Matej TONIN

Policy topics Matej TONIN is active on

What Matej TONIN has said (34)

• 2026-06-17 “(15:40:55 – 15:42:35): Vice president, dear commissioner, dear colleagues, electricity is the path to our future. The winners in the future are going to be the ones that will make sure the energy is clean and affordable to everyone. The winning formula of the future will be in the hands of those that have sources in their hands and also the means to make sure energy can travel from 1 place to another. We have to make sure the energy mix is a mix of renewables and nuclear energy because night falls everywhere in Europe at the same time and the solar panels don't function then. The wind doesn't blow at all the time. However, nuclear energy ensures stability and safety. If anything, I expect from the European Commission to move from words to actions. If in the past, moving away from nuclear energy was a mistake and we are now trying to go down the right path, I do expect that nuclear energy will be treated in the same way as renewables. I'm thinking of funding and financial support to make sure nuclear energy can also be developed. Only a mix of renewables and nuclear energy can make sure that our future is safe and stable. Okay. Please, mister Sibir.”
  Nuclear energy
• 2026-06-17 “(15:43:21 – 15:44:03): I believe that when it comes to nuclear energy, we're actually getting rid of errors that we were committed in the past. We have the whole supply chain on the continent. We have materials. We have know how, and we also have people. And as a result, we are strategically independent, and this is a competitive edge of the nuclear energy as compared to other sources of energy where we are dependent of export. Thank you Very much. Now miss Bucard, please. Thank”
  Nuclear energy
• 2026-06-17 “(15:16:18 – 15:16:37): I would like to ask, my dear colleague, a very simple question. I agree that renewables are important, but what happens when the sun doesn't shine or the wind doesn't blow? Why isn't there a greater enthusiasm in your group for nuclear energy?”
  Nuclear energy
• 2025-06-25 “E-002543/2025 Answer given by Ms Albuquerque on behalf of the European Commission The Member States have jurisdiction and discretion to regulate the real estate markets. In doing so, however, they must respect the basic principles of the EU Treaties, first and foremost the fundamental freedoms. The right to acquire, use or dispose of real estate falls notably under the free movement of capital principle set out in Articles 63 et seq. of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), or, depending on the purpose, under freedom of establishment pursuant to Article 49 TFEU. As a rule, these freedoms prohibit any restrictions on the acquisition of real estate as well as direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of nationality unless they are justified by legitimate reasons of public interest as recognized in the Treaties or in the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The State aid rules, including Article 107 (1) TFEU, only apply where the beneficiary of a measure is an entity engaging in economic activity. If the activities carried out in the forest constitute exercise of public power, State aid rules do not apply. The Commission has indeed been made aware, through complaints, of the existence of a right of first refusal under Slovenian law. However, it has, at this stage, not yet finalised its assessment as to whether the provisions in question infringe EU law.”
  State Aid · Trade impact on forests
• 2025-05-19 “E-001997/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission The Euratom Treaty 1 requires the Commission to indicate in the Nuclear Illustrative Programme of the Commission (PINC) the nuclear energy production targets without specifying whether the requirement concerns nuclear energy production in individual Member States or in the EU. The Commission has in the PINC indicated the levels of nuclear energy production in the EU corresponding to the nuclear energy production targeted by Member States under their national policies reflected in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) 2 . The PINC identifies a ‘base case’ scenario of 109 gigawatts electrical (GWe) of net electricity generation capacity from large-scale nuclear reactors in 2050 3 . This does not cover capacity from Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which could add 17-53 GW by 2050 4 . The Clean Industrial Deal (CID) 5 announced the Action Plan for Affordable Energy (AEAP) 6 to improve competitiveness and reduce energy costs for our industries in the transition. The AEAP recognised the need to assess nuclear investments in the updated PINC. The updated PINC 7 assesses the evolution of generation capacity and associated investment needs, covering the entire life cycle of nuclear installations, including life-time extensions, newbuilds, innovative nuclear technologies such as SMRs, waste management, and decommissioning activities 8 . It shows that nuclear energy has a role to play in building our decarbonised energy system. The Commission has repeatedly recognised that ensuring the necessary framework conditions for all clean energy technologies will allow the EU to keep its industrial leadership in the nuclear sector while also upholding the highest safety standards and responsible management of radioactive waste. 1 Article 40. 2 In line with the provisions of Article 40, the Commission assessed where individual Member States, based on official information available to us, intend to achieve certain volumes or shares of nuclear energy production capacity. 3 With a range of installed capacity between 70 and 144 GWe, depending on the rate of success of lifetime extension of existing large-scale reactors. 4 As per preliminary evaluation by sector organisations. 5 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en. 6 https://energy.ec.europa.eu/strategy/affordable-energy_en. 7 Adopted on 13 June 2025. See: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/publications/communication-nuclear-illustrativeprogramme-under-article-40-euratom-treaty_en. 8 It also addresses key enablers, such as energy system effects, skills development, competitive industrial and fuel supply chains.”
  Nuclear energy
• 2025-05-05 “E-001802/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has contacted the Slovenian authorities about the Hospitality Act to seek clarifications on whether the draft law includes obligations for online service providers which would constitute technical regulations subject to the notification procedure established by the Single Market Transparency Directive 1 (EU) 2015/1535 (SMTD). In its communication, the Commission reminded the Slovenian authorities that should the above-mentioned draft provide for any technical regulations as defined in Article 1 of SMTD, these technical regulations have to be notified to the Commission according to Article 5(1) of that Directive. According to the case-law of the Court of Justice of the EU (case C-194/94, ‘CIA Security International’), the failure to fulfil the notification obligation under Directive (EU) 2015/1535 constitutes a substantial procedural defect in the adoption of the technical regulation concerned, which implies that any interested individual could challenge the legality of the technical regulation before a national court and ask for its inapplicability. Article 15 of the Services Directive 2 lists several requirements, like quantitative or territorial restrictions, that Member States must notify to the Commission before or after their adoption. At the time of issuing this reply, no notification under the Services Directive has been received. The Commission will examine the compliance of the Slovenian measures at issue with the Services Directive, notably when they are notified by the Slovenian authorities, and take the appropriate measures. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=legissum%3A310304_1. 2 Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on services in the internal market.”
  EU regulation of short-term rentals
• 2025-02-18 “E-000735/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is continuously following the rule of law situation in all Member States, including in Slovenia, and is monitoring developments in its annual Rule of Law Report. The 2024 Rule of Law Report, country chapter on Slovenia 1 provides an assessment of the situation of the rule of law in Slovenia in four key areas: the justice system, the anticorruption framework, media pluralism and freedom, and other institutional issues related to checks and balances. As part of the preparation of the 2025 Rule of Law Report, the Commission carries out virtual country meetings with key stakeholders in all Member States, including Slovenia. For Slovenia, these country meetings took place in the second half of March 2025. 1 2024 Rule of Law Report, Country Chapter on the rule of law situation in Slovenia, SWD(2024) 824 final, accessible at: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/b76a7422-b03a-4104-9f619d9be3c34e44_en?filename=54_1_58081_coun_chap_slovenia_en.pdf”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “Thank you very much. Chair. The European automotive industry is one of the pillars of our economy. Millions of jobs, innovation and regional cohesion depends on it. But today, this sector is under pressure because green religion wants to destroy the industry in which we are world leaders. We are the champions of the production of internal combustion engines. Yes, we all want clean environment. We have ambitious climate goals, but we must reach them through innovation, not with prohibition. Technological neutrality must be the cornerstone of Europe's Automotive policy lets every technology complete electric, electric, hybrid, hydrogen and synthetic fuels whatever you want. But technological neutrality is the key, and I'm expecting that we will remove as soon as possible this ban on internal combustion engines.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Distinguished colleagues. Commissioner, last years we've been dealing a lot with high energy prices. We spent many hours debating this, and we've come to the conclusion that our electricity prices were higher than in the US or in China, our competitors. And when things seem to settle down a little bit, bam, a new war, a new crisis. And once again, there are forecasts of another energy crisis that is going to hike up the prices. So the question is, what have we as Europe learned? What lessons have we drawn from the Ukraine war? And the lesson is very clear. We can only rely on ourselves. So if we want to have accessible energy prices, we will have to develop an appropriate mix of energy sources, including nuclear energy, and that is the only way we can be competitive globally. Thank you very much.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you very much, colleagues. Congrats for the presidency. We are from the same block we started together in 2004. I'm from Slovenia and I would like to focus on energy. And if the energy independence is a main or the crucial focus for your presidency as well. And I checked just the data, how your energy mix in Cyprus is made. And it says that 74% is oil based, 22% is solar and 3% wind. I would say that this is just a great call for the nuclear energy, maybe for new SMEs small and modular reactor. I'm just thinking about. And my question is, what is the position of the Cyprus presidency on nuclear energy? I'm asking this because, uh, Madam President and Commissioner Jorgensen many times said that we can fulfill climate goals with a mixture of renewables and nuclear. So renewables have a special treatment within the European funds and rules, but it's a bit different story about the nuclear. So will your presidency push a little bit to reach this, uh, so-called nuclear renaissance?”
  Nuclear energy
• “Raw and other materials. What does that have to do with the EU? Well, a lot it seems, but nothing good. Unfortunately, we're not particularly efficient. We rely heavily on industry, but without those materials we have no batteries. And the future will belong to those who have those materials. And what's sad about this is that actually the EU has those materials. It has nickel and other rare earths. All of that exists in Europe. But unfortunately, we import it all, especially from China in particular. According to very strict environmental laws, we cannot extract those raw these rare earths and other raw materials. All of this happens in China in much more unscrupulous ways, with environmental consequences that are much worse. Europe should be sensible and get rid of these permits that take too long to be authorized.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials
• “Madam Vice President, Dear colleagues, the Draghi report presents a not very satisfying situation, but we have to face reality. Today we're faced with an absurd situation. Europeans are funding European businesses, while European businesses are looking elsewhere for their money. Our citizens have their money in European banks. While they are funding growth elsewhere. Money is not leaving Europe because we don't have enough talent here. It's because it's much easier to invest elsewhere. So what we need is a a union of capital markets. And as a madam, the president of the commission said we need a secure trading partners and simplification. The pathway is clear. Now we need to do something precise.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Mr. president, Commissioner. Colleagues. For many years, European defence has relied on the presence and capabilities of our American allies. But we must be also realistic. We cannot assume that this presence will always be there. Europe is a union of 27 member states, each with its own armed forces, its own command structures, and its own strategic priorities. This fragmentation is a vulnerability in today's hectic geopolitical environment. We must ask ourselves a simple but crucial question how do we defend Europe in a world that demands unity and strategic clarity? Europe needs the creation of a European army placed under the European Security Council, a European army that does not replace national forces but brings them together. An army with a common command, shared capabilities and clear political direction. This is a long process and for this reason we must begin now.”
  EU competences on defence
• “How many details we can include. And this is the game which always ends in a bad way. So I hope even, uh, in the future, with all amendments which will come, that will still be, uh, through the point, on the point on the message, and, uh, uh, in a way. In a general way. Uh, anyway, I would like to emphasize two points into the report, which I think that very nicely touch upon the crucial thing in this process, uh, where at least two sides are very engaged. Point number two says that now that the reform momentum requires renewed political commitment, including for necessary constitutional amendments. And point number five recalls that the bilateral disputes between countries should be addressed through open dialogue and genuine cooperation outside of the accession process, at least for me. These are two important points. Uh, as I said here, without the elections, this creates really a tremendous opportunity for the Macedonian government. I hope that they will use it. I hope that this will be really a year of reforms and in the end, the year of great results. So, and just my personal conclusion, in the end, I hope that this year negotiations, negotiations won't be so heated as they were last year and at the end. Thank you for my fellow shadow rapporteurs and of course to the General Rapporteur, Thomas White, who did a great job.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you very much we have complained for a long time now about the way in which the single market fails to work and how big the market is four fifty million strong yes that's true we need real steps we need to work at pace. So what are those steps we've got the twenty eighth regime that's something we have been promised and that means that a company established in Slovenia can operate across Europe but we're still waiting I mean still a long way off. And a company from Slovenia finds itself faced with many obstacles in seeking to trade with Germany Austria or wherever so these are real tangible steps that we need so let's not just talk about cutting red tape we want real steps to make sure that companies really can engage in commerce. I mean just the same as in the case of smartphones and roaming you know telephones we can use everyone.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “How many details we can include. And this is the game which always ends in a bad way. So I hope even, uh, in the future, with all amendments which will come, that will still be, uh, through the point, on the point on the message, and, uh, uh, in a way. In a general way. Uh, anyway, I would like to emphasize two points into the report, which I think that very nicely touch upon the crucial thing in this process, uh, where at least two sides are very engaged. Point number two says that now that the reform momentum requires renewed political commitment, including for necessary constitutional amendments. And point number five recalls that the bilateral disputes between countries should be addressed through open dialogue and genuine cooperation outside of the accession process, at least for me. These are two important points. Uh, as I said here, without the elections, this creates really a tremendous opportunity for the Macedonian government. I hope that they will use it. I hope that this will be really a year of reforms and in the end, the year of great results. So, and just my personal conclusion, in the end, I hope that this year negotiations, negotiations won't be so heated as they were last year and at the end. Thank you for my fellow shadow rapporteurs and of course to the General Rapporteur, Thomas White, who did a great job.”
  EU enlargement
• “Commissioner, warmly welcome into the European Parliament. Today we saw the first snowflakes in Brussels. Winter is coming. One thing is absolutely clear that this winter will be tough for the Ukrainians and we all know that Russia is still brutally attacking Ukraine's Crete and how electricity is essential for at least somehow normal life in Ukraine.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Dear brothers and sisters from Canada. Well, I see them as our American colleagues. We have a lot of similarities and it is only right that the EU and Canada have a deep cooperation. In the past, Canada has proven itself as a reliable partner when it came to the defence of our eastern borders. There was Canada and Canada is in Latvia and helps protect our eastern borders. And when we take a look into the Arctic, to the north, the new geopolitical front frontline where China and Russia already implement their interests. Canada is of utmost importance. This is why we need courage to take appropriate decisions. And it is the Siti.a agreement that gives the foundation for that. It is up to us to ratify this treaty. This agreement as soon as possible, please.”
  Relations with NATO
• “President, Commissioner. Ladies and gentlemen. At the last legislative period, European policies focused on the green shift. We've seen what the knock on effect has been, that we've had record prices for electricity and energy. Generally, they have dropped slightly. The clean industrial deal is a sensible reply to the silliness of the Green Deal. It's a more sensible green shift, and that's essential so that the European economy and the European population can survive. To make sure that the industry continues to be competitive, we have to make sure that the energy prices become payable, and we have to make sure that the energy strategy of the EU is based on a sensible energy mix alongside renewables. We also must use nuclear energy and this should not be done step by step. But straight away. We also have to make sure that we have security because war is costly. That's also it's also in the context of the industrial sector that we can guarantee security in Europe because a strong players also geopolitically significant player.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you. Chair. Northern Macedonia definitely belongs to the European Union. Speaking with the people, you can clearly see that they are exhausted, waiting for more than 20 years in a waiting room. So that's why I'm quite happy that at least European Union is offering them some, uh, visible, tangible results, which are for example Sepa already mentioned. I hope that they will get as soon as possible. Uh, the access to the data, roaming and so on. Um, North Macedonia is strategically important for the Europe from the various reasons. Uh, security is one of them. Balkan migrant route, uh, went through North Macedonia. So they were very valuable, uh, defending and safeguarding the Europe. Uh, transport corridors are important and so on. So, uh, country is beautiful and diverse at the same time. But to unlock all the potentials they have, they have to turn their diversity into the strength. Uh, political polarization is high. Uh, maybe this year, without the elections, there is a window of opportunity to reduce this polarization, uh, in the country, you have different ethnic groups. You have minorities, and there is still a great room to improve the relations between these groups. Uh, if I touch upon a bit on, uh, reports and I compared the draft report with the last year report, this year is, uh, much shorter. And the general one, I think that, uh, the approach is right, because in the past we saw that, uh, more we go into the details, then we start a strange competition.”
  EU enlargement
• “Madam president, Commissioner, colleagues, Europe has an extremely large number of hard working, diligent people. Many citizens are extremely talented. We also have many innovative companies. We have billions worth of savings in bank accounts of European citizens, which means that we have a significant purchasing power compared to other parts of the world. However, the question is why are we not using all of these advantages for our own benefit, for the benefit of the economic power of Europe? The problem is obviously not related, neither to people nor to money. The problem is related to the lack of courage, to fragmentation. We don't have the courage to finish what we started ten years ago. We have to create a truly single market. If a European company today wishes to operate in the area of the EU as a total, it strikes upon 27 different legislations. We do not have a single market. Yet the deepening of the single market is our common responsibility of all of the institutions of the Council, the Commission and the Parliament. Let's be honest, without strong European companies, we will not provide quality European jobs. Without competitiveness, we will not have a social Europe and without decisiveness. We will not have a European strategic sovereignty. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “When we're talking about grids, it's always the emphasis or we are underlining how important it is that we strengthen them, that we make them more resilient. But there will always be some places which will be very remote or very poorly connected. So my question is simply, what is the plan B for those hard-to-reach areas? For example, with the group of my colleagues who went to Canada and they were openly talking about the SMRs as a solution to such areas. So nice when we are talking about the grids but there will always be some places which will be remote and what is the plan B for those places? **Giorgio GORI @Chair (Italy, S&D): Thank you Diego Solier.”
  Nuclear energy
• “(10:32:49 – 10:34:27): Madam president, commissioner, colleagues, Europe has an extremely large number of hardworking diligent people. Many citizens are extremely talented. We also have many innovative companies. We have billions worth of savings in bank accounts of European citizens, which means that we have a significant purchasing power compared to other parts of the world. However, the question is, why are we not using all of these advantages for our own benefit, for the benefit of the economic power of Europe? The problem is obviously not related neither to people nor to money. The problem is related to the lack of courage, to fragmentation. We don't have the courage to finish what we started 10 years ago. We have to create a truly single market. If a European company today wishes to operate in the area of the EU as a total, it strikes upon 27 different legislations. We do not have a single market. Yet the deepening of the single market is our common responsibility of all of the institutions, of the council, the commission, and the parliament. Let's be honest. Without strong European companies, we will not provide quality European jobs. Without competitiveness, we will not have a social Europe. And without decisiveness, we will not have a European strategic sovereignty. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mister Andrew Caitis is next.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you. Chair. Northern Macedonia definitely belongs to the European Union. Speaking with the people, you can clearly see that they are exhausted, waiting for more than 20 years in a waiting room. So that's why I'm quite happy that at least European Union is offering them some, uh, visible, tangible results, which are for example Sepa already mentioned. I hope that they will get as soon as possible. Uh, the access to the data, roaming and so on. Um, North Macedonia is strategically important for the Europe from the various reasons. Uh, security is one of them. Balkan migrant route, uh, went through North Macedonia. So they were very valuable, uh, defending and safeguarding the Europe. Uh, transport corridors are important and so on. So, uh, country is beautiful and diverse at the same time. But to unlock all the potentials they have, they have to turn their diversity into the strength. Uh, political polarization is high. Uh, maybe this year, without the elections, there is a window of opportunity to reduce this polarization, uh, in the country, you have different ethnic groups. You have minorities, and there is still a great room to improve the relations between these groups. Uh, if I touch upon a bit on, uh, reports and I compared the draft report with the last year report, this year is, uh, much shorter. And the general one, I think that, uh, the approach is right, because in the past we saw that, uh, more we go into the details, then we start a strange competition.”
  EU enlargement
• “When we were talking about defence spending I have a feeling that especially those who are complaining that we are too, Ta ta much dependent on the United States that those would be the forces who would. Who would support the increase of defense spending. Because more we will invest in defense the more, uh, strategically independent Europe and European Union will be. So we can read the declaration that we, the heads of states and governments have gathered and reaffirmed and so on. But after that, we had some statements from a Spanish prime minister and even some statements from Slovenian prime ministers who are saying they didn't commit to such statements. So I'm asking you if at the session at the summit, for some prime ministers who were saying at the meeting that they will not commit to those 5% pledge, especially because after the summit, there was first full debate back home in Slovenia, for example, Prime Minister even proposed a referendum to exit from the NATO, which is a crazy thing.”
  Defence spending
• “How many details we can include. And this is the game which always ends in a bad way. So I hope even, uh, in the future, with all amendments which will come, that will still be, uh, through the point, on the point on the message, and, uh, uh, in a way. In a general way. Uh, anyway, I would like to emphasize two points into the report, which I think that very nicely touch upon the crucial thing in this process, uh, where at least two sides are very engaged. Point number two says that now that the reform momentum requires renewed political commitment, including for necessary constitutional amendments. And point number five recalls that the bilateral disputes between countries should be addressed through open dialogue and genuine cooperation outside of the accession process, at least for me. These are two important points. Uh, as I said here, without the elections, this creates really a tremendous opportunity for the Macedonian government. I hope that they will use it. I hope that this will be really a year of reforms and in the end, the year of great results. So, and just my personal conclusion, in the end, I hope that this year negotiations, negotiations won't be so heated as they were last year and at the end. Thank you for my fellow shadow rapporteurs and of course to the General Rapporteur, Thomas White, who did a great job.”
  EU enlargement
• “The production of biofuel varies a great deal. We need to deploy all technologies that we have at our disposal for the production of alternative fuels. Often waste is actually used. And here I think there's a huge opportunity to push our developments further because there's a lot of waste in Europe. They won't be surprised that or you wouldn't. You shouldn't be afraid that waste being used would affect the food production. Thank you.”
  Food waste
• “Mr. president, Commissioner, dear colleagues, do we want decarbonization that works in a real world or only on the paper. Sustainable biofuels are available today. They reduce emissions. Today they work with existing engines and infrastructure. Today, climate neutrality will not be achieved by banning technologies. It will be achieved by scaling every sustainable technology that reduces emissions today. The future is not biofuels versus electrification. The future of transport is an ecosystem with electric cars and cars, with an internal combustion engine propelled by advanced biofuels, hydrogen and e-fuels. We ask industry to invest billions into advanced biofuels and refinery transformation, while constantly changing sustainability criteria and investment conditions that will not end well. Our mission must be to provide predictability.”
  Biofuels (RED II)
• “Distinguished colleagues. Commissioner, last years we've been dealing a lot with high energy prices. We spent many hours debating this, and we've come to the conclusion that our electricity prices were higher than in the US or in China, our competitors. And when things seem to settle down a little bit, bam, a new war, a new crisis. And once again, there are forecasts of another energy crisis that is going to hike up the prices. So the question is, what have we as Europe learned? What lessons have we drawn from the Ukraine war? And the lesson is very clear. We can only rely on ourselves. So if we want to have accessible energy prices, we will have to develop an appropriate mix of energy sources, including nuclear energy, and that is the only way we can be competitive globally. Thank you very much. **Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ @Chair: Thank you. Janice is next.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you very much. Energy costs has a huge impact on European competitiveness. Specifically when it when it comes to energy intensive industries. Now, in the past, we had ideological decisions that were made that meant that Europe. Has been challenged. If we look at tangible examples, talam was producing aluminum as a primary resource, and it was necessary to stop producing because prices were too high. And then we began importing from China the same exact aluminum, aluminum. But because it was produced, uh, lower standards. And in fact, we're talking about dirty production here. So not clean rather than producing it in Slovenia. Okay. So. Now we know that there are some energy plants that are being closed in Slovenia. An energy plant. Electricity plant is being closed because of CO2 emissions. Now, I would agree with the colleagues that talk about the competitiveness. In energy intensive industries, now we need to make sure that energy costs must be low for the competitiveness when it comes to Scandinavia, for example. There are those who said that it would be possible to be competitive. If we invest in renewables and grids and the grid. But there is a fundamental point. Nuclear energy. And I'm concerned that some colleagues from the Greens demonized nuclear energy. Considering it a problem. But why is this? There are energy intensive industries that to try to be able to resolve the problems in the mid-term. For this to be, uh, manageable, we will need nuclear energy to have lower prices. The grid has. Less of an impact in terms of atomic energy. So we need to be able to have the right mix of all of the sources that are available. And that would include nuclear. And we need to look at all solutions.”
  Nuclear energy
• “Raw and other materials. What does that have to do with the EU? Well, a lot it seems, but nothing good. Unfortunately, we're not particularly efficient. We rely heavily on industry, but without those materials we have no batteries. And the future will belong to those who have those materials. And what's sad about this is that actually the EU has those materials. It has nickel and other rare earths. All of that exists in Europe. But unfortunately, we import it all, especially from China in particular. According to very strict environmental laws, we cannot extract those raw these rare earths and other raw materials. All of this happens in China in much more unscrupulous ways, with environmental consequences that are much worse. Europe should be sensible and get rid of these permits that take too long to be authorized.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials
• “Thank you very much. Right now we have in Europe 27 bonsai armies. Nice, small but expensive. We, uh, developed in the last decade. Uh, quite nice instruments to boost European defense. But this mechanism are more or less used for the national advantages not to boost the European defense capabilities. So for me, the end goal should be to build a European army. I know it's a long shot. It's unimaginable maybe today. But doing together is definitely better than doing 27 times. You can imagine what would happen with the United States if they would have 50 different militaries, not just one. You can imagine. So my question is, can you confirm that with the current treaty framework that already exists, possibility to form a rapid response European forces.”
  EU competences on defence
• “(15:10:15 – 15:13:15): Yeah. Dear chair, dear rapporteur, dear colleagues, first of all, let me warmly congratulate my colleague, Mr. Salini, for his excellent work on this highly important and politically sensitive file. As a rapporteur for the opinion in the ITRE committee, my position is very much aligned with the overall direction and objectives pursued by Mr. Salini's report in the lead committee. In this regard, I would like to briefly explain the main elements of my ITRE draft opinion and clarify where my contribution slightly differs from the lead committee. First, on the issue of technological neutrality, I strongly believe that decarbonization should remain open to different technological pathways. While the commission proposal introduces references to renewable fuels and low carbon steel, I consider that this recognition should be broadened and strengthened. In particular, I have introduced an additional reference to low carbon energy, recognizing its important role in supporting industrial decarbonization and the broader transition of the automotive value chain. Furthermore, while the commission proposal introduces credits, however, focuses primarily on low carbon steel, I consider that the transition of the automotive industry depends on a much broader ecosystem of materials. For this reason, I expanded the scope to include all relevant low carbon strategic materials, recognizing that materials such as aluminum, plastics, glass, and other energy intensive components also require substantial investment and innovation to decarbonize. Second, in ITRE, I further emphasize the importance of making technological neutrality a practical reality within the regulation and in reaching our climate objectives. Third, I would also like to underline the importance of ensuring realistic implementation conditions. A successful transition will only happen if consumers and business are able to follow it. We have the presentation of my draft opinion in the ITRE committee tomorrow. The deadline for amendments in ITRE is next week on Tuesday, so a few additional amendments will be still tabled also by me, especially regarding the labeling. So, thank you very much for the opportunity.”
  Powertrain choice: EV-only pathway vs. equal support for hybrids, e-fuels, H2
• “Thank you. Chair. Northern Macedonia definitely belongs to the European Union. Speaking with the people, you can clearly see that they are exhausted, waiting for more than 20 years in a waiting room. So that's why I'm quite happy that at least European Union is offering them some, uh, visible, tangible results, which are for example Sepa already mentioned. I hope that they will get as soon as possible. Uh, the access to the data, roaming and so on. Um, North Macedonia is strategically important for the Europe from the various reasons. Uh, security is one of them. Balkan migrant route, uh, went through North Macedonia. So they were very valuable, uh, defending and safeguarding the Europe. Uh, transport corridors are important and so on. So, uh, country is beautiful and diverse at the same time. But to unlock all the potentials they have, they have to turn their diversity into the strength. Uh, political polarization is high. Uh, maybe this year, without the elections, there is a window of opportunity to reduce this polarization, uh, in the country, you have different ethnic groups. You have minorities, and there is still a great room to improve the relations between these groups. Uh, if I touch upon a bit on, uh, reports and I compared the draft report with the last year report, this year is, uh, much shorter. And the general one, I think that, uh, the approach is right, because in the past we saw that, uh, more we go into the details, then we start a strange competition.”
  EU enlargement