Urmas PAET

Policy topics Urmas PAET is active on

What Urmas PAET has said (12)

• 2026-02-12 “P-000628/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission Telegram is not designated as a very large online platform but must comply with the applicable rules of the Digital Services Act (DSA) 1 . These rules include obligations related to notice and action procedures, independent means of redress, and transparency regarding terms of service and content moderation decisions. Telegram has appointed its legal representative in Belgium; the Belgium Digital Services Coordinator (DSC) is therefore competent for the supervision and enforcement of the DSA with respect to Telegram. The Commission is in regular contact with the Belgium DSC, notably to discuss Telegram and the actions foreseen or already taken by them and assist when required. Telegram is a hybrid service consisting of online platform and non-online platform features. According to Telegram’s published information, and in contrast with WhatsApp’s published information, the users of its online platform features are below the designation threshold 2 . In light of Article 24 DSA and the ruling in Case T-348/23 3 , if a provider is able to isolate the online platform features’ users from the total number of users, then it is possible to count only the former for the purposes of the reporting obligation laid down in that provision. The Commission monitors the evolution of user numbers and takes into consideration all relevant sources of information. The Commission under Article 33(3) DSA may adopt a delegated act to supplement the provisions of the DSA by laying down the methodology for calculating the number of average monthly active recipients of online platforms and of search engines in the EU. The Commission continues to monitor the appropriateness of adopting such a delegated act. 1 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act), OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1-102. 2 https://telegram.org/tos/eu-dsa; https://www.whatsapp.com/legal/transparencyreports. 3 Judgment of 3 September 2025, Zalando v Commission, T-348/23, EU:T:2025:821.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content · Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Well, thank you very much. There is a very good film at the moment at the cinemas called Nuremberg. And unfortunately, the content of this film is also very actual these days. So my question is that where we are with legal and criminal responsibilities, what concerns Russian criminal leadership and atrocities and crimes committed during last 11 years against Ukrainians? So that here I also would like to see that European Union is much more vocal and acting systematically to reach this goal, that there will be no impunity for this kind of awful crimes. And it also brings me to this, that unfortunately, we see that more and more leaders of also even so-called democratic countries, uh, are very much together with Putin, which are so state visit of Putin to India and all this expression of huge friendship. So that in this regard also my question is that how we handle third countries who actually don't care what Putin's criminal regime has done in Ukraine and welcomes this criminal leader as well. Big and and mostly welcomed friend. Thank you.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Dear colleagues, Europe faces unprecedented strategic challenges. Our security and resilience depend not only on political will, but on the ability to make funds quickly and efficiently available for defense training and critical industries. Bureaucracy cannot slow down Europe's response to evolving threats. The amendment to the ESF provides exactly this flexibility. It allows resources to be redirected swiftly to strategic priorities, supporting defence related skills, innovation and resilience across the union. In particular, the report foresees that the security of our eastern borders should benefit from these measures. The aim is to ensure that resources are deployed where they are most needed, reinforcing Europe's preparedness and resilience in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. The credibility and security of Europe depend on making our funds work as fast and flexibly as our ambitions and needs demand. Thank you.”
  Defence spending
• “Well noted. I just have to remind that today we do not have just Foreign Affairs Committee meeting, but today we have Foreign Affairs and Budget Committee joint meeting. In this sense, it is impossible to bring in only the issues Foreign Affairs Committee wants to discuss. But your point, as I said, is well noted. So that I guess, unfortunately, of course, situation in Syria anyway will continue to be difficult. So that I am quite sure that during some of the next Foreign Affairs Committee meetings Syria situation anyway will be discussed, so that today in the agenda we only, thank you very much, have issues where both committees, I mean Foreign Affairs and Budget committee are on the same page.”
  EU competences on foreign affairs
• “Thank you for your question. And now I give over again to our budget colleagues. And of course, the European Commission can elegantly give the answers to all of your questions you had. Please.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• “Well, dear colleagues, I guess we all know the answer. And the answer is that at the moment it is impossible to say exact number because we don't know. We don't know what, for instance, Putin's regime is going to do against Moldova, how much it's going to cost for Moldova, how much it's going to cost for Europe, for for the world, so that in this sense, unfortunately, there are regimes around, including Russian, one who does not want let Moldova to decide what exactly they want or how they want to join for the EU and so on. So there is.”
  EU-Moldova relations
• “Thank you already for over eleven years, and I hardly understand why still some people speak about three and a half years of war in Ukraine. No, it's eleven years. The people of Ukraine have displayed extraordinary courage in defending their sovereignty and freedom against Russia's brutal aggression. In standing firm for their democracy and independence, Ukrainians are not only protecting their homeland, they are defending the fundamental values that define our European identity. This unwavering defense comes at an immense cost. Civilians bear the heaviest burden as Russia intensifies its systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and targets people, including women and children. The toll in human lives and suffering demands our continued commitment and, of course, also concrete support. Therefore, our response must be comprehensive. While military and political support remain imperative, we must ensure that Ukrainians receive every resource of humanitarian aid they desperately need to survive this ordeal and rebuild their lives. European Union and its member states have demonstrated solidarity, providing approximately one hundred seventy-three point five billion euros in combined humanitarian and military assistance. Beyond this, the EU has pledged an additional eighteen point one billion euros as part of the wider G7 loan package, signaling our long-term commitment. Reconstruction represents another critical pillar of our support. Current World Bank estimates place the cost at over five hundred and six billion euros, a staggering figure that reflects the scale of devastation Russia has inflicted. This is not merely about rebuilding infrastructure; it is about restoring also hope and enabling Ukraine's European future. The European Parliament has consistently advocated for the confiscation of immobilized or frozen Russian sovereign assets, insisting that Russia must pay for the destruction it has brought to Ukraine. So that, I really hope that now in December also European Council finally can make real decisions because again it is too long. We have witnessed all these discussions also between member states. It's embarrassing, I would say. So that I guess we all need urge also European Council for swift finalization of these discussions concerning using frozen assets of Russia so that justice demands that the aggressor bears the burden of reconstruction. So today here, I'm eager to hear directly from our Ukrainian counterparts and those working on the ground about Ukraine's most pressing needs and how we can most effectively fulfill them. Their voices must guide our actions as we reaffirm Europe's unwavering commitment to Ukraine's victory, recovery, and European integration and our common future.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Thank you, Mrs. Wilmers. And we continue with the next nominee. Women wage Peace and women of the sun and their Your co-founders allowed me and Reem Hajar from Israel Palestine, nominated by the S&D Group. So first as I understand will be video also from S&D Group. Yes. And then Chloe Riedel followed by Thijs Rotten. Have the floor please. **MEP [00:30:56] We because we have our kids on the stage, our kids lives on the stage. And so this is what we want to achieve for the world to know that Palestinian and Israeli women are determined to bring peace to this land. And as women, we have to be in the decision making. We have this power to do it.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much and for our first panel we have distinguished researchers who also draw on their own experience as practitioners having worked on both Africa and Europe respectively. So I'd like to introduce Doctor Rosella Marangio, Senior Analyst in the European Union Institute for Security Studies and she will talk about contrasting and reconciling African and European perspectives on continental and global challenges. And Doctor Edward Brown, Senior Director at the African Center for Economic Transformation and he will speak about diverging or converging African and European perspectives on cooperating for sustainable economic and social development. And afterwards we will bring in the EU and AU ambassadors Mister Javier Nino Perez and Jakub Mohammoud. They will and Mister Mohammoud then will join us. Mister Perez will join us from us.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)
• “Thank you for your question. And now I give over again to our budget colleagues. And of course, the European Commission can elegantly give the answers to all of your questions you had. Please.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• “Thank you very much. And as I understand also, the shadow rapporteur from renewable budget side, Anouk van Broek, wants to take the floor represented by Dan Barna. So please.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• “So as we noticed connection has been interrupted any chance to reconnect doesn't look like this well anyway thank you Doctor Brown and we proceed with His Excellency Aliyah Koop Mohammut and his African Union Ambassador to the European Union please reflections or the partnership between Europe and Africa in view of the upcoming summit please floor is yours.”
  EU policy on African region