains: wealthy, powerful, yet paralysed. Objective reality and data show that there is no need to despair. Quite the opposite. We have given Ukraine EUR 134 billion. That sounds like a lot, but it's just 0.2 % of our GDP. If the US steps back, we can raise that to 0.4 % without difficulty. The Baltics, Finland and Denmark already contributed nearly 1 % – a small price for lasting security – and our economies have only become stronger as a result. We can make Russia pay. Let's seize 200 billion of frozen Russian assets and direct them to Ukraine. Madam President, the European Commission must make a decision on this right now. Dear colleagues, the numbers don't lie. We are 450 million Europeans. Russia has just 140 million people. Our economy is 12 times larger. We have everything we need to defend ourselves and others. The only step left: removing the chains we have placed on ourselves.

Dear Chair, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland are currently protecting the external borders of the European Union. Colleagues, that's a fact. The regions of Latvia – Latgale and North Vidzeme – are the first bastions of freedom and democracy in Europe. Already after the borders of Latgale and North Vidzeme, there is Mordor – an aggressive, tyrannical territory that wants to subjugate its neighbours. Of course, living next to the aggressor is neither profitable nor profitable. Economic cooperation is not possible. Attracting private investment is also difficult. At the same time, we need to strengthen our borders to deter the aggressor from invasion. We are building the Baltic Defence Line in Latgale and Northern Vidzeme, thus militarily protecting the external border of Latvia and the European Union as a whole. Therefore, colleagues, we are not praying. The economy of Latgale, Northern Vidzeme and other border regions and strengthening the well-being of citizens are in the interest of all of us – Europe. This would be Europe's contribution to its security and defence against the aggressor. Rafael Fito, the European Commissioner responsible, has already expressed his support for specific support programmes for Europe's border regions. I also call for the support of the European Parliament.

Mr President, dear friends, yes, we Latvians see Russia differently because we live beside it. Just imagine an apartment building. We – Latvian and Estonian neighbours – live in the same floor and are improving our house day by day. But behind the door, on the east side, there is our unruly tenant living, Russia, who is aggressive, who is drunk, destructive. Our Ukrainian neighbour suffers the most. Every time they rebuild, Russia comes, steals, destroys and vandalises. Russia has attacked Ukraine 24 times in the last 300 years. So, today they continue to terrorise our floor, but tomorrow, they will come to yours. And if you don't stop them, they will burn down the house. So, the history shows: ignoring the fire won't save you – it only lets the flames spread. That's why our unruly tenant deserves a very hard lesson.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues every day 1 500 political prisoners in Belarus – teachers, students, journalists, parents, wake up in the cells not for crimes, but for daring to dream of freedom. Among them Dzmitry Kuchuk, leader of the dissolved Belarusian Green Party, sentenced for six years in prison simply for standing up for his beliefs. Since the stolen elections of 2020, the Lukashenka regime has turned Belarus into a prison, crushing dissent with torture, blackmail and fear. Here's what we must do: hit the regime where it hurts and target Belarus' lifeline, its economy. Sanction potash, oil and other key exports, close every loophole that fills Lukashenka's coffers, crush enablers and hold these cronies accountable, freeze their assets, deny them visas, and support the Belarusian people – fund independent media, human rights defenders and activists, and support the families of political prisoners. Europe must fund humanitarian aid and offer asylum to families who flee persecution. If we fail to act decisively, we send a green light to every dictator watching. Please support this resolution – and Zhyve Belarus.

Mr President, Dear Commissioner, The Baltic Sea is threatened by Russia, in particular by the Russian shadow fleet. We can only imagine what would happen if, as recently as in the Black Sea, a Russian tanker crashed in the Baltic Sea and large-scale oil spills occurred in the Baltic Sea. Such a disaster would be irreversible for my region. The marine ecosystem would have been destroyed, and for several generations our beautiful beaches would in principle have been finished for decades. NATO has already responded by sending patrol vessels. The European Union must now do its homework and the Baltic Sea must be protected. And what does that mean? Establishment of trained, equipped response teams that can take immediate action in case of oil spills; Baltic Sea States Co-operation Scheme for Coordinated Action and Storage of Oil Spill Prevention Equipment in Strategic Areas Close to High Risk Areas. As long as Russia is not defeated, but sails in the Baltic Sea, we must be prepared for the worst scenario.

My question is, what more can American and Chinese platforms do to continue to undermine democracy in Europe? Should they eliminate fact checking entirely or promote hate speech more aggressively, or maybe interfere more bluntly in our elections or design algorithms that expose our children to harmful content? Perhaps Elon Musk, who allegedly gave a Nazi salute twice yesterday, can convince you that it's time for strong and decisive action to stop these unhinged tech‑oligarchs.

Mr President, our children are not for sale. As parents across Europe, we must be confident that the platforms our children use are safe, not a tool for exploitation or harm. And unfortunately, TikTok failed this test. This platform bombards children with addictive algorithms and toxic content, material that would never be allowed in China, where strict time limits and educational videos protect young users. So why should European children be treated with less care? But the danger does not stop there. TikTok has become a tool for spreading disinformation, even influencing elections, as we saw in Romania. Now, TikTok has published an expensive ad in Politico, promising billions in investment for security and privacy. But trust isn't built on PR campaigns – it's built on actions, and TikTok has repeatedly failed to deliver on this front. Europe must take a stand. If TikTok refuses to respect our rules on privacy, safety and transparency, it has no place in Europe.

Madam President, dear colleagues, so Putin's goals go beyond destroying Ukraine. He seeks to break the unity of the West and destroy our values. Russia's first weapon is fear. Through arson, infrastructure attacks, cyberattacks, assassination plots and disinformation, Russia spread fear in our societies. A frightened person is easy to intimidate. The second weapon is greed. They use politicians who are willing to accept any peace on Putin's terms just to resume their personal business with Russia. A greedy person is easy to buy. We must respond to these tactics with strength, tougher sanctions, defend critical infrastructure and combat disinformation on every level. Supporting Ukraine is central to defeating this threat. But let's not keep fooling ourselves by vague and obscure terms such as hybrid threats, just so we have an excuse not to act. We must call Russia's actions by their true name: state‑sponsored terrorism.

Madam President, thank you Mr Niinistö for this report. I appreciate that it was written by President of Finland. As much of what we Latvians know about civil defence readiness, we actually learn from Finland. This is a special week for Latvians as we are not only celebrating our independence, but also remembering our freedom fighters. Our national guard has launched a new campaign called 'My Latvia. My Responsibility.' Mana Latvija. Mana atbildība. It speaks to responsibilities we have as a citizens toward our country. When I became the mayor of Riga, we introduced something entirely new to the city: an exercise on what to do in the event of a military attack. The Niinistö report calls for this type of training and exercise culture to be introduced across the EU. Most importantly, it reflects our key responsibilities ensuring that our community and institutions are resilient against any kind of threat because it's our Europe, our responsibility.

Dear Chair, Dear Members, Dear Members, The 19th century was an era of empires, the 20th century is an era of states, but in the 21st century it is cities that play a much greater role. Three quarters of Europeans live in cities. They are driven by our growth and also innovation. If there are brave leaders in the city, they take decisions faster and more efficiently than national governments. Cleaner air, lower utility bills, safer traffic and better quality of life are the goals pursued by modern, purposeful cities, so the opportunities for city dwellers to decide for themselves about their future need to be broadened. The European Union's investments must also reach cities without the intervention of governments. Governments do not always have an understanding of the needs of city dwellers, and city dwellers become hostages in government conflicts with city municipalities. More autonomy in attracting European investment would enable cities to plan and determine their own future development. Europe can only achieve its goals of economic growth and a citizen-friendly living environment by actively involving cities where both people and knowledge are concentrated.

Madam President, dear colleagues, today the people of Ukraine are showing incredible bravery in the face of brutal aggression. Hungary, like Ukraine, Latvia and other nations, suffered under the oppressive occupation of the Soviet Union – an evil empire that once dominated its neighbours. The same evil has been reborn in Russia. Nations that remember this history are standing firmly with Ukraine. However, Hungary vetoes our crucial support for Ukraine and your alliance with Putin, Mr Orbán, is weakening Europe's response. Mr Orbán, you value your unequal friendship with war criminal Putin over supporting the Ukrainian people. Or perhaps you agree with your adviser's remarks calling resistance to Russia irresponsible? Ukraine's fight is about protecting the security and values of all of Europe. The EU must stand firm in its support of Ukraine and, Mr Orbán, you must decide which side of history you want to be on.

Madam President, dear colleagues, for supporting the Belarusian people's desire to live in a free and democratic country, the Lukashenka regime has opened a crime case against me and declared me 'wanted'. Lukashenka has promised me 12 years in prison. But I am here to take every opportunity to remind you of the heroes that are the Belarusian people who are being tortured every day in Belarusian prisons under inhuman conditions. I am here to remind you that the life of Maria Kalesnikava, Sakharov Prize winner, the hero of Belarus, an outstanding European musician, is in danger. So are more than 1 400 other politically‑imprisoned Belarusians. I am here to remind you that the only way we can force Lukashenka to release them is to renew and impose new sanctions. Only the complete isolation of the Lukashenka regime can force him to release prisoners of conscience. That is why we need to push for more tougher sanctions on a European Union level, much more serious pressure. Maria Kalesnikava's sister says that Maria is being morally tortured in prison, saying that everyone has forgotten about her, that no one cares about her fate. We are all here to remind you that we care, we remember and we will fight for the freedom of Maria and all Belarusian political prisoners. Zhyve Belarus!