Speeches

Mr President, thank you very much. With the stubbornness of a fool, you have shuffled through an ineffective and expensive climate policy that makes no difference at all. You have done so at a time of extreme crises such as the pandemic and the invasion of Ukraine, which have alarmed and affected ordinary people more than Greta Thunberg. And when the cost crisis and inflation were a fact because of the Green Agenda – not even then did you choose to pause. Instead, you are gassing on with new regulatory burdens and a common loan trap of just over EUR 800 billion that indebted our children and grandchildren. Today, coronavirus billions are seeping into national budgets without any control whatsoever. The EU no longer trusts the market economy. The EU also no longer trusts companies. Instead, we have a straitjacket that strangles innovation and drives our industries towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The result is that they risk going bankrupt or choose to move their business to another part of the world. But tell me: If EU industry no longer survives and EU citizens no longer have jobs and can contribute to taxes and EU levies, how will you finance your favourite projects? Climate policy should focus on what actually makes a difference, not just expensive symbolic policies. It's time to redo and do the right thing and tear up and throw everything in the trash.

Mr President, thank you very much. The EU wants our buildings to be greener and have clean energy. It sounds very good, but unfortunately their proposal is more a utopian dream than reality. A clear example is from Germany, where €342 billion was spent on saving energy in buildings. Eight years later, it turned out that there was no improvement in efficiency at all. It was just an expensive project. This is why one model does not work for the whole of Europe. It just shows that we are far from ready for these over-ambitious plans. It is an expensive hobby driven by socialist activists, not by practical reality. The Buildings Directive places a dangerous financial administrative burden on our citizens. It is more or less criminal to demand this, especially when we know that the goals are unattainable. If you vote for this, be ashamed!

Madam President, thank you very much. Surely it sounds amazing that we should be able to show our identity and share electrical documents within the EU through a European digital wallet? Of course, it sounds too good to be true. There are serious risks that cannot be ignored. Corruption problems in some Member States are of particular concern. Can we trust that these are competent and respect the ethical handling of these sensitive data, as, for example, Sweden does? No, I'm afraid I don't. It is highly questionable and raises suspicion of abuse and inappropriate monitoring. In particular, our citizens put security and privacy at risk. This is something we need to consider before adopting such a proposal. As long as we have corrupt states within the Union, we are putting the security of our citizens at risk.

Madam President, thank you very much. The EU's climate policy has focused on renewable energy. For the consumer, this has meant that cheap electricity has become expensive. This also adds costs for expensive house renovations, the expansion of charging poles for electric cars, carbon taxes and massive climate regulations. What makes it all so sad is that this does not even have a significant effect on the global climate, as the rest of the world is not following the costly path of the EU. The focus of policy should be on creating prospects for citizens, ensuring that as many people as possible have a job and a stable income, that economic growth is possible and that people have the opportunity to own their own homes. It requires an energy policy that is rational and based on a market economy and not the current planned economy that the EU is engaged in.

Madam President, thank you very much. We European citizens, like everyone else on earth, must be able to eat. But the fact is that it is becoming more and more difficult for food producers to produce the food we need in Europe. Regulations and environmental requirements restrict farmers across Europe. Therefore, we now have a situation where we will need plants that grow faster, that need less water and nutrients and pesticides than conventional plants. How else can we feed the population while protecting animals and nature? We need to relax regulation for certain plants and seeds, which would increase the competitiveness of plant breeders, seed producers and farmers. This will allow us to put food on the table in the future.

Mr President, thank you very much. The left is shocked by Norway's decision to mine in the sea. There is no problem in filling the oceans with wind power that has a negative impact on animals and nature. It is political decisions to build wind turbines everywhere and that we will have electric cars that have led to this mining. It is therefore intellectually dishonest to criticize Norway right now. Where else are we going to get all the materials from, the minerals we need for the green transition? Maybe from China, which pollutes even more? Instead, let's work across party lines. For my party, the Sweden Democrats, nuclear power is the solution to the energy crisis. Nuclear power is actually one of the cleanest forms of energy production. Everyone who lives outside the climate bubble knows that. Nuclear power can make electricity prices cheaper, and that is what citizens need right now.

Mr President, thank you very much. Snus saves lives. Snus and nicotine pouches have made Sweden a world leader when it comes to fighting smoking. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of smokers. Swedes smoke the least throughout the EU: only 5.6% smoke daily compared to the EU average of 23%. Despite its success, the Commission is constantly on the lookout for a ban on snus. The latest is that nicotine pouches, the so-called white snus, will be illegal throughout the EU, which would also apply to Sweden. For the exception that Sweden has for selling snus, the white snus does not apply. At the same time, the EU wants Europe to be smoke-free by 2040, which is purely counterproductive. The only way to properly reduce the number of smokers is to offer another option, such as snus or nicotine products. The EU should learn more from Sweden and pursue a policy that is not so cigarette-friendly.

Mr President, thank you very much. The latest area in which the EU wants to introduce new standards is in refrigerators, air conditioners and heat pumps, including a ban on F-gases. But what will actually happen if 3,000 models of heat pumps currently on the market are suddenly replaced with models without F-gases? 1.3 million Swedish households currently have a heat pump. How many of these households will be forced to switch to a new heat pump in the near future? The pumps will not only be more expensive, but there will also be fewer units on the market. Many consumers will find themselves in the following situation: You want to buy a new heat pump for the winter. Be the last one in line because there won't be any until next summer. Yes, it is good to promote innovation, but bans that ignore technical feasibility and the consumer's ability to pay are harmful. What the EU calls ambition, ambition and innovation is, in fact, a major blow to its citizens. Many people have chosen heat pumps precisely because they produce heat in a very cheap and efficient way without having dirty and toxic emissions. The EU should therefore promote the use of more heat pumps instead of making it more difficult.

Mr President, thank you very much. Today, there is a Chinese monopoly on critical raw materials needed for electric cars, wind power and solar panels. Just as the EU made itself dependent on Russian gas in the past, we are now making ourselves dependent on China. You just exchange one dictatorship for another. Anyone who believes that prices for renewable sources will fall forgets that China, in its geopolitical game, can easily raise prices whenever they want. To think that they will not use the raw materials for a political power game is just naive. We must do everything we can to reduce this dependence. It is therefore imperative that we open up new Swedish mines. Unfortunately, this will not be enough: No matter how many mines we open, we won't get rid of the addiction. The dismantling of nuclear power and the utopian dream of 100 percent renewable energy gave China an open target. The mistakes are already made, something we will have to pay for in the future.

Madam President, thank you very much. Climate change cannot be achieved without nuclear power. It has nothing to do with politics or ideology, but it is pure science, mathematics and physics. John Kerry, the U.S. representative at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, said. How long will the European Commission ignore this reality? Are we on the side of enlightenment and science or on the side of utopian solar and wind energy ideology, which has done so much harm to Europe? The EU should actively encourage the development of nuclear power and in particular the new generation of small modular reactors. Then our prosperity and competition will increase. It is time for the EU to realise that it is Europe's citizens that it is working for and no one else. These citizens deserve a sound and balanced energy and climate policy.

Mr President, thank you very much. The EU's utopian climate targets are now hitting truck and bus companies with unreasonable climate rules. As the transport sector becomes more expensive, everything else becomes more expensive – food, building materials, appliances and so on. European transport is already a world leader in environmental and climate action. We have invested for decades in a better future and thus success. Once again, we are getting socialist pegs instead of promoting technological neutrality, innovation, research and free markets. This new noose around the neck will cause the economy to stagnate even more. Competitiveness is eroded when companies leave the EU and people find it increasingly difficult to pay their bills. Outside of the radical climate bubble, the reality is clear. Citizens want a reduction in the cost of living and a climate policy that is not alarmist and does not judge ordinary people, but that has faith in the future and trusts in Europe. Nuclear energy is an excellent solution for the whole of Europe.

Madam President, thank you very much. The UN climate conferences often result in ambitious countries doing more, while climate villains such as China and India have no demands on them. Take a look at the Paris Agreement. Of the 196 signatory countries, only 60 are obliged to take concrete action. Only a third. The fact that the EU is committed hits us hard. Our standard of living is lowered, while we subsidize China by buying its solar, wind and battery products. Asia's emissions are increasing and the EU is becoming weaker. Nothing helps the climate. It is time to ask ourselves the question that no one has dared to ask at the climate conference yet. What effect and costs have the UN climate decisions had in practice? It's economic calculations that help the climate, not moral pegs for the Western world.

Madam President, thank you very much. In northern Sweden, more than 16,000 timber trucks cross the border into Finland every year. This is due to an exception for Finland and Sweden, where transport between the two countries can have different dimensions and weights. Allowing high weights is actually crucial for these shipments, but according to the EU, this is completely problematic. Unfortunately, the EU now wants to introduce a so-called one-size-fits-all model for all applicable weights, which will cause great harm to Sweden. The proposed rules would require all lorries to unload and tranship at the border, which neither benefits the environment nor makes trade more efficient. Our forest industry is working hard to operate in sparsely populated areas – sparsely populated areas without existing rail connections. Decades of development work have resulted in longer and heavier trucks that are adapted to Nordic conditions and industrial needs. Europe needs to think, Europe needs to think right.

Mr President, thank you very much. The European Commission wants platform X (formerly Twitter) to censor offensive and inappropriate material. If the right measures are not taken, the platform is threatened with shutting down. Of course, illegal content should not be displayed, it goes without saying. But why should bureaucrats and EU politicians act as judges and rule over freedom of expression? X stands for freedom and transparency, and the EU stands for political censorship. Had EU rules been in place now, we would not have been able to take part in Hamas' atrocities in Israel, something that has made many people realise what an evil and hateful terrorist organisation they are. We had also not received information about the terrorist attack in Brussels as quickly. The EU should not decide what to publish on social media. Truth and reality are not always beautiful. Unfortunately, it is too brutal and terrible, but that is not a reason for censorship. The truth shall be shown as it is, or we shall face a dark future.

Madam President, thank you very much. Wind power is the EU's favourite child. They do everything possible to build more and larger wind farms at the expense of people, animals and nature. They deliberately choose to ignore the consequences and better alternatives. Wind power has become a sacred cow, a religious belief, which under no circumstances can be criticized by anyone at all. Decisions on wind power are taken in Brussels when it should be taken at local level by the local population. After all, they are experiencing the consequences of wind power. The local people must be heard instead of seeing their surroundings turn into wind farms. Wind power has gone too far. Europe needs to wake up and realise that the cost to people, animals and nature has become far too high.

Madam President, thank you very much. Many still believe that the EU is the economic centre of the world. Unfortunately, the reality is different. We are falling behind economically and it is not due to China, Russia and a troubled world, but the fault is our own policy. whereas only 10 of the world’s 100 largest technology companies are currently based in the EU, while 13 are located in Taiwan and 44 in the US; Yet they continue to fanatically invest in more bureaucracy, regulations, top-down governance, bans and waste. We do not create competitive technology companies by continuing to make undemanding contributions, from countries such as Sweden, to dysfunctional economies in southern Europe. The policy needs to be changed. It is time for the EU to reconsider its political priorities and shrink to recover. We need a much smaller but better Europe.

Mr President, thank you very much. If the rules for waste water treatment are to be changed so that it really makes a difference for people, animals and the environment, should it not be a change that is positive? Instead, we now have a proposal from the Commission that will penalise Swedish treatment plants with the best available technology. As usual, the EU bureaucrats present a model that should suit everyone when it does not always work. Regional and local needs are not taken into account, especially in areas with different environmental conditions. For example, the proposed requirement to remove nitrogen does not fit into the natural nitrogen cycle in Swedish lakes and rivers. For Sweden, this would lead to very inefficient solutions, even being counterproductive to the environment. It would also be very expensive for Swedish municipalities, especially for small municipalities that already have difficulties with the economic situation. This proposal will therefore be inefficient and costly and will not help the environment. So do it again, do it right!

Mr President, thank you very much. The democratic monster Europe continues to grow at an ever-increasing rate. Now they are also entering the free financial markets. As usual, the EU believes itself to be an expert on investment and what is green, social and what is desirable for society. Labels such as green funds and sustainable investments only politicise our economy. What investors really need is free and neutral information without government sticks. Determining what is a green project can be subjective and can vary depending on individual interpretations. Especially in the EU with all the political compromises, which risks leading to the wrong spending of capital. The EU should simply not set any arbitrary standards at all, but leave the market free and take innovative decisions that lead to long-term growth.

Madam President, thank you very much. Every day, millions of hard-working Europeans go to work. It is the backbone of the European economy. It is because of their hard work and the fact that they pay taxes that we have a budget to decide on at all. As Members of the European Parliament, we therefore have a duty to manage these funds as efficiently and efficiently as possible. Unfortunately, the EU does not and has instead become the stronghold of waste that sprinkles money around it. Too many politicians in here don't know what it's like to have an honest job where you have limited resources and have to relate to a budget. That is why Parliament wants to spend more and more, like a spoiled rich man's cub, because someone else is paying. No matter how badly you spend the money, it will never affect Members of this House. It is now time to take real responsibility and stop the waste together. It is only then that we can look the hard-working Europeans in the eye and say that we did everything we could to manage their money as much as possible.

Madam President, thank you very much. People with good ideas usually fund them themselves because they believe in them. People with bad ideas, on the other hand, let others pay because they know that the risk of loss is too great. The EU's climate policy is precisely a bad idea, which is entirely dependent on citizens paying. According to European Commission estimates, EU climate policy requires additional investment of €620 billion per year. Neither the huge EU budget nor the debt-financed coronavirus fund can cover this. Ultimately, citizens must finance this with new taxes. The EU would rather continue to find new reasons to grab more money than to try to control its spending. You preach water, but you drink wine, which is an irresponsible waste. Especially in these difficult times.

Mr President, thank you very much. Despite a wave of tax-funded subsidies, the wind industry is struggling with increased construction costs, logistics problems, bureaucracy and competition from China. Losses are on the rise, even though subsidies are increasing. This is what a clear and forward-looking EU policy looks like. Filling our landscapes and coasts with wind power will destroy our environment. It is sad that the EU and the climate movement have completely abandoned the old ideals of nature conservation and species protection. Wind power will not supply the electricity needed to run a competitive industry. The absurdly high targets will not be met, and the Commission knows that. When will the EU stop claiming that wind power will make us more geopolitically independent? It is not enough for the wind to blow in Europe. Reality is more complex than that. The truth is that renewable energy sources will only make us more and more dependent on China. It is time for the EU to realise this too!

Madam President, thank you very much. Europe's economy is constantly threatened by growing EU bureaucracy with bans and regulations, but also an increasing rate of subsidies. The EU's Semiconductor Act means that a very profitable US company receives over SEK 100 billion in tax money to build a semiconductor factory in Germany. It will certainly create more jobs, but the jobs will be as expensive as up to SEK 10 million each. Encouraging the production of semiconductors in Europe may sound very good in theory, but it completely distorts the internal market, where large countries such as France and Germany have enormous advantages. Public funds should be used for schools and universities or to address the root causes of the lack of high-tech companies in Europe. Less EU regulation, better education and more investment in sustainable innovation. Then global companies will want to operate within the EU without having to be attracted by tens of millions of kronor.

–Mrs President, The brutal riots in France are a ruthless insight into the future of Western Europe and Sweden. Integration has completely failed. Everyone knows about it, but it's still taboo to talk about it in Brussels. Migration has changed our countries in a way that I think many did not want, and above all it has changed our countries forever, both demographically, socially, culturally and securely. The European Parliament loves to get involved in all the problems of the world, but it has not spent a single second, not a single word, on the recent riots in France. Western Europe has a large number of inhabitants who despise everything that we stand for. They hate us, even though we have poured out subsidies and rarely made any demands on these people. It is time we tackle these problems before the Europe we all love no longer exists.

Madam President, thank you very much. People have always been concerned about poverty. The worst thing is when political decisions cause it. We as politicians should therefore do what we can to avoid exposing people to poverty. Unfortunately, this must be reminded of the European Parliament, this spaceship that is far from ordinary people's everyday lives. EU officials and politicians are well cared for by the hard work of taxpayers and do not have to worry about the consequences of the policies pursued. While there is inflation, a majority in Parliament continues to push through the gigantic and aggressive climate package Green Deal. It consists of bans, regulations, energy insecurity, absurd renovation obligations and technological hostility. We do not even know if it will help the climate at all with these measures. But we know one thing: Our citizens will be poorer.

Mr President, thank you very much. I would like to begin by thanking all the brave women who came forward during the metoo. We can now talk openly about sexual harassment and that's because of you. Sexual harassment is much more common in society and more accepted in society than many people think. I had hoped that this report would raise it on a broader front, but unfortunately it was kidnapped by the left, and they have understood nothing at all, as usual. Sexual harassment is not just about men in positions of power harassing women. If a man is taken on the buttocks in the workplace or taken on the sex in an outdoor area by a woman, it is totally socially accepted by society. It's considered ridiculous if a man reports this. Just like it was for women before metoo. It's the same in the LGBT community, if not worse. Sexual harassment occurs everywhere, and it's wrong no matter who does it. Therefore, it is important that we focus on just this and work together across party boundaries to create real change.