Debate contributions by Evin INCIR

Mr President, every misuse of taxpayers' money is essentially theft. Viktor Orbán, the leader of the far right in Europe, is one of the biggest ones. The European Commission is currently withholding … So are the colleagues going to be silent or am I allowed to continue? (The President asked for silence in the room) Every misuse of taxpayers' money is essentially theft. Viktor Orbán, the leader of the far right in Europe, is one of the biggest ones. The European Commission is currently withholding many billions in EU funds from Hungary due to rule of law and corruption concerns. This is corruption. Anti‑democrats remain anti‑democrats. Transparency and accountability are their greatest enemies. Their shamelessness knows no bounds, even extending to spying on investigators from the EU Anti‑Fraud Office, OLAF. Those who misuse public funds and target our anti‑corruption agencies also attempt to demonise the cornerstone of democracy: civil society. A vibrant civil society is a vital pillar of healthy democracies, which explains why Orbán is attacking it. Let us also not forget the baseless allegations against important international organisations like UNWRA. Democracy is currently in jeopardy.

Madam President, today the far‑right Israeli Government shamelessly approved a plan to unlawfully seize full control over Gaza and escalate its brutal assault on the civilian population. Since 7 October 2023, over 50 000 people have been killed. While the Israeli Government violates international law day after day, the EU keeps staying silent. We are supposed to prevent historical atrocities from happening again. These atrocities must also include those happening against the Palestinians. International law is not cherry‑picking. The European Union's passivity reflects a profound moral failure and is damaging the Union's reputation on the global stage. Madam President, on behalf of the S&D Group, I urge you to condemn this unlawful decision made by the far‑right government in Israel and do that on behalf of the whole European Parliament, recognise it as a breach of international law, and also acknowledge that it is time to terminate the EU‑Israel Association Agreement. For how much longer will the Union remain complicit in these war crimes that are taking place?

Mr President, one hundred and ten years have passed since one of the darkest chapters in human history – a genocide that killed and deported millions, with people mass murdered and families destroyed. One of those families was my own great‑grandfather's. Many survivors were scattered across the Middle East, Europe and the world, carrying a grief that has pierced through generations. This is not a distant memory. It is a wound still felt today. Yet even now, nationalistic and autocratic forces, most notably in Turkey, seek to deny this truth. Denials do not erase history; it deepens the pain. We will never forget the Armenian Genocide and we will commemorate its victims each year in this Parliament. There is still much work to do on memory and reconciliation. The steps taken in recent years, like building memorial sites in cities such as Diyarbakır, must continue. Let us ensure the truth prevails and justice, however delayed, is never silenced. The genocide must be recognised everywhere and by everyone.

Mr President, since the Jin, Jiyan, Azadi, Women, Life, Freedom uprising in 2022, the regime has escalated its repression. Iran now holds the highest per capita executions rate globally. While the Iranian regime aims to install fear through its policies, it has only galvanised the resolve of those advocating for equality and fundamental rights. We have as a responsibility as the EU to support these brave individuals and to take actions. The EU must unite to secure the release of all political prisoners. Our EU citizens deserve to return home. And every and each Iranian deserves the right to live in democracy, freedom and equality. As this brutal regime continues its violence and the EU does only the bare minimum. Commissioner, when will the EU classify the IRGC as a terrorist organisation? This is something we have asked for for over two years now, and I know that sometimes there are challenges, but I think also if there is a will, there is a way.

Madam President, I am an unwavering ally of the LGBTIQ community. LGBTIQ rights are human rights, but what I am not is an ally to those who cling to regressive ideologies, such as Viktor Orbán and his ilk, who embody a medieval mentality that seeks to fight progress. Those of you in here that support him, you should be ashamed. The recent legislation aimed at banning Budapest Pride and all public LGBTIQ events is nothing less than an assault on fundamental human rights. It is a deliberate act to silence voices that demand dignity and respect and to install a culture of fear in the heart of those who dare to love and be themselves. The right to love, to express oneself and to assemble freely are not mere privileges granted by the state. They are non-negotiable freedoms etched into every fabric of our humanity. There is no difference between Orbán and the Taliban leaders in Afghanistan and the mullahs in Iran.

Madam President, a new debate, a new watered-down title. Let's see what Elvis Presley said: 'Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't going away.' Let's talk about the Israeli far-right government: an ICC arrest warrant on Prime Minister Netanyahu; over 50 000 people killed in Gaza in just the last 1.5 years – over 70 % women and children; war crimes committed; crimes against humanity; sexual and gender-based violence. On 23 March, Israel killed 50 healthcare workers and threw them into mass graves. Starvation is being used as a weapon through banning the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. But hey, the crimes seem to not be enough for the EU to act – to act in accordance with our own values. Let me remind everybody about the respect for human rights and democratic principle constituting the basis of Article 2 in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. What does the Commission and the Member States do? Nothing. You know what that's called? Hypocrisy.

Well, I think most everyday people know that blue is blue, red is red, yellow is yellow, so it should be very, very clear what is misinformation and disinformation. And in the end also this discussion is about Radio Free Europe and the protection of journalism. And journalism is the ground foundation of strong democracies. If we cannot see that, I don't think we can call ourselves democrats.

Mr President, Trump has made it clear that he doesn't care about free and independent media. I'm not surprised that there are people in here that are making themselves his useful idiots, but I'm ashamed. In an era of disinformation, hybrid warfare and democratic backsliding, the protection of independent media is not just important, it is one of the last lines of defence against authoritarianism. Truth is under attack by the far right and authoritarian regimes that seek to spread their false and dangerous narratives, to polarise, to silence, to dissent and to destroy public trust. Without independent journalism, citizens cannot make informed decisions about their future and their leaders. The EU and all our Member States should be ready and must be ready to step in to secure the future of Radio Free Europe. There should be no doubt that we stand ready to defend free, independent and democratic media. When the US abandons this vital institution, then Europe must take responsibility, because the fight for press freedom is a fight for democracy.

Madam President, democracy must be defended and developed always, all the time. In the past 25 years, we have witnessed the trend towards autocratisation, to the point where seven out of ten persons globally now live in undemocratic countries. It is a global crisis we are talking about. It often starts with a with hate speech and attack on freedom of speech. We see this trend all across the world, including in the US, in the EU, and even in my own country, Sweden, we can see how hate speech from representatives from some political parties has increased. These undemocratic forces wear different masks, but their ideological roots are the same – same-same, different names. What is even more concerning are those who compromise with these forces, normalising them and becoming dependent on them. Undemocratic forces should not be tolerated. We must build a firewall against them. To the EPP Group here in the European Parliament and across the EU: yes, I'm talking to you. Wake up. Join the right side of history and stop bending for these forces.

Madam President, colleagues, I am ashamed of the corruption scandals after corruption scandals. Robust institutions and clear regulations are essential for maintaining strong democracies. At the heart of that is transparency, which ensures credibility and accountability. A troubling example is the President of the Commission's ongoing refusal to disclose her text messages with the CEO of a pharmaceutical company regarding the COVID-19 vaccine purchases. It is therefore perplexing that the Commission withdrew the regulation on public access to documents without offering an alternative. Additionally, the recent corruption scandals involving Huawei is a direct assault on democracy and a disrespect to European voters. This underscored the urgent need for the ethic body that we Social Democrats and other groups have been advocating for. But I cannot understand why any group would oppose it. I can understand that the far right do not care about democracy, but it is a shame that the EPP is opposing this ethic body. For those who value democracy, transparency should be a fundamental principle. Let's put an end to impunity!

I just wanted to ask our colleague a question. First and foremost, we are not talking about surrogacy, because on the issue of surrogacy I can subscribe to that – I also see it as a human trafficking use of women's body. We're not talking about surrogacy. What we're talking about is children who already have two parents and they are of the same sex. This could be in different ways: adoption is one way and there are other different ways, but they do exist today. What are we going to do with them? Are we going to deprive children who already exist today, who have parents who are of the same sex? Deprive their parents because they move from one country to the other? Because right now, freedom of movement doesn't apply to all our citizens.

Madam President, the question of whether we should adopt the parenthood regulation to ensure the families can stay together, no matter where they choose to live in our Union, shouldn't even be up for debate. This should have been approved a long time ago – yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, two years ago. Let's clarify this: we have the freedom of movement for goods, services, capital and people in the EU. Article 21 of the EU Treaty states, 'Every citizen of the Union shall have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of all the Member States'. Similarly, Article 45 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights affirms, 'Every citizen of the Union has the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States'. So what is the far right doing here today? The only correct answer is that you are doing an exercise in homophobia and an attempt to deprive children of their parents. Commissioner, the worst part, I must say, is that, at a time when we need to strengthen protection against far-right hate, the Commission has chosen to withdraw the proposal for the EU anti-discrimination directive – I must say that that is very disappointing. But now let us ensure we can adopt a piece of legislation that would let families be families, regardless of where they move in our Union.

Madam President, colleagues, I am T-I-R-E-D, tired! Session after session, we are taking note of the horrific situation in Gaza. But my question is when are we going to do something about it? If I feel this tired about words remaining words, imagine how the people of Gaza are feeling right now. Family members murdered, mutilated, traumatised, electricity cut and threats to halt all humanitarian aid entering Gaza and using starvation as a weapon against innocent Palestinians. I have seen it with my own eyes when I visited Rafah in Egypt three weeks ago, how children being mutilated and how the Israeli right-wing government refused to let basic humanitarian aid enter. And don't forget the Israeli annexation of the West Bank that is taking place right now. Colleagues, Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict, refusing to move to the next phase of the ceasefire. To all colleagues still defending the Israeli far-right government, what more do you want Netanyahu to do before enough is enough? Take off your political blinders. Wasn't it some of you who said all lives matters when we were discussing racism in EU? So what about the Palestinians' lives? Aren't they a part of all of us? International law is not cherry picking.

Mr President, Commissioner, it is crucial that we cultivate strength. Recent global events, from the aggression of the dictator Putin to Trump's approach in the US, remind us of the urgent need for unity within the EU. It is astonishing to find ourselves discussing the impact of both Putin and a US President in the same breath, but a fact is a fact. For the sake of future generations, we must invest in our industries, in our defence, in infrastructure and cybersecurity capacity, ensuring our societies are robust and resilient. Moreover, we must broaden our alliance beyond the traditional transatlantic relations. While the partnership with the US is still important, Europe should also strengthen ties with states like the UK, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, India, Japan and countries across Africa. The future of global security, of course, depends on our strength, but it also depends on our cooperation with states with shared values and interests.

Madam President, it is absurd that a person or a state can even think the thought that it should deprive children of their fundamental right to their parent. The refusal to fully recognise parenthood across Member States is rooted in homophobia. It is not protecting children; it is actually harming children. The hatred against the LGBTI community doesn't belong in a modern society. Conservatives and the far right here in the EU: your echo that children should be deprived their fundamental right to their parents are the same words that are being said by the mullahs in Iran and by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Children have the right to be protected from the far-right hatred, not from their parents!

Mr President, democracy is not Erdoğan's strongest suit. When he came to power in 2002, many hoped for positive change in a country that had long struggled with issues of democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for all its citizens. Unfortunately, the opposite has occurred. One glaring example is the government's practice of replacing democratically elected mayors with appointed trustees. A direct assault on the core principles of local democracy, particularly targeting the Kurdistan region. Since the 2024 local elections, eight mayors from the pro-Kurdish party and two from CHP have been dismissed, replacing with Erdoğan's puppets. To address this, judicial reforms are urgently needed to abolish the trustee system. The stalling of peace dialogue between Erdoğan and PKK leader Öcalan further underscores the government's unwillingness to solve this long standing conflict peacefully. To move forward, it is essential to release all political prisoners, including reinstalling all dismissed mayors, and to urgently resume the Kurdish peace process. We urge the EU High Representative to impose sanctions against Turkish officials who accept the role of government trustees and those who nominate them.

Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, what I should have brought with me is a sign that reads 'Missing Person: High Representative Kaja Kallas', as this is the second session we are discussing the Middle East and she has not been a part of the discussions. The Middle East is at a crossroads in many ways: Gaza is at risk of being occupied by a new force, the US under Trump. Yes, you heard me correctly: Trump's attempt to expel Palestinians from Gaza and take control is effectively replacing one occupying power, Israel, with another occupying power, the US, all while the Palestinian people are suffering, and this is a violation of international law. Meanwhile, Syria has rid itself of its brutal dictator and has a new power in place. However, the future remains uncertain as we cannot realistically consider HTS a democratic force, given their history. Turkey is attacking the Kurds in the Rojava region, it is risking to put ISIS on our streets. At the same time, in Turkey, the negotiations are taking place between the Turkish Government and the PKK leader, Öcalan. For the first time in a long time, the prospects seem positive for a resolution on the Kurdish issue and for a democratic Turkey. Development in Turkey will undoubtedly impact also Syria. Where is the HR/VP? A silent voice is not a voice at all.

Mr President, 'Nunca más', 'never again', became the rallying slogan for justice, truth and accountability in Argentina and across Latin America in the 1980s. The transitional justice movements that followed across the world have proven a fundamental truth: no society can achieve peace without confronting the legacies of political violence and human rights violations. After 54 years of authoritarian rule and 14 years of brutal conflict, Syria remains scarred by enforced disappearance, torture and mass graves. Tens of thousands are still missing, families are left without answers, and communities are searching for closure. The European Union must remain at the forefront of transitional justice efforts in Syria. The work of the UN accountability mechanism and the UN's missing persons institution will be essential in this process and deserves all our full support. Truth and accountability are the strongest defence against renewed authoritarianism and impunity.

Colleagues, let's see if you could do this brain exercise: put migration and migrants aside instead of constantly blaming everything on migration and migrants. Do you think that it is correct that your friends in the Sweden Democrats, for example, do nothing in order to put the money where it should be: in the schools and the preventive works? Do you think that it is OK that your colleagues in the Sweden Democrats, for example, do nothing to ensure that the criminal gangs cannot take our taxpayers' money through running welfare businesses? The privatisation business has gone too far in Sweden without them doing anything.

Madam President, politics must join forces across party lines to break the cycle of violence. This painful reality is the reason why I decided to engage in politics 25 years ago. Since then, the situation has unfortunately only worsened. More children have become both victims and perpetrators to violence. Last year alone, 44 people lost their lives to shootings, and, alarmingly, the number of children under 15 suspected of involvement in murder cases surged by 200 % in comparison to the year before in Sweden. Just in the first month of this year, we witnessed 33 bombings. The perpetrators are nowadays so young that the term 'child soldiers' has become a buzzword. Gang violence is creeping down in age, instilling fear in our neighbourhoods and robbing children of their childhood. No one should wake up to a sound of a bomb, instead of a gentle ring of a clock. And let's be clear – no one is born a child soldier. Our actions as lawmakers matter. The current Swedish right‑wing and far‑right Government looks to Denmark's hard gang laws – like visitation zones and harsh penalties – but neglects the essential ingredient of Denmark's success: social investments in schools and communities. A school that provides every child with the opportunity to succeed is our most powerful weapon against gang recruitment. It is also absurd that criminals in 2025 can start businesses and exploit the Swedish welfare system, while the parties in government and their supporters in Sweden Democrats are watching. Where is the crisis commission that we have asked for? Also, the EU has an important role in putting an end to the cross‑border gang crime, which poses a serious threat to all our Member States. According to Europol, 70 % of gangs in the EU operate in at least three countries simultaneously. I'm glad that the conservative EPP Group has woken up and realised the importance of acting, but yet they have only presented what they call 'European security pact against organised crime', which is more or less a copy paste of former Commissioner Ylva Johansson's 'EU roadmap to fight organised crime and drug trafficking'. Instead of creating new titles on existing measures, we social democrats demand a specific strategy against recruitment, with a coordinator working alongside European authorities such as Europol and Eurojust to prevent children and young people from falling into the claws of the gangs. Politics must unite across party lines, and so must other parts of the society, such as the social media platforms. We therefore need an EU anti‑organised crime law, including addressing the social media platforms responsibilities. It is unacceptable that these platforms are exploited for recruiting child soldiers. Tech giants must be held accountable. Their platforms are today's modern streets and squares. It is about time for the society to get as organised as organised crime. The society must always be stronger than organised crime.

Madam President, the heinous murder of Jina Amini in 2022 sparked a powerful movement that resonated throughout Iran, throughout Kurdistan, the Middle East and beyond. Since then, courageous voices are chanting: 'Woman, life, freedom!' However, the human rights situation in Iran has worsened dramatically, with over 900 executions in 2024 alone, targeting women, minorities, political dissidents and those involved in this feminist revolution. Repression persists, highlighted by the recent death sentences for two brave Kurdish women – Pakhshan Azizi and Wrisha Moradi – and over 50 other political prisoners. The regime employs brutal tactics, including tortures and arbitrary arrests of EU citizens, like Dr Ahmad Reza Jalali, to pressure the EU to release the regime's criminals. The EU must unite to secure the release of all political prisoners. Our citizens deserve to return home, and every and each Iranian deserve the right to live in freedom and equality. The oppressive mullah regime will ultimately be consigned to the dustbin of history, but that requires our unwavering support for the brave people who risk their lives every day.

Mr President, colleagues, the revelation of Hungary's intelligence services spying on EU officials undermines what little trust there is left between the collective EU Member States and the Hungarian regime nowadays. It constitutes yet another direct assault on our common values. This spying, including on OLAF investigators that were probing the misuse of EU funds, reflects a broader pattern in Hungary, where the erosion of the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights has become systematic. From the misuse of spyware like Pegasus to laws targeting LGBTQI rights, the curbing of press freedom, the oppression of minorities, these acts of espionage on EU officials are a continuation of Hungary's transition into authoritarianism and Orbán's transition into a fully-fledged dictator. These acts reaffirm the necessity to strengthen the EU rule of law mechanism and the rule of law report. Enough is enough!

Mr President, a group of powerful men, tech billionaires gathering in the Capitol, taking prime seats behind the President and his family during the inauguration of the 47th president of the USA – no, it's not a scene taken off House of Cards. This is America 2025. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord, implementation of protectionist policies that restricts international trade, disengagement from international organisations – we have also since long been aware of that. Women's rights, LGBTQ rights, workers rights will be jeopardised, and ordinary working people will suffer, while tech billionaires like Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos and Pichai will face lower, if not zero, taxes. With Trump now sworn in as president, it is evident that this administration adopts a vastly different stance on international cooperation than its predecessor. Our most pressing task is to unite and strengthen the European Union, while maintaining strong partnership with like-minded globally, and of course, it also includes the US, as, for example, the Democrats. Trump was indeed democratically elected, but acts like an autocrat.

Mr President, for 471 days, we have witnessed the aftermath of Hamas's brutal attack on innocent Israelis. And for over 50 years, we have seen the impact of an unlawful Israeli occupation that has taken countless innocent Palestinian lives and erased entire families from existence. The numbers are staggering. Over 46 000 Palestinians and 1 200 Israelis have been murdered since 7 October 2023. Each statistic represents a life, a story, a future stolen. Those standing idly by are complicit in this suffering. While we cannot undo the vast suffering endured by the victims over the past years, we have the power today to shape a better future. Let's be clear – a ceasefire is vital and must be respected by all parties. That includes Netanyahu, who continued bombing Gaza yesterday. EU countries must implement a weapon embargo against Israel. This is a demand echoed by Palestinian but also Israeli families with loved ones, those kept hostage by Hamas. They are all desperate for an end to this horror. They want their family members alive and home. Furthermore, the EU must also rally behind a two‑state solution through actively engaging in the international coalition for a two‑state solution and halting the expansion of violent settlements. Recent statements from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are therefore alarming, suggesting a possible resumption of military operations. War criminals must face justice. The International Criminal Court must be allowed to operate freely and impartially. Today, 2 million Palestinians are returning to bombed areas and must urgently receive our support and not to be sent to Indonesia, as the Trump administration seems to want. How many times must Palestinians be forcibly displaced from their homes before the world says enough is enough? The EU must support humanitarian organisations like UNWRA and act for the lifting of the Israeli ban of the organisation. It is a shame that countries as my own, Sweden, let the Israeli far‑right government dictate our actions. And finally, colleagues, the Palestinian Authority must receive the support to be able to…

Mr President, colleagues, Commissioner, every corruption scandal, every stolen euro, every bribery and abuse of power is an insult to our citizens. It betrays their trust and chips away at democracy. Corruption can also, in its worst form, kill. While the EU is making progress at large, we must accelerate the fight against corruption as we, unfortunately, see new scandals in our institutions, and even Member States that are moving in the wrong direction. In the 2023 Corruption Perception Index, Hungary is ranked number 76 when it comes to corruption in the public sector. Hungary shares this spot with China and Cuba. Several other Member States take a slightly better – but similarly unflattering – spot in this list. To combat corruption, we must increase transparency and protect those who uncover it. Access to documents in our public institutions is essential for accountability, and it is an integral part of democracy. It is therefore unacceptable that the Commission President continues to oppose transparency when it comes to her own communication with a pharmaceutical company – and we all know who it is. In her capacity as a public official, especially. Meanwhile, the EU Ombudsman has found significant maladministration in the Commission when it comes to access to documents. It is therefore high time that Member States resume negotiations on the Regulation on access to documents, as well as increased transparency in our Member States. Equally, the European Media Freedom Act is crucial for empowering journalists to investigate and expose corruption without fear of retaliation. We must also strengthen the rule of law mechanism and the rule of law report. The rule of law report cannot be for the Commission to approve; it must be fully independent. Our democracies can only function if there is transparency, protection for journalism, and accountability for those who abuse their positions of power. Impunity must end!