Javier ZARZALEJOS

Policy topics Javier ZARZALEJOS is active on

What Javier ZARZALEJOS has said (80)

• 2026-07-13 “(17:23:34 - 17:23:36): Thank you, Missus Brighamont. **Anna Sjöberg (ECTC Europol): (17:23:39 - 17:25:36): Thank you. Yes. We see a variety of hateful subcultures linked to violent extremism and terrorism which mainly aim at opposing the diversity in our societies. This includes misogynism, xenophobia, LGBTQ+ and any other diversity they are targeting to oppose in our societies. This is something that we are seeing, and sometimes they build different narratives in different ideological strands. Sometimes there is not a clear ideology, for instance, in the nihilistic violent extremists that we are now monitoring with this specific calm network. People can be attracted to violence. It can be a sense of belonging or just cult, to gain gamification and different driving factors that don't have to be ideological. This is very dangerous when it comes to our minors because this is the world they are living in with online social media platforms. We have to have a broad perspective when monitoring these different initiatives and not focus only on one or the traditional threat picture that we learned from the past 10 years. The traditional threat is still there, but we also need to focus on new trends and new phenomena.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• 2026-07-13 “(16:33:09 - 16:35:14): Thank you, madam Vilmes, and thank you for the work you're doing in the group. We take good note of your remarks and other members' remarks about the work which is being done by the Secretariat. Now once we have concluded this point. ***Laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• 2026-07-13 “(17:15:06 - 17:15:07): This is Joerber. **Anna Sjöberg (ECTC Europol): (17:15:09 - 17:17:22): Thank you. First of all, I think I mentioned also in my speaking points that hybrid threat actors continue their efforts to exploit proxies to serve their own strategic objectives, including the destabilization of the EU and its partners. So yes, indeed, this is something that we also see as one of the thematic areas that stood out this year. At the same time, this report builds on member states' contributions and how they classify their different crime areas. It's also not within Europol's mandate to assess or to work against hostile state activities. However, we can support the member states' investigations when it comes to the criminal dimension and focus on them. This is also how we provide additional support in this regard. Maybe it was not clear, but it is actually mentioned in the report. If I may come back to the question before because I think I didn't actually reply on the IRGC designation and what it means for countering terrorism and the support provided by ECTC. If I may come back to that, yes, indeed, this is important for us because it also gives the opportunity to make full use of the TCO regulation. What we did already this year, it's not within the reporting period of the TCE 2026, but this year, we actually launched a referral action on IRGC terrorist content online. Nineteen countries participated. More than 14,000 links related to IRGC propaganda were referred. I would say around 15,000 users were detected. This also relates to other data sprints, the tailor-made operational support we can provide in cases related to IRGC in the European Union.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2026-07-13 “(17:42:58 - 17:43:26): Thank you. Thank you very much, missus Silve, for your, the information you have provided for the years, eliminating the exchange on the terrorist, threat along with the information provided by Europol in this in this report. So now we have this joint committee meeting scheduled for 17 45 with Itre. Say goodbye to miss Soeber.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• 2026-07-13 “(17:00:56 - 17:00:59): Thank you, Mrs. Stephane. Missus Jorre? **Anna Sjöberg (ECTC Europol): (17:01:00 - 17:04:11): Thank you for the question. Indeed, foreign terrorist fighters, especially in Syria, and that has been in the detention facilities and the volatile situation that we are facing right now, is a major concern for the member states and the competent authorities. This is also why it's a priority for us to support the member states. We have the designated analysis project also supporting these AP travelers. Yes, we need relevant data to be able to insert the relevant data or make full use of the EU interoperability to protect the Schengen border. So collecting relevant data together with biometrics and the possibility of use, CIS regulation, entry bans, and so on. This is indeed a focus area, but it's all about having good qualitative information and being able to use this information to protect the borders. But also support member states' investigations when it comes to travel routes and understand these new travel routes and maybe also new phenomena related to this problem. So indeed, this is a focus area and a priority, and we put quite a lot of resources to support the member states in this regard from Europol's perspective. When it comes to the broader perspective of the development of these trends and phenomena that we are now encountering in counterterrorism, we are working on different levels of initiatives. So first of all, as you also mentioned, the online perspective and making sure that we use the TCO regulation and focus also on referral action days together with the member states to make sure that we can remove as much of this harmful content reaching out, especially targeting minors. It is a very important tool for us. But also to provide the platform that Europol can provide with innovative solutions with tailor-made operational support. We have, for instance, one project now running, Project Compass, where we collect together with the member states and also other competent authorities outside the European Union, all these cases connected to, for instance, the comm network to be able to safeguard the victims and also find the perpetrator and, at the same time, understand how this propaganda is disseminating and how the outreach actually works. Also, based on the content moderation that we are doing with the TCO detect package for the online service providers to be able to better do their own content moderation in this regard. So it's different levels of activities which are extremely important.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• 2026-07-13 “(16:06:34 - 16:10:39): Thank you very much, mister Burn Minister, for European affairs for, this exchange, for setting up your priorities and the state of play of the issues related to rule of law. As you mentioned, this week we will have the annual report of rule of law issued by the commission, which is a very important piece of evidence to assess the situation of rule of law across the European Union. As you can see, Liebe Committee is very much ready to work closely with the IRS presidency in order to make sure that we deliver on our responsibility as colleagues later. And we wish you, I mean, every success in your presidency. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. ***Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2026-07-13 “Sorry, let me move to point number 7 in our agenda, in which we have the presentation of the European Union terrorism situation and trend report by Mrs. Anna Schoberg, Head of the European Counterterrorism Center at Europol. Welcome, Missus Schoberg to our meeting. As you know, the so-called TSAT report includes yearly statistical data on terrorist attacks, arrests, convictions, and penalties in member states. Following usual practice, its publication coincides with the presentation in Liebe. Missus Soyber, the floor is yours for 7 minutes for your initial presentation. **Anna Sjöberg (ECTC Europol): (16:50:08 - 16:58:02): Thank you, chair. Dear members of the Liebe Committee, thank you for inviting me today to present the findings on the TSAT 2026, the Europol Annual Report on the Terrorist Landscape in The EU. This report is produced using an agreed methodology and is based on qualitative and quantitative contributions from the EU member states and from Europol's partners. Given the time I have available and the nature of this year's findings, I will primarily focus on better understanding the threat and what it means for our ability to detect and to counter the threat. We have the presentation. Yeah. That's okay. So, if there is one message I would like you to remember after this presentation, it is that terrorists and violent extremists remain a major threat. At the same time, the environment in which they develop is becoming more dynamic, complex, and unpredictable. About half of the attacks in 2025 were linked to jihadist terrorism, and jihadism also remained the most lethal threat. Jihadism led to 5 fatalities and 81 victims injured. However, some violent incidents may not meet the relevant national legal threshold and were instead considered as other forms of criminality. This is why we can only develop a full understanding of the phenomena by combining quantitative and qualitative information. With that in mind, I will begin by highlighting four key developments that illustrate the complexity of the threat landscape. The first development I would like to highlight is increasing ideological diversity. The threat from traditional terrorist ideologies remains. However, the threat landscape was also further complicated by other forms of destabilizing ideologies. Three of them stood out. Nihilistic violent extremism, particularly in online ecosystems such as the comm network, was an increasingly visible trend. Individuals involved may be driven by violence for its own sake or may be motivated by other criminal goals. Others explicitly seek to accelerate the collapse of society by promoting chaos. Second, hybrid threat actors continue their efforts to exploit proxies to serve their own strategic objectives, including the destabilization of the EU and its partners. Lastly, anti-institutional groups contested democratic bodies and the rule of law, often via conspiracy narratives. Additionally, ideological diversification also follows from increasingly blurred boundaries between traditional terrorist ideologies and other forms of violence. For example, traditional right-wing narratives remain but are increasingly influenced by often violent subcultures or in some specific cases, even jihadi influences. This development complicates applying clear-cut labels on how terrorism in the EU looks like today. The second development I would like to stress is the role of the online environment. The broad reach, the rapid connectivity, and the easy information exchange provided by the digital domain were essential to various terrorist and violent extremist actors. Terrorists and violent extremists are nurtured online and should also be tackled online. The third development that demonstrates the complexity of the threat landscape is that terrorist actors may exploit a range of operational opportunities. Most terrorist plots involved relatively simple attack methods such as knives, firearms, vehicle ramming or arsons. Simple methods were also often used by other terrorist offenses like terrorist financing, recruitment, or propaganda. For example, financing via havaladars or recruitment through physical training camps. However, terrorist actors at the same time continue their interest in modern technologies. For example, the use of AI and the use of cryptocurrencies. Terrorism, as we know, is not always about large scale attacks, but it is designed to create fear in our society. The broad range of possible modus operandi that we are witnessing right now may contribute to achieving such impact to our societies. The last development I would like to point out are the ongoing geopolitical dynamics that impact terrorism and violent extremism in the EU, particularly the conflict in Gaza and the later developments in the region continue to have an impact. These events are often exploited in propaganda with antisemitism being the common denominator. Other geopolitical areas and conflicts such as the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the development in Syria, Central and East Asia, or the development on the African Continent remained a cause of concern as well. Together, these four developments can help to explain why the threat is becoming harder to define and harder to counter. I would also like to show you a slide on the numbers. If we can get the slide? Yes. Because these numbers also add to our understanding of the terrorist landscape. In 2025, 10 member states reported 45 terrorist attacks down from 58 attacks in 2024. The arrest numbers continue to rise, 486 suspects arrested across 21 member states. Lastly, in 2025, 406 convictions were recorded alongside 99 acquittals for terrorist offenses. Finally, to conclude, the strategic context in which terrorists take place continues to evolve. Some of its key drivers impact polarization and the spread of hostile rhetoric. Terrorists and violent extremists are increasingly nurtured online, and the range of actors may steer or employ tactics that resemble the terrorist modus operandi. Terrorists and violent extremists continue to evolve in scale and in complexity. In this dynamic threat environment, the EU must continuously adapt and strengthen its collective response. Thank you. I'm happy to take any questions.”
  EU policy on criminal justice
• 2026-07-13 “We move to 0.6 and I'm glad to update you on the outcomes of the 5th trial held last June 29 on the proposal laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse, the so-called permanent regulation. The first thing I would like to underline is the remarkable advance of the file under the Cyprus presidency. The inter-institutional negotiations officially started in December 2025. Over the course of just 6 months, the colleges have managed to reach an agreement on most of the regulation. Considering the short time available, I think that in a big and complex file, these results are really impressive. The idea of setting up a permanent and well-structured set of legal rules to combat CSM seems a realistic goal for us to achieve. These achievements require indeed political effort. They will still require political effort on both sides. But both council and the European Parliament showed openness and goodwill to find a compromise and to advance. At this last trial look, we were able to conclude many remaining open issues, some of them particularly sensitive. An agreement was found on the exclusion of audio communications from the scope of the regulation. Also an agreement on the risk assessment mitigation and reporting measures on Articles 14 to 18. We also agreed on removal, blocking and delisting orders of CISAM with an agreement on the issuing authorities. We included a cross-border procedure and the inclusion of delisting orders while the council accepted to delete risk categorization. On Articles 25, 26 and 36 related to the requirements for competent authorities and deadlines. The trialogue was, however, not conclusive as we have a very important issue remaining as well, which is detection orders, unknown initiative, searches. We really trust that we will continue the work with the IDEs residency with the same pace of progress. Before concluding this, I would also like to stress that as you will all know, on June 26, the council took the decision to conclude its first reading on the interim regulation and submitted it to the European Parliament last week by reopening in this way its legislative process. Last Thursday, the European Parliament concluded its second reading by tabling two amendments to the council first reading, which went through. At this stage, it is difficult to predict how the legislative process on the interim regulation will evolve, and we will be the position taken by the council on the amended text in the plenary. But I think that based on the satisfactory results that we have achieved so far on the cease and permanent regulation, I do hope that also complementary, the two files, the interim regulation as a breach to gap the legal vacuum until the permanent cease and regulation is in place. The two files remain and are dealt with as separate files. So the legislative procedure on the interim regulation, and I think that we will soon know what the position of the council is, will not impact or slow down the procedure on our regulation. The next trial is scheduled for the next September 29. In the meantime, work at technical level has continued. We will raise this issue at the meeting of home affairs and justice, the formal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers in Dublin this week. I do hope that by September 29, we will be able to produce a final agreement. Any remark? Yes, Mister Tanjer.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• 2026-07-13 “Well, dear colleagues, let's move on to our next item in the agenda, which is 0.5. Reporting back of the democracy rule of law and fundamental rights monitoring group to our committee. As you know, this working group was established in October 2024 with the same mandate and composition as in the previous legislature under the chairmanship of missus Sophie Vilmes. It examines possible threats to democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights across the EU. And this is the 4th reporting back since the beginning of the term. The group has been actively engaged in both country specific monitoring and debating horizontal issues through a combination of in camera meetings, missions, and public exchanges of use. A report is available under the meeting documents. These discussions, show have deepened the DRF and G members' understanding on the rule of law and fundamental rights situation in The union and specific member states, leading in turn to further exchanges of views in Libya, plenary debates or missions. We now look forward to hearing from, missus Vilmes, the chair of the group, on the recent activities and upcoming priorities since the last reporting back to Liebe took place in March this year. So please, Mrs. Bill Mess, the floor is yours for 6 minutes.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2026-07-13 “(16:45:55 - 16:46:28): Please, Brigit. Listen to me. Listen to me. Listen to me. I'm sharing the session now. This is not a debate, and we are not debating on the interim regulation. Okay? I am reporting back to the committee on the permanent regulation. I'm more than glad to debate on that on any other occasion because there's no point in dividing on the interim regulation when we are dealing with the progress that has been made at the permanent regulation.”
  EU political integration
• 2026-07-13 “(17:28:16 - 17:28:18): Thank you. Mrs Sjoberg **Anna Sjöberg (ECTC Europol): (17:28:21 - 17:32:23): Thank you. Yes. If I just go back after 10 years of existence and the major achievement from ECTC, it has been developing the capability of supporting the member states indeed. What I can say right now is that we have actually created a trustful and secure environment which allows the CT community to share fully sensitive data and live investigations. Without trust, we have no data. So this is extremely important. We have created a genuine transnational counterterrorism law enforcement community where counterterrorists from all Europe and also other Europol partners outside Europe provide their information and expertise to have a broader picture and a better understanding of the terrorist threat. We continue to find innovative solutions. I mentioned earlier the terrorist identification task force, the operational task force, the platform and the possibility, the Persu platform as the central solution for referrals and removals to support the terrorist content online regulation. The Sirius project, I would also like to remind and mention, where Europe, altogether with Eurojust, supports access to digital evidence. Referral Action Day, the content moderation that we are doing, the dedicated APs to thematically provide tailor-made operational support to the member states. We also have different initiatives on different projects, like Project Compass, where we focus on the comm networks and the different criminal activities connected to these online platforms to safeguard children and find perpetrators. Tailor-made operational support is extremely important. Today, we can identify unknown parts of terrorist networks. We can accelerate the pace of live investigations. We support online investigations. We identify and arrest perpetrators together with the member states. The member states do the arrest, but we support on very short notice. We identify and safeguard victims almost immediately. This is something you need to do 24/7. You can't wait one or two weeks or wait for the case. You need to act immediately. What has developed especially in recent years is that we also provide support to the judiciary, as experts are now asked by judges to testify and provide their expertise in the respective field to contextualize cases during trials. ECTC has had experts give testimony in Malta, Sweden, and Denmark recently. Thanks to all the information, the 10 years or even longer because we started to collect information before ECTC was created, this information provides the possibility for strategic reports, thematic reports, and operational reports to create awareness. The TSAT report, for instance, is important to create awareness in society as a whole. I think that's also why ECTC or Europol is mentioned 39 times in the new city agenda. So yes, I guess that we provide added value.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2026-07-13 “(16:46:29 - 16:50:05): Thank you then. First of all, I thank you for the involvement of all political groups in this permanent regulation. The work has been, as I said, impressive, and that has a lot to do with the impressive work that has been done by the technical teams. They are already working on that. They are already engaging with the Cyprus presidency. The trialogue that I wanted to have was impossible to schedule by the decision of the Cyprus presidency. They understood that they were not in a position to go to this trialogue and there will be a trialogue on the 29th. I'm going to be consistent with myself and comment on the interim regulation. Just, I would like to recall that it was subject to two votes of rejection, one at the beginning of the vote and the final vote on the text as amended, and none of them went through. On the mentions to specific issues of content such as the red lines that my colleague and friend Mister Tanjay has mentioned, I think that you can be reassured if your problem is doubts about general scanning or protection of encrypted communication or exclusion of audio communication or exclusion of page verification. That is something that has already been agreed. I do hope and I do hope that, bearing in mind the complexities and sensitivities of this file, but also bearing in mind the enormous political and public conversation that is going on on this issue, we will be able to find ways to finalize our file on the trialogue on the 29th of September. That would be the best response to those who, myself think that we need a permanent regulation, a long term set of rules on this matter. ***Europol - European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report 2026 (TE-SAT) (Presentation by Anna Sjöberg - ECTC)”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• 2026-07-13 “(15:19:39 - 15:20:06): Thank you, minister Dan, for your initial remarks, which will frame our exchange with the speakers from political groups. There will be 2 minutes for each intervention, and you will have also 2 minutes to reply the questions raised by the speakers of political groups. So we start with EPP, missus DuPont.”
  EU political integration
• 2026-07-13 “(17:38:21 - 17:38:27): Gracias, senior Lopez Aguilar. Missus Ziobou, you have five minutes for answering and concluding remarks. **Anna Sjöberg (ECTC Europol): (17:38:27 - 17:42:57): I will try to do my best to answer more or less all the questions. Mhmm. 1st of all, connecting the dots. Yes. It's indeed not easy, but I would say that law enforcement and the intelligence community are doing their utmost to connect and to share data, and there is a great willingness of sharing data. We can also see that in the contributions to Europol because it means adding their own data, their, live cases, the criminal investigations in into the information hub of Europol to be able to connect these dots with other investigations, in other countries. I would say nowadays, everyone, working in this field understand that this is a global threat. This is not only local, national. So this is really needed to share as much information as possible. At the same time, with the development that we are facing right now, with loan actors radicalized online, especially minors below the age of criminal responsibility sometimes, it's also a challenge for law enforcement to detect, but we are definitely doing our utmost to make sure that we detect as early as possible and share as much information as possible. When it comes to funding, I would say terrorist financing is 1 of the top priorities also for ECTC because it's a top priority for the member states. And we also try to provide as much expertise support as possible. We have the terrorist finance and tracking program. I I would say it's still very important. We also need to build expertise and be able to recruit people to support with cryptocurrency tracing and so on. So this is really 1 of the development that we also are facing, and we can see there is an endless need of support also in this regard. The 2nd question on the proactive and proactiveness, indeed, that is important. And, again, coming back to the new CTA agenda, recently adopted, I would say that's a big focus also for us because I I believe that law enforcement and the knowledge we have by supporting the member states investigation by the broader overview of the threat picture, but also by, monitoring the propaganda online, we can provide a lot of information. And this is the information sharing that I I would say we can provide to the broader audience because this problem, law enforcement cannot tackle alone. We need to have a whole of society approach. So providing this awareness, building this awareness in the society, teaching and learning and educating the children how to behave online will and and also, with the other adults involved like parents, teachers, social practitioners, it's extremely important to create this awareness, then we can build resilience also toward these recruitment attempts from criminal and terrorism violent extremist organizations. Then about the figures, maybe I can also mention, yes, as I mentioned, we have the same level of attacks as last year when it comes to, jihadism. We have an increase of a couple of attacks when it comes to right wing extremism and a decrease from left wing extremism. And you can find all these figures also in the report. And then when it comes to the balance, of course, with the possibility for law enforcement to have the right possibilities in terms of legislation and regulation, I would say, yes, indeed, it's important coming back to having lawful access to data, being able to process big amount of data, also using the latest technology to be able to connect the dots, to be able to detect and to safeguard the victims. Thank you.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2026-07-13 “(15:08:35 - 15:11:25): Committee meeting today. I will start by the adoption of agenda. If there are no objections, the draft agenda is adopted. And I have to submit you the following change to the draft agenda before we take it as adopted. On 1913, the vote on the draft report on measures to facilitate consular protection for unrepresented citizens of the union in 3rd countries, that is canceled. The rest of the agenda remains unchanged, and we can adopt it. On announcements, just let me inform you that, well, I happen to have been nominated as the author for the Libra resolution on the upcoming EU anti corruption strategy that will be voted tomorrow. I understand the outcome of the coordinator's meeting of the 07/02/2026 is already in the meeting documents where you will find it. So I just ask the committee whether they endorse the coordinator's decisions and recommendations. Well, if that is the case then, it's my pleasure today to welcome mister Thomas Byrne, Ireland's minister of state for European affairs. Minister Bern is here to present the Irish Council presidency's priorities on matters related to the rule of law. And let me point it out just to frame our exchange properly that the Irish minister for justice, home affairs, and migration will come to Libya on the September 28, and we'll have the opportunity to discuss with him all the issues related to justice and home affairs, apart from the issues related to rule of law that will be addressed by mister Berne. Mister Berne, I know that values are 1 of the key pillars of your presidency program for the 6 months ahead, and this is something that we, in Liebe, very much welcome. Many of your priorities in this field cover issues that this committee devotes considerable time and energy promoting and defending. So, let me start by giving you the floor for your opening remarks, minister Bern, for a maximum of 10 minutes. And, following your presentation, will be an exchange of views with Liebe Member. So, minister Ben, welcome again to Liebe Committee, and, I'm glad to give you the floor.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2026-06-24 “Thank you, Vice President Virkkunen. Now we open the floor for political groups representatives. It will be two minutes for members intervening and two minutes for Of Mrs. Virkkunen to answer, as there are quite a number of members wishing to take the floor. I will have to be rather strict on the management of time, so please do stick to the time allocated. We start with EPP. Mrs. Pedro, two minutes.”
  EU public communication strategy
• 2026-06-24 “Thank you Ms. Strada. Uh, this item on our agenda. Thank you. Thanks to our speakers for the input to this commission and the, uh, exchange with the members. Thank you. Thank you very. ***Exchange of views with Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, in the framework of the Structured Dialogue”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-06-24 “Congratulations, Mr. Learners, and congratulations to the shadow rapporteurs and those who have been working in this file. It's a major achievement. And I think that what we have seen is a quite committed and impressive display of, of, of technical competence. It was a very complex a very complex file. We were operating in the I mean, on the most sensitive areas of, of, of state competences. But also a a display of real will to compromise and concern. A shared concern for the need to protect. To protect children. Um, Madame Keller, would you like to.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• 2026-06-24 “So, dear colleagues, we are moving on to our next item on the agenda. Please take your seats and please be quiet. Those who want to leave the room do so quietly. Excuse me. Excuse me. Those who want to leave the room, please do so quietly. Okay, Let us move now to the next item on our agenda. As I said, .13 and the structure dialogue with Executive Vice President Vice President Cheney. Thank you, Mrs. Vice President, for being with us today to answer the questions of our members. I'm sure there will be a lot of topics to discuss, including the upcoming digital fitness check, the current proposals on the table, on the enforcement of the digital under the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act. Of the recently published guidelines on the classification of high risk AI systems under the AI act. We also hear that the EU age verification app should be available to citizens by the end of 2026, and that member states are being requested to start with the app's rollout. So let us start the dialogue. I'm sure members will have additional topics to discuss in the in the in the course of of this exchange. So. Mr.. Mrs.. Thank you for being with us today again. You're welcome. And now you have the floor for your initial presentation for ten minutes.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• 2026-06-24 “Well. Good afternoon, dear colleagues. We resume the session of our committee. Now, moving on to item 12, the Policy Department for justice, Civil Liberties and Institutional Affairs organized this workshop for the Committee on the EU Anti-Racism strategy 2026 2030, which has been approved by the Committee in the 2025 Annual Research Programme. So, building on the achievements of the Anti-Racism Action Plan, the new strategy, published on 20th of January 2026, is It is structured around three main objectives first, strengthening the implementation and enforcement of existing EU anti-discrimination laws. Second, tackling barriers and foster inclusion in education, employment, healthcare and housing. Third, building anti-racism partnerships at all levels of society. The workshop features presentations and analysis from four experts and stakeholders. Firstly, we shall hear from Mrs. Michela Muia, the European Commission Anti-Racism coordinator. Welcome, Miss Muir, who will present the Commission overview of the strategy and its main objectives. Mrs. Muir has served as the European Commission Anti-Racism Coordinator since 2021. In her role, she leads the work on combating racism within the EU, the European Union, coordinating efforts and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including member states, EU institutions and civil society. She will intervene initially for eight minutes. Secondly, we shall hear from Doctor Shreya Attri, associate Professor in International Human Rights Law at the Faculty of Law in the University of Oxford. She is an associate member of the Oxford Human Rights Hub, an official Fellow and Racial Justice and Equality Fellow at Kellogg College and a senior teaching fellow at New College.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• 2026-06-24 “Thank you so much, Executive Vice President, for the information you have provided also for the exchanges with the with the members. We are aware of the importance of the two pieces of legislation that have been proposed by the Commission both on on Europol and Eurojust as part of the new security architecture in the European Union. And we do look forward to tomorrow's presentation by Commissioner Bruno and the just, uh, Mrs. Ana Gallego on both files. We are ready to work intensively on both of them and produce a good result. So thank you. Thank you for coming. ***Conclusion of an agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2026-06-24 “Well, after this, I would say meaningful exchange with Executive Vice President Virkkunen. The next item on our agenda this evening is the consideration of the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the transfer of PNR data. The rapporteur for this consent procedure is our colleague Mrs. Mr. Jaroslav. So I give you the floor for five minutes to present your draft recommendation. The floor is yours.”
  Privacy & law enforcement
• 2026-06-24 “Doctor. Audrey is the editor of the Human Rights Law Review, and also she will speak for eight minutes. Thirdly, doctor will present the stakeholders perspective from the European Network Against Racism. Doctor is the policy and advocacy adviser of the European Network Against Racism. He holds a PhD in international politics and migration and is an US expert on migration, security and policing and policing. His work addresses migration, policing and criminal legal system through a racial justice, intersectional and decolonial lens. His intervention will last also eight minutes. And finally, we shall hear from Doctor Rosalina Lacaba, senior program manager on social research at the EU agency for Fundamental Rights. Mrs. Lacaba is head of the equality and Non-Discrimination sector in the equality, Inclusion and Sustainability Unit at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. In this role, she leads the sector's work on equality and non-discrimination, overseeing research and data collection, legal and policy analysis, capacity building and technical assistance to EU institutions and member states. She will also have eight minutes for her presentation and then we will open, having heard our experts. Uh, the, uh, round, uh, approximately for 50 minutes for questions and answers. And now I am glad to welcome and give the floor to the speakers, starting with the European Commission anti-racism coordinator, Mrs. Mihaela MUA. So, dear miss MUA, do you have the floor for eight minutes?”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Thank you, Mr. Charles. Now, um, for the group of the left. Mrs. Charles, you're not taking the floor. Okay, then we, uh, close. We conclude this round of speakers, and, uh, thank you, Mrs. Charles, for your inputs. And go to the intervention of Mr. Perkowski from DG connect, who will address this topic, especially from the European Media Freedom Act implemented angle. And I would also ask you to present the Commission plans to protect citizens, particularly journalists and civil society, from surveillance and to preserve press freedom and the right to privacy. So, Mr. Zukauskas, the floor is yours for seven minutes.”
  Surveillance equipment & spyware
• “But you—you—you took the decision yesterday in Parliament. The majority took the decision yesterday.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you, Mrs. Kirtle. And now we start the round of political groups with questions from each of them for a maximum of two minutes. And each intervention will be immediately followed by a maximum of two minutes. Reply by our guest speakers. Please indicate to whom of them you addressed your question. Um, we start with EPP. Ana Miguel. Pedro. Floor is yours. Two minutes.”
  EU public communication strategy
• “44. That should be 44. Yeah. Yes. 44. So we vote on amendment 44. Vote is open. Vote is closed and is being rejected. Amendment 18, vote is open. Vote is closed. And it is rejected. Amendment 45 vote is open. But is now Closed and it is rejected. Amendment. And now we move to a compromise amendment for vote is open. It's now closed. And it is adopted. Then we move to the final vote is a roll call. Vote. Vote is open. And it is now closed. And it is rejected. And it is rejected. So I mean, there can be no vote on the. Well, we will inform the members of the next steps to follow. We will inform members of the next steps to follow on this on this file. And then if there is no other business, I just have to announce the date of our next meeting, which will be on the 18th and 19th of March. The session is concluded.”
  EU political integration
• “Don't forget your cards and we proceed to the vote. I see that we have for the quorum required quorum of 19 members. And before we proceed to the votes, I would like to inform you that the following non-Labor members will participate in today's vote for EPP. Christoph Gomaa will replace Nadine Morano, Sergio Humberto will replace Ana Miguel Pedro and Jüri Ratas will replace Alice Teodorescu and Nora Mebarek will replace Muriel Lorant, and we have no other indication of any other replacement in any other group. Is that the case? There are any other.”
  Recruitment policies in the EU
• “Thank you, Miss Basilio. We have just had a hearing precisely on the issue of the recruitment of minors by organised crime. And we are all aware of the scale of the seriousness of this problem. Um, now, um, I'm giving the floor for further remarks on this matter to Mrs. Juliet.”
  EU policy on criminal justice
• “Madam president, yesterday in this chamber, we listened to the heartbreaking testimony of a mother whose daughter, Coco, fell victim of online bullying. Heartbreaking testimony indeed, but also challenging to us as legislators. What are we going to do about it? What do we intend to do about it? Because right now, there are thousands of children going through the same torture that Coco suffered children in isolation, in distress, in fear, who are being harassed, extorted, humiliated, bullied and abused children whose images as victims are being disseminated online. This is happening now in homes that are no longer the safe environment we think they are. When sexual predators, bullies or even criminal organizations break into them through digital doors. Child sexual abuse. Online radicalization of minors. Online recruitment by organized crime online. Europol reports show that terrorist actors, organized crime groups and online communities involved in child exploitation increasingly operate in the same digital spaces. As a result, minors can be targeted simultaneously for grooming, manipulation, criminal purposes and radicalization. So the situation of children in the digital space in terms of risks and threats is deteriorating seriously. And we need a whole of society approach with a strong commitment and involvement of governments, industry and platforms, law enforcement, civil society and legislators. This is a simple principle that we have to translate into truly enforceable legislation. But illegal offline should be illegal online. Unfortunately, the gap is here and the gap is widening and the whole thing starts with prevention. I find it really extraordinary, to say the least, that while we discuss about children's protection online. There is no effective procedure of aid verification in place yet. Yes. Prevention requires detection of illegal content. Content removal according to the law.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “Moreover, the Libe Committee adopted its report on the Directive on Combating Corruption and decided to enter into institutional negotiations as confirmed by the plenary. We are also following closely the implementation of the European Media Freedom Act, the anti-SLAPP Directive and Artificial Intelligence Act adopted last year, and which have a significant significant impact on the area of rule of law. I would also like to recall two public hearings held in our committee this year, one on the implementation of the Citizens Equality, Rights and Values programme, and another one on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the European Union. Furthermore, the democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Working Group of the Libe Committee has been continuously monitoring the situation of rule of law, both in specific member states and horizontally at EU level. Within the past year, meetings focused on Malta, Slovakia, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria and Spain. Other meetings were dedicated to topics such as the fight against corruption, anti-Semitism, the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, and the rule of law. Conditionality mechanism. A mission to Bulgaria took place in the autumn of 2023 to monitor the rule of law situation in that country. To conclude, the European Parliament, and particularly the Libe Committee, remains committed to upholding and strengthening strengthening the rule of law across the European Union and beyond.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Thank you, Madam Guala, for your speech. You will later have the opportunity to exchange opinions with the representatives of the group. Neva, who is the expert on rights of people with disabilities in the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and who will present the FRA recent report on fundamental rights protection of persons with disabilities in institutions. Mrs. Penneva, again you have the floor for five minutes. Thank you.”
  EU policy on disability inclusion & accessibility
• “Well, first, you should have requested the authorisation of the chair to distribute this Is material, it shouldn't be distributed. I'm not saying the parliament, but certainly not in this room. So I would request the ushers to collect this material and remove it from the committee room. Thank you. And now we proceed. And now we proceed with point number 12 on our agenda, which is the exchange of views on the use of intrusive spyware and the need for a European response. At the beginning of the of this year, there have been revelations by messaging company WhatsApp that a number of journalists and civil society members were reportedly targeted by spyware developed by Paragon Solutions, a company that builds hacking software. Paragon spyware is used by government clients to access encrypted messages from apps like WhatsApp and signal. Whatsapp confirmed that it detected a potential breach and expressed confidence that the devices of several individuals were compromised. While it remains unclear who ordered the attacks, WhatsApp has taken legal action against Paragon and notified the victims. The spyware is believed to operate through a zero click attack, and was allegedly delivered by a malicious PDF sent to users added to group chats. Today we have three speakers with us coming from Mehta, from the Interdisciplinary Laboratory Citizen Lab and from the European Commission.”
  Surveillance equipment & spyware
• “(16:54:32 – 16:54:34): Thank you. Professor Neumann. **Peter Neumann (King’s College London): (16:54:35 – 16:58:01): Thank you. I wanna, respond to that question and also to your question about who's best, which country is best. But 1st, about, online content. Just, a personal comment from my own experience. I've been studying this subject for, 20 years. And until ISIS came along, and I've been to Silicon Valley, I've spoken to all the big social media platform. Until ISIS came along, they all were saying it's impossible to regulate the Internet. Not only that it's undesirable or that it's politically difficult, they said it's impossible. It doesn't work. We don't know how to do it. It's technically impossible. Then ISIS came along and a lot of political pressure happened and suddenly it became possible. Suddenly in 02/1314, if you were a jihadist, your Facebook profile would be down very, very quickly. And then Christchurch happened, the attack on the 2 mosques in New Zealand in 2019. And after that, the big social media platforms went after right wing extremist content as well, again, because of political pressure. And so I do think that these companies are extremely responsive to political pressure, and I think you should keep it up. I think you should make it clear that it is important and that it is necessary. I think the European Union at this point in time is very reluctant for geopolitical reasons, which don't have anything necessarily to do with terrorist content per se. But I do think that something will happen if the political pressure is so great that these companies feel that they have to act. Unfortunately, unless that happens, I think, I'm I'm quite pessimistic about the scope of action you will see from these platforms. Now to your question of what country does it best, I've been thinking about this question for a very long time. And I should say it's not my country, and it's not a it's not a country that I'm actually receiving money from. So I'm completely independent here, and I think it is The Netherlands. If you look at The Netherlands, this is a country which for 25 years has had a lot of radicalization to deal with. It's not that there were no networks. It's not that no Dutch people went to Syria. It's no it's not that no Dutch people supported ISIS. There was a lot of support. Yet, of all the countries in Western Europe, France, Germany, Belgium, etcetera, of all the countries that were affected by this, actually nothing happened in The Netherlands. All the people were arrested and prevention works very well. And I think that's because for over 20 years, they've collected a lot of experience. The agencies are working extremely well together, and they have an extremely sophisticated prevention landscape, which is not just about money, which is also about expertise and competency. And I think that this is not often not often enough given enough recognition to because Netherlands, on the face of it, if you just look at the numbers and people radicalize, you would expect quite a few terrorist attacks to happen. But the last actual jihadist terrorist attack in, The Netherlands happened in 2004. Nothing since. And so I think based on that, I would say they must be doing something right. Whether they are the best, I do not know, but they certainly do a lot of things, very well.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• “The European Citizens Initiative Regulation states that organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the initiative at a public hearing held by the European Parliament, and that the Commission shall be represented. This is why Commissioner for equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management was invited. She had confirmed her participation, however, due to an urgent meeting. Fully understandable given the current situation, she had to cancel at short notice. She will be replaced by the Deputy Director General from DG Justice and Consumers, Mrs. Irena Maxova. The present ECI initiative was submitted to the Commission on the 17th of November 2025. It obtained 1,100,000 and 128,063 statements of support and reached the minimum threshold in 11 Member states. I hope I got. I hope I got the, the the the figures properly read. The Commission has now, until the 18th of March, 2026, to adopt its answer to the initiative under the form of a communication setting out its legal and political conclusions. The action or actions it intends to take, if any, and the reasons for taking or not taking action. The AISI calls on the European Commission to propose a binding legal ban on conversion practices targeting LGBTQ+ citizens in the European Union, which are interventions aimed at changing, repressing or suppressing the sensual sexual orientation, gender identity, and or gender expression of LGBTQ plus persons.”
  LGBTIQ+
• “Thank you Missus Gregory, Executive Director of the European Agency for Asylum. We do thank you for your presentation and also look forward to the presentation by the Commission on the fifteenth of October of the Asylum and Migration Report that will initiate the first annual migration management cycle. Thank you. ***7. The Roma situation in Slovakia and in other EU Member States: eligibility criteria and efficient implementation of the European funds (Exchange of views)”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Thank you, Mr. Casa. Let me remind you that Every member of the panel will have two minutes each to answer to that. So, um, we will start by the representative of the commission who has been addressed a direct question, and then we go back to members, the other members of the panel. Mr.. Mrs.. Nicolai.”
  REACH restriction on lead in ammunition
• “On behalf of the committee. I am pleased to open today's hearing on the European Citizens Initiative. This hearing represents a concrete exercise in participatory democracy, a direct expression of European citizens shaping EU policy through a bottom up initiative in line with the treaties and the provisions governing the European Citizens Initiative. The European Parliament provides organisers with the opportunity to present their proposals as a committee. We pay particular attention to the fundamental rights aspects of this initiative. The proposal brought forward today raises important questions about how EU cohesion policy can more effectively support the needs of diverse regions. Cohesion and diversity are two words that sound good when put together in the European Union. Union in diversity. And this initiative shows that both can go hand in hand. This is an extremely valuable debate, and thus we look forward to hearing the views of the organisers, as well as engaging in a constructive dialogue with our colleagues and with the European Commission. And now I will invite my colleague, Mrs. Miller, chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, to address her opening remarks. Mrs.. Well.”
  EU engagement with citizens
• “(16:20:00 – 16:20:21): Thank you, mister Randstalk. So following the presentation, 3 speakers. I'm sure there are plenty of issues that political groups representatives would like to raise. So we'll start around by, EPP. Mister Tobe, you have 1 and a half minutes.”
  EU political integration
• “For the S and D group, Mister Lopez Aguilar, floor is yours. **Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (Spain, S&D): Thanks again Chair and of course I appreciate you panelists being involved in this sensitive issue which is much too unconcerned. You don't need to be a Roma to stand for Roma inclusion, to stand for Roma accession to full joy of the fundamental rights protected by the Charter just like every other EU citizen. I'm only sorry that this mandate is the first time in twenty-five years in which we do not have the distinguished Roma community MEPs that we've had in many political groups in a variety of political groups including mine. But in any case, I would like to address a question to the Commission. The thing is that this appalling situation of the Roma community in Slovakia is not the only fundamental rights factor, rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights factor in Slovakia regrettably so. Just the past plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, there was a very intended point precisely on the matter of what's going on in Slovakia. And the thing is that it only shows that money invested is not producing a better degree of Roma community accession, Roma community inclusion, Roma community integration. It only shows on the contrary, as we heard from Mrs. Rabanova, that there's an increasing level of concern as to the actual implementation of EU funds for that purpose.”
  Engagement of Romani communities in Europe
• “We, move on to, another union support, in this case for the Sengen area. So, this is, again, a draft report. And the report concerns union support for the Schengen Area For European Integrated Border Management, for the common policy on visas for the period 2028, '20, '32, which also forms part of the multi annual financial framework. The rapporteur is mister Carlo Resler, but I understand that, he will be replaced by mister Radif in addressing the, the committee. So, mister Radev, the floor is yours for 5 minutes. Thank”
  Enlargement of Schengen area
• “The organizers of the ECI are here to illustrate further the reasons and requests made through this initiative. I would like to remind you that Libya had commissioned a study on conversion practices on LGBT+ people in 2023. In June 2025, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the Commission's 2024 Rule of Law report, which urged, and I quote, the Commission to present a proposal for a binding EU ban on conversion practices in all member States. End of quote. And last week, the committee has adopted its report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2024 and 2025. That again urges the Commission to present a proposal for a legal act on an EU ban on conversion practices in all member states. So, as you can see from the programme, we have a very tight agenda in front of us today and I kindly ask all participants to respect the foreseen timing. So I now give the floor to Mrs. Cristina Aguada, Vice Chair of the Committee on Petitions. Dear Mrs. Guarda, you have the floor for your welcoming remarks on behalf of Peti for two minutes. Thank you.”
  LGBTIQ+
• “The European Citizens Initiative Regulation states that organisers shall be given the opportunity to present the initiative at a public hearing held by the European Parliament, and that the Commission shall be represented. This is why Commissioner for equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management was invited. She had confirmed her participation, however, due to an urgent meeting. Fully understandable given the current situation, she had to cancel at short notice. She will be replaced by the Deputy Director General from DG Justice and Consumers, Mrs. Irena Maxova. The present ECI initiative was submitted to the Commission on the 17th of November 2025. It obtained 1,100,000 and 128,063 statements of support and reached the minimum threshold in 11 Member states. I hope I got. I hope I got the, the the the figures properly read. The Commission has now, until the 18th of March, 2026, to adopt its answer to the initiative under the form of a communication setting out its legal and political conclusions. The action or actions it intends to take, if any, and the reasons for taking or not taking action. The AISI calls on the European Commission to propose a binding legal ban on conversion practices targeting LGBTQ+ citizens in the European Union, which are interventions aimed at changing, repressing or suppressing the sensual sexual orientation, gender identity, and or gender expression of LGBTQ plus persons.”
  LGBTIQ+
• “Thank you so much, Mr. Garguilo. And now. Now, give the floor to the chair of the Committee of Women's Rights and Gender Equality, Mrs. Lina Galvez Munoz, to intervene on behalf of the Femm Committee. Mr. Galvez, you have the floor for two minutes.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you, Mr. Situation. I'm a member of the panel, but I've been, uh, addressed a a question. Well, as chair of the Libe committee and very proudly so, I am of course, responsible and I try to do my best in order for this committee to comply and carry out its constitutional obligations. Um, we are lucky that Libya is not the last ditch, uh, in the defense and preserving the rule of law in the European Union, but everything that can be done, um, as far as I'm concerned, I'll try to, to get it done along with the groups and the members of this, of this committee. Thank you. And now, uh, the floor goes to Mr. Ulrich from Mr.. Eric, I know you're not taking the floor. Okay, then. Um. I have no other speakers list, so we conclude the panel. This second panel here we do. Thank you, our guest speakers, for their contributions in this this crucial matter. And be sure that we continue to follow up on this particularly important issue. Thank you. And now, um, we will have a break until noon, uh, to resume our session on item number five in our agenda, uh, on child friendly justice and criminal matters. Thank you. ***5. Exchange of views on Child-Friendly Justice in Criminal Matters - Children as Victims, Witnesses and Offenders - Despina VASSILIADOU, Head of Unit in the European Commission (JUST A5) - Anne-Laure BAULIEU, Senior Project Officer in the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe (via remote connection) - Cédric FOUSSARD, Child Justice Expert and Visiting Professor in Children’s Justice from Manchester Metropolitan University (via remote connection)”
  EU policy on victims' compensation rights
• “(16:08:23 – 16:08:30): Thank you. Thank you, mister Schafer. Now, mister Neumann, floor is yours for 5 minutes. Excellent. **Peter Neumann (King’s College London): (16:08:31 – 16:14:19): Well, thank you, chair. I will focus my 5 minutes, on Islamist extremist, terrorism and radicalization. I know my colleague, Magnus Randstorp, who speaks after me, will also talk about other aspects. Broadly speaking, in Europe, we have had 2 waves of jihadist or Islamist terrorism. We had 1 in the 2 thousands, which was kicked off by the 9 11 attacks in The United States. Then towards the middle of the decade, we had big terrorist ist attacks in London, in Madrid. And then towards the end of the decade, it sort of tailed off. And I remember very well in 02/1011, a lot of experts, including myself, thought this was it. It's over. It's never gonna come come back. But then shortly afterwards, the Syrian conflict started, and yet again, we had a jihadist wave of about 10 years. In the middle of the decade, again, we had the peak of that wave with terrorist attacks in Brussels, in Paris, in Stockholm, in Nice, in Manchester, in London, in Berlin, in Barcelona, etcetera. And then towards the end of the February, a lot of people convinced themselves, that's it. It's over. And I remember during the pandemic, a lot of people saying, it's essentially the end of it. So we had 2 kind of sick cyclical motions in February, February, and I believe that we may be seeing another 1. And the decisive event is not as in the 1st wave of 09/11, not as in the 2nd wave of the Syrian conflict. It may actually be the terrorist massacre on 10/07/2023 in Israel, which basically essentially galvanized a wave of radicalization in Europe. And indeed, we've seen a lot of attempted attacks attacks across Europe in the years that followed. In the in the year after 10/07/2023, we've seen 25 attempted jihadist attacks across Europe alone with the biggest 1 in Zorlingen in August 2023. Now maybe this is going to become a wave, maybe it isn't. What is clear, however, that is that if it is going to become a wave, it is going to be quite different from the previous waves. The previous waves were described essentially by terrorist groups, Al Qaeda in the 1st wave, ISIS in the 2nd wave. Now we don't have anything comparable to that. We don't have a big transnational terrorist Islamist organization which is organizing everything. What we're seeing a lot is, self radicalization on the Internet. The Internet more than even in the last wave is the driver of mobilization. And what we're seeing is that big social media platforms are basically pushing people into filter filter bubbles, and then the operational planning happens in closed chat groups, especially on Telegram. I agree with the previous speaker that more than before, we're seeing minors, teenagers, very young teenagers sometimes becoming radicalized. I would say it's even more than a 3rd. It's probably more than half of the terrorism suspects which have been arrested since 2023, which have been essentially teenagers. So we have different demographics. We have an even more even more prominent role of the Internet. And as a consequence of that, we also have faster radicalization trajectories. People radicalization processes that used to take months, in some cases years, now sometimes happen within weeks. And what we also see is that rather than people radicalizing into an ideology before they radicalize into violence, they radicalize straight into what they considered to be jihad. So in a sense, this is actually much more risky and much more dangerous than previous waves of terrorism. And in that sense, I think it deserves our our attention. And if that wasn't bad enough, we also have a different an entirely different aspect of Islamist radicalization to deal with, Islamist terrorism, which is quite separate from the Salafi jihadist radicalization that we have gotten used to over the past 20 years, which is a state sponsored or state enabled terrorism, especially by Iran. We have seen in the months of March and April this year, 18 attacks by a group called Haiyi, which stands for Islamic Movement of the Righteous, which is widely thought to be enabled by the Iranian revolutionary guards via Shiite groups in Iraq. This is very different from the teenagers that radicalized online. Here are people who are being used as proxies, who are being used, to carry out terrorist attack, essentially often being found in criminal milieu and often being paid for it. This is quite different, and this is a threat that we also have to pay attention to. It is essentially terrorism as a service. So I would conclude by saying that, the threat from Islamist extremist terrorism is, there as ever. It hasn't stopped, but it comes in 2 forms with both challenges. In 1st, in the form of the Internet enabled, very young people's jihadism, the lone wolf type jihadism that we see, but also and importantly as a form of state sponsored or state enabled terrorism. Thank you.”
  EU policy on Islam
• “Okay. Yes. You're a substitute member, so you don't need to. It's only for non-labor members. But thank you for the. Thank you for the information. Um, okay, so we can now proceed to the vote for the first file. Uh, enhancing police cooperation in relation to the prevention, detection, and investigation of migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings. And on enhancing Europol support to preventing and combating such crimes. Amendment regulation EU 2,016.94. So, uh. We are all ready for that. What's my vote in this? We start with amendment uh, 50 and 51. No, but I will read it right now. Yeah. Yeah. At the end”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• “44. That should be 44. Yeah. Yes. 44. So we vote on amendment 44. Vote is open. Vote is closed and is being rejected. Amendment 18, vote is open. Vote is closed. And it is rejected. Amendment 45 vote is open. But is now Closed and it is rejected. Amendment. And now we move to a compromise amendment for vote is open. It's now closed. And it is adopted. Then we move to the final vote is a roll call. Vote. Vote is open. And it is now closed. And it is rejected. And it is rejected. So I mean, there can be no vote on the. Well, we will inform the members of the next steps to follow. We will inform members of the next steps to follow on this on this file. And then if there is no other business, I just have to announce the date of our next meeting, which will be on the 18th and 19th of March. The session is concluded.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you. Um, I don't see any speaker from the group of the left or ESM either. And then, um, we thank you. We thank our speakers for their contributions. As, um, Mrs. Vassiliou has just said, negotiations on the new, um, victims rights directive, um, are ongoing. Um, and, uh, as the parliament, we will try to do our best to enlarge and strengthen the rights of victims and of course, with the particularly, um, attention attached to, uh, to children. Um. Thank you. Here concludes this exchange of views. Um, as I understand, there is no other business. The date of the next meeting will be on the 23rd of June, from 15 to 1830 here in Brussels, and the 24th of June from 930 to um 13. And from 1430 to 1630 here in Brussels. Thank you. The session is closed. Thank you.”
  EU policy on victims' compensation rights
• “Thank you. We have to conclude this item on our agenda here. We really welcome your contributions and your presentations and information you have provided. As I said at the beginning of this discussion, the committee has been very actively involved in the discussion of the own initiative report by the Parliament and as far as the LIBE committee is concerned and in the areas of our competence, we will be following up very closely the announced enhanced strategy for the rights of persons with disability up to 2030 that has been announced by the Commission in its work program. Thank you very much. We conclude this point and also we conclude the meeting of our committee. I believe a committee there, I understand no other business. So the date of the next meeting of our committee would be on the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh of January and now we will hold the joint ECON MB LIBE committee on consideration of the draft report omnibus four. So thank you, thank you very much. We conclude here our discussion.”
  EU policy on disability inclusion & accessibility
• “The organizers of the ECI are here to illustrate further the reasons and requests made through this initiative. I would like to remind you that Libya had commissioned a study on conversion practices on LGBT+ people in 2023. In June 2025, the European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the Commission's 2024 Rule of Law report, which urged, and I quote, the Commission to present a proposal for a binding EU ban on conversion practices in all member States. End of quote. And last week, the committee has adopted its report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2024 and 2025. That again urges the Commission to present a proposal for a legal act on an EU ban on conversion practices in all member states. So, as you can see from the programme, we have a very tight agenda in front of us today and I kindly ask all participants to respect the foreseen timing. So I now give the floor to Mrs. Cristina Aguada, Vice Chair of the Committee on Petitions. Dear Mrs. Guarda, you have the floor for your welcoming remarks on behalf of Peti for two minutes. Thank you.”
  LGBTIQ+
• “Well, your colleagues, we're going to proceed to the vote. First, I would like to announce that the following Non-liver members will participate in today's vote. For the EPP, Mr. Francois-Xavier Bellamy is replaced by Antonio Lopez Isturiz. Mr. Matos Cunha is replaced by Mr. Sergio Alberto. Mrs. Morano is replaced by Mr. Delors. Quintano. Mr. Radev is replaced by Andrey Novakov. Not yet and Mr. Tomas is replaced by Mrs. Isabel Benjumea. The S&D Group Mrs. Anna Catharina mendes is replaced by Selena Gomez. Mr. Matthias Nemec is replaced by Jens Geier on the FB group. Mr. Jaroslav Björk is replaced by Tomas Couvin. Andras Laszlo is replaced by Jean-Paul Garat, and Susana Siccardi is replaced by Marie Brazier and the group Mr. Sirianni is replaced by Mr. Pichereau. There is no replacement in the new group. On the Greens Erik Marquart replaced. Is replaced by by Mrs. Catering and Mr. is replaced by David Cormand. In the group of the left Fernando Fernando Barina is replaced by Sebastian Everding. And in the same group Mrs. Seba Sajkowski is replaced by Alexander Jungbluth. Any other replacement that hasn't been notified yet? If that is not the case. Yeah.”
  Recruitment policies in the EU
• “Thank you chair. Thank you Lena. I would also like to warmly welcome you all again in this joint committee meeting, which I have the pleasure to co-chair with my colleague. We have a single item in today's agenda, the consideration of amendments to the Libyan Feminine Report tabled by the Co-rapporteurs. Let me first thank the Co-rapporteurs, the shadows and all colleagues that have tabled amendments for their contribution. There are 386 amendments amendments tabled. The topic of this joint report is with any doubt of special relevance to our Committee and to the Parliament itself. There is a strong consensus in the Committee and the European Parliament that violence against women cannot be tolerated and that perpetrators must be brought to justice. As rape is a very serious crime. As the legislative committee with the competence on criminal legislation. This report is a and will be a major contribution to welcome discussion on how best to protect freedom against sexual aggressions. It should be self-evident that consent, or rather the absence of it, is a key element on the configuration of rape as a serious criminal offence. But we know that the definition of a consent based rape legislation raises some issues that need to be sorted out. That's precisely what is dealt with in this report. The fact that there is a variety of legal approaches and definitions of rape proves that. And moreover, we know that a faulty legislative approach in connection with other sex sexual offences might have unintended effects in terms of legal certainty and the punishment for perpetrators. So this is a complex political and legislative operation. And that's why this report may be such a will be such a useful contribution. So we are looking forward to hearing the main elements of the amendments and also the remarks by the Co-rapporteurs. Therefore, without further ado, I will pass the floor to the chair to start today's debate by giving the floor to the Co-rapporteurs. Thank you. Thank you Lina.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Failing to adopt this amendment on time could put in jeopardy the admissibility of evidence stored in those systems included. Including in the core International Crimes Evidence Database established by Eurojust. After I would propose to you to handle this file under the simplified. Procedure set out in rule 52, paragraph one. This rule allows us to take over the Commission's proposal without amendment. The Council on the other side has confirmed that it is taking the same approach, and will confirm this formally in the usual quarter per letter. If the Secretariat does not receive a qualified objection to this proposal by the end of our meeting today, we will consider the decision to adopt the text and the simplified procedure as approved. This decision will therefore give me the mandate to table a report to the September plenary taking over the Commission's proposals. Proposal as EPP position in the first reading. Council will be able to adopt its shortly afterwards for the next. For the text to be signed, published and entered into force between the 1st of December. So let me just note that with shadow rapporteurs, we were also concerned by those unfortunate developments leading to delays in setting up the new case management system. Therefore, we also decided to follow up with the commission on this concern. We will inquire on how in general such large IT projects, in particular those concerning ad agencies, are assessed in terms of requirements and impact assessment and how they are effectively carried out. We have very limited time, so we would like to close this item unless there are specific comments from any of the shadows of the shadow rapporteurs. As indeed EFA. Ecr I see no comments. Renew. Yeah. Yeah.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• “Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Thornmann. Now we have some time for catch the eye. Any other member wishing to take the floor? Mister Lopez Aguilar. **Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (Spain, S&D): Speak in Spanish today. I just wanted to remind you very briefly about what we had heard in the European Parliament after the announcement of the so-called omnibus package. If you remember, the fourth component would affect the European standard for data protection. We're very proud that it's the highest level of protection in the world but we were wondering whether these values which were spoken so highly of will be affected with the new changes. Now, the European data protection standard was established in 2017, came into force in 2018 and it was announced as a revolutionary event and would have no impact on SMEs. But given the additional requirements and the initiative burden, a lot more people fell under the blanket of the regulation than thought. Now, when looking at the fundamental rights, the protection of personal data, what's become clear is that none of the negative repercussions have actually been seen and broadly speaking the consequences have been positive and the investment made to increase competitiveness has not lowered EU standards, unlike AI issues which have caused a number of problems. So this initiative is being implemented at a time when the main technological businesses, the technological platforms and the Trump administration had infamously called upon the EU to lower their standards and their requirements. There were requirements which were applied to the technology multinationals and the impression I get is that this simplification is omnibus in an attempt to pacify Trump and others. Perhaps you could reassure me that we won't be undermining the values which we hold dear in the European Parliament.”
  GDPR
• “(17:49:00 – 17:49:23): Thank you, missus Strolenberg. And now I again, I will, now give the floor to mister Frante, head of the, funding coordination unit in the home for, his remarks. Just a couple of minutes, mister Franzse.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you so much, Mr. Garguilo. And now. Now, give the floor to the chair of the Committee of Women's Rights and Gender Equality, Mrs. Lina Galvez Munoz, to intervene on behalf of the Femm Committee. Mr. Galvez, you have the floor for two minutes.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “(17:04:45 – 17:05:03): Thank you, mister Siffer. Well, we conclude this, item on agenda. We thank our speakers for their presentation, the information they provided, their exchange with the, with the members. I think it's been extremely interesting, discussion. So thanks again. Thank you. Thank you. ***Establishing the Union support for asylum, migration and integration for the period from 2028 to 2034 // Joint Working Group on the implementation and enforcement of the Artificial Intelligence Act”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you, Mr. Jamin. And I, there are no further political groups representatives in the room. We then conclude here our hearing of, uh, Mr. Jamin as shortlisted candidate, and we will move to our third candidate, Mrs. Lorraine Nolan. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Jamin.”
  Recruitment policies in the EU
• “(15:00:38 – 15:01:04): work has had to be displayed. There is still negotiations undergoing in order to complete the legal framework of this new legal situation. And then we move after mister Ioannidis and mister Brunner's presentation, we move to the round of political groups starting with EPP, mister Tchaikovsky.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you very much. President. Vice president. Nobody can deny that in these 100 days. What's very clear are the huge challenges that the Commission is facing. Simplification, perhaps the least difficult one when you compare it with migration and defence and competitiveness. Now, obviously, we also need to negotiate a new MFF. That won't be easy and we'll need to take serious decisions about the funding of the EU. We also have significant concerns about the rule of law. Over the past few years, we have had to deal with the Trojan horse from the populist left through through Putin. And now we have the Trojan horse of the far right, the populist far right and the Trumpist far right in Europe. So it's not going to be easy. But Madam Vice President, for too long, too many member states have been spending and legislating without limits. We therefore need a strong commission, but not to the detriment of Parliament, but one that works together with Parliament to deal with these challenges that we all face. Thank you.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Okay let's move on we have the guests already coming first of all welcome to our speakers warm welcome to them when we start this new and final item in our agenda on the rights freedoms and remaining gaps in the protection of persons with disabilities in the EU. I'm happy to hold this exchange of views in the framework of the European Parliament Disability Week during the last Strasbourg session. You will recall that the European Parliament adopted ample own initiative report on the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disability post twenty twenty four to which we in Liebe contributed with an opinion led by Madame Keller. As you know the commission launched a strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities twenty twenty one two thousand and thirty on the third on March twenty twenty one lasting until two thousand and thirty. The majority of the flagship initiatives and actions have already been completed by the commission notably six out of seven of them accessible EU the European Disability Card and parking card guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community the disability employment package and the disability platform renewed commission human resources strategies. Notwithstanding this progress the European Court of Auditors and the EU UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have underlined that the practical impact of EU actions remains limited and fragmented. For this reason the European Parliament called on the commission to update the strategy for the remaining five years and to come forward with new flagship initiative proposals to address remaining challenges and gaps particularly regarding the access of persons with disabilities to employment social protection health care education housing and digital services but also those pertaining to the free movement of persons with disabilities and the mutual recognition of disability rights across the European Union. We took note of the commission commitment in twenty twenty six to work program for an initiative on enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disability up to two thousand and thirty. Against this background we are glad to be able to hold this exchange today in the context of the EP Disability Week twenty twenty five. We will be able to exchange views with representatives of the European Commission the European Disability Forum the UN CRPD and the Fundamental Rights Agency but before we proceed with the exchange and the previous presentations of our speakers we will watch the video by President Metzola on the European Parliament celebration of this disability rights week twenty twenty five and the European Parliament's initiatives on this matter. This is a short video a couple of minutes and then we will start with presentations and the exchange of views with our guests so let's watch the video.”
  EU policy on disability inclusion & accessibility
• “Well, take your seats so we can start with our joint econ lib session on the consideration of the draft report. Um, let me welcome everyone to this joint committee meeting. Um, unfortunately, our colleague, Mr. Antonio de Caro, chair of the committee, is not able to attend today. And, uh, also, uh, the chair of the econ committee will be replaced by vice chair Mr. Arthur. We will hear today from the co-rapporteurs of the so-called omnibus for a simplification measures for small and mid-cap enterprises. So a warm welcome to the Co-rapporteurs, Mrs. Maria Teresa Baldini, Mr. Niels Hansen and Mr. Tomas Tobe. We will present the draft report on behalf of the co-rapporteur Mr. Lucas Mandel. Also welcome to the shadow rapporteurs of this joint file, as well as to our colleagues in the room from the opinion giving committees into and to the Commission representative. Now, our Co-rapporteurs will present a joint report on the so-called omnibus for um. One of the key measures in the proposal is to cut red tape for SMEs and smcs under GDPR. The regulation and the regulation, um, in the draft report, which was prepared jointly by the econ Lib and MB Co-rapporteurs, each co-rapporteurs focused on the parts of the proposal in their committee's remit. The rapporteur proposes amendments to the GDPR. Related parts of the proposal, and after the presentation of the draft report, the shadows and the Commission will be given the floor, followed by closing remarks by the rapporteur. So I now give the floor to my colleague. Mr.. Order.”
  Simplification measures (political compass)
• “(17:33:56 – 17:35:05): Missus Mendez, I wish you very good luck to you all in the upcoming discussion of this file. And let me inform you that the deadline for amendments has been set for Monday, June 2 at 5PM. We have concluded this point. ***Establishing the Union support for the Schengen area, for European integrated border management and for the common policy on visas for the period from 2028 to 2034”
  Asylum & border control
• “Now we move to point number five, um, on the combating corruption, replacing Council Framework decision and the convention on the Fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities and officials of member states of the European Union. Well, on March, on the 26th of March, I presided over the Parliament's negotiating team at the second trilogue on the proposal for a directive on combating corruption. Uh, the meeting which took place at council premises. And I would like to report back to you on the content of that meeting. First of all, I stressed to the Council that Parliament has entered these negotiations with very strong and broadly supported mandate. The fight against corruption is a shared goal on which we agree across political lines and on which we certainly have the support of the public. I therefore made it clear that we have to insist on key elements of Parliament's mandate, while of course also understanding that a balanced compromise must be struck. The second trilogue, several key issues were discussed, such as definitions of corruption offences, limits on amnesties and immunities in relation to those offences, penalties and limitation periods, and provisions on prevention of corruption. On those topics, The rapporteur and I defended Parliament's mandate. While no conclusions have yet been reached and further negotiations at the political level will certainly be needed on this file, the Council presidency listened to our arguments and showed willingness to work towards reaching a text acceptable to both co-legislators. I'm therefore optimistic that an agreement can be reached in due course. And now I'd like to give the floor to the EPP rapporteur, Mrs. Raquel Garcia van der Walt, for five minutes to elaborate further on the negotiations. Mr.. The floor is yours.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• “The high number of participants also shows that the interest in the topic of rule of law remains steadily high. In the European Parliament, we find it important to sustain a continuous exchange of views with national parliamentarians to ensure that we remain focused on strengthening the rule of law as a core principle of the European Union and its Member States. Dear colleagues, now, please allow me to update you briefly on the work of the European Parliament and in particular the Libe Committee, in respect of the rule of law and the related monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. As you know, the Parliament has been asking since 2016 for a comprehensive and preventive mechanism mechanism in this field via an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights, the so-called EU DRF pact. Following this call, we do acknowledge the Commission's continuous commitment by firstly introducing the report in 2020 and secondly, enhancing the relevance of the report throughout the years by including country specific recommendations and assessment of their fulfilment and most recently recently by expanding its scope to enlargement countries. Of course, we also welcome the commitment of Commissioner Maccraith to include the economic dimension of the rule of law in the upcoming annual report following the call from the Parliament. Nevertheless, the Parliament's call for an EU DRF pact still remains a key issue on the lib agenda.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “I'd merely like to add two things. Firstly, now this committee fully supports and defends its members, uh, in taking out their carrying out their functions and. Against any type of coercion or intolerable threats. And then I will conclude, I think, that in this mission we identified the serious points of worrying points about the rule of law in Slovakia. And to the extent that, as the co-chair, Mrs. Wilmoth said, we are not a court, but we want to try to symbolize, stimulate very strict dialogue between the EU authorities and the Slovak authorities to discuss these risks and dangers we've identified. Uh, to try to re-establish this rule of law. Thank you. ***LIBE mission to the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), Vienna (Austria), 26-27 May 2025”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Thank you Commissioner. What I can say about that is that we will go to the trialogues with a very strong mandate from the Parliament. All the political groups in the discussion of the original proposal by the Commission which was by the way problematic in areas all political groups finally supported the report of the Parliament and we will go to the trial logs with such strong mandate of the Parliament. Now I give the floor to, I mean ECR is the, I don't see any ECR speaker asking for the floor then Renew is anyone taking the floor from Renew? Missus Takhanova.”
  EU political integration
• “The debate will take place according to the following formula. The floor will be given alternately to two members of national Parliament and one parliament and one member of the European Parliament until the list of speakers is exhausted. Members of national parliaments wishing to intervene are kindly requested to fill in the speaking cards for requesting the floor in the current session, and hand them to the ushers, who will bring them to the podium. The speakers list will be created on the basis on the basis of this speaking cards, taking into account the order of the receiving. Meps are requested to raise their hands, that is usual in the committee meetings to be added to the speakers list. Speaking time should be maximum two minutes per intervention for members of the national parliaments, and 1.5 minutes for members of the European Parliament. And please note that depending on the number of participants wishing to intervene, it might be necessary to restrict the speaking time in order to ensure that all participants on the list can have the possibility to take the floor. And now I am very pleased to give the floor to Commissioner Michael McGrath, the Commissioner for democracy, justice and the Rule of Law at the European Commission, for a intervention in ten minutes. Commissioner McGrath, thank you for coming. And the floor is yours.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Today we have with us Mrs. Despina Vasileiadou, who is the head of the unit in the European Commission. We have Mrs. Ann Beaulieu, which is a senior project officer in the Children's Rights Division of the Council of Europe. She will be participating remotely. And, uh, Monsieur Cedric Viewsa, child justice expert and visiting professor in Children's Justice from Manchester Metropolitan University, who will also take part in the exchange of views remotely. So very welcome. A very warm welcome to you all. And, um, unfortunately, we should have had today with us, Mrs. Eva Coppock, the vice president of the European Parliament coordinator on children's rights. But, um, I mean, um, she is, um, sick and she hasn't been able to make it to the committee, so we wish her a very quick, healthy recovery. Um, the floor will first go to the representatives of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the Civil Society for the three presentations of seven minutes each. And after that I will give the. After that I will give the floor to the representatives of the political groups for the Q a session, as usual. So let's start with Mr. Despina Vasileiadou. Thanks for coming, Mrs. Vasileiadou. Welcome again. And the floor is yours for seven minutes. Thank you.”
  EU engagement with civil society
• “Thank you, Mrs. Masuda. And now I'll give the floor to the presidency of the Council and to the representatives of the European Economic and Social Council. Who is the rapporteur of the opinion on this initiative? Ban on conversion practices. But first I invite Mrs. Elena Ioannou from the Permanent Representation of Cyprus and the Council Presidency of the European Union, to take the floor for three minutes. Mrs. Ioannou floor is yours.”
  LGBTIQ+
• “Thank you very much. Maybe a misunderstanding: the Parliament yesterday, the LIBE committee agreed on the—we made the proposal but the—you agreed yesterday, not the Commission. You agreed yesterday.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Well, your colleagues, we're going to proceed to the vote. First, I would like to announce that the following Non-liver members will participate in today's vote. For the EPP, Mr. Francois-Xavier Bellamy is replaced by Antonio Lopez Isturiz. Mr. Matos Cunha is replaced by Mr. Sergio Alberto. Mrs. Morano is replaced by Mr. Delors. Quintano. Mr. Radev is replaced by Andrey Novakov. Not yet and Mr. Tomas is replaced by Mrs. Isabel Benjumea. The S&D Group Mrs. Anna Catharina mendes is replaced by Selena Gomez. Mr. Matthias Nemec is replaced by Jens Geier on the FB group. Mr. Jaroslav Björk is replaced by Tomas Couvin. Andras Laszlo is replaced by Jean-Paul Garat, and Susana Siccardi is replaced by Marie Brazier and the group Mr. Sirianni is replaced by Mr. Pichereau. There is no replacement in the new group. On the Greens Erik Marquart replaced. Is replaced by by Mrs. Catering and Mr. is replaced by David Cormand. In the group of the left Fernando Fernando Barina is replaced by Sebastian Everding. And in the same group Mrs. Seba Sajkowski is replaced by Alexander Jungbluth. Any other replacement that hasn't been notified yet? If that is not the case. Yeah.”
  Recruitment policies in the EU
• “(15:58:47 – 16:01:52): Well, we conclude this item on our agenda. We thank, missus Stallus for her presentation and, her exchanges with, members. Thank you, missus Stallus. ***Impact of Islamic extremism on the European way of life (Exchange of views with: - Martin Schieffer, Head of Unit of Counter-terrorism, Anti-radicalisation, Critical Infrastructure, DG HOME, European Commission - Dr Peter Neumann, Professor of Security Studies, King’s College London - Dr Magnus Ranstorp, Research Director and Associate Professor, Swedish Defence University”
  EU policy on Islam
• “(15:00:25 – 15:00:38): Thank you, commissioner. Yes. The June 12 will mark a very important achievement for the European Union as a whole, but also a very important achievement for the Cyprus presidency. A”
  EU political integration
• “Now we move to item number seven on our agenda, which will include an exchange of views with Commissioner McGrath. Thank you.”
  EU public communication strategy
• “And now I give the floor back to the organizers and the and the and the European Commission. I will start by giving the floor to the European Commission to address the questions that have been addressed to you directly. Yes, please. Two minutes.”
  EU public communication strategy
• “Thank you. Um, now the floor should go to the group of the Greens, but I don't see, uh, Mr. or Mrs. Driver. Is that the case? Then we move on to the group of the left. Um. Apparently, my speakers list. I have Mr. Serrano and Mr. Barina. None of them are present, and ESM has no shadow rapporteur appointed. So now I will give the floor to the representative of the Commission, Mrs. Pradines. You have the floor for one minute. Mr. president, for resource.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you miss. I would like to thank all participants for having made this event an important moment of democracy and of citizens participation to the European Union. I would like to thank my MEPs, colleagues and the chairs of Petit and Femm Committee for their contributions, as well as Mrs. Muchova of the Commission for being here and listening to citizens requests. And finally, I would like to thank the organizers of this initiative, the rapporteur of the Economic and Social Council, Mr. and Mrs. Ioannou, for having intervened in this ECI public hearing. Thank you all. Thank you very much. And now we move to our next item on our agenda. Thanks for coming. And you. Know. For.”
  EU engagement with citizens
• “That would be it let me remind you that in principle have two minutes allocated for questions and two minutes allocated the answers so try to stay within the allocated term Mr Lopez Aguilar s and t floor is yours **Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (Spain, S&D): Thank you Madam Grigori. I'm only sorry that you couldn't make it because of this airport episode we heard on the news yesterday, but I'm glad you're there and making the case facing the concerns that have been expressed by Tomas Tobe, which I concur to, not an accident. It's precisely because there's much involved when it comes to the migration and asylum pact implementation. We always highlight that migration is a fact and there is no room in the European Union for fear mongering, let alone say for hate based on prejudice. But asylum is a right and it takes a lot of you, highly demanding agency when it comes to the solidarity pledge which are expected from the member states. I would like you to ponder on the added value by your agency in order to match the persons which can potentially be relocated when applying for asylum in a particular member state in which happens to be the first arrival. The second point you already mentioned is the relevance of judicial training because it takes a lot of fundamental rights caring when it comes to the judiciary of the member states. So I would like you to elaborate on the actions that you are carrying out in order to provide for specific training for asylum rights when it comes to judges and public prosecutors in the member states. Thank you.”
  Asylum & border control