Irena JOVEVA

Policy topics Irena JOVEVA is active on

What Irena JOVEVA has said (30)

• 2025-07-04 “E-002736/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is monitoring closely the allocation of state advertising in Hungary and its impact on media pluralism. This is particularly due to the Commission’s repeated recommendations addressed to Hungary in the annual Rule of Law Report 1 to adopt measures to ensure fair and transparent distribution of advertising expenditure by the state and stateowned companies. These practices continue to raise concerns. As mentioned by the Honourable Members, the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which applies from 8 August 2025, provides a new legal framework to address such concerns. In particular, Article 25, lays down requirements for public funds for state advertising to be awarded in accordance with transparent, objective, proportionate and non-discriminatory criteria and by means of open, proportionate and non-discriminatory procedures. The Commission is working to ensure that Member States are prepared for the application of the EMFA. It is engaging with stakeholders, including national authorities and the European Board for Media Services, and it is preparing for the effective enforcement of the legislation. In this context, the Commission values the continued dialogue with the European Parliament, including through the Working Group on the European Media Freedom Act. The Commission remains committed to upholding the integrity of the internal market and applying EU State aid rules. Upon receiving State aid complaints, the Commission assesses them in accordance with the applicable State aid rules. 1 Rule of Law Report 2025, country chapter for Hungary, https://commission.europa.eu/publications/2025-rulelaw-report-communication-and-country-chapters_en.”
  EU support for traditional (non-digital) media · Rule of law in Hungary
• 2025-06-04 “E-002259/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The Critical Raw Materials Act 1 specifies that, in order to be recognised as a Strategic Project, a relevant project must comply with a set of criteria, including its sustainability, notably to monitor, prevent and minimise environmental impacts and socially adverse impacts. Independent experts assess the projects' technical, financial, and sustainability-related aspects and verify whether they meet the Critical Raw Materials Act criteria. After their selection, project promoters are obliged to submit a report every two years on the state of their project and to notify the Commission about any relevant changes to it. The Commission can also ask for information directly. If the conditions for a listed project change and it no longer fulfils all the criteria, the Commission will consult the Critical Raw Materials Board and the project promoter on the matter. The Commission can withdraw its recognition of a listed project. Serbia’s national legislation is in the process of being aligned to that of the EU, including in the area of the rule of law, and on environmental, labour and social standards. This also means requirements to conduct environmental assessments and public consultations. In addition, meaningful engagement with local communities is key in this context. Serbia’s progress in all these areas is closely followed by the Commission as part of the accession negotiations with Serbia. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02024R1252-20240503.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials · EU policy on social & environmental impact of foreign investments
• 2025-03-12 “E-001056/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission The Commission Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health 1 aims to support children and young people. Under one of its flagship initiatives the Commission collaborates with UNICEF to develop a prevention toolkit as a guidance tool for Member States’ policymakers on how to improve children’s health, including the impact of digital tools and social media. The President of the Commission announced as one of the Commission’s priorities to address the impact of social media and excessive screen time, especially on young people, and their wellbeing and mental health 2 . To have an evidence-based discussion on this, an EU-wide inquiry on the broader impacts of social media on wellbeing will be carried out. The exact format, content, and timeline are currently being discussed. The Digital Services Act obliges providers of online platforms to ensure high privacy, safety, and security on their service. It is supported and complemented by the Better Internet for Kids strategy (BIK+) 3 . Additionally, the upcoming Digital Fairness Act, planned to be proposed in 2026 will address consumer protection, tackling issues such as unfair influencer marketing 4 . The Commission Recommendation on integrated child protection systems 5 calls on Member States to act to protect children's physical and mental integrity by strengthening child protection systems and providing comprehensive support, including prevention and psychological support. These combined efforts aim to foster a nourishing environment for young people, mitigating mental health challenges from social pressures, including fast fashion. The Commission remains devoted to comprehensive strategies addressing youth mental health issues. 1 COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS on a comprehensive approach to mental health COM/2023/298 final. 2 Political Guidelines (p. 20): https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf. 3 The BIK platform and network of Safer Internet Centres across EU aims to raise awareness on online risks including on mental health of young people. More information at: https://better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en. 4 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/707d7404-78e5-4aef-acfa82b4cf639f55_en?filename=Commission%20Staff%20Working%20Document%20Fitness%20Check%20on%2 0EU%20consumer%20law%20on%20digital%20fairness.pdf. 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32024H1238.”
  EU policy on mental health · EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “And the second part of my questions go to Mr. Cerutti. Um, you have highlighted in the very beginning that labor productivity in America is higher because of digitalization. So digitalization and use of algorithmic management are not one and the same. So I'm wondering if you could connect the increased Increase productivity directly to algorithmic management specifically. And regarding the. I mean, yeah, we got in between the info that the omnibus is is not coming. So that's coming a little bit, or at least for me. But saying that digital tools are overregulated when we know that we have been lagging behind the increased digitalization and related issues largely connected to persons rights is scary to me at least. So I'm wondering, how would you apply minimal standards, minimal rules for the use of algorithmic management and AI in the workplace without regulation? And how would you also then apply the mentioned social dialogue, which is of course needed if you have no legal rights to highlight the noticed issues so no one would be liable? Thank you very much.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Good evening, Commission colleagues. Flowers, chocolates, nice gestures. All this was yesterday's International Women's Day. And what's the reality of these women? Not only yesterday but the day before and today? The reality is 12% gender pay gap 25% pension gap gap 28% of women have part time jobs, mainly because they have to take care of other people. If you think this is a coincidence, it is not a coincidence. From the very beginning of the European integration, we have the principle of equal pay for equal work. This is part of the treaties. But after 70 years, this gender inequality is still present in all sectors of our work and life. And this inequality is everywhere. It's systemic. It's part of the system. We see it in pay gaps that have no connection with how work is demanding. We see women still have worse paid jobs that are undervalued, underestimated. We also see that women are the ones who Who have part time jobs or have other specific types of jobs because they also are carers. They care for other people. So this is why we need much more public investment in care facilities and infrastructure. Especially, we have to make sure that we have cost effective care for children. This will enable women to take part at jobs, in work, and this is how they can make progress in their careers. And this is how we can again accelerate women's entering jobs. And this is how women can have better possibilities to be CEOs and leading positions.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Today's debate is very illustrative of today's reality. On the one hand, some of us realize that this gender inequality in pays as well as in pensions has to be eradicated without any excuse. Otherwise, we won't improve the position of women in our society. On the other hand, we have those who still claim that this inequality is a consequence of the individual choices of women. Sometimes it feels like some would rather have us only giving birth, taking care of our families and our society, and quietly accept lower wages. I have one bit of news for you. Women aren't a statistic, and we're not only here to give birth and then have to listen about why it's completely normal to earn less. We represent a 50% of our societies. The good 50%. And of course, you can interpret this as you want, literally or figuratively. We're innovators, teachers, researchers, presidents, pilots, doctors, soldiers, policewomen, as well as salespersons, administrators, and politicians. Why wouldn't we accept a higher salary? And why would we adopt a pay gap if some of our mothers or grandmothers would hear these arguments, they would ask themselves whether they're hearing everything correctly? My grandmother was a cleaning lady, but I would like to say something that will honor her memory. The generations of women before weren't taking care of our societies. Just to listen to these arguments today, that inequality is only a consequence of their choices. Dear colleagues, I am also a mother today, and I hope that my daughter won't have to listen to this sort of arguments in the future, that you will be able to live in a society where equal work is equally paid without these relative arguments. Equality is not something trivial. It's not ideology, and it's not an administrative burden. Equality is the foundation of a fair society. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Also, another problem for women is that unpaid work is mainly the problem for women. They have to take care of children and other family members. This is eight weeks of unpaid work. Paid work per year, and this is also undervalued and underestimated. And colleagues, we have to be very honest. If this was work for men, this would be financially rewarded. I think we all agree on this. So this is why we have to make sure that this part of women's life has to be also taken into account with pension gaps. We have to address the Unequal Discrimination and Transparency directive is very important. We need a European agreement on care, and I like that the Commission also took this into account in their strategy for gender equality strategy. But we also have to have political will for implementing all this. And I would like to thank my fellow Co-rapporteur. Thank you. I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs and all the other assistants and everybody else for all the work so far. And also, I would like to have to be clear, the International Women's Day is very important. Um, nice words. Uh, chocolates and flowers. It's all great. Uh, but what women actually need is not only symbols. We need equality in practice. And by supporting this report. I'm sure that we can be one step closer to this actual equality in practice. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much, chair. Dear colleagues, dear guests, I see very familiar, friendly faces today. It's nice to see you. We had numerous discussion during MFA on editorial independence in article six, fighting for literally every sentence in the recitals. And for now, I must say, too, that I do not see the impact yet. And In a lot of cases, actually, this situation is worse to be very honest. Slovakia is prime example but not the only one, and it all shows how much more political will we will need to achieve the goals of amfAR or the media freedom as such in Slovakia. Capture of public service media. After amfAR, adoption was a disgrace, and it came following the exact same approach as in Hungary, Poland and even my country a few years ago, but with another government Polish example still shows us how difficult it is to restore the freedom once it's lost. And we who have experienced these attempts know how important it is to defend press freedom. So when all articles of amfAR are fully in force, we should demand infringements immediately and unconditionally. And my question is, general one how we can assist journalists media outlets to start these proceedings, to defend their right from article 21 or article six, because we we know it all depends on the will of the Commission, but also of the journalists or the courage of the journalists, if I may say it like that. And going beyond amfAR to conclude, in the area which amfAR does not address is the I. So another digital field developing faster than our thinking how public interests should play a role in it. So do we need legal, maybe market based mechanism for predictability and fairness, or how to ensure fair remuneration, how to ensure smaller languages will not be disadvantaged, or smaller local newspapers, or that are fed by captured media will not manipulate the information received? Uh, because I don't know it for you, but I do not want another technological revolution where free media working in the public interest loses out again. Thank you.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Colleagues, Commissioner, I agree absolutely that we need to adapt our legislation. We need it to be more coherent, get rid of duplication, and we also need to ease life for our businesses, but the way that you're going about it is not appropriate and will not bear the desired fruit. In fact, you're bringing together things that don't belong together. I'm pleased that the Commission has taken into account the letter of the renew group, and the need to get rid of the more difficult areas in the proposal, but the problem remains. Safeguards have been softened. The door is left open to feeding AI with personal data from our citizens. So this is not going to help European startups. And bear in mind, the American Secretary of State for trade has been very clear. Make your laws more flexible for tech businesses. And then we will lower tariffs for steel and aluminium. So we need to respond just as clearly to them.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Good evening, Commission colleagues. Flowers, chocolates, nice gestures. All this was yesterday's International Women's Day. And what's the reality of these women? Not only yesterday but the day before and today? The reality is 12% gender pay gap 25% pension gap gap 28% of women have part time jobs, mainly because they have to take care of other people. If you think this is a coincidence, it is not a coincidence. From the very beginning of the European integration, we have the principle of equal pay for equal work. This is part of the treaties. But after 70 years, this gender inequality is still present in all sectors of our work and life. And this inequality is everywhere. It's systemic. It's part of the system. We see it in pay gaps that have no connection with how work is demanding. We see women still have worse paid jobs that are undervalued, underestimated. We also see that women are the ones who Who have part time jobs or have other specific types of jobs because they also are carers. They care for other people. So this is why we need much more public investment in care facilities and infrastructure. Especially, we have to make sure that we have cost effective care for children. This will enable women to take part at jobs, in work, and this is how they can make progress in their careers. And this is how we can again accelerate women's entering jobs. And this is how women can have better possibilities to be CEOs and leading positions.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “The title of this discussion is child sexual abuse online and we must protect children, not perpetrators. But I think the title is a bit misleading. None of us wants to protect perpetrators and I think we're all aware of that. But I'm not sure about the title that is used here. And if we have massive intervention in people's privacy that won't protect children. And often we hear in campaigns that this is about protecting children. Of course, that plays to people's emotions. The American tech giants already have access to a lot of our data. So if we give these, um, companies the ability to scan and to go through our data, then. Do we want, uh, employees in Kenya to sift through our data. You know, all of this could lead to greater controls. So we need to have targeted measures, not measures across the board. So let's be very careful when we hear that this is about children, because often there are other solutions lurking in the background which could actually prove harmful.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “Thank you. 15 years of procrastination. 15 years of inequality. This is a debt of the European Union towards its citizens since 2008. This blockade of the horizontal directive is not a technical deadlock. This is a political absurdity and this has created inequality as a legal fact. Millions of people across Europe are still not protected in terms of their access to housing, education, goods and services simply because of who they are. And this is not a coincidence. This is because we have not acted. This directive is not an ideological project. This is not protectionism of minorities. This is the minimum. But despite this, in February, the directive. The directive was almost withdrawn by the Commission. And this is a stark reminder of how quickly fundamental rights can disappear. And while far right movements backed by more than $1 billion in funding openly attack equality, civil society is fighting for them. And the hierarchy of discrimination must fall. Starting is very clear. We have to adopt this directive. This will be a test of our credibility, of our values. And we have been now studying for this test for the last 15 years. So enough is enough.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Also, another problem for women is that unpaid work is mainly the problem for women. They have to take care of children and other family members. This is eight weeks of unpaid work. Paid work per year, and this is also undervalued and underestimated. And colleagues, we have to be very honest. If this was work for men, this would be financially rewarded. I think we all agree on this. So this is why we have to make sure that this part of women's life has to be also taken into account with pension gaps. We have to address the Unequal Discrimination and Transparency directive is very important. We need a European agreement on care, and I like that the Commission also took this into account in their strategy for gender equality strategy. But we also have to have political will for implementing all this. And I would like to thank my fellow Co-rapporteur. Thank you. I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs and all the other assistants and everybody else for all the work so far. And also, I would like to have to be clear, the International Women's Day is very important. Um, nice words. Uh, chocolates and flowers. It's all great. Uh, but what women actually need is not only symbols. We need equality in practice. And by supporting this report. I'm sure that we can be one step closer to this actual equality in practice. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you, Mr. President. Vice President, Commissioner, colleagues, and thank you to the interpreters for still being with us, because I can speak Slovenian now. Thank you. Algorithm. And algorithms. We all know about algorithms, but at the same time, we know very little about them. They're all over the place, not just in advertising and on the net, on the web, but also in the workplace. And that's what we're talking about here today. Algorithms in itself are not a problem. They could include. They can increase the competitiveness and efficiency of work, but they need to be pertinent and transparent and facilitate people's work. But that's often not the case. Employers. Employees are measured and evaluated for every second that they work, and sometimes even sanctions are imposed. This is not a digital. Development. Then it's actually a digital monitoring. The digital must be at the service of workers, not the other way around. Workers must know how these algorithms gather their data and how this data is used in the workplace. There is still a need for human control over this because people's rights must not be Reduced and our confidence in a digital future must not be reduced. We must state this clearly. We must have limits on the use of artificial energy.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Yes, thank you very much. Chair. Thank you, colleagues. Thank you also for the very interesting and insightful presentations. I will not prolong my my intervention too much. We are all aware that the algorithmic management systems are being increasingly introduced into workplaces across sectors. Um, there are some pluses. There are some minuses or at least concerns that we need to, um, take into account. So we all agree, I guess, that we need an adequate oversight. We pride ourselves with GDPR here in the EU, but I hope we all know that it does not apply to workplace, and that we have to avoid possible repetition of violation of workers rights by surveillance. Um, I'll go to my questions now. Um, maybe first ones for Mr. Gonzalez. Vasquez. Uh, according to your presentation, you have also highlighted the possibility of improving working conditions. So could you maybe provide, um, a bit more detail, if possible, on how exactly and in what specific sectors? And also, I would like to know, have you in your research seen an increased development of algorithmic management use in human resources? And if so, could you elaborate on what was observed and are there any safeguards in place to ensure no discrimination? And my second part of the questions to you, Mr. Glauner, I tend to not agree with your statement that workplace is already covered by AI Act and GDPR, but I do take your point that we need people to train to train AI. So my question is how would you address the challenge of biases being strengthened by biases from persons teaching the AI and how to provide safeguards to avoid that from happening and to come back to regulating? And then I conclude, do you at least agree that some regulation is necessary to safeguard against increased workplace pressure and intrusive surveillance, and, if not regulated, how it should be managed? Thank you very much.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Colleagues, Commissioner, Council.As Mark Carney said yesterday, the power of the less powerful begins with honesty. So let's be honest. Donald Trump will not change. Waiting him out is not a policy, even less a strategy. It is cowardice. All the flattery, all the appeasement brought exactly nothing except a spectacular failure. First, the EU Commission president accepted humiliating tariffs to protect the rules by bending. Then the humiliation came at the Alaska summit. Then for Trump, Netanyahu's so-called peace, where we traded our moral stance for less than nothing. Good time to remember now when all of you are shocked for this bizarre and cynical board for peace proposal. Thierry Breton was denied a US visa but isn't the first one. Icc judges and UN special rapporteur are also being sanctioned as drug lords for only doing their jobs. When will it be enough to understand that the rule of international law is falling apart under the whims of a crazy narcissist, driven by the poisons of his own propaganda, which, by the way, many of you so-called patriots here openly admire and seek to replicate. To replicate what? Federal agents shooting people on the streets. Greenland must be the line in the sand to finally stand up. In all honesty, we are neither weak nor without power, just lacking the guts. That's a big difference. And while Washington is mocking us, deliver something real. Come on. Hit back where it hurts. There is no other way with a bully like that. Call things what they are. Stop treating Trump as he was rational. Fight back based on our values and rules. Not only when it's convenient, because to keep kneeling to an unstable egomaniac is not negotiating with a partner, it is obeying. Amendment. Thank you.”
  EU-US relations
• “Colleagues. The hundred days of the new commission have been marked by a turbulent geopolitical environment, where the US administration has shaken up the world order based on rules. I don't want to be too critical, because I really do believe that the EU needs to unite urgently. But the last hundred days have confirmed to me that we need radical reforms in terms of how the EU works to make it more effective. There are a few exceptions, some exceptions from the Commission, but not much progress has been made. Whereas we've seen things being shaken up in just a day energy prices. We need to increase investment in energy. We need to make the EU more competitive. These are steps in the right direction, but I fear that that will not be enough. Too little, too late. Not enough ambition. We don't have much leeway, but what we really lack is political will. And it's up to the member states. So I would be in favour of a united EU army and common finance for it, but we should not neglect other areas. We need investment in infrastructure, energy and in men and women. And that's the best defense for the EU. Thank you.”
  EU competences on defence
• “So these. Are the biggest dangers. Still just on the street. Nowadays we take them home in our pocket. We call it the online world. Still, young people call it life. It isn't just a conflict that comes and goes. When we shut the door, it doesn't disappear. This danger doesn't go away. Your phone is always with you. And thousands of thousands of voices tell you you're not enough. 24 over seven. We must be honest. What are we protecting? The tech giants or our children? If we don't know how we can protect young people in our society? We're not a society. There shouldn't be any compromises here. Many of you won't believe it or understand it, but freedom of opinion is not the freedom to humiliate, humiliate and anonymous. Anonymity isn't an excuse for doing terrible things. We are acting too slow here.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Today's debate is very illustrative of today's reality. On the one hand, some of us realize that this gender inequality in pays as well as in pensions has to be eradicated without any excuse. Otherwise, we won't improve the position of women in our society. On the other hand, we have those who still claim that this inequality is a consequence of the individual choices of women. Sometimes it feels like some would rather have us only giving birth, taking care of our families and our society, and quietly accept lower wages. I have one bit of news for you. Women aren't a statistic, and we're not only here to give birth and then have to listen about why it's completely normal to earn less. We represent a 50% of our societies. The good 50%. And of course, you can interpret this as you want, literally or figuratively. We're innovators, teachers, researchers, presidents, pilots, doctors, soldiers, policewomen, as well as salespersons, administrators, and politicians. Why wouldn't we accept a higher salary? And why would we adopt a pay gap if some of our mothers or grandmothers would hear these arguments, they would ask themselves whether they're hearing everything correctly? My grandmother was a cleaning lady, but I would like to say something that will honor her memory. The generations of women before weren't taking care of our societies. Just to listen to these arguments today, that inequality is only a consequence of their choices. Dear colleagues, I am also a mother today, and I hope that my daughter won't have to listen to this sort of arguments in the future, that you will be able to live in a society where equal work is equally paid without these relative arguments. Equality is not something trivial. It's not ideology, and it's not an administrative burden. Equality is the foundation of a fair society. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. So, uh, I would like to start with the fact that Renew Europe fully supports simplification to boost our union's competitiveness. Following, of course, the Mario Draghi report. It is vital we create an environment where smaller companies can grow. The new small mid-caps concept is excellent, if you ask me, and it can be used well in future legislation. However, for this specific file, the tangible benefits at the EU level seem quite limited. Regarding the content, the Parliament's draft makes progress actually on the legal clarity, but I would still like to add a note of caution. While we all want to make life easier for companies. We should avoid competing on threshold numbers, especially when we lack data on how many companies actually fall into these categories. Additionally, on the GDPR obligation, both the council and EP are trying to solve problems with the high risk assessment, and we must be careful not to simply shift the burden from actual reporting to assessing whether they need to report. We need to ensure companies don't spend more time figuring out their status than the, you know, half hour per year the commission estimates for the reporting itself. Nevertheless, and I will conclude with this, I am sure that we will find a suitable solution in the end. So thank you for your work until now, and I look forward to our collaboration.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Many believe that politics and integrity don't go together. I believe they do. If one dares. Of course. Our response is to the Middle East situation are predictable, too slow and above all, ineffective and selective. So when Murt speaks about Trump in a way that normalises dangerous escalation in Iran. That's not even realpolitik. It's irresponsible. The EU must not follow the imposed rules of escalation, even less legitimize it. This is no distant geopolitical game. This is a crisis created by genocidal Israeli Prime Minister and his puppet. And while they wage war, European citizens foot the bill. One bill at a time. All Europeans are being punished for a war. We did not start, but we can help end it. Diplomacy is powerful. If one dares, through a clear, united foreign policy stance, that's the fastest way to ease the energy crisis. And we must, of course, stop our dependence on others because we are vulnerable with that. It's time we dare be firm and credible. Have the integrity, dare think for ourselves, stand for international law, peace and protection of our EU citizens. It's possible to do all three, I promise.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Whenever the people are well informed, they can be trusted with their own. Government was once said in a country that now seems to prove the opposite. Europe is squeezed from the Revisionist East by trying to subvert democracy from within, while across the Atlantic we hear that our laws are anti-democratic and anti-freedom. Ironically, the one trying to lecture us on genuine democracy is the one spreading lies, suing free press and playing with democratic institutions like a schoolyard bully, all while pressuring us to abandon the very tools that keep our elections fair and our press independent. European Democracy Shield is an admirable and necessary initiative in a world hostile to Europe by alleged friends and foes alike. But Europe already has laws like the DSA, and all the commission needs to do is to have guts to enforce them. Europe's strength is in the rule of law and the firm enforcement of democratic standards. It has built only when. Only then will we choose the future we want, not the one others draw for us. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Historically speaking, policies actually divided people, always us against them, rich against the poor and we against you. And today, many people are very, very rich and they dictate US public and national policies, for example, Musk and Trump Association. And the motive is very clear. They want to protect their own interests and their money at your expense. And this is why this US anti-poverty strategies of key importance. It will reduce child poverty, guarantee social protection, and we actually have to ensure access to water and food. I do agree the directive on minimum income, but we still need a high taxation of wealth and this would really improve the life for poor people, and Rich would still be able to live normally. So the commission you will show us whether you actually really want equality. So we have to start working for all of us. Not just you, all of us.”
  Wealth taxation
• “Thank you very much, chair. I'm here on behalf of our colleague, Karine. Karine. Unfortunately, she cannot be here. Um, so in her intervention, she would like to focus on the key outstanding issues related to the batteries regulation, which is the definition of small mid-caps. The rapporteur from the EPP proposes increasing the threshold for small mid-caps dramatically, and she would like to hear a factual reasoning on why the proposed new threshold has been chosen. Under this regulation, companies classified as small mid-caps would be exempt from the due diligence obligations. Our responsibility as legislators is, of course, to ensure that we avoid imposing unnecessary administrative burdens on companies. But the target of the omnibus exercise cannot be only to undermine the effectiveness and credibility of the due diligence framework at this stage. I have not heard compelling arguments to depart from the Commission's proposed threshold. On the contrary, there is concern that an overly broad definition in line with the rapporteur's proposal could set an undesirable precedent and risk severely harming small and medium sized enterprises when they will be bundled up with substantially larger actors. Having said all of this, she realises the importance of moving swiftly on this file in order to avoid the uncertainty, and she would also firmly oppose any opening up of elements not amended by the commission.”
  Sustainability of batteries regulation
• “Good morning. Thank you, Madam Chair. And of course, a big thanks to you too, dear colleague, Mr. rapporteur for the presentation and the draft report as such. So we are here working, working on this because I think that we are really all aware that AI and algorithmic management are becoming the standard of our lives and workplace, and because we know both offer immense potential more efficiency, better productivity and smarter workplaces. Of course, if used intelligently. So I welcome this report, especially the proposed commitment to transparency, human oversight and workers rights. I particularly support the call for a dedicated directive to close the regulatory gaps that leave too many unprotected today, especially solo self-employed workers who often fall through the cracks. But let me be clear. Workers are not cold. They are people. And our priority must be to ensure that technology serves humans, not the other way around. So the focus must include not allowing technology to outpace our values. Concretely, I believe we need stronger guarantees that every worker, regardless of background, age, or ability, receives tailored support to adapt to those changes. Based on the draft report. We need additional safeguards regarding the real time performance monitoring, which cannot be de facto allowed, but only if it's an essential tool for safety or a regulatory compliance. And more on that, as its proposed workers have no real choice but to accept surveillance. Of course, not all type, all types, but still. And I believe that we need to introduce a right to object and anonymous reporting channels to protect workers from potential retaliations when raising concerns. There's also a missing component, in my opinion, of involving trade unions and social dialogue. Those are some of the things that I will focus on in the amendments. And I'm, of course, looking forward to our hopefully. But I believe that it will be a good cooperation on this report. Thank you.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Today's debate is very illustrative of today's reality. On the one hand, some of us realize that this gender inequality in pays as well as in pensions has to be eradicated without any excuse. Otherwise, we won't improve the position of women in our society. On the other hand, we have those who still claim that this inequality is a consequence of the individual choices of women. Sometimes it feels like some would rather have us only giving birth, taking care of our families and our society, and quietly accept lower wages. I have one bit of news for you. Women aren't a statistic, and we're not only here to give birth and then have to listen about why it's completely normal to earn less. We represent a 50% of our societies. The good 50%. And of course, you can interpret this as you want, literally or figuratively. We're innovators, teachers, researchers, presidents, pilots, doctors, soldiers, policewomen, as well as salespersons, administrators, and politicians. Why wouldn't we accept a higher salary? And why would we adopt a pay gap if some of our mothers or grandmothers would hear these arguments, they would ask themselves whether they're hearing everything correctly? My grandmother was a cleaning lady, but I would like to say something that will honor her memory. The generations of women before weren't taking care of our societies. Just to listen to these arguments today, that inequality is only a consequence of their choices. Dear colleagues, I am also a mother today, and I hope that my daughter won't have to listen to this sort of arguments in the future, that you will be able to live in a society where equal work is equally paid without these relative arguments. Equality is not something trivial. It's not ideology, and it's not an administrative burden. Equality is the foundation of a fair society. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Thank you very much. Thank you also for this part of of the of the presentations. I have a few questions. Maybe the first few ones for Mr. De Stefano. You have mentioned that the, um, usage of algorithmic management is used for increased surveillance, which is I already said that unacceptable to me. Now, of course, most of the people do not know that they are being monitored at every step. But the point is that even if they would know, it wouldn't solve the problem. Uh, it's the point is to not have it there at all, especially when it comes to physical characteristics. So I'm wondering, as we all know, that not using such systems is, unfortunately already off the table. But maybe a question to you is how or how would you limit the surveillance? And the second question is you have also highlighted a lot of potentially problematic uses of the algorithmic management in the workplace, all of which I have been worried about. Um, and still am. But nonetheless, I'm wondering if you, as a labor lawyer, have any good practices, um, in this of its use in, in your career.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Mental health is not a luxury. It is very important. It's a human right. It's tied up with dignity. We have this strategy now for mental health. It's not bad but it is not enough. Mental health should not begin in a hospital. It needs to be part of society where people have stability and well-being. So we need tangible measures, stronger social security nets, reduction of poverty, inequality, tackling burnout, focusing on social rights. More than ever our society is based on algorithms and artificial intelligence is organizing our lives and our feelings. Artificial intelligence led to one young person committing suicide. We need to have clearer rules in place in the EU. We need to tackle mental health. That would be a real Europe for the citizens”
  EU policy on mental health
• “Also, another problem for women is that unpaid work is mainly the problem for women. They have to take care of children and other family members. This is eight weeks of unpaid work. Paid work per year, and this is also undervalued and underestimated. And colleagues, we have to be very honest. If this was work for men, this would be financially rewarded. I think we all agree on this. So this is why we have to make sure that this part of women's life has to be also taken into account with pension gaps. We have to address the Unequal Discrimination and Transparency directive is very important. We need a European agreement on care, and I like that the Commission also took this into account in their strategy for gender equality strategy. But we also have to have political will for implementing all this. And I would like to thank my fellow Co-rapporteur. Thank you. I would like to thank all the shadow rapporteurs and all the other assistants and everybody else for all the work so far. And also, I would like to have to be clear, the International Women's Day is very important. Um, nice words. Uh, chocolates and flowers. It's all great. Uh, but what women actually need is not only symbols. We need equality in practice. And by supporting this report. I'm sure that we can be one step closer to this actual equality in practice. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Good evening, Commission colleagues. Flowers, chocolates, nice gestures. All this was yesterday's International Women's Day. And what's the reality of these women? Not only yesterday but the day before and today? The reality is 12% gender pay gap 25% pension gap gap 28% of women have part time jobs, mainly because they have to take care of other people. If you think this is a coincidence, it is not a coincidence. From the very beginning of the European integration, we have the principle of equal pay for equal work. This is part of the treaties. But after 70 years, this gender inequality is still present in all sectors of our work and life. And this inequality is everywhere. It's systemic. It's part of the system. We see it in pay gaps that have no connection with how work is demanding. We see women still have worse paid jobs that are undervalued, underestimated. We also see that women are the ones who Who have part time jobs or have other specific types of jobs because they also are carers. They care for other people. So this is why we need much more public investment in care facilities and infrastructure. Especially, we have to make sure that we have cost effective care for children. This will enable women to take part at jobs, in work, and this is how they can make progress in their careers. And this is how we can again accelerate women's entering jobs. And this is how women can have better possibilities to be CEOs and leading positions.”
  Gender pay transparency