Debate contributions by Sigrid FRIIS

I think you're wrong if you think climate policies and security and defence policy differ that much. The solution is the same: free ourselves from Russian gas. And let us not be naive and think that we can just switch from Russian gas to American LNG. If we go your way, deciding to treat these as completely different topics, we are doomed to fail, we are doomed to replace just one dependency with another, and that will not create a stronger Europe or a safer Europe.

Mr President! Thank you. When you look out into the world, you can get worried, whether you look at Beijing or Moscow or Washington, there is plenty of bad news, but it is important that we in Europe do not shy away. We shouldn't be afraid or make ourselves smaller than we are. On the contrary. We are the best place to be if you ask me. We have so much to give to this world and we have so much we want for our continent. We must give the courageous answers both politically, economically, but also militarily. We need to build a real defence union, because the geopolitical situation right now is simply too serious not to. There is only Europe to safeguard Europe's interests, Europe's security and the future of the next generation of young Europeans. Let me be clear. The people deserve courageous politicians who make the important decisions for the future of our continent. The people deserve that when we spend up to five percent of our GDP on defence, we spend the money wisely, and the money is spent wisely when we do it together. We should not fear EU flags or stars on the shoulders of our soldiers' military uniform. On the contrary, we must do it with pride.

Mr President, let us not forget the name of Jina Mahsa Amini. Remember 'Woman, Life, Freedom', a fight that must not fade away. The Iranian regime's surge in death penalty executions and brutal abuses against peaceful protesters cannot stand. Iran's ayatollahs gun down children and raid hospitals because a whole nation is rising. It's making Tehran tremble. A generation is fighting for their future. And right now the regime is testing whether the world will blink. That is why Europe must show unbreakable solidarity, support the brave citizens, strengthen the regime sanctions, support Iranian civil society, media and connectivity partners. We need clear EU action. We need to empower protesters against tyranny – for women, for life and for freedom.

Mr President, I have some news to share with you. If you are against abortion, don't have one. No one is forcing you. But don't confuse your personal choice, your opinion or your beliefs with your right to decide what's right for others. Because making women suffer through unwanted pregnancy has nothing to do with protecting your so-called values. You want to silence women, but guess what? You cannot silence the voice of 1.2 million European citizens behind this initiative, and you should not silence the voice of the 20 million women in the EU who do not have access to safe and accessible abortions. I will not let that happen. We had the scientific and historical evidence that clearly shows that banning abortion does not eliminate abortions. It just makes them more dangerous. In the interest of every woman, every citizen behind the initiative and every woman living in a Member State where safe and accessible abortions are not reality yet, I count on your vote tomorrow for the 'My voice, my choice' initiative.

Mr President! 10 million! So many pigs die every year from stress, hunger and disease in the Danish stables. That's the equivalent of a pig dying every three seconds. 1, 2, 3 – take a moment and imagine if we were talking about puppies. And the animals that are lucky enough to survive in the stables are sent on round-the-clock journeys under unbearable conditions and heat. But honestly. Living beings must be treated responsibly. We are committed to protecting them in the best possible way from pain and from suffering. Agriculture is facing an animal welfare crisis. Yet we are giving billions of European tax dollars to agricultural subsidies. And Denmark even awards slaughter premiums. I mean, what! We breed and breed on animals that can't say no. We give penicillin in excessive amounts, animals are medicated, we stow them together in stables and in trucks, so that we cannot see the massive failure we are exposing them to. We close our eyes because it is easier and perhaps cheaper than taking action. But we can't pretend to be blind. We can watch it on TV. We can read it in the paper. Now it is our responsibility to stop the systematic treatment of animals and create a farm we can be familiar with.

I think it is safe to say that it is broad scientific consensus – also confirmed by all of the experts we have had for numerous visits in the ENVI Committee, in the ITRE Committee and here in the European Parliament – that the changes we see and the rising temperatures we see on our globe right now are proving to be caused by human activities. It is caused by the way we live, the way we produce and the way we keep using outdated technologies such as fossil fuels. If you still deny that, if you choose to deny these facts, even with all the science and all the experts coming to tell us about the state of our planet, then I am not sure anything I say from this chair can change your mind, unfortunately.

Mr President, we are tired of waiting. The young generation of Europe has had enough. Empty promises and failed attempts do not suffice anymore. The agreement from COP was, let's be honest, disappointing. Where is the roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels? It lacked the courage and the speed that the climate crisis demands, but it also proved that the world can still come together. There is a foundation to build upon. But here in Europe, we are faced with right‑wing politicians who deny the crisis entirely. The forces who shrug at rising temperatures, who mock young people demanding a future, or who pretend that climate delay is somehow realism. Let's call it what it is: cowardice. But you know what? The next generation is not buying it. We are demanding higher ambition louder, clearer, fiercer than ever. Now, Europe must match with leadership, not hesitation. So, to all the deniers, the ones clinging to the past, all the delayers: you are out of excuses, and we are out of time. The next generation is out of patience. The future is waiting. It is asking us to be brave.

Mr President, I must admit I find it a little bit funny how some colleagues in this House seem to think we have this debate because someone doesn't like the government in Hungary. No, this is about a government in Hungary that seems like they don't like their own citizens, that they don't respect the democracy of the country that has elected them. But Hungary deserves better than this. The citizens deserve better than Orbán and his corrupt friends. They deserve better than a government that breaks the rule of law. Authoritarians always start by going after the minorities; that's why protecting them is the front line of defending democracy itself. So when Orbán and his government targets them, he is testing whether we in Europe will blink. Europe is a Union of values, not a cash machine for leaders who undermine democracy at home while demanding our respect abroad. Orbán tries to marginalise, but the EU must defend, because they're European citizens and their rights are non-negotiable. They deserve our unwavering support. Hungary and its citizens deserve better than Orbán.

Madam President, in this House we love to speak about strategic autonomy, but unfortunately, we rarely speak about bodily autonomy. We must protect and safeguard women's right to decide what we want to do with our bodies. No one should risk losing their life because they don't want to be pregnant, but unfortunately, they don't have the right or the access to safe abortions. Forcing women to carry out unwanted pregnancies is violence. Right now, the 'My Choice, My Voice' initiative is fighting for women's rights to access abortions no matter which Member State they live in in our Union. I think it's something that we in this House need to speak up for, with a very clear voice, that we want to support and ensure women's right to decide. Our bodies are only for us to decide on.

Madam President, Climate policy is so last year. At least, that's how it sounds when you listen to some priorities in this House. But when did fighting for our planet's survival become something to hide away? When did climate action turn into something that could be torn apart in the name of simplification or deregulation? On our quest towards competitiveness, we cannot ignore the simple truth that economic strength and climate stability are two sides of the same coin. Living up to the Paris Agreement can save us EUR 1 trillion euro by 2030 in avoided damages. It cannot be clearer that Europe needs ambitious climate policy to stay competitive. Lower energy prices mean a safer Europe and mean a greener Union. This is one and the same fight. Yet, the EU goes to COP without a legally binding 2040 target. That is embarrassing. We cannot leave our planet's future to Orbán or Trump because, at this rate, the planet will be deregulated into oblivion.

Mr President, being a woman really sucks sometimes. We earn less, we do more unpaid care work and, on top of that, we spend almost a quarter of our lives bleeding. Periods aren't just painful – they're toxic. They're literally toxic because many period products still contain PFAS, the so-called 'forever chemicals'. The same substances that we ban in food packaging are still allowed in products that we insert into our bodies. Scientific evidence shows that PFAS in humans can cause infertility, cancer and even harm babies through the placenta or the breast milk they receive from their mothers. Some tampons have also been found to contain mercury and lead. These heavy metals can damage the brain or nervous systems, even in children or unborn babies. On average, a person who menstruate uses around 10 000 menstrual products during their lifetime. Imagine how much toxic exposure that adds up to. When a teenage girl inserts a menstrual cup it takes four years before the level of PFAS in her body is halved. By the time she enters menopause and stops bleeding... I don't even want to think about how many toxic substances she has in her body. I can't help but wonder if this would have been allowed if it was men who were menstruating. That is why I want to ask you now, Commissioner, do you really think that toxic period products should still be legal? Or is this the time to move forward with the legislative path to include PFAS in the ban for products?

Madam President! Kristoffer, you're talking about competitiveness and you're talking a lot about meat, but if you'd like a competitive farm, we might have to produce in some new ways as well. All too often I hear you shoot down the good ideas of a more plant-based agriculture, and I find that extremely unfortunate, because it is no shame when the President of the Commission is standing in the salad bar. This is the path that more people will take in the future. Don't you agree too? At least, I know that three out of four Danes actually agree with me. Three out of four Danes want to eat more plant-based. A good way to get more plants into the diet, for example, might be to replace your original sausages with them with plants or maybe eat a veggieburger instead of a cheeseburger.

Mr President! There's a whole world full of problems. So what exactly are we spending our time on in this House? That's sausage talk. In other words: Can we call these sausages sausages sausages or not? And who has decided that we should spend our time on it? It is you here on the right wing of this House. According to you, Europeans get confused if they meet a vegetarian burger or a plant sausage in the supermarket. But perhaps it is in fact mostly you who are afraid of losing the support of agricultural lobbyists. But plant-based foods are becoming more and more popular, and this creates some kind of fear in old-fashioned agriculture and their henchmen. So now you seem to be doing everything possible to stop the good green development. What's the next crazy ban you're making up? Is it juice with pulp, coconut milk or peanut butter? Is that what we should be afraid of? Excuse me, but you're wasting our time. We shouldn't be afraid of these. We need to create legislation that actually makes a difference.

Madam President, the right to be who you are, to live without fear of state repression, to peaceful assembly – these are all rights that lie at the very heart of what it means to be European. So, when one Member State tramples on these rights, it's our collective responsibility to act. Viktor Orbán does not speak for all Hungarians. We stand with the brave officials, the organisers, the citizens fighting for Budapest's Pride. To all those standing up for freedom, equality and the right to live authentically, we stand with you and we thank you. Today it's Hungary, but tomorrow it could be anywhere. So, we must be unwavering in our message: love is not a crime. Equality is not negotiable. And Europe will not look away while its values are being dismantled. So, today, as Guardian of the Treaty, I want to ask the Commission: what can we do? When can we do something to finally protect the fundamental rights that define our Union?

Mr. President! Thank you and thank you for the review of initiatives since 2022. Unfortunately, we have to note that there is a lot of work ahead of us. Donald Trump, he was right about one thing when, last week in front of Congress, he drilled his finger directly into an open European wound. That is, since the war broke out, we have given more money to Putin through our imports of gas and oil than we have given to the Ukrainians. 206 billion euros for Putin's war machine. 135 billion for Zelenskyy's struggle for freedom. We want to get rid of Putin's gas. It's hard to understand why we don't have the plan of action to get there. That is, even if you have the goal of shutting down Putin's gas in Europe by 2027 at the very latest. This plan should be here, but has been delayed due to the geopolitical situation. But it is precisely because of the geopolitical situation that Europe must be more in its own right. And we can only do this by getting rid of the fossil fuels of the past and switching to renewable energy sources. So, dear Dan, how long is Donald Trump going to be right?

Madam President! Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement, and for the next four years we will look far beyond the U.S. delegation every time the climate crisis needs to be resolved at the United Nations Global Climate Change Conference. It is a huge problem that such a large and polluting nation is not to be found at the negotiating table. Or when the most vulnerable women and children need medical help, then they should not count on the United States to contribute, because the United States has turned its back on the WHO and the humanitarian crises, which are getting worse and worse with each passing day. America doesn't have its back. The world's largest individual donor of development aid has closed the box. It is both unbearable, unsolidarity and deeply worrying. Unity has never, as you have never, been more important. We can't count on the United States, but do you know what we can and should be able to count on? EU! Because as the world stands today, there is no time for division, but for leadership, for the climate, for health and for security.

Mr President, Trump is taking over the presidency as we speak, and while we have this debate, he's making it clear that the US intends to leave the Paris Agreement again. While 2024 is the hottest year ever recorded – and even if someone tries to claim this is just a coincidence – I would like to remind you that each of the last 10 years are in the top 10 warmest years ever recorded, so climate disasters have become, I think, a fact of life. Climate change is something that we must tackle in the EU. We still have a slim chance to keep long‑term global warming under 1.5 degrees, but this calls for swift EU climate action. So let Donald Trump do all the talking. Let's have the EU actually walk the walk. Let's have the EU step up, be a climate leader. So Commissioner and colleagues of this House, let's push for an ambitious 2035 emissions target based on 90 % target for 2040, well ahead of the COP 30. We cannot wait until the last moment. Cutting emissions means replacing polluting gas and coal with clean solar and wind. And to achieve this, we need a 2040 renewables target that's ambitious.

Mr President! The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has sparked hope in Gaza. A hope, because the residents of the night could sleep without the sound of air alarm and as a backdrop. Civilians are given space to mourn lost family members, memories lost in the ruins, and mothers can hug their returning children. The ceasefire does not mean peace. This is just the first step in the struggle for a two-state solution and for a free Palestine. Right now, 70 percent of Gaza is in ruins, and the need for relief and humanitarian aid is heartbreaking, so the ceasefire is as much needed as it is fragile. It's a chance. It is a first step towards peace, but I also fear that hope can be extinguished as quickly as it has been lit. That is why we in the European Union must push for and continue to work for a two-state solution until we actually achieve it, instead of trying in vain to send this long-standing conflict back into the pile of unresolved conflicts and unresolved issues. A two-state solution is the only way to achieve lasting peace. I think we should act now. I know what side of the story I think the EU should stand on.

Mr President! Is it strong competitiveness or green transition? No, if we do not limit global warming, then there is no competitiveness at all to strengthen. There is no economy to boost, so do not let the good conditions of companies in the world be a contradiction to achieving Europe's climate ambitions. In this House, most people can agree that the EU economy needs to be strengthened, as well as our global competition. For China is rumbling, and in a moment, the name of US President Donald Trump. But in our eagerness to equip Europe economically in a changed world, we must not forget the most important purpose of the Green Deal. We must not backtrack on the green transition. On the contrary, we need to fast-track it. Because it is common sense and good business when we replace expensive fossil fuels from hostile states with wind and solar energy that we can produce ourselves. Let's invest massively in renewable energy, in electricity grids and electrification. Let's set the course for stable, competitive energy prices. It's not only good for the wallet, it's also good for the planet. And Commissioner, I hope that the first item on your agenda will be ambitious 2040 targets, both for renewable energy and for reducing greenhouse gases.

Madam President! PFAS is all around us, in our nature and environment, in the water we drink. Yes, in the water our children drink. This is a scandal! Through our drinking water, PFAS accumulates in our blood, liver, kidneys, and it stays there forever, and the consequences for us and our children: increased risk of cancer, birth defects and reduced fertility. A lot of the PFAS that we drink is sprayed directly into the nature of agriculture, and unfortunately it goes the wrong way. Today, agriculture spreads four times as much as it did ten years ago. Drinking water is one of the most precious things we have. Nevertheless, pesticide residues are present in more than half of the Danish drinking water wells. I don't think we can be familiar with our children. If you ask me, clean water is a right. A right that requires us to fight for it. Therefore, the Commission must introduce a ban on harmful PFAS pesticides throughout the EU. Everything else will be to gamble with the next generation.

Mr President, very soon we'll be on our way to Azerbaijan and even though the COP29 in Baku has only just begun, I kind of feel like we are already falling behind. Time is running out if we want to reach our climate goals. I want the EU to be a global climate leader and to set a strong example for other climate polluters to raise the ambitions. And with Trump threatening to leave the Paris Agreement once again, this is more important than ever. The next round of Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, for 2035 could be our last chance to actually limit global warming. The UK has already announced quite ambitious targets to cut emissions by 81 % by 2035. Meanwhile, the EU risks missing the deadline to submit our own. How will we ensure that the EU submits an ambitious NDC in time for the February 2025 deadline? And can we really commit ourselves to base the EU's NDC on the 90 % target for 2040 that I think is so important to uphold?