Andreas GLÜCK

Policy topics Andreas GLÜCK is active on

What Andreas GLÜCK has said (16)

• 2026-01-08 “Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission 23.3.2026 Written question According to the relevant definitions, incomplete cabinets cannot be placed on the market or put into service as ‘refrigerating appliance with a direct sales function’ in the sense of Articles 2 of Commission Regulations (EU) 2019/2024 [1] and (EU) 2019/2018 [2] , since some essential elements, for example doors, are missing. Only products complying with the applicable requirements, either at the time of ‘placing on the market’ or ‘putting into service’, are subject to the regulations. However, the fact that incomplete cabinets are not within the scope of the regulations does not prevent free trade and supply on the market. According to the Commission’s interpretation of the relevant rules, ‘putting into service’ should be understood as the moment at which economic operators need to demonstrate compliance with the applicable requirements. It is relevant, for example, for products which can only be used after an assembly, an installation or other manipulation has been carried out. In case a body of a refrigerator is separately ordered from the doors, the natural or legal person who ‘puts the product into service’, has the same responsibilities as a manufacturer who ‘places a product on the market’. The Commission provides further information in the Blue Guide [3] . It means that this natural or legal person must ensure that the product complies with the above-mentioned Regulations and that the appropriate conformity assessment procedure has been carried out. [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/2024/oj/eng. [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2019/2018/oj/eng. [3] Blue Guide on the implementation of EU products rules, COM (2022/C 247/01), OJ C 247 of 29.06.2022 (p. 38).”
  Ecodesign & durability
• 2025-10-31 “E-004282/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission As the Commission has previously indicated, salt is an important industrial input. While the Commission does not collect data on recent price developments for high-purity vacuum salt, it examines supply concentration in its assessment of the criticality of raw materials 1 . If the thresholds established in the Critical Raw Materials Act 2 are met, the Commission will consider the material critical and can take measures aiming at supply diversification. In case of high supply concentration within the EU, competition policy may be relevant. Competition rules, in particular Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), apply to the sector of high-purity vacuum salt. As regards any abuse of dominance, the Commission would apply its standard criteria under Article 102 TFEU 3 . It would first define the relevant market. Next, it would evaluate whether a firm holds a dominant position. If dominance is found, the Commission examines whether the dominant company’s conduct constitutes an abuse of dominance. If a violation is found, the Commission may order the concerned company to cease the conduct and may levy fines or require remedies. If they suspect that a specific practice restricts competition, citizens and companies can lodge a formal complaint to the Commission 4 . If relevant, this could include information about developments related to high-purity vacuum salt. In addition to public enforcement (under Regulation 1/2003 5 ), private damages actions remain available in national courts. 1 The Commission plans to update the list of critical raw materials by 24 May 2027 in line with Article 4 of the Critical Raw Materials Act. See for background also the latest https://single-marketeconomy.ec.europa.eu/publications/study-critical-raw-materials-eu-2023-final-report_en. 2 Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020, OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024. 3 See for further information on the Commission’s assessment under Article 102 of the Treaty the draft guidelines on the application of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to abusive exclusionary conduct by dominant undertakings (‘the draft Article 102 Guidelines’), https://competitionpolicy.ec.europa.eu/antitrust-and-cartels/legislation/application-article-102-tfeu_en. 4 See for further information: https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/antitrust-andcartels/procedures/complaints_en. 5 Council Regulation (EU) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, pp. 1–25.”
  EU Competition policy · Sourcing of critical raw materials
• 2025-10-27 “E-004225/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is fully aware of the importance of providing legal certainty for vehicle manufacturers and type-approval authorities with sufficient lead time for the application of the second package of Euro 7 implementing acts and is committed to full alignment with the relevant United Nations (UN) Regulations. The technical content of the new requirements for brake particle emissions and battery durability requirements have been endorsed in October 2025 in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) 1 , providing manufacturers, authorities and technical services with clarity on the future Euro 7 requirements to start the testing. The Commission will do its utmost efforts to have the secondary legislation under Euro 7 adopted as soon as possible after the formal adoption of the new UN Regulations by the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, which is expected in March 2026. The Commission counts on the support from all relevant actors for an early publication of the secondary legislation. The timetable set out in the Euro 7 Regulation remains achievable. 1 Meeting documents are available from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) website: https://unece.org/transport/events/wp29grpe-working-party-pollution-and-energy-93rd-session.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• 2025-07-16 “E-002924/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission As announced in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Working Plan for electrical switchgear, the Commission will monitor closely the developments under Regulation (EU) 2024/573 on fluorinated greenhouse gases 1 before considering setting ecodesign requirements. If it were decided to establish ecodesign carbon footprint requirements for such products, it would imply that a method for calculating life cycle emissions would be established 2 . Switchgear at voltage levels for which the restriction starting dates are still several years away, can still be ordered with sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) if the putting into operation occurs before those dates. Conversely, for switchgear where the restrictions apply, the choice of using SF6 is only available in cases where no alternatives are available. Regulation (EU) 2024/573 includes derogations in case of non-availability of equipment or if there is low competition in that market. These derogations are linked to the outcome of the tendering process. If switchgear compliant with the general restrictions for the specific use is not available, switchgear using an insulation or breaking medium with a global warming potential (GWP) lower than 1000 is allowed, that is to say fluoronitrile mixtures. The transmission system operators may only put into operation equipment with SF6 where it is proven that such equipment using fluoronitrile is not available for the specific use and location 3 . 1 Regulation (EU) 2024/573 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 February 2024 on fluorinated greenhouse gases, OJ L, 2024/573, 20.2.2024. 2 COM(2025) 187 final eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0187. 3 For more information, see FAQ on new switchgear rules https://climate.ec.europa.eu/document/download/cfe52d31-9203-435d-b04362f74900fd96_en?filename=policy_f-gases_stakeholders_switchgear_faq_en.pdf.”
  F-gases regulation
• 2025-06-05 “E-002265/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission In assessing the role of a methodology for registering heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) running exclusively on CO2 neutral fuels in conformity with Union law and with the Union’s climateneutrality objective, the Commission needs to build on the work undertaken on such a methodology as regards light-duty vehicles. However, at this point discussions in the Technical Committee for Motor Vehicles (TCMV) on such a methodology for light-duty vehicles have not been conclusive among Member States, and it was agreed to come back to the issue in the context of Euro 7, also for the sake of legislative simplification. Therefore, the Commission is currently still working on the assessment of the role of a similar methodology for heavy-duty vehicles and is not in the position to confirm any possible follow-up steps, including on a possible targeted amendment of the HDV Standards.”
  Road transport environmental policy · Biofuels (RED II)
• 2025-06-03 “P-002226/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The Commission agrees that salt is an important industrial input. Salt is however currently not assessed regarding its criticality. The Commission plans to update the list of critical raw materials by 24 May 2027 in line with Article 4 of the Critical Raw Materials Act 1 . The technical assessment according to the methodology defined in Annex II of the Regulation will start in the second half of 2025, which will include a decision on the scope of screened raw materials. Regarding the high market-entry barriers, the Commission published its Single Market Strategy 2 in May 2025, which addresses these issues among others. Several provisions in the Critical Raw Materials Act could benefit the production of all raw materials in the EU, such as better land-use planning, updated exploration programmes, increased permitting capacity or heightened awareness of the importance of raw materials both in the national administrations and general population, even though there are no directly applicable provisions. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1252-20240503. 2 COM(2025)500.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials
• 2024-11-11 “P-002492/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission It is the understanding of the Commission that the derogation in Article 13(11) of Regulation (EU) 2024/573 1 applies to any procurement procedures carried out before the respective prohibition dates in Article 13(9) of that Regulation and until two years after those dates. This interpretation has been shared with the Member States in the Committee on fluorinated greenhouse gases set up in accordance with Article 34 of the Regulation. Furthermore, Article 13(12) is applicable irrespective of the periods mentioned in Article 13(11), meaning that if it is proven by a relevant procurement procedure that no switchgear with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 1000 could be obtained for the specific use, then the putting into operation of a switchgear with a GWP of 1000 or more would be allowed. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R0573”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-21 “P-002185/2024 Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2465 1 was adopted in the framework of the revision of marketing standards for eggs. A number of changes were introduced compared to previous rules laid down under Commission Regulation (EC) 589/2008 2 , most of them to provide more flexibility. For free-range eggs, the new provisions allow for keeping the label ‘free range eggs’ even if daytime access to open-air runs is temporarily restricted on the basis of EU legislation. In Regulation (EC) 589/2008, the marketing of those eggs as ‘free-range’ was limited to cases where the restriction to access open air did not exceed a maximum period of 16 weeks. No change has been introduced with regard to adverse weather events. 1 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2465 of 17 August 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards marketing standards for eggs, and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008, C/2023/5509, OJ L, 2023/2465, 8.11.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/2465/2024-10-14 2 Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 of 23 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/589/2017-11-25”
  EU requirements on animal welfare for farmers
• “Dear Commissioner, thank you very much. The topic of medical devices is really, really close to my heart. Yesterday I've been working in a hospital on patients with medical devices. And today I can sit here and to discuss with you medical devices in Parliament. So I'm really, really keen on working on this. I always try to bring those two worlds together to bring this political world together with this real hospital world out there. Therefore, I also organised an exhibition in Strasbourg. Um, already this year, What we've seen is that under the current MDR, a lot of medical devices have disappeared from the market, often due to bureaucratic burdens and not to safety concerns. And this is a problem. Patient safety goes first. I completely agree. Agree to what? What my colleague Wilkins said before. But let's not always make laws stricter if somebody is breaking the law. Like for example, with what you described before, with the breast implants, with the silicone, it doesn't make sense to make the law stricter. We have maybe to go for better controls, but it doesn't make sense if somebody is breaking the law to make the law stricter, we have to go for better controls. And this is the problem with the current. And this revision now is a great opportunity. And I want to say time is of the essence because every single day we are losing.”
  Medical devices
• “Thank you. Chair. Dear colleagues, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Manfredi. Ethanol can be a real threat to life. And as a medical doctor, you can be sure that I'm aware of alcohol induced diseases. And I have seen a lot of people being affected by alcohol abuse. But at the very same time, ethanol is a blessing. Every week for a couple of hours. I still work in a hospital in Germany, and the first thing I do when I enter is I disinfect my hands. Also, in between patients, I disinfect my hands to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses through my hands. Of course, there might be alternative substances if you want to disinfect something, but very often those alternatives, for example isopropanol, are more toxic than ethanol. And ethanol as a disinfectant has huge advantages. It's easy to use, it's fast, it's easily accessible, and it's less toxic than its alternatives. Sure, it's essential for healthcare workers and patients. Now, imagine telling doctors and nurses in hospitals across Europe that this basis routine could soon be classified as a CRM. Then this important substance would not be accessible to pregnant doctors or nurses or minors who are there for a traineeship. Also, the use of ethanol disinfectant is at stake for grandchildren when they visit their immunosuppressed grandparents, for example, or ethanol also helps the fight against health care associated infections.”
  Drinking regulation
• “On top of that, the proposal on clean corporate fleets is extremely ambitious in my regard. Way too strict. This is a de facto ban on the internal combustion engine through the back door. We definitely have to talk about this again. What do we need instead? First point in my regard we need flexibilities. They must be recognised as soon as possible at the latest in 2030. But even better before second point, we need contributions from renewable fuels and low carbon steel and they must not be artificially kept. And I want to say to Timo Wilken, if those fuels, by the way, are too expensive, renewable fuels are too expensive, nobody is forced to use them. It's just an option, so no harm is done. Third point, the corporate fleets proposal. We really have to fundamentally reconsider that. My last sentence if you are really, really serious with technological openness, we must reflect this in our legislation and in how we do things, not only in our speeches. Thank you.”
  Corporate fleet electrification: binding zero-emission quotas vs. voluntary approach · Road transport environmental policy
• “Dear colleagues, if energy becomes unaffordable, then we league prosperity. Now it doesn't do it with great fanfare, but does so silently. But is not climate protection. There's a problem. It is these dual rules. We've got bans and high standards and certain technological proclivities. And then we have got, on the other hand, the ETS instrument. Now, I don't think everybody from the ECR is still here, but they are against the system. Ets means that we have target objectives, but those who have the best and most effective solutions should implement them. And that is precisely what we should be doing throughout the world. Look at affordable ways of protecting the climate globally, and that way we can secure our prosperity and added value. And that is why we need Fewer prohibitions and more ETS. Thank you.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “Commissioner chair. When Commission President von der Leyen announced a return to technological openness, many employees. Workers want me to wait. Wait. Okay, actually, I'm talking to the commissioner, so if you don't mind, I would like to start over again. When Commission President von der Leyen announced the return to a technological neutral approach, many employees, workers, companies, consumers felt a real relief. But when we look at the commission proposal today of the automotive package, this relief has turned into disappointment. Yes, the 2035 tailpipe target has been reduced and lowered from 100% to 90%. But those flexibilities come with very, very strict conditions. The remaining 10% must be compensated 3% defined with defined renewable fuels, 7% low carbon steel produced in the European Union. And this raises questions. Serious questions why flexibilities can only be used after 2034 and not already today. Why not earlier? Why do we not allow all renewable fuels that are compliant with the Renewable Energy Directive? So only biogas and bio and advanced biofuels. And why do we set arbitrary caps when renewable fuels already on the market today exceed your 3% limit? Commissioner, you said you are in favour of launching green steel. I am in favour of the same thing, but it doesn't really make sense to put your foot on the accelerator on one on one side, and you put the other foot on the brake on the other side by implementing those caps.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Madam president, Commissioner, I have to confess that I am somewhat angry. The union in recent days celebrated the fact that the commission in its ban on combustion engines is a sort of a sort of sort of ring back. But I think this the proposals, if you look at it closely, is is at a minimum in terms of any correction from for months we've been talking about technology neutral, and now we're talking about a 90% target in terms of CO2 emissions. In other words, in terms of technological neutrality, we're talking about 10% only. I think the commission is sticking to its dogma when it comes to CO2 emissions. In terms of battery production, electrification. I've got nothing against battery cars, but I think you can't confuse the issue. The contribution of renewable fuels and green steel is, you know, target of 10%. It's not enough. We want the best solutions that we can produce in terms of technological neutrality. We have to fight for the position of the Parliament and fight for the future of the manufacturing industry and for jobs.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “We as medical doctors are losing Medical devices in the treatment of patients, and therefore time is of the essence. The revision goes into the right direction. I want to say to the commission, you really did a good job here, but it is our job to make something good even better so that we mentioned article 17. Um, there are a lot of reasons why there might be single use items in a hospital. May it because I don't really need the item very often in a hospital and sterilization is too complicated or whatever. At the end of the day, the customers of the medical devices, producers, they decide what they want to buy. So it's not actually only the producers of medical devices. So here we have to work on it. Other thing is rule 11, I believe that like with low risk medical software, this is over often over classified. We really have to work on this. Also, please keep in mind the overlaps with other legislation. So for example, when we talk about PFAs, we must not like accelerate on one hand and break it down on the other side. As I wanted to say, patient safety is like in the center. I'm looking forward. I'm really keen to work on this topic with you together. Time is of the essence, as I said. Thank you very much.”
  Medical devices
• “Thank you. Chair. Dear colleagues, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Manfredi. Ethanol can be a real threat to life. And as a medical doctor, you can be sure that I'm aware of alcohol induced diseases. And I have seen a lot of people being affected by alcohol abuse. But at the very same time, ethanol is a blessing. Every week for a couple of hours. I still work in a hospital in Germany, and the first thing I do when I enter is I disinfect my hands. Also, in between patients, I disinfect my hands to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses through my hands. Of course, there might be alternative substances if you want to disinfect something, but very often those alternatives, for example isopropanol, are more toxic than ethanol. And ethanol as a disinfectant has huge advantages. It's easy to use, it's fast, it's easily accessible, and it's less toxic than its alternatives. Sure, it's essential for healthcare workers and patients. Now, imagine telling doctors and nurses in hospitals across Europe that this basis routine could soon be classified as a CRM. Then this important substance would not be accessible to pregnant doctors or nurses or minors who are there for a traineeship. Also, the use of ethanol disinfectant is at stake for grandchildren when they visit their immunosuppressed grandparents, for example, or ethanol also helps the fight against health care associated infections.”
  Drinking regulation