View source for Charlie Weimers

{{Short description|Swedish politician (born 1982)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Charlie Weimers
| honorific-suffix    = [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]]
| image               = 1718294517116 20240613 WEIMERS Charlie SE 013.jpg
| office              = [[Member of the European Parliament]]
| term_start          = 2 July 2019
| term_end            = 
| constituency        = [[Sweden (European Parliament constituency)|Sweden]]
| birth_name          = Charlie Andreas Weimers
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1982|11|12|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Hammarö Municipality|Hammarö]], [[Sweden]]
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Sweden Democrats]]<br />(2018–present)
| spouse              = 
| children            = 
| alma_mater          = [[Karlstad University]]
| religion            = 
| website             = 
| otherparty          = [[Moderate Party (Sweden)|Moderate Party]]<br />(1996–1998)<br />[[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]]<br />(1998–2018)
}}

'''Charlie Andreas Weimers''' (born 12 November 1982) is a [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[politician]] and [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) from [[Sweden]] since 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/ep2019/slutresultat/E/rike/personroster.html|title=Personröster - Val 2019|website=Data.val.se|access-date=14 February 2022|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921064223/https://data.val.se/val/ep2019/slutresultat/E/rike/personroster.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was re-elected in the [[2024 European Parliament election in Sweden]].<ref>[https://resultat.val.se/euval2024/EU?r=S&t=2 Valpresentation 2024 (Final results from European Parliament elections in Sweden 2024)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614181308/https://resultat.val.se/euval2024/EU?r=S&t=2 |date=14 June 2024 }} Read 14 June 2024 (in Swedish)</ref>  He is a member of the far-right [[Sweden Democrats]], part of [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|European Conservatives and Reformists]].

==Biography==
=== Life and career ===
Weimers was born in 1982 in [[Karlstad]], and currently lives in [[Hammarö Municipality|Hammarö]]. After finishing high school, he completed conscripted service in the [[Swedish Army]] as a group commander in the A9 Artillery Regiment. After his military service, he studied at the [[American University]] in Washington DC and pursued graduate studies in [[Karlstad University]]'s [[political science]] program, graduating in 2007. He subsequently worked as a [[public relations consultant]] for a marketing company and then as a political secretary to former Christian Democrats chairman [[Göran Hägglund]] and as a staffer for [[Lars Adaktusson]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dagensmedia.se/byraer/marknadsforing/tidigare-kdu-ordforande-blir-pr-konsult/ |title=Tidigare KDU-ordförande blir pr-konsult |access-date=2025-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/sv/123562/CHARLIE_WEIMERS/home |title=Charlie WEIMERS |access-date=2025-01-31}}</ref>

== Politics ==
===Early career===
Weimers was a volunteer for the [[College Republicans]] during his studies in America. In Sweden, he was a member of the [[Moderate Party (Sweden)|Moderate Party]] until 1998 after which he joined the [[Christian Democrats]] and the Young Christian Democrats. He served as the district chairman of KDU-Värmland from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2003 to 2004. He was chairman of the Swedish [[Young Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Young Christian Democrats]] ({{Lang|sv|Kristdemokratiska Ungdomsförbundet}}, KDU) between 2008–2011. He was elected vice president of the [[Youth of the European People's Party]] at the 6th YEPP Congress in Stockholm in May 2007. He was elected to the KDU national board in 2003.  He lost a close race for chairmanship of the KDU in 2005 to [[Ella Bohlin]], a more centrist candidate. Weimers was later elected first vice chairman of KDU at the national convention in 2005.

Weimers was elected to the [[Hammarö Municipality|Hammarö]] Municipal Council in 2002.  He was elected again in 2006, and currently serves as party leader for the Christian Democrats in the council. He has also been a member of the [[Värmland]] Regional Council since 2006.

He was elected chairman of the KDU in 2008. During his time in the KDU, he was seen as part of a force along with future leader [[Ebba Busch Thor]] to shift the party to the right and in a more [[conservative]] direction by calling for stricter punishments for violent crime, preservation of Swedish culture and for Sweden to consider [[NATO]] membership.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.altinget.se/artikel/adaktussons-stabschef-gaar-fraan-kd-till-sd |title=Adaktussons stabschef går från KD till SD |access-date=2025-01-31}}</ref>

After the 2010 general election, Hammarö switched majority from a socialist rule to blue-green one, consisting of five parties (Moderates, Liberal Peoples Party, Centre Party, Green Party and Christian Democrats), thus making Weimers Deputy Mayor of Hammarö. Because of this,{{clarify|date=September 2021}} Weimers declared in January 2011 that he would resign in June 2011, which he did.

In 2015, there was speculation that the [[Sweden Democrats]] wanted to recruit Weimers, although this news was disputed by Weimers at the time. This speculation increased in June 2018 when it was announced his wife had joined the Sweden Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.altinget.se/artikel/adaktussons-stabschef-gaar-fraan-kd-till-sd |title=Adaktussons stabschef går från KD till SD |access-date=2025-01-31}}</ref> On 6 September 2018, Weimers announced he had joined the Sweden Democrats. His stated reason for leaving KD for SD was that: "Sweden needs a responsible migration policy and SD is the only party that stands up for this." At the same time, he was expelled from the [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]] for stating his intention to vote for the Sweden Democrats in an upcoming election.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Buvik|first1=Annica|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/val2018/charlie-weimers-akessons-nya-toppvarvning|title=Charlie Weimers Åkessons nya toppvärvning|date=2018-09-06|work=SVT Nyheter|access-date=2020-03-04|last2=Dahlqvist|first2=Maria|language=sv}}</ref> 

===European Parliament===
In the May 2019 [[Elections to the European Parliament]] Weimers was elected with {{circa|{{formatnum:30000}}}} personal votes. During the campaign he highlighted the 40% proposed increase of the Swedish contribution to the EU budget and called on the [[Löfven II Cabinet]] to veto the proposed increase.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.di.se/debatt/sd-lagg-svenskt-veto-mot-hojd-eu-avgift/|title=SD: Lägg svenskt veto mot höjd EU-avgift|date=2019-05-13|website=Dagens industri|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

Weimers is a member of the [[European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs]] and of the Delegation to Iraq and a substitute member of the [[European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs]] and Delegation to the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/123562/CHARLIE_WEIMERS/home|title=Home - Charlie WEIMERS - MEPs|date=12 November 1982 |access-date=2023-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/d-iq/members|title=EP Members {{!}} Members {{!}} D-IQ {{!}} Delegations {{!}} European Parliament|website=Europarl.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/delegations/en/d-us/members|title=EP Members {{!}} Members {{!}} D-US {{!}} Delegations {{!}} European Parliament|website=Europarl.europa.eu|language=en|access-date=2020-03-04}}</ref>

In the European Parliament Weimers has supported motions calling on the EU to classify the [[Grey Wolves (organization)|Grey Wolves]] and [[Post-World War II anti-fascism|ANTIFA]] as terrorist organisations<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0374_EN.html|title=MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the classification of the Grey Wolves as a group involved in terrorist acts and subject to restrictive measures|website=Europarl.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0168_EN.html|title=MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on placing the Antifa movement on the EU terrorist list|website=Europarl.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/debatt/sd-dags-att-terrorklassa-vansterextrema-afa/|title=DEBATT. SD: Det är dags att terrorklassa vänsterextrema AFA|website=Expressen.se|date=6 September 2020 }}</ref> and to improve information for citizens on Commission roadmaps.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0240_EN.html|title=MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on improving information for citizens and the possibilities for providing feedback on roadmaps|website=Europarl.europa.eu}}</ref>

Weimers has criticised decisions made by the Swedish government to give financial aid to Islamic Relief and the Swedish Muslim organisation {{ill|Ibn Rushd (education)|lt=Ibn Rushd|sv|Ibn Rushd (studieförbund)}} who Weimers argues has "repeatedly invited undemocratic, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, homophobic and pro-violence speakers."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwt.se/2021/01/18/varmland-goder-islamismen/|title=Värmland göder islamismen|first1=Charlie |last1=Weimers |first2=Runar |last2=Filper |author-link2=Runar Filper |first3=Ljubica |last3=Jasic Modin |first4=Kjell |last4=Örnberg|date=January 18, 2021|website=[[Nya Wermlands-Tidningen|NWT]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/sluta-dela-ut-bidrag-till-islamister|first=Charlie |last=Weimers |title='Sluta dela ut bidrag till islamister' |newspaper=[[Svenska Dagbladet]]|date=October 9, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2024, Weimers was one of twenty MEPs to be given a "Rising Star" award at ''[[The Parliament Magazine]]'''s annual [[The_Parliament_Magazine#The_MEP_Awards|MEP Awards]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mepawards.eu/rising-stars/|title=MEP Awards 2024 - The Rising Stars|date=21 March 2024|work=[[The Parliament Magazine]]|accessdate=26 March 2024}}</ref>

== Sanctions by Islamic Republic of Iran ==
On 26 October 2022 the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iran)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] of the [[Islamic Republic of Iran]] announced that Weimers was one of six Members of the European Parliament personally sanctioned in retaliation for EU sanctions announced on 17 October.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mfa.gov.ir/portal/newsview/697688/ | title=بیانیه وزارت امور خارجه جمهوری اسلامی ایران در خصوص اعمال تحریم علیه برخی اشخاص و نهادها در حوزه اتحادیه اروپا }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/in-tit-for-tat-move-iran-sanctions-eu-officials-entities-amid-protests/2721348 | title=In tit-for-tat move, Iran sanctions EU officials, entities amid protests }}</ref> Weimers responded stating the announcement was "A badge of honor" asking "What took them so long?".<ref>[https://twitter.com/weimers/status/1585286856391925760 Charlie Weimers on Twitter]</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/weimers/status/1585305973207465986 Charlie Weimers on Twitter]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.omni.se/weimers-sd-iran-riktar-sanktioner-mot-mig-en-ara/a/rllkKA | title=Weimers (SD): Iran riktar sanktioner mot mig – en ära | date=26 October 2022 }}</ref>

== Policy positions and initiatives ==
{{Conservatism in Sweden|Politicians}}
=== Migration ===
Weimers is co-chair of the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|European Conservatives and Reformists]] Migration Working Group.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.voxespana.es/actualidad/jorge-buxade-copresidira-el-grupo-de-accion-politica-de-los-conservadores-europeos-contra-la-inmigracion-ilegal-20220504 | title=StackPath }}</ref> He has called on the EU to build a wall on its border with Turkey and adopt a migration policy based on the [[Operation Sovereign Borders|Australian model]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nyheteridag.se/charlie-weimers-sd-eu-behover-bygga-murar-mot-erdogans-turkiet/|title=Charlie Weimers (SD): EU behöver bygga murar mot Erdogans Turkiet|website=Nyheteridag.se|date=March 4, 2020}}</ref> Weimers has called for the EU-commission to change its position and support financing of physical border barriers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bulletin.nu/debatt-eu-maste-prioritera-gransbarriarer-framfor-pajaskonster|title=DEBATT: EU måste prioritera gränsbarriärer framför pajaskonster|website=Bulletin.nu|access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref> Following hybrid warfare operations by Belarus against Poland, Lithuania and Latvia during 2021 and 2022, similar proposals enjoy support by a dozen EU Member States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/twelve-member-states-ask-commission-to-finance-physical-barriers-as-border-protection-measures/|title=Twelve member states ask Commission to finance 'physical barriers' as border protection measures|first=Alexandra|last=Brzozowski|date=8 October 2021|website=Euractiv.com|access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref> A survey of 10 EU Member States conducted in late 2021 showed broad public support for EU-financing of physical border barriers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bulletin.nu/ny-undersokning-stort-motstand-mot-omfordelning-av-migranter-mellan-eu-lander|title=Ny undersökning: Stort motstånd mot omfördelning av migranter mellan EU-länder|website=Bulletin.nu|access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref>

He was an early proponent of the Danish plan to move asylum processing from Denmark to non‑European countries, calling it a 'win-win' plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2021-003102_EN.html|title=Danish 'win-win' plan to move asylum processing from Denmark to non‑European countries|website=Europarl.europa.eu}}</ref> Weimers argues that [[population growth in Africa]] will force a new asylum system in the EU and that it should build on the principles of the Danish asylum plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bulletin.nu/charlie-weimers-sd-migrationstrycket-kommer-att-tvinga-fram-nya-asylsystem|title=Charlie Weimers (SD): Migrationstrycket kommer att tvinga fram nya asylsystem|website=bulletin.nu}}</ref> In October 2021 Weimers and the [[Sweden Democrats]] migration spokesperson presented a call for Sweden to negotiate a Danish style opt-out from EU justice and home affairs cooperation (including migration) in order to reduce asylum reception to zero as envisioned by the Sweden Democrats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dn.se/debatt/sverige-behover-ett-totalstopp-for-asylsokande/ |title="Sverige behöver ett totalstopp för asylsökande" |website=Dn.se |date=2021-10-28 |access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref> 

In 2022, Weimers proposed that the EU urgently launch wide-reaching Australia-style communication campaigns targeting diaspora communities, transit countries and countries of origin to deter illegal migration and people smuggling<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2022-0085_EN.html|title=MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the urgent launch of wide-reaching Australia-style communication campaigns targeting diaspora communities, transit countries and countries of origin to deter illegal migration and people smuggling|website=Europarl.europa.eu|access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref>

=== Opposition to joint EU-debts and EU-taxes ===
Weimers has questioned the legality of [[Next Generation EU]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/eus-enorma-aterhamtningsfond|title=EU:s enorma återhämtningsfonde|newspaper=[[Svenska Dagbladet]]|date=July 17, 2020}}</ref> including tabling an amendment<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2020-0229-AM-024-024_EN.pdf |title=Info |website=Europarl.europa.eu |date= |access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smp.se/ledare/moderaterna-och-deras-faltslag-ccf58bac/|title=Moderaterna och deras fältslag|first=Fredrik|last=Haage|date=July 24, 2020|website=Smålandsposten}}</ref> in the [[European Parliament]] to add to the resolution on the conclusions of the [[European Council]] meeting of 17–21 July 2020:
{{Quote frame|Disputes the legality of Next Generation EU with regard to Article 311 TFEU; notes that the EU will take on a debt of EUR 750{{nbsp}}billion to be distributed as grants, loans and to fund parts of the EU budget; notes that, as late as 15 June 2020, the Council website stated that the principle of budgetary balance ‘prevents the European Union from issuing debt to finance itself’; notes that, as late as 29 June 2020 the European Commission website stated ‘EU borrowing is only permitted to finance loans to countries. The EU cannot borrow to finance its budget’;}}

In September 2020 the European Parliament [https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2020-0220_EN.html was consulted] on the revised council decision on the system of Own Resources of the European Union, a key piece of legislation underpinning [[Next Generation EU]]. Weimers sought to delete the section empowering the [[European Commission]] to "borrow funds on the capital markets on behalf of the Union up to an amount of EUR 750 000 000 000" from the agreement underpinning [[Next Generation EU]]. His amendment also would have deleted the derogation allowing for EUR 390 000 000 000 to be spent without requirement of repayment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2020-0146-AM-049-049_EN.pdf |title=Data |website=Europarl.europa.eu |date= |access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref>

=== A new Swedish EU strategy and 'referendum lock' on transfers of power to the EU ===

In order to prevent further [[European integration|transfers of power]] to the EU, maximize Swedish influence and achieve better negotiation results Weimers and [[Sweden Democrats]] party leader [[Jimmie Åkesson]] in 2023 called for a new EU strategy.

They propose the introduction of a [[European Union Act 2011|referendum lock]] modeled on the [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[European Union Act 2011]] and call for Swedish EU-exit to be enabled by removing references to membership in the constitution in order to signal to Brussels that Sweden is willing to walk away from the table. They also call for a cadre of trade negotiators to be trained and for an examination of how [[Brexit]] could have been better implemented. The [[Sweden Democrats]] want the negative effects of EU membership to be limited by examining what directives previous governments have [[Gold-plating (EU law)|gold plated]] and changing legislation so it is closer to the minimum requirements under EU law.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.svd.se/a/veb1QB/sd-hog-tid-for-en-ny-svensk-eu-strategi | title=SD: Hög tid för en ny svensk EU-strategi &#124; SVD Debatt | newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet | date=15 May 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3xcwa1KpL8 | title=Sverige behöver en ny EU-strategi | website=[[YouTube]] | date=24 November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tv4.se/artikel/6FOKidtWgITYqyzZJ3w5tA/sd-topp-oeppnar-foer-omedelbar-swexit | title=SD-topp öppnar för "omedelbar Swexit" | date=24 November 2023 }}</ref> 

In February 2021 Weimers published an essay arguing for a [[European Union Act 2011|referendum lock]] that would limit transfers of power and urging other net-paying member states to do the same.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fokus.se/2021/02/sa-kan-vi-hindra-att-eu-far-mer-makt/|title="Så kan vi hindra att EU får mer makt"|date=February 25, 2021|website=Fokus |author1=Redaktionen }}</ref> In [[Fokus (magazine)|Fokus magazine]] he wrote: 
{{Quote frame|A conservative government should declare there is a clear and measurable economic limit to what Sweden is willing to contribute to the EU. In order to increase credibility, it should also be publicly declared that a referendum will be required before the [[Riksdag]] ratifies an agreement in which this limit is exceeded or violated. The referendum instrument then becomes a strategic instrument that both strengthens our negotiating position and binds our negotiators to respect the will of the people. The strategy will be strengthened if other net-paying countries that are hesitant about further supranationalism issue similar promises.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/pietercleppe/status/1365228678062473216 |title=Tweet |website=Twitter.com |date= |access-date=2021-06-21}}</ref>}}

In October 2021, Weimers called on a potential future conservative Swedish government to ensure the Swedish public will have a say on the issue of enlargement of the EU to include the Western Balkan countries Albania, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia by activating a "[[European Union Act 2011|referendum lock]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/svtforum/eu-och-utvidgningen |title=EU och utvidgningen|newspaper=SVT Nyheter |date=2021-11-03 |access-date=2021-11-07|last1=Nyheter |first1=S. V. T. |last2=Chaouche |first2=Nedjma }}</ref>

=== EU-Taiwan relations ===
Weimers was the [[rapporteur]] for the first ever European Parliament report on EU-Taiwan relations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2021-0265_EN.html|title=REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation|website=Europarl.europa.eu}}</ref> Adopted in the Foreign Affairs Committee with 60 votes in favor, 4 against, the report calls for an enhanced partnership with Taiwan and for the intensification of bilateral investments, in particular in industries where Taiwan is a leader, such as semiconductors and reiterates calls for steps towards a bilateral investment agreement and meaningful participation for Taiwan in international organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2021/698038/EPRS_ATA(2021)698038_EN.pdf |title=Stepping up EU cooperation with Taiwan|website=Europarl.europa.eu |date= |access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref>

The first-ever report was adopted in plenary with 580 votes in favor, 26 against and 66 abstentions on 21 October 2021. The [[Government of the Republic of China|government of Taiwan]] praised the adoption of the report calling it a "history-making text, adroitly drafted by @weimers, charts a course for the development of bilateral relations. It also sends a strong message: Taiwan is not alone."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://twitter.com/MOFA_Taiwan/status/1451119043050573832 |title=Tweet |website=Twitter.com|access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref> 

The [[Chinese Government|Chinese government]] reacted by calling on Brussels to "correct its mistakes".<ref>{{cite web|last=Feng |first=John |url=https://www.newsweek.com/china-fumes-europe-gets-closer-taiwan-1641200 |title=China Fumes As Europe Gets Closer to Taiwan |website=Newsweek.com |date= 21 October 2021|access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref> [[Chinese Communist Party]]-owned tabloid ''[[Global Times]]'', in an op-ed entitled 'Radical MEPs whip up anti-China agenda, serve US interests', called Weimers and other MEPs "radical troublemakers" claiming that Weimers has "long held a twisted attitude toward China" referencing Weimers calling for an investigation into China's handling of COVID-19 in early 2020.<ref>{{cite news|author=Publicerad |url=https://www.svd.se/eu-hyllning-av-demokratin-i-taiwan |title=EU-hyllning av demokratin i Taiwan &#124; SvD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |date=2021-11-03 |access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref>

=== Special Committee in the European Parliament to investigate the origins of COVID-19 ===
In October 2021, Weimers announced that his initiative to establish a Special Committee to examine the origins of COVID-19 and EU funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology had received preliminary support from a majority of political groups in the European Parliament and that a formal decision to establish the committee is expected in the autumn of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://twitter.com/weimers/status/1445447808857804800|title=Tweet |website=Twitter.com|access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref> In February 2022 Weimers informed the public that leftist forces in the [[European Parliament]] most likely will succeed in watering down his original proposal for a Special Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/weimers/status/1491360252415320067|title=Har lyft ursprunget och EU-finansiering som gått till viruslabbet i Wuhan samt arbetat för en specialkommittee i EP för att få till den Phase-two-origins studie som G7-länderna (inkl EU) enats om. Tyvärr kan vänstern lyckas urvattna ECRs orginalförslag.|website=Twitter.com|access-date=2022-02-14}}</ref> 

In February 2022 Weimers announced that the [[European Conservatives and Reformists Group|conservative]] group had managed secure agreement in the European Parliament to add the specific mention of the origins of COVID-19 "in Wuhan, China" to the Annual report 2021 on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/weimers/status/1491413869574889477|title=Den konservativa ECR-gruppen lyckades förhandla in mina skrivelser om virusets kinesiska ursprung i en av de två årsrapporter om utrikes- & försvarspolitik som kommer röstas om i EU-parlamentets plenum nästa vecka|website=Twitter.com|access-date=2022-02-14}}</ref>

=== Ukraine and Putin ===
On 19 April 2022, following the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], when German [[Bundestag]] member [[Tino Chrupalla]] from right-wing populist party [[Alternative for Germany|AfD]] praised Chancellor [[Olaf Scholz]]'s decision not to send heavy weapons to Ukraine and demanded for sanctions against Russia to be ended and peace negotiations to start, Weimers responded by quoting Prussian General [[Carl von Clausewitz]]: "The Conqueror is always a lover of peace: he would prefer to take over our country unopposed" and commented that "patriots should stand with patriots, not with imperialists like Vladimir Putin."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charlie Weimers MEP on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/weimers/status/1516507120681771018 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Current EP Sweden}}
{{EP Political Group ECR}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weimers, Charlie}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Christian Democrats (Sweden) politicians]]
[[Category:People from Hammarö Municipality]]
[[Category:MEPs for Sweden 2019–2024]]
[[Category:Sweden Democrats MEPs]]
[[Category:Swedish city councillors]]
[[Category:MEPs for Sweden 2024–2029]]