Speeches

Madam President! Here we are on our last day of voting. What we are about to vote on, it was promised us already five years ago, when Ursula van der Leyen went to the elections to become President of the European Commission. We were promised a single supervisory authority for all the EU institutions to keep a watchful – and frankly needed – eye on lobbying and compliance with ethical standards, but nothing happened. Only after several grotesque scandals did the European Commission slowly get started. They reluctantly delivered a proposal, but now we see, now we see, how the Conservative EPP Group together with their friends on the far right here right up to the finish line are trying to put a stick in the wheel, but sorry, sorry, what are you afraid of? What do you have to hide? Why not take an important step towards more openness after many grotesque cases, such as Qatargate, Moroccogate and Russiagate. Honestly, we need to act now!

Mr President, for far too long the EU has been about market, market and market, but the core of Europe is the people, not the market. To me, this was underlined at the La Hulpe Summit. There, the EU was reminded about the need to include social policy and workers’ rights. And I’m happy that the broadly accepted La Hulpe Declaration clearly mentions the need to revise the highly problematic public procurement rules, because that means that we now have the signature of the Commission President on this. But we must make sure it is held up to her promise and that the words are turned into action by the next Commission. That is why, yesterday, we launched the European Public Procurement Alliance across political groups in this Parliament, to make sure that Europe will get the revision we all know is needed, and to ensure a more social Europe where no public money goes to companies that do not respect collective bargaining.

Mr President! Fundamental human rights are currently being violated in Hungary. Our common values are under pressure. In fact, the situation in Hungary is currently deteriorating in concrete terms, with new attacks on the opposition and civil society. Yet Orbán's Hungary receives billions of tax dollars from the EU. Our tax dollars. Indeed, Orban's Hungary is at the top of the recipients of EU aid. In short, we are laughing at our own money and the Hungarian people. The Hungarian people, they failed. The EU box should be slammed in for Orbán. Instead, the Commission has allowed otherwise withheld funds to be disbursed. Not because of improvements for the citizens of Hungary, but after Orbán's blackmail of EU leaders. That is totally unacceptable. The Commission and EU leaders have failed in their responsibilities. Instead, Orbán must be deprived of the opportunity to blackmail the rest of the European Union when his right to vote is taken away from him, as it should. Take the right to vote from Orbán, let us be vigilant about human rights and European values – including in Hungary.

Mr President! We are in a very serious situation. The Belgian and Czech intelligence services accuse European politicians, including Members of the European Parliament, of receiving money from the Putin regime to spread his propaganda. This is very serious. I hope that all political groups will take a firm stand against this scandal. Therefore, I would also like to take this opportunity to ask Mr Anders Vistisen, the ID Group's declared lead candidate – although he has apparently chosen not to be present in this important debate: You have led a group of parties, one of which is on trial. Do you distance yourself? What did you do to clean it up? Can you be a voice if the AFD or other parties continue to refuse to act on the serious allegations against one of their members? Voters are entitled to an answer.

Thanks for the question. Yes, I am fully aware of what the Commission has put forward, and that is totally inadequate. The reality is that millions of citizens have repeatedly signed up, demanding that legislation be put forward to stop the animal cruelty that is taking place on European roads. Yet again and again the Commission ignores the citizens. It's not okay. It is a failure and that failure, that is what we are saying to you today, and I hope that the citizens will use the European elections of 9 June to say no.

Mr President! The reality is that animals are over and over again forgotten. The reality is that the animals suffer from extremely long journeys, in tiny miserable cages and flocked in the brutal fur industry. The reality is that it should have stopped a long time ago. Dear Commissioner, You had promised to come forward with legislation on better animal welfare. You have failed to make that promise! You are failing the nearly three million citizens who signed the petition. You are failing in your own promise to improve legislation. You're abandoning the fixed sows, the hens in the cage, the minks. Instead of stopping the animal plague, bow to the farming lobby and their lackeys on the right. It gives citizens a clear choice. Together, let us use the European elections to give animals a voice. Let us make sure that the animals are not forgotten again. Let's make sure animal cruelty stops. (The speaker agreed to answer a blue card question)

Mr President! Ladies and gentlemen, as shadow rapporteur, I have to say it as it is. This agreement, which we are about to vote on, is a declaration of bankruptcy! A declaration of bankruptcy in the fight for cleaner air for Europeans. It puts the short-term profits of the automotive industry above considerations of health and the environment. It is pure greenwashing, that without real improvements to the 15 year old legislation will now be called the Euro 7 standard rather than Euro 6. This is false marketing. That's how simple it can be said. Unfortunately, it's not just about words. The sad truth is that this agreement will cost lives in European cities. This agreement will mean that people will lose their lives because the interests of the automotive industry are put above human lives. That is why I am voting against the agreement and I would urge all of you to do the same. We can do better. We can renegotiate this agreement. We can create a Euro 7 standard, which is really a Euro 7 standard, which improves the air in our big cities, which saves lives. Dear colleagues, we need to put people's lives and health above the return on shares in the automotive industry. Everything else is a failure!

Madam President, dear Mr Orpo, normally I would be happy and proud to welcome a prime minister from another Nordic country here in the European Parliament, but sadly I have to say today I’m not. Instead, I am disappointed, sad and honestly angry to have to welcome a Nordic prime minister that is leading a charge against social and trade union rights in his own country. Mr Prime Minister, the topic today is ‘This is Europe’, and I have one thing to tell you: the Europe you represent, Mr Orpo, is not the Europe I want. And more importantly, it is definitely not the Europe citizens need. What you are doing is clearly wrong because you are undermining what makes a Nordic welfare state strong. Your government makes it easier to fire people, and at the same time you want to cut social welfare and protection. This will harm workers and their families. Yet sadly it doesn’t stop here. At the same time, you try to undermine the Finnish system of collective bargaining – a collective bargaining system we, on a European level, aim to increase, you are actively trying to suppress. I’m sad to say so, but that is shameful. As if this was not enough, you also want to limit the freedom of people to go on strike and protest your policies. But Prime Minister, when Finnish people protest you in the street, the solution is not to take away the possibility to strike. Instead you should stop, reflect and listen. Mr Orpo, the Europe you represent is clearly a Europe for the few; a Europe that does not take care of your citizens, of our citizens and the planet. Instead, it runs away from responsibility. Sadly, we have seen it before. Whenever the right governs with the far right, the picture is the same. Those that claim to speak for the common man quickly betray him. Those that say they have the ordinary worker’s interests and concerns at heart quickly and brutally betray her. And that is exactly what is happening in Finland. That is exactly what we are seeing right now. And that is the reason that people are protesting you and your government, Mr Prime Minister. Dear Mr Orpo, this is Europe, and what you provide is definitely not the Europe we want. Mr Orpo, this is Europe. It should be a Europe for the many, not just a Europe for the wealthy few.

Madam President, dear Yulia Navalnaya, it is both good and very sad to see you here today in Strasbourg. It is so incredibly sad because the reason for you being here is so tragic and wrong. Nobody should have to die for speaking up for what they believe in. All of us here today mourn with you the loss of your husband, Alexei Navalny – a man who became one of the symbols of resistance to Putin’s regime, who stood up for what he believed in and spoke out loud also in the face of repression. Alexei Navalny helped expose Putin to the world. He shone a light on the enormous corruption of Putin and his oligarch friends. It was something that clearly frightened Putin. Because despots like Putin are afraid of facts, of debate, of truth. And your husband tried to bring forward all of that. And for that, he was poisoned and he was accused by the Putin regime. He was unjustly jailed, tortured and he paid the ultimate price. And yet, despite the sadness and the loss that led here, it is also good to hear you and to see you speaking out here today in Strasbourg, because it means that Putin did not succeed in silencing the critique. It means that the fight against repression continues. Dear Yulia Navalnaya, to offer you my condolences seems way too little. What I can offer you is my profound respect and admiration for the work of your husband and of you and for everyone who dares to stand up against despots like Vladimir Putin. May the death of Alexei Navalny not be in vain. May democracy triumph in the end.

Mr President! The situation in Gaza is disastrous. Children are starving to death. Women get caesarean section without anesthesia. Hospitals, schools and civilians are bombed. It is collective punishment, and collective punishment is a war crime. The Israeli government is currently accused of genocide. More than 30,000 Palestinian civilians have already been killed. If we don't act now, history will judge us. Netanyahu clearly does not listen to words of concern. Netanyahu must be forced to respect international law through action. Stop the export of arms to Israel! Suspend the EU Association Agreement with Israel! Boycott settler goods! An immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a lasting two-state solution are needed so that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.

Madam President, I would like to thank my very good colleagues, Cindy, Ilan, Catherine, Sara, Elżbieta, thank you so much for your kind words today, but also not least for our very good cooperation. I would also like to thank you, Commissioner Schmit. It’s been a great pleasure to work with all of you, work with your staff advisors on this important file. And then I would like to say to all of you, to my dear colleagues, with tomorrow’s vote, we are making a difference for workers in Europe. We are making sure that millions will be better protected. This is the socially just green transition, not just in words but put into action. When we see that the workers producing our batteries, making our renewable energy, or energy renovating our houses will be better protected. As has been said by me, but also very importantly by other good colleagues today, no one should die or get sick from going to work. That is why it is so important that we today put workers health at the forefront. I would like to thank you once again to all that have contributed. Let us all make sure to bring all our colleagues on board before tomorrow’s vote. And finally, allow me to say that by judging on today’s debate and the discussion I have had as the rapporteur with the political groups, I note that there is a broad support in the European Parliament for an ambitious European occupational health and safety policy. We stand united in eagerly awaiting the Commission’s CMRD 6 Directive, and for the long-promised and wasted screening and registration of asbestos in buildings legislative proposal. I hope that the Commissioner took note of this as well. And I heard you, Commissioner, when you said that you stand ready to continue on the track that we are on today. That is good. Let us make sure that this successful result will be the first of many for the workers of Europe.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, Europe can make a difference for workers. We can put the health and safety of those workers who build our wind turbines, assemble our batteries and energy renovate our homes at the forefront. This piece of EU legislation that we will vote on tomorrow will lead to concrete improvements for literally millions of workers out there in the factories, construction sites and even deep down in the mines. It is legislation affecting those working in recycling or furniture production, auto mechanics, construction, industry and metalworkers and many, many more. We are ensuring better and much-needed protection against the dangerous substances – lead and diisocyanates. It means that we, for the first time in 40 years, will update the limit values on lead. We will lower the value to less than a quarter of what it is now. This is progress, and it is important, because not only is lead carcinogenic and reprotoxic, it is also a central part of the growing battery and recycling sector in Europe. It is something we know is dangerous, but at the same time we cannot do without it. But by drastically improving the protection against it, we take an important step. We help ensure that the green transition – which we all need – will not sacrifice workers’ health and safety. We also ensure that we will not have to wait another 40 years for the next revision, as we have obliged the Commission to review the limit values again in only 5 years’ time, if not before. And it does not stop here: we will also introduce the first-ever European limit value on the harmful diisocyanates, substances we know give permanent airway damage to those who work with it. This means that we help to ensure that the European green transition can be a just transition. Dear colleagues, I truly believe that no one should get sick or die from going to work. That is why we in Parliament must always try to move Europe’s occupational health and safety legislation forward. With this directive, we do take an important first step towards protecting workers against endocrine disruptors and combined exposure at their workplace. This sets the direction for future initiatives. Dear colleagues, I want to sincerely thank the shadows: it has been a great pleasure to work with you. Thank you for a good cooperation and for helping putting workers’ health first. I also want to thank the Commission, the Council, and the Spanish Presidency: you did not give us everything we asked for, but you showed flexibility and agreed that we should move forward to the benefit of millions of hard-working people in Europe. Lastly, I want to thank the social partners – employers and trade unions alike. Your invaluable cooperation and insights helped make this directive a reality. So, dear colleagues, when we vote tomorrow, let us have a large majority and send a clear message to all the workers in Europe: Your health and safety matters. Let us vote for a Europe that makes a difference for workers.

Madam President! At last week's EU summit, there was a recurring problem on everyone's lips. The problem is Viktor Orban. The Hungarian prime minister uses the summit after the summit Ukraine to blackmail the rest of the EU. Orbán is holding the Ukrainian people hostage to share in our other people's tax dollars. Tax dollars that are otherwise being withheld because Orban is violating the human rights of his own people. That is totally unacceptable! It has to stop! We already have a tool in the toolbox that we could use today: Depriving Orbán of his veto right. Let us not drag the time of endless debates, whether or not we should remove the right of veto from all EU countries. Let's use the tool we have in hand and stop Orbán's blackmail. Last week, EU leaders once again let themselves be dragged around the ring. It's time to say STOP!

Mr President, this Parliament has adopted legislation and policies which have helped improve the working conditions for millions of workers in Europe. But, to be honest, none of this would have been remotely possible without the hard work of our assistants. Unfortunately, the current rules governing the determination of our assistants are extremely precarious and completely opposite to the fair working conditions that we promote in Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee. If an MEP suddenly leaves their mandate, the current rules essentially entail that the assistant of the MEP could lose their job from one day to another. I therefore call on Parliament’s administration to ensure fair rules and working conditions for our assistants, and to consult with the APA Committee in this process.

Mr. President! Every year, public institutions in the EU spend around DKK 15 trillion on public procurement. Unfortunately, it turns out time and time again that the companies that win these tenders do not respect basic labour rights. This is possible because the EU rules today are completely unclear as to what local authorities must make of social and environmental requirements. On the other hand, the EU rules are crystal clear that public contracts must be awarded according to the lowest price. You do not have to be a genius to figure out that the lowest price without clear social demands of course creates a race to the bottom on wages and working conditions and unfair competition. It's just a piece of shit. Public funds should not finance tax fraud, social dumping and labour crime. That is why we in the Red-Green Alliance and the left-wing group in the European Parliament have taken the initiative in this debate. It is crucial that we revise the rules as soon as possible. No tax dollars should go to employers without a collective agreement. That is why my question, Commissioner: When is the Commission coming forward with a proposal for a revision of the Public Procurement Directive so that fraudsters can be excluded?

Mr President! Negotiations on the climate-damaging F-gases were certainly not easy, but they were worth it. Despite opposition from several EU countries, we managed to make a good deal. We shall now vote on that agreement and I invite you to vote in favour. Because with the agreement, we are taking concrete climate action by cutting the use of F-gas. Now we are acting responsibly. By setting a date for when it should be stopped altogether, we act with foresight. By taking concrete action, we benefit the climate. With the agreement, we limit the EU's climate impact by as much as 2.5%. 2.5% may not sound like much, but it is more than several EU countries derive. This is more than the emissions of the entire EU aviation sector. With this agreement, we are taking an important step forward in the fight against climate change. Vote for the climate. Vote for the deal.

Madam President, Commissioner, and Prime Minister, this is Europe. A Europe where we stood united in solidarity with Ukraine after the brutal attack by Putin. A Europe that has imposed sanctions against Putin for his grave violations against international law and human rights. A Europe that actively has engaged in making sure that war crimes in Ukraine will be prosecuted. Dear colleagues, this is a Europe I’m proud of. But when we look at the horrors unfolding in Gaza, and the response of the European Union, we have clearly failed. We stood united in condemning the brutal terror attack of Hamas. Good. We have stood united in a call for immediately releasing of all hostages. Good. But we have failed in protecting the innocent children and people of Gaza. They have died by the thousands. Those alive are struggling to survive. If they live, they will be traumatised. This is Europe. This Europe has for years failed to speak up against Israeli violations of international law; failed to speak out against the human-rights violations that Palestinians in the occupied territories daily suffer; failed to pressure for a sustainable two-state solution, where both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and prosperity, side by side. Dear colleagues, dear Prime Minister, Europe can do better. Let this Europe be a Europe of strong values. A Europe that speak out for international laws in all matter. A Europe that speak out against killing of civilians, whoever they are. A Europe that speak out for peace and prosperity, for both the people of Israel and Palestine.

Madam President! Here we are again. Once again, it is Orban's lack of respect for the rule of law that is on the agenda. Once again, the EU's steps to safeguard the fundamental democratic rights of the Hungarian people have been insufficient. Once again, there is clearly a need for pressure from the European Parliament if the respect for fundamental democratic principles is to apply in Hungary as well. We know that it works to push Orban economically, it is now clear and clear to everyone. When the EU has turned its back on the economy, Orban pulls ashore. That is why my message is clear. Dear colleagues! Dear Commissioner, Dear Council of Ministers! We need to stop making fun of our own money. The European Union must stop being passive while human rights are being violated. Orban must stop receiving EU funding while violating democratic rights. Dear colleagues, it is time to take action!

Mr President! Should we take an important step in the fight against climate change? Should we ensure that the green trucks and buses of the future are produced in Europe? Or should we just act like nothing and let go? That is the choice we have today. We have before us a compromise that will bring us important steps forward. It's not nearly as good and green as I'd like it to be. But it is a proposal that will bring about important green improvements, and we need that. Unfortunately, we also have a right wing that will once again dilute necessary climate action beyond recognition. I just have to ask the right: "What are you doing?" If you dilute our proposal today, you are damaging the climate. Then you send jobs out of Europe and on to the US and China. This makes it even more difficult to achieve the EU's agreed reduction targets. Is that really what you want? Dear colleagues! We cannot achieve the necessary climate action if we do not transform heavy transport. We cannot win the global competition for the jobs of the future if we do not transform now! And we cannot achieve the green transition without action.

Mr President! Every year, at least 70 000 Europeans die from air pollution, more than three times as many as road deaths. The vast majority of EU citizens are exposed to deadly air pollution. Air pollution is overwhelmingly caused by cars and trucks. We could have done something about that with this bill, but the friends of the automotive industry on the right wanted it different. So now, instead, we are faced with a proposal that has been watered down to unrecognizability. A proposal that essentially just extends the same low standards for cars that are already killing people today. It's a scandal. We don't need greenwashing. We need to put human lives above the short-term profits of the automotive industry. We need an ambitious green transition to create the green jobs of the future in Europe.

Madam President, Gaza is bleeding. The Palestinian civil population is paying the price for Hamas’s horrific terrorist attack and years of illegal occupation. Children make up almost half of Gaza’s population. Already thousands and thousands of children have died. While we speak, more and more are dying. No child should experience the war crimes that the children of Gaza are living through and dying from right now. Dear colleagues, the children of Gaza need a ceasefire. The civilian population of Israel and Palestine and the hostages need a ceasefire. The Middle East needs a ceasefire to avoid a major regional war. Dear colleagues, all children have the right to live, also the children in Gaza. Therefore, the message of the EU must be clear for all to hear: ceasefire now!

It is absolutely essential that we fight all forms of anti-Semitism wherever we see it. That is why I would just like to ask the rapporteur: “What are you doing in your political group to respond to the cases we have seen a few days ago?” For example, in Germany, where the AFD holds itself accountable for anti-Semitic actions and tributes to Nazi Germany.

Mr President, have the EU sanctions on Russia been effective? No, not as much as they could have been. Special economic interests have protected different sectors from sanctions. From luxury handbag exports to imports of caviar, there’s always been a bad excuse. The shipping and banking sectors were protected. Even Russian blood diamonds may only be covered by sanctions from next year, maybe. Not to speak of how the Turkish president, Erdogan, is undermining the sanctions by allowing Russian goods to go through Turkey into the EU. And then there are the fossil fuels. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has paid the Putin regime more than EUR 165 billion for fossil fuel imports alone – money that Putin has used for the war. How many bombs has he bought for those billions? We can do better. Let us strengthen solidarity with Ukraine. Let us strengthen the sanctions.

Mr. President! Oxygen is running out, seas are dying. Life in our streams is gone. It sounds like a horror movie, but it is the reality in Europe today. Our aquatic environment is in deep crisis. Life in our lakes, streams and seas must be restored. Therefore, more people need to be connected to the sewer system. More waste water needs to be treated and we need to introduce a new fourth treatment step, which also removes micro-pollution. But who will pay for it? They must be the ones polluting. Who else? When the pharmaceutical and cosmetic giants are responsible for the vast majority of the particles we remove in the fourth cleansing step, it is also only fair that they pay the bill. But here's the conflict right now. It is clear that the right, and unfortunately also the Social Democrats, would rather wipe the bill off the taxpayers by giving the pharmaceutical industry a discount on the bill. I'm sorry, but it's not gonna last! We need a socially just green transition where the polluter pays. In the Red-Green Alliance and on the left, we stand on the side of the people, not big pharmas'. So let's get started!

Madam President! Nearly one million people are homeless in the EU. A million! It's a scandal! The reality is that access to a good home is a matter of class. Low-wage earners, old-age pensioners and students are hit hardest by rising inflation, energy prices and real wage cuts. They are the ones who are forced from the house and home when the rent rises. Our homes have become a speculative object for greedy speculators and foreign private equity funds. It has to be stopped. If the EU really means the goal of eradicating homelessness by 2023, then let us tackle the greedy private equity funds that undermine the housing market and push tenants from their homes, then let us change state aid rules in the EU so that they do not hinder the construction of social housing, then let us ensure the right to decent housing for all, not just for the few.