Debate contributions by Niels Flemming HANSEN

Madam President! I am proud here today that we are delivering simplification for Europe's SMEs. It wasn't just a promise in the campaign. No, it has now become a reality and we are standing here in front of some of the biggest investments in the history of the European Union. Neither the EU budget nor the Member States can deliver on this alone. This is why InvestEU is so crucial. It is our strongest tool for making private investment possible. With a euro for the EU, we have managed to mobilise fourteen euros in total investment. This is politics at its best. And the fight for simplification has only just begun. After a year and a half in Parliament, I have helped to ensure that SMEs now have easier access to InvestEU, and that makes a real difference. But we're not on target. These improvements are only for another year. So now the next stage begins: To ensure that simplification not only survives, but is also strengthened in the next budgetary period. Because if we are to succeed in both the green transition and Europe's security, every euro must work even harder. And that is exactly what InvestEU makes possible.

I think everyone has had the impression that Russia was somewhere other than Russia actually was. That's why we need to come together, and that's why we need to respond with the hardest possible consequence. Because we must not threaten Europe, Europe is a safeguard that protects all of us, and we must hold on to that.

Madam President! This is not the first time that Europe is going through a difficult time. Konrad Adenauer said: "Wir leben underneath them gleichen Himmel, monkeys wir haben nicht alle den gleichen Horizon". In other words: We share the sky, our values, our freedom and our security, but we don't see all the threats from the same angle. Some countries in the EU live closer to Russia’s aggression on a daily basis – the Baltics, Poland, Finland – and that is why we need to act as one Europe. What we are discussing today is more important than who wins the next election. This is about the security of Europe. It is about citizens being able to trust that the lights are turned on, that the water is running and that our critical infrastructure is protected. The violations of European airspace, attacks on infrastructure that we have seen in recent weeks, not least in my own country of Denmark, are a direct threat to all of us. Europe must be able to respond. We have to respond. We must give our defence industry space to deliver solutions, protection against drones. Hybrid threats require capital, skills and rapid approvals, and our supply chains must be made quick and robust against sabotage and political pressure. And until we have built new defenses, we must use the existing military means to increase patrolling and shoot down outside drones. We must, and we must, show strength in the current situation, and we must integrate Ukraine's defence companies into the European defence economy, not as a defeat, but as a strategic strengthening of our common security. Let it be a clear message to Russia: The European Union is strong and united, and we will defend with all our strength our freedom, our democracy and our common values. On behalf of the Danish delegation: Thank you for the word!

Mr President, dear Commissioner, more than one hundred years ago, Albert Einstein reminded us that we owe a lot to the Indians. They taught us how to count, without which no worldwide scientific discovery could ever have been made. We have admired and learned from each other for centuries. Now we must turn shared knowledge into shared prosperity. It is high time to conclude a modern free‑trade and investment agreement, opening markets, protecting investors and setting standards the world will follow. We must secure supply chains, from critical raw materials to resilient manufacturing, so both economies can thrive. On security, let us engage with clear eyes: India will pursue its own interests, but deeper ties with Russia will not serve its long‑term stability. Instead, let us expand maritime, cyber and defence industrial cooperation between democracies that believe in a rule‑based order. Together, we can lead in technology, AI, semiconductors and mobile networks, and connect our startups from Bangalore to Berlin. Now we can drive the green transition, renewables, green hydrogen and sustainable finance through the Global Gateway. Europe and India have traded ideas for centuries. Today, our trade is not only in goods, it is in hopes – hope for a more connected and more sustainable and more peaceful world. Let us build the future together.

Mr President! Much has been said at this point in the debate, and so as not to repeat all the wise words that some of my colleagues have said, I will try to say something else. As conservatives, we talk a lot about responsibility. We are talking about financial responsibility, but also responsibility for nature and for passing on a better and safer world to the next generation. Therefore, the EU needs to invest much more in green technologies and energy efficiency. It's not about symbolism, it's about common sense. If we are to ensure cheap, stable and clean energy, then we must dare to invest now, not only in production, but also in using the energy wiser. It makes us freer - free from pollution, free from dependence on unstable countries and free to build our own industrial strength. When we see the Commission's proposal for the next long-term budget, we expect it to reflect this priority. Because now is the time for the EU to show vigour. Green transition is not only a necessity, it is also an opportunity for growth, jobs and European security. So I hope that together in this House we can take the necessary responsibility.

I have to say that I think that the gentleman speaking to me is completely wrong. Of course, it is important with the institution of a presidency that goes divided from country to country. From the Danish Presidency, our biggest effort here is to put the European alliance on the right track, so that we keep moving forward and we need presidency and we need Danish leadership to do that.

Madam President! Thank you very much for the speech, Mette. Normally I see myself as a happy man, and on Thursday I became even happier. The celebration of the Danish Presidency was an out-of-the-ordinary celebration. There were crowded streets, concerts, debates, discussions and unity – Danish politics at its best. You, Mette, gave an excellent speech yourself, where we were reminded of a dark chapter in world history, but also of how Aarhus' citizens went pragmatically to work and gathered iron from all over the country to build the town hall that still stands in the middle of the city. We really need that power again. This time it is about defending Europe, the green transition and economic growth. I hope that this will influence the Danish Presidency. But for that to happen, it requires more than good cooperation in the Council. This requires, in particular, a fruitful partnership in this House. Especially between your group and the group I represent. As a wise man once said, ideology is bullshit, and we have to infect Europe with the Danish model. The model that no matter who has power in the country, we try to make solutions together. No one gets everything, but everyone gets something – the conservative model. The time is not for political teasing, so together let us bridge differences and ensure that Europe emerges stronger from the Danish Presidency. Let us show the world that when it comes to the future of Europe, we stand shoulder to shoulder.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, as a conservative politician, nothing – nothing – is more important than our duty to leave a safe and liveable planet to the next generation. In a time of uncertainty, this report on energy infrastructure sends a crucial signal of hope and decisive action. We have to ask ourselves, not only as politicians, but also as citizens in Europe, what is more important? Building the infrastructure that keeps us safe and independent, or continuing long and difficult permitting procedures? I believe this can be done better. The expansion of our electric grid is a matter of Europe's security and strategic independence. Our access to energy must not be in the hands of unfriendly regimes. We must be able to act as each other's batteries; so when the sun shines in Spain and the wind is blowing in Denmark. Therefore, our message today is simple. Parliament has shown the way, now we expect the Commission to follow up with ambitious legislation and for Member States to turn words into action. Permits for energy infrastructure must be accelerated – our citizens expect it, future generations depend on it and our security requires it.

Madam President! For hundreds of years, Greenland and Denmark have been part of a deeply rooted community characterised by culture, history and unique ties. We simply need to protect these ties, and we do this best together and by strengthening cooperation between the EU and Greenland. Greenland plays a central role in the Arctic, and it will only become more important in the future. And this is due to defence, monitoring and access to critical raw materials. If the Greenlanders so wish, the EU should therefore support the development of infrastructure and ensure that the extraction of critical minerals is carried out sustainably and responsibly. This is essential for Greenlandic cooperation, society, European security and our joint development. This requires partnerships, not pressure, and a fundamental respect for the Realm and Greenland's right to make its own decisions. Greenland must not only be a pawn in the game of others, but an active and indispensable partner in the new Arctic chapter that we write together.

Madam President! According to the International Energy Agency, 35% of the technologies we need to reach Net Zero by 2050 are not yet on the market. This shows the need to increase investment in green innovation. Venture capital is at the heart of the ecosystem that funds innovative companies. It requires willingness to take high risk in order to achieve a high return. But Europe is lagging behind the US because institutional investment in the EU engages much less in venture capital. This must change if we are to ensure the EU's competitiveness and green leadership. I have three clear recommendations: Facilitate institutional investments to participate in the venture capital market and strengthen the role of the European Investment Fund, target support for clean tech funds and ensure strict sustainability criteria and expand direct investments in European clean tech start-ups. The European Investment Bank, the EIB, should directly support selected companies. We must also remember that for every euro we have to spend, we need to attract between two and five private euros in order to succeed in the green transition. It should therefore be a priority for the new Commission to speed up work on cleaning up the jungle of legislation that hampers cross-border investment. The future is not waiting. We must act now for the climate, for industry and for Europe's green leadership.

Mr President, dear Commissioner, honourable colleagues, e-commerce has rapidly expanded, offering consumers access to products from around the globe. A recent study found that 30 out of 38 products from the Temu platform failed to meet European safety standards, posing a serious risk to consumers. Some 30 out of 38, my dear friends: that's 78 %. This is not about protectionism. It's about ensuring fairness and safety. Non-compliance puts the consumers at risk and creates an uneven playing field, especially for European SMEs that follow EU rules. SMEs, which are the backbone of our economy, will suffer the most. The scale of e-commerce makes it impossible for national customs to manage alone. In Germany, it's estimated that there are around 400 000 packages a day from China; 78 % of that is 320 000 packages. Finally, this is a test of the EU's ability to address the challenges of a globalised marketplace. We must be decisive, not only to protect our consumers, but to prove that Europe can enforce its own rules and uphold fairness in the single market.

Madam President, dear Commissioner, dear colleagues, for the European car industry, the 15 % reduction target for CO2 emissions by 2025 is not only achievable, it's essential. Lowering our ambition would be an epic failure, not only for the companies that have already embraced the challenges and achieved the resolutions, but also for our planet. We are facing a crisis that goes beyond numbers and targets. It concerns the future of an industry that has for generations been the heart of our economy. There has been much talk about challenges facing European automotive sector, but often it concerns just specific parts of the German industry. If we start to waver now, if we allow ourselves to compromise, we will stop the progress we so desperately need. It would be like sending a signal to the world that Europe hesitates while others move forward. We must stand by our promises and our vision, and support the automotive sector in its necessary transition, not just with words, but with action. Therefore, I would be willing to revise our rules to ensure technology neutrality is a guiding principle because we do not have the luxury of ruling out solutions that can help us achieve our goals. This means incentives and investments that support the expansion of electrical infrastructure, the installation of charging stations and the development of e-fuels. When fines are collected next year, that money should go back into the economy to accelerate the green transition. It is our responsibility to ensure that Europe's car industry meets the goals we have set.