Sebastian TYNKKYNEN

Policy topics Sebastian TYNKKYNEN is active on

What Sebastian TYNKKYNEN has said (80)

• 2026-06-17 “(16:17:06 – 16:18:14): Thank you very much, president. The EU is working on, yet another plan for electrification. And why? So that the EU can achieve its climate goals. But there's something to bear in mind here. European households, factories, and, hospitals can't be dependent on the with the weather. We cannot be entirely dependent on wind energy. European, people's lives need to be able to function every day regardless of the weather as do our factories. There has been a real movement against electrification, but I'm not against electrification in and of itself as long as it is market oriented. With electricity produced by nuclear power plants, electricity can be made cheaper. And so nuclear energy is a way of pushing electrification forward. However, I get the impression that the EU that the commission is going to continue in the way it has thus far. Thank you for president and thank you.”
  Nuclear energy
• 2026-06-17 “(10:52:54 – 10:54:00): Europe is under China's thumb, and this has been Europe's own doing. This continent, which at 1 time determined the direction of the economy in the world, is now light years behind China in virtually every strategic sector. This is a huge security risk. Let's take a few examples from weapons technology. 85% of battery production capacity is located in China. 90% of processing of rare earth minerals is controlled by China. Both are, amongst others, the backbone of drone and counter drone systems. 9 out of 10 alignment sensors and optical systems come from China. In its green frenzy, Europe has outsourced its production and made itself dependent on supply chains that it does not control. Our future must be taken out of the hands of dictatorships. The 1 and only solution is to ramp up the European production. It's a mister Grasulis, seat 5 2 5, please.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials
• 2026-06-16 “President, there was a time when the Nokia 33 10 ruled the world. Its durability and reliability were legendary, and the legend lives on. Since then, Nokia's mobile phone business has declined, and a recurring recurring theme in the Finnish economy is this, where will we get a new Nokia? This answer can be answered partly when we look at what is being asked in the West. The question is, where will we get secure data networks? A possible supplier is the Chinese giant Huawei, which has led to fears of espionage. In raw materials and production, we have handed over our our keys to the Chinese dictatorship. This has been a huge act of stupidity. If we allow a network company with ties to a dictatorship to infiltrate us, that is already a life threatening act of stupidity. We have another option. It is Nokia, the company that developed the 33 10 phone and has grown into a Finnish network company.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty · 5G
• 2026-06-16 “(15:23:48 – 15:24:22): Thank you very much for the reply. But as regarding my main question, you did not reply. I said, do you really believe that this current line of simplification will bring down this horror figure of 71%? And if your reply is that, no, we do not believe that, then are you going to speed up, with the omnibus pro proposals?”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• 2026-06-16 “20:31 – 15:21:35): Madam president, the EU has created a problem in Europe that cannot be fixed by just polishing rough edges. The European Commission is talking about regulatory simplification, but we need, actually be cleared of reg regulations. Let's listen to what companies say. SMEs identified the following as their main challenge, and that is regulatory barriers or administrative burden. Indeed, as many as 71% of European start up are start ups identified this as the biggest challenge. And we are wondering why we don't have new success stories like elsewhere in the world. In in the world is full of risks now for entrepreneurs. Is it too much to ask that the regulation created by the EU itself would not be the biggest problem? I would like to commission if you really believe that in your current line of simplification, this 71% of horror figure will fall to an acceptable level.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• 2026-06-16 “Thank you, Mr. Duncan. There was a time when the Nokia 3310 ruled the world. Its durability and reliability were legendary, and the legend lives on. Since then, Nokia's mobile phone business has declined, and a recurring recurring theme in the Finnish economy is this where will we get a new Nokia? This answer can be answered partly when we look at what is being asked in the West. The question is where will we get secure data networks? A possible supplier is the Chinese giant Huawei, which has led to fears of espionage in raw materials and production. We have handed over our keys to the Chinese dictatorship. This has been a huge act of stupidity. If we allow a network company with ties to a dictatorship to infiltrate us. That is already a life threatening act of stupidity. We have another option. It is Nokia, the company that developed the 3310 phone and has grown into a Finnish network company.”
  5G
• 2026-06-15 “(18:11:30 – 18:11:49): President, if 98% of your goods come from a single country, you're completely dependent on that country. And this is exactly what Europe is. In fact, 98% of Europe's solar panel panels come from 1 single country, China. This is the dirty side of the green transition, and it's not just about solar panels. Dependence on China is a sin that plagues the entire green transition. For example, 88% of Europe's lithium ion battery imports come from China. Chinese electric buses, meanwhile, have flooded into our transport sector and hold a leading position in the Arctic. Forced electrification has forced a straitjacket onto Europe, 1 that says made in China. Removing the straitjacket designed by the Chinese Communist Party requires a crucial solution. We must put an end to this shortsighted climate policy.”
  Chinese clean tech competition: trade barriers and investment caps vs. open market
• 2025-06-19 “– Arvoisa puhemies, tänään meillä oli pitkä lista äänestettävänä erilaisia tarkistuksia Clean Industrial Deal -päätöslauselmaan ja jouduin pettymään. Olisin odottanut, että tämä olisi ollut paljon kunnianhimoisempi teollisuuden hyväksi ja teollisuuden palauttamiseksi Eurooppaan. Viime kaudella puhuttiin Green Dealistä. Huomattiin, että siinä mentiin pikkaisen väärään suuntaan nimenomaan teollisuuden näkökulmasta, ja tällä kaudella nyt sitten ollaan puhuttu tästä Clean Industrial Dealistä. Mutta tässä päätöslauselmassa, jota käsiteltiin tänään ja josta äänestettiin, oli niin paljon – kuten harmikseni jouduin huomaamaan – vihreätä agendaa, vääränlaista ideologista agendaa, ei markkinaehtoista säätelyä, että valitettavasti jouduin tulemaan siihen johtopäätökseen, että en voi tämän paperin puolesta äänestää. Ehkä ensi kaudella me voimme saada päätöslauselman nimeltään pelkästään Industrial Deal.”
• 2025-06-19 “– Arvoisa puhemies, toimivat sähköverkot pitävät Euroopan turvallisena. Ilman niitä huoltovarmuutemme ja resilienssimme romahtaisivat. Rajatylittävällä sähkönjakelulla on tässä myös tärkeä rooli. Toimivuudesta vastaavat kuitenkin aina jäsenvaltiot itse – jäsenvaltiot, jotka vieläpä osaavat hoitaa jakelunsa esimerkillisen loistokkaasti. Fingridin tilastojen mukaan kantaverkkojen luotettavuusaste Suomessa oli viime vuonna 99,9995 prosenttia – päätähuimaavan hieno luku. Olisiko se ollut näin korkea, jos sähköverkoista olisikin vastanneet virkamiehet Brysselissä eikä Suomen olosuhteet parhaiten tuntevat kotimaiset toimijat? Ei varmasti, sanon minä. Kaikkein parasta Euroopan huoltovarmuudelle on antaa jäsenvaltioiden hoitaa asiansa ja tehdä sellaista kansainvälistä yhteistyötä, mistä kaikki osapuolet varmasti hyötyvät. Tämän vuoksi päätin äänestää esitystä vastaan, sillä vaikka siirtäisimmekin sähköä kauas, tulee päätäntävallan säilyä lähellä.”
• 2024-12-16 “E-002971/2024 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The Commission highlights that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. Coastal and flag States have to exercise their rights and fulfil their obligations in accordance with UNCLOS. The international legal regime regulating the passage of ships through straits is embodied in UNCLOS. While exercising rights of transit passage, ships must, inter alia, comply with generally accepted international regulations, procedures and practices for the prevention, reduction, and control of pollution from ships. Moreover, according to Articles 192 and 210 et seq., States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment and cooperate on a global and regional basis for the same purpose. Moreover, under UNCLOS, flag States are responsible for ensuring that vessels, including shadow fleets, sailing under their flag comply with international insurance and certification requirements, vital for accountability and preventing environmental risks in the particularly sensitive sea are of the Baltic Sea. Denmark, as the coastal State responsible for the Danish Straits, has the authority under UNCLOS to adopt measures to prevent environmental hazards and ensure compliance with international regulations within its territorial seas. Member States are also required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 1 to include significant acute pollution events in their marine strategies. Where such pollution events occur, it is the prime responsibility of Member States to intervene and this includes cooperation with regional bodies such as HELCOM to monitor and manage maritime activities that could pose risks to the Baltic Sea. 1 Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy, OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19–40.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-12-16 “P-002959/2024 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU has repeatedly voiced its concerns regarding the intensification of repression against civil society, political opponents and independent media in Azerbaijan. In this context, the EU continues to raise the case of Dr Ibadoghlu, both in direct contacts with the authorities and in public statements, urging the authorities to lift his travel ban in order for him to obtain the urgent medical attention he requires abroad 1 . Moreover, the EU Delegation in Azerbaijan and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights have repeatedly raised his case with the Azerbaijani authorities. The EU Delegation is also in direct contact with Dr Ibadoghlu and his lawyers, and regularly attends the court hearings in his case. Moreover, on the occasion of his official visit to Azerbaijan in October 2024, the Commissioner for Climate Action met Dr Ibadoghlu. The EU Delegation also facilitated the organisation of a meeting between Dr Ibadoghlu and the European Parliament Delegation, which visited Baku in November 2024 during the Conference of the Parties (COP29). The EU is committed to phasing out its energy dependency on Russia, including through the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy and efforts to diversify the supply of energy imports. 1 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/azerbaijan-statement-spokesperson-human-rights-situation_en; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-10-2024-10-22-ITM-020_EN.html; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-10-2024-12-18-ITM-019-03_EN.html”
  EU competences on human rights · EU-Azerbaijan relations
• 2024-12-16 “E-002960/2024 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission It is an established norm of customary international law that countries must readmit their own nationals and have to cooperate in identifying their nationals and issuing travel documents for this purpose. This duty was reaffirmed in the 2016 New York declaration for Refugees and Migrants 1 . It also stems from a number of multilateral instruments and bilateral readmission agreements and arrangements. In the comprehensive partnerships established by the EU with third countries, migration is a core component. The Commission uses a wide range of policy tools like visa policy, diplomacy and development aid in support of national capacities, to enhance returns and readmission. In this spirit, it should be noted that the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI - Global Europe) 2 foresees a ‘flexible incitative approach’ to encourage cooperation on migration, including on returns, with 10% of funding earmarked for addressing the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement and to supporting migration management and governance. The Commission is rolling out this approach through the Flexible Mechanisms for Asia and the Pacific, and for Sub-Saharan Africa. Actions under the Flexible Mechanisms, decided in close coordination with Member States, aim at encouraging relevant partner countries to manage migration and/or forced displacement and improve cooperation with the EU, offering incentives beyond classic bilateral cooperation. 1 Resolution 71/1 of the United Nations General Assembly. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/947/oj/eng”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)
• 2024-12-05 “E-002789/2024 Reply In the light of Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine and the atrocities being committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine, the Council of the EU has adopted the largest and most ambitious ever set of restrictive measures, with 16 packages of restrictive measures adopted to date. The 14th package of sanctions adopted on 24 June 2024 banned Russian carriers of all kinds from accessing EU airports and from overflying EU airspace (see Article 3d of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014). This means that aircraft registered in Russia or elsewhere and leased or rented to a Russian citizen or entity are banned from landing at any EU airports and from flying over EU countries. Private aircraft are included in the ban. The 16th package has extended this provision with the new paragraph 1b: “it shall be prohibited for air carriers operating domestic flights within Russia or selling, supplying, transferring or exporting, directly or indirectly, aircraft, or any of the goods or technology referred to in Article 3c(1) to a Russian air carrier or for flights within Russia, as listed in Annex XLVI, as well as for any entity owned or controlled by such air carrier, to land in, take off from or overfly the territory of the Union”. Restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine apply within the territory of the Union, aboard any aircraft under the jurisdiction of a Member State, and to any legal person, entity or body, whether inside or outside the territory of the Union, which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State, as well as to any business carried out in whole or in part within the Union, as set out in Article 13 of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014. In addition, the management of air traffic rights falls within the competence of Member States in their bilateral relations with China. In this respect, it is up to the Member States to ensure the principle of fair and equal opportunities in their air services agreements. Further measures may be proposed to the Council by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and by the European Commission.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022) · Trade relations with China
• 2024-11-27 “– Arvoisa puhemies, Euroopalla on edessä epävarmat ajat. Vallan avaimet on nyt luovutettu takaisin sen henkilön käsiin, joista moni olisi ne varmasti jo aiemmin halunnut ottaa pois. Muistakaa te, jotka tämän komission puolesta äänestitte, että seuraavan viiden vuoden ajan teillä on erittäin heikot eväät esittää yllättynyttä, kun tämä komissio taatusti tekee jotain, mistä te ette tule pitämään. Älkää siis silloin sanoko, ettemme varoittaneet. Teillä oli takananne viisi vuotta todistusaineistoa siitä, kuka ne ongelmat, joista tänä päivänä keskustelemme, on aiheuttanut. Ja muutosta tuskin on luvassa. Näitte avoimet rajat, Euroopan katujen turvallisuuden järkkymisen, tehtaiden sulkemisen ja ihmisten kokonaisvaltaisen ahdingon. Vai päätittekö sittenkin kääntää katseenne pois tästä kaikesta? Minä en, ja siksi äänestin tämän komission hyväksymistä vastaan.”
• 2024-11-27 “– Arvoisa puhemies, EU:n budjetti paisuu vuosi vuodelta. Budjetti hätyyttelee nyt jo 200 miljardin euron rajapyykkiä. Vaikka Ukrainassa on sota, uusia muita kohteita rahan syytämiselle kyllä löydetään, mutta missä ovat uudelleenkohdennus ja leikkauskohteet? Ei sitten missään. Olin yksi harvoista, joka tällaisia esitti. Tein ison tukun ehdotuksia EU:n kehitysapuun tehtävistä 20 prosentin leikkauksista. Ne äänestettiin nurin, koska kehitysapuun tuntuu aina rahaa löytyvän. Ei säästön säästöä. Jäsenmaissa vastuulliset hallitukset joutuvat tekemään vaikeita päätöksiä tasapainottaakseen omia budjettejaan. Mutta miten toimii EU? Täällä asenne vaikuttaa olevan, että rahaa ihan kaikkeen on ja jos se loppuu, niin pyydetään jäsenmailta lisää. Tällaisen vastuuttoman ajattelutavan johdosta en voinut tukea ensi vuoden budjettia äänestyksessä.”
• 2024-11-14 “– Arvoisa puhemies, me jotka vastustimme tätä päätöslauselmaa, emme tehneet sitä siksi, että emme välittäisi ympäristöstä ja ilmastosta. Me vain vastustamme sitä ideologiaa, jonka nimissä Eurooppa, jonka päästöt kattavat vain seitsemän prosenttia koko maailman päästöistä, joutuu uhraamaan useiden satojen miljoonien ihmisten tulevaisuuden tuon kyseisen seitsemän prosentin nollaamisen vuoksi. Terästehtaamme sulkeutuvat, autonvalmistajat laittavat lapun luukulle ja tuhannet ihmiset joutuvat kilometritehtaalle. Mitä sanomme kotimaidemme kansalaisille, kun he tulevat kysymään meiltä, miksi ajoimme heidät työttömyyteen ja heidän perheensä sosiaaliturvan tukien varaan? Tunnumme tässä salissa ottavan kokoamme suuremman vastuun ilmastosta, mutta missä on vastuu taloudesta, työpaikoista ja ihmisten toimeentulosta? Miten voimme samaan aikaan keskustella puolustusvalmiutemme kohottamisesta, kun ilmastoideologia kahlitsee suuren osan tuotantomme potentiaalista? Alas pähkähullu viherhumppa, ylös Euroopan talous ja teollisuus. Siksi vastustin tätä esitystä.”
• 2024-11-14 “– Arvoisa puhemies, öljykauppa on Venäjälle keskeinen tulonlähde, jolla se rahoittaa hyökkäystään Ukrainassa. Pakotteita kiertääkseen Venäjä on luonut laajan varjolaivaston eli satojen säiliöalusten verkoston, jolla se pyrkii piilottamaan öljyn alkuperän kansainvälisillä markkinoilla. Alukset ovat kaiken lisäksi vakuuttamattomia purjehduskelvottomia rotiskoja, joista koituu vakavia ympäristöriskejä. Tarvitsemme lisää kohdennettuja pakotteita. Kaikki varjolaivaston alukset sekä niiden omistajat tulee nimetä. EU:n tulee arvioida suhteitaan uudelleen Venäjän varjolaivastoa alustaviin maihin. Niin kauan kuin EU tuo fossiilisia polttoaineita Venäjältä, pakotteiden vaikutus jää tavoiteltua heikommaksi. Siksi venäläisten fossiilisten polttoaineiden tuonti tulisi kieltää kokonaan. On velvollisuutemme tehdä kaikkemme Venäjän sotakonetta rahoittavan öljykaupan kitkemiseksi ja varjolaivaston toiminnan estämiseksi. Tämän johdosta äänestin päätöslauselman puolesta.”
• 2024-10-22 “– Arvoisa puhemies, Ukrainan tukeminen on samalla myös turvallisuusratkaisu koko Euroopalle. Vaikka käymämme keskustelu antaakin Ukrainalle toivoa, pelkkä toivo ei riitä sodan voittamiseen. Siihen tarvitaan varoja, ammuksia ja kalustoa. Niiden saamista olemme tänään edistäneet – ja hyvä niin. Äänestin tämän uuden Ukrainan tukemisen mekanismin puolesta, mutta nimestä johtuen on hyvä selventää, että kyse ei ole yhteisvelasta vaan siitä, että Ukraina pääsee maksamaan velkojaan neljälläkymmenelläviidellä miljardilla eurolla Venäjän jäädytetyistä varoista.”
• “Madam president, the European Council has chosen words over courage. Conclusions of the European Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East. Dangerously ignores the very cause of that tragedy. Hamas, a terrorist group that refuses to release innocent civilians whose only crime in the eyes of Hamas is being Israeli. Where is the outrage over Hamas storing weapons under hospitals or using children as human shields? It is deeply disappointing that the message of European leaders to Israel is about lifting blockades in Gaza, rather than fighting terrorism that makes blockades necessary in the first place. Peace will never come from pressuring the only democracy in the region to lay down its weapons, while its enemies are arming themselves. The European leaders forgot this once. Once again. Unfortunately. Thank you.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Madam president. What is the foundation of the European Union? The answer is the steel industry. But what has happened to it since at the hands of European politicians? The green policy has damaged this industry, which has been the foundation of European cooperation. This is sad. The Green Deal was a complete fiasco. Its emissions restrictions are damaging. The steel and metals industry and plants all over Europe are suffering. On paper, these growth objectives, they they sound great, but they are not realised in practice. What will the EU do now? Well, the Commission has come up with an action plan very late, but jobs are disappearing and imports from abroad are growing. But that does not remove the problem. The problem is the overly restrictive green policy in Europe, which damages production in Europe and hence the competitive edge to others. The status of the European industry must be restored. Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Most European countries are up to their necks in public debt. How are they going to face up to the crisis? We already have rules for that. We have the 60% limit on public debt. And when you see big countries with their debt levels above 100%, then you may ask yourself whether these rules really have any credibility. We have special reports from the European Court of Justice on the. On these issues, we have a shift in responsibilities and we're seeing new rules being made on the labour market. We have a fundamental problem. We are wasteful in Europe. We're looking to the next election and simply throw around cash and we can see that the. The institution has. Want to save money, doesn't want to save. Which government will actually change this?”
  EU fiscal rules and oversight of national budgets
• “Madam president, how does China see Europe? Well, as a cowardly organization that it shouldn't worry too much about. At the same time, Europe is China's main trade partner. Last year, we exported goods and services for €260 billion worth. We're much less important than the United States. But China can do can maybe do without us. Then We need to look and see what levers we can use with China. Even if we believe in free trade, we shouldn't give in to any blackmail from China. If we let them do it now, we won't be able to say anything about that tomorrow. That's the key for a safer future, Vandenberg said.”
  EU-China relations
• “Thank you very much. European producers right now, as well as in future, need assistance if they are to guarantee production. They are faced with a variety of different problems. We've got bureaucrats in Brussels deciding on how funds should be used and behind the scenes decisions are taken on funding for the climate, and people forget the reality of small producers in Finland. And it is those small producers who run the risk of going to the wall as a result of Brussels. I mean, you are making decisions here on the 25% of direct aid, which are now being switched to the ecological regime going for climate change. I mean, is that going to help security of supplies in Europe? Absolutely not. Let's get to the heart of our agricultural policy here, which is the production of foodstuffs. We need European food and we should not forget our farmers.”
  Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1)
• “Madam president, it is hard to believe that some politicians call for reducing dependency on the United States, our closest ally, while simultaneously pushing for closer ties with China, a regime that systematically, systematically violates human rights, oppresses minorities and steals European technology, is a serious security threat. The balance of trade between Europe and China is already sharply in China's favor, in favor of a communist dictatorship that has long traditions of using economic relations as a tool for political pressure. Europe should not build stronger trade relations with a country whose representative for European relations questions the independence of sovereign Eastern European states that seceded from the Soviet Union. This says enough the growth of Chinese influence in Europe must be prevented. Thank you.”
  EU-China relations
• “The reason news of GPS jamming along our eastern borders are extremely alarming. But they are not a surprise. The reason suspected targeting of the aircraft of the president of the commission demonstrates that Putin does not care who is on the receiving end, while Russia has been conducting its barbaric war in Ukraine. Hybrid operations have also been detected across Europe. Anyone can be a target and the message is clear we must be prepared for every possible scenario. It is imperative that we work together with our allies to guarantee safe passage for both civilian and military air traffic. Failure to do so could have catastrophic consequences. And I urge Europe to act decisively. Thank you.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Honourable president, let us go back to the Covid 19 pandemic and what we learned from it. What happened when medicine and supplies were needed in Europe? The nation states took the lead because that is what nation states do. They protect their own citizens. Germany, for example, imposed an export ban on protective equipment. Eu solidarity melted like ice cream on a hot summer day. And yet, in the name of solidarity, some are insanely pushing for the centralization of pharmaceutical supply to the EU level. There is no way I will accept that Finnish medicines belong to Finland. They belong to the Finnish elderly people, to children, and to patients in Finland also to protect them during times of crisis. Securing supply at national level does not equal charitable work at EU level. Each country must be responsible for being prepared. Unhealthy EU level centralisation projects must not be implemented. They should be put in quarantine.”
  Covid-19 vaccines procurement
• “The EU spending priorities are seriously out of whack. There are calls, for example, for the green transition to be sped up and supported more strongly. It is not enough for the EU to do its job. It is being called upon to be the world's leading provider of climate finance and development aid. The EU is getting its hands dirty not only in social policy but also in housing policy. Although these are matters pertaining to the Member States exclusive competence, a substantial increase in EU funding is of course being called for in both areas, as well as in the tourism and cultural sectors. More money is required in all directions and there is little room for cuts. There are also plans for new EU own resources, which also means a transfer of power from the member states to the union. No, no and no. Again, the EU spending must focus on the essentials. Support for Ukraine. Internal security and external border control. Thank you, Father Vasilev.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Madam president, why are we doing this to ourselves? We are consciously establishing a European Works Council model in Europe. That isn't even clear for the people who are meant to participate in it. That's not a good point of departure at all. Labour market policy is an area where the EU has no powers, yet they still tinkering with it. Representatives of the Commission are over the moon about how we're investing in simplification and competitiveness. Well, if that's the case, why are companies saying once again that this proposal is going to increase red tape for companies? That's something I've heard before from this chamber. There are all sorts of rules and regulations, and it basically leaves the companies where they are increases red tape. Maybe it's high time we stopped.”
  EU regulation on worker representation in company decisions
• “Digitalization and artificial intelligence gave us opportunities for growth, but for the European Union, it is also an excellent occasion to regulate where legislation on the single market legislation, on digital services, legislation on audiovisual and the protection of data, etc.. So you'd be exhausted if I were to come to the end of the list. The European citizens, do they really need this extra wall that the Commission is putting up? Parliament is under pressure from third countries. We've heard of that, but I do think we should be reviewing the legislation on digital markets. I think it's important that we look towards the United States, and people are pointing at the US at the moment. So perhaps instead of reviewing the regulations that we have here, could we not look at this and tackle it in a different way? And really, what we're looking at here is a regulatory hell in Europe.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Dear 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 futures, deserve to make their own decisions, not to follow a one size fits all EU uniform that fits no one properly. I think we have seen enough to say that the 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. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “Dear members, if we are serious about European competitiveness, we must look in the mirror. The problem is not a lack of capital, but a suffocating web of EU micromanagement and EU federalism. Every new layer of reporting, every new sustainability checkbox drives the companies away from Europe. As we argue about paperwork, investments flow to the United States and Asia where businesses can actually breathe. Look at the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Companies were given thousands of pages of obligations costing them billions of euros per year. Is this competitiveness or is it self-sabotage? Commission. Stop creating endless directives and start tearing them down and let Europe thrive again. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Madam president, shouldn't this House respect democracy? When this legislature started, the first thing the other political groups did was to isolate a large group of nationalistic MEPs from the decision making process that is trampling on democracy. Democracy. Tomorrow, in this same hemicycle, we will vote on a paper regarding the EU elections. And reading that paper makes me once again pull my hair out. The proposal for resolution drafted by this Parliament of Europe says the following. The European Parliament is highly concerned about the success of the Anti-system and openly anti-EU parties in the 2024 elections. I would understand that a left wing politician would throw such comments, but we are here talking about a text by the Parliament of the whole of Europe. Colleagues, if EU critical, nationalistic or migration critical parties get support, that is democracy, excluding them from decision making is not last.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you Mrs. president. Are you satisfied now? You demanded a ceasefire with Iran, and in doing so, you have granted breathing space to a regime built on terror, a regime you chose to shield as a European, I am deeply ashamed. It seems that for the European Union, the lives of ordinary Iranians have no value. You have de facto been saving an Islamist regime when executions by the regime intensify, as they almost certainly will. How will you justify this moment? You indirectly stood with the mullahs against the US and Israel. You got the cease fire, but your friends are still keeping the strait closed and making us pay the price. If you want stability, removing the regime would be a real step towards it. Thank you.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “President. A large share of the foundation of our well-being is due to the European coal and steel industry. For 50 years, the operations of the European Coal and Steel Community were funded by payments collected from the coal and steel industry. When the community expired officially, its funds were harnessed in setting up the Research fund for Coal and Steel. Some of the funds were directed to the Green Development in Europe for for the coal industry. Funding is now focused on post-mining questions such as emissions abatement and. This creates a very ugly picture of Europe. Of the EU. Our splendid industry has died in Europe, and the same politicians who are responsible for this death are using this wealth that this industry created in Europe, and they don't want to support the bedrock of our wealth. They want to support their ideological goals and somewhere else this would be called theft.”
  Fossil fuels
• “Dear president, democracy is something we all believe in. But where we disagree is on who gets to decide what disinformation or hate speech is, who defines what harmful content is. I was once in an election debate where I was told by a current EPP MEP that believing in God and posting about it on Facebook is misinformation. Unbelievable. Genuine immigration concerns can easily be labelled as extremism or hate speech, when in truth, millions of Europeans are concerned about the erosion of their cultures. Democracy depends on an open and free debate. Hearing views you might not like and defeating them with better arguments if you can. Anything less than that turns to turns the tool of safeguarding democracy in the chains of authoritarianism. If we do that, we can no longer call ourselves democratic. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Thank you once again. The commission is attacking Elon Musk and X. More specifically, it is claiming that X and. Creating images of people who are scantily clad at best, it is a good thing for us to be taking X to task and to be calling for changes. But if there are images suggesting that Musk is X, Hex, then does the commission not need to stop and think that ChatGPT could also create these images? If you focus on only one single platform, which has also been targeted on numerous occasions in the past. This is surely open to question more more widely. The Commission has powerful tools, but it should be targeting them correctly, and it should also be putting its own house in order before it investigates others.”
  Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• “Thank you, Mr. President. Proper stockpiling of food, water and supplies is essential for Europe. But before the Commission constructs yet another bureaucratic burden for the member states, I first urge you to look at Finland. In Finland, with our long border with Russia. Preparedness has never been an option. It has been a necessity in a crisis. We can rely on what is close at hand. This is why preparedness and stockpiling must happen effectively at national, regional and even personal level. While EU coordination in security measures is not a bad thing. This must be underlined. Preparedness starts from national level actions because when the water cut off hits your home and your taps run dry. You do not wait for the news bucket to arrive. You pour a glass from your own reserve canister. Thank you.”
  EU competences on defence
• “Canada is without question one of Europe's closest partners. Strengthening our cooperation should be an obvious priority. That is precisely why it is so disappointing to read this new EU Canada report. Instead of focusing on defense, economic resilience or strategic cooperation, this text reads like a catalogue of left wing talking points. Climate slogans, green ideology and yet another round of finger pointing at the United States. Seriously? Is this ideological signalling all we have to offer? This new report is more about leftist political messaging than real geopolitics. I cannot support such a report. Eu Canada cooperation deserves a serious strategic partnership, not a lecture drafted through the lens of climate activism and anti-American rhetoric. Europe should do better.”
  EU foreign policy approach
• “Mr. president, the EU budget has grown to become an uncontrollable monster. Billions of euros are wasted for projects promoting gender mainstreaming, climate ambition, creative Europe and so on. At the same time, European citizens struggle to make a living. Do Europeans really need more beautiful EU agencies and EU action plans instead of feeding this bloated bureaucracy? We should focus on serious topics, not ideological experiments. And most importantly, taking action. Now if you need more green or leftist workshops, please pay for them yourself. Let's bring discipline, responsibility and realism back to this union. The taxpayers duty is not to fund every Brussels fantasy. Thank you.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Thank you very much, Mrs. President, finally, finally, Europe is in the process of stopping the purchase of Russian energy. But why only now? Russian gas and oil taps should have been turned off straight away, as soon as Putin marched into Ukraine with his troops. While we are watching with a wry smile of what Trump might say today, what he might say tomorrow, Europe itself has been buying up Russian energy to the tune of tens and tens of billions of euros. Our inability to act for almost four years has led to the shedding of Ukrainian blood. The lack of action from Europe has hit Ukraine hard, but also it has weaponized Russia against ourselves. To those who are doubting, all that is sufficient for victory of evil is that for the forces of good decide not to act.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Dear president, Europe must come up with policies that improve our relationship with our trading partners. But unfortunately, the leftists keep pushing for something else. Diversity policies and poverty regulations. Green Deal and other socialist fantasies. The leftists hate the reality we live in. The reality is that a strong Europe is Europe with strong trade relations with the United States. Let me tell you what the leftists want instead. The left group tried to change the text of this house by an amendment that stated that the EU should reinforce our trade relations with BRICs countries to reduce dependence on the United States. So instead of the United States, the leftists want stronger trade relations with countries like China, Russia and Iran. I ask you, have you lost your mind? Thank you.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Mr. president, Europe as we know it is dying. Try being a tourist in Paris, Rome, Berlin, even Brussels or Stockholm. Imagine someone buying a trip to Europe. And in their imagination there is the beautiful famous old continent. Tourists expect seeing world famous paintings, tons of history and stunning architecture. They will see all of that, that's for sure. But they will also see something else. Barricades protecting Christmas markets. Patrolling soldiers armed with automatic rifles and no go zones inside our famous capitals. What has happened to Europe? The tourist asks. Mass migration happened. Have you left this thought that with your catastrophic migration policy, you are also thinking one of the most vital industries we have in Europe tourism. I have a suggestion to help the European tourism industry. Let's deport all illegal migrants. Thanks.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Madam president, Prime Minister, I would like to congratulate Denmark on the Council presidency. I am delighted to see your programme addressing key EU challenges, tackling illegal migration and securing external borders, as well as continuing the unwavering support for Ukraine and the pressure on Russia. Countering issues like migrants smuggling and instrumentalized migration are not only vital for the safety of the victims of these practices, but also for the internal security of Europe. The recent incitements to Islamic violence in Europe by Iran. The ongoing threat posed by uncontrolled migration. The threat of Russia. This is not an easy time for Europe. When it comes to migration policy, many European conservatives have envied strict Danish practices that have had vast support in your country. I hope those strict practices will become the future of Europe. Thank you.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you chair. I hate racism. My husband is from Mozambique and I am highly sensitive to real racism when I see it. Fortunately, in our everyday life in Finland, such incidents have been few and I can count them on one hand, although even one is too many. At the same time, I must remain true to another value, the independence of Member States. This means that member States must get to decide on their own strategies to tackle problems. Instead of the EU meddling on our behalf and burning more of our money. And unfortunately, way too often on biased ideological left green organizations. It feels sad that once again today, as we discussed the EU's first anti-racism strategy, a new chapter of federalization is being opened. My colleagues, we have to stop stealing from our own countries. And this criticism is not directed at our guests, but at the EU decision makers. So no question. Mr. chair, thank you very much.”
  EU competences on human rights
• “Mr. president, how do we ensure that labour migration does not lead to exploitation of migrants? Believe it or not, we don't need EU wide strategies. We don't need complex new legislation. We don't need to increase the power of trade unions. We need higher income thresholds for labour migration. If a person is ready to travel thousands of kilometres to come here to do an inhumanly low paid job, that tells us that they are not coming here for work. They come here because this job is the key to European Social security and this being the primary goal, the newcomer will be exposed to exploitation and abuse. If we want to attract talent who come here after work, we need higher income thresholds. The Finnish government raised the minimum income threshold to €116,100 per month, and this is the right way.”
  Recruitment policies in the EU
• “Thank you, president. We cannot prevent money flowing into our pockets. According to one TV show. I know, but here it is. Money drained from our coffers. A billion for the recovery package and 20 billion more for social cohesion or socialist cohesion, rather. That is what I should say. Then there's territorial cohesion. The list is endless. Allow me to address the left and the so-called centre right. Are you aware of the waste that you are overseeing. You've neglected the common interests.”
  Size of EU budget
• “The attack launched by Russia revealed Europe's energy dependency. The noise of howitzers woke up European decision makers from their sleep, during which they had let Putin's gas pipelines wrap around their necks like a boa constrictor. Now Europe is talking of self sufficiency and that is good. Last year in Europe, investments in wind power climbed to €45 billion and there are massive plans for the future. Wind power should be supported as long as decision makers remember that geopolitical dependency must not turn into dependency on the weather. Europe should not rely on wind too much. Alongside wind power, we need a large amount of stable regulating energy, the kind that is not reliant on whether nuclear power, hydropower, burning, peat, coal and wood for energy. These are forms of energy we cannot let the greens steal. Thank you very much.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “President. This paper on the EU's anti-poverty strategy is a prime example of how out of touch the European left is with reality. This paper contains many references to declarations, Indicators and holistic approaches. To top it all off, poverty is defined as structural injustice. Well, you on the left have been busy building these structures in Europe for decades, and yet your solution always seems to be the same more public money, more income transfers, and more legislation in the EU. This left wing wish list is expensive. It is ineffective and it is absurd. Endless expansion of public power and income transfers is not the solution to poverty. It will ultimately lead to the ruin of the state or the federal state. Poverty is reduced through work, entrepreneurship and responsible immigration and economic policies.”
  EU expenditure on social policy
• “President, the EU's arrogance knows no bounds. Now there's another push for an EU wide anti-discrimination directive. The bigwigs in Brussels really do imagine themselves to be some kind of high priests, high priests, who alone have the power to determine what discrimination means. As if they and they alone knew how to make the right rules for these matters. That's not the way it goes in Finland. Our own view of what rules we consider reasonable has already been enshrined in law, and year after year, we are the happiest nation in the world. Do we need. Did we need the EU's high priests for that? No we didn't. It's no wonder that this draft directive has gone nowhere for 17 years. It tells us all we need to know about this. What? The rules by which Finns treat each other. Um, should be decided now and in future. By the Finns alone. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you. Chair. Thank you. Rapporteur and fellow shadow rapporteurs. As our shadow rapporteur, my work on this opinion to the Femm Committee will abide by the following principles. Equality between women and men is one of the European Union's founding principles. I believe in equality between the two sexes. But quotas, for example, are not progress. Their message to women is you can't make it on merit, so you need special treatment. I think Europe should not be going that way. Another concern is the concept of gender mainstreaming. It inserts politics where it doesn't belong and distracts from real priorities. All in all, the fan based text is very problematic. I am concerned about interference in Member States affairs, and therefore I emphasize the primary role of individual member states rather than EU level action. Perhaps most concerning is the interference in education with the aim to dismantle gender stereotypes, unquote. I believe that young children should not be exposed to gender identity concepts. Basic biology should not be questioned. Let kids be kids focused on learning, not ideology. Thank you very much. Chair.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion · Role of education (social change vs. tradition)
• “Dear president, European defense should be our most important topic by far. Having said that, we must ask ourselves, does pooling EU funds automatically create strength. No it doesn't. The EU cannot fire our bullets or fly our jets, and it certainly should not try replicating NATO. We already have NATO. We do not need replicas. The EU can complement the defense efforts made by member states, but we must not forget a missile funded by EU co-financing will not deter an aggressor. If the Member State lacks the means of deploying it, the EU can help. Stockpiling our anti-tank missiles. But the Member States must have enough shoulders to carry those missiles. Europe's defence is not merely a project, it is a responsibility. And that responsibility starts at home. Thank you.”
  EU competences on defence
• “It's hammer time. Antifa is a terrorist organization, and this house is a terrorist sympathizing, spineless creature. You only need to ask MEP. Sally's an Antifa activist from the left. She's grateful for your votes to secure her immunity against charges of a violent hammer attack. Let's have a look at the facts. The Europol report states that EU countries faced 24 jihadist terrorist attacks in one year, right after the jihadists come. The leftist attacks, left wing and anarchist terrorism counted 21 attacks within a year. Then you see here these politicians calling for actions against right wing intolerant and extremist speech. What a bunch of hypocrites you are. I call for action against these leftist terrorists. It is time to designate Antifa a terrorist organization. Thank you.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Madam president, does anyone in this room dare to claim that there is currently no money to buy politicians in Europe, I wouldn't dare. Non-European actors have shown their readiness to take unscrupulous action to promote their own goals. Europe, for its part, has shown that here too, there are decision makers who are ready to ignore all their values in return for money. A few years ago, a corruption scandal put heavy suspicions at the center of how Qatar, Mauritania and Morocco had bribed several European MPs to influence EU policies. This year, a case was made public in which Chinese Huawei was suspected to having paid European enemies to defend Huawei's interests. Think these are just the uncovered cases? More than ever, we need to shed light on the EU complex structures. Thank you.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you. Chair. The safeguarding of the transatlantic relationship is today more important than ever. The United States is nothing short of our strongest ally against China's ever growing geopolitical influence and ambition. Whilst the US is pursuing the to free itself from China's economic stranglehold, we are still hesitating to do the same. Instead, some in Europe would seek even closer ties with China due to their own distaste for the US. I think this is one of the gravest geopolitical mistakes that Europe could make and the price for it would be paid by our kids. But whatever you might personally think of President Trump, the centuries old truth remains. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and we, the EU and the US, share that common enemy in China. We must have the courage to say this aloud in our text and also start acting accordingly. Thank you chair.”
  EU-China relations
• “Thank you president. This whole thing starts to sound like a parody now. Today, this institution that is ripe for bankruptcy itself wants to level the bankruptcy laws of the member states. No one in their right mind can understand this frenzy. The Commission wants to level this, and the commission wants to level and harmonize that. But who would listen to a small country in the midst of all this frenzy? The world Bank has stated that we in Finland are one of the most efficient bankruptcy systems or insolvency insolvency systems in the world. Dear Vince, does this situation sound like the EU should now step in into the Finnish affairs? At least not to me. I don't agree, I do not want to welcome the regulations of this institution that is ripe for bankruptcy on how our bankruptcy laws, which are already set up to work, should be changed. I welcome the fact that the national parliaments in the member states would start to adjust their own legislation to a better standard. That's good, but I've seen enough of Brussels setups to know how to fear its dangers and to see how dangerous this will be.”
  EU political integration
• “The senseless targeting of Ukrainian civilians by Russian invaders should serve as yet another wake up call for Europe. Time and again, Russian hawks are using drones to hunt Ukrainians who refuse to leave their homeland. Kherson is under daily shelling. In just one week, nearly 5500 drones were used against the region. However, Russia's meat grinder is not making any real progress. As a result, they have become so desperate that targeting civilians has become their new tactic. When you see what Russia is doing, you must be out of your mind to think they will be driven away through diplomacy. The reality that Europe must accept is that this war will be decided on the battlefield. Ukraine does not need more European debate. It needs more European arms. Thank you.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Thank you, Madam President. Over 400 poor conditioned vessels sailing with a heavy oil load day after day. This is called the Russian Shadow Fleet. It is a fleet that poses two types of massive security threats. But now it should be crystal clear for all of us that this fleet is funding Putin's expansionist policy and war crimes in Europe. But now, as we discuss of European Ocean Pact, we should not forget the huge environmental threat that this bloody fleet poses constantly for our oceans. The European Ocean Pact is built around pillars such as protecting ocean health and enhancing maritime security and defence. Good goals. I think the biggest deed we could now do for our oceans would be making everything we can to get this Russian shadow fleet vessels out of our seas. Thank you.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Thank you. President. Public procurement represents 14% of the EU's GDP. This is a considerable figure. So we do need to implement this correctly. Inefficiencies, fraud, excessive bureaucracy. That is how billions of euros are lost. This is taxpayers money. In the document we are currently looking at, there are positive elements. There are efforts at improvement and efficiency gains. However, I wanted to recall that the EU should not overreach into member States competence. If in Finland we decide not to stress the issue of climate change, that is our right. That is how things have always been and that is how it should continue. Thank you. **Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ @Chair: Thank you very much. And now I give the floor to Mr. Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice President, for the final word.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding
• “Thank you. What makes Europe? Europe? Is it all the offices in Europe? Is it the Eurocrats? No. Europe is made up of European peoples. Being concerned about preserving languages and traditions is justified. But they should not depend on federal funds in European funds. This is something that comes from the nation states who look after Their own traditions were going in the wrong direction. We have more money for defense and the eastern borders. But we have. We don't have unlimited funds. We need to have a restrictive migration policy. We need to fight Islamism, and we need to take real action rather than having more European funds. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “Dear speaker, the internet is a wonderful invention. It allows everyone to communicate and share ideas. Even those who live under authoritarian regimes have the chance to use it to fight for democracy in their countries. This is why freedom of expression on the internet must be protected so that this can continue. The EU promotes this on its words, but it does not act accordingly. Calling for an open internet where fundamental freedoms and human rights must be protected is hypocritical. While censorship laws like the Digital Services Act exist, we are seeing a worrying trend in Europe and the UK, where laws are used to silence opinions that are deemed politically incorrect. This must stop. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Madam president. We spent a significant amount of time on our phones every day if this considers you too, you should be worried. Let me explain. The European Commission has made it clear that it is not truly committed in defending fundamental rights online. It once created legislation called the DSA. It was a deliberate act to restrict the freedom of speech. Unfortunately, it succeeded in it. The right to privacy and protection of personal data are the next target. Soon we will have an EU level vote on the infamous chat control proposal. Let me be clear. If this proposal ever becomes law, it will be the end of privacy as we know it. Breaking encryption will open the doors for mass surveillance and allow hackers to access our most private communications. This proposal must be stopped. Thank you.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “President. We do not need regulation in the union. This is the view of the Finnish financial sector. And it's 100% correct. In Europe, there is a desire to promote investment by citizens in this continent. This is a very worthy goal. But the commission needs to be reminded of one thing. Promoting it does not mean regulating it. If we want Europeans to invest more in European companies than, for example, in American companies, the situation is very clear. It should not happen through EU regulation. The solution to this situation can be found in the market economy. Our citizens have complete freedom to decide. They invest in companies that they believe will perform the best. The European companies are not believed to be able to compete with American companies. Then our business environment is inferior. And when this is the case, we can only blame European politicians for this. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Distinguished president, once again, I hear the call to the EU to intervene in differences between the genders in working life. Now, have you lost your minds? If applicants for a certain sector are 90% men and 10% women, or vice versa, what happens if we forcefully try to achieve an equal balance? The selection will then no longer be based on competence. If, for example, in emergency services or the places are filled according to gender quotas, the selection criteria must be lowered. Citizens don't ask in critical situations after the gender of a police officer or a rescue worker. The only thing that matters is if they can handle their duty. Sometimes the cries for equal pay to athletes sounds loud. Go and buy seasonal tickets for the women's league with your own money. When the stadiums fill up, the salaries will rise. Do you know what is equality? It is selecting the best for the job irrespective of gender. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Chair. You were amazing. I speak in Finnish. Köpmantorget. Taalla. Thank you, Director General Kaufman. You are here answering our questions. We had a discussion about the financing of the people of Palestine and the conditionalities with regards to having new schoolbooks. I would like to ask you the following question. What kind of findings were found in the Palestinian schoolbooks? I believe that this has to do with anti-Semitism and, um, information that would go against Israel. I would like to know what were the findings in the schoolbooks with regards to anti-Semitic information. Thank you.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Mr. president, our public transport is a local issue that should not be controlled at the EU level. For example, you cannot use the same solutions for moving around in the freezing temperatures of Lapland as you can in Brussels. The Helsinki metro. Turquoise. Turquoise. Island transport or dispersal. Population. Populated areas in Kainuu require completely different systems. That is why citizens elect their municipal leaders, so that they can decide which vehicles to use and how to get around. Local people know their own area best. Our EU officials should not dictate what is best for a region they have never even visited. Too many decisions from the EU bring more bureaucracy to the local level, but not better service. I do not think it is sensible for us to discuss public transport services here in the European Parliament at all. Public transport should be decided locally. Full stop.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “There is an there is an existential threat on our borders. Behind the Mediterranean are masses of people trying to cross into Europe illegally. We can only assume that the scale of this issue will only grow larger in the future. If nothing is done sooner, cities will be overrun and Europe capitulated without a single bullet fired. European people have called upon their leaders to act to combat this invasion. We are starting to see governments in this continent that take this seriously and implement stricter border policies. We see Frontex working to secure Europe's borders, but what we hear then from the left is the human rights concerns regarding these policies. Is that seriously the issue here? I hope this Parliament and the entire EU understand that access to Europe is not a human right. Thank you.”
  Asylum & border control
• “(18:39:30 – 18:40:47): Our voice President. China is threatening the European steel industry. The Chinese Communist Party is not held back by the EU communist's green deals, not at all. Rather, China is spewing out cheap steel onto the world's markets. China, according to last year's statistics, China produced over 1000 million tons of raw steel. That is more than all other countries in the world together and is about 27 times more than the EU's biggest producer country, Germany. When this Chinese communist steel floods into Europe, our own producers are shafted. The European steel industry is first struck fighting against the deluge of European regulation and climate requirements, and then the surge of Chinese steel delivers the final blow. Free trade is fine and worthy, but the European the survival of the European steel industry requires this. Chinese imported steel to Europe must be limited. Thank you. You very much. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with China
• “Dear 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, two 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 two strict climate regulation. Let businesses thrive and restore Europe to the top of the global economy. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Honourable president, according to a Finnish saying, wine is the drink of the wise, but has it given wisdom to EU decision makers? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Let us have a taste of this wine package catered to us by the EU to fin. It is expensive and bitter. More EU funds will be funneled to vineyards for things like climate change mitigation. More EU money will also be made available for promoting wine abroad. Many taxpayers in Finland, Sweden and other northern countries do not want public money to be spent on marketing German Riesling to oil sheikhs in Dubai. Natural conditions in Finland do not allow for abundant wine harvests, and we can therefore not benefit from massive funding from the EU. I wish every wine grower a good yield, but in EU level agricultural policy the logic should be as follows. Steak before wine.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you. Chair. European meat producers are struggling. Their situation in the supply chain is already a difficult one. And for many of them, they can no longer make a profit. And yet now the European market is going to be flooded with new unregulated products from Mercosur countries that have been produced at different cost levels and according to different standards. They are threatening meat producers in Europe. Farmers and producers have taken to the streets in Brussels and in Strasbourg, and they have to take to the streets with their tractors just to ensure that their message is finally heard so that they can continue to produce food for us all in the future. I don't think they're asking too much.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “Thank you, Mr. President. Even an imperfect deal is better than no deal at all. What do we have to gain by not fully trying to uphold the transatlantic partnership? The US government has made it clear that being bystanders and free riders is not an option. This includes not only defence but also economy. How can we ever reach a zero tariff agreement if we are not ready to work for it? Europe is eyeing a critical choice where to go to replace Russian energy and Chinese imports. Make no mistake, if the problem lies in the east, then the solution must be found in the west. We have an opportunity to make the Atlantic the most prosperous economic zone of our time. So let us not throw this chance away just for petty political battles. Thank you.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Mr. president, the single market is the example of how independent member states are coming together, can make the most of such a construct. The free movement of goods and services is one of the most important things that we still have in the middle, in the midst of all this arbitrary legislation. Finland does benefit from customs free trade with its member states. So I think we did make one right decision and decision, and that was to stop a trade with Russia. And of course, now there's China. There are certain initiatives which are of benefit to the European citizens, but don't always work because of the excessive regulation. The single market does provide benefits. So we have to make sure we do away with the obstacles to improve these benefits.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you. Railway accidents are tragedies that affect all of us and remind us that security is not something to be taken for granted. Every life lost is one too many, and we need to learn lessons from these accidents. However, we must remember that railway maintenance is a competency of the member States. The European Union can't be. Who we rely on in this regard. In my country we've got trains running at -35 degrees and in summer at plus 30 Tourists travel thousands of miles on train. It's perfectly safe and we do a lot at a national level to ensure security. We can't rely on the European Union. It's a national system, so the member states need to do their bit to ensure safety.”
  EU support of rail transport
• “Madam chair, a trade war with our most important international partner is a highly undesirable outcome. Instead of trying to intentionally wage it, we could at least hear what President Trump has to say. I think we should. Even without Trump's statements cease all LNG imports from Russia, increase our defense spending, and cut off our dependencies on China. Because the sad truth is, what other alternative do we even have? Lean more towards China and still hold on to Russian energy. We all should understand the fatality of that road and we must remember. Currently, we need the US more than they need us. And that is why we only stand to lose from a potential trade war. But President Trump is a deal maker and there are deals to make for Europe two. Thank you.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Madam president, anti-racism measures in the European Union, 40km of new cycling routes in Belgium and window renovations in Italy, among other things. This was provided by the recovery package. Can anyone in view claim that this is in any way linked to the recovery from the pandemic? But this mother of all scams went unnoticed by Europeans, and therefore, I'm not surprised that you seem to be trying to go through with the same plan yet again. What? Still, four years ago was a one off emergency solution is now being proposed for adoption with regard to future EU measures It is true that this report makes a few correct remarks as to. What went wrong in the recovery package, but the conclusions of the report are completely wrong. The model of the recovery package is wanted as a design for future solutions. This needs to be stopped. Stopped. The only conclusion to be drawn from these errors is that this costly mistake is never to be repeated again. Thank you.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Madam president, Commissioner, the Common Agricultural Policy is supposed to concentrate on ensuring food production can be profitable. But what is the priority of the EU in the text? Is it food security or is it incomes for farmers? No, it's about the Green Deal. It's about using the agricultural sector as an instrument for ideological climate protection measures. In the commission's text. You can't read more than two sentences without hearing something about the Green Deal. The Green Deal is no advantage for the farmers. It's a burden. And this burden is being borne by the shoulders of all European citizens, not just the shoulders of the farmers. We'll see less food production and increasing prices after 2027. The cap needs to set the right priorities. To let cows and fields grow and get rid of the green stuff.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Madam president, when we were voting on this commission, I warned you. I warned that you could not act surprised when the new commission comes out proposing something that will not make Europe great again. Now we have the commission work programme. The Commission also must have heard the screaming demands to start deregulating here in the EU. But in this work programme, the Commission refuses to even use that term. The EU has been a heavyweight regulator for years, but now the commission agrees only to talk about simplification. Isn't it quite hilarious that yesterday, when the Commission published their programme with mentions of simplification, on the very same day new EU regulation came into effect regulating what kind of plastic bags people in the EU countries are allowed to use and in what occasions the Commission. You still have a long way to go. Thank you.”
  Own resources (plastics)
• “Dear president. Imagine your daughter being arrested for not wearing a headscarf. Imagine your wife never returning from a protest and you being forced to search through body bags. Imagine the internet shutdown, losing contact with your son abroad and being left completely alone if you step into the streets. You do not know whether others are still protesting in other cities, or whether you are simply walking out to be killed. This is the daily reality for Iranians, while here they receive only lukewarm words of encouragement. And yet they continue to march against our common enemy. They do not ask much of us from our warm halls, only with decisions on paper. We can help stronger sanctions, visa bans on the families of oppressors, trade embargoes, terrorist designation and invitation to hear their voice. Reza Pahlavi, thank you.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “Thank you chair. If I read the news it seems like there is this ever growing tension in the relations between the EU and the United States. But behind all the smoke and mirrors, the bottom line is this more and more Europeans and Americans are envisioning similar goals ushering in manufacturing renaissance, curbing China's growing influence, and restoring peace in the world through strength. I want the same exact things for Kouvola, Finland. Duisburg, Germany. And Youngstown, Ohio. I want Beijing to back off from its stealth but aggressive world conquest. And I want Tehran not to be able to develop a nuclear weapon. All ambitions, yet common goals. My question is, do you think the EU has been too passive to form a stronger alliance with the US? Us to counter the growing threat of China? Thank you.”
  EU-China relations
• “Dear president, Iranians protesting all over the world are pro-Israel, pro USA, Pro-ukraine Anti-russia, anti-China, anti Hamas. Where does the EU stand? Sanctions. Israel. Middle finger to the USA. Monitors. Ukraine buys Russian gas ships factories to China, funds Hamas through Unrra. Europe needs some serious self-reflection. Only a few get foreign policy right. But Persians do. They risk their lives for democracy and stand with the USA and Israel against dictators and terrorists? The moment the regime was hit, left wing pacifists screened for immediate de-escalation and resumption of diplomatic processes. Sound familiar? Straight from Russia's foreign Ministry. If you think the real problem is struggle against tyranny rather than tyranny itself, I'm sorry. Not even a.”
  EU-Iran relations