Niels GEUKING

Policy topics Niels GEUKING is active on

What Niels GEUKING has said (15)

• 2025-10-12 “E-003998/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) supports Member States with the implementation of the European Child Guarantee (ECG) 1 . The Commission is sending directly to the Honourable Member an annexed table containing indicative amounts for measures programmed under Secondary Theme 06 related to investments addressing child poverty 2 . The ESF+ is implemented under shared management, and Member States are responsible for the selection of individual operations 3 . It is also the responsibility of national and regional authorities to publish lists of operations supported 4 . As regards monitoring data on requests and payments for the ECG, the Common Monitoring Framework introduced in 2024, as set out in paragraph 12 of the ECG Recommendation, is a crucial tool for tracking progress and ensuring accountability in implementing the Child Guarantee. The data feeds into biennial national and Commission reports. The Framework was last updated in June 2025 by the Social Protection Committee to include new indicators on the gaps identified in the areas of access to education, healthcare and healthy nutrition 5 . 1 Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1004 of 14 June 2021 establishing a European Child Guarantee, OJ L 223, 22.6.2021, p. 14, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2021/1004/oj. 2 These amounts are indicative as secondary themes reflect estimates planned by the Managing Authorities rather than actual budgeted amounts. 3 Article 73(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, pp. 159–706, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj. 4 https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en/in-your-country. 5 https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-framework-monitoring-implementation-europeanchild-guarantee-has-been-updated-2025-06-02_en.”
  EU expenditure on social policy · Child poverty policy
• “Yeah. Vielen dank. I speak in German, so may I please use your headphones? Um. The Clearly, you're playing a very strategic and political role here. I think it's very good that we look at what could be done better. So you talked about, uh, the procedure for the EIB, uh, that previously this procedure lasted too long. So how much could we shorten this procedure? So, uh, if somebody wants to invest, uh, I mean, we've seen the difference, for example, between a European procedure and a Chinese procedure. So before the Europeans have even got an answer to the email, the Chinese already have an office set up and it goes. Uh, so, uh, far, um. Uh, that, uh, you know, the Chinese are extremely aggressive in their procedures as things we can't really compete with. But how much do you think we could, uh, speed up the procedure and become more competitive vis a vis Chinese actors and also the guarantees? Uh, you mentioned, uh. Is this, uh, within the framework of global Europe? Is it, uh, something that will go on your balance sheet? How will that technically work? And then finally. Uh, could there be some type of development, uh, loan with European, uh, guarantees lenders to help, uh, get, uh, director investment through private companies to these development projects that could perhaps help motivate, uh, people. Do you think, uh, there's an approach that could, uh, be, uh, taken here, uh, to mobilize, uh, funds, uh, in this way? I mean, there is certain European funds that could be made available. Thank you.”
  Global priorities for international development
• “Yeah, I speak German. Thank you. Commission. Well, uh, despite all efforts, we're still facing this basic problem in ample subsidiarity. How can the Commission ensure that the child guarantee and the youth Guarantee really is implemented in all member states, despite national competence? What instruments or incentives are you planning to make member states more responsible without undermining competence? We often discuss the financing of these guarantees, but the actual success is difficult to measure. How can the Commission ensure that we produce true added value for young people and families, and not just shift national costs?”
  EU competences on social policies
• “So I speak German, so please use your headphones. Thank you very much, chair, for giving me the possibility to speak on behalf of the Development Committee. Now, we welcome the Commission's approach to simplify things, to focus more on performance. If we have a clearer, more coherent framework, that is, of course, an improvement. Of course, a number of weaknesses were mentioned today in terms of weaknesses of the indicators. It's not about how many projects are implemented, but the actual difference it makes to people's lives on the ground. What's difficult for us is that there are not specific intervention fields. So what's difficult for us? We don't have development intervention fields. Uh, specifically, uh, we have perhaps, uh, groups of people in third countries. Um, so we would see things from a slightly different perspective. It's important that development cooperation can happen in quite difficult contexts. And so reporting and monitoring can be more difficult. We don't think there should be disproportionate administrative burden for our partners, particularly in cases where we have USA who have withdrawn from providing aid in these areas because we want to help with investment, job creation, regional, uh, added value and wealth creation rather than just burdening people with paperwork. There's also the issue of food security in developing countries.”
  Global priorities for international development
• “Thank you, Madam Vice President. 20 million children 93 million people in the EU are directly affected by poverty. 1 in 5 children will carry the burden a lifetime long of a childhood in poverty. As a family party politician, I say this is disgraceful for Europe. If we don't get to work to addressing this sorry state of affairs. I've thought for a long time about this report, as has my group. A big problem for us is, as ever, the question of subsidiarity and wondering how effective European solutions will be in regions with their peculiarities. But then how much subsidiarity do we need when families are going to the wall? When 1 in 3 single parents cannot afford to give their child a healthy diet, when the minimum income is not sufficient for many families to be lifted over the poverty line. Unfortunately, social policy is often weaponized in this house. But what we need is genuine monitoring that can show us what policies work and where do we need to improve things. Until the Commission can prove to us that European social policy really works, we won't be able to create a social Europe. We should bear in mind that child poverty costs us more than $150 billion per year through higher social benefits and health care costs and so on. So the earlier we invest in families, the more we'll save later on. So this should not be an excuse for a failure to act. We need to take action on behalf of these children.”
  Child poverty policy
• “So please use your headphones. Thank you. Thank you. Chair. Commissioner, I would like to talk about a future problem. That is the performance regulation which threatens to reduce everything to outputs. I'd like to warn about three risks. First in compatibility where it belongs. So that's a development in the cohesion funds. Second, the output priority prioritization. Moves the focus away from innovation, which is where we need it. And thirdly, the parliamentary power is weakened through the when through the approach to delegated acts. So how are you ensuring that in crisis management IT Milestones will still be in place for key projects. Relating to integrated tool fragility. And another point which you referred to what priorities will the Commission be setting for crises in the future? Given the limited resources and how are you ensuring that these decisions are not politicised? Thank you.”
  Conditions to access EU budget
• “(15:35:22 – 15:37:26): you, chair colleagues. Firstly, I'd like to thank the reporters, Mr. Petrov, for this excellent report. It's a good foundation for our work. It shows that despite any progress since 2020, the economy is a structural problem for the for the EU. The report shows that there were clear challenges related to the quality offer available for young people. We're not just talking about problems of resources, but also about the problems with implementation. Our amendments are designed to tackle these challenges. The youth community cannot function as an isolated village. Its success is based largely on policies in other areas, such family and education policies, housing, childcare, and the broader infrastructure. Young people cannot be helped, with just 1 instrument. Member states need to look up to where the needs are. We need to build on the synergies we have and target young people and parents. We're not talking about dreams. We're talking about concrete measures. Just as importantly, we need robust control mechanisms. Whenever public funds are used for the youth guarantee, we have to ensure that the follow-up measures are there. We're not just talking about increasing bureaucracy, but we want to ensure that, young people are not excluded from society and that the money goes to those who really need it. Colleagues, the youth guarantee is a central pillar of work in the EU. So let's ensure it doesn't remain words on a page, but actually is translated into action. Looking forward to working, together with my colleagues. The work has been very, constructive, so far. So thank you very much indeed.”
  Youth employment & training
• “Yes. It was a very revealing trip to the Congo. Mr. Andrews did an excellent job at chairing it. We had an excellent programme as well. And the security situation was what it was, though, so it wasn't really possible to move around independently outside the hotel. But, uh, that was the situation. I mean, I think, uh, what was important is that the trip took place at all, given everything that's happened is an important, uh, region for Congo's economic development over the next years and decades. So it's good to visit that. A bit of background with regard to what I'm going to say. I mean, we visited businesses, etc. and sometimes I didn't go with the group and I went to talk to the workers, and what I wanted to do was really talk to them, because there were two of us from the EPP, one who followed the agenda, and I tried to talk to ordinary people and see what they thought. And, uh, there was a lot of agreement, but not always. Wages, uh, were perhaps sometimes different to what we heard from the management, uh, working conditions as well. The working hours were far longer than we were told officially. But I suppose that's the kind of thing that happens in that kind of country.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)
• “Being half hearted about it really won't work. And then in other discussions, also when we talked to, uh, elected representatives or politicians, uh, well, we need to ensure how we can improve things. I mean, you've got the M23 militia, we held discussions there, and there are also discussions about Rwanda. Rwanda. I mean, we invest a lot in Rwanda. The German government invests a lot in Rwanda as well. And we have to recognize that countries like Rwanda have the possibility to invest in weapons and the military, if we're investing in civilian projects so they can shift their funding. I mean, there are tensions there. Everyone's got their own interests. But I think we need to really look at how we can fund things differently, how we can go about things differently, uh, particularly with regard to countries like Rwanda. But otherwise, it really was an excellent trip. We got a lot of insight Into the situation on the ground. And, uh. I would say, uh, wealth creation in situ is the important thing because, uh, we need to ensure that wealth can be created so that, uh, things can improve in poor countries like Congo. Thank you.”
  EU development aid (migration conditionality)
• “Another thing that was interesting was the hierarchical structure. There was a German in one of the businesses that, uh, we visited. He was earning $10,000 a month. He pretty much led the business, but other people were earning $100 a month. And so that's a massive gap. I mean, I think people really would need $150 a month to be able to. Live appropriately. I mean, things aren't actually that cheap there. So that was pretty shocking. But, uh, I think, uh, the, uh, economic wealth creation in the region is key, really, to improve living conditions and the social situation. I also spoke to the founder of Grow Congo. That's the business. The Belgian business guarantees don't really work. They say that Congo is a high risk country and therefore guarantees can only last for a year. German guarantees last between 4 and 5 years. So that's better. Something you can work with. But then they talked about the Chinese as well. So for example, if something happens then Chinese if there's a problem, the Chinese turn up the next day in his office and then solve the problem immediately. They make a few phone calls, and then they ask whether there are any other problems that can be dealt with. Uh, so the Chinese seem to be better at resolving problems.”
  Global priorities for international development
• “Our European family contract would help improve all of these things. We would be dealing with inequality. We would strengthen families as a natural foundation of society and would also adapt to demographic change. And it would also allow parents from day one to gain access to the labour market. Now the European Commission has promised less red tape, more efficiency and better legislation. But this and this would be an excellent opportunity to hear this family contract. It would ensure, um, um, care for children. It would also ensure guaranteed holidays for parents. This family contract is absolutely essential because what's happening and the demographic change that we're experiencing is having a huge impact on our family model. You've heard enough from me today, so now I would like to give the floor to all of our experts. You'll be hearing from, um, David Harris, for example. They'll be able to go into much more detail on these issues. Europe is not just about figures. It's about children, families and people. This is why the European family contract is the response to the challenges that we face in our time. It would be a pledge to our families that we support them, and that we support their children, that we would provide the structures for them so that they are were able to bring their children up properly, that children would be able to grow up healthily as well. So that's the contribution we would like to make with this contract. Thank you.”
  EU competences on demographic policy
• “It doesn't say what we're actually implementing in the field. It only talks about measuring the input of the money, but not the output in terms of equality. It looks good on paper, but at the end of the day, nothing really changes in reality. It can even be damaging in a conservative Context, local partners can be placed in danger and access to communities become more difficult. This is an argument that we have found with our UN experience. A horizontal target is a top down approach. It doesn't really fit in with our efforts to have partnerships at eye level. It also undermines self-determination of our partners. We track gender equality but still via project reporting that will remain the case. Equality is too important to be left by the wayside, so let's have a good score in reality, not just on paper. Cooperation with my colleagues is something I'm looking forward forward to. We've already had talks. My office is open at any time. So let us support greater transparency together and the results and effectiveness. We need a system which reflects reality and involves our partners. If we want performance to be taken seriously, then we have to measure what really has an impact.”
  EU development policy (gender conditionality)
• “Thank you. Vice President. Commissioner, as a member of the Employment Committee and as rapporteur on DV on the I just like to say that economic help is provided through employment. I think we have seen the fragility of systems that are not self-supporting leaving the margins many given the increasing state debt in the years to come, situation is not going to be improved. I think this shows that we have to focus on stable economies if we want to sort of rescue as many as we can. Otherwise, I think we will see many jobs being destroyed. We need to, to ensure long lasting stability in. And that, I think, is in our long term interest in Europe. Growth is not restricted to the internal market. New markets are key for an equality stroker. Europe development policy is a part of economic policy for both concerned. We need to be autonomous. The gaps opened up by the Americans have to be seized as an opportunity. Let's do that on D.”
  EU competences on social policies
• “Yeah, thanks. I speak in German, so please use your headphones. Ladies and gentlemen, Madam chair. Experts, why are we here today? Well, to put it politely, we all. You all are not doing doing it enough. Because the demographic issue that we're facing is of our own making. We are all having too few children. Far too few. That's why we're here. The demographic issue is not an abstract issue. No. It has huge economic consequences, especially because of our social security system, far fewer contributions. This means that fewer benefits can be given in Germany. €150 billion in grants are needed in order to be able to keep the healthcare systems running. That's three quarters of the EU budget, and we need this money for infrastructure and defence. For example, for decades now we have seen a failure in family policy. Children on our continent have become a risk for poverty. The life is made more difficult for families and not made more easily, made easier. And this is an existential issue and we can feel the effects on the labour market. There are huge shortages of workers in all sectors, in the care industry, in the restaurant sector, for example, we are seeing a lack of prosperity for the future. This is why we need a resolute European answer. Our recommendation to the commission, the member States, is to create a proposal for a European family contract. This would be. This would complement the child guarantee. We need a European demographic strategy to be able to deal with the social issues on the labour market. And when it comes to Social Security, we need to take responsibility, responsibility for the future of our families and children and also the stability of our social security systems.”
  EU competences on demographic policy
• “Thank you very much, Madam Chair. For me, it's clear we need to make housing affordable for everybody. The situation in the housing market is dividing our society. We have never seen such division as we have on the housing market, and so many people are spending half of their salaries on housing. This is simply unacceptable. We do, um, we do look forward to the results of the Affordable plan, the affordable housing plan, but we need to see results. We also need to see what important effects this can have on demography. We need to reduce red tape. We need to see more affordability. We need to have realistic construction standards. We need, need, need to be responsible when it comes to the environment. They also must be affordable. And we also need to strengthen our local authorities so that they are able to invest in their local housing markets. What's decisive now is how Europe can have a positive effect and together with together also make member States more responsible for the issue. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy