Thomas WAITZ

Policy topics Thomas WAITZ is active on

What Thomas WAITZ has said (79)

• 2026-02-12 “E-000625/2026 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission The preparatory action PIGSTUN 1 aimed to encourage EU pig slaughterhouses using carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) at high concentration for stunning pigs to convert to more human alternatives. It delivered concrete results and proposed alternatives to enhance existing practices and mitigate welfare and operational challenges. The alternatives evaluated by PIGSTUN, as well as methods including lower CO 2 concentrations, are already included in the positive list in Annex I of EU Regulation 1099/2009 2 and are authorised for use at EU level without requiring regulatory changes. For this reason, the Commission encourages the sector to explore the use of all authorised methods at this stage. 1 https://eurcaw-pigs.eu/dossier/pigstun. 2 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1099/oj.”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers
• 2026-02-04 “Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission 22.5.2026 Written question Plants obtained by new genomic techniques (NGT) and their products can now only be imported into the EU if they meet the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) legislation’s requirements [1] . The proposed Regulation for plants obtained by certain NGTs [2] will apply equally to NGT plants and their products originating in the EU and those imported from non-EU countries. Therefore, if the proposed Regulation — as amended by the co-legislators in the provisional agreement on 3 December 2025 — is adopted, NGT plants and products would only be allowed for import if they comply with the provisions of that regulation. It also specifies Member States’ control obligations, also for imports. Operators within and outside the EU bear primary responsibility for ensuring that products placed on the EU market are compliant with EU legislation. Member States are responsible for import controls and enforcement actions, as relevant in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 [3] . Depending on the goods, they have to be controlled systematically at the first point of arrival in the EU or with appropriate frequency at an appropriate place within the customs territory of the Union. The Commission carries out audits and controls in Member States and third countries and takes action as necessary. For Category c NGT plants, Member States will be responsible for ensuring that before these plants are released or placed on the market, a decision confirming Category c NGT plant status has been taken . Official controls go beyond analytical testing and include a wide range of methods and techniques, as specified in Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. Such approaches are widely used and are particularly relevant in areas of EU law where analytical detection is limited or impossible. [1] https://food.ec.europa.eu/plants/genetically-modified-organisms/gmo-legislation_en. [2] COM(2023) 411 final. [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625.”
  New Genomic Techniques · Import of agri-food products in the EU
• 2025-11-12 “E-004483/2025 Answer given by Mr Hansen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has completed satisfactorily both the transposition check and conformity check for the unfair trading practices (UTP) Directive 1 in Austria. It has also published a report on the implementation of the UTP Directive in Member States 2 . Under the UTP Directive, the monitoring and enforcement of the rules are entrusted to national enforcement authorities. In Austria these are the ‘Fairness-Büro’ and the ‘Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde’. The Commission, together with Member States and their national competition authorities, pays close attention to behaviours risking impairing effective competition. EU competition rules, including their exceptions provided for by the Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation 3 for producer organisations, are enforced to maintain a level playing field, prevent abuses of dominance, and ensure that markets remain fair, dynamic and beneficial for consumers. To strengthen the position of farmers, the Commission has proposed in a targeted amendment to the CMO Regulation 4 , several measures, including mandatory written contracts and reinforced cooperation of farmers in producer organisations. To increase transparency concerning the transmission of remuneration for added value in the agri-food chain, the Commission has established an EU Agri-food chain observatory. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52024PC0576. 2 Implementing the prohibition of unfair trading practices to strengthen the position of farmers and operators in the agricultural and food supply chain – State of play, COM(2024)176 final. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1308/oj/eng. 4 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2021/2115 and (EU) 2021/2116 as regards the strengthening of the position of farmers in the food supply chain - COM(2024) 577 final.”
  EU policy on farmer–buyer relations in the agri-food supply chain
• 2025-04-23 “E-001617/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The Commission monitors the application of the Family Reunification Directive 1 by all Member States, including Austria. The Commission is aware of the new legislation in Austria. The measures provided for in the new legislation require the adoption of a governmental decree, which was adopted on 1 July 2025. The Commission is analysing the legislation including the decree. In view of the evolving situation and pending a thorough analysis, the Commission has not yet replied to the letter from the Austrian Federal Minister for the Interior. 1 Council Directive 2003/86/EC of 22 September 2003 on the right to family reunification, OJ L 251, 3.10.2003, p. 12–18.”
  Legal migration · Asylum & border control
• 2024-11-19 “P-002586/2024 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission When a third country rejects ungulates originating from the Union, the ungulates may only reenter the Union if they meet the animal health requirements laid down in Article 178 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 1 . According to this provision, the third country rejecting the animals must be a third country listed for entry into the Union of the species of animals which are returning in the relevant Annexes to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 2 . Due to the animal disease situation which could represent a serious danger for the Union in the event of an epidemic, only eight countries are currently listed in particular in Annex II (for ungulates other than equine animals and ungulates intended for confined establishments) to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (Canada, Chile, Greenland, Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States). None of the countries mentioned by the Honourable Member are included in this list. The measures to be taken for animals re-entering the Union from non-authorised third countries are provided for in Article 66(3) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 3 . 1 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 379). 2 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 of 24 March 2021 laying down the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof from which the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council. 3 Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation).”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers
• “So this is, uh, there's a need to fulfill this requirement to add additional, uh, minorities communities that are present in the country to the Constitution. And this is also in the light of, I would say, a successful story of the country where inclusion and power sharing with, uh, different ethnic groups in the country's majorities constitute constituting people's minorities, is a main ingredient of a peaceful development and positive development of the country as such. It's a very high value, especially if you know the history of the region that the country managed and still manages to to, uh, share governance and share power. This is one, I think, of the magic ingredients, uh, for the country to move on. Um, but also coming back to rule of law. The country urgently needs also foreign investments for the economical development in many fields. Clearly also in the field of energy transition of investments into renewable energy to get out of fossil fuels. Still, a big part of the energy demand is served by fossil fuel, which creates a massive pollution problems. Um, but the rule of law mainly also important for, uh, foreign investments. This is the main ingredient to attract investors that you have clear legal certainty. Um, coming back to environment, there is progress when it comes to waste management. Uh, well, still a lot to do if you know the country on waste, waste, water management, some progress.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Thank you, Chair. I would like to welcome you as well. Mr. Kritz here to our committee. We're glad to hear from you. Once again. I've got a few very specific questions. First of all, has there been any new information about the spreading of different bluetongue or lumpy skin diseases or others via animal transport? I know that you've carried out such studies in the past, so I'd like to know whether or not there's any new knowledge about dissemination of those illnesses, and secondly, about import of food from third states, with or without any sort of free trade agreement. Could you say to me whether or not there's some sort of threshold for those pesticides that are illegal in Europe, and whether or not there is a threshold of recognition, or in what way do you measure whether or not those thresholds are being, uh, taken into account or not? So we can see that there are some imported goods that, uh, have, uh, pesticides that contain pesticides that are forbidden in the European Union and very, very properly so. Third question has about past experiences or changes in the past. Actually, in our, um, we have a committee where we've talked about the practices for admitting certain pesticides, and there's changes about the fact in the past there were certain studies that were carried out by different companies.”
  Pesticides & trade
• “Thank you for your presentation. And we will now do a round of shadow rapporteurs. Um, some will be replaced. I think the first one, our colleague Giacomo who is still blocked, uh, is replaced. I was informed by Madam Grapini. Please. Madam.”
  EU political integration
• “Still a lot to do. Uh, so colleagues, we tried to and I tried to, uh, prepare a well-balanced report that touches upon the important topics. We will go into negotiations after I've seen your amendments. Please come forward with all the amendments that you want to see reflected in the report, and I'm looking forward to a constructive debate with with the shadow rapporteurs and constructive work to come up with a common proposal that can find a strong majority, a strong pro-European majority here in the committee and then later in plenary, so we can do our best to support the country, to move on on its path towards European Union. As mentioned by the chair. Uh, the the application is more than 20 years old. Uh, and I think it's time to move on. We're also pointing out that this is a huge window of opportunity in the moment for the whole region, but specifically also for North Macedonia, uh, to move on to EU accession. There is There's green light as much as I see from council, from commission here in the European Parliament, there's great support. So there's a real window of opportunity. And I very much hope North Macedonian government is not missing that opportunity. Uh, so let's try to work on it to contribute to it. And I'm looking forward to constructive debates and constructive result. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “This is a very good sign in practice beyond legislation. And exactly, uh, it is true what other speakers said. The law must be applied to every citizen in the same way. Uh, and it's a very good sign. Also, that spark has the independence and the backing, uh, to also go against, uh, um, perceived or, potential corruption cases also on the high level. Um, we also have to acknowledge 100% alignment with CFSP. So with our foreign and security policy, which is, I think, extremely important in the in these times today. And I think we should mention it once again and again, uh, because this is a very important, uh, support of our common European standpoints. Uh, yes. We still need to see more, um, inclusion, uh, when it comes to civil society, but also academia, uh, when it comes to feedback on legislation, on scrutiny processes, there will be some amendments from our side. Also regarding chapter 27 environment, there will be amendments because this country has amazing and fantastic natural resources, natural heritage, which has also huge economical potential if it's dealt with sensitivity and if it's dealt with a medium and long term perspective. So what we unfortunately see in some areas that long term interest is sacrificed for short term economic benefits. Also, there will be few amendments from our side. But in general, again, a big thank you to the rapporteur and to the good negotiations that were held and will will be constructively trying to improve the text with a few amendments from our side. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “Also, when it comes to media freedom or let's say, to transparency in terms of media ownership, but also foreign influence, fake news, there's a lot of work to do. But we see institutions, uh, stepping up their efforts in this direction when it comes to rule of law reforms. There's still a lot on the table to be done. Unfortunately, the progress that we've seen in the last year was not so substantial. Might also be related to another election year. Um, very positive to mention that there will be no elections in the upcoming year. At least this has been announced by the government, and also the year has been called the Year of Reforms. And not just when it comes to closing chapters or starting negotiating chapters first, but moving towards potentially fulfilling criteria to be able to close chapters at a certain point when it comes to rule of law reforms. Beyond that request and need, also the needed reforms are needed for the reform agenda. Um, the country has to massively, uh, step up their efforts to meet the goals until June. Uh, it's it's about actually €47 million budget support that are at stake and will go to other countries in the region if the needed reforms are not done until June. Uh, so also this uh, is mentioned, uh, constitutional amendment. Uh, it is very clear that the rights of minorities for cultural expression, And self determination are part of our European aqui and therefore part of the negotiating framework and the Council conclusions.”
  EU enlargement
• “And through taxation, we can favor the energy friendly, you know, the climate friendly ways of producing energies and give a better market access to the production of energy that is climate friendly or even creating negative emissions. And on top of that, many of our farms have a lot of empty roofs that can be filled with solar energy. We can use solar energy in apple plantations, fruit plantations. We can use solar energy even on landscape, especially in drought areas. In dry areas, it can even have a positive effect on, on, on the um, on on the agricultural usability and also the biosphere. So these are very good examples, how we can use agriculture and support our farmers in becoming energy producers by giving them an advantage for the climate friendly energy production. And this is what we have to ensure also via taxation. And I see a lot of things that we have in common, maybe in details. We still need to negotiate. There will be several amendments, but I want to thank for the good cooperation and looking forward to work on this report. Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “(09:32:03 – 09:35:13): Yes. Thank you, chair, and good morning, colleagues. And, I mean, once again, surprise, surprise, our colleagues from the committee of regions, so the ones that are out there in the regions come with the same feedback as many of us here. We are in a situation that is pretty hard to explain to farmers that we, intend to cut the funding, that we intend not to, repay the losses due to inflation. I just, last week had a big big meeting with farmers where they were you know, they were asking how how are we doing our math here in the European Union. They they're telling me, look. I mean, we have to we we have to pay the prices that have risen through inflation. We're not outside of the usual economic cycles. So this feedback also comes from the committee of region, and, I think it's very important to have it here, that that it's pretty hard to explain to farmers how we can put them in the difficult situation with international trade and at the same time, cut the support towards them, especially in times of climate crisis and weather extremes. This is not explainable in the region, and I think all of you will be in troubles explaining this to our farmers, back, in our home countries, especially in the circumstances of nearly doubling EU budgets. So we have doubled the money, but farmers get less. Okay. That's that's, hard to explain. The second thing is, again and and that's quite interesting here that even colleagues that usually call for, you know, national rules and and renationalization. When it comes to agriculture, everybody here understands that if we have different funding schemes and different support schemes in different national context, that this is going to lead to massive market distortion. And this is going to lead to to a to a competition, and the spiral that goes downwards when it comes to to to price prices. When it comes to producers' organizations, this the support of 2 of producers' organizations is key. Also cross national, boundaries because, producers organizations are, I would say, the most effective tool to somehow counter the market power, of the big up buyers and big retailers. And and and there I mean, anyway, we should look into some cartel legislation when it comes to, processing, but especially to retailers. So supporting producers organizations is key to ensure fair prices for farmers. Also quite interesting that the committee of region is also supporting, the the call to cover the costs of production, which, I mean, somehow, this is a no brainer. I mean, who can produce under production costs for a longer period of time? And it also leads to the reality that farmers start to really calculate in detail whether the 1 or the other production scheme is still, you know, paying off at the end of the year. This is is also a very important development. I mean, look at the Spanish example. I think it's a good example to see how this can actually drive drive a better and fairer market share of of the produce. And I leave out the point on school schemes and leave this to my colleague, Anna Stromberg. Thank you.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you very much. There is also simplification for organic farms. And they if they're an official organic farm, they'll automatically be recognized as complying with all the environmental rules. Now this is the best controls we have of any food. And we don't need to, uh, change that again and again in the future. We won't have to have all these checks, and organic certificate will be enough. This is very, uh, welcome. And this is a real added value for organic farmers and for smaller businesses, too. They get simplification. This is really positive for the rural area, for, uh, diversity in our rural areas, for families. It's very important for small farms to be able to, uh, survive up to 3000 for smaller farms. And we are not seeing any cuts in our environmental standards as, uh, the EPP and the far right wanted. Fortunately, there are people, uh, in Parliament, such as, uh, Mr. Rodriguez, our rapporteur and in the council who still want to make sensible policies. And that is very good. Now, there is some, uh, weakening when it comes to the grasslands, but it is generally quite a pragmatic, uh, there'll be, uh, less controls for farms under 30, uh, hectares. Um, we will also, uh, see measures to reduce pesticides, improve soil quality, reduce erosion. Uh, these are valuable techniques that are, um, we've been using for decades. I think it is important that this is done also, the social conditionality, which is, uh, very positive. Uh, it should be something that's evident, but it's written down now. So thank you to the rapporteur and to the colleagues. This is a very sensible package. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you, Chair. I would like to welcome you as well. Mr. Kritz here to our committee. We're glad to hear from you. Once again. I've got a few very specific questions. First of all, has there been any new information about the spreading of different bluetongue or lumpy skin diseases or others via animal transport? I know that you've carried out such studies in the past, so I'd like to know whether or not there's any new knowledge about dissemination of those illnesses, and secondly, about import of food from third states, with or without any sort of free trade agreement. Could you say to me whether or not there's some sort of threshold for those pesticides that are illegal in Europe, and whether or not there is a threshold of recognition, or in what way do you measure whether or not those thresholds are being, uh, taken into account or not? So we can see that there are some imported goods that, uh, have, uh, pesticides that contain pesticides that are forbidden in the European Union and very, very properly so. Third question has about past experiences or changes in the past. Actually, in our, um, we have a committee where we've talked about the practices for admitting certain pesticides, and there's changes about the fact in the past there were certain studies that were carried out by different companies.”
  Import of agri-food products in the EU
• “We need incentives for farmers and access to incentives for farmers if they want to go further. When it comes to climate, when it comes to animal welfare, when it comes to biodiversity, can we secure that from the European side? Well, if we leave it to national governments, we cannot secure it. So in this context, there is two possible solutions for that dilemma. Either we get back the whole cap fund and we get back the second pillar to to make a meaningful legislation that also builds on what we have been building in the last years, or we have a decisive ring fencing in the national and regional partnership plans that clearly ring fence, the money for the farms so farmers can plan. Farmers can rely on the promises that we're giving them, and farmers are not dependent on the one or the other government that may decide in their favour or may not decide in their favour. I hope you listen to what comes from here. Agri Committee. We are very much aligned on the majority of these points. Thank you very much.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. Commissioner, have you been listening to the family farmers on both sides of the Atlantic that urge us not to sign this trade agreement? Or have you been listening to the big landowning oligarchs that are teaming up with the agrochemical multinationals that run thousands of hectares, big farms spreading pesticides that are banned in Europe with airplanes? Have you been listening to the indigenous communities and quilombo communities that came all the way to Brussels to report about their poisoned rivers, their poisoned wells, their burned down forests, the deforestation and the attacks on them? Have you been listening to the labor organization that report about child labor, about forced labor, about in very high numbers? Yes. We need to increase our cooperation with Mercosur. Yes, we need to increase our cooperation with democracies. But as it stands, this trade agreement in my point of view, is not fit for purpose. We still need to work on that and need to improve it. As it stands, this trade deal is toxic for the planet and the people. Thank you very much.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “Thank you David. Thank you chair, and thanks all the colleagues that are here today in the Foreign Policy Committee to discuss this report. At least the first proposal. Let me start with some positive notes. Um, we we we have been clearly pointing out the progress that has happened on the corridor eight and ten. Uh, it's a very important strategic link from the east to the west, from the south to the north, which is key not just for the country itself, but for the security of all our European Union. There is a clear progress there also. The CFSP alignment needs to be mentioned once again, and also the quite substantial support the country has been giving and is still giving to Ukraine to help Ukraine soldiers and citizens to defend themselves against the illegal aggression and invasion of Russian troops. Um, thank you also for mentioning Sepa. Uh, the inclusion of the country into the Sepa region is a major success. That is also felt by citizens, uh, because many citizens, as from many Balkan countries, um, are working abroad at least part time. Uh, and uh, this is a step forward that is felt by citizens in their daily life saves a lot of money for for the Macedonian population. Uh, still good. Uh ah ah ah. The, um, assessments when it comes to media freedom, but also, uh, when it comes to the room of civil society. Uh, so it's still good compared to other countries in the region, but we see a slightly shrinking space, uh, both for independent media and for civil society.”
  EU relations with Western Balkans
• “Thank you, madam cunning. And that leads us back to the author of the study. Just to remind you, questions were what have some states done best or different. What about access to advisory services, access to land, access to finances? The whole income question. Uh, then all the, let's say, uh, well, sick leave, uh, holidays, weekends, uh, all, all these chapters, but then also cofinancing of member states. There were several questions into this direction. Predictability is a main question. What does the aggressivity and capping potentially play a role already? Also questions on ring fenced budget, but that goes more towards the commission. Also, the question on organic farming and young farmers gender questions on how to support women raised expectations that we might not be able to fulfil. I think it's an important one and expenditure indicators and transparency. I saw you all taking notes, but I just wanted to repeat some of the key points. So we get good answers from your side. So I hand back to colleague Münch. You have another ten minutes please.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “(15:31:05 – 15:33:36): Thank you, Chair, and a big thanks to the authors. Let me start with Madame Deloche. I don't know. I mean, I'm the green guy. You were attacking and you're constantly attacking. I'm sitting here in an Austrian wool jacket made from Austrian wool in Austria, stitched in Austria. That's what greens advocate for. So I'm very much in favor of using wool and dressing with wool, and I would recommend to all of you to do it alike. Secondly, on biomass, and on biogas. Well, sounds nice, but we need to look into details. Biogas is a very good option when you further ferment manure. It stinks less. It's more available as a fertilizer to plants and so on. But if we are only producing energy from that biogas, that's not really a meaningful way of using it because burning it in an engine is not really most energy effective. Do you have numbers on that? Did you look into details? Because we need the gas actually to replace fossil gas. That's where we need the biogas in the future and not burning it for energy. The cheapest form of energy, Kolek Buddha, is from classical renewable energies. The gas we need to replace is fossil gas for some industrial processes. And biogas only makes sense if you also use the heat because 65% of the energy that comes out from biogas comes in the form of heat, and only 35% comes in form of energy that you can produce from it. So did you look into details? Also details when it comes to waste. You say waste in agriculture. There's no waste in agriculture. We don't have waste. So if you use side products like straw and other side products from cropping, normally, we use that to actually fertilize the ground. So if you take it away to produce bioplastics and other stuff and then replace the fertilizing effect by artificial fertilizers, well, we need to do the math. And there, again, the math doesn't work. It's better to actually use the side streams of what we produce in agriculture to fertilize the ground and replace artificial fertilizers in the first place. And I have the impression that we're selling the biomass five times. Once for biofuels, once for bioplastic, once for energy, and so on and so forth. It's not new. We farmers, we produce energies for centuries. But did you do the math, the overall math? How much biomass do we have in the European Union, and how much is left over after construction, after fertilizing the ground? And did you do the calculation actually about the actual potential that we have from biomass to replace fossil fuels? Thank you.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “I can cut my intervention short, as my colleague has covered several points already. But just to make it very clear, how big is the uptake of the people you're training. So how many people, what is the quota of people that you can actually allocate jobs or help to find to find jobs? And how is the rate of people then maintaining these jobs. So staying in employment. And the third question beyond agriculture money, may it be rural development or whatever, agriculture money, is there a general income support for people with disabilities overall in any sectors provided by the Belgian government? Thank you.”
  EU policy on disability inclusion & accessibility
• “Thank you. Good morning. Good morning. Colleagues. Um, um, well, let me first say, I mean, I'm a professional beekeeper, and I can tell you that it's getting more and more difficult to run this kind of business because of climate extremes. We're having early springs, we're having late frosts. We're having weeks and weeks and weeks of rain followed by droughts. It is more and more difficult. I have years where I have to fother my bees in May, when you usually harvest honey, and I have years where I don't know where all that honey is coming from, because specialized species are suddenly spreading all over the forest, which were not there a few years ago. So this comes as a basic problem for beekeepers, and that's the main reason why there is such a decline of beekeepers on top of pesticides. I don't know. You said we have a decline in sales. Do you mean the amount of tons? Because for beekeepers, it's not relevant how many tons of pesticides are sold, but what kind of pesticides are applied and not just what kind, but also at what day time they are applied and with what techniques they are applied. There are some colleagues here. So so it's also about the consciousness, how you use these pesticides and how you do that in a way that you don't harm your beekeepers and also your natural pollinators and colleagues. I mean, I'm sorry, now, today everybody is in favor of bees.”
  EU policy on pesticides
• “: And the same is regarding investment support. This is something that new farmers also need a lot. Yes. As you said, there are more innovative. They come up with new ideas sometimes with very, uh, positive and uh, and, uh, functional ideas. But every new idea on the farm needs investment and it needs a long term perspective. So it needs access to investment, not just loans but also investment support. And we need to make sure that we don't change the rules every two years, because usually investments in agriculture are done for 20, 25 or 30 years at least. And just a very last point when it comes to public procurement, we just had this mission to Brazil and there would be a lot of things to report. But one thing I found very positive is that there is a state policy for up buying produce from small farmers, especially for the for the school schemes. And that's a very important support for the small farmers there. While small farmers, according to Brazil, we are all small farmers here. But but you know this the question on public procurement rules that really support our European farmers. Can you give us some information where we stand there? Thank you.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you chair, and thank you all for coming once again to the committee. And I want to thank you for many years of work together, sometimes very fruitful cooperation, sometimes some bumpy discussions. But I want to thank you for always engaging with factual arguments, with science based arguments and always being open to actually standard discussion and face the different arguments that we were bringing. So thank you very much for all these years. It has it has been nearly eight years of, of of us working together, a very concrete, two very concrete questions when it comes to residues of banned pesticides. So pesticides that are banned within the European Union on imported goods. Obviously there is two different interpretations of legislation. One interpretation is that banned pesticides can just not be on imported goods. And if there is banned pesticides and imported goods, they just cannot be imported. And there's the second interpretation, which says, well, there can still be a level of maximum residues which is aligned to some international standards which are much less severe than the European ones. Maybe you can give us a bit of an insight where we stand with this today, and the current debate here in Parliament will very much focus in the next weeks around the question of biocontrol and, and I cite, uh, kind of, uh, Herbert Dorfman, if we have to develop alternatives for farmers, uh, for, for combating new pests also with minor toxic substances or non-toxic substances.”
  Maximum residue levels
• “Thank you, chair, and thank you, colleagues, shadow rapporteurs, but also the chair of the delegation, But also a thank you to our own secretariat here in Parliament, but also DG and uh, External Action Service for the good cooperation. Uh, it needs many, uh, efforts and many sides to help, um, when it comes to diplomacy, but also when it comes to capacity, when it comes to supporting the country and its ability to actually, um, deliver proper legislation but also implement legislation, uh, it needs many, uh, helping hands to bring the country forward. But I thank you all for our common understanding, uh, that, uh, bring moving the country forward, helping the country to move forward towards accession is not just in the interest of the country itself, but in the interest of all of us, uh, on different aspects. So, uh, we have a common, uh, common goal. And, uh, I hope we can channel this into a common effort to draft a good report together in a constructive, constructive atmosphere and in a constructive spirit. I thank you all for your contributions, and I'm looking forward to your amendments, and then to the negotiations and to the cooperation to draft a good and balanced and helpful report. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you. Chair and I share many concerns that colleagues have raised already. But I found one thing very interesting in your presentation. From the side of the commission, you basically admitted that you're doing nothing else than repeating the already implemented safeguard clauses of the free trade agreement, and now making assuring us a bit more about the curiosity of those by copying them into an implementing act that we're debating here. So there's nothing additional that you're actually proposing. And you kind of seem to think that we will just accept the proposal as you have proposed it. You don't even seem to be prepared to have negotiations to strengthen the safeguard clauses in some areas. We've heard already, due to the cumulative effects that you're asking the damage on the market is being done, and years afterwards, months after the damage has actually been done, the commission might think about doing some safeguard clauses triggering some safeguard clauses. Also the market. I mean 10% less of value. We have much bigger differences within the European Union between different regions. So will you take a statistic medium. And this might mean that the market is damaged for some regions already when you even start thinking about additional safeguard clause measurements.”
  Free trade agreements (FTAs)
• “This is a very good sign in practice beyond legislation. And exactly, uh, it is true what other speakers said. The law must be applied to every citizen in the same way. Uh, and it's a very good sign. Also, that spark has the independence and the backing, uh, to also go against, uh, um, perceived or, potential corruption cases also on the high level. Um, we also have to acknowledge 100% alignment with CFSP. So with our foreign and security policy, which is, I think, extremely important in the in these times today. And I think we should mention it once again and again, uh, because this is a very important, uh, support of our common European standpoints. Uh, yes. We still need to see more, um, inclusion, uh, when it comes to civil society, but also academia, uh, when it comes to feedback on legislation, on scrutiny processes, there will be some amendments from our side. Also regarding chapter 27 environment, there will be amendments because this country has amazing and fantastic natural resources, natural heritage, which has also huge economical potential if it's dealt with sensitivity and if it's dealt with a medium and long term perspective. So what we unfortunately see in some areas that long term interest is sacrificed for short term economic benefits. Also, there will be few amendments from our side. But in general, again, a big thank you to the rapporteur and to the good negotiations that were held and will will be constructively trying to improve the text with a few amendments from our side. Thank you very much.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Thank you chair. And thank you, Minister, for passing by here in agri. First of all I think Cyprus I'm here this side. Yes. Um, first of all, I think Cyprus is well suited to guide the European Union through this difficult times, as you have certain experience with Geostrategically difficult situation and to uphold European values in such difficult situations. You see that we're all very much concerned about the new architecture. And my question is, will you enable a discussion also in the council? Because, I mean, here in Parliament, I hear actually actually nearly everybody being quite skeptical about the new structure and the single fund and what that does to the Common Agricultural Policy. But I also hear that these discussions are not happening in the council. Really. There's a lot of debate how we share this cake of budget, but this budget does not even exist yet. And I hear from several member states that they are not really keen to follow the proposals of the Commission when it comes to, you know, serving the budget as such. But also, you know, we are all concerned about what that single fund will do to rural development, what it will do to the support to farmers when it comes to climate and environment and animal welfare, and what it will do or what we will miss in terms of rural development, which goes beyond agriculture only, which is a much bigger topic.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Chair. The Commission has been reading out a prepared statement that has not answered a single question on the ICJ court ruling and the fulfilling. And this question has been asked in different ways by every single member of this room here. Can we please change the format to a, you know, ping pong? Because, you know, this is just ridiculously, uh, disrespectful to this committee.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you chair and thank you for the good cooperation. First of all I'm in Biostimulants have the potential to replace or reduce the amount of toxic or more toxic substances in agriculture. And that's a huge potential, not just for environment but also for the costs that farmers have. And I just want to remind all of you that many of these biostimulants are substances that are minor, toxic or non-toxic, are originating from organic agriculture, and are today used by many more farmers across the whole sector. And many of these substances that are being used in organic agriculture have been used now need to go into this permission process, which will will contribute to the safety. But also we need to ensure that there's quick, quick processes of of registration. So, so these substances can be still used. Ongoingly. Microorganisms are one of the very good examples where we can really develop a lot of new science and new practice in the field that are super helpful if it comes to fermentation of manure or the impacts on soil and so on. When it comes to fertilizers. Yes. I mean, we also have to look into our phosphorus cycle, and yes, we have to look into, you know, sharing the, the, the potential fertilizers that we have across the European Union. Still, we need to be aware that we are dealing with antibiotics that may remain in, in the manure about heavy metals, hormones. So we really need to ensure that all ways of, let's say, you know more developed production schemes of, of of of organic fertilizers to be spread into areas which mainly do cropping and have no animals anymore are really safe. Safe for the health, safe for the animals, and also safe for the environment. And this is a very important topic for me and my group. I hope this is taken into account well, but I thank you for the cooperation.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “Thank you, chair, and thank you, colleagues, shadow rapporteurs, but also the chair of the delegation, But also a thank you to our own secretariat here in Parliament, but also DG and uh, External Action Service for the good cooperation. Uh, it needs many, uh, efforts and many sides to help, um, when it comes to diplomacy, but also when it comes to capacity, when it comes to supporting the country and its ability to actually, um, deliver proper legislation but also implement legislation, uh, it needs many, uh, helping hands to bring the country forward. But I thank you all for our common understanding, uh, that, uh, bring moving the country forward, helping the country to move forward towards accession is not just in the interest of the country itself, but in the interest of all of us, uh, on different aspects. So, uh, we have a common, uh, common goal. And, uh, I hope we can channel this into a common effort to draft a good report together in a constructive, constructive atmosphere and in a constructive spirit. I thank you all for your contributions, and I'm looking forward to your amendments, and then to the negotiations and to the cooperation to draft a good and balanced and helpful report. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “President. Commissioner. Every day we are losing 800 farms in the European Union. I'm glad that we have this proposal now that we're going to simplify the reporting requirements for farms of less than ten hectares. That is something that will then support small farms. I'm also very pleased to see that organic farms can be considered as green by definition, that they will be automatically recognised. Organic farms are the ones that are the most regulated in the European Union, and they fulfil all the criteria. But now let's come on to the critical point. We are then getting rid of some greening measures in the cap. We're having single crops. We're getting rid of the buffer zones. We can use pesticides right up to the water courses. We can use phosphates. That means that those water courses are dead. What about the grasslands? We need to make sure that they are dealt with as best possible for the environment. And and the list goes on. Now you have your new allies in the right and the far right, and you are you're getting rid of one environmental measure after the other. Then we say we all love the beans bees, but we don't then want to then put in place the right measures. All of this is just from a technical point of view, wrong. If we want to support farmers in the supply chain, then of course with with contracts. But with these veggie burger amendments, you're you're just distracting everyone. Do you think people are stupid when they go to the supermarket and they can't tell the difference between a vegetarian product and some meat, then really stop with that because the food specialists are telling us we should be eating less meat and you have to then stop boycotting those vegan and vegetarian products which are also produced by farmers. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you David. Thank you chair, and thanks all the colleagues that are here today in the Foreign Policy Committee to discuss this report. At least the first proposal. Let me start with some positive notes. Um, we we we have been clearly pointing out the progress that has happened on the corridor eight and ten. Uh, it's a very important strategic link from the east to the west, from the south to the north, which is key not just for the country itself, but for the security of all our European Union. There is a clear progress there also. The CFSP alignment needs to be mentioned once again, and also the quite substantial support the country has been giving and is still giving to Ukraine to help Ukraine soldiers and citizens to defend themselves against the illegal aggression and invasion of Russian troops. Um, thank you also for mentioning Sepa. Uh, the inclusion of the country into the Sepa region is a major success. That is also felt by citizens, uh, because many citizens, as from many Balkan countries, um, are working abroad at least part time. Uh, and uh, this is a step forward that is felt by citizens in their daily life saves a lot of money for for the Macedonian population. Uh, still good. Uh ah ah ah. The, um, assessments when it comes to media freedom, but also, uh, when it comes to the room of civil society. Uh, so it's still good compared to other countries in the region, but we see a slightly shrinking space, uh, both for independent media and for civil society.”
  EU enlargement
• “But also we need to look into possibilities to even then not plow, but to rather inter soar or zip in leguminous into the culture to to raise the protein content of the fodder that we harvest. So we need to see some flexibility there. So we welcome this. We are strongly, um, opposing to expand the 5% tolerance when it comes to plowing permanent pasture or permanent Greenland. We're proposing to extend it to 10%. This would be really a lot. The 5% give enough flexibility for us. But one point I want to really say, Jake, for on buffer strips along watercourses. I really think we have to keep them colleagues. I mean, I know we have different opinions on glyphosate when it comes to soil, okay. But when it comes to aquatic ecosystems, glyphosate is highly, highly toxic. It's the death of the river. If glyphosate comes into the water and there's no scientific debate about that, that's just a fact. And we have to prevent that. So let's keep the buffer strips and we will fight for this amendment. Overall, I think it's a good proposal. Let's see if we can find some unity on this. Thank you.”
  Glyphosate
• “An example for fake news. Greens are standing up for a sustainable forestry. For forestry that does not destroy the soil that is sustainably. Providing us is resilient in times of climate crisis. And sorry colleague, you are very much advocating for the monoculture strategies of the past and sorry to say, to produce grains with artificial fertilizers, with pesticides, with tractors, with the work of our farmers, and then pouring all of this into our tanks of combustion engines with 35% energy use. This is this calculation doesn't work. And sorry to say, I just find it immoral to put food that we can eat into our tanks instead of electrifying our cars. This is not a strategy for the future.”
  Biofuels (RED II)
• “So good Monday colleagues. First of all. Surprise, surprise. Um, the reason why I'm sitting here today is because our chair, uh, madame, she's in Cyprus, uh, defending our interests, uh, at the council. Uh, second, our vice president Buddha needs to go to jury just in a minute. Uh, so he asked me to take over. Then our second vice chair, Sergio Como, is blocked because a bomb threat in Paris. Uh, and so on and so forth. And then Secretariat asked after age and also our colleagues. Dorfman is not here in the House yet. So it came to me as I'm serving since 2017. So first surprise of the day, I will chair the first point until our colleague Lins joins us, uh, to this session. But we said we need to go on. And so I take the honor, uh, please allow me to do that for the first bullet point. So first of all, adoption of the agenda. Is there any, uh, proposals or additions? Is the agenda so far? Okay, so I deem it adopted then. There's some chairs announcements. First of all, today's meeting is web streamed. Like always, we have interpreters in the following 19 languages as German, English, French, Italian, Netherlands is Spanish, it's Portuguese, it's Finnish, it's Swedish. Uh, it's uh, Latvian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovakian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Hungarian. I left out one now where I didn't know what the short, short letters mean, but we have nearly all languages.”
  Multilingualism in EU institutions
• “Thank you chair. And first of all, big thanks to the Court of Auditors. Your reports are always welcome, no matter whether they support our position or they do not. And I can also well build on the intervention of colleague Linz. Um, yes. We fear renationalisation. We fear market distortion. We fear that monitoring and tracing and controls are getting really difficult. And, you know, the overwhelming, uh, amount of farmers, but also institutions are honest and deal straight with the, with the money. And we need the control mechanisms to make sure that fraud and misuse is detected and stopped, because otherwise it's undermining the image of the whole sector. And also the second pillar, that is something that we will miss. Look, we have 2600 leader regions. Leader projects are the projects that enable regional value chains that enable cooperation between farmers, processors, farmers and tourists, farmers and direct marketing schemes. This is one of the very few instruments where European Union is being felt by local citizens, where citizens can participate in decision making processes. Where European Union becomes obvious and seen and respected for what we do for the regions. And you really want to leave that to the national governments, whether they want to continue it or they do not want to continue it.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Dear chair, commissioner, colleagues, me, as an Austrian, I am once again reminded into the darkest times of the last century. Once again, Christian Democrats and conservatives are allowing extreme rights to take power. And this very moment, there is negotiations still going on about making the extreme right leader of Austrian FPO, the chancellor of one of our European states, and they are doing it even knowing what the demands of FPO are. You know what the demands are. Did you read into it? They're saying politics should prevail over justice and Austrian justice should prevail over European justice. This means destroying the European Union through the back door. This is questioning the main values and principles of our European Union is built on. And this is questioning the prosperity and the their economic unity of our European Union. And unfortunately, parts of the European People's Party are getting complicit in doing this and becoming complicit in weakening our European Union, especially in these times. I think this is extremely dangerous. So turn around. Remind yourself that you once have been one of the founders of this European Union, and stop destroying it. Thank you.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Also, when it comes to media freedom or let's say, to transparency in terms of media ownership, but also foreign influence, fake news, there's a lot of work to do. But we see institutions, uh, stepping up their efforts in this direction when it comes to rule of law reforms. There's still a lot on the table to be done. Unfortunately, the progress that we've seen in the last year was not so substantial. Might also be related to another election year. Um, very positive to mention that there will be no elections in the upcoming year. At least this has been announced by the government, and also the year has been called the Year of Reforms. And not just when it comes to closing chapters or starting negotiating chapters first, but moving towards potentially fulfilling criteria to be able to close chapters at a certain point when it comes to rule of law reforms. Beyond that request and need, also the needed reforms are needed for the reform agenda. Um, the country has to massively, uh, step up their efforts to meet the goals until June. Uh, it's it's about actually €47 million budget support that are at stake and will go to other countries in the region if the needed reforms are not done until June. Uh, so also this uh, is mentioned, uh, constitutional amendment. Uh, it is very clear that the rights of minorities for cultural expression, And self determination are part of our European aqui and therefore part of the negotiating framework and the Council conclusions.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you, Mr. Schulz. Just mentioning you didn't touch upon one point too much. And this is the question of retirement and the ability of farmers, female or male, to live a life in dignity after they have retired. Uh, because that's also a point that is touching the proposal for the next Common Agricultural policy. But I want to hand over now to the person that is our rapporteur and most competent in this issue. Uh, please, colleague Maria Walsh, take the floor for four minutes.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you chair, and thank you, Commissioner, for coming here. But the MFF hasn't been decided yet. It still needs a majority in the Parliament, so you can't just take it for granted now. Thank you. Also that you say that the current proposal is based on the old one and on the currently current rules, and that's a guarantee for the commonality of the cap. But I would remind you that we already have a renationalisation in the current cap, and now we're going further down the road of renationalisation. And how can you ensure that the money will only go to the places where the member states want. But we'll also go to the mountainous regions for the disadvantaged regions, the permafrost regions. So I think it's welcome that you have a transition measure for transition to organic products. But how can you ensure that the member states will offer that to their farmers? So when you have all these national plans and a lot of discretion for the member states, how can you ensure that the environment and the climate and the. Other measures will be taken into account? I congratulate you on the Aggressivity. I wish you the best. All the best with the negotiations and then world development. These measures were there for to invest in agricultural related areas. Now you're talking about investing in roads and infrastructure too. But agricultural development has helped us in the direct marketing, in indirect production in the production of, uh. Circuits which have ensured a lot of jobs in rural areas. How can you ensure that we'll still have those funds available for the small and medium sized investments, rather than big road projects or similar infrastructure?”
  Agricultural funding
• “(16:59:38 – 17:01:56): Chair and Director General, welcome. Just a quick reply to my colleague there on the right of the house here. Don't know whether you listen to yourself, but you're talking about the sovereign production of fertilizers in Europe. I agree with that. But at the same time, CBAM, which protects our industry against unfair competition, you want to get rid of it. It doesn't work together, but I fully support the proposal from our colleague, Daftmann, for the introduction of this tax, which would go on people who make profits on the back of our farmers. But I have a few questions for you. In your proposal, what about the replacement of fertilizers by replacing them with legumes? We do that quite often in bio agriculture. But have you got some proposals along that line to strengthen this side of approach under the CAP so that we're less dependent on artificial fertilizers? What about the question of livestock holdings if you're actually having crops and livestock in the same farm, what happens there? So we have to start thinking about intensive farming in The Netherlands, for example. What can we do? Can we use manure there or fertilizers too, East Germany or France where it's used? But what about multi-resistant bacteria, heavy metals, veterinary drugs, pollution as well, and contamination? What say your approach is on that so that we don't create further future issues in the future? And would you like to see special provisions in the CAP for mixed holdings so that at least 50% of the fodder could be grown on their own farm? I mean, that will be a possibility for supporting investments as well so that we become less dependent in the future so that we don't just rush from one crisis to another with the short term solutions to problems. But thank you for having turned up in person today.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “But the problem and the permission process is that these substances are not big business cases. So there's not a lot of money to earn on it. There's no patents on it, but still there's very lengthy permission procedures. But we urgently need also these, uh, alternatives for the farmers. Maybe you can give us a bit of an assessment of how you think or what would be your advice also for us here in the Parliament, uh, to move on on these questions, uh, because we see in many areas that conventional farming is actually learning from organic farming and taking over strategies of organic farming, taking over substances that have been proven in organic agriculture to work. But we have to enable the market access for these new developments and new biocontrol, uh, substances. So maybe you can give us a bit of an insight on that. Thank you very much.”
  EU policy on pesticides
• “Can the representative of the Commission promise that he will answer all? The Commission will answer the questions that have remained unanswered in written, please.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you. President. Madam Commissioner, every day in Austria, but also throughout the EU, numerous, uh, farmers are shutting up shop 800 per day. Why? Because it's becoming so difficult to feed a family from farming, and the risk is almost entirely being devolved onto the farmer. Because we have to deal with climate damage and because there's unfair competition and there's a negotiating power for processors and retailers facing farmers who are definitely in the weaker position in that negotiation. Colleagues, I myself, I do not want to live off subsidies. I want a fair price for the products I produce. And this fair producer price we will only get if we ensure by legislation that the market power of major processors and major retailers is not exploited against farmers. We must ensure that our farmers get fair producer prices. If we want our young people to take over these farms with an average age in agriculture of 57, when we have to ask, why do young people go into other jobs into cities? Because it's become unbelievably difficult to feed a family based on farming and honest people. People who are motivated to produce the best quality foods are needed. I welcome this initiative. We must look beyond the borders and once again, we see that yes, businesses have a European market, but the institutions that are meant to monitor it are national institutions. So let's set up a real European marketplace with real protection for European farmers, men and women. Thank you.”
  EU policy on farmer–buyer relations in the agri-food supply chain
• “So this is, uh, there's a need to fulfill this requirement to add additional, uh, minorities communities that are present in the country to the Constitution. And this is also in the light of, I would say, a successful story of the country where inclusion and power sharing with, uh, different ethnic groups in the country's majorities constitute constituting people's minorities, is a main ingredient of a peaceful development and positive development of the country as such. It's a very high value, especially if you know the history of the region that the country managed and still manages to to, uh, share governance and share power. This is one, I think, of the magic ingredients, uh, for the country to move on. Um, but also coming back to rule of law. The country urgently needs also foreign investments for the economical development in many fields. Clearly also in the field of energy transition of investments into renewable energy to get out of fossil fuels. Still, a big part of the energy demand is served by fossil fuel, which creates a massive pollution problems. Um, but the rule of law mainly also important for, uh, foreign investments. This is the main ingredient to attract investors that you have clear legal certainty. Um, coming back to environment, there is progress when it comes to waste management. Uh, well, still a lot to do if you know the country on waste, waste, water management, some progress.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Thank you chair. This was fast. Well, in principle I follow all the geostrategic arguments. Diversifying European economy. Yes. This is something we should do. Uh, investing into cooperation with of democracies. Absolutely. That's what we should should do. Invest in more trade. Because trade creates wealth. Good thing to do. Somehow the impression is created here that it's about having this trade agreement or not having this trade agreement. While I would find it more interesting what kind of trade agreement we would actually need that the whole thing would work out. And also, it's not that we do not have trade relations with South America and with the Mercosur countries. We have a lot of trade agreements. Uh, Professor Malamute, you said it yourself. We are a good match, economical match. We get resources and we resell manufactured goods. Well, this is the definition of extra activism. And the question is, do we have a trade agreement which is really profiting both sides? This is the question I'm asking myself. Uh, somebody mentioned agriculture. I will not go too much into depth with agriculture. But, uh, two things. If we ask certain standards from European farmers, we're putting them in a very difficult situation. If we put them into a competition on the market with products that do not need to follow these standards. But are we really helping Brazilian agriculture? I don't know if I talk to farmers there. They're saying, no, this is not helpful. You're helping the helping the big oligarchs with their funders and the big multinational companies that produce commodities.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “In my memory we voted on this already and I think we're voting it a second time. So I would just encourage you to tell all the members how comes.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you, chair. And apologies for my colleague not being present today. And please allow me to speak in her on her behalf. So first of all, I shall, um, transfer a thank you to the to the rapporteur also for the good cooperation, for the very inclusive negotiations and for the very good draft. Um, yes. Many things have been said by colleagues already. Rule of law, as in actually all the Balkan states, is a key ingredient of of of the merit based process. And not just that, the key ingredient also for investments, climate, and the key ingredient for a state that is moving towards a standards of European Union. Um, when it comes to judiciary, especially independence of judiciary is of key importance. And as colleagues have already mentioned, legislation is one thing and there's reforms going on, but implementation is what we see lacking on the ground. Unfortunately, even though we see, uh, the, the, the, uh, investments and motivation of the government and institutions to, um, better the situation. Uh, we still have a problem with capacity. Uh, also there are, you know, um, educational program on its way. I mean, we have seen, um. Process of of of cleaning up the juridical space of potential corruption cases, which led to understaffing, which leads to a massive backlog of of of court cases. So there still there needs to be more efforts. Also for us in the European Union, uh, there is a potential possibilities for support. The fact that sparks or the anti-corruption unit is able to arrest a high level politicians, former high level representatives, shows that they have room to manoeuvre.”
  EU relations with Western Balkans
• “Also, when it comes to media freedom or let's say, to transparency in terms of media ownership, but also foreign influence, fake news, there's a lot of work to do. But we see institutions, uh, stepping up their efforts in this direction when it comes to rule of law reforms. There's still a lot on the table to be done. Unfortunately, the progress that we've seen in the last year was not so substantial. Might also be related to another election year. Um, very positive to mention that there will be no elections in the upcoming year. At least this has been announced by the government, and also the year has been called the Year of Reforms. And not just when it comes to closing chapters or starting negotiating chapters first, but moving towards potentially fulfilling criteria to be able to close chapters at a certain point when it comes to rule of law reforms. Beyond that request and need, also the needed reforms are needed for the reform agenda. Um, the country has to massively, uh, step up their efforts to meet the goals until June. Uh, it's it's about actually €47 million budget support that are at stake and will go to other countries in the region if the needed reforms are not done until June. Uh, so also this uh, is mentioned, uh, constitutional amendment. Uh, it is very clear that the rights of minorities for cultural expression, And self determination are part of our European aqui and therefore part of the negotiating framework and the Council conclusions.”
  EU enlargement
• “There's a lot of questions to be solved when it comes to identity, to history, actually to reconciliation, to overcome also disputes of the past. What we did in the European Union and to reach out to each other and yes, to admit the wrongdoings in the past, but, you know, to invest into common relations together. And I think this is what we also need to focus on very much about. Please let us know what you intend to invest into this direction. And last but not least, due to also foreign influence or commercialization. We see that media can less and less actually deliver their democratic function in the countries, and civil society is partly taking over. Also, due to the reductions of USAID support, I think it should be a good focus for us in the European Union to support civil society, investigative journalists and so on. If you have any plans, please share with us. Thank you.”
  EU engagement with civil society
• “Vice President, first of all, I want to thank our Commissioner Hanson for this proposal. Original proposal. And my colleague Rodriguez for for the draft. Uh, this is a proposal that might find a positive, uh, vote from the green side, which is might be surprising for some in here, because I think it's a quite balanced proposal, and it includes quite, uh, I would say, positive steps that we welcome. Let's see whether we can keep this kind of unity in a more or less positive point of view on this, uh, over this process. Now, because the amendments that I have seen are telling me something different on content simplified controls for farms below ten hectares, we have to be happy about every farmer with ten hectares or below ten hectares. Who is still doing this? And this is people who are highly specialized, or they have another job and they still keep their farm running. So I highly welcome this organic green by definition. Yes, sure. I mean, what else? These people, organic farmers, are doing a fantastic job and they are taking care of our environment every single day and produce food. So green definition. Very good. Um, the seventh to extend the the five year period to seven year period when it comes to arable land and green fodder is highly welcome.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you. Chair. Commissioner. Good morning colleagues. We are once again in a crisis. We once again realize that we are dependent on crazy theocratic mullahs. We once again realize that we are dependent on a Russian war criminal. And we also realize that we are dependent on our former U.S. friends that are unfortunately unreliable and that have caused the crisis of today. So good morning colleagues. The imperative of today is reducing fossil energy and reducing fossil dependency, also of fertilizers. And I don't understand how still parts of the PPE and the right of this House can uphold this kind of combustion engine fetish. How you can still block renewable energy, how you can still slow down the construction of a good electric grid. I don't get your point. It's bad for economy. It's bad for people. It's bad for energy prices. So come on people, let's get going now. And we need to replace fossil fuels by our own homegrown renewable energy. And to madam von der Leyen, who is still not here anymore, replacing fossil dependency by a dependency on imported uranium, which we don't have in the European Union, is a dead end street. So please stop this fossil lobbying. Thank you very much.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you. Chair. Um, I have to apologize for my colleague, David Coleman. He's still on the Parliament mission, so please allow me to replace him here. Uh, first of all, um, I have to express agreement with the rapporteur that the livestock sector is going through a crisis. From our standpoint, there could have been more nuance when it comes to the different models of livestock, because different models have different externalities. Externalities and so on are also affected differently from from the crisis. Furthermore, our amendments will try to bring more clarity into this draft. On the question of whether we're really ready to support the livestock systems that are actually sustainable and the farmers in the supply chain, especially against unfair trading practices, not just from monopolies, but also from trade agreements, as other colleagues have expressed. And on a personal note, colleagues, farmers that are able to feed their livestock from their own meadows and from their own fields, or, let's say, the majority of the fodder this is farming, but just having animals for fattening in a building and feeding them with soy and corn that is imported from abroad to me is neither farming. This is a business case And it's also not helping us in terms of food security, because it's just increasing our dependencies from imports from abroad. And we should really differentiate there. And by the way, it's clearly not sustainable and especially not in comparison to real farmers and real farming. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you, Chair and Commissioner. Hey, thanks for coming. First of all, it's good news that we get the ban on importation of products that have residues of pesticides that we've banned in the European Union. That's good news. I have two sets of questions here. First of all related to the Common Agricultural Policy. And you know, we, we are changing here and this is decided by the minority minorities majorities that we change towards a system with less conditionality and more incentives? Well, sounds good in the first place. But what worries me is how can we ensure that farmers that invest into stronger animal welfare standards are really having access to incentives? We will. They will they stay in the first pillar, 100% financed by the European Union? Will they go into the national and regional plans? How can we ensure that farmers have really access to funds if they invest into higher animal welfare standards, which is the incentives? Can you maybe enlighten us whether you are in contact with Commissioner Hansen and what your plans are there to to ensure this? And the second question, and this is one very dear to my heart also European citizen initiative on banning fur farming.”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers
• “Thank you very much. President. I refrain from holding a general speech on agriculture, but I rather would like to ask some very concrete questions based on the report that you have presented. And I thank you for this. Yes. A definition for regenerative agriculture. I mean, it's long overdue because I personally know dozens of examples of what should be regenerative. Sometimes I got the proposal that the simple use of animal manure to to to raise your yields on the field is regenerative agriculture. Already, even though this is what we do since decades. And so my question is, uh, how how do you see and what pathway do you see to actually come to a definition and on content, what you basically said is, well, it shares all the goals of organic, but without going all the way to be organic. So you can still use certain pesticides and so on. But what it shares with organic is this focus on public goods. So, so carbon in the soil, soil life, biodiversity, uh, the ability of soil to store water, uh, to adapt to climate crisis and so on. And this is something, uh, this concept shares with organic. But what it does not share is the access to the market. Because the good thing in organic is, yes, you have yes, yield and more work, but you get a better price for your product because organic is a trademark and has trust by consumers and yields a higher income on the market. While I would really be be calling you to to to be careful with your trading partners, we have seen so often that supermarket companies offer certain additional standards, and they offer a certain additional pay for, let's say, some environmental agroecological methods for a year or two, and then you end up with the same contract as your totally conventional neighbors that do not apply these kind of methods. So where do you see that the additional income could come from for additional activities and work for the farmers? The market will not bring it over time. And would that mean more subsidies for farms that apply agroecological methods? Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Still a lot to do. Uh, so colleagues, we tried to and I tried to, uh, prepare a well-balanced report that touches upon the important topics. We will go into negotiations after I've seen your amendments. Please come forward with all the amendments that you want to see reflected in the report, and I'm looking forward to a constructive debate with with the shadow rapporteurs and constructive work to come up with a common proposal that can find a strong majority, a strong pro-European majority here in the committee and then later in plenary, so we can do our best to support the country, to move on on its path towards European Union. As mentioned by the chair. Uh, the the application is more than 20 years old. Uh, and I think it's time to move on. We're also pointing out that this is a huge window of opportunity in the moment for the whole region, but specifically also for North Macedonia, uh, to move on to EU accession. There is There's green light as much as I see from council, from commission here in the European Parliament, there's great support. So there's a real window of opportunity. And I very much hope North Macedonian government is not missing that opportunity. Uh, so let's try to work on it to contribute to it. And I'm looking forward to constructive debates and constructive result. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “Well, well, I me as a beekeeper, I need crop diversity. I need diversity in the landscape so my bees find something. For me, as a beekeeper, I need crop rotation. This is what we just abandoned and we will do next week. In plenary. I need buffer strips where my bees find something else than what is in the monocultures of the agriculture. I my bees need fallow land. This is all measures to support wild pollinators and to support the bee sector. Look, you cannot be in favor of bees here and then abandon all the cap policies that are supporting beekeepers and that are supporting wild pollinators. I mean, we need to be consistent here. Sorry, guys, but this needed to be said. Let's make sure that in the next cap, we seriously support beekeepers with all these measures that are needed for wild pollinators and and our bees. Because you are needing us and more and more farmers knock on my door. They're asking me to bring one hive to their field because they lack pollinators for their for their for their cultures. They are trying to pay me just to bring my bees. Not for the honey, but just for pollination. This is the reality that we face in the landscape. And please have a realistic look and let's create policies that work for beekeepers. Thank you.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “We have a whole list of different measures in the European Union, if I'm correct. In what my understanding what you said, that's what's going to happen. So all the various different environmental incentive mechanisms will now be subject to decisions at the member state level as well as codecision. Does that mean what happens when farmers don't want to do that? What happens if a country can't afford to co-fund those measures that mean those measures simply won't happen. And what are the implications of this for the future of farming here in the European Union, particularly given the twin crisis of biodiversity and climate? I simply fail to understand what you're doing here. In my view, this marks the final chapter of the cap. It also seems to be a ring, the death knell of comic market organisations. So I'm very, very concerned by all of this.”
  Agricultural funding
• “They would only hand in certain studies that would actually give results that would support their approach of what they wanted. But now we have to do it differently. A company has to register all the different studies that have been carried out if they want a certain compound to be admitted. Have you seen any positive developments in that respect? And second question, it's also quite clear that Efsa doesn't actually care that much of its own research or together with the member states. And so we believe that there could also be should be a larger budget for Efsa so that it could carry out its own research and not only rely on the research carried out by companies. I'd be very grateful if you could tell us a little bit about what's going on in that respect as well, whether or not there's been any positive changes. Anything else you'd like to tell us more about this issue and tell us how we can support you further with that. Thank you very much.”
  EU policy on pesticides
• “And so in this context I don't really see a new proposal, but rather a tranquilizer for us here in the agri sector to accept the Mercosur trade agreement. And one very concrete question that is a bit outside of the actual safeguard clauses. We are here in the Parliament trying to get an assessment from the European Court of Justice to check if this trade agreement is in line with European legislation. For now, it has been blocked for some, I don't know administrative reasons, but this will come. My question is, did you check whether the rebalancing mechanism is actually in line with European legislation? Because it might prevent us to act in the future and change our legislation towards might be environment, might be standards. Remember mad cow disease where we changed our production standards very dramatically, actually, that might lead to us paying compensations to the Mercosur countries. Did you check with the European Court of Auditors if this trade agreement is is in line with European legislation?”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “This is a very good sign in practice beyond legislation. And exactly, uh, it is true what other speakers said. The law must be applied to every citizen in the same way. Uh, and it's a very good sign. Also, that spark has the independence and the backing, uh, to also go against, uh, um, perceived or, potential corruption cases also on the high level. Um, we also have to acknowledge 100% alignment with CFSP. So with our foreign and security policy, which is, I think, extremely important in the in these times today. And I think we should mention it once again and again, uh, because this is a very important, uh, support of our common European standpoints. Uh, yes. We still need to see more, um, inclusion, uh, when it comes to civil society, but also academia, uh, when it comes to feedback on legislation, on scrutiny processes, there will be some amendments from our side. Also regarding chapter 27 environment, there will be amendments because this country has amazing and fantastic natural resources, natural heritage, which has also huge economical potential if it's dealt with sensitivity and if it's dealt with a medium and long term perspective. So what we unfortunately see in some areas that long term interest is sacrificed for short term economic benefits. Also, there will be few amendments from our side. But in general, again, a big thank you to the rapporteur and to the good negotiations that were held and will will be constructively trying to improve the text with a few amendments from our side. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you, chair, and welcome Director General Werner here in the committee. Um, I try to build on the questions that have raised, as have been raised already and not to repeat them. Let me start with all the question of environmental and climate financing. I mean, the main difference that we will see is that we will only have it in the part that needs to be co-financed. And the experience of rural development already in the past showed that some member states that were, well, more wealthy were well suited to do the co-financing, where member states that have more budgetary constraints were not even able to actually tap on all this money because they were not finding the resources for co-financing. So don't you fear that we will have a massive drop on that sector because of financing requirements? Secondly, my question is, are you foreseeing, um, additional um, funds or possibilities for funds, uh, when it comes to workplaces? So the amount of labour actually that the farm offers because there's huge differences depending on what you do. You know, I mean, whether you do crops or fruits or vegetables. So is there anything prepared in this direction and then risk management? Uh, yes.”
  Agricultural funding
• “We. Reduce our dependency from. Fossil fuel is welcome, but we cannot overlook realities. In a post fossil bioeconomy. We need biogenic CO2 chains to produce plastic, to produce clothes, to produce chemicals and. The bad news is the amount of biomass is limited. This is just a matter of fact. And in the moment when we talk about edible goods, to use edible goods to produce biofuel, well, the bad news is that the energy balance is clearly negative. We need much more energy to produce crops and to produce biofuels from crops than the amount of energy that we can actually extract. And if we import these goods, we are complicit in causing hunger and we are complicit in causing deforestation. This cannot be a general solution. There is a need for biofuels, especially the ones that are not produced from edible goods, but they cannot replace the need for electrification of our transport systems, and they cannot reduce the investments into alternatives beyond biomass and this kind of biofuel production. So let us face realities. Let's face the facts and let's develop proper solutions. And let's not use food to put it into the tank. Thank you.”
  Biofuels (RED II)
• “Thank you chairman. I'll actually be speaking German today, which is unusual for me. I'm a farming sector is faced with the enormous consequences of climate change, extreme weather events. And this is something which is getting worse every year. We've been saying for years now that whatever you doesn't seem to help farmers when it comes to coping with this extreme weather, we need more money so that farmers can adapt to these climate change extremes rather than less money. And I'd like to endorse what previous speakers have said. I don't want to repeat what they've said, but I have three practical questions. 20% of linked aid for animal husbandry. Will there be criteria for that, as is the case for cereals or at least 70% of their own feeds? Or can they? Can we have cross-cutting links? And what about who will decide when it comes to this? Will this be dykes? That's a question.”
  Direct payments to farmers (pillar 1)
• “Thank you chair. My question to the Commission is firstly when can we expect to have concrete criteria for nature, close use of forests and why is this an important topic? Well, it's not just about the environment. Yes, it would be great if our forests would be able to sequester carbon as previously with lots of countries like Germany and Austria, which are taking in lots of CO2. But I cannot understand why such an important topic such as European forests, which are not only important in terms of biodiversity in the climate, but also in terms of the economy and are important to the EU. I can't understand why it's a topic which will simply be exposed to an industry of cheap fuel. We need to think long term. In 100 years time, for example, we know that we need to act when it comes to the climate and forests. We can't ignore this topic so much because it's a joint European interest. So my question is when can we expect that we have appropriate criteria for nature, close use of forests. And when it comes to standards in in forests in Europe as well. So not just biodiversity and the climate, but also ensuring the value supply chain over the next 50, 60, 80 years. This needs to be worked into the organic industry and the agri food industry so that the EU is is performing better in terms of biodiversity in the environment. Thank you.”
  Management of EU forests
• “Thank you very much. President. Commissioner. Droughts. Heat, floods. Flooding, hail. That's the reality that our farmers are dealing with out there. They are the first to be affected by the effects of the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity. They have to struggle with unfair prices that are below production costs in many cases. They're facing the excessive power of supermarkets. 800 farms closed every day in the European Union. We could market regionally. We could have short supply chains locally. We could adapt to climate change. By doing these things, we can support agriculture. We can bring agriculture into harmony with nature of an agriculture that doesn't torture animals is possible. Farms across Europe can show that it's possible. The agroecology is possible, and organic farming is good too. So every requirement that we place upon our farmers shoulders, we have to ensure that they also apply to imports. If we have a smaller budget for the cap, combined with the Mercosur treaty and all sorts of deals done with Trump in his tariff madness, well, this could put our farmers at a disadvantage. We want a European policy that uses European taxpayers money to support European farmers to to have production in Europe that is environmentally friendly and produces good food for Europe's citizens. That's what we have to focus on and we have to get away from this market ideology. We need European money going into European farmers for the benefit of citizens.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “But you're not helping the farming sector. Rather the opposite, because these multinationals create a huge pressure on that land. I have a few very concrete questions, and this is, first of all, nobody touched upon the rebalancing mechanism. If I understand it rightly so, the rebalancing mechanism would allow our trade partners to go to court for compensation if we create or decide on higher standards, maybe animal welfare, health, environment or whatever. So it would actually create a chilling effect on our legislation. Maybe you have a professional standpoint on this. Second. Argentina. Are you still sure that we share the same values with the government in Argentina? But this is maybe just a side note. You talked about lithium. We have a lot of lithium in the European Union. Why are we not digging it in the European Union? Because the environmental impacts are heavy and we don't want to see them in our backyard. But we are okay if this happens across the pond. How can we secure that? The sourcing of resources is happening in a, let's say, sensible way. Also with respect of social rights, of indigenous rights, of workers rights. So for me, the question is not do we need this agreement, but what can we still do to ensure that it seriously works also for European, but also for Brazilian economy and farmers?”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “Thank you, chair, and thank you, colleagues, shadow rapporteurs, but also the chair of the delegation, But also a thank you to our own secretariat here in Parliament, but also DG and uh, External Action Service for the good cooperation. Uh, it needs many, uh, efforts and many sides to help, um, when it comes to diplomacy, but also when it comes to capacity, when it comes to supporting the country and its ability to actually, um, deliver proper legislation but also implement legislation, uh, it needs many, uh, helping hands to bring the country forward. But I thank you all for our common understanding, uh, that, uh, bring moving the country forward, helping the country to move forward towards accession is not just in the interest of the country itself, but in the interest of all of us, uh, on different aspects. So, uh, we have a common, uh, common goal. And, uh, I hope we can channel this into a common effort to draft a good report together in a constructive, constructive atmosphere and in a constructive spirit. I thank you all for your contributions, and I'm looking forward to your amendments, and then to the negotiations and to the cooperation to draft a good and balanced and helpful report. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “Still a lot to do. Uh, so colleagues, we tried to and I tried to, uh, prepare a well-balanced report that touches upon the important topics. We will go into negotiations after I've seen your amendments. Please come forward with all the amendments that you want to see reflected in the report, and I'm looking forward to a constructive debate with with the shadow rapporteurs and constructive work to come up with a common proposal that can find a strong majority, a strong pro-European majority here in the committee and then later in plenary, so we can do our best to support the country, to move on on its path towards European Union. As mentioned by the chair. Uh, the the application is more than 20 years old. Uh, and I think it's time to move on. We're also pointing out that this is a huge window of opportunity in the moment for the whole region, but specifically also for North Macedonia, uh, to move on to EU accession. There is There's green light as much as I see from council, from commission here in the European Parliament, there's great support. So there's a real window of opportunity. And I very much hope North Macedonian government is not missing that opportunity. Uh, so let's try to work on it to contribute to it. And I'm looking forward to constructive debates and constructive result. Thank you very much.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you chair. Many things have said, and it's a rare moment of relative unity here in the agri committee beyond the political forces. I mean I have some very concrete questions to the commission. Did you read the court verdict from 2019 from the European Court of Justice? Are you intending to take it any. How serious? Can you please explain us how you were fulfilling the conditions that Sarai. People are generally involved into the negotiation process? Has that happened? And can you tell us how Sahrawi people will profit economically from this trade agreement? And have you actually, um, are you ready to accept that, uh, naming regions is not fulfilling neither EU legislation nor the court verdict? And with what, uh, I don't know, legal backing? Are you actually daring to come forward with, once again, a trade agreement that is against international law and that is against a court verdict of European Court of Justice? We have been telling and I've been here sitting in this in this committee, we've been telling you in the first round that this trade agreement is not fulfilling international law standards. And and you were ignoring it. And then the court ruling was proving it again and again. You seem to ignore it. I mean, look, if we treat our rule of law internally, the European Union like that. Look, I'm very engaged in enlargement. How can I tell Balkan countries to follow the rule of law if we ignore court verdicts of the Court of Justice, and if we ignore international law really seriously? I mean, this is undermining our credibility and this is undermining our legal. You know, the legal certainty that also businesses expect from us. I don't know what else to say. I mean, I have this debate now since how many years? I don't know, but I don't think we can move forward like this. Please give some concrete answers to my very concrete questions.”
  Trade relations with Morocco
• “Thank you, chair. And apologies for my colleague not being present today. And please allow me to speak in her on her behalf. So first of all, I shall, um, transfer a thank you to the to the rapporteur also for the good cooperation, for the very inclusive negotiations and for the very good draft. Um, yes. Many things have been said by colleagues already. Rule of law, as in actually all the Balkan states, is a key ingredient of of of the merit based process. And not just that, the key ingredient also for investments, climate, and the key ingredient for a state that is moving towards a standards of European Union. Um, when it comes to judiciary, especially independence of judiciary is of key importance. And as colleagues have already mentioned, legislation is one thing and there's reforms going on, but implementation is what we see lacking on the ground. Unfortunately, even though we see, uh, the, the, the, uh, investments and motivation of the government and institutions to, um, better the situation. Uh, we still have a problem with capacity. Uh, also there are, you know, um, educational program on its way. I mean, we have seen, um. Process of of of cleaning up the juridical space of potential corruption cases, which led to understaffing, which leads to a massive backlog of of of court cases. So there still there needs to be more efforts. Also for us in the European Union, uh, there is a potential possibilities for support. The fact that sparks or the anti-corruption unit is able to arrest a high level politicians, former high level representatives, shows that they have room to manoeuvre.”
  EU enlargement
• “Madam president. Commissioner. Yes, indeed. Our pollinators are declining. And why is it so? It was just mentioned by the far right. Because of chemical pollution. Because of pesticides. Well, the commission came up with the so-called sustainable Use directive to reduce pesticides. But you remember why it failed. It was very much on the right side of the House that the Sustainable Use Directive was actually killed here in the house. Yes, it has been, you guys, and this would have been one of the main measures and measurements that we would have needed to take to reduce the decline of pollinators. And it's not just honeybees. I'm a beekeeper and a farmer at the same time, but it's also about wild pollinators. While the commission under the rule of simplification has reduced the land that we need for wild pollinators. Is there a real support for organic farming? Is there a real support for organic farming? Because this is the way of farming which safeguards natural pollinators, while pollinators and our bees as well. Is there a real support for beekeepers in the European Union? Well, let us see the new Cap proposal. But we need real support for beekeepers because due to climate crisis and pesticides, it's harder and harder to keep up a beekeepers business. I can say that from my very own experience, but I'm ready to work on this and I'm happy to contribute if there's concrete proposals to safeguard wild pollinators and bees. Thank you very much.”
  Reduction targets for pesticides
• “That colleague from the so-called Patriots have been leaving. I hope that the health of citizens is of all our concern. I mean, there are 30 to 40,000 citizens dying every year of multi-resistant bacteria, which come from an overuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry and in human health care. So, so it's really awkward that this, this important topic is trying to be downplayed. Uh, but however, um, to the commission, do you have any data and indications how multi-resistant bacterias, once they appear, are actually spread across the European Union with live exports and live transports? Uh, do you can you tell us for how long you can actually detect the use of antibiotics that are unfortunately also used as growth promoters, as colleagues have already mentioned. Also on imported goods also this has been mentioned by many colleagues. And do you have indications that we have a black market when it comes to antibiotics, that we have internet sales? Because the amount of usage that you're you're surveilling is based on the sales data. Um, so do you have any intelligence, whether there's an additional amounts of antibiotics on the market via internet sales? And for how long can you detect the use of antibiotics in internal production and importing goods?”
  Antimicrobial resistance
• “Thank you chair. I first of all, I find it quite surprising that our colleagues from PV and ECR praised the ecological the measures in just demand a bit more flexibility or let's say a bit more security when it comes to the payments. But this is surprising. But however, uh, first of all, I mean, if we if a farmer can spare some artificial fertilizer, uh, then this is reducing production costs. And if farmers can spare parts of the pesticides due to agroecological methods or technology or precision farming, this is reducing production costs. And I think we should all see that this is a positive thing. If you invest into soil fertility, natural soil fertility, it creates a higher resilience of your farm. In times of droughts, it allows the soil to store more water, which also gives more resilience. So I think this is also there's a lot of economical arguments why it is smart to invest into, uh, these uh, eco schemes also in the future. Uh, the questions to the, to the commission, thank you very much for presenting the report. Uh, the questions are twofold. One, why do you I mean, you have seen this already, partially renationalisation of the current cap, uh, that, uh, bureaucracy has, has gone up in the member states. And my experience is that this bureaucracy didn't primarily come from Brussels, but it primarily came from my very own member state.”
  Agriculture (green)
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. After the democracy movement was just totally collapsed in in Belarus, we've started to look for solutions, importing and so on, and nothing actually was achieved. And then when Putin attacked Ukraine with this aggressive war, we saw, oh, this gas is going to be used as a weapon against us. So we passed resolutions, we had debates, not much came of it. And here we have a regime of mullahs that isn't ashamed to shoot its own people and has taken the whole world economy hostage. And here we are debating this problem and talking about the fact that we need fertilizers, artificial fertilizers for our farmers. Are we in a position to do anything? What about our organic farmers? They've been producing wonderful food products without these imported chemical fertilizers, and they've been doing so for years. We can show you how we can use all sorts of alternative Substances to really reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. We should be doing that. But what are we doing? We're discussing the proposal from the commission, which has named some of the problems that we have to face. But what we have to do is really get to the nitty gritty to change farming overall and provide support for our farmers who are not going to be dependent or mustn't be dependent on imported chemical fertilisers. It's the only way to guarantee our supply of food for our peoples and our citizens, and not be blackmailed by outsiders.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “The thank you colleges and thank you commission for what you presented as missions to support the camping. I want to talk about past besides the most affected species of the world is because the US big like me on my colleges that the rapid using bee gives again on the game if they die. And that is why we have constant number of lives across the European Union, because they will be report using the losses that we have you to pesticide uses and the the year from the right extreme right. Southern they become defenders of bees when it comes to reducing pesticide. I will reminder you and your speech if I will that the mind you're on your speech is when we talk about the regulation and famous to use what the end of human myself, but let the I would you come to this camp of reducing pesticide. You're highly welcome, but it's not the problem that beach types of fighting with. We have the Asian Hornet that is that we have a problem with Varroa myths and is not to be keeper to day that hours ago. You need to have the medical knowledge today how to keep your mind and the control of the decline of biodiversity.”
  EU policy on pesticides
• “Thank you. Chair. And I thank you for this presentation. We had the chance already to discuss the your first draft in spring. And I see that there's some improvements there. Also, it needs to be acknowledged that indeed there's geopolitical aspects that have substantially changed. Um, also the proposal of the commission yesterday, you say, is proposing legally binding measures on environment, climate as on human rights and democracy. This is still something we need to check because it wasn't all so clear for us. Um, thank you also for mentioning, uh, this analysis on the dirty split, because this is really an open question and this is new to me. I didn't understand that earlier that still the ratification in the national parliaments will be considered on the whole deal and not just on the political part. I have a very, very direct question. What do you not mentioning and what you have not mentioned is the so-called rebalancing mechanism that is raising fears that this could have a chilling effect on our legislation or even intrude our sovereignty to legislate, uh, to strengthen, let's say, environmental, social or democratic standards. Could you please give a comment how your assessment on this so-called rebalancing mechanism is because that's one of the main lines of concern across parties and and and points of views. Thank you.”
  Free trade agreements (FTAs)
• “Yes. Thank you chair. And thank you, Commissioner, for once again coming to the Committee and also for your very engaged travel travels to the region and your approach to speak to as many people as possible. Yes, we see good progress in Montenegro when it comes to legislation. We see good progress in Albania, but we also need to have an eye on the implementation of the legislation that has been decided, because this is then what citizens feel and where citizens see the change, and which is also contributing to the support of citizens to the accession process. And yes, it has to be a merit based process. In the case of North Macedonia, we need to see the constitutional amendment to be finally able to start active negotiations also. But still, we have to see that this country is waiting for 20 years now to start negotiations. And actually, the country has already implemented a lot of legislation following the acquis in very earlier stages. Well, my question to you is how much are you focusing also on the questions of reconciliation in the region, on the questions of good neighbourly relations, the whole region, whether within the countries like in Bosnia, between countries like Kosovo and Serbia, within the countries like in Montenegro, between Serbian community or within the relations between Western Balkan states and the neighboring states, maybe Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria.”
  EU relations with Western Balkans