Tomas Tobé
Member of the European Parliament · PPE · SE
“Madam President, colleagues, we will have a vote now. We respect, of course, the request of The Left. We now have some amendments approved. We have the text. I would urge colleagues to vote, of course, in this vote – we should respect it. From EPP I want to be clear: we are standing with the children.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, Taoiseach, the EPP Group strongly welcomes the Irish Presidency's focused on the security of Europe and its citizens. We have already strengthened Europe's external borders with the migration pact and new rules on returns of irregular migrants.”
“Mr President, colleagues, the development in the Middle East remind us of one simple truth: Europe cannot afford to be weak in an unstable world. Let us also be clear: the people of Iran deserve freedom, dignity and democracy, not the tyranny of the ayatollahs. This is yet another wake‑up call for Europe.”
“Herr talman! Den politiska debatten i Europa ska vara tydlig, passionerad och ibland kanske till och med hård. Men den får aldrig övergå i politiskt våld, hat och hot. Och terrorromantik hör inte heller hemma här. Tyvärr har vi dock sett otaliga tillfällen när folkvalda och företrädare utsätts och gränser passeras.”
“And finally, we must secure a competitive Europe now and for future generations. A strong economy is essential in these times of uncertainty. Now is the time for the EU leaders to double down on defence and security, simplification and continued support for Ukraine. This is how we will keep our Union and citizens safe. 3-0087-0000”
“Mr President, colleagues, Europe is standing at a moment of decision. The threats are real and they are growing week by week, day by day. Russia continues its brutal war against Ukraine and Europe must stand firm. We can no longer outsource our own security. We must take responsibility for our own defence.”
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“Madam President, colleagues, we will have a vote now. We respect, of course, the request of The Left. We now have some amendments approved. We have the text. I would urge colleagues to vote, of course, in this vote – we should respect it. From EPP I want to be clear: we are standing with the children. We have to protect them from predators. 4-0221-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, Taoiseach, the EPP Group strongly welcomes the Irish Presidency's focused on the security of Europe and its citizens. We have already strengthened Europe's external borders with the migration pact and new rules on returns of irregular migrants. Now, we must step up our fight against cross-border organised crime because, while we have taken back control of our external borders, criminal networks continue to abuse the freedom of movement within our Union. Concretely, we count on the Irish Presidency to push for a stronger Europol and to make it into a truly operational police agency. Internal security must be reflected properly in the long‑term budget. Organised crime has never posed a greater threat to our citizens and our societies. We must do everything we can to crack down on it.”
“Herr talman! Den politiska debatten i Europa ska vara tydlig, passionerad och ibland kanske till och med hård. Men den får aldrig övergå i politiskt våld, hat och hot. Och terrorromantik hör inte heller hemma här. Tyvärr har vi dock sett otaliga tillfällen när folkvalda och företrädare utsätts och gränser passeras. Två exempel nyligen från mitt hemland Sverige är hur migrationsministern och biståndsministern utsätts i direkt anslutning till sina hem. Jag tror de flesta av oss tycker att det är vidrigt att placera en korg med äpplen prydda med Hitleransikten eller en rödmålad docka med ett avhugget huvud utanför någons bostad. Men detta försvaras av en aktiv vänsterpartist på bästa sändningstid i SVT. Fullkomligt oacceptabelt.”
“And finally, we must secure a competitive Europe now and for future generations. A strong economy is essential in these times of uncertainty. Now is the time for the EU leaders to double down on defence and security, simplification and continued support for Ukraine. This is how we will keep our Union and citizens safe. 3-0087-0000”
“Mr President, colleagues, the development in the Middle East remind us of one simple truth: Europe cannot afford to be weak in an unstable world. Let us also be clear: the people of Iran deserve freedom, dignity and democracy, not the tyranny of the ayatollahs. This is yet another wake‑up call for Europe. We must strengthen our defence capabilities so that Europe is prepared for modern threats, including drone attacks like the one that targeted the airbase in Cyprus. Secondly, we need to reinforce our internal security, regain control of our external borders. We need to protect ourselves from Russian hybrid attacks and the proxy networks of the Iranian regime. Thirdly, we need major investments in energy – not only renewables, but also nuclear – because energy is fundamental to our security.”
“Today I present my report on a European democracy shield. I think it is time to make clear that Russian bots are not free speech, and we must protect our elections and build resilience in our societies against disinformation. Because defending Europe means defending both our borders and our democracies. 3-0059-0000”
“Mr President, colleagues, Europe is standing at a moment of decision. The threats are real and they are growing week by week, day by day. Russia continues its brutal war against Ukraine and Europe must stand firm. We can no longer outsource our own security. We must take responsibility for our own defence. But colleagues, the military threats are only one side of the coin: the other side is the attack on our democracies – disinformation, foreign interference, Russian troll factories and bot networks. Authoritarian regimes are investing massively to destabilise Europe, to weaken us from within. These operations are also made easier when Chinese and American digital tech giants fail to take responsibility. Let us be clear: they are actually providing the infrastructure, and this is a very dangerous cocktail.”
“Now is the time to make Europe stronger, safer, and to defend our freedoms today and for future generations. Long live Europe! 3-0049-0000”
“Madam President, colleagues, this is not the moment for hesitation. It is not the moment for half measures, not the moment to retreat into narrow interests. This is actually the moment to stand together, to show real European leadership and to act decisively. Please, Council, show that – even if you are not present now. We must get the Mercosur agreement done. We must make Russia pay for its war of aggression against Ukraine with the frozen Russian assets. We must seriously invest in defence. We must cut red tape and bureaucracy so that Europe can compete, innovate and lead again. And we need, of course, to take back control over migration and secure our borders. Colleagues, we live in extraordinary times, and extraordinary times demand responsibility and courage.”
“And to our S&D colleagues from Malta, I think you actually could be also proud of EPP colleagues from the nationalist parties. One of them is even president of this House – this House that actually is the best House, I would say, for democracy and rule of law. Be proud of that instead and give Daphne Caruana Galizia, give her the answer, give her family the answer that you are, in a way, sweeping under the carpet. 2-0293-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, eight years have passed since the brutal assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, and I think it is fair to say that impunity has not ended. Yes, there have been some reforms and yes, it is positive that the Commission is engaging with the Maltese authorities, but it is also clear that this is not enough. That is also clear in the recommendations that we can see for Malta. But perhaps the main question is: where is the justice for Daphne's family? That is the main question that needs an answer in the end. The current government in Malta needs to understand that belonging to the European Union means upholding the core values: democracy, accountability, and also rule of law. Without that, Malta will continue to risk not only your credibility, but the very democratic soul.”
“I, therefore, would like to urge all Member States and the European Commission to seriously consider how to tackle this new Russian threat. This is about protecting our Union and our citizens, and making clear that Europe will never bow down to any aggression. 3-0039-0000”
“Madam President, Europe is under attack. Russian fighter jets and drones are violating our skies. Our critical infrastructure is being targeted. This should not come as a surprise to anyone – this is straight out of Putin's playbook. For more than a decade, my home country, Sweden, has faced Russian airspace violations. In the Baltic Sea, Russia has targeted critical infrastructure. Putin's violations have become bolder, more reckless, more dangerous. We have to unite to defend ourselves with real capability and force, strengthen our common defence, invest in tanks and ammunition. But it is also obvious, colleagues, that we have to do more to strengthen our capability with drones. This is, frankly speaking, more than a drone shield that we need to invest in.”
“Vi behöver satsa på vår egen försvarsförmåga och värna ett starkt stöd till Ukraina. Jag kan lova er att jag, EPP och Moderaterna, vi kommer att jobba för ett friare, säkrare och starkare Europa i dag och för framtida generationer. (Talaren godtog en fråga ("blått kort").) 3-0072-0000 Petras Gražulis (ESN), pakėlus mėlynąją kortelę pateiktas klausimas. – Gerbiamas pranešėjau. Jūs, Liaudies partija, kartu su Von der Leyen, jau antrą kadenciją valdote Europos Parlamentą – esate čia daugumoje – ir Europos Komisiją. Jūs sukūrėte per dešimtmetį šitas problemas, nevaldote migracijos, atsisakėte krikščioniškų vertybių ir propaguojate genderizmą. Jūs! Su jumis nesiskaito nė viena pasaulio šalis – nei Kinija, nei Indija, nei Amerika. Ar jūs sukūrėte begalinį... (posėdžio pirmininkė iš kalbėtojo atima žodį) 3-0073-0000”
“And I would say that I hope that the voice of the Danish Government, the Danish S&D, would also be the voice of S&D in this House, because then we could really get things done. We wish you luck and we would like to cooperate with you. Good luck. 2-0111-0000”
“Madam President, Commission, Prime Minister, first, I'd like to say that you have my deepest respect for your leadership on Ukraine. From a Swede to a Dane, mange tak. I would also like to state that the EPP have very high expectations of the Danish Presidency. We need a stronger defence – S&D Group, please, your Prime Minister is here, welcome to this debate – from the EPP Group, we need a stronger defence. We need to tackle and combat organised crime. We need to take back control of migration and we need to make Europe more competitive with more growth instead of decline. Therefore, we need to deliver on the omnibus proposals and also make sure that we sign more free trade agreements. Prime Minister, if you deliver on this, you will have an ally in the EPP. We will support you and we will work with you.”
“The new regulation on returns must come with strong and effective measures to ensure that those who do not have the right to be in Europe should be returned. And future initiatives – for example, the internal security strategy and the strengthening of Frontex and Europol – will be crucial to protect our Union and citizens. Europe must step up and the EPP is ready to do the task. 3-0183-0000 PRÉSIDENCE: YOUNOUS OMARJEE Vice-Président 3-0184-0000”
“Madam President, Vice-President, a clear EPP priority for the coming years is to make Europe safer and more secure. We need reforms that ensure an independent, free and prosperous Europe, speedy investments in security and defence, and we also need to pave the way for economic growth and job creation and keep cutting red tape. Citizens also rightfully want to have a European migration policy that is firm, fair and enforced. The EPP called on the Commission to take decisive action in the first 100 days. We now welcome that we have concrete proposals on the table. But this is just the start. In Parliament, the EPP Group will push to make these initiatives even more ambitious. We need a new European security architecture. We need it actually now, I would say. The omnibus needs to be a true game changer for our European companies.”
“These are important steps, but more will be required, not least when it comes to stepping up the fight against organised crime and securing our external border. The EPP will continue to fight for a strong Europe that protects its people. We have the mandate from our citizens and we will deliver. 3-0021-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, the EPP Group is determined to make Europe safer and more secure for our citizens, because without security, there is no freedom. And it is clear that immediate action is required. Organised crime is on the rise, hybrid attacks have intensified, and illegal migration remains a key challenge. The EPP Group welcomes that the Commission has heard our calls. We are fully committed to deliver together on a stronger and more effective return policy for people who do not have the right to stay in Europe. We will push to implement a new internal security strategy that makes Europe safer now and for future generations. And as rapporteur for the European democracy shield, I am personally committed to make sure that we more strongly defend the values on which our Union is built.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, Prime Minister Tusk, thank you for bringing Poland back to Europe. At this crucial time we welcome your strong leadership and your Presidency of the Council. The EPP, and also my home country, Sweden, fully supports your priority to make Europe more safe and secure, to strengthen our defence and support Ukraine. And you are right that we need to take back control of our borders, and on migration. Europe is strong, but we need to get to work to make Europe more competitive, now and for future generations. Prime Minister, you can count on MPs' support to deliver on this. 3-0085-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, when the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, there was hope for millions of people who had suffered for decades under communist dictatorship and oppression. We were right to be hopeful. Just look at the Baltic states: prosperous democracies, and a proud part of the European family today. However, as we all know, freedom is not yet won everywhere. Therefore, we must stand with the people of Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and, of course, Belarus, in their pursuit of democracy. Not in this fake election, but one day Lukashenka's regime will answer for its crime. I will continue to hope until the white, red and white flag once again flies over Minsk. 2-0447-0000”