Lina GÁLVEZ

Policy topics Lina GÁLVEZ is active on

What Lina GÁLVEZ has said (80)

• 2026-01-08 “P-000049/2026 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission 1. The EU remains engaged in all multilateral meetings and processes that discuss gender equality. This includes the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) but also gender equality related meetings in the Human Right Council in Geneva, in the 3 rd Committee of UN General Assembly or in various national Universal Periodic Review (UPR) dialogues. CSW is one of the priorities of the EU each year. The EU is represented by a strong delegation from the Commission and the European External Action Service, usually led by the Commissioner for Equality, and joined also by a delegation from the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and civil society representatives. There is currently no intention to offer to host CSW in the EU. 2. The Commission’s external actions integrating gender equality as a significant or principal target have increased from 68% in 2020 to 84% for actions under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)-Global Europe. In line with the EU Roadmap on Women’s Rights 1 , the Gender Equality Strategy 2 the Gender Action Plan III 3 , and as proposed in the new Global Europe instrument, the EU will continue to promote women’s and girls’ empowerment and full enjoyment of gender equality as a priority across all areas of external action, ensuring internal-external coherence. The proposed Global Europe regulation identifies gender-relevant specific objectives for all geographic and global pillars of the instrument. The EU continues to engage actively with UN Women in a partnership that stretches from policy formulation to implementation of joint programmes, also in providing support for women’s rights organisations. 1 The EU Roadmap for Women’s Rights: a renewed push for gender equality: https://commission.europa.eu/news-and-media/news/eu-roadmap-womens-rights-renewed-push-gender-equality2025-03-07_en. 2 Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-andfundamental-rights/gender-equality/gender-equality-strategy_en. 3 EU Gender Action Plan (GAP III) 2020-2027: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/gender-action-plan-iii-its-keyareas-eu-engagement_en.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• 2025-10-10 “P-003982/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission The right of everyone to access preventive health care and to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national laws and practices is enshrined in Article 35 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. According to Article 35 of the Charter a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities. The Roadmap for women’s rights 1 adopted in March 2025 states that every woman has a right to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health. In accordance with Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, the Union supports and complements Member States’ action on public health, and respects Member States’ competences to define their health policy, including concerning bioethical questions, and for the organisation of their health services and medical care. The updated 2022 Council Recommendation on cancer screening 2 contains recommendations that Member States are encouraged to take into account when implementing and organizing their screening programmes. The Recommendation states that quality screening includes an analysis of the process and outcome of the screening and rapid reporting of these results to the population and screening providers 3 . The European guidelines on breast cancer screening and care 4 contain detailed recommendations, including on how to invite women and informing them about their results. The Commission provides funding to Member States, regions and further stakeholders such as through the Joint Action EUCanScreen 5 to implement the Council Recommendation helping to optimise sustainable cancer screening programmes. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/0c3fe55d-9e4f-4377-9d14-93d03398b434_en. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2022.473.01.0001.01.ENG. 3 Recital 18 of the Council Recommendation. 4 https://cancer-screening-and-care.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/ecibc/european-breast-cancer-guidelines. 5 https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/cancer/europes-beating-cancer-plan-eu4healthfinanced-projects/projects/eucanscreen_en.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• 2025-10-08 “E-003938/2025 Answer given by Ms Lahbib on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission is strongly committed to upholding and promoting women’s and girls’ fundamental rights throughout the EU. The actions announced in the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and implemented over the past years are a testament to this commitment. Misinformation relating to women’s health can be dangerous to women and infringes on their autonomy to make informed decisions with regard to their health. 2. The Declaration of Principles for a gender-equal society annexed to the Roadmap for Women’s Rights, under principle 2, proclaims that every woman must have a right to the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health and that upholding and advancing this principle includes promoting women’s and girls’ physical and mental health, including through improving access to evidence-based information on women’s health and sexuality. The forthcoming Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030 will build on the principles outlined in this Declaration and translate the Commission’s commitment into action.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion · Sexuality and reproduction
• 2025-09-03 “E-003381/2025 Answer given by Mr Dombrovskis on behalf of the European Commission The European system of national and regional accounts (ESA 2010) requires that all economic activities are recorded, provided that all units involved enter the actions by mutual agreement. This obligation also covers some illegal activities. The Handbook on the compilation of statistics on illegal economic activities in national accounts and balance of payments 1 provides a common definition of illegal economic activities and guidance for collecting and compiling the related statistics in a consistent and coordinated way. The Handbook is explicit: ‘prostitution services that do not have the characteristics of an economic transaction, i.e. those not based on mutual agreement; must be excluded from the measurement’ (§3.4, p. 33). Trafficking, coercion and exploitation are thus not reflected in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other macroeconomic statistics. National authorities use information from law enforcement, health services and specialised organisations to ensure this distinction. The same principle applies to employment. Only people who voluntarily provide services are treated as employed for statistical purposes. Neither traffickers nor persons forced into prostitution are counted as employed in macroeconomic statistics. Including certain illegal activities in macroeconomic statistics is a technical requirement to ensure that GDP and other figures are consistent and comparable. The regulation of prostitution is a competence of the Member States. 1 As the Handbook on the compilation of statistics on illegal economic activities (Eurostat/ECB, 2018) further explains, statisticians view these activities ‘from a purely statistical perspective (…) to ensure comparability between and within countries over time’ (Foreword, p. 3) – https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-manualsand-guidelines/-/KS-05-17202#:~:text=The%20present%20Handbook%20represents%20the%20first%20comprehensive%20overview,nati onal%20accounts%20%28NA%29%20and%20balance%20of%20payments%20%28BOP%29.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• 2025-07-09 “E-002781/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The EU is not a party to the Council of Europe Landscape Convention 1 and, therefore, the Commission is not competent to ensure its implementation. The Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2 requires that, before consent is given, projects likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue, inter alia, of their nature, size or location be subject to an assessment of their environmental effects, including on the landscape and the cultural heritage. For the categories listed in Annex II, such as photovoltaic plants 3 , the authorities must determine whether an assessment is necessary through a case-by-case study or through previously set thresholds or criteria. In doing that, the authorities must take into account the relevant selection criteria set forth in Annex III. Member States’ competent authorities are primarily responsible for the correct implementation of the above provisions. Moreover, the Directive provides for specific review procedures that allow the public concerned to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions subject to the Directive’s provisions on public participation. The Commission considers that the use of the means of redress available at national level is the most effective way to address individual cases of possible non-compliance and is fully consistent with the Commission’s strategic approach on enforcement action, focused on cases of systemic non-compliance 4 . The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recently published a Guidance on Wind and Solar Energy Projects in a World Heritage Context 5 , which provides a tool to help ensure renewable energy growth does not come at the cost of cultural and natural heritage. 1 https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=signatures-by-treaty&treatynum=176. 2 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of 16 April 2014 - OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18 (EIA Directive). 3 Referred to in Annex II, 3 a) to the EIA Directive. 4 As set out in the Communication of 19 January 2017 (EU law: Better results through better application C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10–20) and in the Communication of 13 October 2022 COM(2022) 518 final - Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers. 5 https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/2794.”
  EU policy on permitting for renewable energy projects
• 2025-04-03 “P-001376/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission In the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 1 the Commission calls upon all cities with over 20,000 inhabitants to develop ambitious urban nature plans, to benefit from the multiple services green space and tree cover provide. By greening their urban development, cities like Seville can support nature and biodiversity, build resilience to climate change, cool urban areas and reduce flood risk, and boost the health and well-being of their citizens - priorities also reinforced under the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change 2 and the Union’s wider work on climate and health 3 . The Nature Restoration Regulation 4 sets specific targets for maintaining and increasing the coverage of urban green space and tree cover in urban areas across the EU. These targets between 2024 and 2030 are set at national level, and they are implemented at Member State level. They do not set targets for any specific local projects. Article 13 of the same Regulation states that Member States should contribute to the planting of at least three billion additional trees by 2030. Again, it does not set specific targets at local level. The Commission would encourage all cities to play their part in supporting these urban greening objectives. 1 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en 2 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change/eu-adaptation-strategy_en 3 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/health/environment-climate-and-health_en 4 Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024.”
  EU policy on urban development
• 2025-01-08 “P-000040/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission The best interests of the child remain a key priority for the European Union 1 . The Brussels IIb Regulation 2 is based on the best interests of the child, mutual trust between Member States and the protection of children in all cross-border civil proceedings that affect them. The Recommendation on integrated child protection systems 3 calls on Member States to ensure that all children within the European Union and beyond 4 have non-negotiable rights to protection from all forms of violence in all the domains of their lives. Upholding the best interests of the child is a guiding principle of the Violence Against Women Directive 5 , which requires, e.g., that competent authorities have access to information on cases of violence involving children so that that information can be taken into account in civil proceedings concerning such children. Member States will have to comply with this Directive by 14 June 2027. In an individual case, it is for the competent national court to assess the facts of the case. In urgent cases, Brussels IIb Regulation allows a court of another Member State to take protective measures in respect of a child who is present in that Member State 6 . 1 In accordance with Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. 2 Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 of 25 June 2019 on jurisdiction, the recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, and on international child abduction. (recast) OJ L 178, 2.7.2019, p. 1–115 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV). 3 Commission Recommendation on developing and strengthening integrated child protection systems in the best interests of the child (C(2024) 2680 final). 4 In accordance with Article 3(5) of the Treaty on EU. 5 Directive (EU) 2024/1385 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on combating violence against women and domestic violence, OJ L, 2024/1385, 24.5.2024. 6 Granting of the measures is subject to the conditions set up in the Regulation and the case-law of the Court of Justice.”
  EU policy on victims' compensation rights · Gender roles, equality and inclusion · Jurisdiction conflicts between EU and national courts
• “Yeah, but but still we are. I have to say that we are the most segregated committee in the whole European Parliament. And but we are really following the rules of the Parliament regarding gender equality. And we have two vice male vice presidents, while other committees with more women than men are in this committee are not following the rules, they find a justification for being exceptions. So we are very good on gender equality, even if it is the more unequal or the more segregated committee in Parliament. So thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Um. Hello. Good afternoon. Hello again. Um, we resume, um, um, today's session on Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality with, um a very important topic and a very important public hearing on the artificial intelligence, gender based violence, including sexual images of women and children. The case of, uh, um, this is extremely important, um, topic for us as a committee. Um, I'm probably one of the topics that is really worrying us the most and to see how we can really, um, do it. So, um, I would like also, uh, to welcome in, in our committee, um, obviously the speakers, the ones that are here with us, but also the ones that will be online with us, but also our lib and eco um, colleagues, uh, that, uh, are also invited to participate in this debate because this is not obviously only, um, a question word for our, um, committee before starting this very important hearing, I would like to welcome in the meeting representative for Amnesty International Korea, uh, um, from jTBC media from Korea. I have the chance to be interviewed from, from, from them and before, and obviously we have a lot of, uh, problems in common and especially a lot of room for collaboration with South Korea. And they are especially interested on in how the European Union is dealing with online safety, platform regulation and technology facilitated gender based violence, including artificial intelligence.”
  Regulation of pornography in the EU
• “It will be good for her development. And now we have seen that this is not the case. So we are taking other measures. But there is a generation I will not say that it has been ruined, but it has suffered the most that we are seeing now also in the antigen, for instance, that it is, and all the conspiracy and all the anti-democratic that it is going on, especially on this very young generation. So we are have a very serious problem, and I hope we will be able to to tackle before we did with the tobacco industry. But as it happened with the tobacco industry, there were a lot of interests behind and a lot of money making society believe, uh, it was not true. So a lie and now is probably even the same because as there is even more money on on it. So thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you also to the interpreters. Uh, and we still have a ten minutes before coordinators. So thank you. Thank you very much. And we will keep definitely discussing this very important topic. Thank thanks a lot.”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “So good morning. We will be starting this opening meeting of each committee to elect the new bureau. I would like to welcome all of you new and old members of of ETR. And as I said, the purpose of this meeting is to constitute the Bureau by electing first the chair and then the vice chairs, in accordance with rule 219 of the Rules of Procedure and the order of election will be first the chair, then it will take my place, because I will not run for chair, of course, and they will be the election of vice chair. Please have your voting cards ready because you will need it. So the first thing we have to check if there is enough quorum. Yes. So we have quorum to to proceed. And I remind you that only full members can be nominated and call for nomination for the election of of the chair. So if there is any nomination. Mr. elder.”
  Recruitment policies in the EU
• “Thank you very much chair. I will be speaking Spanish today? I'd like to start by thanking you for your presentation. I think this agreement is absolutely crucial for the stability of Campo de Gibraltar, the whole region and Gibraltar. It is the border between the UK and Spain and the European Union. It's a historic agreement. It will eliminate physical barriers, checks and controls. It also maintains movement of people. We're talking about thousands of workers every single day. It also maintains the integrity of the Schengen Area, the single market and the customs union. This will guarantee dual controls in ports and airports. It will be. We will have Spain and Gibraltar for the UK. Spain for the Schengen Area, and there will be close cooperation between security authorities, and there'll be a customs agreement which will control goods. And this is especially important for this region of Andalusia, where they have to fight money laundering. The S&D celebrates the fact that the level playing field was prioritised with a focus on the environment, the fight against money laundering and. And this needs to be implemented as quickly as possible. And I think that this is in the interest of the Commission. We'd like to highlight. I myself, especially as an Andalusian. The importance of workers rights, frontiers, frontier workers rights. And my question would be, could you perhaps tell us a little bit more about how these will be guaranteed. Now, the automated entry exit system would have created a hard border without this agreement, and this would have been disastrous for Gibraltar. And it would have also made it very difficult for the workers that cross the border every day. We're talking about 15,000 people who do so. So thank you very much. And we hope that the timetable that you outlined will be respected and that it will be implemented as soon as possible. And we will have a robust agreement with many guarantees. Thank you very much.”
  EU-UK relations
• “People with or survivors of serious illnesses. You remember we included also this idea of the right to, to, to, to forget for, um, people with, um, that have suffered cancer and other people facing intersectional discrimination. Um, other aspects that have been also covered in the amendments are also time poverty because it's a kind of a trap. It's a circle. If you don't have a time to improve your conditions, your education, your ability to to work, uh, to be employed at the end, it is you never go out from this, um, poverty cycle, the rise of living cost, you know, that we did also a, um, an initial report in the last term in this committee on the gender effects on the energy crisis of living costs. So we have already a lot of work on, on that respect. Uh, also on the accessibility and gratuity of public services. Um, healthcare, because it's also obviously a way to equal and to to help people out of poverty. Also the valuation of care and domestic work, uh, and also when this work is in the market normally is, um, very poorly paid and normally is feminized, is normally a women of these jobs that are very, uh, vulnerable. And, and we talk also about in-work poverty, uh, about housing policies and homelessness have in mind that homelessness, uh, for women is different from that for men and normally is under-recorded and very much linked with domestic sorry, with gender based violence, either because women that are homeless are suffering.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Thank you very much indeed. We cannot wait that long time for quality is now, although we are facing this this backlash, as you were saying, we have to say clearly Europe is a good place to, to, to live if you are a woman. But also there are a lot of inequalities within European women. We have seen on my voice my choice, access to a safer, cleaner, safer legal abortion or many other aspects regarding where you are, the different national legislation or your, um, background, geographical or socio economic background. There are a lot of differences among European women that we really need to, to, to tackle as well as well. And obviously the intersectionality, it is included in the strategy and I'm sure we can work together, uh, for that. Um, and now, um, I will give the floor uh, to, to fund coordinators or the, the, the person that are representing this, uh, different, um, um, political groups as, as coordinators, uh, today, uh, for three minutes each and as usual, we will, um, start by EPP and Elisabetta. Luca, uh, please, the floor is yours for, for three minutes.”
  Sexuality and reproduction
• “All my notes in English. So, um, um, since time is precious. Uh, now, um, would like to to give the floor to Mrs. Salma for for seven minutes, just to remind you, um, she's a UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. So if you are already online, that is, uh, just disconnected. I know she said so, um, the floor is yours. Um, and please feel feel free.”
  EU competences on human rights
• “Thank you, chair, and welcome, Commissioner here to committee. Um, and we welcome as well, um, S&D Group, socialists and Democrats. We will come up with the start up and scale up strategy. Uh, we think it is a step in the right direction. Um, but we know and we are aware that, uh, more needs to be done that probably exceeds, uh, the strategy, for example, linked to investment union or the completion of the single market, because, uh, we know that in order for this strategy to really work, we need also to move on in other areas. This strategy outlines ambitious plans to support growth of start ups and scale ups, and I'm concerned that it might lead to the support of scale ups, which is much needed. We know we we do better in in startups that in scaling up but that the need for a startup may be overlooked. Um, how do you intend to ensure that the strategy strikes a balance between supporting the scaling up of assisting companies and fostering, uh, the creation and growth of new startups, particularly in regions which with less developed entrepreneurial ecosystem. Um, this is particularly important also to avoid exacerbating existing disparities and to ensure that the benefits of the strategy are shared equitably across all member states and among all entrepreneurs, regardless of the background or location. And I would like to make the final question, if possible. Um, the strategy highlights that women entrepreneurs and investment mixed gender funding teams only received, uh, 15% of funding, compared to all men funding teams and all women teams received only 3%. How will the Commission ensure that the strategy promotes gender equality? Addressing this gap since we are attracting talent. You know, I'm very much concerned also how to really to use all the talent we already have. Thank you very much.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you chair. Thank you Elena. Thank you. The commission for for for this presentation. And also the to the committee for participating in this gender equality week, that it is dedicated to something that it is a core for this committee, which is talent. Uh, not only because research it is included in this in this committee, but also because we really need our talent really to to navigate the transitions we are going, going through. Because women should not be only be beneficiaries of this, um, industrial growth and, and transitions. We should be also architects, innovators and leaders on those processes. But our potential is still and we know very well remains untapped despite the progress we have done. Uh, women, we represent only 24% of professionals in science and technology. Only 13% of board members in large European companies. And it has already been, uh, said that the the commission we only receive around 2% of venture capital available. This is really very worrying. So now that we are putting in place the Jews Europe, um, for attracting talent, we should probably look much better how to attract our own, uh, talent. Because, um, we are ten more million women in the European Union. I repeat, ten more million women within the European Union. And we are, uh, almost 60% of higher education graduates. So, um, it is not only, uh, the end a question of fairness.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Also from DG connect with the European Commission. Thank you. Thank you very much for joining us here. So thank you. Yes, I'm still waiting. So. Um, so we are still waiting for one of our speakers, but I will make the introduction and then, uh, probably give the floor to the second speaker because, as you know, even if there are not many members, then probably the discussion will not be very long, but we have plenary session later on. So yeah, I decided we can't continue with this point. So thank you. Thank you very much. Um, so as I was saying at the very beginning, this is extremely important point because things are really changing very, very fast. And, uh, probably we are not protecting, um, enough or, uh, we really need to be very smart on, on, on very, uh, determined, uh, in this point. Um, so this change of views follows the latest, uh, scandal, uh, to reports the social media platform X, um, facilitating the creation of sexually explicit images of women and children through its, um, uh, artificial intelligence chatbot, Grock. In recent weeks, the platform has been Subjected to international condemnation, with several governments banning the platform and other launching investigations into the so-called Pornification feature, putting women and minors at risk of abuse. The feature, known as spicy mode, has facilitated the sexualization of real individuals through artificial intelligence generated images of undressed people and sexualized images of children, which is illegal under the DSA. Here, the European Union. Um, the violence against women directed that we adopted in 2024 already covers as offenses the non-consensual sharing of intimate or manipulated material, cyber stalking, cyber harassment, and cyber incitement to violence or hatred under the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act.”
  Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• “Please be advised they will film for the duration of the hearing. So, um, just for you to know that they will be filming us. In any case, this is a public hearing. So we are normally streamed. This is normally recorded. So for us it's it's not such a difference. So thank you very much for being here with us. And obviously we were we will work as much as possible in this collaboration, as you know, and I've already mentioned to you before, we have a, a mission, um, um, to, uh, Korea in October, it was October, November and, uh, and, uh, it was very fruitful. And, uh, And obviously we will keep with this relationship. Now, I'd like to to welcome you to this momentous hearing. You all remember the public debate, uh, at the end of last year, which arose from reports that the social media platform X was facilitating the creation of sexually explicit images of women and children through its AI chatbot grok. At that time, the platform had been subjected to international condemnation, with several governments banning the platform and others launching investigations into this so-called Pornification feature, putting women and minors at risk of abuse spiked by the debate.”
  Regulation of pornography in the EU
• “The test also emphasizes our concern about the increasing use of artificial intelligence for abuse. In this respect, we call on providers to comply with the Artificial Intelligence Act obligations or labeling, and reiterate the need for a ban on so-called notifier apps. These issues are currently being negotiated in the Artificial intelligence or Intelligence omnibus, which could unfortunately not be finalized. Last week, I am pleased that the Co-rapporteurs Arba Kokalari and Michael McNamara McNamara are held today to give us more details, and we will first hear from the external experts. And, um, and I will give, uh, later on the floor, uh, to the, to the rapporteurs, but also to the rapporteur of the Artificial Intelligence Act. Uh, that was before, in the, in the, in the, in the screen. So, um, I will start now with our experts and, uh, and I would like to thank them again once more because as I was saying, this is very important for our committee and I would like to give the floor to Mrs. Uski, co-founder and CEO of the company, somebody, uh, which specializes in preventing and solving bullying and harassment cases. So thank you very much. And the floor is yours for seven minutes. Thanks.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Parliament held a debate on tackling AI, deepfakes and sexual exploitation on social media on the 20th January, uh, this last January, um, the committee held an exchange of views with Mrs. Athena Zaitsu, deputy head of unit, um, DSA Risk Management and User Rights unit, DG connect. Um, on the 27th of January. Um, and just one day before, on 26th of January, the European Commission. The commission, uh, um, had launched a new formal investigation against IGS under the DSA, the Digital Services Act, to assess whether the company properly assessed and mitigated risks associated with the deployment of Groks functionalities into um in the European Union. This includes risks related to the dissemination of illegal content in the European Union, such as manipulated sexually explicit images, including content that may amount to child sexual abuse material. The investigation, as you know, is still going on. The resolution we asked Parliament adopted last week on the need for target criminal provisions and plans for responsibility to effectively address cyberbullying and online harassment is an important step. We clearly expressed our disappointment at the lack of legal framework for detecting child sexual abuse material online, and it contains a clear call on the commission to work quickly to ensure digital platforms adopt voluntary reporting mechanisms.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “Um, so I would like to thank, first of all, uh, live presence live chair, I already said, but especially the co rapporteurs for their hard work on this file as well as the, the, the shadows for the very constructive amendments. I want to take a, um, a moment, uh, to say that this is a moment of real responsibility to all of us, The way we move forward with this report should influence how the Parliament will want to address sexual violence in our legislation. It would also shape how we see the broader culture of equality, respect and bodily autonomy across the European Union. As we know, rape is one of the most fortunately prevalent violations of human rights, yet it remains one of the most underreported and least prosecuted. Too often, survivors are silenced by fear of not being believed by harmful stereotypes and society by shame, sometimes by the lack of adequate protection in the legal system. We should stand for the simple and powerful principle only yes means yes. The Istanbul Convention is clear on this. However, the reality is that several member states do not reflect this in their national laws. We should stop defining rape based on the use of force, threats, or coercion.”
  Sexuality and reproduction
• “And over the past years, we have consistently called for the systematic promotion and implementation of gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting at every stage of the budgetary process. Only in this way can the European Union spending deliver on its objectives and fulfil its aims. Likewise, we have called for having a specific gender related budget line lines Sorry, along with robust data, as one of the key duties of Parliament is to scrutinise spending. This is impossible without robust monitoring and evaluation on how our money is being spent. These are the key points, um, of the draft letter to batch. And now, um, I welcome your comments and discussions. So we still need much more gender budgeting in all stages. This is clear. And we know also for other programmes and other budgets. Let's take a next gen which is not we are talking here but that we're done with uh quite clear um, or quite a lot of gender blindness. And the effects are also not very, um, equal. So, um, I will give now, uh, the floor to the, to the different, uh, groups. Of starting by EPP. Maria, you want to know? It's fine. So I move then to S and D and in in S and the shadow rapporteurs Joanna Woolworth. She's not with us, but she asked me to, to read uh, her, um. Sorry. No no, no. Um, yeah. So, uh, I will read Joanna Silver's. Um. Uh, um. Words. So thank you very much for the draft opinion. The S&D group, of course, very much supports the decisive call from the committee to necessarily include gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and gender impact assessments across all budgets and programmes in the next MFF.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Um, um, but I have to change papers, um, if I'm able to, to find where they are. Sorry about that. Since this is not as, uh, as a chair, So is some. Here it is. They are not okay. Yes. Yeah, I'm. I'm still on holidays. So, um, during the debate on the 16th of July, we all concur that the rapporteur, Joao Oliveira, had already provided a very good basis with his draft report. Many of the issues that are important for us as as a fun committee, we're very well included in a very transversal and mainstreaming way. However, we emphasized that though the rapporteur speaks about child poverty, the vulnerability to poverty of single parent families and elderly people, he fails to mention the fact that women, for various reasons, face a higher risk of poverty than men. Also that a lot of these are child poverty is definitely linked to um, to women's poverty. Therefore, the amendments contained in my draft opinion, as well as those tabled by the shadow rapporteurs and other colleagues, focus on underlining the increased risks of poverty for women and girls, notably those in vulnerable socioeconomic situations such as single mothers, elderly mothers, elderly women, migrant women or women from migrant origin, women of ethnic minorities, victims women, victims of gender based sexual and domestic violence, women with disabilities, women living in rural and remote areas, including outermost regions and Iceland.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Members will receive an invitation to this event near to that date. As you see, the security of women and girls in the digital world is of interest of several committees in this chamber, and we will certainly come back to this and shed light in other aspects. Today, we would like to focus on the non-consensual sharing of images. The sharing of non-consensual intimate images can have devastating effects on victims and survivors. When images are shared online without consent, many victims feel ashamed, fear, and even guilt. The actions of sharing non-consensual intimate images can further lead to real world implications and dangers. It can cause psychological, physical and economic harm. Non-consensual intimate image sharing is a serious, hard to tackle issue that disproportionately affects women, women and girls. The Violence Against Women Directive criminalises non-consensual sharing of intimate or manipulated material as well. No more. Particular article five of the directive criminalizes the intentional distribution of materials, distracting sexually explicit activities, and, to a limited extent, intimate parts where the despite person does not consent and the material becomes public. On the technical side, we will explore how artificial intelligence it is used to create such material. Thus contributing to sexual violence and violation of other rights of women and girls, especially the right to privacy, but sometimes also the right to life to live a life of their own.”
  Regulation of pornography in the EU
• “Thank you very much. So I inform you that Mr. Budka has completed the three declarations and has declared to be aware of any conflict of interest in relation to the responsibilities of the office. So that is fine. So we proceed to the elections. So if there is no other candidate. So since there is no other candidate who made life easier for me to be honest. So I will ask you if we can proceed and elect. Mr. Butka by acclamation. Okay. So congratulations, and I will ask you to take this position. And I will go to another, more discreet one. Thank you.”
  Recruitment policies in the EU
• “Now, the update helps translate these political commitments into measurable practice. As you know, we have been dealing, uh, uh, in the past week also with an EU report again on, um, on closing, uh, pay gap and pension gap. So we still working on this topic and we will continue. Unfortunately, we have to continue to work with this topic because the gap is already there and it is very different among member states, and it is also increasing over the life cycle of, of women especially big on during the pension age that in some cases arrive up to 40% up. So for this discussion, um, I'm glad, um, um, to invite or we have invited here first Mrs. Pinuccia Contino, Head of Gender Equality Unit unit uh, D3D just at the European Commission that will um, start the presentation with this update guidelines. I will give her the floor for seven minutes. But before I would like also, uh, to present our second speaker that will be here with us online. Um, this is Mrs. Elena, uh, who is a research officer, gender mainstreaming of age that we'll talk also for, for seven minutes. So, um, with, um, with Mrs. Contino. So, um, please, um, in one second. Yeah. The commissioner left. Um, things happens. These things happen all the time. So now. Yes, the floor is yours for seven minutes, so please. Thank you. Thank you very much for, for for being with us. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Thank you. Thank you very much indeed. President. Commissioner. Current state of affairs of the world shows just how independent the world is and how vulnerable we all are, and we therefore very much welcome the Commission's initiative in the previous mandate. We, of course, had the law on solidarity, and we obviously had to rise to a pressing challenge, making sure that we could prevent as well as react to cyber threats as well as bolster our security. And that is why we are pleased that the Cyber Security Act is being reviewed, being overhauled, and we have a European framework dealing with a whole range of different threats against an extremely complex backdrop. So we need more Europe, we need to boost our resilience, and we need to harmonise all of our rules and standards and make sure that we make it easier to protect public services as well as critical infrastructure. Make sure that we invest in training, research and development because this kind of problem knows no borders. And that is why it is important that we update all of our tools, that we bolster cooperation, do everything we can to make ourselves more resilient.”
  Scope of EU cybersecurity obligations
• “If we are not in the places the society wants us to, to, um, to, to be when we are performing a role we are not expected to, um, to be. So this is not just a technical issue. So for us, it is a very core issue. And our, committee, and because it can also reflect and reinforce existing inequalities, biases and form of violence that once more affected disproportionately women and and and girls. Our artificial intelligence systems do not operate in a vacuum. They are shaped by data values and safeguards that are choosing to to implement, including the specific business model. What we have here today underscores the urgency of action on multiple fronts. As you were saying, at the very end, it's not only, uh, all the way to, to, to answer. And we have an important legal framework, but we really need to implement it in the right way and go further if if necessary. Um, even if banning it is obviously not always the, the way or the only way we have really to use all the, The tools we, we we have in our hands and, and at the end, if I have to, to highlight one once and this is that we need to be brave. Um, and unless we are brave and we are united, we will not be able to stop the this problem that a problem that you were mentioning that has affected specifically to a generation because, um, I have a daughter 15 years old and since she was in the kindergarten, it was like a, to use technological device.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “And so there are no more members that wants to take the the floor. Um, before giving the the floor back to, um, to our speakers, I would like just to to to insist, first of all, to thank for the testimony. It is you're very brave really to to to do it to speak also on behalf of so many women that have suffered, uh, the same thing as, uh, my colleague, uh, Hannah was saying just to be treated as, um, um, not as a human being treated as a commodity, in this case, as a way for, um, reproductive exploitation, sexual and reproductive exploitation. Um, so my, my, my main question is the same of my two colleagues and especially to the today as what we can do because we want to do something we don't want. Uh, this, um, things happen again, and it is still happening. Because, as I said before, there is a kind of an incentives, uh, um, put on, on, on, on demographic incentives. And because of this lack of, of women in China, uh, to, uh, really to allow this trafficking to, to go on just before giving the, the, the floor back to you, I would like to remind, um, um, everyone in this room and, and listening to us, um, and streaming that, uh, the Farm Committee, uh, next mission will be to, to South Korea and, uh, for different reasons. But one of the reasons that move move us to really to go there was also, uh, dealing we will be dealing also on talking about trafficking and to know much better the situation and how we can, we could, um, uh, improve and how we can do as, uh, European Union and its European Parliament to help, uh, um, escapees and to help refugees and to to help the, uh, the horror you went through, um, will not be repeated for other women. So now I would like to to give the floor back to you. Um, thank you very much again for your testimony. You are very brave to share with us. We know that it must be very, very difficult. And, please, the floor is yours. Thank you.”
  Sexuality and reproduction
• “Thank you, thank you. Commissioner. Freedom is compatible with democracy. The threat of foreign interference and disinformation are real, and they're endangering European democracy. And indeed the European project they are in, in inflicting ever increasing damage on electoral processes and democratic institutions. And this runs counter to the rule of law and the and human rights. We need a necessary regulatory framework to tackle this and ensure it is correctly implemented, including a strategic, safe and strategic infrastructure, cyber security and the protection of all of our institutions. We need a European Intelligence service to do this. We cannot allow algorithms and develops to act in a way that interferes with geopolitics and ensures that they are becoming a weapon of manipulation in Europe. The EU needs to implement the existing regulatory framework urgently, so that we can ensure we have transparency of these platforms, and there is not an amplification of disinformation. European silence when faced with this threat restrict.”
  Foreign interference in Europe
• “Okay, so we resume and we move to our last point, which is point ten. Uh, regarding the report on human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union's policy on the matter, the annual report 2025. Um, our rapporteur for the opinion is Margarita de la Pisa Carrion from Patriots. I'm the responsible on the main committee is Francisco Assis. Um and um. So, um, we now proceed with the consideration of our own draft opinion to the draw annual report on human rights and democracy in the world and the US policy on the matter. And as you are aware, we contribute every year with an opinion to this report, which is in line with our competence on the promotion of the rights of women in third countries. Women, as we all know, face discrimination, violence and an equal rights in many countries. And we need to raise our voice to ensure that rights of women continue to be part of the European Union external action we have been discussing all over the whole day about that. We have been mentioning few countries in which the situation of women. We have mentioned Afghanistan, we have mentioned Gaza, we have mentioned many places where the situation of of, of women is um, far from being, um, not only equal but decent, uh, or um, driving to a decent life. So now I would like to, to give the floor to our rapporteur for for five minutes. I hope it's five minutes because we really need to to finish on time. So. Margarita de la palabra. Gracias. Gracias.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Yes. Um. Thank you. So, as you know, our group, the socialists, strongly supported the union's withdrawal from the Energy Charter treaty due to this outdated principles which contributed to our dependence on fossil fuels, thus jeopardizing the fight against climate change. In the current geopolitical context, we need to increase the European Union's autonomy. And this outdated piece of international legislation was an obstacle, is an obstacle in this regard. Moreover, it is contrary to our priorities, incompatible with the green transition, and allows for unnecessary, costly private arbitration costs. We urge a coordinated withdrawal from the. Of the Union and Member States, and regret that not all member States have committed to an immediate exit. On a positive note, we strongly welcome the negotiation of this inter se agreement to bring to an end to an awful intra-eu cases under the ECT, including during the sunset clause period, so we can. We will continue as socialists to work to adapt our agreements to fight against climate change, and to develop more transparent rules for settling disputes. Thank you very much.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “The fourth point has been already mentioned, especially, um, by my colleague, um, is IRC. So, um, we will need to increase the autonomy and independence of of both. So I will not, uh, say more on that. The fifth point is gender equality. Um, we understand the need for simplification, but not in detriment of measures that increase the quality of science and knowledge creation. So we defend the need to maintain gender equality plans as an eligibility criterion to receive European Union funding. We cannot talk about competitiveness and that we are lacking a human capital, and people are not really making possible to increase, uh, the number of women in the scientific career, especially now the gender equality has been questioned in many parts of the world. This is one is research careers. I would like to emphasize the need to attract and retain especially early career researchers. And the seventh one and last one is trust in science. On a final note, I would like also to highlight the importance of bringing back the trust in science which is currently being contested. So thank you very much. And I really look forward of working, uh, together with Mr. Ullah and the rest of the rapporteurs. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion · Research priorities within the EU
• “Okay. Thank you. Chair. So I will not ask any more about the governance that and dual use. And so I will concentrate in two questions. The first one is relating balancing top down missions with bottom up innovation in research and innovation funding. Um, the, uh the epidemic emphasizes both and. My question is, how does the program ensure that these two approaches are synergetic rather than conflicting, particularly in emerging fields like, for instance, artificial intelligence and quantum? And my second question, it is related to global collaboration versus geopolitical risks in emerging technologies, with the rising global tech competition and export controls nowadays, how does framework program term balance open science collaboration with the need to protect Europe, strategic assets such as critical data infrastructure or artificial intelligence ethics framework with mechanisms will ensure European Union researchers can engage with international partners while upholding sovereignty in areas like semiconductors. I will not ask you about gender equality because we will ask a horizontal. Working group very soon and also a panel. But obviously it is also an important issue. Thank you.”
  Strategic Screening in International Research Cooperation
• “Thank you, thank you very much indeed. We need to to put those people at the centre of our negotiation and human rights. So why we need more women on on peace and security and on decision making. It's another thing we are trying to push here in this committee. So now I open the floor to, uh, if there is any member who would like to to ask to Mr. Salmond. Uh, no. Or we move to Mr. Salmond. Since we know you are on a rush, we move on with the rest of the participants. So thank you. Thank you so much for being with us. Please count with this Parliament and this committee and this delegation to move on this, uh, this problem, to find the best solution, putting people and human rights in the center, as you, uh, mentioned at the end of of, um, of your speech. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. And now, um, we move to our next speaker, Mrs. Park, that, uh, will join us remotely. As I said before herself, an escapee from um and, um, and then we will give the, the floor to to the representative from the from the, uh. Ana Sanchez. But before, um, Mrs. Park. Yes, I can see you. So the floor is yours for seven minutes. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, on behalf, also, the chair of the, um, Korean delegation and myself, the chair of the committee. So thank you very much for joining us. And the floor is yours for seven minutes, please.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Chair. And welcome, Commissioner here. Um, I have two questions. You have mentioned gender, and obviously, um, we need to ameliorate the conditions for women to enter, to remain and to be able to make a successful, uh, career. And for that, the gender conditionality we have included in the framework programme has proved to be successful. Obviously, we still need more. Could you, um, tell us if that will continue despite the need for simplification? And the second one is related to artificial intelligence. You have already mentioned the unpredictability of artificial intelligence, but this is already impacting a lot on research and the way our researchers do research, but also could be the main driver also for our competitiveness. So could you tell us more about your plans on research and artificial intelligence? Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion · Research priorities within the EU
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Commissioner, at a time where, on the one hand, Europe needs to improve its competitiveness, but on the other, academic freedom and science are being called into question. In other parts of the world, the Choose Europe initiative is more important than ever. Europe has to be a safe haven for academics that want to develop their ideas against a backdrop of freedom and respect for diversity. Critical thinking that underpins science. Choose Europe as a step in the right direction, but it has to be a truly European project so that we don't create inequalities. We cannot allow this measure to benefit only some areas or regions. This isn't the kind of Europe we want. We believe Europe should be a continent where there should be research, free research, and where individuals can cooperate with other experts around the world and where we can harness all funding opportunities. That is why we have to make sure there are two important points generous budget and then a European science and innovation project that is independent, unfortunately. Unfortunately, president von der Leyen said that would be the case because without science there isn't any competitiveness, there is no democracy and there is no European project.”
  Governance of academic priorities within the EU
• “Thank you. And now I would like to, to, to ask myself first to, to thank you again for all the work you are doing. But I would like to insist on the line both. Uh, Mariano was, uh, highlighted and also Carolina Morace. She says that, um, um, um, the problem we have sometimes is that we are receiving very different, uh, wages depending on the sector. We are, and we know that feminised sectors, sectors in which, uh, are mainly composed by women, um, wages are lower because everything um, women does is undervalued. I mean, because many of these activities were done previously free at home, not valued, not recognized, not paid for. And obviously when they pass on to the, um, labor market, they, they, they do also in an undervalued way. So, um, the, the horizontal segregation, it is a real problem, uh, beyond, uh, Or, um. Obi wan or backing this, uh, unequal pay. So this directive or these guidelines. Sorry. And ah, comparing equal pay within same companies or same sectors. So it is also possible or are you thinking to move on and to compare also across sectors. So jobs same value. I mean I know the value on price is not the same. And it is um, we normally, um, uh, use it as similar because we think that the, the value of something since we live in a market economy is the price we pay for, but we know it is not the case. So, uh, how can we move beyond these guidelines that are, um, comparing within the same companies within the same sector, which is already very important, which is already great, but how we can move on across sectors. So thank you. And now, um, I would like to, to give back the, the floor to you for um three minutes, minutes each, but still we have a bit more time if you, if you need it. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. We really appreciate this presentation. Uh, this work. And, uh, just to, to share with you and to let you know that we would like to, to, to have all the possible information about how. How these guidelines are accepted or not used or not by our employers and how this is evolving also in the different member states, because we truly believe that this is a, an essential tool for closing the gender pay gap that is so unfair and so bad for our competitiveness. Also, not only for us, our social justice, for our principles, since that principle is enshrined in our treaties, since the Treaty of Rome. Um, but really also for our competitiveness that now that we are talking so much about it. So thank you. Thank you very much. And please keep a post of, of how it's going. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. And now we have finished this point at ten minutes before, but we already said the members that the last point of this morning, which is the, uh, the, um, point seven on the mission to, to, to India could take, uh, could start a bit earlier. So we will be starting a bit earlier. Um, this, uh, thank you, thank you, thank you for this, um, point like this. We will have a bigger break now and between now and our, um, afternoon, uh, session. So this seven point is our mission to, to India, um, on February. Uh, so, um, thank you, thank you, thank you very much.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Thank you. Thank you very much. And now we will hear the point of view from the Commission. And for that it is represented today by Ana Carla Pereira, director for equality and non-discrimination. Uh, just so the floor is yours for five minutes.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “(11:33:38 – 11:35:45): Yes. Thank you, chair. Now on behalf of myself, we know that, the budget is the main tool for, political action priorities. However, the current, proposal does not adequately address the challenges people faces to date nor does the proposal of our rapporteur Niebler from EPP deleting as it has been said, the horizontal principles, including 1 I will, mention right now, which is gender equality, which is a core principle of the European Union enshrined in our treaties. In a committee such in ITRE, where we are in charge among other things of research and innovation policies or competitiveness, it is really alarming that we are not taking gender equality into account considering we are 10 more million women within the European Union and that in most of European countries, 60% of citizens acquiring a university degrees are women. Moreover, the current MFF tracking method indicates that only 12% of union budget between 2021 and 2024 supported gender equality. So we cannot lower our standards. If we want to lead on innovation and being competitiveness competitive, sorry, the, European, the EPP proposal, draft proposal is contradictory with our main political goals and to be honest, not very democratic. We cannot sacrifice our democracy for any simplification. I will be table amendments to restore a reinforced gender equality and budget expenditures. So I hope also the members from other groups or other than mine, as indeed that also mentioned, that these horizontal principles cannot be delete, will be happy to consign, these amendments. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much. I will speak in Spanish just to differentiate roles. Um. Firstly. First. Huh? Thank you. Uh, thank you for this work. And we'd like to contribute some ideas that we have to, uh, that might help us change the situation. And I'd like to concentrate on pensions, which has been kind of marginalized. And we've got a gap of 30 and 40%. And the pension contributions are much smaller. And, of course, uh, aging can be sped up because of reproduction. And if you have more children, the more children we have, the lower pay. The contributions are, and therefore the pension received by the woman. The recognised official pension is lower. All studies show that women's earning during their first year of maternity or after adoption decrease and don't actually recover, whereas men's earning actually don't change, but they improve even after paternity leave. So with if this directive on salary transparency will help the situation, but we can't, uh, have the decrease in salary, uh, help provoke a decrease of pensions. So when a member state, for example, the Spanish government, incorporate different standards, establishing a whole legal system which will, uh, decrease gender rights in pensions. The the the European Court of Justice says that reducing this pension gap is not possible. Now there's directive 69 seven, which makes it really difficult to make the changes to reduce the pension gap. So we really need to change this directive so that we can have an influence on pensions so that the majority of the women don't live in poverty, and that we can adjust the salaries in their working life and try to change this pension gap. And instead of waiting until the salary decreases. And that making the pension decrease.”
  EU policy on aging workforce and pensions
• “But still, I think we are not, we don't have a digital literacy, um, for a long time, not only now with all those problems, we have not taught, uh, children and adults on reading images. I mean, I, as a feminist, I have read a lot on how women are treated on, on, on fashion and publicity and how we are is just bodies with or without heads and all these little things. And and we are not, uh, we are, we have not learned how to read those images. So this is entering in our mind in a very natural way. And we are not teaching. So still there is still possibility, I think, to, uh, to, to, to, to improve. And another thing is the, how it is realistic to talk about a huge engagement of parents when we are using that all the time to, and we are suffering, most of us of time poverty. So not having enough real time to spend with our children and the. The third question it is on international um scenario and international cooperation. We know that this, uh, a lot of this harmful practices are done outside our borders. So I was talking with our Korean colleagues before, say most of these perpetrators are coming from outside or outside Korea in the European Union is, is, is the same because at the end, the digital world has no has no borders. So this is very important for an important issue here that it is accountability. So I have two questions regarding that.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “And the other thing I would like to ask is regarding health has been already mentioned, mental health and specifically on clinical trials and, and, and, and gender and in research. And again, here I'm the shadow rapporteur for the new FP ten committee from my group, from the S&D. Now, I'm asking as a as as a member and, and and and and there again, the, the a horizon Europe, the programme that is going on has gender equality on it. And for the next one against the Commission, it is proposing to substitute that. Many of these issues included gender conditionality. Sorry for the tracking methodology. So again we will be losing, uh, the advances we have made in one programme that was ahead of other programmes on, on, on that. And just to mention, because it's new, I presented the amendments on the 9th of April. So last week I have asked for a new mission on women's health, uh, because it will be also a way to, to really to, to put all the resources on, on research, but not only on research on women's health. So I hope we can be supportive of this initiative because I think we, we deserve it. And it will be also very good for advancing on, on, on women's rights and gender equality. So thank you. And now, um, you have the floor for five minutes, but since we have time, uh, I will give you now the ten minutes so you will have time to answer to all of you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “So at the end and they are the ones facing, uh, more um, uh, economic. Problems. And obviously it is uh, it is clear that there are more also, uh, we all, all the women that are living on their own, so on and so forth. But in, in reality, we will need to, to, to have an individual mission, and if we will have an individual mission and we will include the multidimensionality of poverty, probably we will have much more women in poverty compared to men. That the one we can see now in the statistics. So while one of the things we are asking for is to measure in a more gender sensitive way, the way we measure poverty as, as, as we do now. So why we are including time poverty, which is spectacularly different by men and and women. Women are mainly time poor and that really limit our capacity to go out from poverty. Um, decision. Um, it is true that, uh, you are saying that men and women are also in different, um, um, um, Situation and the compulsory military service. It is obviously one of them, but this is to what extent the this is leading to poverty. I haven't seen any study so far. If you can provide one, probably it is something we could include. But so far and there are studies showing that gender based violence, that in most of the countries more than 99% is is against women because it's a structural problem. Uh, we have this study showing that link. I haven't seen anyone on, on on the compulsory military service driving to poverty, but if you have one, I would be more than ready to to to, um, to include it and, um, just to, to finish because, um, obviously you have taken more than two minutes and I would like also to, to because I haven't make a comment after Lucia, your, um, um, speech on this.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Chair. So before going to the to the question, I would like to thank to the speakers and especially to say how glad I am to see such a gender balance, which is not normal in this committee. Despite that, that should be normal if meritocracy will really work. Having in mind that for decades in most European countries that are a higher percentage of women gaining a university degree. So I hope we will do it right in the next Fp10 on improving gender balance in science. So I will go directly to the questions. So, um, the first one will be a general one. How can the next framework programme maintain strategic flexibility. Having in mind I agree with you, we are in a moment for many reasons, to respond to geopolitical shocks and technological disruptions while ensuring long term stability and the so needed predictability for researchers, actors, and to align to national and regional strategies to these priorities. And also, obviously to warranty the good monitoring and traceability of public money. The second one is on governance mechanisms. Probably it is more directed to. What governance mechanism would you recommend ensuring transparent and evidence based prioritisation of thematic areas, avoiding political fragmentation, hidden agendas and while maintaining public monitoring? As again, we are talking about public funding. Um, the third one probably is, is more directed to to Miriam's story because it's how it can improve the bottom up approach. But you were also showing something that it is right that we need to invest in where Europe can lead. So how we do this of all things, um, together. And um, the next one is how we can, uh, reconcile the principle of excellence with cohesion objectives. This is probably more, um, directed to Mrs. Hendrikova ensuring that excellence research can flourish across all countries and also across all regions without creating a two tier research ecosystem. And that I profit also to to us, to Professor Lumpkin, uh, more specifically, how can excellence driven instruments like ERC, we, we know contribute But to geographical balance without compromising their core excellence based model. Thank you very much.”
  Research priorities within the EU
• “Thank you, thank you. Thank you very much to, to our experts also, uh, thank you to the, to the members. Um, uh, probably this is one of the topic. Um, we can find more agreement, uh, within this, this committee, uh, in the sense that it is, um, current topic and, and, uh, it is linked to systemic risk. And also we all think that we are lagging behind our answers, or even if we put answers, everything is going faster than what we, um, are are doing. Um, so I would like to, to express my sincere appreciation to all the insightful and valuable, um, contributions. Um, one thing is it's clear this intersection of artificial intelligence and gender based violence is, is no longer a future concern. We are, as I said before, lying behind is already here. And, and the case of Brock has shown how, how quickly powerful technologies can be misused or even mis designed not only misuse, but also mis design or design for, uh, some purposes that are against our fundamental rights and how easily can amplify harm, particularly against women and children, through the creation and circulation of sexualized or pornographic, um, exploitative images. So we have been discussing, as you have heard, the technology, it is not neutral and but their use is even less neutral. And obviously what is clearly behind it is, uh, a patriarchal society that undervalues women and react also in a violent way.”
  Regulation of pornography in the EU
• “Thank you, Chair. Thank you to the speakers. We believe that unified European Union legislation, it is necessary to establish cohesive European space governance rather than relying on a patchwork of national regulations in order to effectively respond to the challenges facing the European space industry and to boost its competitiveness on the global stage. Also regarding our security, as you have already mentioned. So my questions are, how could a single European Union legislation help to streamline regulatory frameworks, reduce administrative impediments, and increase cooperation among member states, ultimately strengthening the European space industry, fostering cohesion in all regions? This is important. You answer to that because you mentioned European champions and so forth. So that is concentration. And so there is a balance probably we need to look at that. Second one is, what are the limitations and inconsistencies of relying on national regulations? And how does this hinder the development of a cohesive European space governance? Third, what role should the European Space Agency play in shaping European space governance? And how could a unified European Union legislation interact with the agency's existing policies and programs? And finally, how could a unified European Union legislation address concerns about national sovereignty and the potential loss of control over domestic space policies and regulation? Again, you have mentioned also public procurement, autonomy, and again, these national champions, how we could really balance with the fact that we don't have a fiscal union. Thank you.”
  EU competences on space policy
• “Thank you. Chair. So before going to the to the question, I would like to thank to the speakers and especially to say how glad I am to see such a gender balance, which is not normal in this committee. Despite that, that should be normal if meritocracy will really work. Having in mind that for decades in most European countries that are a higher percentage of women gaining a university degree. So I hope we will do it right in the next Fp10 on improving gender balance in science. So I will go directly to the questions. So, um, the first one will be a general one. How can the next framework programme maintain strategic flexibility. Having in mind I agree with you, we are in a moment for many reasons, to respond to geopolitical shocks and technological disruptions while ensuring long term stability and the so needed predictability for researchers, actors, and to align to national and regional strategies to these priorities. And also, obviously to warranty the good monitoring and traceability of public money. The second one is on governance mechanisms. Probably it is more directed to. What governance mechanism would you recommend ensuring transparent and evidence based prioritisation of thematic areas, avoiding political fragmentation, hidden agendas and while maintaining public monitoring? As again, we are talking about public funding. Um, the third one probably is, is more directed to to Miriam's story because it's how it can improve the bottom up approach. But you were also showing something that it is right that we need to invest in where Europe can lead. So how we do this of all things, um, together. And um, the next one is how we can, uh, reconcile the principle of excellence with cohesion objectives. This is probably more, um, directed to Mrs. Hendrikova ensuring that excellence research can flourish across all countries and also across all regions without creating a two tier research ecosystem. And that I profit also to to us, to Professor Lumpkin, uh, more specifically, how can excellence driven instruments like ERC, we, we know contribute But to geographical balance without compromising their core excellence based model. Thank you very much.”
  EU-level coordination of research agendas · Research priorities within the EU · EU research funding
• “And the shadow rapporteur from ECR. So if there is anyone from ECR wanted to take the floor on her behalf on Assita Kanko. If not, we move to, to renew. Um, and it's going to be Anna-maja Henriksson to take the floor for both as a shadow rapporteur. So the floor is yours for.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you, thank you very much. In this. This last point is multidimensionality of poverty and how this gender gap is not well measured in in poverty statistics is something we include in our, uh, any report on, uh, on women's poverty. It was the, the rapporteur for this this one and uh, yeah, there are is it is very important because otherwise we don't know the reality. We have to to transform. So this is something definitely we have to to insist. Um, so from patriots, I know I said before that we have plenty of time, but, uh, please, you could take Margarita a bit more time than two minutes and a half, but, uh, don't go beyond five minutes, please. Otherwise, we will finish very, very late. That's okay. The floor is yours.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “So hello again. Um, and thank you. Thank you very much, Commissioner, for being here once more. Uh, and this from a committee, um, for, um, our second structured dialogue with the European Parliament on the um gender equality, um, strategy. Our last, uh, structured dialogue together was, uh, last year on 8th February 2025. Um, and we are so, so happy we were just talking about you before. I hope that, um, I don't know if you're here or not. We were, um, um, talking about our mission to, to the, to the CS in in New York, you were also there having a very important role. We were discussing how, um, um, how important is becoming the role of the European Union on women's issues in the United Nations? How much other actors, how much other countries NGOs are expecting for from us now that there is this backlash, that there are cuts on funding, especially to UN women, and how important it was our presence there and in our case is as a European Parliament, how important it was also to go the first week, because in the previous year we we were not at the same time of the rest of the European Union delegation, and that we thought it was very important. We were also discussing, um, after our meeting with the Secretary general, Antonio Guterres. How important, how preoccupied, how difficult it is now to deal with artificial intelligence and all the threats, uh, to women and to girls on, um, because of the digital violence and, and also because all the things that are changing, but still it seems that misogyny, it is not changing there, but quite the, the other way, uh, the otherwise.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “It is a question of also missed economic opportunity. And the, um, that missed opportunity is estimated to cost around 250 billion annually in lost value. So we really cannot afford, uh, that. But we have been doing because if we take the next generation EU that it was a massive investment in different member states. Most of the good quality job was to male and it was done with our. We get in debt as well and with our budget, the budget we are paying to as women. So we really need to be more straightforward on what we are doing. We put a we ask for the pilot project on on the gender gap in innovation. So and the first results are very promising. But we really need to to to be more clear now we have here the horizon program where there is a gender conditionality. So probably we could also explore to put in other in other programs. And just to, um, what measures are you thinking to put in practice, really to advance in a higher path that we are, are doing and how we, in the next MFF and also in the Competitiveness Fund. How we are going really to include as a principle gender equality in order to advance and skill reskilling. As my colleague has said before, a role model and everything. Thank you very much.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Um, uh, violence, gender based violence, or because they are in this situation because previously they suffer, uh, gender based violence. So we, uh, also, uh, talk about equal pay and pensions. Uh, this is very important because, you know, that the, the, um, economic gap or the income gap is even bigger, uh, in pensions that during the, um, active labor life, uh, obviously we are talking about, uh, as well education and training as well to go out from this poverty, um, scenarios and also economic and labor market policies, uh, to benefit, uh, women, obviously. Uh, um, very much against or contrary to the austerity policies that are very, um, but for um, for women. So, um, these are more or less the, um, the, uh, the topics, uh, we have a table as, as as amendment. And now, um, I would like to give the floor now. Now, as chair, I would like to give the floor to the, um, shadow rapporteurs, um, all the members replacing them. Um, so we start by EPP, uh, by I will give the floor to Sirpa Pietikainen and the floor is yours for two minutes and a half, but. Well, we have today. We have time. But please, the floor is yours. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “This completely ignores the lived experiences of victims. It denies survivors justice but also allows stereotypes. A myth about sexual violence to survive all leads to secondary victimization. We really need to avoid. The European Parliament has recognised this problem in its resolution on gender based violence. It has called many times for strong action by the Member States and at European Union level. Our work today builds on those calls. We are meeting at a time when women's rights and gender equality are facing a growing pushback. Past progress cannot be taken for granted. We must defend our fundamental rights and make sure there are not roll back. I always like to remember they are enshrined in our treaties. The amendments before us are an opportunity to strengthen this report and show that the European Parliament stands firmly for concentrate rape legislation, and for the safety and freedom of every survivor. Once again, I thank the rapporteurs and shadows for the dedicated work on this file, and let's approach the discussion with a spirit of cooperation. Since our ultimate goal is clear to protect women, girls and everyone hosts safely and bodily autonomy depend on our action. So thank you very much. I really look forward fruitful exchange today. And I would like now to pass the floor to my colleague and co-chair today. Leave chair. The floor is yours.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Chair. So before going to the to the question, I would like to thank to the speakers and especially to say how glad I am to see such a gender balance, which is not normal in this committee. Despite that, that should be normal if meritocracy will really work. Having in mind that for decades in most European countries that are a higher percentage of women gaining a university degree. So I hope we will do it right in the next Fp10 on improving gender balance in science. So I will go directly to the questions. So, um, the first one will be a general one. How can the next framework programme maintain strategic flexibility. Having in mind I agree with you, we are in a moment for many reasons, to respond to geopolitical shocks and technological disruptions while ensuring long term stability and the so needed predictability for researchers, actors, and to align to national and regional strategies to these priorities. And also, obviously to warranty the good monitoring and traceability of public money. The second one is on governance mechanisms. Probably it is more directed to. What governance mechanism would you recommend ensuring transparent and evidence based prioritisation of thematic areas, avoiding political fragmentation, hidden agendas and while maintaining public monitoring? As again, we are talking about public funding. Um, the third one probably is, is more directed to to Miriam's story because it's how it can improve the bottom up approach. But you were also showing something that it is right that we need to invest in where Europe can lead. So how we do this of all things, um, together. And um, the next one is how we can, uh, reconcile the principle of excellence with cohesion objectives. This is probably more, um, directed to Mrs. Hendrikova ensuring that excellence research can flourish across all countries and also across all regions without creating a two tier research ecosystem. And that I profit also to to us, to Professor Lumpkin, uh, more specifically, how can excellence driven instruments like ERC, we, we know contribute But to geographical balance without compromising their core excellence based model. Thank you very much.”
  Research priorities within the EU
• “This is absolutely crucial for our group, but should also be crucial for everyone in this committee. We also welcome the mention of specific budget lines dedicated to gender equality. This is crucial to not lose the focus on gender equality, among other priorities. First of all, we want to strengthen the language, especially on gender mainstreaming and budgeting, to include quantifiable, quantifiable targets and annual reporting. Without that, we will never know how the funds are used. Secondly, what we should also strengthen is the MFF interim report is earmarked the support for civil society organisations fighting for women's rights because they are under more pressure than any other NGOs currently from antigen the movements and from the Trump administration. Moreover, we need to fight a God specific allocations for gender. I think to find what to fight God as well specific allocations for gender equality and are in the development funds. Withdrawal of us in the Global South puts women in a vulnerable situation. Europe needs to step up to help women on the ground. The development funds need to be open to civil society organizations not tied to bilateral country relationships. Moreover, they need to include specific gender equality targets so the Commission cannot reallocate and spend thematic funds to bilateral priorities. And lastly, it is our duty to push for inclusion of the My Voice, My choice initiative in the next MFF. We supported the initiative. We are awaiting the final decision of the commission, but we need to keep putting pressure. Thank you. So this is sad. So now patriots. Margarita de la Pisa. Do you want to intervene? The floor is yours. Gracias, president.”
  EU development policy (gender conditionality)
• “Uh. So, um. Hello again. Um, and now we move to another important point in the today's discussion, which is point six, which is European Union wide guidelines on gender neutral job evaluation and classification. In the context of article four in the EU, EU Pay Transparency Directive 2023 1970. Um um. Under this article, four of the Patrons Policy directive we were discussing before. Um, I'm glad to see the commitment and the support of the, uh, commissioner on, on on the commission as well on, on backing this pay transparency, transparency strategy that we believe is so important in order to close the the gender pay gap. And it was one of the main advances we did in the previous term. Uh, so as I was saying, under article four of the Transparency directive, the Commission may update union wide guidelines related to gender neutral job evaluation and classification systems in consultation with the European Institute for Gender Equality, and the updated guidelines were launched on 26th March this year. Um. Intended as a practical step by step toolkit, the guidelines support all sizes of organizations in evaluating and classifying jobs based on objective and gender neutral criteria, including skills, responsibility, effort, and working conditions. Thanks to the update, the standardization of measurability of these factors are strengthened. From the committee's perspective. The new guidelines are strategically important instruments for advancing gender equality policy across the European Union from our committee has consistently, consistently pushed to close the gender pay gap and strengthen equal pay enforcement.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “People knowing their rights. I think this is a very important, uh, aspect that probably is not well, um, included when we still remember when we were talking about the, um, Social Climate Fund. That was something that I tried to include, uh, to have some budget for, uh, social services and for people to tell other people their rights and to help them to ask for their rights. So probably this is, uh, but this is at the end, linked with budget. And unfortunately, we are, um, again going towards more austerity budget. But I think it is a very important issue. So I really appreciate it. So, um, we finished that point here. And uh, with any other business is any. Nothing. So we moved to point seven, which is date of next meeting. Uh. Um, our next meeting is the 22nd of September, uh, at 3:00 from 3:00 to 630. And on the 23rd September, um, in the morning and in the afternoon from 9:00 to 1230 and from 230 to 630, they will be, uh, taking place here in, in Brussels. So really looking forward to see you then. And thank you very much. And again, I hope you did have a very nice rest. You have very nice faces, all of you. And see you soon. Thank you. Bye.”
  EU engagement with citizens
• “Thank you very much, chair. So my views are very much coincident with the Mr. Ela. Mr. Repaci a points. I think the European Union project stands as a crossroad and if well designed, FPN not only could advance scientific knowledge but also economic competitiveness, technological advancements while embracing social progress and protecting our democracies. I would like to mention very quickly seven points that I think are essential. First one is is budget. And we support strong, predictable and standalone budget. The second one has been highlighted very much by Mr. Ullah and I, which is governance and the relationship between the European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe, the FP ten. Probably this is the weakest point of the commission proposal, and these links need to be clarified and well designed to be beneficial both for research and innovation, but also for our competitiveness. A link to that is the need for flexibility that obviously we acknowledge and it is important, but we need also our researchers and also a company needs also predictability to maintain a bottom up approach very much linked with that. It is also in the international dimension of the FP programme that will need also to be preserved. Uh, on on that. The third one is is also the role of social science and humanities in in the in the program that will need to be reinforced, um, because these disciplines provide a critical insights needed to ensure technology serves humanity and not the other way around.”
  EU research funding
• “So, um, and we were talking, saying that this is probably, um, a subject, a topic we really need to insist uh, more, uh, from the European Union on, on this aspect regarding gender equality, women's rights and artificial intelligence. In any case, that was the, the just before. Um, but what we are is really, as I was saying before, really very happy to have you, um, here after the adoption of the European Commission's, uh, of the the New Gender Equality Strategy 2026 2030. Um, we look forward to your presentation of this new, uh, strategy. And as you know, the farm committee, uh, this committee is very supportive of your actions, but also, um, we have many ambitions in our work. I believe we need to step up actions in many areas of gender equality, especially given the ongoing backlash on women's rights, uh, which is now escalated online as we were just discussing, uh, before, uh, so while we support, uh, your work, the committee has many priorities and expectations during these challenging times, which we hope we will take on, on, on board. Therefore, the goal of the structured dialogue today is to have an exchange on the gender equality strategy and also hear from the commissioner, uh, on upcoming plans for new actions in areas of women's rights.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Thank you very much. So, um, and now is my my turn to conclude in in two minutes, uh, to your comments on, um, questions and, uh, to thank you for all the shadow rapporteurs for your work because I think we, we go in the same direction. I would like to to say, just to clarify, uh, this is not a Farm committee, any report, this is, uh, committee, any report. So it is related to the anti-poverty strategy. We only have the possibility of making an opinion under our. Competences and our competences are explicitly related to the different consequences and the different ways we participate in the processes, because not a policy does not affect the same way everybody because we are in different situation. It is true that not all women are in the same situation. Not all men are in the same situation. So why we talk about intersectionality? But what is clear that, uh, uh, regarding our, um, participation in labour market, the remuneration we got in labour market, the um, the, our labour life when we stop our relationship with labour market, then pensions, everything there are huge differences among women and men. So while we talk about a gender gap, it is obvious that there are a lot of men that are in poverty. A European statistics are very clear. There are more women in poverty, and it is also clear that there is an underestimation because the way a poverty rate is measured, it is normally the family unit and not by the members of this unit. So we see that there are more women because women in, in the, in, in families there are more women.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “You know, the one child policy in China has ended up with very unbalanced, um, geographical demographic distribution by by gender. And there is lack of, of, of women. So that is also demographic reality in, in, in China. Um, they have few real rights. I mean, these escapees are little means to defend themselves and no access to support their precarious situation affects also their children. Obviously this exchange of views. We'll hear from prominent speakers not only about the situation of the women, but also how the European Union can better support them. I would like to to welcome then our guest who joined us remotely, are also in in the in the room. The first speaker is Mrs. Elizabeth Salmon, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. As Miss Salmon is only available until 4:00, we shall hear from her first and have also a question and answer session just with her in order to. We could continue with the with the rest. Before moving to our second speaker, who is Mrs. Jihyun Park, herself a North Korean escapee that is also online. And finally, we shall hear from Ana Sanchez, read from the European External Service Action that it is here with with us. But before giving the floor to our speakers, I would like to give the floor to the chair of the Korean delegation. The floor is yours. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Okay. Thanks. Thanks a lot. And now we we go to SMEs, please. The floor is yours for one minute and a half. **Irmhild BOẞDORF : Yes. Thank you very much for the floor. I'm surprised that although we're talking about the gender pay gap, it seems to be the mother pay gap or the uterus bearing pay gap. So the gap between mothers and non in Germany. There's a 50% gap over the course of one's life in women who don't have children. Hardly there. There's hardly any difference to men, women who are in the services industry. Women who have employment gaps, all are symptoms of a kind of a punishment, if you like, for motherhood. Whereas, of course, all types of jobs and professions should be equally open to mothers. In Germany, a woman who has not worked, perhaps because she has had, let's say, six children will have a a European or a pension of €60 per month. Although of course the work that they have done will have been saving the community vast amount of money over the course of the years. Now, in the western part of Germany and in many Western European countries, the situation is absolutely not as it should be. But I would like to draw everyone's attention to the fact that this is is a motherhood penalty. So it's a motherhood pay gap, and the situation has to be rectified so that women can more easily choose to stay with their children.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Thank you very much. That shows that, uh, pressure and the legislation works because if it is not happening in in other words. So it is. So thank you. Thank you. Uh, very much. Um, um, for this exchange of views with the, with the committee, we really appreciate it because this is a topic that it is extremely important, um, for, for us and I think for our democracy, for the well-being of our citizens. And, um, we think it is time to advance in a clear European Union wide ban on generative AI tools that are able to reproduce synthetic child abuse material or sexually explicit defects of real individuals, especially, uh, for women, this is not really working in order to to have a more equal society, and especially now in times where we have external pressure trying for us to to reduce or to deregulate on our digital, uh, legislation. This is an example that we have been going in the right direction, and we should probably go in, in, in that direction and probably with, um, more will than we we did even in the, in the past. So thank you. Thank you very much. And and for sure we will keep working together because this is a topic that is evolving very fast. And as I said it is of great importance to us. So thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, we will um, um, go back, come back to the to the room at 3:00 to discuss on W. Thank you very much to all of you. And thank you very much to the interpreters. Uh, once more and see you at three. Thanks. .”
  Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• “Thank you very much. President. Vice president, thank you. Thank the rapporteur as well for the excellent work. But I would like to focus on a reality. Poverty in Europe has the face of a woman. It's very, very clear. 75 million women are in at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This is a it's the result of inequality, structural inequality. It's women have more difficulties lower, more difficulties entering the labor market, lower salaries as well. Difficult to establish our autonomy and independence as well. And that's how we end up with pensions, pensions which are very low with a 25% gap. But so a poverty of women not is not only an issue of economics, social justice as well. It involves something more than that. In other words, youth poverty as well that of children. So we need policies that allow for better distribution, a better policies of distribution, real policies of conciliation as well public services universal in nature and guarantees for young people, for children, because a just Europe and a competitive Europe. Well, it's not going to be possible if we leave half of the population out of the picture, that is to say, women and children. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “If there is no comment, um, the decisions are endorsed. Okay, so, um, we moved to 2.3, which is the adoption of minutes of 16th July. Uh, there are also included in the, in the documents. Uh, so again, if there are no comments the minutes are endorsed. So now we can go to point number four to proceed with the vote, uh, which is the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026. All sessions. So, um, do we have the list of, um. Okay. Um, so for, um, so as you know, this, uh, opinion focuses on increasing the budget for, obviously for gender equality. And, um, we have, uh, before starting the vote, we have to check who is replacing who. And we have received information about, uh, the following, uh, substitutes. So from um EPP Rosa Estaras Ferragut will be replaced by Elena Navarro. And in addition, uh, Gabriela Ferreira will be replaced by Sabrina rep and Mariana will be replaced by Elizabeth Grossman also here. Thank you. And in Patriots, Mathilde Androuet will be replaced by Julienne. Uh leonardelli. Nardelli. Thank you. And no changes in ECR. Yes. So it. Is one is here. And Assita Kanko is not here either. And Laurent is not here. Well, anyway, you can replace the one you, uh, that is the coordinator. So you will be, um, if, um. And then in renew, uh, Valerie Devaux will be replaced by Veronica. I saw her, yeah. So. And in the left, Carolina Morace will be replaced by Per Clausen. Okay. Thank you. So any other? Yes?”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Okay, so we continued with this very long session, but this time I'm really very glad. Um, uh, to start with this point, um, this exchange of views with the European Parliament, Korean Peninsula delegation, I really welcome, uh, the chair of the delegation, my friend and colleague. Uh, and, um, to to talk really to our topic. We, uh, I'm also part of the, um, I remember also the Korean Peninsula delegation, and, uh, we have a hearing, uh, regarding the topic, we will have the change of views today, which is the women's from North Korea. And it was really so interesting that I proposed the, the, the chair to have a joint, uh, meeting our joint hearing here in the in the committee because I think it is of utmost importance of all we are doing here and to the committee itself. Um, so, um, we move now to this change of view. I welcome Professor Lina. Um, the aim of this exchange of views is to examine the situation of women escapees from North Korea, especially in the Chinese borderlands, where they often experience abuse, exploitation, kidnapping, human trafficking and forced return. Um, the majority of North Korean escapees are indeed women. Uh, 83.7% in 2023, according to the South Korean government. And due to the geographical situation, most escaped to China, although some do go to Russia, where they also face the same threats. They flee to escape political and religious persecution, gender discrimination, or to try to provide for their families. So to escape also from poverty, they can be tempted by black market operators promising jobs, but are in danger of being sold to Chinese men as wives.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “And now I will. Um, since we have time still, I will also take the floor for, um, some some questions. So, um, having in mind with, um, our last speaker, Emma, has said that probably it is. What we need is a change of paradigm. And obviously, this is all we are seeing is the result that there is a technology that allows, um, that to do it. Probably it is a legislation that it is not tough enough and permits also that. But obviously it is a it is a societal problem. It is uh, in our societies that are um, quite, um, male dominated and uh, the sexist and so on, so forth, so in, in I know this is not your sort of main, um, um, area. But, uh, being in that place in the commission, seeing what you are seeing, uh, to what extent we are really, um. We are really backing this idea of advancing on gender equality in real terms, and not only on paper. I mean, we know that it is on the treaties and everything, but if we really want to finish with that, as has been said in that room, we really need to move the gender equality along all our policies, and we really need to change the paradigm. So to what extent, um, you feel the commission is doing that, that we are doing that because sometimes here we have the impression this is not the case. I mean, we have moved quite, quite a lot on on a specific legislation. Let's take the gender based violence directive. But we have not moved that much on gender mainstreaming. I mean, some of us we were involved on the DSA. Um. And it was so difficult, absolutely. So difficult to include a gender sensitive perspective in that legislation.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Thank you very much, Commissioner. We will work very hard to have many Rita's, uh, in, uh, in in Europe and in the future. As you have seen, there is a lot of interest, uh, among, uh, members. You mentioned yourself that we still need 50 years to reach gender equality, but this is not counting the backlash we are seeing every day also here in Parliament. So why we are really anxious on seeing how implementation, how the commission is pushing for that, uh, implementation. And also how can we move on, on our legislative agenda, uh, in order to improve women's rights and gender equality. So yes, we take your point and we will invite you as soon as you as as you come here to continue this discussion, because I think we are on the same boat and we want really to to move on, on, on, on gender equality.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Certain uses of artificial intelligence have been banned since February 2025. If they pose a clear threat to people's safety, fundamental rights or livelihoods. However, artificial intelligence notification apps are not explicitly listed in the law's current list of banned practices. In his debate earlier this month, the European Parliament has already emphasized its call to ban apps and tools that allow users to generate fake, intimate images of individuals without consent. This committee, the committee, is interested to learn which steps the Commission has already undertaken and which steps it is considering to protect women and children for harm caused by those artificial intelligence tools. I would like to to to to welcome our guests. I have invited before to join us. We know we have already, um, legislation uh, as DSA. I was involved in the in the DSA from the committee in the last, um, term. So I'm quite familiar with all the problems we have. Uh, moving on on certain restrictions within DSA. Uh, we have the gender based Violence Directive, and also we have the Artificial Intelligence Act. Uh, so we have legislation, but these things are still going on. So having in mind that, um, um, I really would like to, to, uh, to listen to, um, Mrs. Athena Tiso, deputy head of unit, DSA Risk Management and User rights unit, DG connect, European Commission. So the floor is yours. And thank you very much for for coming and joining us. Thanks.”
  Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• “Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. Javier, thank you very much to the rapporteur. Thank you very much to all shadow rapporteurs, to all colleagues that have taken the the floor, uh, for today's discussion that shows that we have, in general, a deep commitment to strengthening the protection of survivors of sexual violence and really to prevent violence only. Yes means yes. Um, um, it is of the principle we should move, um, on and we should move on on all the European Union. Um, this is not that. It has been said, um, a moment to make national politics, but really to defend all women all over Europe. And I think the best way to protect all women from violence, including sexual violence, is really not to deny all. My God. Now the radio is just started. It is, um. It is, uh. The best way probably is not to deny the evidence that the rapporteur has shown very well with statistics. Uh, is not to deny that, uh, uh, gender based violence exists and not really to to even to be close or to, for whatever reason, to the people that are denying the existence of this violence. Uh, if we deny it or we are close to the people that deny that violence, we are really not protecting at all. We are not changing not only the laws, but neither the mindset that we need to change. As it was said also by the rapporteurs at the very beginning. So thank you very much. And we will continue, um, to have probably the best possible legislation to protect, uh, women.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “So. Morning. Let's start today's session. Morning, everyone. This is a very important session that we will start, uh, with, uh, with, uh, live, uh, committee. I thank you and welcome the committee and his chair. Today. So we start today with a point one of the agenda, which is the adoption of the agenda. So if there is no comment, there is no. So the agenda is adopted. We move to point two which is chairs announcement. And in this case I said, Marcel, there is no announcement. So we can move to a to point three, which is the adoption of minutes. Um, there are no minutes to be endorsed. So we can move really to to the main point of this, uh, first part of our, uh, committee, joint committee with, with LIBE today, which is, uh, um, point number four, uh, we are going to discuss, uh, um, joining a report on important concert based rape legislation in the European Union. Uh, rapporteurs, um, are having insert from Sadie and Johanna sharing also from from Sadie. Um, the deadline for table amendments is it was the 22 of July, uh, already. So we are, um, moving on. Um, so I'm going to make a short presentation and then give the, the floor to, um, the live chair. Also for, um, an introduction to this topic. Very important topic. As you know, we have been discussing, uh, for a while already in this committee and in these committees linked especially with the, um, gender based violence Directive.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “(09:47:27 – 09:51:52): Thank you. Thank you very much, chair. Thank you also for the commission for the, very good explanation. Indeed, as you said, chair, it's a very technical issue. Sorry. Very technical issue, but very, geopolitical at the same, time because, as as you know, South Korea is, 1 of our most essential strategic partners, now in the world, but specifically in the in the Indo Pacific region and this relation both, not only in deep economic integration, but also on shared values. I think today, discussed a crucial crucial step to modernize this partnership, that, we have with with Korea and the commission's request for Monday to negotiate this mutual recognition agreement. It is a good example of of it. While our, free trade agreement has already eliminated 98.7% of tariffs, Non tariff barriers remain a significant hurdle. Currently, many European manufacturers are forced into double testing, also Koreans ones as well as well, paying twice and waiting twice to prove their products meets technical regulations. This is a competitive drain. And, in the world we live today, we cannot simply afford it. By failing to act, we believe European Union supporters as comparative disadvantage in a market that reached 123,700,000,000 in a bilateral trade last year. For my group, for the S and D, this agreement is our priority for, at least 3 key aspects. First 1, to support, and it has also already been mentioned by the commission for, to support SMEs. Small and medium sized enterprises cannot easily absorb the high cost of redundant laboratory testing and certification. This m m r a is a concrete tool for their internationalization. Second, efficiency without deregulation. Crucially, MRA's agreement do not require regulatory harmonization. We are not lowering our guard, but we are recognizing the technical competence of each other's laboratories to verify that our high European Union standards have been met. And and, of course, we will remain vigilant to ensure we have already this sort of agreement with other countries that, at the same time, they have agreement also with Korea. So it it really makes sense that we have our own 1 with with South Korea. And third and finally, specifically, is important because of a strategic momentum. This negotiation completes the, obviously, digital trade agreement. I hope it will be really signed very soon, and that will be 1 of my question how it's going on. And also because the recent association of Korea with Horizon Europe, So I think this is also a very key element we have to look at. And, obviously, in this world of fragmented supply chains with map different ties with trust like minded, allies. So I urge all parts to adopt the negotiations directly swiftly so we can eliminate this wasteful technical barriers and deliver tangible benefits to our workers and business. I'm really looking also forward that that we really could move forward on June, summit, between European Union and Republic Of Korea, and, I will be part of a mission from the European Parliament and Korean Peninsula delegation that will take place at the May. So I hope we will be able also to deal with those issues personally there in Korea. And now I have leave because I have to vote in Idlib, but I will be back as soon as I finish. Thank you. Sorry about that. Thanks a lot. And now the share of opportunity is Mika.”
  Free trade agreements (FTAs)
• “Thank you. Chair. So I hope you are successful in pushing this capital union single market and changes in public procurement for the European Innovation Act. I have 2 to 2 questions. The first, how this strategy is going to be linked with the new FP ten that I've seen. Again, that will be presented the 16th of July, or at least a part of it. And the second is regarding gender balance. You know, there is a pilot project going on on women, on on innovation that will be presented in, in, in November. So are you planning to, to use this? This, uh, results the data that it will be provided because something we miss a bit also is to to know better what is happening. You mentioned that there is lack of women investors and it is true. It is important. But sometimes it's the even the questions this These investors are asking to this entrepreneur that it is they are wrong in order to to to close that gap. Thank you very much.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “So thank you. So there is no members that would like to take the floor for the first time. If they have already taken the floor, I will not give the floor again. I would like to take the floor to um, I have, uh, I have many questions, but I will concentrate just in, in two, um, in two issues. Uh, the, the first one, it has been already asked, but since I'm also the rapporteur for the tracking methodology from this committee on, on the budget, we have a few hearings here and there are a few associations that have released now the Nicosia Declaration just a few days ago, uh, among them the gender budgeting Platform, European Gender Budgeting Network, and others showing that the change that the Commission is proposing from gender equality as objective, specifically as, uh, Earmarking funds. That is how it is working since 1995 to gender equality as a principle that in. In principle it is good for for mainstreaming. And it is um, um it is not. It will not be good enough in order to maintain gender mainstreaming in the, in the budget. And if we take the indicators that are included in the proposal of the MFF and the gender equality strategy principles, there is not a link between them. So I would like to know how we can improve that because there is no now a link. And we are really worried that um, this, um, this new approach to gender mainstreaming in the MFF will not really warranty gender mainstreaming and, and advancing on gender equality on the European Union. We Union. We are really very worried, Commissioner, so I would like to ask for that.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Just to reassure you, we will keep insisting on the serious harm issue for sure from from from the Parliament. But can I make a very, very, uh, short question because, um, it at least for me, wasn't clear if X has suspended the undressing feature everywhere, or only in places in the world where it is illegal. So it can still be accessed in the European Union by going around regional restrictions. So this is a very specific question. So.”
  Regulation of pornography in the EU
• “To enable regulatory bodies ability to ensure that companies comply with European Union legislation. Such such as Artificial Intelligence Act. Regarding consumer protection, we would like to go one step further and include the article on unsolicited commercial electronic messages. Expand the definition of spam to include all communications on data flows. We would like to add an amendment indicating that the agreement needs to be implemented according to the current level of protection of the European Union, to ensure robust protection of personal data. This is particularly important for us, as this agreement is being used as a standard for current and future digital trade agreements. In addition, we echo the opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor, which explicitly mentions that the protection of personal data it is a fundamental right and that is cannot be subject to negotiations in the context of European Union trade agreements. All in all, we will leave. The European Parliament should give the consent to this digital trade agreement. But we need to be vigilant regarding its implementation and the impact it might have when drafting future digital trade agreements with other parties. I look forward to the work I have with the colleagues and thank you very much.”
  International data transfers
• “Thank you. Chair. Gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting are not a luxury, but an essential tool in the union's arsenal to show our political priorities a way for us to make our money go further. We've made progress in gender budgeting over the last few years, but we still need to effectively monitor the application to ensure the budget works for all. I am pleased that the importance of items such as the European Social Fund Plus or the Daphne Programme are recognised and have their budget increased to some extent at least. Let me remember the gender based violence has an estimated economic cost of 2090 billion per year. This is why the Fund Committee has repeatedly called for Daphne to become an autonomous program with its own separate budget line. Finally, I would like to highlight the importance and valuable role of the European Institute for Gender Equality plays in helping Union achieve its objectives. Yes, age has had its budget increased, but is still urgently needs more resources and staff to deal with its increased tasks, especially now that there is orchestrated attacks against the gender equality agenda. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion