Speeches

Madam President, thank you very much. Imagine a pandemic strikes with full force. Imagine that a vaccine is being developed and that vaccinations are taking off. Imagine that the majority of the population in parts of the world is fully vaccinated. But imagine now that you live in a poor country where only 5% – and I repeat: 5% – received its first dose. This is not an imaginary example. This is a crass reality. This is what it looks like, if we just look at Africa for example, in our vicinity. No one is safe until everyone is safe. These words are beginning to sound like a cliché, but it is imperative that we continue to repeat this sentence and, above all, that we act. The pandemic is on the rise again and despite the fact that we have secured important vaccines, vaccination rates are uneven and unequal, including in our EU. That is why we and our Member States must ensure that more people are vaccinated, both inside and outside the Union. We need to do more to ensure that all countries have access to vaccines. Equal access to vaccines is our best hope for slowing down the pandemic and saving lives. It is about acting in solidarity, preventing health consequences and mitigating the negative consequences for our economy. Today, we are going to ask ourselves the question 'How can the whole world be vaccinated?' As a Democrat, my answer is clear: Political will is required. It requires that we show solidarity and that we dare to make courageous and smart decisions that put equality and gender equality in focus. I repeat: No one is safe until everyone is safe.

Mr President, thank you very much. Coordination on EU measures to address the COVID-19 outbreak was already on the agenda in March 2020, when the European Council met. It now reads "Coordination of measures in the context of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the EU". Yes, it is on the agenda today, 20 months later, but the discussion is as important now as it was then. Now the number of cases is rising across Europe, but there is a big difference in the discussion from March 2020 and to the discussions we have now, because over 20 months the institutions and the Member States have increased their knowledge and in the EU we have a common vaccine in place. We must now show that we are taking responsibility, and it is critical that we take advantage of the lessons we have learned. Our focus will continue to be on curbing the spread of infection. We will protect life, health and jobs. Vaccination is an important part of this. Each individual must assume his or her responsibilities and each Member State must do itss. The EU must take advantage of the lessons learned about the importance of coordination and cooperation. It's critical. We can only solve this together and now we must continue to act.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. Since the introduction of the abortion ban in Poland, tens of thousands of pregnant women and girls have been affected. An abortion ban not only threatens people's health and well-being. It threatens people's freedom, dignity and empowerment. Sexual and reproductive health is a fundamental part of the health and well-being of all people. It's about being able to choose if, when and with whom you want to have children. It is about the right to safe care. It is about empowerment and sexuality. It is about equality and equal relations. Poland's abortion ban violates women's basic human rights, and it is contrary to the principles of the rule of law. We cannot wait for more anniversaries of this terrible law. Because women's and girls' rights are human rights.

Madam President, the Commission and the Council! This debate is about solidarity and about people's lives and health. Global access to vaccines is crucial to tackle the pandemic, and it is in everyone’s interest. The EU must act decisively to ensure global access. We need to help others and fight the pandemic in the world. In discussions on pandemics and vaccines, global access needs to be raised much more clearly. The Council will also discuss migration. Europe does not have a day to lose. It requires all Member States to stand up for a responsible migration policy. But I would also like to mention the point that is not on the agenda of this week's meeting. This is about Poland. Yesterday we listened to the Prime Minister of Poland. A terrifying speech that once again shows that decision-makers in Poland do not respect what our cooperation is based on. We Social Democrats expect the Council to give priority to this issue. We expect all Member States to stand up for our common values, for the rule of law and for the human rights of women and LGBTIQ people. We all have a responsibility and we cannot allow exceptions. We have a lot of tools. The conditionality mechanism is one. It is time for the Commission and the Council to push hard.

Mr President, thank you very much. Madam President, thank you very much. Mr. Prime Minister! Your speech today scares me. Because we have our fundamental values in the EU of freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights. Everyone should be able to control their own body. Everyone should be able to be themselves and love whoever they want. It should be self-evident throughout our Europe, because our Union rests on the rule of law. Poland has joined the EU and approved the treaty. Poland has thus also agreed to play according to the common rules of the game. It is your job as Prime Minister to ensure that it actually does. This means that Poland, like everyone else, must respect the human rights of women and LGBTIQ people. It is high time that the Commission acted and that Poland followed our common rules, for the sake of the Polish people.

Mr President, thank you very much. Imagine that you are the parent of a 14-year-old daughter. She's been raped and it turns out she's pregnant. She doesn't want to complete the pregnancy, but because of the law where you live, your daughter can't decide for herself. Imagine you are 30 years old. You are married, have children and become pregnant. You do not want to pursue this pregnancy, but because of the law in which you live, you are not allowed to decide for yourself. Abortion that is forbidden means that you have no opportunity to make your own decision. Whether you are 14 or 30 years old, regardless of your life situation or reason, it must be each individual's right to decide over their own body. Today we are going to vote on a resolution condemning the abortion law in the state of Texas in the United States. They have a law that prohibits abortion from the sixth week of pregnancy, a ban that also applies to those who have become pregnant through rape or incest. Let me be clear. Abortion bans do not prevent abortions. However, this results in more unsafe and often fatal abortions. Abortion is best prevented by full access to sex and relationship education and modern contraception, because it is about knowledge and information and access to sexual and reproductive rights. Today we were reached by the news that the federal judge has temporarily stopped the law. That is good, but it will be appealed, so our resolution is very important. I would like to thank all of you who have contributed in the negotiations and in various ways to this important resolution. Now we in the EU can decide that every human being has the right to decide over his or her own body.

Madam President, thank you very much. Pandemics and health threats will continue to be part of our future. COVID-19 is not over and new crises are emerging. We cannot prevent future health crises from coming, but we can coordinate our efforts to prevent and manage these threats. We can take advantage of lessons learned. We can support the research, development and production of critical products. We can mobilize tools and resources. To achieve this, coordination is needed, with all stakeholders involved in the coordination. There must be conditions for cooperation between EU bodies and national and international counterparts. It is therefore regrettable that the European Parliament is not fully part of HERA coordination. We in the S&D Group support the strengthening of HERA's mandate, but we call for higher and greater ambition and for the European Parliament to have a role. This is necessary to ensure appropriate tools for identifying, developing and procuring measures to respond to future crises. HERA is an important part of the European Health Union. It will be a central authority in the work to prevent, detect and respond quickly to health risks. This work must be well coordinated, with all parties fully contributing to strengthening resilience and the EU’s crisis preparedness. For it is now that we must take responsibility, as we learn from a pandemic. We must do it for the benefit of the citizens and we must do it within the European Union.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner Dalli! Yes, every child has the right to a safe and loving childhood. No child should be subjected to or experience violence, abuse or offensive treatment. When we talk about men's violence against women and about parents who practice violence, we must always have a child's perspective. When a parent takes the step of leaving a violent partner, there must be protection for the children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child is clear. Article 3: ‘In all decisions concerning children, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration’ and Article 12: ‘Children have the right to express their opinion and be heard on all matters concerning the child’. We need to ensure stronger protection for children against parents who have used violence. This is how we work in Sweden, and I want us to do that throughout the EU, because the best interests of the child should always come first.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. I would like to reiterate the most important sentence of the evening: One in three women in the EU has been subjected to violence. That is the equivalent of more than 90 women in this House. Every time a man exposes a woman to violence is once too much, and this must be stopped. The EU must act vigorously. This week we have a chance. We are voting on a report that can serve as a basis for making gender-based violence an EU crime. We – each of us in here – can stand up for the fundamental values of the EU. It is about demanding human rights. Women's rights are human rights. We are writing in 2021. Let us stand up for all women and men, girls and boys, in all their diversity, to live a life free from violence. Vote for this!

Mr President, thank you very much. Thank you, President von der Leyen, for your speeches and important promises! Freedom and security, equality and gender equality, a green and sustainable Europe, where people can have confidence in the future. Yes, that is how we social democrats describe the world we want to live in. If we are to achieve that, it is high time for the EU to accelerate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change shows that the climate situation is more serious than we thought, and that it is man who is the cause. The European Institute for Gender Equality predicts that it will take more than 60 years before the EU is on an equal footing if we do not raise our ambitions. My granddaughter, who is seven years old and has started school, should not have to wait until she is 67 before Europe becomes equal. We're in a hurry. We need a faster climate transition with more green jobs for all. Today, one in three women in the EU does not have a job of their own. We must strengthen social Europe and give real priority to gender equality and equality. A directive against violence against women must be in place to enable women to live their lives free from violence. We need to make sure that all Member States stand up for our common values – otherwise: no money. Freedom and security, equality and equality. I want to see a green and sustainable Europe, where people can have confidence in the future. Then we must act now!

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. After all, increasing digitalisation means that the platform economy is growing, and it is becoming an increasingly important part of our European economy. It opens up new opportunities, but unfortunately there are many examples of abuse and precarious conditions. The rules and standards in force in the labour market are being circumvented, which is totally unacceptable. The starting point must be to counteract all forms of social dumping. Regardless of where and how a job is performed, our employees should be given good and equal conditions. This is the only way free movement can work. In my country, Sweden, we have collective agreements that regulate platform workers. I see how important this is. I know and understand that action is needed at EU level to tackle cross-border problems. At the same time, it is clear that this must always be done in respect of the national labour market models that prove to be working well.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. When the pandemic broke out, it became clear that the EU did not have the necessary tools to deal with a pandemic. In some cases, the tools were available, but they were not used in the best possible way. We have faced tough challenges, and no one could be prepared. Now we know more. We know what a global pandemic can mean and what demands it places on the EU, on our Member States and on our citizens. We also have a common vaccine strategy. At the same time, we also know that there is much that we do not know. We can't predict everything, but we can prepare too much. We can prepare for future pandemics and challenges. I believe that the EU should take responsibility for the shortcomings that have become apparent during the pandemic and the knowledge gaps that we have seen. We in the S&D Group see that we need a stronger Europe. We need to harness knowledge and data to effectively prevent, prepare and act. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has played an important role during the pandemic in providing scientific advice, which is good. However, data from Member States are rarely standardised or comparable. It is therefore important that we now take another step to strengthen this work. There is a need for more coordination between EU bodies, between national and international counterparts. Tackling the current pandemic and addressing future threats to human health will be crucial for our future. We need good EU coordination and joint preparedness for the future. In fact, our citizens in the European Union expect this, and it is also, in order to take the step fully, important for the people of the whole world.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commissioner, thank you very much. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly demonstrated the importance of strengthening our collective preparedness and response capabilities. We need to build on the experience of the pandemic and create a balanced and effective structure within the EU, so that we are better equipped for the future. The citizens of Europe expect it from us. From that perspective, it is perfectly reasonable and logical to also strengthen the European Medicines Agency, to enable it to act more quickly, more safely and in a more coordinated manner in crisis situations. It is about supporting and preventing shortages of critical medicines and medical devices. But it is also about developing medicines more quickly to combat the diseases that cause a crisis. That is why I welcome the Commission's proposal to strengthen the role and mandate of the European Medicines Agency. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Casares for his excellent work on the report. The pandemic has shown that the Authority did not have a strong enough mandate or resources, and this must not happen again. It is therefore good that the report highlights and strengthens preventive measures, as well as that we highlight the role of health professionals and the importance of good cooperation between different EU agencies. A stronger EMA means better opportunities for the EU to address future challenges and pandemics, which is why we hope from the S&D Group that we can adopt this regulation as soon as possible. We need it now and our Member States need it.

Mr President, thank you very much. Commissioner. On Monday, I travelled to Strasbourg with my new COVID certificate. This became possible after a rapid procedure in Parliament to safeguard freedom of movement in Europe. Now we make it easier for EU citizens to travel more safely – for work, family, friends or holidays. The urgent work to get the certificates in place was important and it is gratifying that millions of people now have access to their certificates. But at the same time I see with some concern the figures relating to acceptance and willingness to vaccinate. A survey carried out in the EU in May shows that one in five citizens does not intend to get vaccinated at all this year. The COVID Certificate is an important proof that you have been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered. But it is also important that we ensure that all citizens have full access to reliable and accurate information about why it is good and important to get vaccinated. Vaccinations are very important and we always say this: No one is safe until everyone is safe. I would therefore like to ask the Commission: What initiatives will the Commission take to ensure that all EU citizens are properly informed about the importance of vaccination?

Madam President, thank you very much. The Commission and the Council! As a Social Democrat, I would like to talk today about the point that was not on the formal agenda of the European Council meeting. I want to talk about the fundamental values of human equality, about the rule of law and that it is totally unacceptable that we have Member States that are violating them. The latest: the Hungarian Government, which introduces a new law violating LGBTIQ+ people and the fundamental values of the EU; This should then be a priority on the Council's agenda. whereas the Hungarian Government has attacked academic freedom, press freedom and civil society; It refuses to ratify the Istanbul Convention, and Orban repeatedly violates LGBTIQ people. Time passes without concrete EU action. The conditioning mechanism must begin to be used. The President, Ursula von der Leyen, has expressed that she will use all the powers of the Commission to ensure this. However, these measures now need to be specified. Now they must be implemented. Now Europe must once and for all protect fundamental rights, our democracy and our common values.

Madam President, thank you very much. Commission, Prime Minister. In March, the Commission presented its annual report on gender equality in the EU. The report explains that the pandemic has exacerbated gender inequalities in almost all areas of life, both in Europe and beyond. The results relating to gender equality achieved through many years of hard work have been nullified. This is exactly how the Commission writes. When gender equality goes backwards, it affects the fundamental rights of both women and girls. It also affects the EU economy and the conditions for building a strong and sustainable Europe. But it's not just gender equality that's affected. Across Europe, we see how our fundamental rights, our democracy and our common values are being attacked. The latest, Hungary's new law violating the rights of LGBTIQ people, is a frightening example. EU values, we know them so well, are characterised by inclusion, tolerance, justice, solidarity and gender equality. Yes, Europe is at a critical time and we cannot afford to put any of these issues on hold. So now that Slovenia is taking over the presidency, work on gender equality, the rule of law, democracy and our common values must continue. And I want to hear that Prime Minister Janša stands up for that.