Speeches

Madam President, thank you very much. As a former truck driver and MEP, I am extremely proud to be able to share my experience and improve the EU transport sector. In 2018, I led the previous directive on driving licences, with innovations in education and practical measures such as increasing B licences to 4,250 kg for electric vehicles, teaching the assembly of snow chains and the establishment of an EU register to detect false driving licences. These efforts have led to a significant reduction in road deaths in the EU. This is an achievement that we can be proud of. Initially, I had serious concerns about this revision of the directive, led by the Greens, when the proposals aimed solely at frontal attacking SUVs and young drivers. A specific SUV licence and a maximum speed of 90 kilometres per hour for new drivers were proposed. Fortunately, we managed to keep the focus on road safety during the negotiations. This is a wonderful result that also shows how valuable practical experience is in the political decision-making process.

Mr President, thank you very much. In 2035, gasoline and diesel were banned. It's totally headless. And it's the same mistake that Germany and other countries made on the energy issue where they shut down clean nuclear power and now they have to evict people from villages to dig up coal that they need to produce the electricity. And the electricity is now so expensive that people are forced to leave their homes even though they are sitting and freezing indoors. How do you think these people will be able to buy an electric car and how can they afford to charge it with current electricity prices? In addition, we do not have the natural resources required to manufacture the amount of batteries that you electric car fanatics believe is the solution to all problems. Lithium, cobalt and so on. The world's known reserves of these minerals are around 10% of the estimated need. What's wrong with you? Why do you think we should be able to switch to electric cars, when we do not have the natural resources to do so?

Madam President, thank you very much. The Swedish Presidency is on time. People in Europe are seriously concerned. We are facing a series of crises: housing situations, border controls, the war between Russia and Ukraine, but also that fuel and electricity prices are soaring for ordinary people. Inventiveness is and has been very important for Sweden's future, and we will in many ways be an example for other countries. But most importantly – the Swedish government also shows that cooperation is extremely important. Collaboration between different groups and political colours – this is exactly what makes it possible to reach a population with different views and achieve a majority. It should be done more often in this house too – to let the Swedish government set an example, to listen to each other and to learn from each other. In fact, everyone here has been democratically elected. Some in this house have a skewed view of democracy. Their political ideas consist mostly of accusations and smears when they do not get what they want. I wish Mr Kristersson's Government the best of luck and success with the Presidency.