Sebastian Tynkkynen
Member of the European Parliament · ECR · FI
“– Merci, Monsieur le Président, et merci, chers parlementaires, pour ce débat plein d’humanité et de cœur. J’aimerais commencer par une des phrases qui a été dite.”
“Mr President, a government's first moral contract is to its own citizens. Making its own citizens' lives better, safer and more prosperous comes before everything else. It doesn't mean we can't do things like give humanitarian aid; of course we can, and we should.”
“Il n’y a pas zéro risque, mais en tout cas nous avons zéro tolérance et un système de contrôle solide en place, avec un suivi de nos propres bureaux ECHO qui sont sur place, qui sont en contact avec nos partenaires qui distribuent l’aide humanitaire, avec des audits de la Cour des comptes européenne, avec des rapports circonstanciés.”
“Arvoisa puhemies, tämä talo ei pääse yli vihreästä vimmastaan. Kun käsitellään rajat ylittävän liiketoiminnan verotuksen yksinkertaistamista, samasta ovesta yritetään vetää punavihreän puolueohjelman kirjauksia.”
“Alors, certes, l’aide humanitaire à elle seule ne peut pas tout résoudre, et c’est pour cela que nous avons publié cette communication humanitaire, qui est plus une stratégie, en réalité, face aux défis auxquels on fait face aujourd’hui.”
“C’est ce que je vois, c’est ce à quoi je suis confrontée à chaque fois que je me déplace en mission. C’est l’espoir, c’est une vision d’avenir pour nous tous, et nous devons en être fiers, le maintenir en vie. Je compte sur vous, je vous remercie et je vous souhaite un bon vote tout à l’heure pour votre résolution.”
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“Overall, the authorities remain committed to Kosovo's European path and Kosovo has engaged constructively on the growth plan, approving an ambitious reform agenda covering five reform areas. Implementation of this reform agenda will be key for Kosovo and its citizens to enjoy the full benefits of the plan, and to move forward on its EU path. Kosovo also continues to align voluntarily with EU sanctions in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine – further proof of its strategic orientation towards the EU. Visa liberalisation entered into effect on 1 January 2024. Let me thank the European Parliament again for its support and cooperation. This has been an important step, long‑awaited by the people of Kosovo. Kosovo submitted an application for EU membership in December 2022.”
“They were held under Kosovo's new electoral framework, implementing recommendations from successive EU election observation missions. It is now in Kosovo's interests to swiftly form its institutions in order to take forward urgently needed EU‑oriented reforms. Among these, the signing and ratification of the agreements related to the Reform and Growth Facility should be treated as a priority by the new government and assembly. This would enable the release of funds under this instrument, provided that all other conditions are met. Kosovo should also step up efforts on judicial reform, media freedom and public administration. With regard to the motion for a resolution, the European Commission shares your general assessment, which reflects the main findings of our 2023 and 2024 annual reports.”
“That is why we should abolish the measures and let them work with the money we offer. In addition, we call on those European Union Member States that after 25 years have not yet recognised Kosovo's statehood to do so. Dear colleagues, we will be voting on the Kosovo report tomorrow, and I will kindly ask for your support and your vote. 2-0554-0000 Marta Kos, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, dear rapporteur Mr Riho Terras, I would like to thank you for your work on the report, but also other Members of the European Parliament for their engagement on and with Kosovo. I would like to start by welcoming the parliamentary elections held on 9 February. They were peaceful and competitive and with the participation of all communities.”
“As rapporteur, I would like to emphasise, above all, that in today's global competition, where the authoritarian states are trying to establish footholds and bridges, we cannot allow grey zones in Europe. The interests and activities of Russia and China in the Western Balkans are no secret to anyone. We see the activities actively pushing the agenda, especially in the neighbouring country, where anti-democratic tendencies are growing fast. I would like to emphasise that in a situation where we demand reforms from Kosovo, we must also be ready to support them. Therefore, we call for the immediate end of the European Union's punitive measures. They have been unfair and unnecessary from the beginning. The European Union funds many projects and programmes that are designed to support the reform agenda in Kosovo.”
“All major political parties consider the European perspective to be equally important. As the standing rapporteur for Kosovo, I am convinced that much has been done to reform the economy, strengthen the rule of law and build a European way of life. At the same time, we cannot ignore the shortcomings, which I also gained a closer understanding of during my fact‑finding visit last December. Kosovo must ensure the independence of the judicial system, as this is the foundation of the rule of law. Media freedom and transparency of media ownership are also very important. The continuation of the Pristina‑Belgrade dialogue is absolutely vital for keeping the European course. We have addressed these and several other issues that need improvement in Parliament's report.”
“– L'ordre du jour appelle à présent le débat sur le rapport de Riho Terras, au nom de la commission des affaires étrangères, sur les rapports 2023 et 2024 sur le Kosovo (A10-0075/2025). 2-0553-0000 Riho Terras, rapporteur. – Mr President, colleagues, today we have the honour and pleasure to present Parliament's report, which we prepared in response to the European Commission reports on Kosovo from 2023 and 2024. What I want to remind you of today is that the Kosovo War ended little more than 25 years ago. To this day, wounds and scars remain in society. They can only be healed together with Europe by offering a European future to the people of Kosovo. For the people of Kosovo, the European Union is a goal to strive for. This is also very clearly reflected in the country's political landscape.”
“évi jelentések (vita)" \f "F"TC "17 - Rapporti tal-Kummissjoni tal-2023 u l-2024 dwar il-Kosovo (dibattitu)" \f "G"TC "17 - Verslagen van 2023 en 2024 over Kosovo (debat)" \f "H"TC "17 - Sprawozdania Komisji w sprawie Kosowa za lata 2023 i 2024 (debata)" \f "I"TC "17 - Relatórios de 2023 e 2024 relativos ao Kosovo (debate)" \f "J"TC "17 - Rapoartele Comisiei privind Kosovo din 2023 și 2024 (dezbatere)" \f "K"TC "17 - Správy o Kosove za roky 2023 a 2024 (rozprava)" \f "L"TC "17 - Poročili o Kosovu za leti 2023 in 2024 (razprava)" \f "M"TC "17 - Kosovoa koskevat vuosien 2023 ja 2024 kertomukset (keskustelu)" \f "N"TC "17 - Rapporterna för 2023 och 2024 om Kosovo (debatt)" \f "O"Rapports 2023 et 2024 sur le Kosovo (débat) 2-0552-0000 Le Président.”
“aasta aruanded (arutelu)" \f "6"TC "17 - Eκθέσεις του 2023 και του 2024 για το Κόσοβο (συζήτηση)" \f "7"TC "17 - 2023 and 2024 reports on Kosovo (debate)" \f "8"TC "17 - Rapports 2023 et 2024 sur le Kosovo (débat)" \f "9"TC "17 - Tuarascálacha 2023 agus 2024 maidir leis an gCosaiv (díospóireacht)" \f "A"TC "17 - Izvješća Komisije o Kosovu za 2023. i 2024. (rasprava)" \f "B"TC "17 - Relazioni 2023 e 2024 sul Kosovo (discussione)" \f "C"TC "17 - 2023. un 2024. gada ziņojumi par Kosovu (debates)" \f "D"TC "17 - 2023 ir 2024 m. ataskaitos dėl Kosovo (diskusijos)" \f "E"TC "17 - A Koszovóról szóló 2023. és 2024.”
“I na kraju, važno je kazati da je Srbija zemlja kandidatkinja za članstvo koja ima posebnu težinu i utjecaj na širem prostoru zapadnog Balkana pa je razumljivo da ćemo političku situaciju u Srbiji i u budućnosti pratiti s maksimalnom pažnjom. 2-0550-0000 Le Président. – Le débat est clos. Le vote aura lieu demain. TC "17 - Доклади на Комисията за Косово за 2023 и 2024 г. (разискване)" \f "1"TC "17 - Informes de 2023 y 2024 sobre Kosovo (debate)" \f "2"TC "17 - Zprávy o Kosovu za roky 2023 a 2024 (rozprava)" \f "3"TC "17 - Rapporter om Kosovo for 2023 og 2024 (forhandling)" \f "4"TC "17 - Berichte 2023 und 2024 über das Kosovo (Aussprache)" \f "5"TC "17 - Kosovot käsitlevad komisjoni 2023. ja 2024.”
“Želio bih samo istaknuti da je put Srbije prema Europskoj uniji izuzetno složen jer je to proces koji se ne može ostvariti preko noći i bez ozbiljnih promjena u zemlji. Ali ništa se neće promijeniti bez političke volje onih koji su najodgovorniji za trenutno stanje u zemlji jer duga politička kriza i polarizacije koji su pojačani nedostatkom napretka u temeljnim kriterijima poput borbe protiv korupcije, vladavini prava, slobodi medija i izbornoj reformi izravno utječu na napredak Srbije prema članstvu u Europskoj uniji i stagnaciju koja traje već više od tri godine. Predugo je vlast u Srbiji pokušavala iskoristiti najbolje od fondova Europske unije, dok je istovremeno zanemarivala temeljne vrijednosti i geopolitičku orijentaciju te iste Europske unije.”
“And we will stand by those who are working day by day to bring Serbia closer to this goal. I thank this House for your unwavering support. And, dear Kathleen, I really believe that there is a place for Serbia in the EU and I will work on this, but I cannot do this alone. So together we can really help make Serbia's European future a reality, and I count on all of you in the European Parliament. 2-0549-0000 Tonino Picula, izvjestitelj. – Poštovani predsjedavajući, prije svega hvala svima na govorima, idejama, podršci, ali i onima koji imaju sasvim drugačije mišljenje. Želio bih, naravno, posebno zahvaliti kolegama izvjestiteljima u sjeni i asistentima na odličnoj suradnji i radu kojim su obogatili sadržaj ovog izvješća.”
“Lasting transformation comes from those who live the reality and carry the responsibility of shaping their future. And I trust that people in Serbia will make the right choice and seize the historic momentum. The enlargement momentum offers Serbia more than negotiation chapters. It brings opportunities for investment, integration into the single market and economic development through the EU Growth Plan. It is only the EU membership perspective and cooperation with the EU that lifts societies, strengthens institutions and creates lasting prosperity. It offers something no alternative can: a future grounded in freedom, accountability and opportunity for all. We will continue to engage with all those in Serbia who are committed to building an open and inclusive country. Our common goal is a democratic Serbia, thriving inside our Union.”
“2-0547-0000 (Fin des interventions à la demande) 2-0548-0000 Marta Kos, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, honourable Members, today's debate reaffirms our shared goal to support Serbia in advancing towards the European Union. The time for progress is really now. And during my visit, I encouraged the authorities to work across society to find a path forward, one that reflects the hopes of the Serbian people, especially the younger generation. I listened to the students, academics, civil society organisations and invited them to consider the EU offer which will bring to the country political and social transformation, introducing more pluralism, democracy and inclusiveness. Democratic change takes root when people shape it themselves. It cannot come from outside.”
“Mr President, there should not be a place in the European structures for a country that continues fence-sitting while Russia keeps bombing Ukraine. Serbia must make a choice: align fully with the core values of Europe, or choose to be on the wrong side of history. I will make this very clear. Russia is not a partner. They cannot be trusted. It is a destabilising, authoritarian aggressor waging war on European soil, using disinformation and energy blackmailing as a means to gain influence. Serbia cannot walk both roads. If Serbia wants to seek EU membership, they must act like a future member. That means sanctions on Russia, respect for the rule of law and a decisive break from the Kremlin's influence. It is that simple – there is no EU path without it.”
“EU:n rahankäytössä on keskityttävä nyt olennaiseen: Ukrainan tukeen, sisäiseen turvallisuuteen ja ulkorajavalvontaan. 2-0238-0000”
“Mr President, our greatest adversary is not the United States, but a dictatorship far more dangerous to Europe's trade future: China. It is quite astonishing that some in Europe have started to seek closer cooperation with the Chinese dictatorship as a response for the US. You are willing to turn a blind eye to what China presents, just to get to show your middle fingers to the other side of the Atlantic. Are you really that childish? You're all acting like a bunch of high school divas. But I say we take a different approach. I say we grow up and work towards finding a meaningful agreement with the United States – one that benefits both parties. And we can start by cutting back on our dependence on China. Let's do that for our own sake as well, before it's too late. 2-0099-0000”
“Mr President, up to 1.5 million Armenians were massacred by an empire determined to erase them. Men, women and children were deported, tortured, raped and murdered. Türkiye's refusal to confront its dark history is one example of why its membership in the EU cannot come into question. They may attempt to bury their history, but the truth cannot be silenced. Just as the Turks sought to destroy Armenians, another empire, the so-called Russian Federation, now threatens Ukrainians. We must ensure that such evil never prevails again. We cannot allow the work of the devil to succeed. Oppressive empires must fall. 4-0102-0000”
“Mr President, European day of the righteous is an opportunity to honour those who have dared to stand against injustice and oppression. Too often, people tend to speak grand words, but hesitate when real actions are needed. This must not be just another symbolic gesture. Today I want to highlight a group too often forgotten ‑ those brave Russians and Belarusians who risked their lives resisting authoritarian regimes. They are imprisoned, silenced and even murdered for defending human rights and democracy. The tragic death of Alexei Navalny is just one example. We must actively courage these people who dared to stand up against the regimes of Russia and Belarus, the very devils of oppression and control. 4-0071-0000”
“Arvoisa puhemies, kotimaassani Suomessa metsäteollisuus on esimerkki menestyksestä, jota ei ole rakennettu Brysselin ansiosta vaan jäsenvaltion ansiosta. Metsäteollisuus yksin kattaa 17 prosenttia tavaraviennistämme ja työllistää suoraan kymmeniätuhansia ihmisiä etelästä pohjoiseen. Meillä on moderneja tehtaita, kuten Äänekosken edistyksellinen biotuotetehdas. Suomi on hyödyntänyt vesivoimaa ja bioenergiaa pitäen kustannukset kurissa. Ei tämä tapahdu direktiivien takia, vaan siksi, että se on ollut kannattavaa. Parhaat teollisuutta koskevat päätökset osataan tehdä jäsenvaltioissa ja niiden yrityksissä. Pienen, mutta pinta-alaltaan laajan Suomen malli osoittaa, että elinvoimaisuus syntyy paikallisesta osaamisesta, ei keskitetystä ohjauksesta.”
“And only concerted effort by the region, supported by the international Community, can bring the end to a recurrent cycle of crisis and violence that has affected the DRC and the Great Lakes for too long. Serious human rights violations and abuses are part and parcel of this cycle, so the EU is ready to do its part to contribute to this effort. So thank you again for this debate. 2-0582-0000”
“And now I think the wording was that we, the Foreign Affairs Council calls on the work that the Commission has to do to suspend the memorandum of understanding of the raw materials. So the Commission has gotten this point. I think it's important that all the violations and abuses are really investigated. And this is not fundamental not only for the justice, but also to tackle the long-term drivers of instability and insecurity across the DRC and and the Great Lakes as well. So we are committed to working with all key stakeholders to prevent further violence and to support Congolese people and the peoples of the Great Lakes region in their pursuit of peace and justice.”
“2-0580-0000 (Koniec zgłoszeń z sali) 2-0581-0000 Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. – Madam President, honourable Members, thank you for this debate. All human rights violations and abuses need to be thoroughly investigated. Every victim must be recognised and supported, and all perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes, when it comes to Rwanda, when it comes to Gaza, when it comes to Ukraine everywhere. And that is also why we push for the sanctions and and also the suspension of the agreement on raw materials. I mean, in the Foreign Affairs Council, we have a broad support for this.”
“Madam President, the Democratic Republic of Congo, a nation that is 95 % Christian, has become a slaughterhouse for Christians. Let us not forget that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Now, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, our fellow Christians are being abducted, butchered and driven from their homes by bloodthirsty jihadists. People were massacred in a church due to their faith, people were executed for refusing to convert to Islam. Churches have been bombed. Christian villages are being abandoned. Where is the outrage? Where is the action? Europe must not stay silent. We share a long Christian heritage. We must protect it against jihadism that is a threat both globally and in our home continent.”
“Madam President, why is it that even after over 500 days, the war against Hamas is still raging in Gaza? It is because Hamas has not laid down its weapons and released all of the remaining hostages. There is one thing we all have to understand about Hamas. Hamas is not fighting against for our two-state solution. They are fighting for the destruction of Israel. Whatever means necessary, whether it is killing civilians or hiding beneath hospitals. They will not rest until all the Israelis are expelled or murdered from the river to the sea. So we will not rest either. We will not rest until the whole world sees that the biggest obstacle to solving the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians is the mere existence of the terrorist organisation called Hamas. 2-0549-0000”
“Madam President, Türkiye has become an authoritarian state. The arrest of Erdoğan's political rivals shows the step-by-step process of democratic destruction. It goes against our most fundamental European values. This is why I want to voice my support for the brave people of Türkiye, who have been protesting against authoritarianism in their country. They are ready to fight for democracy, despite all the restrictions, threats and violence from their ruler. It takes guts. We, as the defenders of fundamental rights and democratic values in this world, must extend our full support to the brave protesters. One protester wisely stated that during the history of humankind, the people who have stood up against oppression have always won eventually. I hope this victory comes sooner rather than later. 2-0501-0000”
“Madam President, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 36 % of Europeans named security and defence as the EU's top three priorities to focus on. This was the highest vote share amongst all the options given. The results are clear: the European people want their leaders to focus on providing safety first and foremost. Is this body acting accordingly? It is not. Have we seen a total overhaul of Europe's immigration policy? No, we haven't, even though past mistakes are now risking our security. Or have we been strong enough to push Russia away from Ukrainian soil? No, we haven't. Now it's time to do what the people are asking us to do: focus on solving security problems, not creating them by repeating our previous mistakes. 2-0210-0000 Catch-the-eye procedure 2-0211-0000”
“Madam President, I like how the tone of Europe is changing at the moment. Europe will not survive if we do not strengthen our security and competitiveness. I think most European leaders are starting to realise this. Good for Europe. But when I start to read how European leaders handle climate and energy policy, my positive feelings often disappear. While people are calling for lower living costs and less regulation, Europe is still hanging on to the unrealistic green ideology. Let's face it, our green goals from the past are not compatible with our current priorities. Overly strict green policies are the very reason European companies and households have been struggling. To my leftist and green colleagues, you had your time and it didn't work out. Now it's time to do things differently. 2-0070-0000”
“The changes proposed by the Council are largely in line with the Parliament's amendments. I'm therefore hopeful that a political agreement can be reached within a swift manner. I would like to renew my commitment as to act as an honest broker and help to reach the necessary compromises. 1-0225-0000”
“Concerning the directive amendment, the Restricting of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, we take note of your proposal to adopt a delegate act on exemptions within six months of receiving the European Chemical Agency's opinion. In the light of the number of exemptions typically processed and procedural requirements for adopting delegated acts, we note that six month deadline will be difficult to accommodate in practice, so we should avoid putting such short deadlines. The proposal to review the list of restricted substances at least every 36 months would also be difficult to align with in current practice, as each review currently requires close to that timeline to complete. Dear President, honourable Members, the Commission stands ready to support co-legislators to reach an agreement on this package.”
“On the regulation establishing a common data platform on chemicals, your amendments propose a substantial broadening of the scope. You also suggest implementing the system within eight years, compared to the ten years initially proposed by the Commission. While we appreciate the ambition and acknowledge the importance of the proposed amendments, we would like to highlight that an expansion of the scope would have notable implications on the capacity and resources of the European Chemicals Agency. At the same time, they have a lot of tasks already. That was also a question from Mr Clergeau, regarding the capacities of the ECHA Committee, and that will be addressed in a special proposal for the basic regulation, which is under preparation as we speak.”
“It will improve the efficiency and the coherence of safety assessments of chemicals in the benefit of all. Our objective is to simplify procedures and ensure predictability for authorities and stakeholders. Most importantly, we want to protect citizens and the environment from hazardous chemicals. I welcome Parliament's strong interest in this legislative package, and thank you, honourable Member Tsiodras, for the important work and constructive discussions on this report. Many of the proposed amendments bring clarification, which we welcome. We are also happy to see that you addressed the comments made by the European Data Protection Supervisor to better safeguard the protection of personal data. At the same time, we believe there are some points that require further discussion.”
“1-0223-0000 (End of catch-the-eye procedure) 1-0224-0000 Jessika Roswall, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, honourable Members, thank you for inviting me to give this short presentation on the one substance, one assessment package. And while we have, Madam President, three presentations on the agenda this evening, I will cover all my main points in this initial statement. This is clearly a package that contributes to our simplification agenda. The three legislative proposals on the package consolidate scientific and technical work on chemicals in the EU agencies. They also improve cooperation and ensure that agencies can use all data available to them in the safety assessment of chemicals. This package is part of the 'one substance, one assessment'.”
“Madam President, I stand here as a voice for citizens like those in Finland, who value their country's independence. These proposals – centralising chemical data collection, reassigning tasks to the EU level, and thus empowering the European Chemicals Agency over local actors – strip away control from Member States. Member States, with their unique industries and features, deserve to make their own decisions – not to follow a one-size-fits-all EU uniform that fits no one properly. We have seen enough to say that EU centralisation often ignores local needs, adds bureaucracy and takes power away from where it should be: close to the people. I urge you to protect national sovereignty and reject those measures that undermine Member States' rights to govern themselves.”
“Madam President, corruption scandals are shaking this Parliament. A former MEP was convicted of misusing Parliament funds. Foreign governments like Qatar and Morocco, and companies like Huawei have paid bribes for favourable votes. Corruption and misuse of public funds must absolutely be condemned, regardless of political affiliation. Colleagues, let us not forget a major source that has enabled massive corruption from EU funds. That is the post-COVID Economic Recovery Fund. Last year, in one investigation alone, a fraud of over EUR 600 million was uncovered. The lesson should be clear for all of us who want to fight corruption. The recovery fund is a horrible model to base future policies on. 1-0210-0000”
“Madam President, during the latest years we have witnessed a huge threat to academic freedom. When woke, DEI and critical race theory flooded the great intellectual institutions of the West, this body was silent as a crypt. Here are a few examples. Mandatory critical-race-theory training that sought to indoctrinate students into rejecting their unconscious thoughts and behaviours towards minority groups – where was the outrage? A bloated DEI bureaucracy demanding teachers to sign diversity statements in prestigious American universities like Harvard and MIT – where was the outrage? A study on the ineffectiveness of puberty blockers going unpublished because of politics – where was the outrage? Actually, you wanted this to continue, and now you are outraged when a lot of people are saying to all this, 'No, thank you.' 1-0169-0000”
“Madam President, Europe is losing itself. We were once the heart of courage, innovation and cultural pride. Now it feels there is only left the fear of being called intolerant. We have been too weak to stand for our own traditions and heritage for too long. Our neighbourhoods have become ghettos where European laws and values hold no ground anymore. Across our cities, we see clear signs of how our democracy, equality and freedom are drifting away and replaced by imported ideologies. We are talking about ideologies that neither integrate nor respect the European way of living. Tolerance should never mean that we have to abandon the things we cherish. This is not progress. This is surrender. If we don't stand for our own culture and values, who will? 1-0137-0000”
“Madam President, the EU Commission's savings and investments union promises piles of gold, but it delivers chains of iron. We cannot escape the fact that this playbook sets the basis for more EU regulation, and more EU involvement in the lives of citizens. Educating people to invest is a good goal, but the devil lies in the details of this paper. The Commission is planning through this tool to push EU-wide pension regulation alongside financial regulation, while trying to channel people's savings into projects that the EU deems worthy, such as climate and green investments. We must bear in mind that the solutions for EU citizens' prosperity lie in the financial decisions of Member States, not in the gold-plated promises of the Commission. 1-0115-0000”
“Mr President, the European Union is facing many challenges, both from outside and within our borders. If we want to provide a safe and competitive Europe for the next generation, we must change our priorities. Our economic competitors are celebrating massive investments into new technologies, while overregulation and high costs keep European companies in a chokehold. The numbers don't lie. Our economic growth has fallen behind. A lot must change. It is time to reconsider ideological green goals, and instead shift our full focus towards creating a mighty Europe that allows our businesses to thrive instead of transferring factories to China. We have to take these steps if we want to ensure our resilience in times of a crisis. And all of my colleagues: look around, the crisis is already here. Let's act accordingly. 1-0075-0000”
“Mr President, every cent that we spend on Russian oil and natural gas results in the loss of Ukrainian lives. Last week, in a single night, Putin launched over 60 missiles and 200 drones towards Ukraine. These weapons are funded by Russia through the sale of natural resources. If we want to stop Putin's imperialistic regime, we must increase our efforts to completely end our reliance on Russian energy. The only appropriate amount of Russian oil and natural gas in Europe is zero. We have to invest in our energy infrastructure and close every loophole that allows importing of refined Russian oil to Europe through third countries, like India and Türkiye. It is our responsibility to do everything we can so that the brave people of Ukraine can live their lives in peace. Let's cut our reliance on Russia! 3-0467-0000”
“Mr President, over EUR 200 billion in frozen Russian assets. Assets that could make a real difference on the battlefield. Assets that hold the power of life and death have been gathering dust in European bank vaults for a third year in a row. I ask: what are we waiting for? Last May, more than two years after the war began, Member States agreed to use the profits from these frozen assets for Ukraine's benefit. Even this decision took ages. The decision to use the frozen assets was postponed, waiting for potentially darker days. Now, if ever, is the moment. Europe's slowness is a real threat to our own security. If we truly want to show our support for Ukraine and defend our continent, Russia's frozen assets must be released for Ukraine's use. Tough times call for tough measures. 3-0413-0000”
“Koulutus- ja työllisyyspolitiikkaan liittyvät kysymykset ovat jäsenvaltioiden vastuulla ja niin niiden tuleekin olla. Päätöksenteon on pysyttävä jatkossakin kansallisissa käsissä. 3-0286-0000”
“Mr President, one in three women report having experienced physical or sexual violence in the past 12 months. This should be a wake-up call. It begs the question: why have our streets become so unsafe for women? The Finnish police recently published statistics on sex crime rates by nationality. The results are revealing. Compared to Finnish nationals, the rates of sexual offences committed are six times higher for Somalis; ten times higher for Iraqis; 12 times higher for Afghans and Congolese; and as much as 15 times higher for Syrians. Absolutely shocking numbers. Colleagues, let us stand up for our daughters, sisters and wives. Let us make our streets safe again – let's protect our borders from the type of immigration that is harmful. 2-0228-0000”
“Madam President, this proposed investment package is a crucial step for Moldova's EU integration. However, Moldova still faces major challenges like poverty and inequality, requiring real development beyond financial figures. These are challenges we must not forget. Yet their greatest threat is Russia. The terrorist state does not only focus on Ukraine. No. They are trying their best to destabilise Moldova, an EU candidate country. This is why our job is to ensure that not a single cent of this facility benefits those who seek to undermine Moldova's sovereignty. While the facility is a positive step, the ultimate goal is to ensure long-term stability and prosperity in the region. Moldova's future lies in Europe, where democracy and security prevail. 1-0189-0000”
“Madam President, companies are the backbone of the European economy. However, Brussels has been shutting off the engine of Europe by being the champion of overregulating. These new Omnibus proposals cut regulation and limit sustainability reporting to major corporations. A small step forward, but nowhere near enough. The real obstacle remains massive climate regulation compared to our competitors. Let's face it, too strict policies are killing our competitiveness and putting jobs at risk. What Europe needs is not endless directives from Brussels, but policies that will give Europe the chance to win. It is time to break the chains of too strict climate regulation, let businesses thrive and restore Europe to the top of the global economy. 1-0128-0000”
“The Commission's Competitiveness Compass is a comprehensive roadmap that will further help steer the EU towards greater and sustainable competitiveness. We now need to see how this initiative will translate into concrete actions. It will then be up to us, the Council and the European Parliament to properly pick up on the signals and steer action in the right direction. Let's make it together. 3-0309-0000”
“Voilà, j'en reste là. On pourrait évidemment parler énormément de ce sujet-là. Vous avez compris la doctrine que s'est fixée la Commission pour les cinq prochaines années en termes économiques. Je souhaite que nous puissions toujours en débattre, la faire évoluer, puisque cette doctrine doit également avoir des éléments de flexibilité qui nous permettent justement d'adapter notre stratégie économique dans une période incertaine. Puis les textes viendront au Parlement dans les prochaines semaines et dans les prochains mois, avec un sens de l'urgence, un sens de la flexibilité ainsi que du pragmatisme dans un moment où, évidemment, nos concurrents connaissent une euphorie économique, ce qui n'est bon ni pour le modèle européen que nous défendons tous ici, ni pour notre stratégie de compétitivité pour la suite.”
“Vous avez été quelques-uns à évoquer les perspectives de croissance d'un marché de 450 millions dont les barrières sont encore très présentes dans de nombreux secteurs. Je vous annonce ce soir que la Présidente m'a demandé d'accélérer la stratégie sur le marché intérieur pour pouvoir la publier très rapidement et avoir une discussion démocratique avec l'ensemble des colégislateurs, au Conseil et au Parlement européen. Nous allons donc accélérer cette stratégie pour qu'elle puisse être également une réponse à la fermeture économique internationale. Nous avons besoin de réponses aussi. Et le marché intérieur nous donne des perspectives de croissance pour nos économies dans un moment de tensions diplomatiques importantes, croissance qui protégera notamment nos entreprises et, probablement et surtout, nos PME européennes.”
“Vous l'avez dans la boussole pour la compétitivité et nous déclinons cette stratégie de manière très pragmatique dans les textes que nous avons prévu de présenter à la fin du mois de février et au début du mois de mars. Deuxième écueil, Madame la Présidente: il ne faut pas confondre les objectifs et les moyens. Souvent, l'écueil dans lequel tombent les responsables politiques, c'est de faire des moyens l'objectif. Dans cette période de tensions diplomatiques, de complexité économique, nous avons besoin de flexibilité et nous avons besoin de changer la manière d'arriver à nos objectifs. Il faut pouvoir le comprendre, il faut pouvoir l'anticiper. Il faut pouvoir nous donner les capacités de le faire.”
“Néanmoins, permettez-moi également, Madame la Présidente, d'évoquer quelques écueils dans lesquels il ne faut pas tomber, et que j'ai vus dans ce débat. D'abord, il ne faut pas penser que le pacte vert est responsable de tout, en ce compris de notre situation économique. D'ailleurs, c'est assez, drôle, parfois étonnant, de voir les mêmes partis pro-russes nous expliquer que le pacte vert est le responsable de tout, là où ces mêmes partis tendaient à plus de dépendance à l'égard du gaz russe il y a encore quelques années, dans ce même hémicycle ici. J'avais d'autres responsabilités à l'époque, mais on avait ce débat-là. Nous avons fait face à une crise du gaz et du prix du gaz qui a créé une crise du prix de l'énergie, un problème de compétitivité en Europe, majeur, qu'il faut pouvoir régler.”
“Donc, si on est d'accord avec les rapports Draghi et Letta, on est d'accord normalement, de manière cohérente, avec le texte qu'a produit la Commission, qui est à environ 80 % du copié-collé, ce que nous avons nous-mêmes considéré comme utile pour la boussole pour la compétitivité européenne. Le rapport est équilibré. Il nous permet d'avoir un regard lucide sur la situation économique de l'Europe, d'utiliser les instruments que j'ai évoqués en introduction pour pouvoir y répondre, d'accélérer, d'avoir des éléments de flexibilité qui nous permettront de répondre, notamment, à des crises que nous n'aurions pas prévues et auxquelles nous devrions faire face dans les prochaines années. Pour toutes ces raisons, j'imagine bien que l'ensemble de la représentation ici et des parlementaires soutiendront la démarche.”