Engin EROGLU

Policy topics Engin EROGLU is active on

What Engin EROGLU has said (41)

• 2026-06-17 “(10:02:35 – 10:03:47): yours. President, commissioner, at the next summit, we must urgently look at certain business matters. That means our competitiveness. I've heard from many that you have complaints about third countries. Our work as MEPs, as the EU, is to focus on our own matters, not on third countries. During the previous term, there were many errors made by the council and commission that harmed our competitiveness. Now we have the right path forward. Competitiveness, competitiveness, competitiveness. And we saw during corona that there was desperation for a vaccine, and Europe came up with that vaccine. We are the ones that drive innovation. We are the ones who work with passion to solve the world's problems, but that only happens if we have a level playing field with China and if we protect ourselves from Chinese subsidies. We need to get that in our heads. We need to unleash our power. But if you continue with this planned economy, then we will be submerged. Thank you.”
  Chinese clean tech competition: trade barriers and investment caps vs. open market
• 2026-03-03 “E-000862/2026 Answer given by Mr Kubilius on behalf of the European Commission The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) 1 instrument provides for an open architecture that allows concluding bilateral agreements with third countries – specifically acceding, candidate and potential candidate countries or those with whom the EU has entered into a security and defence partnership. Regarding the expressions of interest submitted by Japan, South Korea, and Türkiye, the Commission is currently assessing these requests and finalising loan agreements that each Member States will sign with the EU. Once these loans agreements are established, the Commission will have a clearer picture on any possible budgetary leftover under SAFE. That also includes the possibility of certain amounts under the agreed national plans that could be re-attributed to other procurements. This would be also the right moment to discuss with Member States on the possibility to negotiate additional SAFE bilateral agreements. Any potential opening of negotiations of a bilateral agreement in the context of SAFE, needs to follow the procedure set out in Article 218 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) 2 , where the Council may authorise the Commission to negotiate the said agreements on behalf of the EU. Furthermore, Article 17 of the SAFE Regulation spells out conditions for the participation of third countries’ entities and products in SAFE, including the conditions and modalities of participation of contractors and subcontractors established in the third country in the common procurement under the SAFE instrument; the rules related to the cost of components originating in the third country; conditions of any financial contribution to be provided by the third country to the EU. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/1106/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2008/art_218/oj/eng.”
  "Buy European" provisions · EU competences on defence
• 2025-10-22 “E-004169/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The proposal for an EU Cyber Defence Coordination Centre (EU CDCC) was put forward in the EU Cyber Defence Policy 1 in 2022, building on the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) project ‘Cyber and Information Domain Coordination Centre (CIDCC)’. In 2023 the Council welcomed the work of CIDCC and the proposal to integrate it into the EU CDCC and called on the High Representative/Vice-President to present a concept for its establishment 2 . In 2024, the European External Action Service (EEAS) presented a concept note to Member States. Based on the guidance received from Member States, the EEAS is working on progressively developing the EU CDCC as a permanent capability. The EU CDCC is envisaged to be the EU military cyber hub to facilitate and enhance military cyber situational awareness across the EU and its Member States. Member States agreed to establish a nucleus that will focus on cyber situational awareness for EU military missions and operations. This nucleus is expected to facilitate the transition and transfer of knowledge from the CIDCC to the EU CDCC. Within the currently existing EEAS budget constraints, the EEAS will set up an EU CDCC core nucleus based on reallocation of internal resources in view of ensuring the best possible arrangements to facilitate the transition from PESCO CIDCC in the first semester of 2026. Further development of the Centre is subject to a prioritisation exercise. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52022JC0049. 2 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/Comm_cyber%20defence.pdf.”
  Defence spending
• 2025-10-20 “E-004118/2025 Answer given by Mr. Kubilius on behalf of the European Commission Critical raw materials (CRMs) dependencies undermine the EU’s long-term competitiveness and transition objectives. They also risk hampering its defence readiness targets and support to Ukraine, thereby posing a direct security risk and undermining European security. EU institutions and Member States, in coordination with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, should mobilise every possible lever at their disposal to expediently decrease CRMs dependencies from defence industrial value chains. The risks stemming from China’s export licensing requirements on the rare earth elements (REE) export rules (those implemented on 4 April 2025, as well as those announced on 9 October 2025) to the European defence industry are serious. While the latter measures have been suspended for one year, they are not subject to an outright repeal. In addition, measures introduced in April 2025 and before on REE and permanent magnets continue to be in force. The EU and Member States should remain vigilant to further Chinese actions. The Commission adopted the RESourceEU Action Plan 1 on 3 December 2025. The aim of RESourceEU is to secure access to alternative sources of CRMs in the short, medium and long term for the European industry. The Action plan provides for measures to accelerate the deployment of CRMs projects, with EUR 3 billion of EU funds for next year. It also announces measures to support circularity of CRMs, notably by increasing access to rare earth scrap. From 2026, the EU CRM Centre will be set up and will be responsible for financing, joint purchasing, stockpiling and monitoring activities. Work on CRMs partnerships with resource-rich countries will continue, as well as coordination with like-minded countries in relevant multilateral fora. 1 https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/download/01c448d6-dc93-40d7-9afe-4c2af448d00c_en.”
  Defence spending · EU policy on screening foreign investment in strategic sectors and critical infrastructure
• 2025-10-15 “E-004068/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission On 23 December 2025, the Commission adopted a targeted amendment of the Guidelines on certain State aid measures in the context of the system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading post-2021 (ETS State aid Guidelines) 1 . In line with the methodology underpinning the ETS State aid Guidelines, the list of eligible sectors was expanded to take into account that the risk of carbon leakage has genuinely increased for certain sectors. The criteria for sectors to be eligible were a trade intensity above 20% and an indirect emission intensity above 0.32 kg CO2/EUR, resulting in an indirect carbon leakage indicator above 0.064. These sectors include manufacturing of glass fibres, flat glass and hollow glass. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_3141.”
  Carbon leakage support · Energy (green transition)
• 2025-09-04 “E-003417/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is currently preparing the update of Annexes V and VI to the Renewable Energy Directive 1 and it is expected to publish the draft for public feedback in the coming months. Liquefaction will be covered with the update. The Union Database will allow the traceability of both physical and virtual liquefaction, allowing for the registration of all accumulated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions values related to the liquefaction process. This approach aims to prevent discrimination against EU facilities using physical liquefaction related to concerns on emission capture and equal footing for bio-liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers. The conversion factors and comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions accounting methodology stipulated in Annexes V and VI together with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 2 on sustainability certification and the Union Database will ensure that there will be no discrimination. This approach also ensures the fair treatment across different liquefaction methods within the EU. In addition, bio-LNG in the FuelEU Maritime Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 3 ) plays a significant role in supporting the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, subject to strict conditions. The Commission has explicitly provided a framework for how bio-LNG is treated under the FuelEU Maritime Regulation. Well to wake emissions are taken into account and this benefits low-emission production pathways, compared to synthetic fuels or fossil LNG with minimal GHG savings. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2023/2413/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/996/oj/eng. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1805/oj/eng.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport · Biofuels (RED II)
• 2025-07-16 “E-002927/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The European Union has adopted 1 an unprecedented set of restricted measures – the 18th package of sanctions was adopted in July 2025 – in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine with a view to weakening Russia’s ability to wage the war. These sanctions have been progressively intensified, including tight export control measures curbing Russia’s access to goods and technology that might contribute to Russia’s military and technological enhancement or its industrial capacities. In the nuclear sector, comprehensive export control restrictions limit Russia’s access to nuclear-related goods and technology, including by Rosatom and Atomflot. More specifically, the EU has imposed targeted export restrictions against Rosatomflot due to its involvement in the Russian military-industrial complex. As outlined in the Roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports 2 , the Commission is committed to phasing out Russian nuclear imports in a gradual, orderly and secure manner. This however requires careful consideration and planning to ensure energy security and stability within the EU. Any new sanctions require unanimity among all Member States in the Council. 1 Sanctions adopted following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-andworld/sanctions-restrictive-measures/sanctions-adopted-following-russias-military-aggression-againstukraine_en. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025DC0440.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022) · Disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons
• 2025-07-04 “E-002739/2025 Answer given by Mr Serafin on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is neither involved in nor informed of European Anti-fraud Office’s (OLAF) and European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s (EPPO) operational decisions and therefore cannot comment on specific cases. OLAF conducts its investigative work in full independence, in accordance with Article 17(3) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 1 . Likewise, the EPPO is fully independent from the Commission and all other EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 2 . 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/883/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/1939/oj/eng.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget · Rule of law in Malta
• 2025-07-02 “E-002691/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission Article 15a (9) of Directive (EU) 2024/1711 1 provides that Member States may promote the introduction of plug-in mini-solar systems. This possibility is without prejudice to the option for Member States to impose technical standards or requirements because of safety considerations. However, such standards must be compatible with the general requirement in Article 15 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 2 , which ensures that active customers are not subject to disproportionate or discriminatory technical requirements. The Commission is in the process of assessing the transposition of Article 15 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 in primary and secondary regulation, including technical standards and protocols. The transposition deadline for Article 15a of Directive (EU) 2024/1711 is 17 July 2026. The Commission is following the discussions in Technical Committee 64 of the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) with the objective of ensuring adequate requirements for plug-in mini-solar systems that allow for Member States to promote these systems. On 2 July 2025, the Commission published a guidance providing good practices and best examples on innovative technologies and forms of renewable energy deployment 3 , including plug-in mini solar. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1711/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/944/oj/eng. 3 C2025/411 final.”
  Energy (green transition) · EU approach to electricity market and prices
• 2025-06-18 “E-002457/2025 Answer given by Mr Síkela on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is not in the position to confirm the accuracy of ‘recent media reports’ without further details on the source of information. Therefore, the Commission would like to clarify that under Global Gateway 1 the EU promotes quality infrastructure investments with the highest social and environmental standards, in line with the EU’s values and interests. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is fully aligned with the EU values and principles. In its dealings with external providers, the EIB is committed to respecting the EU’s principles regarding public procurement, such as equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency 2 . As regards the rules on eligibility and exclusion applicable to procurement contractors under Global Gateway 3 , the Commission refers to its reply of 5 June 2025 4 . In this context, the Commission may restrict eligibility in procurement implemented by other entities in indirect management to protect the EU or its Member States’ security or public order 5 . This particularly concerns strategic assets or interests, such as the integrity of digital infrastructure, communication and information systems. In addition, the Commission works hand-in-hand with several partners, including the EIB, with the aim to promote strategic procurement, especially in fields where the EU has a strategic interest. In practical terms, this implies promoting the use of price/quality ratio award criteria, environmental, social and governance standards and adopting a more strategic approach to project preparation, appraisal and selection, that considers from an early stage the EU partner countries’ objectives and the competitive advantage of EU economic operators. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/stronger-europe-world/globalgateway_en. 2 EIB procurement procedures are available at: https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20240132-guide-toprocurement-for-projects-financed-by-the-eib. 3 Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of 9 June 2021 establishing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument — Global Europe, amending and repealing Decision No 466/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU) 2017/1601 and Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 480/2009, OJ L 209, 14.6.2021, p. 1-78, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/947/oj. 4 See parliamentary question E-001172/2025. 5 Article 136 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast), OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj.”
  EU policy on screening foreign investment in strategic sectors and critical infrastructure · Trade relations with China
• 2025-01-29 “E-000413/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is not aware of a substantial increase in the issuing and use of commercial cards in the EEA (the 2020 Commission Report 1 on the impact of Regulation 2015/751 has notably shown there was no evidence of an increase in the market shares of commercial cards) but is available to further discuss with stakeholders evidence that they may have. Commercial cards fall under the scope of Regulation (EU) 2015/751 on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions; however the caps on interchange fees are limited to consumer cards, the most widely used cards, and do not apply to transactions with commercial cards. However, according to Article 2§6 of this Regulation, commercial cards are only those cards that are issued to undertakings, public sector entities or self-employed natural persons, that can only be used for business expenses, and that are charged directly to the account of the undertaking, public sector entity or self-employed natural person. As set out under Article 10§1, merchants accepting consumer cards of a given brand are free to decide not to accept commercial cards of this brand. In addition, under Article 11, they are allowed to steer cardholders to use another payment instrument through rebates, surcharges when allowed at national level, and conditional acceptance above a given amount. Under Article 10§5, issuers must ensure that commercial cards are electronically and visibly identifiable, enabling payees and payers to unequivocally identify a commercial card. The National Competent Authorities are in charge of addressing possible implementation issues with this Regulation. 1 Report on the application of Regulation (EU) 2015/751 on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions, Commission Staff Working Document of 29.6.2020 SWD(2020) 118. d8055968-b4c2-424b-b281c4c6959df19b_en”
  EU Single Market harmonisation · Financial regulation
• 2024-12-13 “E-002942/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission As part of the review of the of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism Regulation (CBAM), the Commission is assessing the need to extend CBAM to downstream products in order to ensure that the CBAM is fully effective in contributing to overall emissions reduction as well as addressing the risk that carbon leakage is pushed further down the value chain. Any such potential extension needs to be manageable and proportional to the objectives of the mechanism. The relevant analysis, based on the data collected during the transitional period, is ongoing and will be integrated in the 2025 report to the Council and the European Parliament. This report will already look into the question of export carbon leakage, building on the Commission’s 2024 Carbon Market Report.”
  Climate efforts
• 2024-11-26 “E-002665/2024 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission China is a key enabler of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. China’s support comes with a cost. It negatively affects EU-China relations. China is the largest provider of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia’s military industrial base and that are found on the battlefield in Ukraine. These goods are used in multiple types of military equipment. Without China's support, Russia would not be able to continue its military aggression with the same force. Since the start of the EU’s sanctions against Russia, the EU has placed 33 entities based in mainland China or Hong Kong on a list of specific export restrictions 1 because these entities have been found to export to Russia sanctioned dual-use and advanced tech components, including of EU origin, which are used by the Russian army to wage war against Ukraine. For the first time since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with the 15th package of sanctions, the EU also imposed fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make funds and economic resources available) on six Chinese companies and one Chinese individual supplying drone components and microelectronic components in support of Russia’s war effort. The EU will continue to take appropriate measures to avoid sanctions circumvention and stem the supply of components, including of EU origin, used by the Russian army on the battlefield, including by coordinating with like-minded partners. 1 Annex IV to Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014.”
  EU-China relations · Trade relations with China · EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• 2024-09-25 “E-001811/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission The revised Regulation setting CO 2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and vans was adopted in 2023 1 , establishing a 100% CO 2 emission reduction target for new cars and vans registered from 2035 onwards. This clear framework creates certainty for manufacturers, suppliers and investors, with sufficient lead time to plan for a fair transition. The Regulation supports the EU industry’s competitiveness, in view of the trends towards electrification observed in global markets. The impacts of the revised standards on employment had been assessed in the impact assessment underlying the Commission’s proposal 2 . A small overall increase in employment along the value chain was projected, with positive impacts in the sectors supplying to the automotive sector and limited negative impacts in the automotive sector. The Commission is aware of several studies assessing employment trends in the manufacturing sector. However, these studies do not specifically isolate the impact of the 100% emission reduction target for new cars and vans registered from 2035. Comprehensive investigations are planned, as the Regulation requires the Commission to prepare a progress report by 2025, notably covering impacts on employment 3 based on recent studies. Building on that report, the Commission will review the Regulation in 2026 4 . The current CO 2 standards’ technology-neutral approach to emissions at the tailpipe will be extended, as stated in the political guidelines of the President of the Commission 5 , to ensure that e-fuels have a role to play through a targeted amendment of the Regulation as part of the foreseen review. This will be also an opportunity to assess how to ensure a fair transition, considering changing global circumstances. 1 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/851/oj 2 Impact assessment accompanying Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening the CO 2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in line with the Union’s increased climate ambition. 3 Article 14a(f) of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 - ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/631/2024-01-01 4 Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2019/631. 5 Political Guidelines for the Commission 2024−2029.”
  Climate efforts
• 2024-09-06 “E-001649/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The term ‘extensive’ (German: flächendeckend) is neither mentioned in the Habitats Directive 1 nor in the Commission document on the ‘guidelines on concepts and definitions of Article 17 for the Habitats Directive’ which is publicly available 2 . As stated in the reply to written question E-1611/2023, pursuant to Article 1(i) of the Habitats Directive, the conservation status is considered as ‘favourable’ when population dynamics data on the species concerned indicate that it is maintaining itself on a long-term basis as a viable component of its natural habitats, the natural range of the species is neither being reduced nor is likely to be reduced for the foreseeable future, and there is, and will probably continue to be, a sufficiently large habitat to maintain its populations on a long-term basis. Germany provides one of the most transparent monitoring schemes where the progress towards achieving a good conservation status can be publicly followed 3 . The Commission document on the ‘guidelines on concepts and definitions of Article 17 for the Habitats Directive’ was established together with the Member States 4 . The current system leaves flexibility on how to assess the conservation status in certain situations, e.g. in case of transboundary populations. 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 2 https://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/habitats_art17/Reporting2025/Final Guidelines Art. 17_2019-2024.pdf/ 3 https://www.dbb-wolf.de/wolf-occurrence/evidence-in-germany/map-of-occupied-raster-cells 4 Expert Group on Reporting under the Nature Directives and the Expert Group on the Birds and the Habitats Directives (NADEG) and the Habitats Committee.”
  Large Carnivores
• 2024-08-19 “E-001522/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is committed to fight unfair and injurious trade practices. It has 198 trade defence measures in place: 88 of these concern China and 74 concern steel products. The Commission has tackled many of China’s subsidies in the steel sector by imposing antisubsidy measures. The EU is the only jurisdiction to have countervailed cross border support provided by China to companies located outside China e.g. countervailed financial support provided by China to Indonesian subsidiaries of Chinese companies exporting steel to the EU. The EU is the world’s largest steel importer with many countries supplying the EU market, in all market segments. The EU steel industry holds 78% of EU market share. The steel safeguard ensures that a diversity of origins can still supply the EU market in all market segments. Boosting steel scrap use is the fastest, cheapest contribution to decarbonise the steel industry and reduce EU’s dependence, but demand for high-quality steel scrap faces significant competition 1 . While the recycling rate for steel from end-of-life vehicles is high, the uptake of recycled steel, for instance by the automotive sector, is very limited. Hence, in the proposal on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles 2 , the Commission formulated measures to better separate materials, to encourage higher quality recycling, to enable the EU to become more self-sufficient. The same proposal will explore setting recycled content targets for steel to address investments in the uptake of more recycled materials. The Commission is working on a study to lay the ground for potential ecodesign requirements for iron and steel products under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation 3 . 1 See the measures on steel recycled content and higher quality recycling in respectively Annex 7.2.2 of the Impact Assessment of the end-of-life vehicles Regulation proposal: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD%3A2023%3A256%3AFIN&qid=1689321960044 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2023%3A451%3AFIN&qid=1689318552193 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1781&qid=1719580391746”
  Trade relations with China · State Aid
• 2024-08-19 “E-001521/2024 Answer given by Mr Gentiloni on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of the increasing concerns over the safety of products sold online, ranging from non-compliance with EU safety and environmental standards to counterfeit goods that put consumers’ health at risk. In May 2023, the Commission put forward proposals to reform the EU Customs Union. These include, among others, the establishment of an EU Customs Authority to carry out risk management at EU level, the abolition of the current threshold whereby goods valued at less than EUR 150 are exempt from customs duty, and the responsibility of e-commerce platforms to ensure that customs duties and VAT are paid at purchase and to make information about this available to customs. These proposals are currently being negotiated by the Union colegislator for approval 1 . Third-country traders and marketplaces targeting EU-based consumers must comply with consumer protection laws 2 . While it is responsibility of Member States to enforce compliance with the EU and national standards, the Commission can help coordinate enforcement where infringements concern several or most Member States under the Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 3 . In the political guidelines 2024-2029, the President of the Commission has announced that the next Commission will keep tackling the challenges with e-commerce platforms, also to ensure that consumers and businesses benefit from a level playing field based on effective customs, tax and safety controls and sustainability standards. 1 EU Customs Reform - European Commission: https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/eu-customsreform_en 2 Such as: the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 2005/29/EC (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32005L0029), and the Price Indication Directive 98/6/EC (https://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:31998L0006). 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32017R2394”
  Trade relations with China · EU policy on custom fee on non-EU imports
• “Mr. Dombrovskis, Mr. Fitto, I probably need a quarter of an hour to ask my question, but. So I'll try to be brief, though. We've spoken about the Draghi report in the plenary, and it shows that the situation of the European Union is really bad, including the recovery fund. So in spite of the recovery fund, the Draghi report says that the situation is serious in the EU and here. Now you join us here and you say that we need to learn what we've done is important and that we need to continue with that. So there seems to be conflict within the commission. I'd like to get clarity on that. We also see that the 220 million in subsidies that these aren't loans and 141 in loans, which haven't yet said that to the growth of the European economies, particularly in Central Europe. So I'd like to say that we saw what happened in Greece in 2010. In 2010, Greece went into a terrible financial crisis because it it dealt with the 2008 crisis with debts, debt. And Mr. Shola, we told the Greeks at the time, you need to reform, implement reforms you can't go on with, go with more debt. And now we're doing Exactly what the Greeks did then. And in the Greece Greeks have, uh, recently, uh, dealt with its. Excess of debt. And so they're doing really well with regard to reducing their debts.”
  EU fiscal rules and oversight of national budgets
• “(21:51:54 – 21:53:04): President, commissioner, the ethnic unity law brings us 1 together to be dealing with China and not in a positive way. Imagine an EU council would design decide on the ethnic unity of the EU. What would that mean for France or for Austria? What would it mean for our Basque colleagues in Spain? Ethnic unity is not something that we have good experience with in Europe, and we want to learn from our mistakes. We need to be able to make China comply with international law. Ethnic unity means no more languages, no more different cultures, and that is a problem of international law. And China has acknowledged international law and asked other countries to comply with international law. So we can call on China to, comply with international law because ethnic and cultural diversity is part of international law. I open the. Mark Watunga, please.”
  EU-China relations
• “Thank you chairman. We need to do better with defense and ensure a more cost effective approach. Agile is an urgently required initiative. We saw in Iran how expensive it is to defend our airspace. We welcome the commission proposal on agile. It will support innovative companies that are not currently present on the defense market so that they can move swiftly to roll out and, produce their goods. A couple of points we'd like to flag. The negotiations have been very constructive. We're working through 309 amendments. We, in our group, believe that we need autonomous systems that can be produced cheaply and swiftly. I hope we could reach agreement there. And another point we want to flag, we in parliament have proven how quickly we can act and respond to a commission, proposal. We want to move swiftly on all other regulations next year. We want to see better parliamentary scrutiny of any funds dispersed under this system. We want to be involved in looking at the various companies involved in this directive. Thank you to all groups for the constructive approach to negotiations. That is how we can be more effective and work more cheaply in the defense sector. Thank you.”
  Defence spending
• “(09:21:40 – 09:23:20): This is Stracht Timmerman, chairman. We need to do better with defense and ensure a more cost effective approach. Agile is an urgently required initiative. We saw in Iran how expensive it is to defend our airspace. We welcome the commission proposal on agile. It will support innovative companies that are not currently present on the defense market so that they can move swiftly to roll out and, produce their goods. A couple of points we'd like to flag. The negotiations have been very constructive. We're working through 309 amendments. We, in our group, believe that we need autonomous systems that can be produced cheaply and swiftly. I hope we could reach agreement there. And another point we want to flag, we in parliament have proven how quickly we can act and respond to a commission, proposal. We want to move swiftly on all other regulations next year. We want to see better parliamentary scrutiny of any funds dispersed under this system. We want to be involved in looking at the various companies involved in this directive. Thank you to all groups for the constructive approach to negotiations. That is how we can be more effective and work more cheaply in the defense sector. Thank you.”
  Defence spending
• “Madam vice president. Commissioner Kubilius €2 trillion. Up to that much. That's how much debt we can get into if we don't achieve an internal market for defence. That's what we've learned from a commission report. We will need to get into more debt. We'll have to pay more interest. If we can't put together a competitive internal market. We do need defense. We need the best defense to protect our people. What we don't need is in the Commission, parliament or the member states who are not represented, and we don't need anyone to be allowing those billions of euros to be going into the pockets of various people. We don't need that. So, Commissioner? So I say to council. Council is saying we need defense now. We need security now. Mr.. That's. We're talking here about €2 trillion. So a astronomical sum that we're talking about. We need you to defend it.”
  Defence spending
• “Vice president, Minister, Commissioner, we don't really have a problem in terms of acknowledging what's happening because 99% of speakers are saying one thing. European Union has essentially got its fingers burnt. The European Union has essentially put his hand on the hob after having left it on. And the monopolists who have raw materials, um, you know, which we need for all of our different industries, healthcare through to, um, defence. And basically we talked about that in 2023 and in 2023, we took the first decisions, um, to essentially bring the commission and the council to together to make the right decision. And, you know, when we go throughout the world, you know, you go to whatever conference, um, and, uh, commissioner underlined, there's 4.8 billion uh, is being given to NGOs, Um, instead of, um, you know, we should be using this money here in the European Union. This, um, we can use this for mining factories in Europe. And, you know, if we can, um, take down the monopoly, um, then, you know, it will be to our economic good. You know, we've had a cartel we've having to do with. And we can't let this situation, um, persist.”
  Due diligence in supply chains (environmental and human rights)
• “Yes. Vice president. Commissioner, We want to protect the climate, but in a sensible way, and with innovation, rather than a ban on internal combustion engines. Since 20 up to 2013, we had a functioning automobile industry, and then 2013 the Is from the line came to power. And together with the EPP that destroyed the whole of the industry in Europe, with these billions of euros that we've lost in the automobile industry. We would have been able to protect it, protected the climate in Europe. We would have been able to plant a lot of trees. We need more innovation. We want less ideology, which von der Leyen has brought into this Parliament. I think we can do this without bans, but rather with science and sensible ideas. Thank you.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “There's a question I'd like to ask the commission. Is your goal to have fair competition? Is that what you want as the commission, or are you more focused on the minimum price? I have the impression that if we focus on the minimum price, well, then I think the same thing will happen as what happened in the solar industry? What is the strategy that the Commission is, is aiming for fairer competition or the or the lowest price? Because I think that that that would help the the supplier because they can make better. They make lower profits than in Europe.”
  EU Competition policy
• “Vice president, Commissioner Dombrovskis. President Lagarde, in your term in office, inflation has been higher than ever. Unfortunately, we've spoken about it a lot here in this house. At the end of the day, I think. It's okay when you make mistakes, if you correct them and you have gained my trust in recent years, you stopped the sale of bonds. The treaty has been respected. That, um, that's the right path to take to create trust. And now. Mr. Dombrovskis, you were listening carefully as well. We need to talk about banking union. But a banking union has to make sure that not everything is put in one Pot. But you said clearly we need a simplification agenda. But we need a deregulation agenda, Mr. Dombrovskis. Be be be brave about that. We need deregulation so that the economy can work properly. We've got the stable euro courtesy of Mr. Lagarde. We don't need any other new tasks.”
  European Banking Union
• “Yes. Madam president. Commissioner. Up until 2019, the EU had a healthy, well functioning automotive industry. And then along came Mrs. von der Leyen and our automotive industry ended up in crisis. And unfortunately, the European Parliament rubber stamped these bad decisions. Um, and let's stop making these mistakes now, Commissioner, have the courage to give our car manufacturers the opportunity to sell their cars. Its people choose a smartphone on the basis Of which one is going to last the longest, whether they need it or not. And it's the same with the cars. Give the car manufacturers a break.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Enormous debts being pushed through the back door, which haven't actually achieved anything. What would you say to that, Commissioner? Another question Commissioner. Something else which I already miss with the RF. Which one of the shortcomings is not only that we're contracting new debt, but also that the European Parliament does not have any right to actually scrutinise what happens to the money. You said yourself that the commission itself is not in a position to properly scrutinise this, and the European Public Prosecutor will have to be called in to see where fraud might have taken place. In member states, budgetary control is one of the powers of the Parliament Commissioner. We have set up how is it possible? The Commission has set up a mechanism which means that we, as the European Parliament, can't see how money is being spent. Another commissioner. Commissioner, we might have the impression that debt in the European Union is being used to fund dysfunctional systems in member states, rather than reform the idea of laying a. High speed internet lines, for example, shouldn't be part of this. That's a member state responsibility.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• “Chair. Thank you very much for the floor. I was on time, but I seem to have missed the commission presentation. Now, when it comes to the minimum import pricing, I think at first glance seems positive and is going in the right direction. But at the end of the day, when we look at the developments And the manipulation of the Chinese currency, which really should be higher. I don't know if we can rely in the long term on this minimum pricing. We have to look at the whole supply chain, which could end up disappearing from Europe if these cars are being put together in China. And we might not be manufacturing cars in Europe at all in the future. So I think this is a good transition for half a year, a year. But we urgently need a solution for our economy to be competitive, to still have that production in Europe. I think that has to be the target. So we need to work together with the Chinese side, but we don't want to have the same shock in the automotive industry as we had in the solar industry and other industries. So I am pleased that there's been an intensive exchange with the commission. But I think it really is important. And I'll say it again, the minimum pricing is not the solution. We need to have WTO based rules. That's really the only solution to help create that value in the EU. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with China
• “Dear Vice President, Commissioner. From peace you learn how to be able to defend yourselves, and there are certain member States that have realised that they are going to have to, um, invest more in defence. They saw this 2024, 2025 and did so to the tune of about 7 billion. We can't have member states in the European Union that are not, uh, that are placing obstacles in the path of the European internal market, which means that there are others who have to pay more for the armaments, the defence products. We know, of course, that as a result of the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the defence and security landscape has changed. We have to modernize our defence industry, and we need NATO as a partner because we can learn from them. Mr. Kobielus, I wish you all good luck and strength. Do go along to the European Council on Thursday and tell the member States that they cannot do anything. Other things have to change. They've got a strong ally in the European Parliament, and the member states have to understand that we have to have a modern defence system.”
  Defence spending
• “Vice president. Commissioner. Commissioner. If parents are having to bury their children, something is going wrong in the European Union. It's not the right order. And it shouldn't be the case that the mother of a murdered daughter feels that she has to fight forever to explain here in the European Parliament what had happened to her daughter. Something has gone wrong in the European Union Commissioner, and it's not acceptable that we are now starting to deal with this. Um, in legal terms, the internet is not a public playground and the internet is not a marketplace on the internet. Companies earn money and those companies have a responsibility. It's not a free public space. Every second money is being earned. And we don't just need one conference after another. We need a commission president that really deals with these companies to protect our children. It's not acceptable that children are dying in the European Union Act now and stop talking. Thank you.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Mr. Dombrovskis, thank you very much for the information you've given us. I'm a bit surprised. In fact, my first question would be to ask you whether you've actually read the report from the European Court of Auditors. Perhaps I could quote some passages from that report. This is I'm not trying to say what I think figures. So a lack of orientation. That's one of the conclusions the ECA ACA came to lack of transparency in defining objectives. Court of auditors. Once again insufficient oversight and mechanisms from the ACO. Once again, at the end of its report, it says quite clearly that it's not clear at all what European taxpayers will be getting for their money. This is not a comment or judgment coming from a political group or a political party. It's coming from the ECA. So I don't want to get involved in party politics here, but let's be scientific about this. During a recent meeting, we had Professor Garicano, who you worked closely with in setting up the FEF, a passionate advocate of the RF. He now says this is one of the greatest mistakes the European Union could make.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• “Yeah. Madam president, Commissioner, president of the Commission. Welcome to this House. We are talking about the summit at the end of the month. Uh, president von der Leyen, there are three things the Parliament can tell you. Starting with the economy, we have been fighting for, uh, mining of rare earths in the European Union. We need more. Rare earth mining and other mining in the European Union. 98% of the rare earths we need come from China. 98%. That's a total dependency. The only way to put ourselves into a better negotiating position is to do our own mining. So we need a European mining program. A mining task force. Second security policy. I think it's very important for you to tackle what the Chinese Foreign minister told Mrs. Kallas last week. We have to do something about that. We in the European Union have made mistakes. It's very important. It's very important that we take advantage of our strengths and that includes human rights. So president von der Leyen, you tell them what our position is on human rights.”
  EU-China relations
• “My colleague, Mr. Youngblood, you said quite a lot, but nothing really about the regulation. Is there anything positive you can say about the regulation, where we lay down the fact that we cannot abolish cash because Member states have to take into consideration the availability of cash if there's an emergency, if environmental or civil emergency that is guaranteed. Have you have you not read the legislation? Could you just say one word about this regulation which says we will always have cash?”
  Cash as means of payment
• “Vice president. Madam Commissioner, with the current regulation before us, I think we're going in the right direction because the Commission has done what the politicians in the EPP has have suggested and written it down. So if we have a positive result in the coming year with this regulation that member States should have emergency plans so that in emergencies the citizens can have access to cash. That is is clear evidence that cash is not going to be abolished. So we now can take stop with this mindless populism that we're about to abolish cash. But I think this regulation goes even further, because it can't be the case that there is there's less, um, infrastructure for cash. You can't get rid of ATMs and bank branches, etc. if you have to guarantee that this infrastructure exists so that you can have access to cash. So the commission has listened to the Parliament and and we're not going to listen to the populists. Thank you.”
  Cash as means of payment
• “Thank you very much for this briefing. It was good to hear that you went to China. So can I just ask you something about your feelings? How did it feel in China? Is China willing to stop these market restrictions for European companies? Are they willing to open up? So then there will be reciprocity. Or are they using the new weaknesses we have because we're so dependent on the US. And does it make sense to become so dependent on China. Talking about more, uh, Chinese investment into the EU. And then there was a recent trip to the US. And if we look at 2018, and if we look at the US and China, we know what Trump did then. And then we got to January 2020. There was the one deal situation between the US and China. So what do you think about all that? Do you think in the near future there might be a deal between China and the US? And where will we as the EU be once, uh, if that happens, that deal between the US and China.”
  EU-China relations
• “Thank you very much for the floor I am increasingly surprised during the working process my feeling is that we should send this back to the commission I felt like that from the beginning. So the commission seems to be creating more regulation and it seems to be stuck in an old working pattern rather than looking at the reality of the economy in Europe. What do we need we need cheaper building we need less planning cost we don't need more bureaucracy. So I think the compromise proposed is going in the wrong direction and then the delegated acts I really hope that these well this has finally been understood by the commission that we don't as a parliament don't wanna go down this line and I will try to do everything possible to help find a majority not to allow these delegated acts through. So no more green light for the commission we have to leave the economy in the real world to work and the member states have to know which direction we're going in. We also have to talk about commercial property if it's a swim bat swim pool rather is that the right kind of point to create more regulation so we need more swimming pools we need more social housing that's what should be in this that's what we have to be talking about. So with regard to the Dayton every month to have to send statistics on new build I think anybody asked with this has no idea what the market is like out there at the moment I would be very happy if we had so much building going on that we had to have new statistics in every month it's not in keeping with the reality. So I hope now that we'll be able to have intensive discussions on this and really to be able to draw up a report which reduces risk we don't want to put any more risk in and with regard to new build when coperty is being newly built it doesn't have you have to automatically have statistics but with the old buildings being pushed into some kind of a pattern that has been thought up by the commission which means it's difficult for people who want to make changes to the buildings in order to bring them up to date so I think in parliament we want to find a majority where we should have rejected this commission's proposal but we want to take it into the right direction.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Vice president. Commissioner. The fine of almost €3 billion for a Google is correct and important because it sends a clear signal. No one, but no one is above European law, and it's important that we make that clear. Another important signal is that the European internal market needs fairness. When we talk about fairness on the single market, we need a single market of regulation. We have great companies in Europe. The problem is in the digital sector, I don't have capital for these companies. There is so much bureaucracy and they go to the United States. And so take the courage and use this €3 billion to support all of the startups in Europe and take the courage, give us the right of initiative in the European Parliament for the digital single market. Use this courage. We are prepared in the European Parliament. The Commission needs to have the courage to give us this power. Thank you.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Madam Commissioner. We're talking about Mr. Draghi's report. I'm not a friend of Mr. Draghi and his politics, particularly if you look back to whatever it takes and the crisis that the eurozone went through. I mean, I think his positions can be questionable, but the Draghi report really does show up. What? A dead end. Mrs. von der Leyen has taken the European Union into. Just imagine. The international markets will grow because there is a greater population in the world. The population is growing, profits are growing. It's a context of international growth. But the European Union seems to have been stuck in stagnation. Well, Madam Commissioner, you're saying how can we get Europe's savers to put their money where it's. It could do a better job. Well, that's not our job as politicians. That's the planned economy, not the market economy. Mrs. Lalucq, your comments on deregulation make it very clear where we're heading. In the report, it states very clearly that there will be a European deposit insurance System. This is not suitable for German savers if the German government is blocking this. Well, there's a reason German savers should not pay twice for deposit insurance.”
  European Deposit Insurance Scheme
• “Thank you very much, Madam Vice President, Minister, Commissioner, thank you very much for being here today in Parliament. We need a savings and investments union. Why? Because millions of Europeans invest their money on the stock exchange, and they could lose all of their money because someone believes they need to start a war. We need to allow people to invest their money in Europe. We saw this in 2007 and 2008. Many Europeans bought these bad bonds from the United States, and then they ended up in financial difficulty. And when we shouldn't just pursue the well intentioned path of the Green Deal. No, we need an ambitious savings and investment union, which focuses on competitiveness, which focuses on economic cooperation and not just ideology. Therefore, we need a better than a one size fits all approach. No, we need to see lots of diversity. Thank you.”
  EU approach to sustainability criteria in private investments
• “President. Honourable vice president, Commissioner thank you so much for your contributions. It's precisely as you said. We as European Commissioners, the European Parliament, we want to try and bring our relationship with India to a higher level, a level. Of course, this step is been taking is being taken much too late. We should have been cooperating with India. And we've been saying this in the Parliament and in the member states, but we have ignored this. But let us be credible. Of course we want to cooperate with India. Of course we would like to see India as the largest democracy, and we want them to further develop with us. But a win win situation. But our credibility must not be lost if we have sanctions against half the world because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I mean, we need to be consistent with India, and our credibility as Democrats must not be lost. So try to get a good agreement with India. We in the Parliament will support you pretty much.”
  EU-India relations