Debate contributions by Heléne FRITZON

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner Lahbib. Yes, when crises hit us, it is always the most vulnerable who are hit first. Women and children are the victims of brutal violence. We see it, for example, in Ukraine, where thousands, tens of thousands of children have been kidnapped. And behind every number is a child with a name and a story. A child whose hopes and dreams have been shattered. A resilient Union must therefore be prepared for more than cyber threats and sabotage. Our preparation is also about protecting lives. To ensure that those most at risk are not left alone. This is why we need to strengthen preparedness at all levels, from the EU to local communities and civil society. For a real security, it is only built together by everyone and for everyone.

Mr President, thank you very much. Europe is in a very serious situation, and I see two existential threats globally. It is about our peace and freedom and about our survival, and therefore it is about both security and our climate. The way forward is therefore that we in Europe strengthen our own security, our defence, while pursuing the green transition. It is not possible as the right wants, to now press the pause button when companies and citizens expect us to take responsibility. Today, we buy Russian gas for more money than we provide in support of Ukraine. That is totally unacceptable. We have to shut down the Russian gas crane now. It is absolutely crucial that we stick to our 2030 targets and take responsibility for a green, clean and safe planet for us and for future generations.

Thanks for the question. Your colleague sitting next to you, Timgren, was standing right in the pulpit talking about the fact that in Sweden only foreign-born men rape women. And then my question is back: Are you so naive that you do not see that there is constant oppression of girls and women's rights, regardless of which men and boys we are talking about? We have to deal with this. We must stand up for the rights of girls and women. Unfortunately, we cannot count on you in this fight. But we're gonna take it.

Madam President, thank you very much. Women's and girls' rights are under attack. In one of four countries, progress has turned into setbacks. A Roadmap for Women's Rights is a welcome step forward with several important actions, with rights that we fought for. But it is also a reminder that women's freedom is constantly being questioned. whereas the right to safe and legal abortion remains controversial in some parts of Europe; It shows that our rights cannot be taken for granted. We are without a law of consent in the EU. We also need a European law on the purchase of sex. Thousands of women and girls are left unprotected. If we keep this pace, it will take at least 60 years before we achieve gender equality in Europe. My message is crystal clear: We need to do more, here and now!

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The fact that Trump and the United States were leaving the Paris Agreement could not have come as a surprise to anyone. Trump's statement "drill, baby, drill" now affects the entire world. Fossil energy will flow and international efforts for sustainability and humanitarian action will be dismantled in the United States. This is exactly why the EU must continue to take the lead, invest in people and businesses, drive the green transition. But then the Commission's work programme presented today is not enough. We now need both strength and leadership in the EU. It is not Trump who should set the agenda for us in the EU. Last year's Green Deal campaign was a success. That path is still possible – to choose the path to the future.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. The Green Deal was a project for the future during the last parliamentary term. Then we stood together in the broad middle and the right-wing climate deniers stood outside. In my country, Sweden, the right-wing extremists went to elections to tear up climate legislation, and now we are risking it. If we reverse the green transition, we risk missing the climate targets, losing the EU’s green jobs and our industrial opportunities. If the Conservatives hook their arm with the far-right, we face a serious development. Our industry here in Europe needs long-term rules of the game, clarity and political leadership that enables us to invest in both people and companies. The EU – and this is a warning on my part – must not become the biggest threat to growth and green transition in Europe.

Madam President, President von der Leyen should be here. Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The Commission presents the most important documents of the year and the President does not have time to come to Parliament. Could it possibly be because the Commission's programme is difficult to defend today? There's a lot missing. Where did the green transition come from? Where did investments in people's health come from? And equality? Girls' and women's rights were not mentioned in a single word at the presentation. We Social Democrats want men's violence against women to become an EU crime, for the EU to have a law on consent, for the right to safe and secure abortion to be included in the Charter of Rights. We would also like you to present a Health First Act, which ensures access to medicines and strengthens our crisis preparedness, not least at a time when we need to stand strong against climate change. We've seen floods. We've seen fires. We need a plan on how to deal with this together in the EU. And we need investment. We need investment in people, investment in businesses. The Commission needs to show strength and leadership in a difficult time. So my greeting to von der Leyen is: Do it again, do it right, for the good of the EU.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. A regular Tuesday at a regular school in Sweden, a training center for adults. So this ordinary day turns into one of the darkest days in Sweden's history. A Swedish young man shoots recklessly inside a school. Han dödar tio människor, flera av dem med utländsk bakgrund. Today, after this mass murder, many people with other backgrounds in Sweden feel fear and insecurity. And it is a failure for our society, in Sweden, in Europe and in the world, when violence and division extinguish people's lives. Or as our Queen of Sweden, Queen Silvia, put it when she was in Örebro. Where did the beautiful Sweden go? Words matter. We need to know this, especially in the public debate. We all have a responsibility. Hatred and threats don't belong here. For a school, an ordinary day, it should be a place that is safe. A place that makes people's dreams of the future possible. Our thoughts are with all those affected today. The mother in Orebro who did not come home to her children. Our thoughts are with all those who were trapped in the school in fear and heard and saw shootings and blood. And for all those who did a great job of saving people's lives. We are at a time when we need to come together. So many thanks to all of you who stand with us in Sweden in our grief.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Commission and Council! 2024 was the year when we would finally get a globally binding plastics agreement. A deal that both we and our oceans so badly need, but the deal never came to fruition. Our daily lives are still filled with a lot of plastic items. Millions of tonnes of plastic end up in our environment, in our oceans every year, every day – and when we are standing here. Plastics that damage all living things and threaten human health and our ecosystems. We don't want our oceans to be rubbish dumps, do we? It's time we put a stop to it. We need to reduce the use of single-use plastics. We need to increase recycling and we need to find sustainable alternatives. We're in a hurry now. Here, the EU must show leadership for a globally binding plastics agreement - now.

Mr President, thank you very much. The Commission and the Council! In recent months, we have seen a growing threat and damage to submarine cables in the Baltic Sea. I come from Sweden, and I live with my family on the Baltic coast. We know that we are particularly vulnerable to the Russian shadow fleet, because about half of all Russian oil exports pass through our waters. This creates major environmental risks and threatens our security and infrastructure. It is also a clear example of how Russia is trying to circumvent international sanctions. We must therefore put an end to imports of Russian oil and gas going to our Member States. We've made a decision here, and we need to stop now. Finally, I also welcome measures to increase cooperation around the Baltic Sea. It is about our safety and our environment.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. 2024 was the warmest year ever. It's not just statistics, it's a reality that affects all of us here and now. Higher temperatures, heatwaves, fires, extreme weather that kills people and destroys our ecosystems. My home country, Sweden, has long been a role model when it comes to climate and the environment, but that is no longer the case. The current liberal-conservative government, which is ultimately governed by the far right in Sweden, has in a short time destroyed Sweden's reputation in climate issues. Instead of a policy that increases emissions, Sweden has gone from being the best in class to being a deterrent. This is while the EU has shown leadership in the last parliamentary term, but after the European elections we see the same development here. Here are the right-wing forces, as climate deniers, and want to tear up the whole green deal. And now we heard Trump's inaugural speech saying that they intend to leave the Paris Agreement again. We know that competitiveness and climate transition must go hand in hand if we are to increase investment, secure jobs and achieve more growth. We have no time to lose. We need to do more. My wish is that together we increase the ambitions of the 2040 targets to 95%.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. In the heart of democracy, threats and violence should never silence women. But in our neighbourhood and in candidate countries, we see female politicians being subjected to harassment and cyber violence. This is nothing more than a democratic failure. Parliaments should be role models for gender equality, not arenas for sexism. This is also the case here in the European Parliament. We Socialists, we demand immediate action from the Commission. A strengthened action plan to prevent harassment and to create safe workplaces. And we demand a zero-tolerance approach to violence and sexism. Democracy must be based on equal representation, and this requires women to be able to participate on an equal footing with men, that is, freely, safely and fully in society. Action is needed now, from the Commission.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Russia’s war against Ukraine is not just a brutal attack on a sovereign state and people. It is also an attack on the truth. Because through disinformation and falsification of history, Russia is trying to justify its vile war against Ukraine and create divisions in Europe. But we must not allow ourselves to be deceived. The story is clear. Ukraine's right to independence and freedom is unquestionable. Russian propaganda not only threatens the cause of Ukraine, but it also undermines our European values and the foundations of democracy. Resisting these lies is crucial to protecting our common future. We Social Democrats stand firm in our support for Ukraine – militarily, economically and humanitarianally. And we stand up for the fight against disinformation every day. Truth and solidarity, that's our strongest weapon. This is how we defend democracy. Together we are sending a clear message: a message of freedom, truth and justice. It will always triumph over oppression, lies and aggression. It shows the story. There must come a day for Ukraine's freedom and our peace in Europe. Slava Ukraini!

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Children are not just our future – they are our present. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child has changed children's lives. In my Sweden, the Convention on the Rights of the Child is Swedish law, but major challenges remain. Today, one in four children in the EU is at risk of poverty. It means lack of good health, schooling and meaningful leisure time. One child in four – this is completely unacceptable. We can't close our eyes. There are things we can do, there are things we should do, and there are things we need to do. We have the responsibility and the tools to create societies where all children have equal opportunities and where their rights are always respected, both in real life and online. It is our duty, both now and for the future. Those of us who own the decisions must take that responsibility.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your The next five years here in the European Parliament will certainly be a challenge, as is already apparent in the run-up to today's election of the Commission. It is a provocation that President von der Leyen is proposing a far-right candidate from Italy to be her Vice-President. We risk a weaker Commission than the previous one. For us Swedish Social Democrats, it is crucial that the moderate and conservative forces stand by their promises to us when we now choose to take responsibility and support the Commission, because together we choose broad cooperation in the broad middle with pro-European parties. We do it for democracy and security, for the climate and the environment. We do it for jobs and equality. We need a strong Europe that continues to take leadership in a time of war and crisis, and we are doing it for the future of our children and grandchildren. Now it is up to the incoming Commission to prove it.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. One in three women in the world suffers physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. This is not news, yet we are not doing enough to put an end to this. Orange Day It is therefore an important day in which we pay attention to this pandemic of violence. The EU has taken important steps forward. The historic first law against men's violence against women, in which my colleague Evin Incir was the negotiator, is important. But that is not enough to combat this violence. We need to have a consent law in place across the EU that states that sex must take place voluntarily. In addition, we see how girls and women are subjected to violence when there is war. Rape and sexual assault have become a weapon of war. We Social Democrats want to add men's violence against women to the list of EU crimes. And we Social Democrats intend to take the fight and be at the forefront of making Europe a safe place for all girls and women. We hear in here that we need to fight the far-right parties, which are failing when it comes to girls' and women's rights. It's time to look our daughters in the eye and say: "We do it!" We intend to take responsibility for their safety.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. The green transition is not just about industry becoming sustainable, vehicles becoming environmentally friendly and households becoming waste sorting experts. We must also invest in our own skills. The knowledge gap can be fatal at a critical time. If the EU wants to take real responsibility for the green transition, we need to continue to raise our ambitions and increase investment. I welcome Draghi's report. More people need the opportunity to transform their lives, educate themselves and contribute to a sustainable future. But this should also apply to all women in Europe. One third of women in Europe today do not have a job of their own. If we are to face the future and increase skills, green transition and gender equality must go hand in hand.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your In Sweden, we are particularly vulnerable to the Russian shadow fleet. I live on the coast of the Baltic Sea myself, and we know that about half of all Russian oil exports are made through our waters by old and rusty ships. In order to conceal the origin of oil, it is often transferred between vessels on the high seas. There are major risks that can lead to environmentally hazardous emissions. Yet EU Member States continue to buy Russian oil, thus endangering both our environment and our security. We have to deal with dependence on Russian oil, because the more we buy, the bigger Putin's war chest will be. This is both about our environment and about ending Putin's war in Ukraine. Let us, together in the EU, be clear and put an end to Russian oil – and do it now.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your We know that in Poland the right to abortion has been dismantled step by step, and today it is practically forbidden for girls and women to have a legal and safe abortion. We know that it also affects women where pregnancy is the result of rape. This is completely absurd. We Social Democrats have always defended the right to abortion and we will continue to be a driving force in this matter. That women should have the right to their own bodies should be a matter of course in our modern times and in the European Union. Here in the EU, we need to ensure that the right to safe and legal abortion is protected in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This is not one of many political issues. It is, in fact, a matter of life and death, of dignity and freedom for girls and women. Abortion is a human right.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. There is increasing evidence that social media has a very negative impact on young people's well-being and health. Platforms are now a natural part of their everyday lives, and the negative consequences can no longer be ignored. Eternal scrolling and excessive screen time creates an addiction that affects young people's mental health. We also see how children and young people are exposed to harmful and extreme content on social media. It can be about young girls who get intrusive advertising about makeup or anti-wrinkle creams. Or even worse: This may involve children who are bullied, sexually abused or recruited into gang crime online. The European Commission therefore needs to identify the practices that make social media addictive and act vigorously against them. We already have certain rules, such as television advertising aimed at young people, and now it is time for us to do the same with social media. It is about the health and well-being of our young people. They have to come first. This is what their future is all about.

Madam President, I would like to thank you for your Hungary's presidency began with Viktor Orban shaking hands with Vladimir Putin. The same Orban then called on Ukraine to surrender. Mr. Orban, this is a betrayal of the whole of Europe and it is a betrayal of our common values. At a time when democracy is being challenged by authoritarian leaders and far-right forces, Europe must stand united. Ukraine's struggle is also our struggle. My grandmother has told me about 1956, when Swedish families stood in the harbour welcoming Hungarian refugees. Then we stood up for Hungary and now we stand up for Ukraine. But Viktor Orban instead plays into Putin's hands and jeopardizes everyone's safety. This is a disgrace to the whole of Europe.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Commissioner Dalli. In our Europe, thousands of women are killed by their partner or ex-partner. whereas one in three women in the EU has experienced violence, and half of all women have experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15; Behind each figure is a woman, a mother, a sister, a girl, a daughter. How many more women and girls will have to die before we act? We can't wait another day; Violence must end. Recently, we adopted a directive to combat men's violence against women, which was negotiated by my colleague Evin Incir. Each Member State must now assume its responsibilities. We need to move from words to action. We have no time to lose. Thank you very much, Helena Dalli, our Commissioner for Gender Equality, for all the commitment you have shown over these years to eliminating violence and increasing gender equality.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Climate change is here. No one can deny it. People are affected by floods, water shortages and forest fires. For our farmers, also in my Sweden, the effects have been particularly noticeable in recent years. Droughts and floods have led to reduced crop yields. For many farmers, this means an uncertain future with reduced incomes and increased vulnerability. But it's not just about financial losses. It is about our food supply, our countryside and the future of our local communities. The EU's agricultural policy must therefore be part of the solution. We need to support our farmers to reduce emissions, invest in climate-smart farming practices and ensure sustainable water management. That's the only way we can face the future and leave a healthy planet to our children and grandchildren.