Miriam LEXMANN

Policy topics Miriam LEXMANN is active on

What Miriam LEXMANN has said (21)

• 2026-02-26 “E-000813/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of the report and rejects its unsubstantiated and unfounded allegations. The Commission is not planning to issue further explanations. The Digital Services Act (DSA) 1 aims to create a safe, predictable online environment, protecting fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights 2 . The Commission acts when providers of very large online platforms (VLOP) and very large online search engines (VLOSE) fail to meet the transparency and accountability obligations. In April 2024, the Commission opened an investigation into Meta for suspected demotion of political content through their recommender systems 3 . The DSA does not define illegal content, hate speech or disinformation, nor does it contain criteria for determining this. What constitutes illegal content is determined by national law or other EU laws 4 . The Commission cannot issue orders to act against illegal content; only national judicial or administrative authorities can issue orders to providers of intermediary services, on the basis of other EU legislation or national law in compliance with EU law. Providers must inform authorities of any effect given to the order without undue delay, if such orders fulfil the requirements stated in Article 9 of the DSA. Content moderation decisions are taken by providers themselves, while the DSA obliges them to specify the reasons for restricting or removing content and provide effective redress. 30% of appealed moderation decisions 5 have been reversed since the DSA’s application. In relation to elections, the Commission has issued guidelines 6 for providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs on the mitigation of systemic risks for electoral processes. 1 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng. 2 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/char_2012/oj/eng. 3 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_2373. 4 Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_framw/2008/913/oj/eng. 5 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/two-years-digital-services-act-allows-50-million-contentmoderation-decisions-platforms-be-reversed. 6 Communication from the Commission – Commission Guidelines for providers of Very Large Online Platforms and Very Large Online Search Engines on the mitigation of systemic risks for electoral processes pursuant to Article 35(3) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/3014/oj/eng.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms · Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• 2026-02-26 “E-000814/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) are a State aid tool enabling Member States to grant national funding to bring together knowledge, expertise and economic actors throughout the EU and create positive spillover effects to the whole EU. The disbursement of State aid after the Commission approval decision is the sole responsibility of the respective Member State and creates neither a right nor a legally enforceable act for a beneficiary to receive the aid approved, even if named in the approval decision. The Commission is aware that, in some approved IPCEIs, some Member States have delayed or even abandoned their initial plans to grant aid notified to and approved by the Commission, which were also identified by the European Court of Auditors 1 . Aiming to prevent such potential delays, the Joint European Forum for IPCEI (JEF-IPCEI), which involves all Member States, European Economic Area countries and the Commission, agreed on and published a collection of national best practices including hands-on guidance for all national authorities when to start and how to prepare for the implementation phase of an IPCEI after the adoption of the Commission decision in an efficient manner to ensure a timely disbursal of approved aid 2 . The Commission follows the implementation procedures of IPCEIs, for instance, by being ready to respond to requests from Member States and by participating in exchanges within the respective IPCEI governance body meetings. Member States involved in IPCEIs need to submit annual reports, which were standardised and streamlined in 2025 to improve efficiency. Based, on these reports the JEF-IPCEI is developing a dashboard to monitor the implementation of IPCEIs 3 . For more information on aid granted by Member States, please see the State Aid Transparency website 4 . 1 See European Court of Auditors’ Special Report on ‘The EU’s industrial policy on renewable hydrogen’, recital 76, https://www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublications/SR-2024-11/SR-2024-11_EN.pdf. 2 See i.e. Collection of national best practices https://competitionpolicy.ec.europa.eu/document/download/4bec8fa3-ff8b-4248-8522-b0534de6f46a_en?filename=JEFIPCEI_National%20Best%20Practices%20Collection%20KPs%201%20to%208.pdf on national budgeting process available at the dedicated IPCEI website https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/state-aid/ipcei_en. 3 IPCEI website https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/state-aid/ipcei_en. 4 State Aid Transparency website https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/competition/transparency/public/search/home?lang=en.”
  State Aid · EU industrial funding
• 2026-01-15 “E-000174/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission shares the view that these are very serious issues that need to be addressed. Under the Digital Services Act 1 , online platforms must have mechanisms and procedures in place for reporting and expediently removing illegal content they have become aware of, including non-consensual intimate images. Providers of very large online platforms and very large search online engines are required to assess and mitigate systemic risks related to the design and functioning of their service, including the dissemination of illegal content, such as image-based abuse 2 . On 10 October 2025, the Commission sent a request for information to the providers of Apple App Store and Google Play, to seek information on how they manage the risk of users, including minors, being able to download illegal or otherwise harmful applications (apps), including tools to create non-consensual sexualised content, so-called ‘nudify apps’. On 26 January 2026, the Commission launched new proceedings against the provider of X, which will determine if the company properly assessed and mitigated systemic risks associated with the deployment in the EU of Grok’s functionalities into X, including risks related to the dissemination of illegal content, such as manipulated sexually explicit images and content that may amount to child sexual abuse material. As for the AI Act 3 , the rules on enforcement of the AI Act will only apply as of 2 August 2026. Therefore, investigations cannot be started before that date. The Commission is aware that Member States and Members of the European Parliament are proposing to strengthen the current protections and include explicit prohibitions of AI systems producing child sexual abuse material and non-consensual sexually explicit images in the context of the AI Omnibus negotiations. 1 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act), OJ L 277, 27.10.2022. 2 The creation and dissemination of AI generated child sexual abuse material is criminalised under Directive 2011/93/EU and the producing and subsequently sharing of non-consensual deep fake images depicting a person engaging in sexually explicit activities is criminalised under Directive 2024/1385. 3 Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act), OJ L, 2024/1689, 12.7.2024.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online · Privacy & detection of online child abuse · Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• 2025-11-11 “E-004471/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission 1. The EU closely follows the situation of religious minorities in Egypt as part of its broader engagement on human rights with the country. The EU has regular exchanges with Egyptian authorities on the implementation of Egypt’s national and international commitments in the area of human rights, including the freedom of religion or belief. In particular, and ahead of the implementation of the second macro-financial assistance, the EU assesses progress on concrete and credible steps taken towards respecting democratic mechanisms and the rule of law and guaranteeing human rights as stated in Article 2 of Decision (EU) 2025/1267 1 . The EU has also been supporting these efforts through its ongoing cooperation projects. 2. In its regular contacts with Egyptian authorities, the EU underlines the importance of respecting freedom of religion or belief, as enshrined in the Egyptian constitution and international human rights conventions. The recent visit to Egypt by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights on 25-27 November 2025 was an additional opportunity to address these matters with the Egyptian authorities 2 . The mission allowed for extensive consultations with government officials, the National Council for Human Rights and civil society organisations, including on the freedom of religion or belief. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32025D1267. 2 EU Special Representative for Human Rights Mission to Egypt: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/egypt/eu-special-representative-human-rights-visits-egypt_en.”
  EU-Egypt relations · EU competences on human rights
• 2025-03-07 “E-001010/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Regulation on the establishment of the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Framework 1 mandates Member States to offer digital identity wallets. It provides the possibility for effective age verification (AV) within the EU. To bridge the gap until the EUDI wallets become available, the Commission is developing a privacy preserving, data minimising, harmonised AV solution. Under Article 28(1) of the Digital Services Act (DSA) 2 , all providers of online platforms accessible to minors must ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security to minors on their services. Those providers of online platforms accessible to minors, including app stores (i.e. Google Play), must implement appropriate and proportionate measures to fulfil such obligations. Independently from app stores’ obligations, some app developers distributing their apps on app stores (i.e. TikTok) also fall under the scope of Article 28(1) of the DSA. To comply with that provision, providers of online platforms accessible to minors may have to implement AV, based on their risk profile 3 . Providers of app stores designated as very large online platforms are required, under Articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, to identify, analyse and assess the systemic risks stemming from the design, functioning or use made of their services, considering inter alia any actual of foreseeable negative effect for the respect of the rights of the child enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU 4 , and put in place effective mitigation measures to address such risks. 1 Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards establishing the European Digital Identity Framework (OJ L, 2024/1183, 30.4.2024). 2 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022). 3 The Commission will set out in Guidelines in which scenarios it would expect online platforms to implement age verification or age assurance in order to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security. 4 Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (OJ C 326, 26.10.2012).”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse · Safety features & content control for child protection online
• 2025-01-29 “E-000401/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/573 1 on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), contains a few restrictions covering all F-gases, i.e. including hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). Such restrictions were only introduced for applications for which alternatives are available and the restrictions have a long transition period, allowing the industry sufficient time to adjust. The Impact Assessment covered such alternatives. Some F-gases are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are chemicals which are very persistent and potentially have negative effects on health and the environment. Recital (7) of the Regulation includes a reference to the full F-gas prohibitions in line with the precautionary principle, to ensure that alternatives which are less harmful for health, the environment and the climate would be used. The F-gas Regulation delivers high ambition, while respecting the EU’s international obligations. The Commission is in regular contact with third countries to clarify this, both in the World Trade Organization and through bilateral contacts. The Commission intends to carry out the review of the F-gas Regulation by 2030, in line with the requirements of that Regulation. As required in Article 35(5)(a) of the Regulation, the Commission will in that review evaluate whether cost-effective, technically feasible, energy-efficient, sufficiently available and reliable alternatives exist, which make the replacement of fluorinated greenhouse gases possible in the products and equipment listed in Annex IV covered by prohibitions that have not yet become applicable at the time of the evaluation, especially products and equipment subject to full fluorinated greenhouse gas prohibitions, including ‘split’ air conditioners and heat pumps. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/573/oj/eng”
  F-gases regulation
• 2024-09-27 “E-001854/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of allegations against JBS, as well as of the multiple negative impacts that misleading green claims have on consumers and on businesses making genuine efforts to improve their sustainability. The Commission has already taken concrete steps to protect EU consumers and businesses from greenwashing and increase consumer trust. The recent amendment of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive 1 forbids vague (i.e. ‘generic’) environmental claims. Companies will no longer be able to declare that they are ‘green’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ without having recognised excellent environmental performance. The Directive also sets rules on future environmental performance claims, such as claims on plans to reach climate neutrality, for which traders will need to present a detailed and realistic implementation plan. The new rules will become applicable from 27 September 2026. Within this context, national consumer authorities, under the coordination of the Commission, monitor the market and initiate coordinated actions against traders who engage in misleading green claims, in order to bring their practices in line with EU consumer law 2 . In addition, the proposal for a Green Claims Directive 3 aims at complementing these requirements by setting clear rules on how to substantiate environmental claims and labels and requires the substantiation of claims to be verified before they are presented to consumers by an independent and accredited verifier. Furthermore, the Deforestation Free Products Regulation 4 aims to ensure that a set of key commodities and derived products placed on the EU market, including cattle meat and leather, no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation. 1 Directive (EU) 2024/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 February 2024 amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and through better information, OJ L, 2024/825, 6.3.2024. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/live-work-travel-eu/consumer-rights-and-complaints/enforcement-consumerprotection/coordinated-actions/sustainable-consumption-actions_en 3 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims (Green Claims Directive), COM/2023/166 final. 4 Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, OJ L 150, 9.6.2023.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you colleagues. Commissioner. This week we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Europe, as we know it, was built on a strong transatlantic alliance, built on shared values. They helped us defend ourselves against totalitarian regimes. The present geopolitical context requires bold, strategic thinking at the highest political level to maintain sustainable cooperation. Right from the start, I insist that instead of criticizing, we should negotiate constructively with the United States and look for what we have in common. The last thing we should do is to cozy up to undemocratic regimes. We should not allow totalitarian regimes to take advantage of our disunity. Flirting with the Chinese Communist Party will ultimately undermine our economy and our security, as well as tarnishing the legacy of all those who defended human dignity and democracy, the very foundation of the European Union. Thank you.”
  EU-China relations
• “Thank you. Chair. So the first meeting under my rapporteur on the Inter monitoring Group on Japan has happened on the 16th of October. And I would in this context like to, uh, to, to strengthen that, uh, that Japan is our like minded democratic Partner and strategic partner in the important times. We are in full of challenges we are facing and it's a it's a partner which supports the rule based and open global trade. And I think it's very important to highlight. So during the meeting we had the ambassador, Mr. Ikawa, present with us. And then we continue with the report of Mr. Chorrillo, Acting Head of the unit for Far East in DG trade, and we discussed the trade aspects within the 30th Eu-japan summit and the implementation of the Eu-japan Economic Partnership Agreement, which is already enjoying seven years. Uh, we also, uh, I mean, the meeting was held simultaneously with the first, uh, after many years interparliamentary meeting with China. And in this context, I would say that it was, uh, rather symbolic that we had, uh, we had these two meetings A simultaneously, which I try to attend both because, particularly in the context of increasing Chinese aggression and assertiveness and economic coercion in also economic areas.”
  Trade relations with Japan
• “The meeting with our Japanese partners was very symbolic and very important because Japan is our like minded, minded partner. Overall, our trade and investment relations with Japan are doing very well. In 2024, Japan was the the EU's seventh largest trading partner for exports and imports of goods, representing over $130 billion in goods and 60 billion in services. Here, I would like to highlight that the evaluation of the EPA is just going on, and then consultations are ongoing at the moment, and we should expect the report at the first half of the of the next year. I firmly believe that in the current geopolitical context, amidst mounting threats to the international rules based order and the global supply chains, it is very crucial to increase our cooperation with Japan. The recent announcements to expand the Eu-japan high level economic dialogue and the strengthening of the strategic economic cooperation in particular, is a key, uh, issue and area and such for the economic security and trade and industrial policy, uh, challenges we are facing. Uh, and that's why I believe that these meetings are very timely and can contribute to the overall, uh, achievements of the EU in economic and trade relations with other countries, too. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with Japan
• “Thank you very much. Thank you for the representatives of the Amazon to accept our invitation. Also the representatives of trade unions. I actually appreciate that Mr. Zapolsky did not fly over the half of the globe for two hours meeting because the CO2 footage will be too high, and I think this was more environmental friendly solution. But I have a question I was mentioning a couple of times, mentioned a couple of times, and we do know that AI will have an enormous impact on social well-being of people and the future of of workers. And I would like to ask the Amazon representatives, what do you do in order to when you know that some jobs will have to be replaced? Because of course, AI will replace some workers. So is there any programs that you prepare workers for this change so it doesn't have impact on their well-being? Thank you.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Mr. chair. Commissioner. Colleagues, the US is not only the largest trading partner, but also our closest ally we share a rich history, common values and traditions the transatlantic relationship is the foundation of our mutual prosperity and security. And tariffs benefit neither side. The only benefit. Totalitarian regimes like China and Russia, the same regime that threaten our security, our economy and the rules based order. Let us prompt cooperation in areas that address our common risk. As part of the tariffs negotiations. That is what the US is expecting from us too. I call on the commission to propose how we can jointly address China's dominance in critical raw materials, how to protect our markets from forced labor, which which produced the forced labor and protect the markets from it, and how to secure sensitive data, especially especially genomic data of our citizens. Thank you very much.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “Thank you very much. Sorry, I was I'm running in between the two meetings and we don't have trains like in the US Congress in this Parliament. But but hopefully we'll still have trade with the US. First of all, thank you very much that the Indian deal with India is not including agriculture because I think we are avoiding a big problem, which we have with Mercosur. And I believe that it's very important that the future deals with more focus on, on other issues which are of mutual benefit, because otherwise we can end up and in a problem like we did with Mercosur. But three quick questions. I'm not sure if there are quick answers. First of all, combustion engines there is this revision. We are not very happy with the revision proposal of the commission, or at least in my group. And I'm thinking if we will now, it will take too, too long time that we will not be able to stop the influx of the Chinese electric vehicles into our market and protect our companies. So what do we do there? Because I believe that the the result of the revision of the combustion engine, the ban of combustion engine is still a very long process which, which enables China to, to influence our markets.”
  Chinese clean tech competition: trade barriers and investment caps vs. open market
• “Second, the Chinese export control of critical raw materials. We have legislation, access to critical raw materials. How successful we are to invest and help companies which invest in critical raw materials to to mine and process. And second, there was a meeting for all partners in a transatlantic world in the in the Washington, DC, two weeks ago on access to critical raw materials. If there is any result for the EU and any cooperations which we built in this result. And third question is, when it comes to the Goshen investment in Slovakia to build electric batteries, because now we have this Environmental issue with Samsung batteries. Lithium batteries in Hungary. And we do know that the factory did not provide proper information for the environmental impact assessment. They were practically lying on the chemicals and amounts of the chemicals. And I'm wondering if the Commission is following this process, because we might end up in another environmental catastrophe in Slovakia. Thank you.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials
• “Thank you very much. I will maybe continue because I'm also having questions about the force majeure especially. I come from Slovakia where this is being used and questioned. What if there is? I mean, if there is enough guarantee, if the unilateral, uh, termination of the contract with Gazprom will for a will create problems for the for the member States, but also when there will be the prices will be too expensive. And what measures the commission actually can take to help member states to deliver to the citizens, uh, energy, which is affordable. Uh, another question is, uh, concerning circumvention, because we already know that many member states are buying, uh, oil from shadow fleets and and I don't know if the commission really has the capacity to monitor and to find out measures which will be foreseeable, because otherwise we will have member states and politicians bringing this up. And the final question is that we know that the the nuclear fuel we need about five years minimum to replace the Russian nuclear fuel. So what can be done? Because otherwise, I mean, we cannot speed up this process. Thank you very much.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you. Chair. Commissioner. Dear colleagues. Current export control on several minerals. Is yet another example of the toolbox China uses for its political purposes. Misusing its dominance over rare earth and deliberately causing disruptions in a supply chain is a part of China's trade strategy, which allows them to maintain global dependencies. This puts in danger our car producers, but also health care, defence or our energy sector. I expect that the commission formally raises the issue of unjustified export controls with the WTO, and also uses the anti-corruption mechanism the EU has at its place. It is also high time to accelerate accelerate the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act. We agreed upon about two years ago. Finally, the upcoming EU-China summit is an opportunity for the EU to raise the dependencies and firmly defend the interests of our industry, our citizens and also defenders of human rights worldwide, but also particularly in China. Thank you.”
  EU-China relations
• “Thank you. Chair. Commissioner. Colleagues. Ai is increasingly influencing every area in our lives education, health. Even intelligent households. But we need very clear rules to make sure that it works properly and that it doesn't lead to a deterioration in our systems. This can be done by having intelligent trade. There's a huge number of parcels coming every day from China to Europe, and the quality of the goods these parcels parcels contain is very low. They sometimes contain toxic substances, and it's particularly in precisely in this area that we can use AI to then check these millions of parcels coming in to Europe's borders. This would be a way of us of allowing us to identify the source of these goods. For us to be able to use AI fully, though, we need to have the right conditions in place. We need to create those conditions in terms of access to raw materials and legislative rules. I'm pleased that we agree as colleagues about these basic principles. We need an ethical approach in this area with clear and effective rules. What's more, we need to work together with Democratic partners. This report is therefore a good starting point for more legislative work with the Commission.”
  EU policy on custom fee on non-EU imports
• “Thank you. Dear colleagues, Georgian people have made it clear decades ago. They believe in free, democratic Georgia anchored in European values. Yet one party rule of Georgian dream using Putin's playbook is steering the country in the opposite direction. We are witnessing repeated attacks against peaceful protesters, silencing of journalists and curtailing fundamental freedoms that are essential to any democracy. Elena Khoshtaria media globally and other pro-European voices are among the victims of the current regime. They face years in prison only for speaking out as friends of the Georgian people. We cannot steal idly by while fundamental freedoms are being incurred and eroded. I call for immediate release of all political prisoners, and I would like to reiterate once again the need to impose targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili for his destructive role on political society and politics, society and all economy, and all Georgians. Thank you.”
  EU-Georgia relations
• “Thank you very much. Sorry, I was I'm running in between the two meetings and we don't have trains like in the US Congress in this Parliament. But but hopefully we'll still have trade with the US. First of all, thank you very much that the Indian deal with India is not including agriculture because I think we are avoiding a big problem, which we have with Mercosur. And I believe that it's very important that the future deals with more focus on, on other issues which are of mutual benefit, because otherwise we can end up and in a problem like we did with Mercosur. But three quick questions. I'm not sure if there are quick answers. First of all, combustion engines there is this revision. We are not very happy with the revision proposal of the commission, or at least in my group. And I'm thinking if we will now, it will take too, too long time that we will not be able to stop the influx of the Chinese electric vehicles into our market and protect our companies. So what do we do there? Because I believe that the the result of the revision of the combustion engine, the ban of combustion engine is still a very long process which, which enables China to, to influence our markets.”
  Chinese clean tech competition: trade barriers and investment caps vs. open market · Trade relations with China
• “Second, the Chinese export control of critical raw materials. We have legislation, access to critical raw materials. How successful we are to invest and help companies which invest in critical raw materials to to mine and process. And second, there was a meeting for all partners in a transatlantic world in the in the Washington, DC, two weeks ago on access to critical raw materials. If there is any result for the EU and any cooperations which we built in this result. And third question is, when it comes to the Goshen investment in Slovakia to build electric batteries, because now we have this Environmental issue with Samsung batteries. Lithium batteries in Hungary. And we do know that the factory did not provide proper information for the environmental impact assessment. They were practically lying on the chemicals and amounts of the chemicals. And I'm wondering if the Commission is following this process, because we might end up in another environmental catastrophe in Slovakia. Thank you.”
  EU policy on social & environmental impact of foreign investments
• “Then I would maybe start with a symbol which I don't think gave a wrong, gave a right answer to the international, uh, international, um, uh, situation we are in because the if Maros Sefcovic flew directly from DC to Beijing and we were discussing just before that, maybe we should look for common interests we have in with us in order to turn down the, the, the tariffs growth. I don't think this was the right choice, that our commissioner flew directly from DC to D.C. to Beijing. Second, we do know, and Richard has already mentioned that China is a communist totalitarian regime which behaves more and more aggressively internationally. We know about the illegal subventions. We already responded to tariffs from our side that we know about IP thefts, which, by the way, in the US is up to 6 billion annually lost to IP thefts from China. And we also know about their internal barriers to our companies to invest into China. And my questions are three. First of all, the EU summit has agreed that we should lower our dependency on China and we should diversify. And my question is, during the negotiations and the response of the Commission to the different sectors, how the lowering of the trade with China and the dependency is actually included in the policies of the Commission? My second question is that we do know, and we today voted on the report on direct investments. How do we stop the trend that China is practically bringing its production to the EU? And that means that we will not be able to defend our interests through tariffs in the future. And the third question is forced labour. We do know that many Chinese companies are using forced labour, for example, also companies which produce batteries like Gaussian. They are bringing their production to the EU. That means that if these batteries are in our cars, these cars will not be able to be exported to the US. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with China