Borja GIMÉNEZ LARRAZ

Policy topics Borja GIMÉNEZ LARRAZ is active on

What Borja GIMÉNEZ LARRAZ has said (71)

• 2026-03-19 “Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission 27.5.2026 Written question According to Article 49 of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) Regulation [1] , ‘Member States’ shall make all possible efforts to ensure the TEN-T infrastructure is maintained in a way that it provides, during its lifetime, a high level of service and safety adapted to the traffic flow’, without prejudice to their responsibility for the planning, financing, and management of infrastructure maintenance . Potential and temporary disruptions of service for safety controls and other necessary works are not in contradiction with this requirement, which is why the Commission does not intend to raise questions regarding Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias’ (Adif’s) decision at this stage. The European Investment Bank (EIB) loan agreements include binding conditions, such as compliance with EU law (including EU railway safety law). If breached, the EIB can suspend disbursements or cancel or restructure the loan. EIB financing is based on a full lifecycle perspective. Loan conditions usually require that the promoter maintains the infrastructure in good condition. Failure to maintain assets can trigger suspension of disbursements. Finally, it is for the Member States and in particular their National Enforcement Bodies (NEBs) to closely monitor compliance with Regulation (EU) 2021/782 [2] and take the measures necessary to ensure that the rights of passengers are upheld. If NEBs and Member States do not correctly implement and apply the EU rules on passenger rights, the Commission may decide to take appropriate action. [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1679, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1679. [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0782.”
  EU funding for transportation · EU support of rail transport
• 2026-03-18 “E-001106/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission As indicated by the Honourable Members, the Spanish Government has adopted Royal Decree 1312/2024, which aims to implement Regulation (EU) 2024/1028 1 , the Short-Term Rental (STR) Regulation. Article 4 of the STR Regulation provides that a unit shall not be subject to more than one registration procedure. The Commission has, on several occasions, raised concerns with the Spanish authorities regarding a potential conflict between the registration procedure established by the Royal Decree and those already in place at the local level. At the same time, the STR Regulation will enter into force on 20 May 2026. Until that date, the existence of multiple registration procedures does not constitute a breach of the Regulation. In the meantime, the Commission continues to monitor developments. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1028/oj/eng.”
  Jurisdiction conflicts between EU and national courts
• 2026-03-16 “Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission 13.5.2026 Written question The Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) [1] requires Member States to ensure that concentrations of air pollutants do not exceed the EU limit values, inter alia for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and for particulate matter (PM). To that end, Member States must keep any period of exceedance of these limit values as short as possible. The transport sector is the largest contributor to NOx emissions and a major contributor to PM emissions. The revised AAQD [2] provides for an indicative list of air pollution abatement measures including the establishment of urban vehicle access regulations , including low- and zero-emission zones. The selection of appropriate measures to mitigate air pollution in urban areas falls within the discretion of the Member States and is not imposed by the Commission. This approach complies with the principle of subsidiarity, which ensures that decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizens and that there is a continuous review of whether action at EU level is justified in the light of the possibilities available at national, regional or local level. Air quality is mainstreamed in many EU funding programmes [3] . EU funding for air quality is allocated in accordance with the scope and objectives of the respective programmes but also considering the EU air quality legislation and any programmes [4] developed to address national, regional or local needs. EU funding prioritises the needs of vulnerable groups following the obligation stemming from the directives to assess the social dimensions of air pollution as well as the socioeconomic impacts of mitigation measures. [1] Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, OJ L 152, 11.6.2008, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/50/oj. [2] Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (recast), OJ L, 2024/2881, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/2881/oj. [3] https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/performance-and-reporting/horizontal-priorities/green-budgeting/clean-air-tracking_en. [4] E.g. Air Quality Plans and Air Quality Roadmaps under the Ambient Air Quality Directive (EU) 2024/2881 and National Air Pollution Control Programmes under the National Emission reduction Commitments Directive (EU) 2016/2284.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• 2026-03-03 “E-000866/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission Several measures under the Spanish Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) 1 partly concern actions on the Mediterranean Trans-European Transport Network Corridor, including the section Algeciras-Madrid-Zaragoza 2 . At this stage, the Commission does not have any information on the funds allocated to the specific rail motorway referred to by the Honourable Member, as the assessment of the satisfactory fulfilment of these railway measures is to be made under the last payment request, expected in the second half of 2026. Furthermore, under the Connecting Europe Facility, Spain has received EUR 2 426 090 of funding for one project concerning directly the development of the Algeciras–Zaragoza rail motorway 3 . The Commission has not yet assessed the satisfactory fulfilment of this project as its end date is set for 30 September 2026. The Spanish authorities have not informed the Commission of any delays to the implementation of these measures. The Commission is therefore not in a position to comment upon the current disbursement pace of the Spanish Government. The Commission assesses the fulfilment of milestones and targets under the Spanish RRP in line with the requirements in the respective Council Implementing Decision 4 . Should the Commission deem that milestones and targets associated with the railway investments are not satisfactorily fulfilled, it can suspend the payment of EU funds pursuant to Article 24 of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation 5 . 1 https://reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu/spains-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. 2 Measures C6.I1 – National transmission network European Corridors, C6.I3 – Intermodality, and C6.I4 – Support Programme for Sustainable and Digital Transport; Council Implementing Decision amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, 17031/25 + ADD1 + COR1. 3 Commission Implementing Decision C(2023) 2298 final, on the selection of Military Mobility projects following the 2022 call for proposals for grants under the Connecting Europe Facility - Transport sector pursuant to Implementing Decision C(2021) 5763. 4 Council Implementing Decision amending the Implementing Decision of 13 July 2021 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Spain, 17031/25 + ADD1 + COR1. 5 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, pp. 17–75.”
  EU support of rail transport · EU transport infrastructure integration · EU funding for transportation
• 2026-02-27 “Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission 3.6.2026 Written question National legislation must guarantee that rail accident investigations are carried out independently, efficiently and within the shortest time. Pursuant to Article 22(1) of Directive (EU) 2016/798 [1] , national investigating bodies established by the Member States must be independent in their organisation, legal structure and decision-making from any party whose interests could conflict with tasks entrusted to such bodies. Article 21 of Directive (EU) 2016/798 defines the principles and requirements to be established in national law as regards the legal status of investigations, cooperation between investigating authorities, other authorities and courts, and rights of investigators including their right to access any relevant information. The Commission has not received evidence from the Spanish investigating body suggesting that the investigation cannot be carried out independently, nor that the national legislation fails to guarantee the rights of investigators, notably the right to access any suitable evidence. Responsibility for guaranteeing that the procedures under national law pertaining to the investigation of rail accidents are adequate lies primarily with national authorities and courts. The Commission, as guardian of the Treaty, may initiate an infringement procedure, as appropriate, in case of solid evidence of breach of Union law. [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/798/oj.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• 2026-02-16 “E-000662/2026 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The conventional line between Sant Vicenç de Calders-Tarragona-Nudo de Vila Seca, used by different type of trains (passenger, freight), is under modernisation and co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility 1 , in line with the objectives of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) policy. The project involves the upgrade of an existing line, implementation of a third rail to convert the section into a mixed gauge and is executed by Spain according to applicable laws. In general, modernisation of the existing infrastructure does not require environmental impact assessments 2 . The Commission is aware of the Spanish government study regarding the future planning of railways in the Tarragona area, including possible alternatives to the current alignment. To the Commission’s knowledge the results of the study have not been yet presented by the Spanish authorities. The Commission also underlines that planning of railways as well as technical solutions chosen to execute them is a competence of the national authorities. The Commission invites the Honourable Member to make direct contact with the Spanish authorities with regard to further information concerning possible assessments future railway alternative lines may require. The Commission remains vigilant to ensure that the implementation of the TEN-T requirements is done in full respect of legal obligations and will not hesitate to take all appropriate measures should this not be the case. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/connecting-europefacility_en. 2 According to the Spanish legislation transposing the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2011/92/EU.”
  EU support of rail transport · EU funding for transportation · EU transport infrastructure integration
• 2026-02-13 “E-000641/2026 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The Commission’s proposal for a measure addressing the negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity of 7 October 2025 1 set out a product scope mirroring that of the existing safeguard measure (26 categories of steel finished products). On the basis of that product scope, the Commission carried out a public consultation and a detailed assessment of the market situation in its staff working document and an economic analysis 2 . The compromise text adopted by the Council on 12 December 2025 proposed to keep the same product scope 3 . The Commission is aware of the concerns of other EU steel producers of certain steel products currently not covered by the proposal, for example, steel lift guide rails, and other producers of products made of steel. For this reason, the Commission committed to its proposal (Article 9.1) 4 to assess the need for a potential amendment and expansion of the product scope within a certain time after the proposal enters into force. Concerns concerning product scope were last echoed by several stakeholders during the feedback period on the Commission’s proposal that was open from 10 October 2025 to 16 December 2025 5 . As to next steps in the process, the trilogues between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have already started and are likely to consider the question of product scope among other issues. At this stage, however, we cannot prejudge the outcome of such discussions. Lastly, the Commission continuously monitors trade flows across the steel sector and remains available to assess, together with EU industry, potential attempts to circumvent in a certain product category the effectiveness of any trade measure in place and the appropriate remedies. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=COM(2025)726&lang=en. 2 https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/detail?ref=SWD(2025)780&lang=en. 3 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/12/12/steel-overcapacity-council-adoptsmandate-on-new-rules-to-protect-eu-steel-industry-from-global-overcapacity/. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52025PC0726. 5 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14781-Trade-measure-addressing-thenegative-trade-related-effects-of-global-excess-capacity-on-the-EU-steel-sector_en.”
  EU policy on custom fee on non-EU imports
• 2026-02-03 “E-000420/2026 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission Article 19(10) of Regulation (EU) 2021/782 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations 1 sets out that actions of the infrastructure manager will not exempt a railway undertaking from the payment of compensation for delays 2 . Such actions are in general deemed to be ‘connected with the operation of the railway’ 3 . Having said that, if the scheduled time of arrival at the time of the ticket purchase already integrates the additional time needed to get to the final destination due to speed limits imposed by an infrastructure manager, this additional time does not correspond to a ‘delay’ in the sense of the Regulation which may be taken into account for the purpose of assessing the right to compensation 4 . The Commission would also observe that in accordance with Article 19(9) of the Regulation, passengers shall not have any right to compensation ‘if they are informed of a delay before buying a ticket’. Finally, it is for the Member States and in particular their National Enforcement Bodies (NEBs) to closely monitor compliance with Regulation (EU) 2021/782 and take the measures necessary to ensure that the rights of passengers are upheld. If NEBs and Member States do not correctly implement and apply the EU rules on passenger rights the Commission may decide to take appropriate action. 1 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/782/oj. 2 See in particular the last subparagraph of Article 19(10) of the Regulation, from which it follows that ‘[…] acts or omissions of the infrastructure and station managers are not covered by the exemption referred to in point (c) of the first subparagraph’. 3 See Article 19(10)(a) of the Regulation. 4 The definition of a ‘delay’ in Article 3(17) of the Regulation considers the time difference between the time the passenger was scheduled to arrive in accordance with the published timetable and the time of his or her actual or expected arrival at the station of final destination. Moreover, Article 19(1) of the Regulation on the right to compensation refers to ‘a delay between the places of departure and final destination stated in the ticket or through-ticket’.”
  EU support of rail transport
• 2025-11-07 “P-004414/2025 Answer given by Mr Hansen on behalf of the European Commission Member States have to develop integrated National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP) to address their specific challenges while achieving the Fund’s objectives. This includes fostering the attractiveness of territories to support the right to stay, encompassing supporting strategies for the integrated development of urban and rural areas, generational renewal in farming, territorial services and infrastructure, and the creation of economic activities. The Common Agricultural Policy proposal contains instruments that contribute to maintaining the economic, demographic and territorial cohesion of rural areas. including in less favoured areas. In addition, the Commission President has sent a letter to the Parliament and Presidency of the Council suggesting a 10% rural target, to ensure continuity of investments in rural areas and to keep them viable and attractive. Furthermore, the formula in Annex 1 to the NRPP proposal, used to calculate national envelopes, factors in the ‘population at risk of poverty or social exclusion living in rural areas’, which is an important proxy to the elements referred to in the Honourable Member’s question. The partnership principle is central to the NRPPs. Additionally, the aforementioned letter provides for stronger provisions to ensure the meaningful involvement of regions throughout the design, implementation and evaluation phases, including an explicit right for them to directly exchange with the Commission when managing regional or territorial chapters. A ‘regional check’ would also require Member States to demonstrate how these authorities were involved, how representativeness was ensured, and how their contributions shaped the Plans, in line with the code of conduct on partnership.”
  Agricultural funding · Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1)
• 2025-10-03 “E-003888/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The Commission takes note of the one-year postponement of the decision on the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework (NZF). While this delay is regrettable, the Commission will continue to engage constructively with all partners while building on the progress and compromises achieved so far and with the objective to fulfil the targets agreed at the IMO. The EU Emissions Trading System 1 and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation 2 include specific review clauses to take into account future IMO developments. Ambitious global actions, in line with the Paris Agreement, are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from shipping given the international nature of the sector. The Commission will continue supporting a level playing field for the EU maritime sector by strongly advocating for ambitious IMO measures and ensuring the equal treatment of EU and non-EU ships under its laws. In parallel, the Commission will continue safeguarding the competitiveness of the sector through existing instruments like the Innovation Fund 3 , as well as through new initiatives. In particular, the upcoming EU Maritime Industrial Strategy and EU Ports Strategy will strengthen the entire EU waterborne and port value chain towards clean, resilient, and innovative maritime industries, whereas the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan will boost EU capacity to produce, supply, and deploy sustainable maritime fuels. Given the postponement of the discussions on the IMO NZF, the Commission has not undertaken any such targeted initiative. However, it remains ready to engage in the operationalisation of the Framework, by sharing the experience of the EU from the implementation of monitoring, certifying and regulating GHG reduction measures. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/957/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1805/oj/eng. 3 More than EUR 600 million have already been granted from the Innovation Fund for maritime projects, both for renewable and low-carbon fuels production and projects on ships.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport
• 2025-10-03 “E-003890/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission Under Regulation 2023/1805 1 , Member States shall endeavour to ensure that the revenues from the FuelEU penalties are used to support the deployment and the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the maritime sector. By 30 June 2030, and then every five years, Member States shall make public a report on the use of revenue generated from the penalties over the five-year period preceding the year of every such report. Since the Regulation started to apply from 2025, the full reporting cycle still needs to be undertaken. No additional measures for monitoring or harmonisation of reporting are planned at this moment. Directive 2003/87/EC 2 obliges Member States to use their Emissions Trading System (ETS) revenues to support climate action and energy transformation, including in the maritime sector. Most Member States are not required to use the revenue to support the sector. Only those that receive higher volumes of additional allowances due to their high ratio of shipping companies compared to the population, should use the corresponding share of revenue for maritime-related purposes. The Commission monitors compliance with the Directive to ensure revenue is spent on the listed purposes. Member States submit their reports via Reportnet 3, managed by the European Environment Agency 3 . An overview of how each Member State used their ETS revenue is included in the Carbon Market 4 and Climate Action Progress Reports 5 . In addition, the recent Sustainable Transport Investment Plan encourages Member States to invest part of the revenues from the EU ETS to decarbonise the maritime and aviation sectors. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1805/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/87/oj/eng. 3 https://reportnet.europa.eu. 4 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/carbon-markets/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets/about-euets_en#documentation. 5 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/progress-climate-action_en.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport · EU funding for transportation
• 2025-09-24 “E-003719/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The Commission acknowledges the D3HUB project's significant contributions towards leveraging data for strategic development in European tourism. The initiative aligns well with the EU’s goals of enhancing digital savvy and competitive sustainability in tourism. As the project moves towards its conclusion, D3HUB is expected to mature towards selfreliance. A sustainable business plan should be submitted to the Commission, ensuring the initiative can continue its valuable work independently once the grant period is over. The forthcoming EU strategy for sustainable tourism will address key objectives for the sector, and the Commission will comprehensively evaluate the project's alignment with future EU priorities and its potential integration as part of sustainable tourism efforts, also on the basis of the results of the open public and targeted consultation to support the preparation of the EU strategy for sustainable tourism, which are under analysis. The preservation of the legacy and funds invested in D3HUB is a shared priority. The Commission will ensure a thorough review of the business plan presented by the project team, in line with the standards of sustainability and continued impact expected of such EU-led initiatives. The integration and evolution of this project should reflect its initial success and align with upcoming strategic objectives.”
  EU strategy for tourism development
• 2025-09-22 “E-003667/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The EU participates in crisis exercises to test its preparedness and capacity to manage complex, cross-sectoral crises, including of hybrid nature 1 . Eurocontrol and the Commission jointly chair the European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC), which organises annual crisis exercises that include information and communication technologies (ICT) incidents (e.g. in 2013, 2018 and 2022). Additionally, the Cybersecurity Blueprint provides the framework for exercises to test the response to large scale incidents 2 . In addition, the Network and Information Systems Cooperation Group (NISCG), together with the Commission, may conduct cybersecurity risk assessments of critical infrastructure supply chains under the NIS2 Directive 3 and the Council invited Member States to conduct stress tests for critical infrastructures based on EU-level common principles and joint scenarios 4 . Finally, the NISCG and Commission are working on the ICT supply chain security toolbox which will recommend mitigation measures for risks stemming from ICT supply chains. The security and resilience of ICT supply chains and infrastructure will also be addressed in the upcoming revision of the Cybersecurity Act 5 . 1 See also the European Preparedness Strategy for the wider approach to preparedness: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/526806b6-c4e1-43d1-81b7947308efbab1_en?filename=Joint%20Communication.pdf. 2 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/cyber-blueprint-draft-council-recommendation. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022L2555. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023H0120%2801%29. 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025DC0148.”
  Cybersecurity investments for critical infrastructure
• 2025-09-04 “P-003430/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The Commission takes note of the concerns raised regarding incidents in Spain's railway infrastructure and their potential implications for critical infrastructure resilience. These incidents highlight the importance of ensuring compliance with EU legislation, as recalled in ProtectEU Strategy 1 . The Commission monitors the transposition of Critical Entities Resilience Directive 2022/2557 2 and launched infringement proceedings against the Member States – including Spain – that have not communicated national transposition measures. The Critical Entities Resilience Group closely follows the implementation of the Directive, such as carrying out risk assessments and identifying critical entities. Under Directive (EU) 2022/2555 3 Member States are required to ensure that essential entities, such as railway infrastructure managers, implement appropriate risk-management, including for cybersecurity and report significant incidents. Both directives assign the main responsibility to mitigate national security implications to Member States. Under the Rail safety directive (EU) 2016/798 4 , all safety risks stemming from the operation of rail infrastructure, including by digital means, must be mitigated by the infrastructure manager, and its activities must be closely monitored by the national safety authorities themselves under the scrutiny of national governments. The Commission invites Member States to make the utmost use of those means. The Commission and EU agencies remain committed to working with Member States to ensure the effective implementation of EU cybersecurity and resilience measures, thereby safeguarding critical infrastructure and ensuring the smooth functioning of the single market. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FR/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025DC0148. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022L2557&qid=1758037134417. 3 NIS 2 Directive - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2555/oj/eng. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2016/798/oj/eng.”
  EU support of rail transport · Cybersecurity investments for critical infrastructure
• 2025-07-09 “P-002790/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/782 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations 1 contains several safeguards for passengers in the European Union in the event of travel disruption. For example, where long delays occur such as in the examples mentioned by the Honourable Member, passengers have to be offered meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time, if they are available on the train or in the station, or can reasonably be supplied, taking into account criteria such as the distance from the supplier, the time required for delivery and the cost. If the train is blocked on the track, passengers should be transported from the train to the railway station, to an alternative departure point or to the final destination of the service, where and when physically possible. Where the railway service is interrupted and cannot be continued or cannot be continued within a reasonable period, railway undertakings shall provide passengers as soon as possible with alternative transport services and make the necessary arrangements 2 . At the same time, the Commission would like to point out to the Honourable Member that in the first instance it is for the Member States and in particular their National Enforcement Bodies (NEBs) to closely monitor compliance with Regulation (EU) 2021/782 and take the measures necessary to ensure that the rights of passengers are upheld. As for the Commission, it monitors more generally whether NEBs and Member States correctly implement and apply the EU rules on passenger rights, and can decide to initiate a formal infringement against a Member State where this is not the case. 1 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/782/oj. 2 Ibid., Art. 20.”
  EU support of rail transport · EU funding for transportation
• 2025-06-13 “E-002389/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission By supporting the construction of the necessary infrastructure, the EU is helping to better interconnect Member States and create a genuine Energy Union. In the case of the connection of the Iberian Peninsula with the rest of the EU, the Commission is continuously working with the Member States, Transmission System Operators and National Regulatory Authorities in the framework of the High-Level Group on Interconnections in South-West Europe to accelerate the implementation of interconnection priority projects in the region. The implementation of key projects in the region is ongoing. The interconnection project between Spain and Portugal is expected to be completed in Autumn 2025 and will increase the current interconnection capacity level to 3.2 gigawatts. The Biscay Bay electricity interconnection is under construction. The European Investment Bank granted a EUR 1.6 billion loan 1 to support this project. Works are progressing well in both France and Spain. The project should be commissioned by 2028, and it will double the interconnection capacity between France and Spain to 5000 megawatts. The importance of the Trans-Pyrenean projects is recognised through their status as Projects of Common Interest and the Commission is working actively on their implementation, notably through the High-level group Southwest Europe. The Trans-Pyrenean project between Navarra and Landes has been awarded in January 2025 Connecting Energy Facility (CEF) grant for studies. 1 https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2025-241-eib-supports-with-eur1-6-bn-the-strategic-bay-of-biscay-electricityinterconnection-between-spain-and-france.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• 2025-06-12 “P-002382/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission In the country chapters on Spain of the 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 Rule of Law Reports, the Commission took note of the low number of judges per inhabitant, and the fact that vacancies continued to be covered by substitute-judges. The Commission is aware that, in May 2025, a draft law on the judicial and prosecutorial careers has been tabled, which aims, inter alia, at stabilising the situation of substitute-judges and prosecutors. The Commission will continue to monitor these developments, including in the framework of the Rule of Law Report process. The Commission is assessing the compatibility of the laws applicable to the recruitment of substitute judges with Clause 5 of the Framework Agreement on fixed-term work annexed to Directive 1999/70/EC 1 in the framework of an infringement procedure 2 . The Court of Justice of the European Union has repeatedly stated that Clause 5, while requiring Member States to take legal measures to prevent and penalise the abusive use of successive fixed-term employment contracts or relationships, leaves them free to choose the means of achieving that objective 3 . 1 Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work concluded by ETUC, UNICE and CEEP, IO L 175, 10.7.1999, p. 43–48. 2 INFR(2014)4334. Updates are published under the following URL: https://ec.europa.eu/implementing-eulaw/search-infringementdecisions/?lang_code=en&langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2014)4334&pa ge=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate 3 See, among others, judgment of the Court of Justice of 15 April 2008, Impact, C-268/06, paragraph 70.”
  Rule of law in Spain · EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2025-04-24 “P-001671/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The Commission closely monitors trade defence investigations conducted by third countries targeting EU exports. Trade defence instruments are available to all World Trade Organization (WTO) members provided that the relevant WTO requirements are abided by. In January 2024 the Turkish authorities initiated a safeguard investigation by Notice 2024/1, number 32427, pursuant to the Regulation on Import Protection Measures No 25486 published in the Official Gazette of Türkiye, dated 8 June 2004, which implements the WTO Safeguard Agreement into Turkish domestic legislation. The investigation covers imports of uncoated paper from all third countries. In June 2024 Türkiye introduced definitive safeguard measures on the product concerned in form of a specific duty of USD 87 per ton, subsequently decreasing every year. Since the beginning, the Commission has been actively intervening as interested party in the framework of the investigation, in close cooperation with the EU industry (Confederation of European Paper Industry). A first written submission dated 20 February 2024, in support of the EU producers concerned was sent to the Turkish authorities. The Commission also intervened at the public hearing 1 which took place in April 2024. Following these interventions certain products not produced in Türkiye were excluded from the scope. The Commission will continue to closely monitor the case and intervene as appropriate during any subsequent steps, such as a possible midterm review. 1 Communiqué No:2024/1-Paper-All Countries: https://ticaret.gov.tr/ithalat/ticaret-politikasi-savunmaaraclari/korunma-onlemleri/sorusturmalar/tamamlanan-sorusturmalar-completed-investigations/teblig-no2024-1kagit-tum-ulkeler.”
  Trade relations with Turkey
• 2025-03-26 “E-001258/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission In view of the launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES), the Commission adopted all the implementing acts for the EES as required by the applicable legislation and provided to the Member States technical and operational guidelines, recommendations and best practices. In 2024, Member States reported to the Commission that they had equipped their border crossing points, adapted their procedures and set up specific plans as part of the measures to address circumstances that may result in disruptions at the border crossing points. Moreover, Member States can use optional tools such as automated border control systems to gradually reduce waiting times at the external borders. In December 2024, the Commission adopted a legislative proposal 1 enabling a progressive start of operations of the EES, introducing more flexibility for the Member States to deploy the EES, and measures that will enable them to effectively manage exceptional circumstances, such as technical problems or periods of peak travel. Co-legislators reached a provisional agreement on the proposal on 19 May 2025. 1 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a temporary derogation from certain provisions of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 and Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards a progressive start of operations of the Entry/Exit System - COM/2024/567 final.”
  Asylum & border control
• 2025-03-11 “E-001043/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is committed to improving road safety and takes note of the upcoming introduction in Spain of a light-signalling device that is connected to the national traffic control centre and that is to replace the advance warning triangle. Traffic rules and provisions on parking and standing in general and on warning devices to be carried on board motor vehicles in particular are not regulated by the EU. They are regulated at national level and their use in international traffic at United Nations level, for instance in the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1 . The Commission has no mandate to harmonise the shape and use of warning devices to be carried on board vehicles. While harmonised rules would be desirable, the harmonisation of such rules should be addressed in the relevant bodies of the United Nations. 1 Cf. Article 23(5) of that Convention in connection with paragraph 56 of Annex V and paragraph 6 of Annex I to that Convention. https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/conventn/Conv_road_traffic_EN.pdf.”
  Driving licences
• 2025-02-05 “E-000519/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission is currently assessing the Royal Decree 933/2021 in the light of EU data protection law. The Commission will monitor the effects of the Decree on the competitiveness of the tourism sector, taking into account the goal of avoiding additional burden for companies in this sector. 2. At the EU level, the Commission aims to overall reduce administrative burden and bring simplification in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, including tourism businesses. The Competitiveness Compass for the EU 1 sets a target of reducing burdens associated with reporting requirements by 25%, without undermining the policy objectives of the initiatives concerned. 3. The Commission will present in early 2026 its Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Consultations with stakeholders in Spain and beyond, and obviously with the European Parliament, will take place in the next months to define the priorities and the content of the said Strategy. While the Commission will continue to push for a more sustainable, digital and resilient tourism ecosystems, the new Strategy will also address a number of areas for action, including the need to ensure more and better statistical data that are needed to identify and respond to emerging challenges without creating unnecessary bureaucratic burden. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/10017eb1-4722-4333-add2-e0ed18105a34_en”
  Privacy & law enforcement
• 2025-01-09 “E-000059/2025 E-000077/2025 Answer given by Ms Zaharieva on behalf of the European Commission In its Communication of 2023 on EU Missions 1 , the Commission stated that the ‘implementation of the current five Missions should be continued, and support should be increased, both politically and financially’. It also stressed that ‘a broader portfolio of instruments needs to be mobilised, with the Horizon Europe calls serving only as seed funding and orchestrators rather than the main instruments of deployment’. For the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission 2 , this broadening of portfolio of instruments is important as the majority of the resources needed for the deployment of their Climate City contracts will have to come from the private sector. Beyond Research and Innovation funding, cities within the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities mission have received more than EUR 100 million of financial support from other EU programmes, other than Horizon Europe such as Connecting Europe Facility 3 , LIFE 4 , the European Urban Initiative 5_6 and the Digital Europe Programme 7 . The Climate City Capital Hub 8 , launched in June 2024, helps cities that have received the EU Mission Label 9 (18 have been targeted so far) to get projects ready for investment. It offers them advice on the best financing solutions, in close cooperation with existing advisory services, such as those offered by the European Investment Bank, and puts cities in touch with investors. In addition, EUR 21 million were secured in 2024 to deploy advisory services of the European Investment Bank (including European Local ENergy Assistance (ELENA) 10 and the InvestEU Advisory Hub 11 ) to the cities that have received the EU Mission Label. Finally, the European Investment Bank also ringfenced a lending envelope of EUR 2 billion for labelled Mission Cities. 1 COM(2023) 457, 19/07/2023. 2 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-opencalls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/climate-neutral-and-smart-cities_en 3 https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/connecting-europe-facility_en 4 https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en 5 As regards the European Urban Initiative of Cohesion Policy, calls for innovative action proposals have included references to embed proposals in relevant urban strategies and plans such as those of the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission 6 https://www.urban-initiative.eu/ 7 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/digital-europeprogramme_en 8 https://netzerocities.eu/capital-hub/ 9 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/942e747e-3ccf-4121-a973-9cc8032fc421_en 10 https://www.eib.org/en/products/advisory-services/elena/index 11 https://investeu.europa.eu/investeu-programme/investeu-advisory-hub_en”
  Climate efforts
• 2025-01-07 “E-000038/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s concerns about the housing situation in the EU. To tackle the housing crisis, the Commission has appointed for a Commissioner for Energy and Housing. It has also established a Task Force for Housing that will support him coordinate the different strands of work across the Commission and put forward the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan to address structural drivers of the housing crisis and to help unlock the public and private investment needed. The Commission will work closely with all relevant stakeholders, such as the European Investment Bank, national promotional banks and international financial institutions on this matter 1 . In addition, the Commission is examining how State aid rules for housing could be revised, notably for energy efficiency and social housing. To assist Member States, the Commission has published a toolkit 2 that provides an overview of available EU funding 3 opportunities in housing. These funds and programmes have different management modes: i) direct management by the Commission; ii) shared management between the Commission and the Member State; iii) indirect management by partner organisations or other authorities inside or outside the EU. The Social Climate Fund will also be soon rolled-out 4 , which will notably help with renovations and access to affordable and energy-efficient housing. The Commission is also working on a proposal to inject liquidity into the market by allowing Member States to double the planned cohesion policy investments in affordable housing. The strategic choice of priorities on the use of the available cohesion policy funding (including reallocation into affordable housing) will depend on their specific needs. 1 As a first step, the Commission and EIB group has announced the foundations for a new pan-European investment platform for affordable and sustainable housing on 6 March 2025 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_671 2 Social Housing and beyond. https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en/news/commission-launchestoolkit-support-social-housing-member-states 3 The Recovery and Resilience Facility; the European Regional Development Fund; the European Social Fund Plus; the InvestEU; the Horizon Europe; the Technical Support Instrument; the Single Market Programme; the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund; the Social Climate Fund (see the Commission toolkit for further details for each programme). In addition, the Cohesion Fund and the Just Transition Fund also support investments in the energy efficiency of housing stock. Details are available in the data story ‘how cohesion policy supports housing’ (Cohesion open data platform): https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/stories/s/2021-2027-cohesion-policysupport-to-housing/4dey-9iax 4 The Member States’ plans to be sent to the Commission by June 2025; the Commission will assess the plans and disburse payments to the Member States only if the milestones and targets set in the plans are achieved.”
  EU housing policy
• 2025-01-07 “E-000037/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The 4 th railway package provides for market opening for all railway services 1 and technical interoperability to facilitate cross-border traffic and the industrialisation of rail products. Technical obstacles represent a considerable barrier to the efficient running of trains across borders. Member States are required to remove these obstacles, notably to replace their national train control system with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) 2 as of 2040. In the meantime, Member States must comply with the requirements set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/1695 3 . The Commission reminded France of its duty to share specifications of the French Class B systems 4 , including their interface with the ERTMS, with new operators and manufacturers allowing them to adapt onboard train systems to run in France. Another obstacle to enter rail markets - not specific to France - is the lack of availability of network capacity for newcomers, especially on the commercially most interesting and therefore often more congested, railway lines. The Commission adopted a proposal on the use of railway infrastructure capacity in the single European railway area 5 , which is currently under discussion in the European Parliament and Council. Once adopted, it will optimise the use of network capacity and make available additional capacity without building new infrastructure. Despite considerable difficulties, RENFE and Trenitalia, the national railway operators of Spain and Italy, have expanded their cross-border services into, and services within, France. More new entrants are preparing for access to the French rail market. The Commission will keep the situation under review and take further action if necessary. 1 Freight and passengers, commercially operated or covered by public services obligations, as well as crossborder, national, regional or local services. 2 The obligation to install ERTMS on the Trans-European Transport Networks comes from Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1153 and (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1679/oj 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/1695/oj/eng 4 KVB and TVM. 5 COM/2023/443 final.”
  EU Competition policy · EU support of rail transport
• 2024-11-26 “E-002658/2024 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is concerned about the shortage of professional bus and truck drivers in the EU and it is of the view that the current driver shortage which keeps growing should first and foremost be addressed by making the profession more attractive. The EU has recently taken several measures to improve the regulatory framework in which professional drivers operate in the EU. The Mobility Package 1 introduced significant improvements of the working conditions of drivers and thus increased the attractiveness of the profession. The Commission is also supporting, through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) 2 , the development of new and the upgrade of existing safe and secure truck parking areas (SSTPAs) to allow drivers to spend their rest periods in adequate conditions. The existence of sufficient SSTPAs is considered by drivers as an essential element for their wellbeing. The Commission is also assisting Member States and the relevant stakeholders in increasing the attractiveness of the profession through various programmes 3 . It is also in regular contact with the relevant stakeholders with a view to further improving the working conditions of drivers and incentivise more women and young people to take up the profession of driver. The Commission has also launched a study that investigates the conditions for employment of third-country drivers in the various EU Member States and into the level of qualification and skills that drivers from third countries already have when they arrive in the EU. Once the results of this study are available, the Commission may consider any further measures as regards Certificate of Professional Competence, as appropriate. 1 Regulation (EU) 2020/1054 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2020, Regulation (EU) 2020/1055 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2020 and Directive (EU) 2020/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2020, all OJ L 249, 31.07.2020. 2 https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/connecting-europe-facility/transport-infrastructure_en 3 Such as the European Social Fund Plus (https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en), Erasmus+ (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/), the reinforced Youth Guarantee (https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1079&langId=en) and Invest EU (https://europa.eu/investeu/home_en)”
  Driving licences
• 2024-10-22 “E-002222/2024 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has not been in contact with the Spanish government on the recent incidents on its railway network. According to the Rail Safety Directive 1 Member States have the responsibility for maintaining and continuously improving railway safety. The Commission is not notified of all the occurrences happening on the railway networks in the EU. The Commission considers that the current legal framework established by the Rail Safety Directive is robust and allows to ensure the safety of the railway system in the EU. This does not exclude the possibility of further fine-tuning secondary legislation to take into account experience and in particular to improve the exchange of safety-related data between Member States. At present the Commission is focusing on monitoring the practical implementation of the Directive and associated legislation by Member States and other stakeholders, taking into consideration the results of the monitoring activities performed by the EU Agency for Railways under Articles 33 and 35 of Regulation (EU) 2016/796 2 . Under the Treaties, the Commission can take action against Member States by opening infringement procedures in case it identifies breaches of legally binding provisions of EU law. 1 Directive (EU) 2016/798, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016L0798 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016R0796”
  EU support of rail transport · EU policy on aviation safety
• 2024-10-03 “E-001937/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission 1. Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 1 , Member States must take appropriate measures to develop the core network by 31 December 2030. However, this obligation is subject to the conditions of Article 8(5) which recalls that the implementation of projects of common interest depends upon factors such as the degree of maturity, compliance with both Union and national legal procedures, and the availability of financial resources. 2. The European Coordinator for the Atlantic corridor is in regular dialogue with the governments of Portugal and Spain and is currently discussing the terms of an implementing decision that will include indicative milestones for the implementation of the new MadridLisbon line and will support the coherent priority setting of infrastructure and investments required. At the Iberian Summit of 23 October 2024, both Member States have reiterated their intention to meet the deadlines established in the regulation. 3. While the Commission is focused in making every possible effort to meet the 2030 deadline for the core network, delays are expected on some major cross-border projects in Europe due to technical and financial constraints. However, the notable progress on some of the sections of the line, together with the future implementation decision, are encouraging developments in view of meeting the 2030 target. 1 Article 6 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1679”
  EU support of rail transport · EU transport infrastructure integration · EU funding for transportation
• 2024-10-01 “P-001909/2024 Answer given by Ms Ferreira on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of the closure of road RN134 in France. The French authorities reported to the Commission that the Inter-Department Directorate for Atlantic Roads (DIRA) carried out a technical assessment on the ground, based on which it presented a proposal to repair the damage. Accordingly, the DIRA estimates that the works should be concluded in 2025 1 . The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) 2 can only be activated at the request of an eligible state, which has a deadline of 12 weeks as from when the first damage occurred, demonstrating that the total direct damage exceeds the thresholds specified in Article 2 Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002. The EUSF may cover a part of the costs for emergency and recovery operations incurred by public authorities 3 . Private damage is not eligible. France has not requested EUSF assistance for this disaster yet. The Commission supports Member States in improving their transport networks through different instruments, including Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for transport and Cohesion Policy's European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). CEF supports the development of an interconnected trans-European transport network. Interreg supports cross border cooperation to promote the development of joint strategies and projects in relevant sectors for border regions. The Spain-France-Andorra cooperation programme 2021-2027 invests EUR 18.7 million from the ERDF to promote climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention, resilience taking into account eco-system based approaches. An additional EUR 12.4 million from the ERDF will be invested to increase the institutional capacity of regional authorities to deliver common services and to solve existing legal and administrative obstacles for better cooperation. 1 Although the traffic could already be restored in January 2025. 2 Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012 3 Eligible operations include the restoring of essential infrastructure, the provision of temporary accommodation to the population, cleaning-up operations and protection of cultural heritage.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration · EU funding for transportation
• “Thank you. Thank you, chair, and thank you very much for the invitation to this committee. For me, it is a pleasure. So, as you know, last week it was approved this report. It was approved by a broad majority in the plenary. And in this, uh, with this report, the Parliament acknowledged that besides a social problem, we also have an economic problem and a problem with competitiveness because Europe, where people cannot live, is a Europe that cannot grow, because when permits takes years to obtain, when regulations are constantly changing, when uncertainty dominates, dominates the market, investment disappears and supply shrinks. And when supply shrinks, prices rise. This is a reality we see across Europe. This House sent a clear message with this report suggest to a housing simplification package. Yes to increasing supply, yes to building more homes and faster and to renovate more. Yes. Two more legal certainty. Yes to investing in apprenticeships and traineeships in the construction sector. Yes to tax reduction for construction and renovation. Yes to supporting low and middle income households to buy or rent a home. So there is a clear also social perspective and approach in this report. And just to issue permits in not more than 60 days to accelerate these processes. The European Union does not build homes, but it can create the conditions for them to be built. Public and private homes. It can remove barriers, it can mobilize investment. It can support local and regional authorities. And that must be our role to be a catalyst. The commission has already heard the voice of the Parliament and it must deliver for our citizens. Eu Commissioner, The European Commission presented in December the Affordable housing Plan, which is the key for Europeans.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. As a rapporteur on the housing report, we've the increase of offer of supply. Uh, now we we have, uh, a lack of balance between what's supply and what's there and what's. So the permit, the construction permits, they've dropped by 20% over the last. And that's what's taking place right now. And we're trying to respond to this particular issue. There are numerous different causes, but I would like to focus essentially on the bureaucracy, the red tape, the regulation and the very, very snail's pace situation that's developed on that front. So we want we need a housing omnibus. And what do you think about that? And then if you what sort of proposals you see as obstacles as far as construction and providing for affordable housing. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you. Chair. We would like to reiterate our support for sustainable tourism. As Madame Ramos said, with the focus on green and social values. But we this tourism represents 10% for the EU. And we have millions of businesses working in this sector. Madame homes talked about the Balearics. They represent over 45% of this. So we need to find reasonable solutions to the issues there and let us not feed the tourism phobic discourse. Uh, now, I don't think anyone today doubts the need to regulate and organize this sector. What we are lacking are balanced solutions that are adapted to the local realities in each place. Tourism in summer may be a problem in some areas, whereas in others that are depopulated they might provide a boon on the representatives from Amsterdam. I would like to know how you are regulating tourism in that sense and what actions you're taking. Thank you.”
  EU strategy for tourism development
• “Thank you. The strength of Europe Lies in its trade union, and we have to take decisions to deal with. The US has avoided a trade war that wouldn't have benefited anyone. But we mustn't be complacent. The deal does raise questions and we cannot sweep them under the carpet. The US is a vital ally, but it is unpredictable and that makes it difficult for us. We have to open up new markets. It's not an option. It is a strategic need. And there is one region that is particularly interesting that's ibero-america because of historic ties or language ties and so on, where we need to project ourselves towards the future. The EU, Mercosur and Mexico agreements need to become a reality. There is protectionism, countries closing in on themselves, and we have to fly the flag of free trade, not only for us, but also for the prosperity of all Europeans and our businesses. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “We like some parts of it and thank you for drawing inspiration from some of our ideas. Boasting cutting red tape to accelerate housing supply. Strengthening the. Productivity and innovation in construction. Mobilising additional public and private investment or housing for young people. But please. And as we move forward, we ask you to leave interventionist measures aside because we have seen that they don't solve the problem. I want to focus on two initiatives that we that were presented under the Commission Work programme. The Construction Service Act for Q4 this year and the Initiative on Short Term Rentals for Q2 this year. On this regard, this Parliament has asked you to just set common objectives. We live in member States and regions and local authorities. The flexibility to adopt necessary, adequate and proportionate measures. My questions are the following. Do you already have a concrete date for the presentation? Please tell us more about the content and how can this Parliament move them forward? And one final question. The mandate of the commission ends in July 2026. So how can we, the European Parliament, continue to help after that? This is something very important for us and they are. Commissioner. Dear colleagues, let me conclude with a thought. Housing is one of our greatest challenges, but it is also an opportunity, an opportunity to build more, to invest better and to restore hope to millions of Europeans. There are no magic formulas. But now the European Parliament has a clear guidance guidance that stems from mutual understanding and is full of ideas and proposals. Thank you very much.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you, madam, and thank you to the rapporteur, Mr. Novakov, for that work. Uh, in drawing up our European Parliament position. And yes, this has been going on since 2013 and it fully affects her passenger rights. Uh, we're looking forward to working on this. This is one of our electoral commitments. We said that we would create a, um, a fair space for passengers, that we would get rid of, uh, supplements for hand luggage and the ability for families to sit together. So this is a clear message. We, as the Tran Committee, are sending a united message to to Council and to European consumers and airline passengers. And I think we need to make the best possible use of this opportunity. Congratulations to the rapporteurs.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• “Thank you chair. And there is something that it is clear we will get nowhere with public investment alone. Between 2014 and 2020, the European Union public funds supported the construction or renovation of around 130,000 affordable housing units across the entire union. That is only scratching the surface. According to recent estimates, we need over 8 million additional affordable houses by 2030. Public money must play a catalytic role, but the real scale can only be reached if we unlock private investment with the right incentives and legal certainty. My my question. Public resources are scarce. European funds are limited. How do you think we can optimize European funds to build as much affordable housing as possible? And how can we achieve a greater impact with this limit?”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you very much. Just a few comments. I support a sustainable transport plan, but it needs to be competitive. Uh, which is our focus in this legislative period. It's been said a number of times, but I think it's important to insist on this. We need to avoid carbon leakage because otherwise it will be too late. And then thirdly, I'm pleased that there was a specific reference to promoting cross-border rail connections between Lisbon and Madrid. I think it is key that we have some control over the basic rail network and focus particularly on those connections between member states. Fourthly, when we look at the geopolitical situation, it is very complex. We need to look at military mobility. You have my full support on that. Thank you very much.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “Thank you very much. I just wanted to say that the deployment of the Ertms system is essential if we are to have a true European rail system. But progress remains insufficient. The ertms system is, of course, important to ensure interoperability between countries, to ensure greater security capability and efficiency. These are issues which were all clear on, but what we see is that implementation and development is slow and is also unequal. And there's another thing that draws my attention, particularly, which is the lack of progress in France and Germany, who are the two locomotives of development in this area? And we need to make sure that things advance. So in the view of the coordinator, why are these two countries running so late? Do you think that they're not making enough progress, considering that they are two major economic powers? Perhaps there is a lack of political will, and I would like to know why. There might be a lack of political will in those two countries. And from that point of view, and being aware of the project regarding all of EU member states, I'd like to know whether you think that from the point of view of Europe, any measures could be taken to encourage these two countries to continue making progress in the development of this network.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “We want the EIB, the European Investment Bank, to play a more important role, and we want to harness European funds efficiently so that we can support affordable housing plans and schemes. We need to help those who most need it. Young people who cannot become first buyers, who cannot buy their first home, families that cannot pay their rents. Key workers such as the police, teachers, doctors who cannot live near their jobs or workplaces. We cannot have those who support our cities not be able to live in them. That's why we want a European family plan and to help first buyers and make sure there's more housing for students. Then data. Without reliable data, we are blind. Ladies and gentlemen, housing is one of our main challenges, but is also an opportunity. We have to tap into this opportunity to invest more and better and to give hope back to many citizens. There are. There isn't a silver bullet bullet, but there is one here, and that is that there has to be understanding and there have to be ideas. Now we have to build on this because housing underpins a prosperous society in the future of Europe hinges on it. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Now, if we want alternative fuels to have a future, then what we're talking about today is absolutely essential. Without recharging infrastructure, we'll never make these alternative fuels attractive until the freedom of choice of fuels will never become a reality. I have two questions related to this. Now, it's important that we focus our efforts on the basic Ten-t network, but it's also important that we ensure a balanced deployment across our territory. Now, this has already been talked about, but my question would be, is the Commission considering taking specific steps in order to help develop this in rural areas. And my second question, we know that there are some member states where there's a bit of a delay in the development of these infrastructures. In my country, for instance, Spain, there's no real signs of a national plan for deployment such as required here. So my question is what sort of monitoring or instruments can the Commission implement here in order to ensure this is met? Thank you.”
  EV charging infrastructure
• “Thank you very much. Madam president, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, housing is just one more policy. It underpins family life and the future of Europe. For the first time in its history, the European Parliament set up a housing committee and we adopted a political position on housing. This shows something very clear. The situation is urgent. Between 210 and 220, housing prices in the EU increased by 61% rent almost 30% in many European cities. At the moment, one out of ten households spend more than 40% of their family income to pay for housing. Citizens feel the pinch and they want answers. The main problem is that supply hasn't kept up with demand. Europe has to build and it has to renovate more property. We need 10 million dwellings if we want to keep up. If there isn't more supply and we don't deal with demand prices, we'll shoot through the roof and young people won't be able to get their own homes. There's a very clear plan here, underpinned by five pillars. First of all, subsidiarity. There isn't just one single real estate market. There are 27 national markets. The local authorities and regional authorities know their needs better than anyone else, and they need to keep the reins and have the main responsibility.”
  EU housing policy
• “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to wrap up with a very straightforward idea. There is a housing problem in Europe because we don't have enough dwellings. We have said a lot over the last few years, but we haven't built a lot and we can see what's happening. Young people can't move out of their parental home, workers can't live near their workplace. And that's why we have a social problem and an economic problem, as well as a competitiveness problem, because if in Europe people cannot afford housing, then Europe cannot grow. So the message is crystal clear. We need to build more houses and flats, and we need to do it more quickly because if it takes years to get a permit, if rules are constantly changing, when uncertainty prevails in the market, then investment disappears and supply goes down. And when there's less supply, prices go up. This is a very obvious reality that we're experiencing in Europe. Another important point the EU doesn't build dwellings, but it can create the right conditions for this. It can get rid of barriers, it can harness investment, it can provide support to local and regional authorities. That should be our role. We should act as a catalyst. Ladies and gentlemen, most of those of us here feel that this report shows that we should make ourselves useful. We should put a dogmatic approaches to the side and come up with effective and realistic measures. I think that I really tried to make sure that I didn't have empty words and rhetoric in my report, and I think we have achieved this. We have also done our work based on the principle of building a broad consensus. We are fully aware of the fact that the European Parliament has to send out a message that is loud and clear, and that the European Commission will listen to. Let us make sure that this commitment goes forward and let us lay the foundation so that Europeans can start building a home.”
  EU housing policy
• “Yes. I'm going to speak in Spanish. Thank you very much, chair. We have noted that one of the fundamental reasons for this housing crisis throughout Europe is the lack of supply. And if we don't remedy that, we will be in a bad situation. We've got to increase supply and renovate housing stock as well. So for this we need funding. There's a problem of access which comes from the union approach. It's not surprising since the financial crisis of 2008, there has been a lack of credit. And that is normal because of course, we don't want what happened there to reproduce itself again. So the European Central Bank is looking at various possibilities and perhaps how they could make credit to the private sector more flexible. And I'd like to hear a little more on that, if possible. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Yes. Maybe I can try to do it in English. And no, the question is that when we are talking about this, this crisis and we have had so many meetings with, with companies and with associations of the sector of the construction, and one of the requests that they do is that they are having problems to access to the credit Um, the question is that I understand that after the crisis in 2008, it is normal that from the European Union level, we closed the credit. Uh, and now the requirements are higher. So my my question is, from your point of view, you consider that there could be any room for flexibility in the requirements that these companies of the construction sector has to access to the credit or not. This is because, yes, yes, we consider that this is something that it should be important, as we have this crisis of of this lack of supply at European level. And, and, and yes, and the construction sector, they are demanding a signal regarding this point even um, I would like to know your view about because one of the demands and I understand that maybe this is more complicated when they talk about the access to credit for developing developing land that is completely, completely closed. Yes. And just to know if you have any comment on on this. Thank you.”
  Financial regulation
• “Thank you very much, chair. And my thanks to the European Commission for that explanation. I wish to underscore the key role played by the Connecting Europe facility, which has facilitated key investment for railway infrastructure, for maritime transport and much more. But we need more in the current geopolitical context. We need to speed up the implementation of cross-border transport projects. They facilitate European cohesion. But in addition to this, they also bolster the EU's strategic resilience, including when it comes to the military area. So I wish to underscore, as other colleagues have said, the fact that we need more funding. So what will the European Commission be doing about that? What's your view on this need for more funding? I think, too, that it's key that we focus on cross-border projects. That is really where we find the major issues. I'm quite surprised to hear also that connections between France and Spain are not included in the highlighted projects, those that receive most financing, given the huge issues that we are facing there in the Mediterranean corridor as well as the Atlantic one. How much funding has been set aside aside for the global network? Thank you, Mr. Lawrence.”
  EU funding for transportation
• “Thank you very much, chair. I just wanted to say that from our perspective, it's important to acknowledge that tourism is an important driver for the economy at the EU level and also for our GDP. It's an asset when it comes to looking at our economic situations, facing and dealing with unemployment, etc. so it is important to bear this in mind. And of course, short term rentals can contribute positively to local populations to try and promote rural tourism, to also, um, protect Older buildings and regenerate these. And so we would advocate for a balanced approach to make sure that we have accessible, affordable housing, but also tourism. We also have to operate with transparency and ensure that there is cooperation. So in this sense, I wanted to ask a question because we have this proposal from the European Commission. And so what would you what are you hoping to see in the European Commission's proposal? And that's everything that I want to say just now. Thank you.”
  EU regulation of short-term rentals
• “Thank you very much. I'll be speaking Spanish. So first of all, thank you very much to the speakers for the presentations. I'd like to keep it brief. I agree with what was said by Mr. Jessica. Ultimately, in the European Union, it seems that we've had these goals for quite some time to try to reduce red tape fragmentation, administrative burden. We're constantly talking about simplification, harmonization. And when I listened to Mr. Byatt talking about this omnibus package, I think it's a good starting point. But within the European Commission have there been expressions of a need to increase our efforts or to have an omnibus for transport. And would this be feasible? Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you very much. We are seeing naval companies and aeronautics companies moving to third countries due to environmental legislation. So carbon leakage. The delocalization of these companies obviously means less investment. So we need to act urgently because once this happens, it can't be reversed. Otherwise we will have permanent, irreversible damage in the next decades. The other point I wanted to raise is about tourism. So there is a register for travellers in Spain, and it means the data fields are go from 14 to 42 for travellers. So this could really affect, um, Tourism and also data protection. Now the Commission wants to reduce the administrative burden by 25%. Reduce bureaucracy. So what is the commission planning in this area?”
  Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
• “Thank you, president, Commissioner, the European Union is at the vanguard when it comes to protecting air passenger rights. European rules have for years given certainty to passengers and protected thousands of people who fly day after day. So we can be proud of that. But we have also witnessed a deterioration of conditions facing passengers and that is not something we can allow. We have two proposals before us, two proposals which are an opportunity to reverse that trend. The council in its position has already spoken out, but we don't like that approach. Passenger rights should be strengthened, not diluted. We should not be watering things down. The Parliament should stand firm. We want there to be the possibility for passengers to take hand-luggage without additional cost. The Court of Justice of the EU has made that clear. Hand luggage is a vital part of travel, and the current rules guarantee reimbursement for delays over three hours. We strongly oppose any attempt to water that down. We think that sitting next to family members should not be a privilege. Elderly people should also be able to get a printed version of their boarding cards. And we want clear standards. We want an ambitious position. Citizens should feel that the EU works for them. They should feel that we stand by them. This proposal is an opportunity to strengthen that trust and to protect the shared interests of Europeans. Thank you.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• “Thank you. President. Strength lies in its trade. We are a major player 450 million people with their purchasing power. And so we can speak as an equal to anyone, including the US. This trade war benefits nobody, even the person starting it. We need to count on our unity. We mustn't fall into the trap of acting alone. Our commercial rivals want to divide us. And there's a reason for that. Let's negotiate right until the end. Because that would benefit us and our trade allies. But when faced with the trade war, we do have tools. We do have answers. So let's prepare. If the US doesn't fall back, let's look for new markets. Mercosur, Mexico. Let's have more, better agreements. Free trade is a underpinning principle of the EU, and we need to promote that rather than promoting national solutions. We need more Europe, not less.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Commissioner, I would like to welcome the high speed plan. Uh, it's up to the commission to make sure now that the deadlines are met and that focus is on the cross-border connections, which are particularly problematic when it comes to the investment plan for sustainable, uh, transport. We think this is also a very good idea. But there are a couple of points which we think are relevant here. Firstly, the we think that we need to have road transport included here, particularly heavy goods transport. Um, if we are to have an integrated approach here. And secondly, it's essential. That what is gained through ETS, ETAs are. The Maritime Fuel Initiative is invested in the sector to ensure decarbonization. The funds from these sectors have to be invested in the sector in innovation and bringing down costs and in technological innovation. Thank you.”
  EU funding for transportation
• “Yes, thank you very much. Dear colleagues, electoral integrity is under unprecedented pressure. Ai generated disinformation, fakes and coordinated bot networks are no longer a future threat. They are actively shaping campaigns across Europe right now. Russia has turned AI driven disinformation into a strategic weapon to attack the legitimacy of the European Union to divide our societies. We have seen it in the Romanian elections, in the French elections, during the separatist process in Spain. Also during the Brexit. Let me say something. The fragmented structure of our electoral system make us more vulnerable. As the Stocktaking briefing on the 2024 election shows 27 different national frameworks for the European election, create 27 different points of entry for malicious actors. We need to address this as a matter of urgency. And yet, AI is also part of the solution. It can detect coordinated and inauthentic behavior. Flag foreign interferences in real time and help citizens access verified political information at scale. The question before this Parliament is one of institutional courage. Do our legal frameworks match the speed of this threat? Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Thank you, Madam Chairman. Well, when we talk about high speed. But let me start out mentioning countries. Spain has 4000 of high speed. It's one of the largest networks. And they're building was a real collective success. And we're very proud of it. But we're seeing deterioration. It's quite clear. It's not just because of lack of technology and techniques, but we need investments. So we are for European investment to get a strong network. It's not just a longer network, but it has to be safe, reliable and well maintained. So I should like to know is this? Are you going to put a clear idea of life cycles of the existing material? And is the commission planning for instruments to accompany member states in in structural investment? And we'd like to know it's not just an electoral. Will this there be a directive to guarantee the good condition of these trains? Thank you.”
  EU support of rail transport
• “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to wrap up with a very straightforward idea. There is a housing problem in Europe because we don't have enough dwellings. We have said a lot over the last few years, but we haven't built a lot and we can see what's happening. Young people can't move out of their parental home, workers can't live near their workplace. And that's why we have a social problem and an economic problem, as well as a competitiveness problem, because if in Europe people cannot afford housing, then Europe cannot grow. So the message is crystal clear. We need to build more houses and flats, and we need to do it more quickly because if it takes years to get a permit, if rules are constantly changing, when uncertainty prevails in the market, then investment disappears and supply goes down. And when there's less supply, prices go up. This is a very obvious reality that we're experiencing in Europe. Another important point the EU doesn't build dwellings, but it can create the right conditions for this. It can get rid of barriers, it can harness investment, it can provide support to local and regional authorities. That should be our role. We should act as a catalyst. Ladies and gentlemen, most of those of us here feel that this report shows that we should make ourselves useful. We should put a dogmatic approaches to the side and come up with effective and realistic measures. I think that I really tried to make sure that I didn't have empty words and rhetoric in my report, and I think we have achieved this. We have also done our work based on the principle of building a broad consensus. We are fully aware of the fact that the European Parliament has to send out a message that is loud and clear, and that the European Commission will listen to. Let us make sure that this commitment goes forward and let us lay the foundation so that Europeans can start building a home.”
  EU policy on urban development
• “Thank you. President. When we're talking about housing, we're not just talking about bricks and mortar. We're talking about live projects, young people who want to become independent, to move out of their families and to have stability. And we know that the European Union does not have a magic wand to solve the problem. There is not a single housing market. There are 27. And the role of states, regions and local authorities is vital. But we also know that there are some shared causes, causes that should be tackled at a European level from the outset in this crisis. We have said clearly in Europe we now have a problem with supply. The commission is now recognising that we don't have enough homes. It is thought that we lack 4 million homes to meet demand and if we don't have the homes, then the prices go up. In the face of that, the response is clear we must build more and we need to simplify less bureaucracy, planning permissions, digital procedures, standards which help things and don't block construction. We need to mobilise investment, both public and private, and we also need to strengthen the right to home ownership, legal certainty for families, stability for markets and confidence to invest. We need lower taxes and we need incentives to build, to renovate and rent out. Commissioner, forget all of the ideological dogmas. Forget the empty policies. They're more rhetoric than realism. We need to focus on real solutions. We should be working to ensure that all Europeans can build a home. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thanks, chair. Security in Europe is contingent on our real ability to move troops and munitions and equipment around. And we are compelled to home in on Eastern Europe right now. But we must not sideline the importance of the South and the Mediterranean. Well, the problem in the Sahel. Migratory pressures and extremist threats mean we absolutely must have safe and resilient corridors in the south. The South is our rearguard should a conflict emerge in the east. This compels us to really pay close attention to this issue in a cross-cutting fashion. As a Spaniard, I'm worried about the lack of connections between Spain and France. There is a lack of connections and guarantees. We need more funding for infrastructure, for infrastructure to build military Schengen. We want to must show grit if we wish to stand up for the effect, for collective defence.”
  Defence spending
• “Thank you very much, Chair. So the report presented shows that by 2030 then one new HDV will actually have zero be zero emissions, and so that's between one and five percent. I'm wondering about the industry investment in infrastructure, but we know that they are coming up against delays when it comes to authorizations and access to electricity grids. So we know that we need to address road transport urgently, and we need to make sure that we have availability and to focus more on zero carbon and carbon neutrality because we know that this is accountable for a fourth of all transport emissions. Indeed, along the lines of the question about bringing forward the review, it's important to make sure that that also includes renewable energy. But also, I'd like to know whether the Commission is going to produce a report on the heavy duty vehicles and also incentives before 2025, the end of 2025, along with the article. In that case, we would also like to know when this might be done. Thank you. **Virginijus Sinkevičius (Lithuania, Greens/EFA) @Chair: Thank you. Next, Sofia Kircher.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Thank you. Chair. And thank you very much to the European Commission for these explanations. As you explained, 2024 was a record year. In this area for the European Union. So these efforts are a guarantee that our industry does not mean remain defenseless in the face of dumping and unfair practices which endanger our companies and jobs. Trade is not just trade. It's an effective instrument for political pressure, and we can see how our economic sectors are facing trade challenges, which are increasingly complex. And therefore trade defence instruments are essential for the protection of our competitiveness. As you indicated, China accounted for more than a third of the cases in particularly in the chemicals sector, and we suffered a reprisals for our brandy and European dairy products, amongst other things. So as Spain is one of the key exporters are concerned, and we are therefore deeply affected by this reality. So the new tariffs from China on the Spanish sector in particular, um, what is uh, planned? Um, and uh, how is this going to be combined with other tools? Um, and how will this be assured that this will be included in the new doctrine for economic security for Europe? Thank you.”
  Trade relations with China
• “Thank you, Madam Chairman. Well, when we talk about high speed. But let me start out mentioning countries. Spain has 4000 of high speed. It's one of the largest networks. And they're building was a real collective success. And we're very proud of it. But we're seeing deterioration. It's quite clear. It's not just because of lack of technology and techniques, but we need investments. So we are for European investment to get a strong network. It's not just a longer network, but it has to be safe, reliable and well maintained. So I should like to know is this? Are you going to put a clear idea of life cycles of the existing material? And is the commission planning for instruments to accompany member states in in structural investment? And we'd like to know it's not just an electoral. Will this there be a directive to guarantee the good condition of these trains? Thank you.”
  EU support of rail transport
• “Thank you. Chairman. First of all, flexibility through the mid term refund of the cohesion fund. It's a very good Piece of good news. We need to meet the needs of European citizens. Now, I have a question. According to an EIA report for 2024 to 2025, cohesion policy alone will never resolve the current housing crisis. We have a lack of investment, millions shortfall when it comes to investment in affordable housing. So we need private investment. We need to encourage and leverage private investment through every euro spent through the cohesion fund. So will the commission come up with guidelines to promote public private cooperation, to leverage as much funding as possible for affordable housing? Thank you.”
  EU policy on urban development
• “Thank you very much, chair. I just wanted to reply to Miss Shelby that I arrived late because I had another meeting that I had to go to before here, but I was very sorry because I really wanted to be here for these presentations. And I think that it's important what we're looking at, we're looking at reasonable regulations and to try and combat illegal, illegally offered properties. We need to make sure that we also have affordable housing, accessible housing, and we need to work together with the Court of Justice of the European Union. And this has also helped us because we have a legitimate right to regulate. But of course, we need to make sure that those are proportionate and necessary. And lastly, because I know that this has become a bit of a battle horse for a number of different political groups, but we need to look at the housing crisis because there are so many different facets to this. But I do think that when it comes to short term rentals, which are often pointed out as the problem, um, I think we need to look at all of the picture. Thank you.”
  EU regulation of short-term rentals
• “President. Thank you very much. The Sustainable Transport Investment Plan is sending out a loud and clear message supporting industry investors. It's a positive message. But, Commissioner, I'd like to hone in on some issues that I think you have to take on board. First of all, the energy transition in the maritime transport sector and aviation need global rules and standards. We need multilateral commitments. If we don't have that, there's no point to this. According to the EU decarbonisation rule, or rather, the EU decarbonisation rules cannot undermine our competitiveness. You know that carbon leaks are not just a threat, they are a reality. Thirdly, EU legislation has to have the guiding principle of technological neutrality. My fourth point is that the plan does not include road transport, especially, uh. Heavy goods vehicles. And fifthly, every euro that comes from EU and the aviation maritime sector and the ETS need to be reinvested in these sectors to speed up decarbonisation through innovation, technological support and cost reduction. The plan is a positive sign and signal, but let us make sure that our climate ambition goes hand in hand with EU ambitious support to the industry. Let us not forget that industry is made up of human beings, EU citizens and we don't want to witness their lives being affected negatively by this energy transition. Thank you.”
  Powertrain choice: EV-only pathway vs. equal support for hybrids, e-fuels, H2
• “Thank you Commissioner. Let me begin with the areas where we clearly share the same diagnosis. Because Europe is facing a deep and structural housing supply crisis, this is what we consider. So we therefore welcome the strong focus of the plan on increasing supply, on improving productivity in the construction sector, on innovation through new building methods and materials, and on addressing labour shortages and skill gaps. And we also agree that public funding alone will never be sufficient, that we need to mobilise also the private investment. Simplification is another key point of convergence and this is clear and this is well recognized in the plan. And on short term rentals, we must insist we defend a balanced and proportionate approach based on reliable data sensitive to local and regional realities, and designed to empower local authorities. You have talked also about the empty houses 20%, you say. So we need more data about this because the question is that in Spain we also have this debate. But there is something quite clear that most parts of these houses are in places where people don't want to live in rural areas. And this is a reality. So we need more data on this speculation, more transparency. What you propose from our perspective is perfect, but we have to be very careful. And and you know that we are now fully involved in the negotiations. And my question is very clear. So how does the Commission intend to consider the Parliament's ongoing work when this is approved? Finally, I hope that this will be in March. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Well, I'm going to speak in Spanish, if I may. The reality is that from our perspective, what we see is that we have a crisis in supply. We need to build 4 million homes in the European Union, and that is why demand has grown over recent years, over recent decades. It's because of changes to family structures. It's because of more people arriving from abroad. And that means that we have this need to build more housing. And I think that's what we're focusing on now in order to do that. The commissioner's plan, I think, is pointing in the right direction. We have this proposal to simplify the rules and regulations, and that should mean that the long periods that you need to build more housing can be brought down, and that should help the building sector.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. We are looking at one of the biggest rail tragedies in the history of Europe. 47 dead, and we owe them justice. We are waiting. We have been raising the issue of the deterioration of the rail system in Spain delays millions who have been left in villages. While this was taking place, the minister was living in a parallel existence and was trying to push the accelerator to some 300km an hour. Now we know this is an inflection point. It means that we need accountability. We need transparency. We need to adopt all of the measures possible to understand the causes of this tragedy. So for a fundamental reason. So it doesn't happen again. Two questions. First. According to the judicial inspectors, ADF took proof away from the site before the inspection had been carried out. This infringes EU law. Second, the Spain is a big recipient of EU funds, but only 16% were used for maintenance, and that runs counter to what the commission's priorities were. So the commission set standards, and it means that all of us have to make sure that they are being implemented in a rigorous way, considering the actions of the Spanish and Spanish government. I think that the Commission and the EU should call for the for the accountability of those involved.”
  EU support of rail transport
• “Thank you very much, Chair. The Mediterranean Corridor is undoubtedly an essential infrastructure for competitiveness and territorial cohesion in southern Europe. The Mediterranean corridor handles around fifty percent of Spanish exports, but we are facing an implementation problem in order to meet the deadlines, given that it forms part of the core network. You mentioned the problems in the Perthus tunnel and the border connection. From my point of view, what concrete measures can ensure that the border sections meet the objectives of the TEN-T, not only in Spain but also in other Member States, knowing these are key points? In Spain, progress is being made, and we are meeting implementation targets. Our concern is the lack of progress on the French side. The European Commission has the capacity to exert pressure, and we would also like to explore what options, from your perspective, could be used by EU institutions to encourage and accelerate progress in France.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “Europe has to be a catalyst. Get rid of barriers, facilitate investment and coordinate efforts. Pillar two to increase supply of housing. Less is being built. Number of permits has gone down by 20% over the last five years. We know the reasons very well. Bureaucracy, red tape, lack of land for development. Construction costs which are high. Lack of labour. Lack of funding. We need to streamline. That's why we want a European package for simplification. Housing simplification. Less red tape. Quicker permits. Uh, getting a permit within 60 days, among others. Taxes have to go down. Other measures include overhauling the the VAT directive so we can have a lower tax rates on renovation, construction and housing rentals. We need to make sure that we can harness, uh, brownfield sites and abandoned properties as well. And also we have to protect the right to private property. We condemn squatting because it goes against these rights. It leads to uncertainty, insecurity and reduces, uh, rental supply. Now we have to increase investment. Public funds are very important, but they're never going to be enough. They will always fall short. We need to attract private investment and make it easier to access credit.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU · VAT harmonisation
• “Europe has to be a catalyst. Get rid of barriers, facilitate investment and coordinate efforts. Pillar two to increase supply of housing. Less is being built. Number of permits has gone down by 20% over the last five years. We know the reasons very well. Bureaucracy, red tape, lack of land for development. Construction costs which are high. Lack of labour. Lack of funding. We need to streamline. That's why we want a European package for simplification. Housing simplification. Less red tape. Quicker permits. Uh, getting a permit within 60 days, among others. Taxes have to go down. Other measures include overhauling the the VAT directive so we can have a lower tax rates on renovation, construction and housing rentals. We need to make sure that we can harness, uh, brownfield sites and abandoned properties as well. And also we have to protect the right to private property. We condemn squatting because it goes against these rights. It leads to uncertainty, insecurity and reduces, uh, rental supply. Now we have to increase investment. Public funds are very important, but they're never going to be enough. They will always fall short. We need to attract private investment and make it easier to access credit.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you. Chairwoman, I just want to underscore the need to support these regional tourist destinations, which very often are left behind internal regions in Spain, for example, I'm from Aragon. It's a not very densely populated region in the north of Spain. Many people think about tourism as sun and beaches, but there's also nature and gastronomy that falls into falls under the aspect of tourism. So we, I think, need to focus on diversification. There are wonderful places in Europe and we need to develop them and enhance them, but we need good connectivity. Um, sometimes it's difficult to, um, reach certain areas by flights. And so it's important that we have a strategic. A European strategy over the next MFF that supports the development of these regions. Now I have a question for Mr. Barriga. What can the European institutions do to try and support these regional destinations? And more generally speaking, what can public administrations do to develop these tourist destinations? Thank you.”
  EU strategy for tourism development
• “(09:36:47 – 09:38:45): you very much, Chen. Thank you very much to the experts who've spoken. I think that we're all aware that there is a clear crisis of housing in Europe. We're not covering the current demand. And there's a lot of reasons for this. It's a crisis which is clearly a multifactor crisis. There's excessive bureaucracy. There's excessive and complex regulation. It takes a long time to get permits. There's also a lack of financing. There's a lack of workers, and there's also an increase in energy products and cost of products to build the housing. So over the recent years, the European Commission has focused all of its economic and investment efforts in improving the energy efficiency of buildings. And that is an objective which is noble. It's necessary, and nobody is questioning this objective. But maybe the current situation should also make us rethink where the EU needs to invest its efforts and invest rather in productivity and construction of buildings. We need to make it quicker. We need materials to be cheaper. And I think that the European Union needs to make efforts to redefine and refocus many of the resources that they are now currently focusing on other areas. So I think this is a priority issue. And then to the experts, I'd like to say to you, in the European Union, we know that the commission is going through an audit process of legislation to see exactly where they could be placing excessive requirements and excessive regulation. So my question is when we talk about materials, have you found, have you detected any regulations or any directives, specific regulations or directives which are leading to the increased cost of materials that is unnecessary increased costs?”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. The Spanish delegation of the EPP have also tabled amendments in line with our electoral manifesto. We want to overhaul the refund amounts because I think that they're out of date. They need to be revised every five years to reflect, uh, cost of living, those traveling with children, those with reduced mobility or group passengers. Passengers that have booked in a group shouldn't be separated. Then we have to make sure that you still can go to a counter and that you can get a paper boarding pass, and that printing it at the airport isn't something you have to pay for. And we also need supervisory authorities that can impose fines and penalties. Now, when it comes to hand luggage, we know that this is quite controversial and has led to a lot of debate. Of course, we're open to discussion. We need to have some kind of harmonised approach here. And we also think that we need maximum allowed hand luggage size and weight. That's it. Thank you.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• “(10:31:44 – 10:32:40): We often talk about the barriers that still exist in the single market. This, not rules fragmentation. And 1 of the most important points for permits for construction is down to, the national authorities and local authorities. And, the issues with processes can lead to delays and, increased, restraints, which means that it's difficult to provide housing. Now what can the European Union do to ensure that we have, quicker procedures, particularly as regards the Future Construction Services Act? And then there's also a lack of qualified laborers. This is 1 of the most important challenges that we have in the construction industry in Europe. What measures are the commission considering to facilitate and recognize qualifications and improve mobility for workers in the sector, breaking down barriers, and allowing us to respond to the needs that we have in the market.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation