Debate contributions by Maria OHISALO

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, tonight, 1.3 million people in the European Union do not have a place to call home – not because they chose it, but because politics has failed to provide it. And home is a human right. Yet hundreds of thousands of fellow human beings are living in the streets of our Union – a union that preaches about human rights and equality. In its affordable housing plan, the Commission has acknowledged the graveness of the problem of homelessness, and I want to thank you for that, but it actually does not provide very concrete measures on how to solve it, so let me help a bit. The 'housing first' principle must be implemented across the European Union, and for that we need a real shift in mindset. We need to put people in the centre, and we need to give them more control over their housing and related support. We need more housing counselling to prevent evictions, more coordinating policies across sectors and investment in professional expertise. And finally, we do need simply more affordable housing, not speculation, but homes for human beings.

Mr President, Commissioner, nothing is more important than a viable planet, and it is therefore absolutely crucial that the EU's multiannual financial framework should pave the way for the gradual phasing out of all fossil fuels and environmentally harmful subsidies. This has been a clear and long-term goal of the Greens, for which we have been fighting for the last few months, including with regard to this report. Disengagement from the fossil economy is central not only to climate change, but it is also a huge security issue. The EU cannot continue to hang on to fossil energy and put our security in the hands of dictators like Putin. I am therefore looking forward to an ambitious proposal from the Commission that demonstrates that this necessary step is possible.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, to be able to provide accessible social and health care, affordable housing, education and other services. we collect taxes. But while most people contribute towards this common good, there is one group that avoids its duty and this is the ultra-rich people. A small group of them sit on billions of euros and do not pay their fair share. If the top 0.5 % of super wealthy were to play by the same rules as others, EU countries could have almost EUR 273 billion more to invest in services. In practice, this could mean, for example, increasing education budgets by 39 %, employing 7.4 million additional hospital nurses, or covering all of the housing development initiatives and extend them by more than eight times. So, colleagues, let's start taxing the ultra rich to finance the well-being of Europeans.

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, for years we've known that governments and companies must be able to innovate and plan for the needed green and digital transitions. Still, we have almost a million jobs lost in manufacturing in only four years, proving that they haven't. The green and digital transition has a huge impact on work and the lives of workers. Now, honourable Commissioner, you really have the possibility to make a difference in millions of people's lives. By giving a voice to the workers and social partners, embracing social dialogue – there is a way to make this transition a just one. While we welcome the Commission's plans aimed at preparing workers in a rapidly changing labour market, the Commission must put forward a proposal for a just transition directive now. This needs to happen sooner, not later, in order for us not to leave anyone behind.

Mr President, Commissioner, the far right is on the rise and the conservative centre-right is enabling this all over Europe. Nazi salutes and bizarre culture wars every day. They are not any accidents. They divert people's focus from painful political decisions restricting workers' rights, making access to healthcare and education harder, cutting from social security, reducing the capacity of civil society, science and arts, feeding misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia – and all in the name of freedom of speech. All in the name of the richest getting even richer. The economy and competitiveness – they also suffer from this kind of instability. They need certainty. So people, let's not be fooled. Let's not get numb and quiet. Let's raise our voices and let's fight back.

Mr President, Commissioner, the shortage of nurses is an acute threat both in Finland and in the European Union as a whole. At worst, the risk of violence against healthcare workers can be as high as eighty per cent. Wages are running in place, occupational safety and health is not sufficient, and the workload has increased. The price is high. Failure to invest in workers reduces the well-being of workers, reduces the quality and availability of care, increases inequalities, leaves problems unresolved and increases costs. But we have solutions. Address violence experienced by workers, strengthen OSH, invest in training and skills. Better wages and safer working conditions are required. It is estimated that by 2030, there will already be a deficit of four million workers in the whole of Europe, and even in Finland, there will be a deficit of twelve thousand workers in the social and healthcare sector. But we still have a chance to prevent a catastrophe that is about life and death.

As I said in my speech, we see all over the world how democracy and the rule of law are now being trampled down. Here, many colleagues have well said that part of a functioning democracy is a functioning civil society, and civil society will not work if it is not also supported in some places by the political forces. What we demand is the same criteria for everyone. The same transparency must apply to everyone. Do we currently see the same openness applying to all those corporate lobbyists, to all those actors that are currently receiving EU funding? This is my question.

Madam President, dear colleagues, we are witnessing in real time how countries after another fall into autocracy. And I want us all to think for a moment: is this really the time we want to see the civil society in the EU suppressed? The Commission wants to stop environmental NGOs receiving EU funds from doing advocacy work. This attack has been pushed by EPP, their far-right allies and corporate lobbyists against NGOs and citizen participation. Every resilient democracy needs an active civil society, and civil society requires resources to represent the voices of the silenced – unlike corporations, whose financial resources are incomparable. Those who wish to ban advocacy of environmental NGOs receiving EU funds, I ask you: following your logic, should we also ban lobbying of all companies, cities and other organisations which are receiving the same EU funding?

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, year 24 was the first calendar year in which the average global temperature exceeded an aspen and a half degree. Efforts to halt climate change and biodiversity loss are not only too limited, but also literally deadly slow. As climate denier Trump regains power and the West breaks through, the EU must reclaim its role in global climate leadership. And now is not the time to be discouraged; now is the time to fight harder than ever before. I now expect a binding plan from the Commission to end fossil fuel subsidies and phase out fossil fuels as soon as possible. It is time to stop hanging onto a deadly fossil economy for people, climate and security and to direct investment towards a green and just transition.

Mr President, Commissioner, none of us without us. This principle must be reflected in the update of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. European disability organisations have already made good concrete proposals, of which I would like to highlight housing in particular. Home is the foundation of a good life, and home is a human right. During this period, we will decide on a European plan for affordable housing, which must also address the accessibility and accessibility of the housing stock. There is a lack of accessible and affordable housing and this is often the reason why institutional housing is not being phased out towards independent and supported housing. People with disabilities have the right to choose where, how and with whom they want to live and live, just like all other people. This must be reflected in our strategy.

Mr President, Commissioner, what is the link between fell owl, red mud, naal, sea trout and eel? They are all classified as endangered species. According to the latest report of the International Panel on Nature, biodiversity is depleting all over the world and on all indicators. The reasons for this are overconsumption of climate change. The reasons for the threat are similar in Finland and around the world: habitats of species have shrunk and deteriorated. In Finland, forests are the most important habitat for endangered species. And can you imagine that map data on old-growth and natural forests are not collected? Comprehensive and consistent information on the state of EU forests is essential to halt biodiversity loss. This is exactly what the Forest Monitoring Regulation aims to address. And can you imagine that this important regulation, too, is being opposed in this house?

Mr President, Commissioner, the world would look very different without workers' organisations, but now the right, with the support of the extreme right, is breaking down workers' rights and the conditions for trade unions across Europe. The culture of agreement has shifted to dictation and squatting. Finland alsossa The government is pushing down workers' rights by restricting unemployment protection, the right to strike and freedom of contract. In Finland, it was also decided to restrict the work and independence of wage negotiators, thereby strengthening the pay gap in female-dominated and public sectors. When the state of mediation is restricted, only industrial action remains. As the far right pushes on and faces a huge transformation of the world of work, workers need even more defenders. And all of us in the EU need more of a path of agreement and trust.

Relying on Russian fossil energy is the stupidest thing to do, during these times especially. And the EU has actually put more money into buying Russian fossil fuels than into supporting Ukraine. So my question to the speaker is, are you willing to support people in the European Union in this transition, rather than continuing to support Russia's brutal war against Ukraine?

Mr President, Commissioner, at least one in ten Europeans is living in energy poverty. This means that so many Europeans will not be able to cope with the necessary heating and electricity costs. Increasing fossil energy is not the answer to this crisis, but a quick exit from it. Dependence on fossil energy is a huge security threat to Europe and a threat to people's everyday security. Energy efficiency is the key to preventing energy poverty. At the initiative of the Greens, Finland has introduced energy self-sufficiency loans to support households. The aim of our Greens is to get this model across Europe so that we can quickly reduce European energy poverty and dependence on the terrorist state Russia. I would therefore like to ask the Commission: Are you going to include this in your program?

Madam President, Commissioner Schinas, when I left Montreal 2 years ago as a minister, the spirits were really high. After really long negotiations, the historical Kunming-Montreal agreement was really there. We did it. But since then, the optimism has been overshadowed by the lack of progress in implementing this important framework. A dedicated global financing instrument for biodiversity is still missing. The political guidelines for the next Commission highlight efficient implementation of the EU's biodiversity commitments, including the Kunming-Montreal agreement. However, we have just seen watering down of the Deforestation Regulation, lost opportunity with the COP16 and the lack of real, concrete ambition in the Commission's guidelines regarding nature. The climate and biodiversity crises are entwined. We have lost the luxury of time in tackling these crises a long time ago. So my question for the Commission is: how will the Commission ensure that the EU is fulfilling its global commitments to stop biodiversity loss?

Madam President, dear colleagues, I urge you to see poverty. Poverty that comes in millions of different forms. It can mean a person struggling without fresh water and housing thousands of kilometres away from here. But poverty can lurk in situations where your neighbour is not able to access medical care in time of need. Poverty can look like sleeping rough outside the European Parliament. But poverty can also come in the form of lack of empathy. Lack of empathy which prevents politicians from seeing the struggle of so many. Lack of empathy prevents politicians from making decisions that would eradicate poverty. Because we know that international day of eradication of poverty and homelessness is every day and it is every night. Dear colleagues, I urge you to see poverty, and I urge you to take concrete action and fight against it. And I urge the Commission to present an ambitious anti-poverty strategy with legislative proposals to reach our objectives.

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, nearly 1.3 million people sleep rough or without permanent accommodation in the EU. 400,000 children are homeless. And I welcome the long awaited affordable-housing plan by the Commission, which must build on the successful Housing First principle. This requires actually a change in our mindsets, because, previously, a home was an outcome when a person demonstrated progress in their lives, such as finding a job or tackling substance abuse. The thinking was that only by solving other issues first, a person deserves a home. But the reality is exactly the opposite. Housing is a human right. Only from the safety of one's home can a person start solving other challenges in their lives. When we discuss about what affordable housing means, who builds and who owns it, and how it is regulated, we must keep in our minds the most vulnerable people whose lives can actually be transformed if we, politicians here and all over Europe, just put housing first.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, southern Europe is once again plagued by terrible forest and wildfires. Destructive wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events will become more common and their scale will only increase as climate change and biodiversity loss progress. We need to be better prepared for these challenges in the future. We need better cooperation within the EU and a strengthening of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. When we talk about wildfires, we cannot help but talk about the state of our forests. The Commission's decision last week to postpone the entry into force of the deforestation regulation was also a lousy decision in this regard. When forests are being destroyed in Europe, they say, turn your eyes to the Amazon, turn your eyes to the big questions. Now that this important deforestation regulation is coming into the toolbox, we are not taking it into use. This is incomprehensible news! On the contrary, it is more important than ever to ensure the implementation of EU legislation that is central to the state of forests, and we need to increase ambition. We also need more comprehensive information on the state of our forests in order to better protect them. Above all, we must be able to address the root causes of the disasters. We do not have time to take a step back in climate and nature action, and we cannot send a message to the world that the EU will not work on these issues in the years to come. Nothing is more important than a viable planet. When ecosystems collapse and food production drowns, our forests burn to the ground, groundwater spoils and species around us die, we cannot eat banknotes and drink securities. We need action now.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, I think it is valuable that the report puts a climate-resilient Europe and skilled people at the heart of competitiveness. However, competence must be based on a foundation where people's basic income, housing and education are guaranteed to everyone, where everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to realize themselves, and in this report, unfortunately, leaves something to be desired. The competitiveness created by consuming nature and people has come to an end. Good working conditions and a fair working life, as well as a stable and equal society, biodiversity, are prerequisites for sustainable competitiveness. Together, we must make the decisions that will make the EU the most competent and prosperous people in the world. Let's start with the fact that everyone has a home from which to build a good life.