Nela RIEHL

Policy topics Nela RIEHL is active on

What Nela RIEHL has said (36)

• “Thank you very much indeed. I think to recap, um, repeat something that Emma said, and that is that we in Parliament and Commission need to work together to make sure that a well functioning programme remains and indeed improves. So thank you very much indeed for all of that. That concludes that agenda item. We move now on to our interim report on the serve programme for 2021 to 2027, and looking in particular at citizens engagement and participation, for which the committee has competency. As you will all be aware, the Commission's proposal for the 2028 to 2034 MFA does not feature serve as a standalone programme. Nevertheless, its objectives, especially when it comes to citizens engagement and participation in democratic life, absolutely need to be reflected in the next programming period, regardless of the tools selected to achieve these goals. Therefore, it is important to learn lessons from our experience so far and discuss what can be improved in the ongoing survey programme. So, without further delay, I would like to give the floor to the representative of the Commission from DJ Just Mr. Pettinelli to present the report to us. And then again, we'll have a question and answer session with members of the committee. You have the floor for 15 minutes.”
  EU engagement with citizens
• “Thank you very much chair. The commissioner, the vice president, member states have committed to invest 5% of their GDP in defence and security by 2035, including through the national escape clause. So I have three questions on this. First, within the European Semester, how will the Commission ensure that this does not come at the expense of social investment? Secondly, how will you ensure that security related spending also strengthens social resilience such as protection skills, civic education, also democratic trust? And thirdly, how will these social and civilian benefits be probably properly reflected in the semester's assessment of long term reforms and also investments? Thank you very much.”
  Defence spending
• “Thank you, Madam Virkkunen. You've now got five minutes to answer those questions. And then after that, I'd like to give you another three minutes to make your concluding remarks. So eight minutes in total. Thank you.”
  EU public communication strategy
• “Good afternoon. Welcome back to the second part of our committee meeting. I am very pleased to be able to welcome Mr. Blok, member of the European Court of Auditors and author of the ECA Special Report on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the EU. Now, this presentation is very important for us. Following the presentation that we had from Executive Vice President Roxana Manzato on the 5th of May on the Union of Skills. This was done together with the ample Committee, and we know that recognition of professional qualifications, despite our continued insistence, remains an issue within the EU. So thank you very much for being here, Mr. Block, today, and for authoring a report on such an important issue. And I'd like to give you the floor now for ten minutes.”
  European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
• “Everybody, please take your seat. We need to start very much on time today. I switch into German now. Good morning. Uh, I'd like to welcome you all to the sitting of the code committee. If you don't have any objections, then we can adopt the draft agenda. The minutes from the meeting of the 27th of January, 2026. Uh, you have received them already. And if there are any comments, um, if that's not the case, then we will also adopt these when it comes to the interpretation. I'm very happy to share with you today that we have interpretation in the following languages German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Latvian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovenian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Croatian. There won't be any Latvian interpretation from 2 to 230. Um, and then we will have Maltese interpretation later in the afternoon because the Commissioner Mikhailov will be present with us. I'd also like to remind you that for web streaming, this meeting is web streamed. I would like to give a warm welcome to our online viewers. I would also like to point out that the decisions from the coordinator's meeting from the 27th of January, 2026 were sent by email to all members on the 27th of January. These are officially considered approved. Um, because there were no objections received before the 28th of January. Um, this is with the exception of the objection raised towards .3.2. This meeting is only in physical presence. The only exception is for external speakers. I'd also like to point out, uh, rule 267 of the rules of procedure, which means that you need to. You can only be represented. You cannot be represented by a member who's not a member of the committee. And then we'll come to the next point. Um, Commissioner is not here yet. I'm just checking around the corner to see whether she is here. She's on her way.”
  Multilingualism in EU institutions
• “And at the same time, others, the commercial development of it and of course, new challenges with new market approaches, technologies, etc. as co-legislator, the European Parliament and our Commission Committee will work closely with you in order to achieve the aims. But I want to emphasize that we that the responsibility is something that we take very seriously. And of course, once again, accountability is extremely important. Now, first of all, audiovisual policy aspects in your portfolio, I'd like to discuss those and the directive as well. The preparatory process with regard to the mid-term revision and the media freedom law as well. Uh, this is of particular importance for our committee. Also, this, uh, revision process that is taking place is something important for us, um, and for the entire European Union as well. Also, of course, artificial intelligence and what sort of role that will play. Um, we would like to know what the action plan is for the period to come, the post 2025 period, and what sort of reverberations will exist for, uh, multimedia, for media in general? Madam Virkkunen, for the next ten minutes, you have the floor, and then the members of the committee will take this opportunity to pose questions. So first of all, you're ten minutes and then we'll come to our questions. Thank you.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “So, dear colleagues, I will be speaking German. We. Just a second so you can get your shot. So we are resuming our committee meeting this afternoon and our first item this afternoon is a workshop entitled Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms Ethical Pedagogical and Cognitive Dimensions. Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our societies, and our education systems are no exception. Ai tools are increasingly present in schools and are beginning to influence how students learn, how teachers teach, and how educational systems are organized. This transformation brings significant opportunities. Ai has the potential to personalize learning, to support teachers and to improve access to educational resources and help students develop skills that are essential in the digital age. However, these developments also raise important questions. We must carefully consider the ethical implications, the pedagogical impact, and the cognitive effects of AI systems used in educational environments. In particular, we should reflect on issues such as data protection, transparency, and accountability of AI systems. The role of teachers in AI supported learning and the potential impact of AI technologies on children's development, their creativity and critical thinking. This workshop, therefore aims to provide us with scientific and policy relevant insights on how artificial intelligence is shaping education, and how we can ensure that its use in classrooms remains human centred, ethical and beneficial for learners and teachers alike. To guide us through these questions, we are pleased to welcome three distinguished experts. So first, Professor Wayne Holmes, professor for Critical Studies of Artificial Intelligence and Education at University College London and Unesco chair in the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and Education.”
  Governance of academic priorities within the EU
• “What does it mean if media freedom is eroded with the European Union has committed itself through MFA. But. Reporters Without Borders have said that we have a tax. We get a tax from the right that journalists suffer censorship and political, uh, political pressure, especially when they speak about the genocides in Gaza. There is a prevention, a hindrance that there was this week. There was a situation of a journalist who wanted to write a very critical article. In a newspaper, which. And he was rejected. His article. His article was rejected, basically because people the press was afraid of publishing this. The reporters Without Borders need to ring the alarm bell. We the credibility of the European Union really depends on whether we at home are prepared to protect media freedom here at home and in Europe. Thank you.”
  EU support for traditional (non-digital) media
• “Dear colleagues, thank you for the many very interesting remarks during this debate. I'm genuinely glad to see that the semester is a topic that sometimes stays in the shadows, but it does attract so much attention in this house because in the end, it touches on one of the most fundamental political questions how we spend our money. And the question is particularly timely as we are entering negotiations on the next Multiannual financial framework. We must not forget the elephant in the room, which is the national budgets. They represent the vast majority of public spending in Europe and are therefore the largest leverage that we have to shape economic and social change. This is precisely why coordinating how member states use their budgets through the European Semester is so important. It is not only about coordination for its own sake. For me, it's also a step towards what actually should ultimately be our long term objective a truly European federal budget that allows us to address common challenges together. Because the reality is simple. The challenges we face are European, and so must the instrument be that we use to address them. Now, colleagues, we may not agree on everything in this debate, that's for sure. And that is perfectly, perfectly normal in a democratic Parliament. But I am glad to see that there is a clear governance on several important points, which are also clearly reflected in the report we negotiated. First, many of you stressed the need for a stronger role of the European Parliament in the European Semester, and that's very clear. And if country specific recommendations become increasingly linked to EU funding and the next MFF, then democratic scrutiny and scrutiny by this House becomes even more essential. Second, we share the common goal of investing in people, education and skills. And third, there is a broad agreement that economic policy coordination must better reflect social considerations. So let me thank you now again for this constructive spirit we had in working together. I look forward to tomorrow's vote. And also, of course, the response that we receive from the commission. Thank you very much.”
  European Semester (social dimension)
• “After four years of brutal war in Ukraine, Russia is being welcomed back onto the world stage. The Paralympics last month. The upcoming Global Swimming Championships and the Venice Biennale readmitting Russia to these events does nothing but send a cynical message of accepting war on our continent, a message of softening the sanctions because of what it's been so long. This is crazy. Putin is still decimating a nation, and just because it has been over for years, it doesn't make it less illegal. It doesn't make Ukrainian suffering less real. Why let him normalize war under the guise of culture and sports? Let me be very clear. Russia does not deserve a pavilion at the Biennale. Russia does not deserve a European stage while kicking our European values with its feet. I called for this debate so we can show collectively in this House. We won't allow European culture to be exploited as a tool for war propaganda. And thank you, everyone, for being here. Thank you.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Now, as you explained in your letter on your mandate, you have a challenging role. You are responsible for culture and sport as well as. Intergenerational solidarity, which is designed to bring greater freedom and responsibility to young people in our societies and democracies. So we're very pleased to see the approval of the Action Plan on Cyberbullying dated the 10th of February. We'd like to hear from you about the key measures in that. And then there is also the generational fairness strategy, which we're expecting to see in early March. Now the committee has a draft report on the European Youth Strategy, which has just been discussed here in our meeting today. And the members of the committee are particularly interested in the update on youth mainstreaming by the Commission. Then the follow up and implementation of youth checks in 2026. We'd also like to hear about how young people can become more engaged in how policies can be more relevant to young people, and we'd like to know about how the commission plans to increase transparency in your consultations, as you know. We have just voted on Europe for culture and culture for Europe. And the results of the vote should now be approved by the Conference of Presidents. Mr. Micallef, you have 15 minutes to speak, after which members of the committee will have an opportunity to make comments and to ask questions. Over to you, sir.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “So the last item on our agenda is the presentation of the study on EU financing instruments for political spheres that fall under the competence of the Cult committee. So the study looks at how, under the current programming period, EU funding has been used in fields that pertain to the committee's responsibilities. So the five topical areas are culture, the creative sector, information and media policy, education, youth and sport. So I would like to welcome Francois Lavallée and Arianna mori from T33 consultancy, who are going to be presenting the main findings of the study. You have 10 to 12 minutes for your speaking time.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Last year, Trump signed an executive order to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court. In other words, Trump made an official threat against the legal body investigating war crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity. Trump clearly just doesn't like people investigating genocide. But colleagues, Commissioner, we do not care what Trump likes or does not like. We care about European citizens. We care about having a system that protects international law and the freedom of speech. Dear Commissioner, this is not the first time I'm asking you to to activate the EU blogging strategy, but I'm happy to do it again. With this, we can protect European lawyers, judges, journalists and citizens from the silencing attempts of foreign governance. What are you. What are we all waiting for?”
  Support for International Criminal Court
• “Thank you. And thank you, dear Commissioner. First of all, also for your words on culture that's being heard by the committee. And that's very much appreciated. So thank you. Thanks a lot. Um, now I move on and put on my head as an ample member. Um, and here I would like to ask, you touched upon the intergenerational fairness. So part of that, of course, is also traineeships. And I know the the negotiations on traineeships are still going on. Nevertheless, um, we wonder I wonder how do we ensure that traineeships are first of all paid, but then also learning opportunity for young people? So in general, how do young people not only carry the cost of entering the labour market, but really do get something out of it? So how do you see fitting this better into like a broader fairness agenda? And secondly, you also touched upon the European semester. So how would you here see this as a key instrument for to support international fairness in general? Thank you very much.”
  Youth employment & training
• “Professor Holmes is a leading scholar on the ethical and human rights implications of AI in education, and will present the ethical dimension of AI in classrooms. Second Professor Vicky Qureshi, research scientist at MIT and research affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University. Her work focuses on Human-ai interaction and the impact of AI on learning, creativity and child development. She will address the pedagogical dimension of AI supported learning. Third, Professor Irina Angelica, a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen specializing in computational modeling of learning processes and learning analytics. She will discuss the cognitive dimension, including how AI systems analyze learning processes and support personalized learning pathways. Professor junta is remotely connected from Japan. Following the presentations, we will have a first round of questions and answers, followed by key takeaways from Miss Maria Accenture's Senior Research associate at the University of Cambridge and founder of Responsible Intelligence. The discussion will then continue with a second round of exchanges, as well as interventions from the European Commission and the Cyprus presidency. So I'm very much looking forward to this discussion and to the valuable insights our speakers will share to us with us today. Let us begin with the first presentation. So, Professor Holmes, the floor is yours.”
  Governance of academic priorities within the EU
• “The illusion that if we don't spend money today, we're somehow saving it. But we are not saving money. We're just postponing the bill. Take energy, for example. For years, we said investing in our own energy system was too expensive, so we delayed it. And now every time there's a geopolitical chaos, Ukraine. Iran, Venezuela. Our prices go up because when Europe defends, it depends on the world's instability. Our living costs depend on it too. That's why a real choice is between spending or saving. It's between being dependent or independent. To be independent, we need to acknowledge that the challenges we face are European. So the solutions must be European too. And again, the debt is the promise of the United States of Europe. Less dependency and more power to stand on our own. The power to protect our living costs. The third illusion. We often waste our money by believing in the illusion that investing in people is nice to have and not a necessity. I feel sometimes we are too busy discussing military startups and new technologies that we that we forget something very, very simple. None of these things would even exist without people. It's the people who design technologies. It's the people who build companies, and it's the people who make the economy grow. Everyone's favorite buzzword nowadays is competitiveness. But what actually makes us competitive, right? It's the people. Programmes like Erasmus already allow millions of Europeans to learn from each other every year. Now we need to build on that European approach for Europeans, a United States of Europe. Dear colleagues, I'm very much looking forward to the debate today and hear your opinions how we are going to take this forward. Thank you very much.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you. Lara Magoni is no longer here. So then it's me for the Greens. From my perspective, I too am extremely grateful for these insights, and I'll keep it brief because I have the sense that we as a committee stand united as a meeting of the minds, obviously. Negotiations will continue on the new EU Agora programme, and we as a European Parliament obviously want to see this strand on citizens engagement and participation. We see that it has been seriously downgraded. But in your interim report, you have shared with us the very positive results of this programme. I mean, you have highlighted them. So my question to you is how are we going to make sure that going forward, citizens engagement and participation is truly a thematic priority in the Agora programme? And seeing as we are going to have more flexibility built in in future. Do you not think that there is a risk of increased competition in future? And the smaller actors, the nonprofit organizations, for example, are going to find it very difficult to access funding. So that was my question. Um, and for the left, who's going to stand in for Mr. Pappas? You.”
  EU engagement with citizens
• “Thank you so much to your colleague. I am delighted to share. And linguistic diversity is the key to a peaceful, democratic and prosperous Europe. As the chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, I believe that culture and language formed a cornerstone that connects Europe's citizens. It facilitates learning and appreciation from a rich and colourful tapestry of histories, stories and stresses the importance of communities. Culture plays a key role in the stability of our democracy by fostering social cohesion over social fragmentation. In this regard, we must not forget that linguistic diversity is also an expression of the innovation and creativity of our society. Multilingualism and linguistic diversity helps European citizens to recognize cultural biases and raise awareness and appreciation of different cultural perspectives. In addition to its fundamental intrinsic value, culture is a key driver for the effectiveness of regions, including rural areas. A vibrant cultural life has the power to foster mutual understanding and democratic values, while boosting the economic activity of our territories. The committee has been actively advocating for linguistic diversity in the promotion of cultural, heritage and cultural life across regions. On linguistic diversity, we have, for instance, commissioned a study in 2022 on multilingualism in the EU's communication policy. This study assessed how inclusive and representative our communication was and how to improve it. On Cultural Heritage, I have been actively engaging with the Council on the Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites in the context of our cultural international relations. And finally, on the subject of funding. As you may know, my committee is called Overseas Creative Europe, which is the only years programme dedicated to supporting the cultural and creative sectors. It is very effective in not only supporting culture in urban centres, but also in rural areas through dedicated projects such as the Cultural and Creative Spaces and Cities Initiative. As I have limited time, I would like to finish by saying that I certainly look forward to the listening after presentations. Now I think we go on to video. **Dragoș Benea (REGI Chair): Thank you. We will continue with the statement of Mr. Bogdan Johnson, chair of the Committee on Petitions.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Everybody, please take your seat. We need to start very much on time today. I switch into German now. Good morning. Uh, I'd like to welcome you all to the sitting of the code committee. If you don't have any objections, then we can adopt the draft agenda. The minutes from the meeting of the 27th of January, 2026. Uh, you have received them already. And if there are any comments, um, if that's not the case, then we will also adopt these when it comes to the interpretation. I'm very happy to share with you today that we have interpretation in the following languages German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Greek, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Latvian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovenian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Croatian. There won't be any Latvian interpretation from 2 to 230. Um, and then we will have Maltese interpretation later in the afternoon because the Commissioner Mikhailov will be present with us. I'd also like to remind you that for web streaming, this meeting is web streamed. I would like to give a warm welcome to our online viewers. I would also like to point out that the decisions from the coordinator's meeting from the 27th of January, 2026 were sent by email to all members on the 27th of January. These are officially considered approved. Um, because there were no objections received before the 28th of January. Um, this is with the exception of the objection raised towards .3.2. This meeting is only in physical presence. The only exception is for external speakers. I'd also like to point out, uh, rule 267 of the rules of procedure, which means that you need to. You can only be represented. You cannot be represented by a member who's not a member of the committee. And then we'll come to the next point. Um, Commissioner is not here yet. I'm just checking around the corner to see whether she is here. She's on her way.”
  Multilingualism in EU institutions
• “The Avms. We believe that at a time where there's rapid technological transformation and evolving market structures, this is extremely important for the future of the European audiovisual and media ecosystem. The committee has very strong interest in understanding how the Commission intends to address the impact of generative artificial intelligence on the culture and creative sectors. We would particularly like to focus on. The distribution and discoverability of works, as well as the implications this has on media pluralism, cultural and linguistic diversity. The committee would also like to know more about the effectiveness of existing and future safeguards for audiences, in this case, particularly for minors. We would also be very interested to know how this forthcoming revision of the AfD. Will interact with the current legal framework in the media sector, such as the European Media Act. Media Freedom Act and how it can provide legal clarity and regulatory coherence for audiovisual media services, which are operating in an increasingly. Ai environment. And finally, the committee would like to know more about the upcoming video game strategy. Commissioner. For the next ten minutes, you have the floor, after which the members of the committee will have the opportunity to make their remarks and ask their questions.”
  Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• “So, ladies and gentlemen, we come on to the next item on our agenda, which is the exchange of views with the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn McAuliffe. Now, this is the fourth anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine. And therefore, the European Parliament has organised an extraordinary plenary. As you know, the cult committee has repeatedly assured Ukraine of our unfailing support. Last year I was privileged to visit Lviv on the on its inauguration as the European Capital of Youth 2025. In September we had the Verkhovna Rada Committee for education and we had a joint committee meeting here in Brussels. And in October we had a second visit to Lviv and where we had an engagement with the Rada Committee for on humanitarian Aid and Information Policy. So we continue to stand alongside Ukraine in their battle for their identity and for the future of the next generations. So, Commissioner, I'd like to welcome you here today. Now, I know that as a representative of sport, we're very aware of the process of the Olympic Games in Milan at the moment and in Cortina now. The Olympic Games always Prompt political discussions. So I would like to congratulate our Italian colleagues on the success of the games, Commissioner Micallef. I would like to stress that today's conversation is part of the structured dialogue between the European Parliament and the Commission. We appreciate this dialogue because there is a sense of accountability, but also of close cooperation between the two institutions.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “So, ladies and gentlemen. Now let's move on to the the Ini report on the role of EU policies in shaping the European sport model. I would like to start by reminding you that the deadline for submitting amendments is the 23rd May at 10 a.m.. We intend to vote on this draft report in July, in order to be able to put it to plenary in September. We'll be starting with a presentation of the report by the rapporteur. Then we'll have a round of comments from the shadow rapporteurs, and we will if have time. If we have time, we'll have a catch the eye session. I'd now like to give the floor to Mr. Zarzycki for five minutes.”
  Broadcasting of sports events
• “This is mentioned in the report. The report also points out the decline in the number of EU students in UK universities. It also says that the Turing program can be no replacement for the Erasmus+ programme. Erasmus+ helps people, disadvantaged students, also teachers and educational institutions for the possibility of exchange, and the Turing programme does not offer any multi-annual funding opportunities. This means that educational institutions cannot plan in the long term, and this means that long term partnerships between universities is difficult and is also a funding problem for British universities. Secondly, we need to see more better wording on the future of Creative Europe in relation to the UK and also the opportunity for us to improve things for the creative industries in the UK. The UK has not been able to set up a programme to replace that. And on the on this, the summit didn't lead to many tangible results and we need to focus on that as a committee. I look forward to the discussions on this issue, and I hope that when it comes to the future, work between the EU and the UK can play. We can play a decisive role. Now let's give the floor to Anthony Smith for the left.”
  EU volunteering programs
• “Mr. Davies. So we don't have a video message yet, so we will go on with the first panel after today's public hearing that will be dedicated to preserving the cultural and linguistic characteristics, characteristics of ethnic minorities and minority regions in the EU. We all know Europe's cultural heritage, and linguistic diversity and variety are essential to our collective memory, identity and social cohesion. Culture and language connects citizens, enabling us to share knowledge Acknowledge and appreciate diverse histories and communities. So I'm delighted to open this important panel discussion. I'd like now to give the floor again to Mr. Ballas. You have five minutes to present the objectives of the European Citizens Initiative related to this topic.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Thank you, Miss Virkkunen for this presentation. I now invite the coordinators of the first four groups to ask their questions. Please be aware that you only have three minutes because we have a very short amount of time today, and then Miss Virkkunen will have five minutes to address their questions. So we'll begin with Mr. Tarr from the chair.”
  EU public communication strategy
• “So, ladies and gentlemen, we come on to the next item on our agenda, which is the exchange of views with the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn McAuliffe. Now, this is the fourth anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine. And therefore, the European Parliament has organised an extraordinary plenary. As you know, the cult committee has repeatedly assured Ukraine of our unfailing support. Last year I was privileged to visit Lviv on the on its inauguration as the European Capital of Youth 2025. In September we had the Verkhovna Rada Committee for education and we had a joint committee meeting here in Brussels. And in October we had a second visit to Lviv and where we had an engagement with the Rada Committee for on humanitarian Aid and Information Policy. So we continue to stand alongside Ukraine in their battle for their identity and for the future of the next generations. So, Commissioner, I'd like to welcome you here today. Now, I know that as a representative of sport, we're very aware of the process of the Olympic Games in Milan at the moment and in Cortina now. The Olympic Games always Prompt political discussions. So I would like to congratulate our Italian colleagues on the success of the games, Commissioner Micallef. I would like to stress that today's conversation is part of the structured dialogue between the European Parliament and the Commission. We appreciate this dialogue because there is a sense of accountability, but also of close cooperation between the two institutions.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Members of the committee. Our next agenda item is the Agora EU programme from 2028 until 2034. Now the Culture Committee is competent for this programme. We have a programme which repeals regulation 2021 602, establishing Serve and regulation 2021 818, establishing the Creative Europe Programme. So, without further delay, I would like to give the floor to the president of the Commission. Um, we have Georg Haussler from EC. Giuseppe Abbamonte from Connect and Carlo Pettinelli from just and give them an opportunity to introduce the proposal.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “I'll speak German as usual. Here. Commissioner Mikhailov, so we'd like to discuss with you the proposal for a regulation establishing the Agora EU program for the period 2028 2034. The aim of this program is to promote cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage, to increase the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors, to safeguard artistic and media freedom, and to protect and promote equality, active citizenship rights and values as enshrined in the treaties and in the charter. The program will bring Creative Europe and serve under one umbrella with three strands Creative Europe, culture, Media Plus, and Serve Plus. So during the upcoming examination and negotiations, Cult Committee will do its utmost to secure necessary funding for cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors. We're counting on your help in this endeavour. And now we're very keen to hear from you, to hear your opening remarks. And you have ten minutes. Commissioner Mikhailov.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Imagine this. You are You're called into the office. Told we have to let you go. You ask why? And the answer is. Headquarters decided. No warning, no explanation, no chance to say a word. And yet you are the one paying the price for decisions making miles away by people who have never, ever set a foot to your work. Decisions that changed your life and your future. That's not fair. And that's not the you we believe in. That's why we change the rules. The with this new law, actually, European Works Councils will finally give workers a real voice. No more decisions taken in Paris that destroy jobs in Berlin without talking to workers first. From now on, when a decision could affect your job, your pay, your health, no matter where it's taken, your voice must be heard. And when those decisions are taken, at least 40% in the room must be women. And that's always a better decision than no. And when and when workers are hurt, companies do better. They find solutions, they avoid layoffs, and they protect people, not just profits. This is what Europe is about making sure our citizens are heard and protected, the way they live and wherever they live, making sure that borders are never an excuse to leave responsibilities somewhere else. So I think we are together and we did a very good job and thank you for this.”
  EU regulation on worker representation in company decisions
• “Have you noticed how military language has become very common these days? You just heard it again this morning, I guess. And you may like it or even dislike that. But truth is, our daily lives are being weaponized. Across Europe, we see how hybrid warfare undermines our societies. Russia's disinformation tries to destroy our trust in democracy itself. If we want to defend Europe, we must strengthen the foundations of our democracy. Culture is one of these foundations. It's how we express free thought, the way we connect, and our source of identity and belonging. Independent media is another foundation. Reliability. Stability in times of disinformation is how we actually grow. And that is not a given. And of course, education for active citizenship and critical thinking. Basic and civic education are a must. There is no democracy without these foundations. Defending Europe means more than stopping military attacks. It means strengthening and protecting democracy from within and investing in people.”
  Foreign interference in Europe
• “Thank you very much for your presentation. I'm going to give the floor now to the coordinators. Each coordinator has a two minute speaking time. Please be strict. Keep to that so that we don't overrun. So Mr. Tarr, first of all for EPP. So thank you very much, Commissioner. Thank you very much for your introduction and for presenting the Commission's program. So this programme, Creative Europe, is perhaps the biggest success story that we have really. And you know, we it's been going on for some 30 years bringing European culture beyond its borders, finding public to be involved in that as well. So. A. Creative Europe and. I'm worried that actually some of what has been achieved will be lost in this new programme. I have a question for you therefore. So Creative Europe, this brand and media Europe this brand as well, how are we going to keep those brands strong and how can we ensure that there is a good funding for European culture? We have to have that proper funding for culture as European soul. And then. Artificial intelligence. That's my next issue here. So of course there are new prospects with AI. Uh, many new possibilities for creators. But we have fears about the algorithms as well, that the algorithms might suppress real creative content. So how can the commission, the commissioners, together ensure that the algorithms serve the cultural sphere and support European culture and prevent exploitation? Thank you very much.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “Dear colleagues, thank you for the many very interesting remarks during this debate. I'm genuinely glad to see that the semester is a topic that sometimes stays in the shadows, but it does attract so much attention in this house because in the end, it touches on one of the most fundamental political questions how we spend our money. And the question is particularly timely as we are entering negotiations on the next Multiannual financial framework. We must not forget the elephant in the room, which is the national budgets. They represent the vast majority of public spending in Europe and are therefore the largest leverage that we have to shape economic and social change. This is precisely why coordinating how member states use their budgets through the European Semester is so important. It is not only about coordination for its own sake. For me, it's also a step towards what actually should ultimately be our long term objective a truly European federal budget that allows us to address common challenges together. Because the reality is simple. The challenges we face are European, and so must the instrument be that we use to address them. Now, colleagues, we may not agree on everything in this debate, that's for sure. And that is perfectly, perfectly normal in a democratic Parliament. But I am glad to see that there is a clear governance on several important points, which are also clearly reflected in the report we negotiated. First, many of you stressed the need for a stronger role of the European Parliament in the European Semester, and that's very clear. And if country specific recommendations become increasingly linked to EU funding and the next MFF, then democratic scrutiny and scrutiny by this House becomes even more essential. Second, we share the common goal of investing in people, education and skills. And third, there is a broad agreement that economic policy coordination must better reflect social considerations. So let me thank you now again for this constructive spirit we had in working together. I look forward to tomorrow's vote. And also, of course, the response that we receive from the commission. Thank you very much.”
  EU fiscal rules and oversight of national budgets
• “Dear colleagues, I'm glad that we're having this debate on the semester report today. We talk a lot about the MFF, which is only 1% of the EU GDP. But we don't talk about the elephant in the room, the national budget. This is arguably the biggest leverage that we have for change in terms of public money. And While leading the negotiations on this report, I realized that this debate, in this debate, we keep falling for the same three illusions. Let me explain what it is first. We keep falling for the illusion that we can tackle our common European challenges with separate national budgets. I mean, we all face the same problems here energy, defense and industrial competition. But for some reason, we still often try to solve them with 27 different national decisions. For example, look at defense spending. And that is not my favorite topic. But we have to talk about it right now. We operate three major competing fighting jets, roughly 12 different tanks, and held on 170 different weapon systems. All these spread across national armies that are too small on their own. So we get a weak defense system and a huge bill. Studies estimate that this lack of cooperation costs European taxpayers between 18 and €58 billion per year. In my report, I call for a coordinated and European defense spending that doesn't waste people's money with the United States of you. We could use this money for society, for the society we are defending. Second, the second illusions. When did life actually become this expensive? I mean, our rent, our groceries, our heating bills. Everywhere you look, prices are going up. This did not happen overnight. This happened because for years we've been falling for the same comforting but futile illusion.”
  EU competences on defence
• “Public service media in the EU. Mr. Hickey will inform us about the role of public service media and the main trends that they are facing relating to trust, technological change and innovation. Mr. Aina Halling is editor at State media. With his background as an editor and as an author of the 2024 report Editorial Media as Defenders of Democracies. He will share insights on the state of editorial media in European democracies and current challenges. And Mrs. Katharina Schell, vice president of the Press Club Concordia and member of the Austrian Press Council, focuses on the intersection of journalism and digital innovation. Her work at AI, data journalism and communication technologies could help us to explore how the media landscape is being reshaped by digital technologies.”
  EU support for traditional (non-digital) media
• “Dear colleagues, I'm glad that we're having this debate on the semester report today. We talk a lot about the MFF, which is only 1% of the EU GDP. But we don't talk about the elephant in the room, the national budget. This is arguably the biggest leverage that we have for change in terms of public money. And While leading the negotiations on this report, I realized that this debate, in this debate, we keep falling for the same three illusions. Let me explain what it is first. We keep falling for the illusion that we can tackle our common European challenges with separate national budgets. I mean, we all face the same problems here energy, defense and industrial competition. But for some reason, we still often try to solve them with 27 different national decisions. For example, look at defense spending. And that is not my favorite topic. But we have to talk about it right now. We operate three major competing fighting jets, roughly 12 different tanks, and held on 170 different weapon systems. All these spread across national armies that are too small on their own. So we get a weak defense system and a huge bill. Studies estimate that this lack of cooperation costs European taxpayers between 18 and €58 billion per year. In my report, I call for a coordinated and European defense spending that doesn't waste people's money with the United States of you. We could use this money for society, for the society we are defending. Second, the second illusions. When did life actually become this expensive? I mean, our rent, our groceries, our heating bills. Everywhere you look, prices are going up. This did not happen overnight. This happened because for years we've been falling for the same comforting but futile illusion.”
  Defence spending
• “The illusion that if we don't spend money today, we're somehow saving it. But we are not saving money. We're just postponing the bill. Take energy, for example. For years, we said investing in our own energy system was too expensive, so we delayed it. And now every time there's a geopolitical chaos, Ukraine. Iran, Venezuela. Our prices go up because when Europe defends, it depends on the world's instability. Our living costs depend on it too. That's why a real choice is between spending or saving. It's between being dependent or independent. To be independent, we need to acknowledge that the challenges we face are European. So the solutions must be European too. And again, the debt is the promise of the United States of Europe. Less dependency and more power to stand on our own. The power to protect our living costs. The third illusion. We often waste our money by believing in the illusion that investing in people is nice to have and not a necessity. I feel sometimes we are too busy discussing military startups and new technologies that we that we forget something very, very simple. None of these things would even exist without people. It's the people who design technologies. It's the people who build companies, and it's the people who make the economy grow. Everyone's favorite buzzword nowadays is competitiveness. But what actually makes us competitive, right? It's the people. Programmes like Erasmus already allow millions of Europeans to learn from each other every year. Now we need to build on that European approach for Europeans, a United States of Europe. Dear colleagues, I'm very much looking forward to the debate today and hear your opinions how we are going to take this forward. Thank you very much.”
  EU political integration