Anna STÜRGKH

Policy topics Anna STÜRGKH is active on

What Anna STÜRGKH has said (37)

• 2025-01-24 “E-000318/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission Harmonised standards in support of the Radio Equipment Directive 1 might be used by manufacturers on a voluntary basis for placing on the EU market purposes. They aim to ensure compliance with the products’ legal requirements and to ensure a level playing field for manufacturers, without prejudice to other EU policies on the deployment of a specific infrastructure. With regards to the potential delisting of harmonised standard EN 302 571, the Commission is currently discussing the matter with Member States and stakeholders in the relevant expert group. No decision has been taken yet. As underlined in the Vademecum on European standardisation 2 , harmonised standards are expected to be performance based and technology neutral so to avoid to ‘unfairly discriminate against certain products, services or economic operators, [...]’. The standard EN 303 798 is not listed in support of the Radio Equipment Directive and has not been ever offered by European Telecommunications Standards Institute to the Commission in respect to the mandate M/536. Therefore, it has no legal value as regards the aforementioned Directive. The Commission has not funded the development of the standard EN 303 798. 1 Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC (OJ L 153, 22.5.2014, p. 62–106); ELI:http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/53/oj 2 https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/13509/attachments/1/translations”
  5G
• “Thank you. Mr. President. Commissioner. €111 billion. That's 37,000 wind turbines. That's more than 2 million batteries. That's a new European electricity grid. But instead we're spending €111 billion a year subsidizing fossil fuels. We are throwing money at a technology that was already outdated yesterday. I'm aware that we will not shut down gas turbines or get rid of petrol cars overnight, but that is why we need a plan to, once and for all, transition to an energy system that provides European citizens with clean air, European jobs and lower bills after this shameful show in Belgium. It is time for all EU countries to put action to words. So Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden. Step up your game. We're expecting to see you in Colombia. **Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ @Co-Chair: Thank you. Holmgren is next.”
  Fossil fuels
• “Thank you, president. Let's be clear. Russian gas has always been too expensive. Russia has always used our dependency to threaten us, to pressure us, and to try to bend us to their will. But while it's been expensive for Europe, it is Ukraine that has truly paid the price for our obsession with Russian gas. And dear colleagues from the far right and the far left of this house, you always say you want peace. Well, now is your time to prove it. Because if you're serious about wanting peace, then you have to be serious about cutting off all funding flows to the one man that started it all, Putin. I sure am proud that I get to cast my vote, that we finally end our dependency on Russian gas, and that we take further steps towards a future which in which Europe is powered by clean, cheap and homegrown European energy. Thank you.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Being here and having that conversation with us. Mr.. Mr.. Good. It's good to see you again. The good thing is, when you're late, all the important big questions have been asked. So I can be a bit more specific. So I want to talk to you about CSM 2.0. So the capacity allocation and congestion management, the delegated act that for which the proposal from the commission has gone to the member states. We have heard that something like an establishment of a single market coupling operator has been proposed by the Commission there. So I'd love to hear your opinion on that. What is the Danish presidency's view on that and whether you have further comments on that proposal? And since I have a few seconds left. Um, maybe I'd like to ask you not about content, but leadership. When it comes to the question of phasing out Russian gas, we have seen that particularly Feto has taken on a more opposing position. So what will you do in that leadership position that the presidency is to bring all member States on board on this very important path? Thank you very much.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you very much. Thank you for being here with us today. First of all, I want to say thank you for your presentation. I'm very pleased to have heard so much about electricity infrastructure, about the Grids project. So allow me to also venture out a little bit into that field as you opened it up for us in my remarks. Um, first of all, I want to say that I think we can all agree. And in this room, I don't have to say that necessarily, but the energy infrastructure is not just the base for reaching our climate goals, our competitiveness, etc., but also a really important step towards European sovereignty. And that cannot be underestimated. And I think, um, what's important is while we have a lot of different goals when it comes to the question of replacing gas with hydrogen, when it comes to the electrification, that while those resources that we have are finite, Night that we don't lead, that it doesn't lead to one goal being pitted against the other. Uh, so I guess, um, my question is, since we are talking about the second list, uh, there are, you know, be it rumors, be it worries that we will see a huge increase in hydrogen projects, which, don't get me wrong, are very important. But the slight worry that projects that go towards electrification might therefore lose out a little bit. So maybe if you could give us a little bit of an insight as to what the thinking is there, because, again, being aware of the finite nature of those resources, that's important. However, again, as I said, I do want to thank you for the focus on on grid investments and in interconnectors. This is hugely important. You mentioned the ten reform will be of huge interest to all of us when it comes to the improvement of cross-border infrastructure planning. If I can be cheeky enough to ask you, can we expect there to be more of a European oversight on the planning process. Will you suggest something like that? I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. Thank you very much.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “: We see that a high proportion of women are working part time, not because they want to, but because they don't see any other opportunity because they have childcare obligations. Really, it should be both parents sharing this, but often it falls onto the shoulders of women. We should not accept that women are so often still financially dependent on men that they are at risk of poverty. We need more childcare, but what we need is for men to take up this responsibility. Only when men are when they're expecting a child, when they're asked when they will be taking time off from work, when that becomes the norm, when they take the kid to the doctor's appointment and stay home with them when they're sick. Only when we are there we will be on the way to a society where the gender pay gap will only exist in history books. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “We also need to put a stronger focus on the modernisation and digitalization of the grids, and create a regulatory framework that will make alternative options to physical build out more economically feasible. Even if we manage to ensure that the build out is done as efficiently as possible. It is clear that this comes with a price tag. Estimates show that around €584 billion will be needed in the investment in grids by 2030. So we need to strengthen CFE and make sure that national funds are available and proportionately used for grids. And we need to mobilise private capital. But through strengthening the European supply chain and job market, we can make sure that those investments actually benefit European companies and European workers. But we have to be aware that the increase in interconnection can only be successful if we manage to make sure that the individual actors have mechanisms that make sure that the costs are equally as fairly allocated as the benefits are. So a reform of the cross-border cost allocation and the compensation mechanism is of the utmost importance. It is high time that this Parliament puts forward a position and provides a basis for the Commission to use in preparing the grid package, and I want to use this moment to thank sincerely all the shadow rapporteurs, but particularly also their teams, for all the work that we've put into this over the last few months and this wonderful cooperation we were having together. We are building the energy system of tomorrow, so let's make sure we don't connect it to the grids of yesterday. Thank you very much.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “You probably won't be surprised about this call for a ban. At the same time you're calling out for market led tools. The fact is, however, great swathes of your group are leading the fight against ETS, and those are the market led mechanisms which we already have and which are designed to protect the climate. But in your efforts, you're undermining that the security which these market instruments give to our economy, our businesses, are essential. So how do those two different viewpoints fit together? How can you demonstrate you're for not against ETS?”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “Thank you. President. Let me as an Austrian. Note cooperation with the far right won't help Europe, and everybody should be aware. If you look at your agenda, you want us to have national fortresses. But a world of fortresses, not just in Austria, would be a rather lonely one. You don't just want to take freedom from our citizens. You are stopping our companies to grow beyond their borders. And in patriots, you accuse me. Where I come from, we call them traitors. I think it's worrying that parties talk about Europe and our common Europe. They turn round the next day and shake hands with those working against Europe. And I'm sorry to see that in people in the EPP. Ep. If you build a fortress, you isolate yourself. And if you build a fortress, you are betraying Europe.”
  EU political integration
• “Common market is our strength. So why are we getting in our own way? It should be as easy to do business in Germany or Sweden, or to bring a product onto the market in Poland, and then to sell it in Spain. We need to get away, get rid of these barriers. They need to belong to the past. And as it is for products, this also needs to be for people as well. You can't study in Austria then not be able to work in France. There are only seven professional qualifications recognised across Europe. We need to have a single market for people, for services, for goods. It needs to. Be a basis for our well-being, for prosperity, for opportunities. We need to finally create what we've been promising for a long time in Europe.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “The second thing we wanted to look at, and this is where it becomes maybe a bit more interesting and newer, is looking at the regulatory framework. Now here we also look at various aspects. What I want to mention here is the revision of ten E where we want again a better acknowledgement of the fact that these OES play such a crucial role In us actually achieving our European goals that we ourselves have set ourselves and to better, uh, to better really achieve those goals, particularly when it comes to cross border infrastructure. We particularly want to look at the planning process and making sure that the identified needs are actually met with corresponding projects. Now, this is true for the European level, but we also see that there is a need for harmonisation with regards to the methodology and scenarios used on a national level when it comes to grid planning. Another important aspect that to us is crucial is getting rid of the first come, first serve principle. When it comes to connections, this is something that we see hampering and harming again, the achievement of our goals, which are not only important because they are goals, but because we know that they will lead to lower energy prices and a greener energy mix. Last but not least, with regards to regulatory, we also want to look at the permitting as and we talked about this this morning.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you. President. Dear Commissioner. We are facing an incredible opportunity. We have the opportunity to use, um, son from Spain to turn on the lights in Austria for wind to from across the continent to power our homes, affordable electricity for everybody. And, Commissioner, I have to thank you. With this grids package, you have taken a very important step in this direction of pooling energy sources across Europe. But I am a little bit bothered by one thing. No sooner do you say European than some member states have a sort of nationalistic, knee jerk reaction and then turn against this European grid. But precisely, it's this national patchwork that is weakening Europe and making our energy expensive and precisely having an internal electricity market that can help us reduce costs and increase efficiency. So we have to rise to our responsibilities. We have to seize this opportunity for all Europeans and for the sake of their electricity bills. Thank you.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you. Six years. That's how long NASA took to plan and program everything. And then it was able to send people to space. Officials worked for six years And what did we manage? We built 60km of cabling for electricity networks. Well, obviously those energy networks are very important, don't get me wrong. They help us to transfer surplus wind power from west to east. They connect the east and west of Europe. And precisely because they're so important, these types of projects shouldn't be lumbered by unnecessary endless procedures and laws. We need to have do away with duplication, really tap into the opportunities of AI and new technologies, and prove to everyone that we can do better. Because there's one thing we all agree on when it comes to procedures for permitting. That's not rocket science..”
  EU policy on permitting for renewable energy projects
• “: We see that a high proportion of women are working part time, not because they want to, but because they don't see any other opportunity because they have childcare obligations. Really, it should be both parents sharing this, but often it falls onto the shoulders of women. We should not accept that women are so often still financially dependent on men that they are at risk of poverty. We need more childcare, but what we need is for men to take up this responsibility. Only when men are when they're expecting a child, when they're asked when they will be taking time off from work, when that becomes the norm, when they take the kid to the doctor's appointment and stay home with them when they're sick. Only when we are there we will be on the way to a society where the gender pay gap will only exist in history books. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. Today, energy supply is our Achilles heel. We have to. Shiver if we're blackmailed by Trump or Putin doesn't send us gas, or Iran doesn't send US oil tankers. So it's up to us to deal with this Achilles heel and make it our superpower dependence on fossil fuels to to make it freedom and to have true European grids and innovation. We must translate talk into. Acts because nothing. What we're talking about here is new. Our access can be new. It can be European if in Parliament we do the right thing. But if the national governments, above all governments and parliaments, make the right decisions and use the transition. If we have all Europeans on board towards a European Energy Union, then our energy supply will become our superpower. Thank you.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. Minister. Imagine an AI factory in the middle of old Vienna for new ideas, for new solutions and an A factory. In 2025 it did open and that, thanks to the EU and half of the costs came from the European Union and the other half came from the Austrian government. In July 2025, the project began and still today, the legal framework as far as where the money was going to come from and how in Austria that is still being discussed. So the infrastructure, the necessary legislative funding issue continues to be an issue. So what we see is we there is a lot of insecurity in these joint funding projects at the time has come that we try to find solutions that we can focus on tomorrow and not get stuck down in some sort of quagmire of a system that exists today. We want security and we want to strengthen excellence in research and not in overcoming bureaucracy. We ought not to waste our time there. Thank you.”
  EU research funding
• “Thank you so much. I'd like to take us back to governance and planning questions more specifically scenario building. So in the Chennai proposal now the commission is mandated to establish the central scenario in consultation with the Nsos and the Chennai group. However, there still seems to be some concern from TSOs about their role in that scenario. Drafting with a particular worry that technical realities and the knowledge and the expertise of the TSOs on the ground will not be taken into account to the same extent as it is now. Could you maybe say a bit more about that, and can you explain a bit more also practically, how the Commission intends to conduct the process and how the expertise of the Nsos and the TSOs will still be used in the scenario making of the Commission. Thank you.”
  EU policy on permitting for renewable energy projects
• “Again, we are promised by the Commission net neutrality, which is all well and good, but we can't promise that on the one hand. And on the other hand, you know, puts obstacles in people's way. And what we want is to get big tech to pay up. But we've got European companies, in fact, are the big tech as well. That could be useful in making sure that we do have neutrality. And and what is worrying more than that is the competitiveness in Europe. Net neutrality in English is not narrowly important for us, as they say, because we're big enough to get the deals we want. So net neutrality must continue to prevail and mustn't sneak in through the back door.”
  Senders-pay
• “Well, I think this is a continent of freedom. Borderless. But what happens if a European has an idea now for a product or a service to make our life easier? Now, when you want to try and implement the idea and set up a startup, Then you run into the first problems. Have you got the the right requirements? Have you got the right stamp? Have you got it on the right paper? Have you provided all of this? And you've set up your company in Austria. And then you want to start off in the Netherlands as well. Good idea. But maybe you're not going to do it very quickly. So why don't you start a company there as well? Now talking about borderless Europe, it can't just stop with start ups. We are continent of ideas and, uh, we are able to become a continent of implementation with a click to become a European company in a few seconds, to have access to 450 million consumers with one single law. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. Minister. Five seconds was all it took for the Spanish and Portuguese electricity networks to fail. But it only took another five seconds for everybody to start speculating about what happened. We've seen this now being used by populists and ideological arguments against the energy transition. Apparently the energy transition is at fault. Well, the ambitions haven't yet been fully achieved. But we do have a grid, which is not something that is ready to deal with modern day realities. What we have seen is that the energy transition can only work if we don't just use renewables, but use them together with storage and extended grids. I think it's particularly interesting to hear that apparently the Energy Union has failed, that it's the interconnectors, which are the problem, but actually the opposite is true. France was able to help because there were a couple interconnectors. So the fact is we need to invest in our grid, we need strategic planning, we need more interconnectors, and we need a genuine European network based on fair financing, so that it's not households and transit countries that suffer energy transition needs a grid that is ready for the challenges.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “It is slowing our process down. Thirdly, how could we not look at it. The question of financing now €584 billion needs for investment in electricity grids here. We wanted to stress the importance both of CEF funding, but also on a better use of the EU funds that are managed by the member states themselves. And we also want to initiate a new funding instrument when it comes to anticipatory investments here. There has been a lot of work done already, but we see that there are still shortcomings that we need to look at. Network tariffs is also a very important aspect, especially for consumers. So this is something where we want to focus on the flexibility and making better use of that. And fourth, another aspect we want to look at is digitalisation And the use of non wire grid expansion. I think this is very important. Now we already have a few amendments drafted. I know there's some others circulating. I've seen a lot of very good initiatives. We're very much looking forward to this. And maybe just if you allow me five more seconds to thank my team and Lars in particular, who have been incredible in working on this, but also thanking all my shadow rapporteurs who even up to now have been very great to work with and have already put in some incredible ideas. So I'm very looking forward to the end result that I hope we'll see in this committee in June. Thank you very much.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “: We see that a high proportion of women are working part time, not because they want to, but because they don't see any other opportunity because they have childcare obligations. Really, it should be both parents sharing this, but often it falls onto the shoulders of women. We should not accept that women are so often still financially dependent on men that they are at risk of poverty. We need more childcare, but what we need is for men to take up this responsibility. Only when men are when they're expecting a child, when they're asked when they will be taking time off from work, when that becomes the norm, when they take the kid to the doctor's appointment and stay home with them when they're sick. Only when we are there we will be on the way to a society where the gender pay gap will only exist in history books. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Before I start, I'd actually like to thank the coordinators for choosing this topic, but also for the title that we were given. Because grids is the backbone of our energy system. I think this already shows the importance very well. And this is also an importance and relevance that we have heard and come across in every single one of our meetings with stakeholders, but also with the colleagues here in this room. So I want to thank again for choosing such a timely report. Now, a lot about what we are saying is a lot about implementing the already available tools, and a lot has been done here and here. A great thanks to the colleagues from last mandate and to the Commission, who have already put in a lot of work when it comes to market design, revision, etc. so there is a lot that can already be implemented. However, we also have some suggestions of course for added or maybe some some new aspects. So in the report we wanted to cover four main aspects. Firstly, we wanted to show and give a better understanding as to why grids are the backbone, why they are so important. And I don't think I have to explain this to this room, so I'll leave it at just looking at the fact that it's not only transmission grids that are important on a European level, but increasingly so also distribution grids. If we only look at the fact that around 70% of renewable generation will be connected to the DSO level, this already shows what an important aspect it is for our European level.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you, president, and I do want to thank you for taking all the blue cards and thereby allowing a real debate in this chamber. Iphone has every iPhone carries with it a little bit of Trump. And that's the same for our kids iPhones. When they look at Instagram, their private life goes out across the Atlantic, right into the hands of tech autocrats and those who don't respect our values or our laws. But Google isn't governing Europe. Tiktok isn't bringing our kids up, and Elon Musk is not ruling our freedom of expression. We need to recover our control and defend our interests. Any business wanting to make profits in Europe should stick to our rules. So we are clear. Our data, our laws.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• “And the second question, um, is what is the particularly the commission's opinion on. We just heard as well the the innate problem that we have in the European Union of having 24 official languages, and we won't be able to get rid of those very quickly. And when I look at those little tags, the photo, the image we saw of this stuffed animal, I know that very well from the small toys I buy for my kid. And then the label is bigger than the toy. But at the same time, most of that is the translations. So what is the Commission's idea? Or what is the Commission's proposal with regards to that? Because yes, digital would be one possibility, but surely it's not the possibility or the solution. So maybe if you could give some information on that. Thank you.”
  Radio equipment (common charger)
• “Mr.. Commissioner. First, I want to thank colleague de Mayo for the very good cooperation on this very important report. Now, speaking as a citizen, as a customer, when I go into a shop, I expect at least three things. I expect the products that I buy to be safe. I expect them to be what I chose. And I expect that if something is wrong, I can go and complain. So why should this be different when I shop online? But far too often we see that when we buy online, the products that we choose are not what they promise to be once they arrive at our doors, especially when they come from third countries and especially when they come from China. Far too often they even turn out to be dangerous. When we look at toys that are include harmful chemicals. When we talk about exploding chargers or cosmetics that lack any sort of labeling. And if you want to complain about that, then there is no one to turn to. This cannot hold when someone wants to sell in the EU. They need to adhere to European law. And we have to make sure that these laws that we create are airtight and cannot be circumvented as they are right now. We have already got great instruments, as we have heard with the DMA, the DSA. We need to implement them. But yes, there's also still some holes that we need to fill. But I am sure and I am certain that this House, together with the Commission, will do so in the next few months. Thank you very much.”
  Liability for online marketplaces
• “Thank you, Commissioner, and thank you, colleagues, for this debate. Now, I heard that the far right in this House is quite worried. So let me address some of those worries. Now, you you seem to be quite shocked by the numbers of the investment needed. 584 billion by 2030. Yes, that is a lot of money. But let me put it in perspective. 1.8 trillion by 2030 is what we will spend on fossil fuel imports if we don't change our system. And you as patriots, as nationalists, you must be pleased to hear that we can invest in a grid with only 584 billion. Keeping that money in Europe instead of sending 1.8 trillion in the same time to other countries, keeping it in Europe, benefiting European companies, benefiting European workers. I also heard the worry that we need to make sure that interconnections really serve the member states. Now, I'm pleased that this shows support for our report because let me quote, we are asking for binding interconnections based on a needs assessment to make sure that we build interconnectors that are needed and not just thought of. Now, I also heard a lot of worry about the energy mix, about nuclear being demonized. Well, I've read this report a couple of times, and let me assure you, nowhere in this report is there a demonization of nuclear? Rather, there is even a mention of the prerogative of nation states to choose their own energy mix. And let me be very clear. When colleague Nafo is saying you don't want nuclear. Well, yes, in my country, for example, we don't want nuclear. But again, isn't that great? It's our prerogative to choose our own energy mix. I also heard worried about fishers suffering from offshore wind. However, we see that they are actually thriving in offshore farms. So let me thank you again for this debate. I hope I, I lifted some of those worries, and I'm really looking forward not only to the vote tomorrow, but to working with all of you on the implementation and with you, Commissioner, and the rest of the Commission on getting this forward. Thank you so very much for this debate.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Mr. president, thank you, Vice President. We have a vision, a clean future where we're not dependent on oil and gas autocrats, where we drive progress and we shape innovation. But in order to achieve that vision, we need to do the basic work. And that includes steel and new industries like AI, sustainable housing, a European rail network, green technology. We can only achieve all of that if our energy intensive industries are on a sustainable footing and these industries are ready, they are investing in the electrification of their processes, but they're only sustainable if the electrification is clean and if there is availability of infrastructure. So in the coming years, we will have to invest in the energy transition that includes storage, but it also includes investing in the grid. Today is a good day. This might seem a bad day for us. You know Trump is calling it the Freedom Day. But this represents an opportunity for us. Trump and his frat boys are signing decrees left, right and center. But they are driving out renewable investment in the US and it will come to us. So let's open our arms and embrace this sustainable investment. Let's truly invest in the energy transition. We have a common vision, a shared vision, and we want this to become reality. Thank you very much.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you very much. This debate is of utmost importance because when we talk about grid expansion and grid modernization, it's just as important that we look at the value chain. Because it's through that that we can make sure that people don't just profit from cheaper energy sources, from more capacity in the grid, but that they can actually profit from the value added if we manage to have it stay in Europe. That's why I want to focus on three specific aspects, and it won't surprise you that I can only agree with the colleagues Kelly and Tobac here. First, we do need a better planning process, as said by colleague Kelly, but it also needs to be as transparent as possible so that we can make sure that the companies, the manufacturers, have a planning possibility themselves so they can plan for their production capacities. We also, and that's another point, need to streamline our tendering processes. Due to the reasons mentioned by colleague Tobac, we need to allow for long-term framework agreements to make sure again that European manufacturers can ramp up their production and lower the costs, not just for themselves but for everyone. But something I'd like to add to what the colleagues have said is the question of skills because we have to make sure that the skills that are needed for the grid expansion, for the grid build-out, for the modernization, for the innovation, actually is provided in Europe. So we suggested a targeted EU skills academy and I think this is something that will be desperately needed in the future to make sure that the skills that will be needed are also provided in the EU. We have to be aware that this is not just an economic question but a security question because our critical infrastructure needs to be based on European technology. This is particularly true now that we are ramping up the digitalization of the system. Let's be clear, we have European champions in the value chain for the grid expansion, but we have to make sure that these companies find an environment in which they can thrive and expand rather than being bullied out of the market by sometimes unfair competition from the East. Thank you very much. **Giorgio GORI @Chair (Italy, S&D): Thank you. Now from the Left, Dario Tamburran.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Sorry, Anna. I'm sorry, but I simply can't let that be the last. The last mention or the last words from an MEP spoken in this debate. So I had to say something. And don't worry. We're just as shocked as you. So let me just ask. I mean, we spoke now a lot about the importance of NATO, the importance of having that balance as well between EU and NATO and working together. Now, coming from Austria, one of the last few member states that isn't a member of NATO. How do you see that potentially as a problem as well going forward, that we still have some member states who aren't part of NATO? And how can we make sure that we do work together closely and we don't build up parallel structures, but that we have a strong EU force and a strong EU defence together. I'd just be interested to hear your opinion on that. Thank you very much.”
  Relations with NATO
• “Thank you very much. Thank you, Director General, for being here. And as you've mentioned, I think there's a lot of projects on the way. And secret talked about this as well. I think we all are in dire need of action. I want to focus on one aspect, maybe the grid package. And you mentioned it yourself and it was mentioned by other colleagues. One important aspect in the whole question of getting the energy transition going is the cross-border aspect. And we all know that the identified needs aren't met with the projects that we need. So I'd like to ask you on two aspects. One, on the planning aspect where we already see that even in the 1010 year development programs, the needs aren't addressed appropriately. So can you or would you consider giving Acer a more important role in the planning to make sure that these needs are actually met? And then in terms of, uh, um, financing as well, we see that there. The current instruments for cross border cost allocation aren't enough or aren't sufficiently working. So do you have an idea of what the commission is is planning to do there to address this issue? Thank you very much.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you very much for giving me the floor on behalf of Andy, who unfortunately couldn't be here with us today. So let me give you his words. Thank you to the rapporteur for the work done so far on this proposal. This is a strong and timely initiative, especially considering the current geopolitical context. Strengthening EU strategic autonomy in this area is essential. I would like to highlight three points from my side strategic projects. The concept is crucial, but in some parts of the text it remains too vague. We will need to refine and maybe expand this further. It is equally important that public authorities provide SMEs with the necessary tools and support to fully participate in these projects. Second, regulatory and administrative support. Member states should establish a single contact point to provide manufacturers with clear information and tailored support, while simplifying procedures and reducing barriers to innovation and investment. Third international partnerships. Given today's global challenges and rising geopolitical tensions, it is more important than ever for the EU to strengthen supply chain resilience through pragmatic collaboration with trusted partners. I look forward to our work together on this file and hope for a good outcome. Thank you.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials
• “Russian gas was the most expensive that we ever bought. That's what we have heard from Stone. We were being told that we were benefiting from cheap Russian gas. And only one person benefited from that, and that was Putin. The truth is that this Russian gas has been the most expensive we've ever bought. Russian gas has cost us billions and it has gone directly from our pockets to Putin. And it has also cost us our independence. And Ukraine, well, our Are. Russian gas is the most costly for it. It's costing it human lives. Today a kindergarten was bombed in Ukraine and it was done with drones funded by the EU. We need to once and for all, stop using this gas. We need to break away from it. And we need to be sure that we are never, ever dependent on warmongering Putin again.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. Today, energy supply is our Achilles heel. We have to. Shiver if we're blackmailed by Trump or Putin doesn't send us gas, or Iran doesn't send US oil tankers. So it's up to us to deal with this Achilles heel and make it our superpower dependence on fossil fuels to to make it freedom and to have true European grids and innovation. We must translate talk into. Acts because nothing. What we're talking about here is new. Our access can be new. It can be European if in Parliament we do the right thing. But if the national governments, above all governments and parliaments, make the right decisions and use the transition. If we have all Europeans on board towards a European Energy Union, then our energy supply will become our superpower. Thank you.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. €500 billion for fossil fuels every single year flows out of the European Union and three years after the attack from Russia on Ukraine. We're still getting gas from Russia, which is why the clean deal is so important. The idea of a complete energy shift of a resilient and sustainable energy system is not just a matter of climate change energy policy, it's also security policy. We should no longer be dependent on autocrats or even people who'd like to be autocrats. A successful energy shift with a modern cross-border electricity grid ensures our independence. Where Croatia can benefit from North Sea wind energy, and the Baltic countries can benefit from Spanish solar energy. That is a guarantee for our security.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you. Commissioner. Just one year ago, I started my days just like everyone else, unplugging my phone, boiling my kettle for my tea and starting my computer to check my mails. Never really thinking about how the electricity that was powering my day actually got into my home. I just took it for granted. Well, over the past year, I've spent my time learning everything I could about our electricity system, how our grids actually really work, remembering the difference between volts and watts and amber and Hertz, and realizing how simple yet complex electricity actually is. And it has been an absolute pleasure. Now my days still start the same. Unplugging my phone, boiling my kettle, starting my computer. But now all these processes feel a little bit more special, knowing what it really takes to keep the power flowing. Now I take these ordinary routines for what they are daily reminders that our electricity grids are, in fact, the backbone of the EU energy system. The reasons for the need to modernize and expand our electricity grids are pretty straightforward. The ongoing electrification of our industry, our heating, our mobility is putting pressure on the existing systems. The intent to make sure that this electrification is sustained by clean energy sources, and the fact that soon about 70% of renewables will be connected directly to the distribution grid, demands our existing grid to adapt. But even without these developments, there is need for action. Considering that around 40% of distribution grids are now over 40 years old. Having established why we need to do something, let's look at what we actually need to do. With high investments at stake and a clean energy union to win, we need to make sure that this grid buildout is done as efficiently as possible. That means strengthening the planning process to make sure that it is robust and integrated, combining the bottom up knowledge and responsibility of the system operators, with a stronger role for Acer to make sure that the European grid becomes increasingly interconnected.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you very much. Uh, just a quick follow up question, really, to what you just said. Um, at the end where you mentioned the wallet, which we're all very excited about, to put it out there, I think it's a very important project that the commission is doing. However, you just mentioned yourself that it is important for the European Commission, for the Parliament as well, that individuals have full power over their data there, and there is no way of them being surveyed now, as far as I can tell. A lot of member states will build on digital identities that they've already established, and projects and programs that are already in place now and will build on them, rather than creating completely new ones, which is also economically quite the smart thing to do. However, I know there are examples of member states where, for example, every single login can be tracked by the ministries. Now to me that is at least a threat of surveillance, if not at least some form of being able to monitor what your citizens are doing with those wallets. So how can the EU actually make sure that these wallets and the use of them will not lead to any form of a what we like to call a glass or glass citizen. Instead, really support and save their data. Thank you very much.”
  Electronic identity