Speeches

Madam President, dear colleagues, we are having this debate because the chatbot Grok on X has allowed users to create AI-generated sexual images of women without their consent, including the Vice-Prime Minister of my country, Sweden. There were even reports of minors being sexualised. This is clearly, clearly illegal. Sexualised content without consent, whether it is real or AI-generated, is exploitation and an act of violence. And we have actually laws for this in Europe, and we should not be afraid to use our laws. If the online platforms don't put safeguards in place, we should hold them accountable. The images may be fake, but the damage is real. And let me be clear here: sexual images without consent is not innovation, it's an act of violence, it's unacceptable and it must be stopped now.

Mr President, dear colleagues, you would think that by this time that fundamental human rights are protected and respected in the European Union. But this is not the case. That is clear in this debate tonight. I want to tell you about Agnieszka from Poland that was pregnant with twins. After one foetus died, she was denied an abortion and forced to carry the dead foetus. Doctors acted only after the second foetus died. But by then it was too late, also for Agnieszka. She died, leaving behind her husband and three children. Agnieszka is not alone. Being denied abortion is the reality of 20 million European women today. So if you are really pro-life, help us save women's lives. And thanks to this citizens' initiative, 1.1 million signatures across the EU, we now have a chance in the European Parliament to send a clear message. So, colleagues, please stand up for human rights. Stand up for every woman's right to abortion and vote yes to the resolution on 'My voice, my choice'.

Mr President, colleagues, the US and China are running ahead of us in the global AI race, and Europe's prosperity is at stake. Today, we are voting on the first AI report since adopting the AI Act, and it concerns a key sector for AI: the finance sector. Today, we are sending a clear message from the European Parliament that now is not the time for more legislation. Now is the time to make our laws easier to follow and less bureaucratic, and to boost investments. To benefit from AI, we need to apply it in all of society and in all sectors, especially in the finance sector, where AI can be used to detect fraud, to make businesses more competitive and to give consumers better services. So, let's encourage that. Let's build an AI continent that will tell a positive story for the future of Europe, that will encourage innovation, that will enable more possibilities and that ensures that we together build a stronger economy in Europe. It's time now to step up.

Mr President, thank you very much. Saving on the stock market is not just about investing in companies. It is also about people being able to realise their dreams of a better life, about saving for their first home or for the dream trip with their family or putting a golden edge on their retirement. Since the alliance government introduced the investment savings account, ISK, in Sweden, the stock exchange has been democratized. Eight out of ten Swedes are saving in mutual funds and shares today. It has become easier and cheaper for more Swedes to save and improve their personal finances. The Conservatives' election promise in the European elections was to export ISK to Europe. I am therefore pleased that the European Commission has now launched ISK as a recommendation for all EU countries to introduce. It is often talked about how much the EU affects Sweden, but now we are doing the EU a little more like Sweden. So thank you, Commissioner Albuquerque and Commissioner Hoekstra, for delivering, for European small savers and for a better economy in Europe.

I'm not really sure which apps you are talking about, but we have already decided in Europe that transparency is one of the key things in AI regulation – that users and consumers need to understand whether what they see on the screen is AI or a real picture. That is an important principle. But I also think that in Europe we have been focusing too much on being scared of the new technology and scared of AI, because AI will also be the key to combat fraud, illegalities and deepfakes. So I think that technology is the key for a better society as well. We cannot only be afraid of AI, but I think AI is the solution for those problems.

Madam President, dear colleagues, Commissioner Virkkunen, I think it is time for Europe to focus less on other countries and more on helping European companies to grow. Because this is our market, it's our rules and it's our responsibility. Our digital policies play a key role for Europe's competitiveness. With the DSA and the DMA that we are discussing here, we are creating one set of rules across Europe instead of 27 different sets. We're setting a global standard on user rights, on transparency online, on freedom of speech online and on open markets. Now we need to enforce these laws that we already have in place, but we also must become much bolder and faster in creating a business environment in Europe that makes start-ups and tech thrive on this continent. We need to have simplification of the rules, we need to invest in digital infrastructure, we need to enable more data sharing and have faster AI adoption. Because this is what is going to make Europe richer, this is what is going to make Europe independent and this is what is going to make Europe globally competitive. We must understand that we need to work with the technology, not against it, because tech is the future of Europe and AI is the future of Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. Colleagues. European Commission. Most of us know someone who has been forced to cancel a charter trip, especially during the pandemic. For a family with children, it can be a lot of money. As a consumer, you don't always know what your rights are. However, cancellations of package tours shall not constitute cancellations of rights. Therefore, we are now making it easier for Swedes to get their money back if they are forced to cancel their charter trip due to a pandemic or if the travel agency goes bankrupt. We make vouchers much more attractive. We are introducing clearer information requirements vis-à-vis consumers, and I have pushed for clear rules: strengthening the protection of travellers without imposing excessive red tape on small travel agencies. After all, it is small businesses that are at the heart of the tourism industry in Europe. That is why we here in the European Parliament want travel agencies to continue to be able to charge in advance. This year, the Swedish charter celebrates 70 years, and with an even stronger protection for consumers, there are now even more reasons to choose a package holiday on Christmas or summer holidays.

Mr President, thank you very much. Viktor Orbán has for years committed crimes against the rule of law, most recently through a ban on LGBTQ people's right to meet and meet. The right to live one's life openly and safely is slowly being erased in Hungary. In the midst of all this, and during a burning war, Orban has approached the dictator Putin. This is a betrayal of the Hungarian people and it is a betrayal of the fundamental values of the European Union. It is a betrayal of all those Europeans who have fought for rights and freedoms for generations. The EU is not a leisure club where you can come and go as you please. The EU is a commitment to democracy, the rule of law and the equal value of all people. Human rights and democratic principles are non-negotiable. So Viktor Orbán: It is time to act now or face the consequences in court.

Mr President, thank you very much. Insecurity is the biggest freedom issue of our time, and women's rights are at the heart of that struggle for freedom when one in three women in Europe has been subjected to violence, when Russian soldiers use women's bodies as part of Russian warfare. I want all the girls and young girls growing up in our Europe today to feel that we are standing up for their future and their freedom. Then we must do everything we can here today to support Ukrainian women, to ensure that the Violence Against Women Directive and the Istanbul Convention against Violence Against Women are well implemented. That we stand up and constitutionally protect the right to abortion for all women in Europe and that we introduce a law of consent throughout Europe. History is happening right now, and women's rights and the struggle for freedom are being decided now. Now we need to make sure that Europe is on the right side of history.

Mr President, thank you very much. Lukashenka's dictatorship in Belarus is a disgrace to Europe. For 30 years – for 30 years – he has held on to power by committing systematic human rights abuses, by imprisoning journalists and opposition figures. He has repeatedly stolen the presidential elections, and now it is time for the EU to take a hard line, because it is Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who is the rightful president of Belarus. We must have tougher sanctions against Belarus. Lukashenka must be held accountable for his atrocities and violence against his own population and for his involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Putin hugs and dictators have no place in Europe, and freedom must be defended every day. It is our responsibility for the Belarusian people's struggle for freedom.

Mr President, colleagues, we have war in Europe and we are fighting the battle both on the ground and online. In Romania, we see the results of the Russian attacks on European countries and our elections enabled by Chinese social media platform TikTok. This must be stopped because next year we have new elections in Europe: in Germany, in Denmark, in Austria, in Poland, Portugal, Romania, Ireland, Czechia. It's a long list and they are also under the risk to be attacked by Russia. It's enough now with the fine nice words and the excuses from TikTok. TikTok must follow the EU laws and if TikTok does not take actions against Russian disinformation, we will take actions against TikTok. It's enough now.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. The Single Market has made the EU one of the largest economies in the world with less regulatory burden for consumers and businesses. It has created prosperity, growth and a stronger Europe. We need to take care of this. But the EU's freedom of movement must also apply to the labour market. Today, our citizens – those who have trained as chefs, nurses, architects, engineers – cannot work freely between all EU countries: Despite having received training and qualifications, they are hampered by bureaucratic processes and regulatory complexity, even though they have the experience to do the job. This is a real problem, which very few people talk about. It not only hinders the development of the individual, it hinders the right of our citizens to use and enjoy freedom of movement, to work across the EU. It also hinders companies that need skilled workers. History has shown that free markets bring prosperity. I want to see a Europe that offers more opportunities and prospects for our citizens and for our children. Then we must become much better here at breaking down the barriers to trade and the bureaucracy that are hindering the positive development of our continent's future.

Mr President, I would like to thank you. Abortion can never be taken for granted. When the U.S. goes to the polls, women's right to their bodies is at the center. In Texas, where abortion has been banned, maternal mortality has increased by over 50% in a few years. In fact, we are in the same battle of values in Europe. In Poland and Malta, women are forced to risk their lives when they are denied a safe abortion and the right to basic care. In fact, I have a question for you opponents of abortion here in the European Parliament. How can you claim to stand up for the right to life when women are dying right now because they are denied an abortion? What do you say to the families whose daughters have died because they have been banned from having an abortion? How can you say that you are standing up for democracy when you are against denying half of Europe's population and citizens the right to control their bodies? This is actually insanity. Stop it. Stop interfering in women's life choices. Europe must be on the right side in the fight for freedom and democracy, and we must act now. Therefore, it is time for us to constitutionally protect the right to abortion throughout the EU.

Mr President, Commissioner Vestager, thank you very much. We have put in place a historic law that sets clear requirements and rules for social media giants to stop crime online and protect the freedom of ordinary people online. At the same time as the EU's new digital law, DSA, has entered into force, we see how gang criminals in Sweden are recruiting openly on social media. On TikTok, on Snapchat, on Telegram, they find minors for murder missions. We have Swedish child soldiers hired via online advertisements to commit crimes in Denmark. Thread crime has no limits. It moves across national borders and it moves openly online. What is happening online right now is part of the gang war we see on our streets with major consequences for people's safety. I, as one of those responsible for this law, will push the new European Commission to force these tech giants to follow the laws we actually have in Europe. For now, excuses are over. Now it's up to the tech giants to deliver to end online crime and ensure that social media and our digital lives become a safe environment for all of us.

Mr President, thank you very much. In four months, 12 women have been murdered in their homes. This is what everyday life is like in Sweden, but also for many women around Europe. Women have had to pay the highest price with their freedom and their lives because the previous government has plunged with violent men and insecurity in Sweden. I am proud that we have now been given powerful tools here in the EU to combat violence against women both in Sweden and throughout the EU. Both the Istanbul Convention, which I was responsible for enforcing here in the European Parliament, but also the law now criminalising violence against women in Europe. This is huge, but it took eight months for us and our moderate-led government to get the Istanbul Convention through here in the EU, while the Social Democrats and their government dwindled for eight years in power. But I'm not satisfied. We could have obtained a consent law at EU level today as well. But it was stopped, not only by Viktor Orbán, but also by Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz, party friends of the Centre Party and the Social Democrats here in the EU. I and the Moderates will take the fight and do everything we can to get a consent law across the EU next term. We delivered this time. We will do so after the European elections, because Europe and Sweden must be safer for all women.

Mr President, thank you very much. Why should someone else have the right to control your body and your life? It should be obvious that it is you who decides, but it is not today. The right to your own body is and should be a human right. Abortion rights are under threat all over the world. There are women in Europe who are forced to risk their lives and die because they have been banned from having an abortion, because the state controls their bodies. But it doesn't really have to be like this. France has just constitutionally protected the right to abortion and the moderate government in Sweden is working for the same. European cooperation is about protecting our human rights and freedoms, and that is why the Conservatives go to the polls to secure abortion rights throughout the EU. Now is the time for the EU to deliver on that promise for all women in Europe. The right to abortion must be constitutionally protected throughout the EU.

Mr President, thank you very much. Every day, women and girls are subjected to assault, sexual assault, rape and murder. whereas one third of all women in Europe have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point; Violence against women leads in the long run to increased poverty because vulnerable women are at risk of losing both their jobs and their homes. Combating violence against women is the most important thing we can do for women's right to fundamental freedom and for gender equality in the world. Securing the right to a life without violence is one of the greatest freedom issues of our time. In Europe we have gone from words to deeds and finally ratified the Istanbul Convention after ten years of fighting and now finally the directive against violence against women. I'm very proud of that. The rest of the world must now follow suit and take violence against women more seriously. There must be zero tolerance for violence against women, no matter where in the world you live.

Mr President, thank you very much. Almost two years ago, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war is taking place not only on the ground in Ukraine, but also on the internet. Russia is trying to fight our democracies in Europe and in the West by spreading disinformation on social media. Through fake news and propaganda and hate crimes, Russia is trying to spread lies in order to stop Western support for Ukraine. If Putin's propaganda takes hold of us, it risks putting Ukraine at risk of losing the war and putting the whole of Europe's peace and freedom at stake. This is real. Online platforms such as Facebook and TikTok and X (old Twitter) have been given a legal obligation under the new EU Digital Act (DSA) to take down this Russian propaganda and other illegal content. I am proud to have been involved in the development of this unique law, and that we can both value democratic rights and freedoms on the internet and take decisive action against illegal content and crime online. But we do not see that the actions of the online giants make any difference in our mobile screens. They do too little. What we see is that platforms prefer to continue to favour extremism and polarisation over facts and responsibilities. If the online giants do not assume their responsibilities, the European Commission must intervene and ensure that the rules are complied with. For Ukraine to win the war on the ground, we must win the war on the internet.

Mr President, thank you very much. The European Commissioner! Colleagues! Today, the EU is taking a big step to increase green trade in Europe. We are now stopping false environmental claims and tightening up the requirements for eco-labels. By stopping, we are now making it more difficult to mislead consumers. We create fairer competition and facilitate the climate transition. In order for consumers to feel confident, when they shop, that the products claiming to be green are too. This should be a matter of course for anyone who wants to see companies take their climate responsibility. But the way here has been much harder than I thought. Despite this, the Green Party and their party friends have tried to ban all eco-labels, stop companies from telling about their climate work and thereby stop the consumption of green products. I think this is completely preposterous. How will it be easier for consumers to find organic baby food or environmentally friendly laundry detergent without eco-labels? How should we really encourage companies to take their climate responsibility if they are not even allowed to talk about their sustainability work? I think it should be easy to do the right thing. It must be easier for consumers to shop sustainably and easier for companies to become climate-smart. And it is actually thanks to the fact that we have stopped the Green Party and their party friends here in the European Parliament that this new law finally comes into place. For greenwashing, it must be stopped whether it comes from the companies or from the politicians of the environmental left.

Well, I want to remind the Member over there on the far right that we are actually one Union. When we became one Union, we accepted the democratic values of all of our citizens not to be discriminated against for who they are, whom they love, and for whom they want to create a family with. We are living in 2023, and right now freedom of movement is being restricted for many of our citizens. We are not fulfilling the rights of the EU that we are obliged to. That’s why this is important.

Mr President, thank you very much. It is a historic day for equal rights for all and for the rights of LGBTQ people in Europe. Finally, we now have a crucial decision that gives same-sex parents the legal right to be recognised throughout Europe. Indeed, it is completely unreasonable that the free movement of rainbow families can be restricted when travelling or moving within the EU. Parents are parents no matter what country you live in or who you love. Discrimination against LGBTQ people is totally unacceptable. It does not belong in today's Europe. Hungary and Italy need to understand that they are indeed part of the EU, and in our Europe democratic freedoms and rights apply to all citizens – regardless of gender, background and sexual orientation. (The speaker agreed to answer a question ("blue card"))

Mr President, thank you very much. European Commissioner Joseph Borell. The EU and the US have been jointly behind Ukraine since day one. Together we have stood united for each country's and each democracy's right to peace and freedom. Unfortunately, we are seeing a decline in aid in the United States. On the other side of the Atlantic, Republicans are blocking $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. On our side of the Atlantic, Putin stands and thanks. This is for my colleagues in the U.S. Congress: Freedom does not come for free. You heard me right. Freedom does not come for free, and right now Ukraine is paying the ultimate price with its lives. You have a chance to stay on the right side of history. So stop blocking aid to Ukraine and let us help Ukraine win the war, together.

Madam President, thank you very much. European Commissioner. We consumers today would rather buy a new mobile phone than send in our old one for repair, because it is cheaper and faster. Today, only a fifth of all mobile phones are repaired and that is a huge waste of resources. Today, mobile companies have created a repair monopoly. They introduce software programs that prevent others other than themselves from repairing. They stop spare parts from competitors. With Right to Repair We are now breaking this repair monopoly. You should not be able to lock up consumers and lock out your competitors. We are now opening up the market for repairs and creating competition. It benefits everyone, both consumers and the climate. For it is free markets, not monopolies, that are key to the green transition.

Mr President, thank you very much. We have war in Europe and it is taking place right now both on the battlefield and on the internet. Russia is waging war against Ukraine and spreading propaganda on social media. Hamas has killed more Jews in one day than we have seen since the Holocaust. Now their terrorist material is being spread to legitimize these murders. Disinformation and hatred perpetuate our democracies. It is especially dangerous in war and conflict. Facebook, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) continue to spread terrorist material and anti-Semitism, even though we have the EU's new digital laws, DSA, in place. They must stop giving precedence to polarisation over facts. They need to stop ducking responsibility. Propaganda can be the difference between life and death.

Mr President, Commissioner and colleagues, I am glad that we have a political agreement on the new law on financial services contracts concluded at a distance. With the digital development and with more consumers buying financial products online, we now are taking steps to make consumer protection rules fit for the digital age. How consumers use financial services look very different today than it did 20 years ago. It’s good that the rules are now being modernised and that the withdrawal function that we are introducing in this law for all goods and services is technology neutral. This will make it easier to withdraw when one buys a product online. We are now making it clearer for companies how the rules apply in relation to product-specific legislations. Companies must give information in good time without misleading consumers. We are also harmonising the rules in the EU single market, with a few exceptions where Member States can go further. And most importantly, we are keeping a high level of consumer protection when our consumers are buying financial products online or over the phone. I want to thank all the shadow rapporteurs, I want to thank the Commission and I also want to thank the Swedish Presidency for the negotiations that we had in the spring and for a successful result. I believe that this new law will be a win-win for consumers and businesses across the European Union, and we now have modernised rules without extra burden for companies and we are ensuring that consumers have a high level of protection when they are buying in Europe. So, thank you, everybody.