Rasmus Nordqvist
Member of the European Parliament · ALE · DK
“Mr President, today it's easier to import virgin polyester than to move European wool around. The textile strategy made a promise: textiles on the European market should be sustainable, recyclable and, to a large extent, of recycled fibres. But wool, today, shows us how far we are from delivering on that promise.”
“Heavy procedures – every time feedstock crosses a border to a recycler. Two different rule books, the same result and natural recyclable material is treated like a liability at both ends of its life. Meanwhile, cheap fossil‑based synthetics that fuel fast fashion circulate freely all around Europe.”
“Wiem, że jest Pan ekspertem w sprawach ochrony środowiska, bo wielokrotnie słyszałem Pańskie wypowiedzi. Stąd mam krótkie pytanie do Pana. Pana grupa jest bardzo zaangażowana w Komisji Europejskiej, mają tam Państwo swoich ludzi.”
“I think what is important to understand is that we have the knowledge, we have the technology, we have the skills. This is about regulation we've done which is not suitable for what we're facing. So let's just change the regulation around it and use the raw materials that we have done for thousands and thousands of years.”
“Madame President, dear colleagues, I'm going to speak about our budget and the climate – no big surprise. On the MFF, the European Council had one job in June: show ambitions and directions for Europe's future budget. Instead, what we saw was a negotiation box of 27 mini priorities squeezed together.”
“Mr President, dear colleagues, Commissioner, Council, the multiannual financial framework is a political statement about what kind of Europe we want. It is up to the pro-European groups in this Parliament to ensure that we live up to this responsibility. When it comes to the green transition, we cannot afford to go backwards.”
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“I think what is important to understand is that we have the knowledge, we have the technology, we have the skills. This is about regulation we've done which is not suitable for what we're facing. So let's just change the regulation around it and use the raw materials that we have done for thousands and thousands of years. We also have the technology skills to do it, so let's scale up this and use European wool, also, in the fashion industry. We have the knowledge. 4-0263-0000”
“Wiem, że jest Pan ekspertem w sprawach ochrony środowiska, bo wielokrotnie słyszałem Pańskie wypowiedzi. Stąd mam krótkie pytanie do Pana. Pana grupa jest bardzo zaangażowana w Komisji Europejskiej, mają tam Państwo swoich ludzi. Co Pan na to, gdybyśmy wszyscy wystąpili z takim projektem, żeby Komisja Europejska przygotowała specjalny grant dla naukowców, którzy mieliby zastanowić się nad tym, w jaki sposób wykorzystać naturalną wełnę. Bo uważam, że niszczenie naturalnego produktu jest czystym marnotrawstwem. Zatem moje do Pana pytanie: czy poprze Pan taki wniosek, żeby Komisja Europejska przygotowała specjalny grant dla naukowców na analizę kwestii wełny? 4-0262-0000 Rasmus Nordqvist (Verts/ALE), blue-card answer. – Well, thank you very much for this question.”
“Heavy procedures – every time feedstock crosses a border to a recycler. Two different rule books, the same result and natural recyclable material is treated like a liability at both ends of its life. Meanwhile, cheap fossil‑based synthetics that fuel fast fashion circulate freely all around Europe. So the Commission should answer the question put forward on the table today, promise during this mandate a specific and proportionate framework for wool and, at the same time, also deliver on the waste criteria with the Circular Economy Act this fall. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 4-0261-0000 Bogdan Rzońca (ECR), pytanie zadane przez podniesienie niebieskiej kartki. – Dziękuję bardzo za to, że zechciał Pan przyjąć moje pytanie. Cenię Pana wypowiedzi.”
“Mr President, today it's easier to import virgin polyester than to move European wool around. The textile strategy made a promise: textiles on the European market should be sustainable, recyclable and, to a large extent, of recycled fibres. But wool, today, shows us how far we are from delivering on that promise. We adapted health rules to stop animal disease spreading, rightly so. But wool from perfectly healthy sheep was swept into these same rules. So, in practice, raw wool cannot be sold or moved around like any other farm product. So instead of becoming a beautiful textile, it is thrown away. The paradox does not stop at the farm gate, because when wool comes back to us years later as worn‑out garments it hits the second wall: waste legislation. There are 27 interpretations of what a textile is, if it's waste or it's a resource.”
“This is not a call to reopen every single line, but it is a call for the Council to come back in October with ambitions and green actions. My group stands ready to work with you on the basis of ambitions, but patience is running out. 3-0025-0000”
“Madame President, dear colleagues, I'm going to speak about our budget and the climate – no big surprise. On the MFF, the European Council had one job in June: show ambitions and directions for Europe's future budget. Instead, what we saw was a negotiation box of 27 mini priorities squeezed together. That is not ambitions for Europe and not what this House asked for. At the same time, we can look out the window and we see a third heatwave already, larger and earlier wildfires. And a Council meeting in June will not stop this, but ambitions at the meeting are needed to act. I read the conclusion twice, searching for ambitions, and I couldn't really see them. I found one sentence squeezed in among competitiveness. But let's be honest: the 2040 target is so far from reach. We need to act. We need ambitions.”
“And the same goes for the rule of law and for our fundamental values. Let's make it count. The overall size of the MFF must be ambitious. A weak budget delivers weak policies. We cannot cut back when it comes to green action or when it comes to our most vulnerable citizens and community. They depend on EU investments. Finally, Council, when you sit around the table and negotiate the coming MFF in the meeting, don't forget you have to agree with us in this House. That also comes on our shoulders, dear colleagues – that we actually look at each other, the pro-European parties, and live up to the ambitions we have for a strong Europe and a strong budget. 3-0030-0000”
“Mr President, dear colleagues, Commissioner, Council, the multiannual financial framework is a political statement about what kind of Europe we want. It is up to the pro-European groups in this Parliament to ensure that we live up to this responsibility. When it comes to the green transition, we cannot afford to go backwards. What's proposed by the Council – with a 35 % climate spending target across the MFF – is not ambitious for the sake of the ambition; it's a bare minimum. We already see communities and citizens paying a very high price for the climate crisis. Let's, with this coming budget, limit further cost for humans and the economy. The same goes for the 'do no significant harm' principle. Let's make sure it's not just a little box we tick, but actually a tool to ensure the money goes in the right direction.”
“A main concern for my group is, of course, the climate and biodiversity crisis, and I am content to know that today we adapt a text which maintained this a priority, both overall and in sectoral funds. This is also why I am satisfied that we have earmarked funding for live action. Not as much as I wanted, not exactly how I wanted, but we have it in important headings, not least in the competitiveness funds, which shows directly that this is the direction we want to go, also when it comes to competitiveness. I want to thank the co-rapporteurs, and not least as well my colleague Fabienne Keller for the collaboration. I think today we can be proud pro-Europeans behind this report. 2-0041-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, the report we are voting on today sets a clear frame for the coming negotiations on the long‑term budget. We are setting the ground plan, the architecture – which is partly new, partly adjustments – as we are preparing for the future. And we are doing so knowing that we already are facing several challenges, if not crises: the war in Ukraine, ongoing war in the Middle East, challenges to energy security, and not least the climate and biodiversity crisis, which grows day by day. And this is only what we know until now. The budget is more than numbers. The budget is about priorities. And we have many. We have traditional priorities, we have additional, and not least we have totally new ones we do not even know yet.”
“Madam President, to all the young LGBTQI people who are being told to change yourself: don't listen, because you're good just as you are. There's nothing wrong about being gay or lesbian, being trans or being intersex. But unfortunately, far too many people in Europe have been going through the extremely damaging practice of so-called 'conversion therapy'. And it's still happening. It's happening because in far too many countries in the EU, it's still legal. In my own home country, Denmark, I proposed a ban six years ago and still nothing has happened. So that's why I look up to the activists, and I thank you, because we have to listen to you. We have to listen to you when you rally more than a million Europeans behind you. So let's all listen. Let's ban this so-called 'conversion therapy' and let's protect Europeans. 1-0207-0000”
“So, if we actually mean that we want one market for one Europe, the Circular Economy Act coming this fall will be key in achieving this. 2-0146-0000”
“Madam President, it was mentioned once only by the Commissioner and that one time: circularity. If we mean a single market, we need to create a single market for secondary raw materials – to live up to the promises in the Clean Industrial Deal and the proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act. We can fix it by actually looking at the patchwork of slow, unpredictable and costly procedures for shipping waste within the EU, which prevent us from actually growing a recycling industry and compete on the basis of environmental performance. But we also need to look into stopping the leakage of materials outside the EU – and I mean the scrap materials that we are exporting. This can actually create the secondary raw material market if we keep it here, just like other regions are doing.”
“You haven't done what you needed to do with Hungary in time, but you need to get your act together right now and here for the people of Slovakia. 3-0289-0000”
“Madam President, it's both a shame and really worrying that we need to have a discussion about the deteriorating situation of the rule of law and democracy and fundamental rights in Slovakia, but it's needed when we see the government's interference with the judicial independence, when we see journalists and NGOs under increasing suspicion, financial pressures and attacks, and when we see Roma and LGBTQI people in particular experiencing increased marginalisation, weakened protection and a more hostile public discourse. This is undermining fundamental European rights. What we see right now in Slovakia has to be acted upon straight away, so that we don't see the situation we have seen in Orbán's Hungary, but we actually act before it comes to that. So, we need to act from this House, but indeed we need to see the Council act as well.”
“Og især i de her tider, vi lever i i dag, hvor vi hører, at hadtale og mobning –ja det er nærmest ytringsfrihed. Her har vi et ansvar for at beskytte dem, som er allermest udsat. 2-0383-0000”
“Hr. formand! Da jeg var ung, der blev bøsse brugt som skældsord. Det var noget, som børn sikkert ikke rigtig forstod betydningen af, men det ramte anderledes, når man selv var bøsse. Det er nogle år siden, jeg var ung. Dengang var det i skolegården, det skete. Men der fandtes heller ikke smartphones, TikTok, Snapchat. I dag følger mobningen med hjem hele dagen og hele natten. Det er vigtigt, at vi i dag hører Kommissionen sige, at vi skal bekæmpe onlinemobning. Det skal vi gøre for alle børn og unge. Men vi er nødt til at anerkende, at unge LGBTI personer er nogle af de allermest udsatte. De bliver oftere ramt af angst og depression og ja, selvmordstanker og -forsøg. Derfor er vi nødt til at sikre, at vi får initiativer, der bekæmper hadtale, diskrimination og homo- og transfobi.”
“And I think it is quite interesting to hear the debate today that we hear from the far right; they are defending Orbán and his regime instead of defending taxpayers – European taxpayers who pay in money to the budget. How can you defend that instead of standing up for clear rules? Because that's all we are asking for: transparency and clear rules for everybody, including Orbán. 3-0275-0000”
“Madam President, credibility, fairness and accountability – that should be at the core of how EU spends its money. Citizens rightly expect that EU funds are spent in line with our values everywhere in the EU at all times. But right now, this is not the case. Take a look at Hungary. We are looking into, right now, sending even more money to Hungary through SAFE, at a time when we freeze other parts of their funds. That cannot be the reality we are looking into. Rule of law should be applied consistently, impartially and in a timely manner across all EU money. We have to stick with this. We have to do this for fairness. We have to do it for clarity and for transparency also for union citizens.”
“So that is why we are here today, and Parliament has been quite clear for years and years: we need the Council to start to work and we need to close this gap. We need to do this for all Europeans. 3-0222-0000”
“Mr President, equality is a core value of the European Union. We say it, we repeat it, but we do not enforce it. We all know that it's both unacceptable and undeniably wrong to discriminate people because of their gender, sexual orientation, religion, gender expression, or any other reason. And yet it continues for far too many people every day. And that is why this debate is not only about anti-discrimination, it is not only about the economy, as some colleagues also have brought up, but it's about common sense and it's about equality for Europeans. The continued absence of the horizontal anti-discrimination directive leaves measurable gaps in equal treatment and the protection of fundamental rights.”
“So let's drop the fiction of fishery policy and try and make a policy that actually reflects the realities in the sea. 3-0453-0000”
“Madam President, it's really not complicated. Fishery quotas exist for one simple reason: to ensure there are fish in the sea in 5, 10 or 20 years. Everyone knows this and yet, year after year, it's forgotten by Member States who choose to sidestep expert advice. When ministers set quotas above the recommended levels, they turn their back on their responsibility. Just look at cod: a stock on the brink of collapse. Still, ministers sit around the table and negotiate bycatch quotas. That has no grounding in reality, as if the bycatch doesn't count. This is not just irresponsible. It's absurd. Overfishing is damaging our seas, it's putting pressures on already dwindling stocks, and in ways that we can no longer pretend not to see it.”
“Also, while I have the floor, I want to address, Commissioner, that in this budget, we need to also commit to green spending. What we see in your proposal is unfortunately too weak. It needs to be strengthened so that we live up to a budget for the people and the planet, and all of Europe. 1-0142-0000”
“Mr President, a budget is only a tool. It's a tool to prioritise, a tool to organise, and the European budget is also a democratic tool. Therefore, it has been very important for us to ensure an active role of the regions in these proposed new plans from the Commission. And this is why it's so important to ensure the Parliament's role in the entire budget, and not just part of it. We are, therefore, very happy to have taken on the work, together with the three other pro-European parties, to push the Commission and the Council when it comes to the role of regions and when it comes to the Parliament. And this is not just a power play. This is about actually achieving the involvement of the people of Europe and to achieve transparency.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, for one year the people of Serbia have been demanding change. People have gone to the streets because they saw that their own government values the financial gain of a selected few allies over the safety of their own people. Corruption is swept under the rug, critical voices are silenced, protesters are met with brutal violence. Vučić is right now dismantling the Serbian society with disinformation and hateful narratives in the media, which, of course, he is controlling. The free media and civil society are being harassed and silenced. Last month I was in Novi Sad. I joined a peaceful protest that began with 16 minutes of silence commemorating the 16 people who died. The silence was haunting. All that could be heard was the crows in the air, and then people crying for the people lost.”
“Right now, the reality for businesses is discouraging when it comes to the circular economy, and we need to fix that. We need to fix that to create jobs for our competitiveness, our security, and not least for our planet. 2-0031-0000”
“Madam President, the EU single market is, without question, one of Europe's greatest achievements. The foundation of shared prosperity, and it could be an engine for real change. So the crucial question is: why are we not using this massive asset better to reach our core objectives and specifically our green, industrial and circular economy goals? The single market is not just about moving goods, it is about optimising the future. The circular economy means removing barriers so that the circulation of products and materials can be smart and fast, so they can be repaired, remanufactured and recycled. The Commissioner was talking about waste definition, but also when it comes to, for example, extended producer responsibilities – how can that be better aligned between Member States?”
“We cannot have a leader right at the doorsteps of the EU, who kisses Putin's hands on one day and shakes hands with von der Leyen the next. The EU needs to review all funds that we give to Serbia, because I know for sure that right now the funds do not benefit the people of Serbia, but only Vučić. 2-0413-0000”
“Madam President, Friday evening I was in Novi Sad. I met students, ordinary families, health workers, veterans, all kinds of people peacefully protesting for democracy. It all began with 10 minutes of silence to commemorate the people that lost their lives in the tragic collapse at the railway station last year, 10 months ago. Never have I been at a place where thousands of people were so silent and it was only broken by the sounds of bird screams, almost like an alarm of the future that Serbia faces if we let Vučić lead Serbia down the authoritarian path. The free media have been suffocated, young people detained. And this for 10 months. Hundreds of thousands have taken the streets to protest Vučić's oppressive policies, widespread corruption and the police brutalities.”
“Madam President, I urge you to respond to this very aggressive and unacceptable attack on fundamental rights, on democracy and on freedom of speech. 1-0030-0000”
“Madam President, on Friday 5 September, I had a very concerning experience in Serbia, where I was attacked and threatened with prosecution by Aleksandar Vučić, the President. In a late‑night televised address, the President repeatedly referred to the European Green Party delegation – composed of co‑chair Vula Tsetsi and myself – as scum, and explicitly threatened to prosecute us. These attacks followed a press conference in the National Assembly with our Serbian member party and our show of solidarity with the peaceful demonstrators in Novi Sad. Such personal insults, threats, intimidation and disinformation from the head of state of an EU candidate country go far beyond political disagreement. They are an attack on European democracy, on civic freedom in Serbia and on the European political family.”
“We need to work actively with the principles of 'do no significant harm', and of course, we need to create a standalone nature fund to invest in biodiversity. At the same time, we need social conditionality to meet the citizens of Europe. So perhaps my expectations are not that high, but I actually think Europeans' expectations are, and they should be, because we need every euro in the coming budget to move us closer to a climate-neutral, competitive and just economy. 3-0072-0000”
“Madam President, today we are discussing our expectations for the long-term budget. To be honest, my expectations are actually pretty low, but my hope is very high. It's high because it needs to be. We are standing at a crossroad. The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it's here and it demands action now. At the same time, we're in the middle of a biodiversity crisis, economic and social insecurity and geopolitical instability. All this we need to tackle in the long-term budget. It means, of course, that we should not just tweak a little on what we have today. We have to rebuild it. We need to be serious about the green industrial policy. We need to be bold, and we need to be smart. We cannot do this budget without having a strong green spending target. It's needed for the environment, for the climate, for nature.”
“– This is not about what I like or don't like. This is not about what somebody else likes or doesn't like. This is about freedom of speech. It's about the freedom of assembly. It's fundamental rights in a democracy. And I find it extremely interesting that a political party elected to a democratic assembly can question democracy in that way. Extremely interesting. 3-0260-0000”
“And I think it's utmost important that the Commission step up and act to show exactly the same to the people of Hungary. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 3-0258-0000 Tomasz Froelich (ESN), Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Vielen Dank, dass Sie die Blue Card zulassen. Ich habe eine Frage. Haben Sie sich schon mal überlegt, dass es auch viele Homosexuelle gibt, die eigentlich gar nicht wollen, dass das Ganze so öffentlich zelebriert wird, weil das ja bei vielen Leuten auch auf Ablehnung stößt, auch bei Menschen, die eigentlich gar kein Problem damit haben? Wie erklären Sie sich, dass, wenn die europäische Rechte angeblich so homophob ist, die AfD unter Homosexuellen mit 28 % die stärkste Kraft in Deutschland ist? 3-0259-0000 Rasmus Nordqvist (Verts/ALE), blue-card answer.”
“Mr President, thank you. I am appalled and alarmed that in 2025, a European government is trying to erase LGBTQI people from the public space. That's not law and order. It's oppression. By banning Budapest Pride, the Hungarian Government are sending a chilling message that diversity is not welcome, equality is expendable, and that censorship is preferable to democracy and freedom of speech. That's the reality. It's also the reality we hear from the far right here today who is trying to dehumanise LGBTQI people by calling us an ideology. But we're not. We're human beings. I think it's very important that the LGBTQI community of Hungary, the people of Hungary, know that we stand with them for democracy, freedom of speech and freedom to be who you are.”
“But what we also saw at UNOC, in the same way as in the proposed Ocean Pact, is a lot of declaratory quick fixes to measures or targets that should have been implemented years ago. Something as simple as forbidding one of the most obvious negative activities in our ocean – bottom trawling – yes, even on this, we don't see any meaningful action in marine target areas where bottom trawling is actually existing. So, what we need now is actually shared accountability on the issues of ocean protection, and much less declarations. 2-0095-0000”
“Madam President, Commissioner, the Ocean Pact is and should be about international ocean governance and protection. And what better way to evaluate what the Pact can deliver than looking at the UN Conference on Oceans last week: a moratorium on deep-sea mining announced by President Costa, with growing numbers of countries supporting, and a helpful push once more to finally secure an ambitious plastic treaty, with 95 countries calling for a comprehensive binding treaty covering the full life cycle of plastics. This call includes a proposal to phase out harmful chemicals, and represents a critical move away from the downstream clean-up to actually an upstream control.”
“Let me underline once again that the hearing of Hungary is scheduled for the next General Affairs Council meeting next week, as a part of the Article 7 procedure. 1-0193-0000”
“Honourable Members, finally, let me reassure you that the Commission will remain committed in defending democratic values and fundamental rights, and stands ready to use the tools at its disposal to ensure full respect for EU values in our European Union. 1-0192-0000 Adam Szłapka, President-in-Office of the Council. – Mr President, Mr Commissioner, honourable Members, thank you very much for your comments and remarks. Let me assure you that the rule of law and fundamental rights are a key priority for us as a presidency, of course. Our shared EU values can never be taken for granted. They require constant actions for their upholding and strengthening, especially in the current geopolitical context.”
“Rather, freedom of association itself needs to be protected in the European Union. Honourable Members, respect for the rule of law is not an optional extra for Member States. It is a core treaty obligation that applies to all Member States, and an 'à la carte' approach is not possible. I want to inform the House that the Commission is considering its approach to the next MFF – the multiannual financial framework – and we had a further discussion on this issue at yesterday's meeting of the College of Commissioners. This included consideration of the role of conditionality and respect for the rule of law in that regard.”
“This will be an opportunity to reaffirm that the Commission shares numerous concerns expressed in the reasoned proposal of the European Parliament, and it will allow both Minister Szłapka and I an opportunity to inform ministers of this debate this evening. The Commission believes the Article 7(1) procedure should be maintained as long as the issues that triggered it are not resolved. On the question of civil society, let me reiterate: the Commission places great importance on the role of civil society, and remains committed to protecting the freedom of association and fostering a supportive environment for its work across the EU, including in relation to access to funding. I also want to be clear that nobody needs to be protected from freedom of association.”
“I hope also I will see you and your colleagues together with the rest of us on 28 June for Budapest Pride to actually show that you mean all the good words you are saying. 1-0190-0000 (End of catch-the-eye procedure) 1-0191-0000 Michael McGrath, Member of the Commission. – Mr President, thank you very much. I would like to thank all of the honourable Members for their contributions to this debate this evening. I have listened carefully to all of the contributions that have have been made and to sum up, from my perspective, serious concerns remain regarding fundamental rights and the rule of law in Hungary. Next week, the Commission will give an update on the situation in Hungary to the General Affairs Council during what is the eighth formal hearing of Hungary under the Article 7(1) procedure in the General Affairs Council.”
“Mr President, Commissioner and colleagues, it's really extreme to see the smokescreen the far right are trying to throw over today's debate with their 'whataboutism'. Really funny and extreme. But this is actually a serious matter – it's a serious matter for the citizens of Hungary, for the civil society researchers, journalists and the LGBTQI community. Therefore it is also urgent, dear Commissioner, that we see concrete action from the Commission. It's a nice speech that you gave today. We have heard a lot of good speeches, but we need to see concrete action. We need to see it urgently. People in Hungary are demanding it, and the civil society cannot hold up unless we are there for them.”
“Madam President, it's actually easy to feel embarrassed when you listen to the far right today. All your hate and your lies are embarrassment to this House. I'm sorry, we're standing here today discussing fundamental rights in EU. It's in the Treaty. We are all here because we want to be here. All the countries part of EU is here because they want to be here. And your answer is lies and is hate. I want to say to all the gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trans people, intersex people of Hungary, we stand with you. We stand with you today. We did yesterday. We do again tomorrow. And we do, of course, on 28 June. We will not step down because of hate and lies from the far right. And we will not stand down just because of Orbán's bigotry. It's time now to act. And it's also time for the Commission and the Council to act. We have had enough talk.”
“You might answer that this will come as part of the circular economy act, but we will have to wait 21 months for that, so no real action will be taken to boost the circular economy with this industrial policy. My fear is that this is more than a mismatch in timing. This is actually a real strategic mistake. 2-0505-0000”
“Madam President, the time is now for the EU to step up and show global leadership. We have been in this situation before. Last time that man took office in the US, his first act was to undermine global cooperation in the field of climate change. And today it's the same. It's all about 'drill, baby, drill', instead of actual actions. We hear from the far right today that there's no money for green transition. And that in a year where we've seen droughts, floods, fires. Wake up! This is reality. The time is now for us to step up, together with everybody who is willing to do the same. It's no time for backtracking, and it should go without saying that when the US said they are out, we are more than in. We need to step up our support for climate action also in vulnerable and poor countries.”
“Madam President, the other day, I read from world famous artist Marina Abramović on her social media that the students of Serbia are the heroes of today, and they are. They are – and the protests are indeed something that should call us to stand up and stand next to them, because what is the protest about? It's about fighting corruption, it's fighting for transparency, for accountability and for democracy. So let's step up both in the Commission, in this House and also in the Council, step up and be on the side of the future, be on the side of the heroes, because the heroes are in the streets right now in Serbia and they are fighting for European values. 2-0422-0000”