Stéphanie YON-COURTIN

Policy topics Stéphanie YON-COURTIN is active on

What Stéphanie YON-COURTIN has said (42)

• 2026-06-17 “Thank you, president, commissioner, Michelin. In The UK, the government will ban social media for those 16. At France's instigation, the g 7 countries are aiming high to protect miners against the digital environment. Europe is lagging behind. We are willing to move forward. We know that different countries are taking initiatives, but we need European level action to be effective against big tech. We need harmonized, rules, harmonized minimum age at EU level. Let's take action commissioner so that we can immediately and effectively, fight against, addictive design chatbots, artificial intelligence, suspend noncompliant platforms that profile pedophiles and criminals. Any day and minute wasted is putting our children at risk. Let's take action now before it's too late. Thank you.”
  Age restrictions on children's access to social media
• 2026-06-16 “Thank you very much, president. Vice president. It seems Washington has unplugged us. The most powerful AI model from anthropic has been deactivated for all non Americans based on some fluid concept of national security. Now the kill switch we were all worried about has now become a reality. It seems almost comical from an American government that is anti-regulation to try and put these controls in place. Now it is concerning because this is done in a very arbitrary way, without any consultation, without any warning. Now. Europe just looks on. It is a digital vassal. The question is simple. Are we going to wait till all our infrastructure is cut up? Cut off? Our hospitals are transport. Europe has the talent, the money, the market. What we are lacking is political will to stop this American march when it comes to AI. I talked in 2022 about a bi European tech act. People laugh, but now everyone's talking about European preference. Let's go even further to really boost our companies with fresh money. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-06-16 “Thank you very much, president vice-president. It seems Washington has unplugged us. The most powerful AI model from Anthropic has been deactivated for all non Americans, based on some fluid concept of, national security. Now the kill switch we were worried about has now become a reality. It seems almost comical from an American government that is anti regulation to try and put these controls in place. Now it is concerning because this is done in a very arbitrary way without any consultation, without any warning. Now Europe just looks on. It is a digital vassal. The question is simple. Are we going to wait till all our infrastructure is cut up cut off? Our hospitals are, transport. Europe has the talent, the money, the market. What we are lacking is political will to stop this American march when it comes to AI. I talked in 2022 about a Buy European Tech Act. People laugh, but now everyone's talking about European preference. Let's go even further to really boost our companies with fresh money. Thank you. Daniel O'Rata.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-01-08 “E-000043/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Media Board has not, at this stage, been consulted or informed by the French authorities under Article 22 of European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) 1 concerning the envisaged acquisition of the magazine ‘Challenges’. It is for Member States to enable an appropriate national assessment of media market concentrations falling within the scope of Article 22. The Commission remains in close contact with the French authorities regarding the designation of the competent national authority foreseen by the EMFA. In the absence of an assessment by the national regulatory authority or body concerned or a consultation of the Media Board under Article 22, the Media Board shall draw up, on its own initiative or at the request of the Commission, an opinion on the impact of a media concentration on media pluralism and editorial independence, where the concentration is likely to affect the functioning of the internal market for media services. Currently, the Commission has not requested the Media Board to draw up an opinion on this acquisition. The Commission continues to closely monitor the application of the EMFA in France and in all Member States and will follow up as appropriate. The EMFA is without prejudice to the application of EU competition law, including Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on merger control, which applies in parallel. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1083/oj/eng.”
  EU rules on digital competition · EU support for traditional (non-digital) media
• 2025-11-12 “E-004488/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission Regarding the sale of child-like sex dolls detected on platforms such as Shein, AliExpress, Temu, and Wish, the Commission welcomes the French authorities' actions and is in contact with them. Criminal investigations are a national competence. The Digital Services Act 1 (DSA) obliges platforms to inform the authority issuing an order without delay of any effect given to the order. The Commission has open proceedings against Temu and AliExpress under the DSA, which pre-date the recent detection of sex-related materials in France. They are also significantly broader in scope. These proceedings are ongoing. On 26 November 2025, the Commission requested information on how Shein ensures that minors are not exposed to age-inappropriate content on its services as well as how it prevents the circulation of illegal products on its platform. The Commission is actively monitoring all designated very large online marketplaces and in case of the suspicion of the existence of a systemic risk, the Commission can open a formal investigation. The DSA obliges providers of very large online marketplaces to conduct risk assessment reports at least annually, and to mitigate identified risks, including the sale of illegal products. If the marketplace fails to do so, the Commission can open formal proceedings. If a breach of the DSA is established, the marketplace could incur a fine of up to 6% of their global annual turnover. Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) may, as a last resort and in relation to specific infringements of the DSA, ask a national court to temporarily restrict access to a platform. The Commission is not empowered to block access to a platform itself, but also as a last resort can ask a DSC to request a national court to order a temporary suspension of a platform. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R2065.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content · Safety features & content control for child protection online
• 2025-06-30 “P-002647/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission The Commission can confirm that it is fully committed to ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Commission has clarified 1 , and more recently in the debate in the European Parliament plenary on 9 July 2025 on transatlantic trade, that the EU’s legislation and regulatory framework remain non-negotiable, and that the Commission will continue to protect the EU’s regulatory autonomy. The Commission is very much committed to implementing the DMA in a robust and evidence-based manner as swiftly as possible. The Commission has already adopted two non-compliance decisions 2 , two specification decisions 3 and issued various preliminary findings 4 . The Commission also continues to engage in constructive and all-inclusive regulatory dialogue with all designated gatekeepers and interested third parties to ensure that the DMA delivers on its objectives. Concrete changes on the market are already observable (for instance, the introduction of choice screens or the availability of alternative app stores on iPhones). The Commission is determined to maintain open and transparent communication channels with the European Parliament, including through the Working Group on the Implementation of the DMA. The Commission values the Working Group’s monitoring and feedback, which it believes is essential for shaping and supporting the work of the DMA team. In line with Article 35 of the DMA, the Commission also regularly reports to the European Parliament via its annual report on the implementation of the DMA 5 . The Commission ensures transparency throughout the DMA implementation process also by regularly updating the public on all key milestones via the Commission’s dedicated DMA website 6 . 1 https://thecapitolforum.com/eu-competition-chief-bloc-wont-compromise-sovereignty/; https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-tech-tariffs-us-brussels-trade-commissioner-maros-sefovic/. 2 https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/commission-finds-apple-and-meta-breach-digital-markets-act-2025-0423_en. 3 https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/commission-provides-guidance-under-digital-markets-act-facilitatedevelopment-innovative-products-2025-03-19_en. 4 https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/commission-sends-preliminary-findings-alphabet-under-digitalmarkets-act-2025-03-19_en; https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/commission-closes-investigation-applesuser-choice-obligations-and-issues-preliminary-findings-rules-2025-04-23_en. 5 https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/commission-publishes-annual-report-dma-implementation-2024-202504-25_en. 6 https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/latest-news_en.”
  EU rules on digital competition · US-EU tech coordination
• 2025-04-08 “E-001421/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission was informed that the provider of TikTok expanded its e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, to users in France, Germany and Italy on 31 March 2025. The provider of TikTok has carried out and submitted to the Commission a specific ad-hoc risk assessment ahead of the deployment of TikTok Shop in the EU, pursuant to Article 34(1) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (The Digital Services Act, or ‘DSA’) 1 . The Commission continues to supervise the evolution of the deployment of the new TikTok Shop features in the EU and monitor compliance with the DSA. In particular, the Commission examines whether the provider of TikTok has diligently identified, analysed, assessed and mitigated any systemic risks stemming from the design, functioning and use made of its service and related systems, including any actual and foreseeable negative effects in relation to the protection of minors and serious negative consequences to the person’s physical and mental well-being. The Commission is also supervising the compliance by the provider of TikTok of the obligations applicable to providers of online marketplaces, such as ensuring the traceability of traders. The Commission would ensure a swift enforcement if it finds potential infringements of the DSA. Following the publication of its findings of the Digital Fairness Fitness Check 2 , the Commission is working on a Digital Fairness Act which will aim at addressing identified gaps in EU consumer protection, in order to ensure a high level of protection in the digital environment. The Digital Fairness Act thus aims, notably, at complementing areas that are not regulated under the DSA. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/document/707d7404-78e5-4aef-acfa-82b4cf639f55_en.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online · Liability for online marketplaces
• 2024-10-02 “P-001921/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager on behalf of the European Commission Preventing so-called killer acquisitions which threaten to significantly impede effective competition in the common market has been a priority for the Commission. Hence in 2021 the Commission revised its approach on referrals from Member States under Article 22 of the EU Merger Regulation (EUMR) 1 , to capture, in certain circumstances, transactions falling below national notification thresholds. Given the Illumina judgment, the Commission will need to pursue alternative means to scrutinise killer acquisitions. Determining a new way forward will be a priority for the incoming Commission, in line with the Political Guidelines of the Commission President and the Mission Letter of Executive Vice-President designate for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition. The Commission can still rely on Article 22 EUMR referrals in cases where national competition authorities are competent to review. Many Member States have introduced, or are considering introducing, ‘call-in’ provisions in their national laws – in addition to some having market share and transaction value thresholds that may capture such transactions. More structural solutions can be contemplated in the longer term, such as a targeted revision of Regulation 139/2004 to introduce new thresholds or a ‘safeguard mechanism’ as indicated by the Court of Justice in the Illumina judgment. Such options will be for the new Commission to consider. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) 2 and the EUMR are complementary, focused on their respective aims. Article 14 DMA allows the Commission and Member States to have visibility on all mergers and acquisitions by designated gatekeepers and to seek review of such transactions under the EUMR where possible and appropriate. 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (the EC Merger Regulation) (OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/139/oj). 2 Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act) (OJ L 265, 12/10/2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj).”
  EU Competition policy
• “Thank you. I fully support the proposals made in this report about dark patterns. Those are influences or games of chance online, and the Digital Fairness Act needs to look at all of the interfaces and any possibility to exploit the vulnerability of our children through phony interfaces. So young people too often expose to these kinds of publicity, and there are child influencers who are quite influential, and attempts have been made to improve this, notably in Spain. But it is essential that users have confidence in the system and it's transparent, but we need European-level laws to make sure that there aren't differences between Member States. And finally, let me say that education, digital education programs are important both for children and parents. Thank you very much to the operator and to all colleagues. We need to get a move and get our skates on with this to avoid other disasters happening, and I'm sure that we will be able to achieve a strong and ambitious common position. And we need to make it a safe digital space for our children.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'm going to speak in French. Here I am. The Competitivity issue is at the heart of the European agenda. And if we want to catch up in terms of private financing, we have to really use all the levers at our disposal. It's indispensable. We have to have competitivity in all the sectors, otherwise in particular in in strategic sectors, which you are well aware of. I am rapporteur of the annual Competition report for 2025, and this is a very common, if you like, European goal. Um, we're very happy to hear about the ambitious agenda because it has to take into consideration all the players. And this is a possibility for a new opportunity. I have a question. You spoke about European technological champions and the 2.0.. I think we have to go further than that. And how are we going to do that and involve gradually all the member states in this interesting project? And in addition to this initiative, how can the B.ii work in other strategic sectors? And secondly, we know that the B.ii is very is very present in all the different areas, but we'd like a little bit more clarity about how you are going to deal with the access to financing for local companies, for organizations on the ground. We'd like to hear in a with more clarity about what you're going to do in that direction. Thank you.”
  EU Competition policy
• “But we need a robust framework, and we need, uh, um, mandatory age verification for, uh, platforms, which represent a risk. It should be, uh, interoperable, um, respect, uh, private life and without transfer of data. Technical solutions do exist. We can see them as well with the seeing. Platforms are often against European regulation, but now they themselves are calling for regulation in this area. So they need to make sure they need to start by respecting the 13 year, the third, the 13 year old, uh, uh, access conditions. Uh, we need to, um, look at tick tock as well. So we need implementation of uh, uh, an EU level of the age of majority of 15 in digital issues. And we need to ensure that there's a parental control as well. This isn't a ban. This is a way of ensuring parents can take responsibility as well. And we have a member states acting alone as well. When one single member states tries to, um, uh, bring forward legislation. It's Greece, Denmark, Spain, France. Everyone moves forward. But we need coordination. Although if you're just going to have fragmentation, it's time to act at a European level. We need to remember key points that regulation on its own is not enough. We need to invest in digital education. We need to better inform parents as well. I don't think any of us would leave a child alone in a park without keeping an eye on them, so why is that any different? Online renew will support you, rapporteur. We will support you, Christel. Not to restrict, but to protect. We don't to ban, but we want to find accountability.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Yes. Thank you. President. Commissioner. Dear colleagues, competition policy is our compass in order to keep the European economy open, fair and innovative, but also in order for us to keep our place on the world map, we have to become modernized. It doesn't really matter what's happening on the other side of the Atlantic. We're just one reminder when it comes to the digital field. The rules of the game have to be clear and non-negotiable. We have the DMA, and I think this is going to help us when it comes to the sector of artificial intelligence. So we have to be careful that we're we don't have the market innovation gobbled up by others. And in the face of global distortions, Europe can no longer be naive. We have to take a look at foreign subsidies, which are weakening our companies and distorting competition. We have to fight these in parallel. It is also time to use state aid in a strategic way in order to make green transition a success. But competition policy, it's not only economic in nature, it can also act as a lever for sovereignty. We have to support innovation. Competitiveness of our strategic industries, including defence and competition is a lever for competitiveness and innovation, which means that the Commission not only needs the adapted legal tools, but also the necessary human resources to apply this effectively. A strong competition policy is a policy of power, and now we have to give ourselves the mean to be able to act.”
  EU Competition policy
• “Thank you. Chair. Vice president. Uh, is there is there still somebody here that is piloting the sovereign European sovereignty plan? How can we stop the European digital plans from crashing? I doubt it. Today we are being attacked internally for six months. You at the commission have been saying that, uh, that the DSA is being violated. But when have you punished these people for breaching them? And when are you going to continue giving excuses for breaches of your own rules. You are now also reminding. Reminding us of us of the importance of the DSA and the DMA and but defend them publicly. And I'm asking you now, where has European leadership gone that are used to turn us into a world reference for an equitable digital world, then with Donald Trump and the oligarchs of tech? Or they they are glad to see our, our, our model in Europe fall down today it's Apple and Google that are that are killing the competitiveness here. And tomorrow it will be all the big tech companies which will be overtaking the digital jungle and will completely crush our companies. So please give the give Europeans the ability to act. Please give us the courage. There are 450 million consumers behind these rules. Smes People. It is time to act, otherwise Europe will die. Please let us apply our rules, all our rules. And let us not let the strongest take over. We should never. We should never sacrifice our values, our principles and Europe. Thank you.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “(11:07:15 – 11:11:13): Madam chair, we see the challenge is very clear. How can we make sure that Europeans can retire and have financial security? Because in many member states, the word pension no longer inspires trust. It leads to concern and fear. Many people see a certain Americanization of our pension models. The fear is there, and we cannot ignore it. We shoulder responsibility. We have to say that investing in your pension doesn't replace the state system. It just is supplementary. It complements it. We need to have decent pensions so people can live in dignity. I would like to welcome the recommendation just presented by the European Parliament on pensions. There is collective responsibility involving social partners, financial players, civil society, and businesses because this is a real societal debate. It's a European challenge, and therefore, the solution has to be European. That is why the pension package presented by the European Commission has to deliver specific results. The figures are there and they speak volumes. By 2070, state pensions will only cover 38% of income of a worker in Germany, Poland, Greece, and other countries. There are pensioners living on less than €1,000 and sometimes less than €500 per month, and demographic developments are not helping us in any way. They're working against us. So we can't look the other way. We can't ignore this reality. What is striking is that Europeans are already investing, sometimes without realizing, in savings products in order to complement state pensions and to have a more decent standard of living. That's why PEPs can help, and we need harmonization across Europe so that citizens have more choice in the area that they need it. As the European Commission just said, PEP so far hasn't delivered on its promises, but we can change it. We have an opportunity and we have to grasp this opportunity. As rapporteur, this is my viewpoint. My main priority is to change the name so that the product is more appealing for our citizens and so that maybe citizens can forget the failure of the previous PEP. Maybe Euro Pension, as I hope suggested, could be a lead to explore. Secondly, we have to make sure that we have better risks when it comes to the basic PEP for a long-term product. Then streamlined advice in order to make it easier and more user friendly. I'm very pleased that one of the key messages that the commission talked about said, we want a simple project that is sold online and so on and so forth. Streamlining is very important. I also support what the commission said about a workplace PEP, even though I would appreciate more clarification. This has to dovetail with the European context. In other words, this has to dovetail with other pension legislation because we don't want to have regulatory contradictions. Of course, we need tax advantages. We need to send a clear message. If there aren't tax advantages, then people will not embrace this. The key information document has to be simple and user friendly because otherwise, if citizens don't understand the product, they're not going to turn to it. I'm very pleased to hear the commission say this, and I look forward to what the commission has to say after this and what my colleagues have to say. Thank you very much, says the chair.”
  EU policy on aging workforce and pensions
• “(10:39:57 – 10:41:49): Missus Young Cortin. Missus Young Cortin, commissioner, I'm very sorry that the council that represents the member states isn't here. We don't have a lack of talent or businessmen and women in the EU, but we lack a true single market to turn this potential into jobs. Since February 2025, 10 simplification omnibuses have been unveiled. Yes. We've got to simplify and quickly when a business, person spends 30% of their time dealing with regulations, no longer regulation, it's obstruction. But simplifying doesn't mean deregulation. No. We have to make sure that this is done properly. There has to be regulation, but not gold plating. Europe is its own enemy. What, what is, there is an invisible border between the 27 member states. Every time a French startup goes to Portugal or a Polish SME goes to establish itself in Germany, it's got, 44%, customs, and it's 27 procedures for our SMEs, and it's 27 times longer. Our fragmented financial markets cannot fund their growth, and that means that when European, companies scale up, they do scale up, but outside the EU. That's why we want a 20 eighth regime, a set of identical clear rules in the EU because we have a fragmented Europe. We have higher prices. It's more difficult for citizens, and a unified European leads to European champions autonomy. And it means that the EU can be a global power that competes on the world stage with China and The US. Let us move from slogans and buzzwords to reality. Thank you. Mister Busserlager. Okay.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you. President. Executive Vice President of the Commission. Honourable members. In September 2024, Clement, age 15, started up a secondary. He took his own life. He had received a message on one WhatsApp. Have you finally killed yourself after his death? His mother found traces of cyberbullying on TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp. He was being force fed, suicide linked content. These children are being abandoned, defenceless. We allowing Big tech to dictate the rules of the game. We're seeing cyber bullying across the major platforms France, Portugal, Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, all of those member states are tabling legislation. Now. The commission must take action in sure that we have age verification in the digital world, when we are dealing with large platforms, only Europe can offer a counterweight. Commissioner, we are counting on you.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Commissioner. I'm very sorry that the council that represents the member States isn't here. We don't have a lack of talent or businessmen and women in the EU, but we lack a true single market to turn this potential into jobs since February 2025. Ten. Simplification omnibuses have been unveiled. Yes, we've got to simplify and quickly. When a business person spends 30% of their time dealing with regulation, it's no longer regulation. It's obstruction. But simplifying doesn't mean deregulation. No, we have to make sure that this is done properly. There has to be regulation but not gold plating. Europe is its own enemy. What are what is, uh, there is an invisible border between the 27 member states. Every time a French startup goes to Portugal or a Polish SME goes to establish itself in Germany, it's got a 44%, uh, customer. And its 27 procedures for our SMEs and its 27 times longer. Our fragmented financial markets cannot fund their growth. And that means that when European companies scale up, they do scale up, but outside the EU. That's why we want a 28th regime, a set of identical clear rules in the EU. Because if we have a fragmented Europe, we have higher prices. It's more difficult for citizens. And a unified European leads the European champions autonomy. And it means that the EU can be a global power that competes on the world stage with China and the US. Let us move from slogans and buzzwords to reality.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation · Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you, Chair, President Lagarde, it's always great to have you here. The European Parliament geopolitical situation is unstable. We're seeing a lot of tensions and crises, and yet inflation has stabilized on our continent. The euro has proven stable. I've got three questions, but first off, should we fear pressure from Trump and his administration? To what extent can this affect the credibility of the ECB's work to guarantee prices in Europe? Then, what is the ECB doing to protect citizens from future crises? I'm thinking of the recent ECB recommendation to maintain or to keep some cash at home in Normandy, my constituency. This raises a lot of eyebrows. And then, what about the strategic objective? There are a number of objectives, as you just outlined. Financial education is very important in this regard. The ECB had a conference on financial education in March in the context of International Women's Day, where a lot of banks had taken measures on the ground. So I was wondering what could they, should be do to promote this campaign of financial education on the ground in the member states, because it's something that is indeed in the remit of member states. Thank you for all of these very specific questions.”
  ECB monetary policy
• “Commissioner. Please imagine a jungle. A jungle where every child is left to their own devices, without any protection and exposed to all sorts of dangers. That is the digital world we see now. Many children get their first smartphone at nine. First social network at 11. They find pornography, glorification of violence, sexism. They are addicted to likes and doomscrolling. The parents can't do anything. The platforms manipulate every single click. Get our kids addicted to even more money. So what are we doing? Our response in the European Parliament is setting a harmonised are coming of age limit for the internet, and a framework for the activities of influencers. It's not a question of just banning things for the sake of it. It's not an option. It's a duty. We need to protect children's interests. It's a question of public health. Children deserve a world without these kinds of dangers. So act and let's act all together.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Madam president DMA, of course, is much more than just digital legislation. It's a guarantee of European sovereignty. However, just a few days ago, the Handelsblatt in Germany reported that the European Commission had decided to cancel a fine on Google because they hadn't respected the DMA. This was the first fine on Google, and this was simply to satisfy a request from Donald Trump. If this is true, this is unacceptable. I call out this politicalization of the issue, and this has come at the worst possible time. The digital giants are still trying to continue as they are. They're crushing European competition. Miss von der Leyen spoke about this and said that the called upon the Commission to carry out investigations and to conclude as appropriate. No one is above the law. Miss Rubera, I commit you. I acknowledge your commitment made today. We've had the first review of the DMA coming now. This is so important. It's about the saving our European businesses and protecting consumers interests. Thank you.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'd like to thank the reporters, Christophe Schaldemossa, for this good draft report and the shareholders that we've worked with, and we've had very good discussions with. Before the Digital Fairness Act comes in, the Parliament needs to send a strong message and adopt an ambitious position to guarantee the protection of our children online. Now that could be at home or in school. We are all aware of the dangers that young people are exposed to with the inappropriate content, addictive algorithms, etcetera, and so we need to be up to the job of combating that. Verification of age is obviously now essential. Young people are the ones that are most exposed. We can't let them on the platforms and the social networks able to exploit their emotions, and it is up to the platforms to ensure that they protect children. Age verification is the cornerstone of this digital requirement in order to bring about that. But as the rapporteur Gerald de Maunza said, age verification isn't the only key aspect. So we want an obligatory age verification system. We want respect to private life and in the future EU digital identity wallet, which would be something where the Commission has an age verification tool. So these tools need to be robust, and we need to encourage what is being done by some Member States, notably France. Age verification must be safe. There must be strong guarantees in order to protect private life. It needs to be anonymized, and the data needs to be securitized. Thirdly, there mustn't be age verification without there being proof of a certain age of majority, and children should not be able to get onto at-risk platforms without the say-so of their parents. This is already the case since many platforms have this, but we need a coherent European way of doing this. It shouldn't really be a ban. It should be a way of ensuring that parents and children are able to get online to these platforms gradually in a responsible way.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Commissioner. Colleagues. We're back from the United Nations Conference on the Oceans in Nice, where Europe took the lead. And now we need to go from the pact to action. That requires a method to turn a global strategy into local action. We need to talk to the maritime professionals, the fisheries fishermen, the scientists, all of those who work in or with the ocean. And the European Parliament also has to be involved in the implementation of the pact, whether it's through fishing policy or marine planning, we are essential players in ensuring that we have robust legislation with a holistic approach and vision. We call on the Commission to provide a plan, a calendar to turn the promises into a reality. But it also means we need resources. Without funding, the pact will simply be a declaration of intent. We need an ocean fund. We need dedicated objectives in the next multiannual financial framework. We need a European Ocean Union and we're there to do that. So, uh, Commissioner, we count on you, and you can count on us.”
  Funding for fisheries and aquaculture
• “Thank you. Chair. Thank you, commissioners and the vice president. In Europe, it's clear that the member states are fighting to bridge there gaps. And a lot of our brightest lights are going to the United States. In order to mobilise private money, the citizen needs to be at the heart of this debate. At the beginning of the negotiation on the investment yesterday, we proposed the first pillar of this investment initiative, and we agreed to go forward by looking at it through the prism of simplification. And as rapporteur for this text, how do you how can you keep counting on the Commission? Also, with Draghi's proposals, we are drowning in a way. How can we guarantee the efficiency of European money given the competences in terms of viscosity. How would you open this up to Europeans? And when it comes to digitalization, we're seeing a new generation of investors. And Commissioner, you spoke about digitalization. How can we use it to make investment more attractive in Europe? Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. Dear colleagues in France, every two days, a farmer commits a suicide. It's a real cry for help. Despair. We need to respond. Farmers just can't cope. Too many rules, not enough income, too much unfairness in trade negotiations. I know that the instruments we're voting for this week are a step in the right direction. More simplification, more protection, more recognition of their labour. However, a lot still remains to be done. Mercosur United States trade agreements shouldn't be signed when farmers are put on the altar as sacrifice and therefore for the next cap, we need to look carefully at the budget. The 20% cut is not acceptable. We are prepared to engage in this battle. We want to make sure that means and resources are up to scratch and in in line with our sovereignty, food sovereignty. I come from Normandy and in Normandy we produce milk, seafood, cider. If you want to protect those types of produce, you need to stand up for them. We're very proud of our local produce professionals who work so hard to feed us. Let's fight for them.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Next speaker. Mrs.. Thank you very much. Thank you, President and Commissioner. Commissioner McGrath. Dear colleagues, the last OECD deal was clear, and yet multinationals were told that they had to pay where profit is raised. It's a question of tax justice. It was absolutely clear. But since the return of Donald Trump, the global balance is very precarious indeed. And Europe can't just continue holding its head down, pretending nothing's going on. Every time Mr. Trump raises his voice now we have to show courage. We have to take action. We need to tax these tech Giants. It's not just a question of collecting money, it's also a question of digital sovereignty. Colleagues have already said this, but we need to say it and say it again. But it's not just about taxing big tech. I mean, all our digital rules that protect 450 million Europeans and all the companies, all the citizens, every single one, they can't just ride roughshod over this. So Donald Trump and his administration view our regulations as an attack. They then counteract with tariffs. That's not a way out. We can't make our companies weaker. We can't endanger our citizens. If Mr. Trump wants to be a cowboy. Well, Europe has to make it clear that we're the sheriff over here when it comes to Europe. Thank you.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you for the to the Commission for being present at this discussion, which is very helpful. And let's not forget that the deadline for these surveys is on the 25th of March. Just coming up. I hope that everybody will abide by that and it will be decisive. I think I've got three times more speaking time, haven't I? The chair, it's a little bit more flexible than. So it's not a problem. I was just joking. Actually, I just want to make sure for those that come after me now, the DMA and this approach, based on facts and procedures which are impartial and the application of our rules which have been legitimately voted on is a good thing. But I want to be reassured, and I'm sure I'm not the only person that wants this. First of all, on transatlantic relations, I don't suppose I need to tell you about the possible challenge to our digital regulation, because we know that in discussions, the Commission has been very clear on that. But now actions need to follow words, and I'd like to know where we've got in this transatlantic dialogue. The Department of Justice, the FTC and the European Commission have been talking about the DMA. I think it would be interesting to know there's also this game going on with the gatekeepers.”
  US-EU tech coordination
• “Thank you very much. I now call Mrs. Jean Courtin. Thank you very much. President. Commissioner, colleagues are democracies are not being hit by missiles, but by algorithms, their political tools, weapons. They can manipulate millions of citizens and they can actually tip election results one way or another in a matter of hours. Online attacks are the new weapons of mass destruction 2.0 in Europe. Now, the platforms tell us they're neutral. That is not right. That is not correct. They incite fear, anger, and that is ideal fuel for disinformation. In 2022, the EU decided to draw a red line DSA. If there's something on online that is illegal, it is illegal. Full stop. But of course a shield will not protect everyone if we don't apply our own laws. If we don't apply our own laws, we leave the scope open for manipulation. Our so-called American friends ask us to do something here in the EU. But you know, if Trump and Musk are furious, it's because we are doing our job. But again, it's not enough. The commission should go further, should really penalize these platforms when they trample all over our laws. This is harmful to our citizens, to our democracies. It's time for us to act now. Thank you.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• “Dear colleagues, dear Terry, dear guests, we are experiencing a period of unprecedented tension with the U.S. and as someone from Normandy who grew up in a land that was marked by links of deep friendship with the U.S., I am very troubled. After the tariff blackmail carried out by Trump in reaction to our digital legislation. We are now seeing direct sanctions bans against those who contributed to developing our laws, and I'm very pleased that President Macron has made contact with President Trump regarding Thierry Breton, asking him to lift the ban on entering the United States. But what about the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen? Has she finally decided to write to President Trump on this topic? If yes, the Parliament should know. We would like to have been informed about such a letter. And if not, when will she do this? Because it falls to her to guarantee the protection of Thierry Breton, a former commissioner in the previous legislation. We know that this is becoming even more worrying now. Just a few days ago, members of the House of Representatives, including Jim Jordan. So essentially, our counterparts as members of Parliament published a report, including thousands of emails between European leaders and NGOs regarding the digital laws. And it publicly exposes the identity of civil servants of the European Commission as well as members of civil society. Whereas the names of members of Big Tech in the US are anonymized. This creates a major threat of retaliation, and I have taken the initiative to draw up an email, and I ask all of you to sign it by tomorrow afternoon. And thank you to those who've already signed it stating that this is unacceptable. What is the Commission doing to protect its commissioners and its civil servants? Miss miss, miss. Mr. L, a member of the French Parliament who was not able to go to the United States just a few days ago. We are with you, Madam Chair. We hope to organise new exchanges in the following month, so that we can continue to follow up on the consequences of these sanctions.”
  EU-US relations
• “Washington tends to talk down the DMA, but it's asked in Brussels for pressure to be kept up on. Um, so I mean, there's a bit of a, um, a game of hide and seek going on. And I think everybody, small or big, European or American, benefits from having a level playing field. It's the playing field. It's not the time to give up on it. Now, on what lies ahead. We've all read the press, Notably the American press, with the possibility of these modest, in inverted commas climbs. Are we talking about Spotify? 500 million, which ends up being 2 billion? By way of fine. Um, the media would appear to be better informed than us, and we, European members of the European Parliament need to keep up when it comes to artificial intelligence and the risks of it to competition. What about the rules of the DMA and the resources that the European Commission has at its disposal? We know that they are insufficient. Are you able to take account of the risks at the moment? But but also in particular the ones that are increased as a result of artificial intelligence and all the impact that has on interoperability? Um, the chair, thank you very much. I think that was quite a lot of questions.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Infant has finally accepted our invitation to come and to our parliamentary committee. And it was high time. It's proof that our political pressure is working. And without any doubt, she has endangered the life of thousands of consumers, especially the youngest, the very youngest, by putting on its platform products which are hazardous and illegal. And I'm proud that with my Renew Europe group, we were the first here to denounce the scandal of the dolls and to adopt a resolution in the EPP to condemn these practices on the part of Sheen, and to call on the European Commission to react with the most greatest possible firmness. Madam, you said that those products were not directly marketed by Sheen, that you took all measures possible to recall them, but the reality says otherwise. The harm has been done. Your platform presents systemic risks for European consumers and you must bear your responsibility to act against to mitigate those risks so that never again we do not have these any single illegal or paedophilic product being put onto the market. It's your responsibility and it's for us MEPs to act to make sure that what these shortcomings are overcome. And for the European Commission, when are you finally going to have the courage to take decisions? The DSA that we voted for in the previous term, market security, product safety, market surveillance, product safety, you've got the whole arsenal at your disposal to act when it comes to Sheen. So why put these tools at our disposal and not make use of them when consumers are endangered? Three times we had a request for information sent to Sheen under the DSA. Perhaps we wait for the fourth the fifth before any action is taken. We've wasted enough time. Let's open a formal investigation without wasting any more time and as quickly as possible. If she continues not to respect the law, the red card should be brought out. They should be suspended from the market. In Europe, our laws are not optional in nature. Europe is not a ditch and the law has to be respected. As simple as that.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• “I'll be quick, thank you. On the digital euro, which we also support, just wanted to come back to what Ms. Tinagi said. Could you give us some more information on how the digital euro would contribute to financial stability in the case of future crisis?”
  Digital euro
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. And Madam Rapporteur, thank you very much for this work, which is just the start really, on this vital aspect of savings, investments, Union public financing isn't enough, as we've heard. We need to really mobilise private financing to really help our continent reach its goals in defense and other aspects. We know that it's urgent. Now, if we look at pensions in various states, public money isn't enough. So the US is really clear and the EU has a clear role to play in moving this forward. We see this where we work. There's just a three levers that I think need to be activated more opportunities for citizens through products for savings, simple access for long term consumption, more financial education. That's key and isn't stated in the report rapporteur. But we will be working together on this. Uh, in Europe. We need to really help citizens and inform them and empower them by giving them information. We need more accessible investment. Uh, and we're working on this in the negotiations in negotiations, which I am rapporteur for. So the French delegation has tabled several amendments, and we're hoping that you will look at these closely. I wish you all the best in your work.”
  EU approach to sustainability criteria in private investments
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. President. Thank you for being with us today. Europe is at a strategic turning point. It needs to catch up financially, digitally and industrially at a juncture when the major economic world powers are investing massively in artificial intelligence, and the US and China are changing their economies at full speed, and Europe is barely following on behind. Recently, it was pointed out that we have lost our way and we are passing the wave of adoption of AI in the process. It's important that we realize that this is going much more rapidly than changes in previous economies, and we have to understand that there's a considerable backwardness here. Specifically, how should Europe act? What barriers should we raise so that China does not overtake us in the area of AI? And how in your mission of banking supervision can you contribute to this? Thank you very much. To your question, I'm going to reply to us in English so that it is easily accessible to all.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “On the role of the ECB. In this financial stability, competence is something already incorporated into the role. What role is the ECB playing?”
  ECB monetary policy
• “President. Commissioner. If as a woman, you send a picture of yourself or one of your children on X or anywhere else, you can be notified and exposed to thousands of people without your consent. What Elon Musk has allowed is new defied images of women, sexualized images of children to be public. It's not a bug. It's a business model. They want to make money and generate a buzz. Simon Vey, who's of course known here, spoke out about the kind of combats that we have to take. And it's the same thing online now. We have to combat the platforms which are sexually sexualizing images, faking images. Sexual deepfakes are not just images. It is online violence. The content is child pornography. We have a law DSA. Thierry Breton knew this investigation. Sanction and if necessary, suspension of grock. There should be no gray area there even for Elon.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• “Thank you. Chair. First and foremost, thank you to Crystal Schroeder for her draft report. It gives us a very solid and a very interesting starting point to work on this very important topic. The European Commission is on the verge of adopting a guidelines to protect minors online as part of DSA and also the Digital Fairness Act. We need to go beyond that need to go faster. Protecting minors online is a collective responsibility. When ten year old children can access pornography, and when um, 12 year olds, um, can see content to which sports, uh, anorexia, we see. And also we're seeing people, um, exposed to, um, overdose, uh, content as well. So our focus on four priorities. Firstly, now certain colleagues have said that uh firstly implementation uh and we need to stop overregulation regulation. We need to apply the DSA. And on dark patterns dark patterns manipulate users. Above all the youngest. We need clear guidelines on dark plotlines patterns. And we'll legislate if there are any real, uh, loopholes on video games. Now, yes, there are possible improvements that can be made, but we need to make sure that the video game sector is not a scapegoat and renew. We want to focus on Transparency and accountability. We don't want to see, um, blanket bans. I'm also pleased to see proposals in relation to, um, frameworks for influencers. We've said in the previous term that we need a European harmonised European framework which ensures transparency and protects consumers. That's something which is absolutely vital. Above all, for the youngest, um, and people, these young people are exposed to this advertising and can often be actors of it themselves. Age verification now really is the key to all this. We need to, um, um, DSA allows us to, um, clean things up when they go wrong.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Thank you very much. Madam president, Commissioner Micallef, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues have already said that one out of six teenagers is the victim of cyberbullying, and one out of eight admits to have taken part in cyberbullying. And this is the main reason cyberbullying is the main reason for contacting safer internet centres. And I'd like to ask you how many more suicides and how much more self-harm are we going to allow before we do something about this? Cyberbullying is something urgent. It's an urgent health issue and we need to speak to the platforms. We need penalties against them if they don't do what they should do. The DSA has to be implemented fully without the with the temporary suspension of platforms that don't toe the line, and we should go further with a harmonised digital majority. There's also a hotline in France, a cyber bullying hotline. Uh, 3018 and I think this is something that we should, uh. Also do in other parts of Europe. Uh, Commissioner Micallef, I know you will rise to the occasion. Let's put an end to platform impunity. Our children's rights are non-negotiable.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Thank you. President. Madam vice president, Miss Rivera, ladies and gentlemen, we are in a serious situation since Donald Trump has gone back to the white House, European rules on the digital sector are under threat. We are now facing with a twin twin pressure, that of the United States, which wants to force us to accept the rule of big Tech and that of the European Commission, which seems to was hands seemed to shake when it comes to implementing the law. Uh, these diplomatic moves are a sign of politicization of competition law. If we give in to rules dictated by forces abroad, Europe will lose its strength, its fundamental strength, based on our sovereign rule of law. I would like to commend Miss Ribera your decision to slap a fine on Google. Google is a repeat offender. It's been found guilty several times, this time for a fine for €3 billion for a dominant position in the online advertising sector. This is more than just a fine. It's also proof that European law applies to all without exception. However, we have to go further, faster. If necessary. We should force Google to sell part of its business if necessary, while at the same time ensuring that we have structural remedies which are commensurate with the damage caused to the market. Madam Commissioner, don't give in to any of the pressure from inside or outside. Ensure that the law or the law, nothing but the law be fully complied with. We have to protect our businesses, our citizens, our media and of course our democracy to do this. The time has come for us to build a Europe based on genuinely independent competition authorities, which are able to face down everybody, including the United Nations. Continue. Madam, you have our full support.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “So I think you have to send out a good signal by opening inquiries to Amazon Cloud and Microsoft. I think, uh, we need to look not just at the quantitative element, but also at the qualitative Element and make sure that we don't kill our own DMA. So when we look at the travel agencies and the dominant position here, the only European here, and this is a signal to the Americans, you say that there's no discrimination because this also applies to Europeans. So we are eagerly awaiting the result of the implementation of the DMI to make sure that the rules and regulations are appropriately adapted. And we're waiting for the results on the regulation for foreign subsidies. Yes. It's important that we look at this in the context of competition. Uh, I'm coming up with a report soon. So thank you, madam, uh, for, uh, supporting our competitiveness. And I think it's important that everybody plays a fair game with the same rules of that game.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you. Chair. Madam Vice President, dear colleagues, and I should like to thank the VP for being with us today. Hello. Our rules are under attack and Europe has to respond. Last week, the American representative surprised us with the digital revolution coming to Brussels, attacking us, and this in relating to the exemption. And Donald Trump was part and parcel of this. So thank you very much for not responding. And Europe should not give way at all. Uh, you have our support, but please stick to your guns. We, uh, really shouldn't slow down. We have to speed things up. You reminded us that in September it was a Google which was to be sanctioned for its dominant position. But this is just a first stage because we're still waiting for further measures. You came up with new rules and we are waiting for a strong signal from you because the commission has to be strong. It has to finish its inquiries because it's our right of competition, which is at stake here. And I, uh, contribute. I congratulate you for continuing your approach to Google the. We saw a report in the Ft this morning, and, uh, this is relating to the beginning of inquiry against meta on WhatsApp and the way in which it is abusing a dominant position.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much, president. 20 million is the number of sexual abuse signals in 2024 for online child abuse. Every year, millions of our children are exposed to predators. On platforms. Behind this virtual content are real lives children who are manipulated, traumatized and broken forever. We saw it ourselves yesterday in this hemicycle if we don't act. Social networks and messaging apps can become deadly traps. This is why we're asking for a harmonised legal framework that will last over time, and that can protect all children across the European Union, both in real life and online, while guaranteeing fundamental rights and solid protection of personal data. We don't want mass surveillance. We don't want any screening of messages, and end to end encryption has to remain intact. We can't have safety in exchange for a lack of privacy, but we need solid prevention as well as targeted screening and safe platforms. The protection of minors must apply online and every day counts. Let's act now so that children can be online without danger.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “(11:28:09 – 11:30:10): Thank you. I'm happy about these debates, and we'll continue to work on this. I've taken on board the comments by the colleagues and the commission. I do believe that we need to explain the objective of PEP better, which isn't really fulfilled. At the end of the day, we wanted to create added value for everyone. We need to use the market, and capitalization is not something we need to avoid. Funded pension schemes is not a bad thing. We're trying to help people, and we need to cooperate to do so. Now the commission's proposal is a solid basis, and I do believe we're heading in the right direction. There are a couple of variables we have to adjust, and I think we need to make more efficient. If we want PEP to work, we need it to be simpler, more visible, and more attractive for citizens and businesses. 66% of Europeans have no idea what PEP is, so accessibility is very important. We can't be producing a product that will fail like that. Then people need to understand where they're putting their money, and then we need to have clear tax advantages. And then we need to align it with existing texts. We need to simplify, and we need to ensure that there's no contradictions between the rules. This, I believe, is what we need to take on board in the negotiations. Thank you, chair.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU