Isabel SERRA SÁNCHEZ

Policy topics Isabel SERRA SÁNCHEZ is active on

What Isabel SERRA SÁNCHEZ has said (38)

• 2026-06-17 “(15:55:04 – 15:56:30): president, colleagues. Every time I come into this chamber, I think it's so cold. You can see that the energy crisis has not reached the European parliament yet. It must be because the members of European Parliament, need to wear a suit and tie. But in Madrid, today, it's, 34 degrees out. And this summer, we're certainly going to reach 40 degrees at some point. And in this situation, a lot of people who can't even afford to turn on a fan. Talking about 4,500 people who live in La Canara Real who have no electricity. They've been without electricity for 6 years. In, the case of a storm that hit, the region a few years ago, people died because they had no heating to turn on. Now this is happening. Well, at the same time, Natuji, which is the company responsible for it, is making record profits year on year. And the Auso government is condemning thousands of people living in La Cana Del Real to this desperate inhuman situation, which is incompatible with any sort of European democracy. Why is this? We'll just follow the money. They want to speculate, on the land where all of these people live. It's, enough is enough. The people of Canal Canana Real deserve electricity. Thank you. I would like to remind you to stick to time, please. Miss Hanson. Dear”
  EU approach to electricity market and prices
• 2026-02-25 “Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 12.5.2026 Written question The European eel [1] is not protected under the Habitats Directive [2] . The obligation under the Environmental Liability Directive [3] (ELD) to prevent and remediate significant biodiversity damage is limited to damage to habitats and species protected under the EU law. The ELD only applies to damage caused by economic activity. A potential damage resulting from the non-recognition of eel as endangered species is thus not covered by the ELD. Regarding the Water Framework Directive [4] , it requires Member States to implement measures to ensure that the status of water bodies, including as regards river continuity and fish communities, does not deviate, or only slightly, from undisturbed conditions. Furthermore, it is not allowed to trade eels from and to the EU [5] . Member States, including Spain, take various measures through their eel management plans under the Eel Regulation [6] and other legal instruments. In particular, the EU sets temporary fishing closures under the Fishing Opportunities Regulation [7] . As there is no obligation in EU law to list the eel as ‘endangered’ in the national catalogue of threatened species, the decision on this matter is solely for the Spanish national authorities, without prejudice to the aforementioned obligations under EU law. The Nature Restoration Regulation [8] requires Member States to make inventories of their artificial barriers to the connectivity of surface waters, and to plan for removals of obsolete barriers in order to reach the EU-wide objective of restoring 25 000 km of rivers to free-flowing rivers between 2020 and 2030. The Commission monitors the implementation of relevant EU legislation and continues working with Member States and stakeholders to help rebuild the eel stock. [1] Anguilla anguilla. [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj/eng. [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2004/35/oj/eng. [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2000/60/oj/eng. [5] The competent scientific authorities of the Member States agreed unanimously that they would not be able to issue a non-detriment finding for the export of European eel specimens, as it is critically endangered, as required under Article IV(2)(a) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Therefore, since 2010, a zero-export quota has been issued and published on the CITES website. [6] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A32007R1100. Details about a most recent progress of Member States in implementing their eel management plans (EMPs) and measures under the Eel Regulation are provided in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advice in subject published in 2025 https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/report/EU_request_for_technical_evaluation_of_the_Eel_Management_Plan_progress_reports/28381268?file=54121004 and in the ICES report from the Workshop in support of this advice https://ices-library.figshare.com/articles/report/Workshop_for_the_Technical_Evaluation_of_EU_Member_States_Eel_Regulation_Progress_Reports_for_Submission_in_2024_2025_WKEMP4_/28788749?file=54098411. [7] Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249 of 26 January 2026 fixing for 2026, 2027 and 2028 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2025/202,OJ L, 2026/249, Council Regulation (EU) 2026/266 of 26 January 2026 fixing for 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas,OJ L, 2026/266, 30.1.2026. [8] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1991/oj/eng.”
  Environmental regulation of fisheries · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2026-02-16 “E-000657/2026 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission Personal mobility devices (PMDs) provide an alternative urban mobility means. However, from a road safety perspective they represent new risks, and hence new challenges for authorities. Directive (EU) 2021/2118 1 gives a revised definition of ‘vehicle’, covering motor vehicles propelled exclusively by mechanical power with a maximum design speed of more than 25 km/h, or with a maximum net weight of more than 25 kg and a maximum design speed of more than 14 km/h. Vehicles meeting these criteria are subject to compulsory motor thirdparty liability insurance. However, this Directive does not preclude Member States from introducing insurance requirements for any motor equipment used for personal mobility. Accordingly, the introduction by Spain of compulsory insurance for certain light electric vehicles is not, as such, inconsistent with the scope and objectives of the Directive. As regards safety requirements, PMDs are currently covered by Directive 2006/42/EC 2 with harmonised product safety provisions that are technology neutral. These provisions do however not regulate the safety needs specifically for on-road use of PMDs, which may explain a fragmented approach throughout Member States. A Commission study 3 in 2024 recommended harmonised rules to address the current fragmentation of on road use of PMDs across the EU. The Commission will reflect and assess any further steps to tackle the issue in the future. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2021/2118/oj/eng. 2 Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on machinery ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/42/oj. 3 Study on the need for harmonised rules to support the rise of micro mobility and increased road safety for personal mobility devices – Final report (1.0), Publications Office of the European Union, 2024 https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2873/8572224.”
  EU Competition policy · Regulation of vehicles insurance
• 2026-01-27 “E-000312/2026 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Under the Habitats Directive 1 , wolf populations north of the Duero River are currently listed in Annex V. Member States must take measures to ensure that the exploitation of species listed in Annex V is compatible with their being maintained at a favourable conservation status 2 . According to the information submitted by Spain in the latest report under Article 17 of the Directive for the period 2013-2018, the wolf was in unfavourable conservation status in Cantabria. A new report covering the period 2019-2024 is still to be submitted by Spain 3 . Without prejudice of the role of the Commission as guardian of the Treaty, the primary responsibility for correctly implementing the Habitats Directive lies with the national authorities. The Commission monitors the situation closely and is also waiting for the submission of the Spanish report under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled that Article 14 of the Directive precludes Spanish legislation which permitted the hunting of the wolf, since the species was listed in Annex V and the conservation status of that species is classified as ‘unfavourable poor’ 4 . Additionally, the CJEU confirmed that if there remains uncertainty as to whether the exploitation of a species of Community interest is compatible with the maintenance of that species at a favourable conservation status, the Member State must refrain from authorising such exploitation. In this context, the competent authorities cannot allow the hunting of wolves, unless the cumulative impacts of the authorised quotas and any additional taking, as well as collateral deaths and illegal killing, is compatible with the achievement or maintenance of favourable conservation status. 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 2 According to Article 14 of the Directive. 3 INFR(2025)2214, https://ec.europa.eu/implementing-eu-law/search-infringementdecisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2025)2214&page=1&size=10 &order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate. 4 Case C-436/22, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62022CJ0436.”
  Large Carnivores
• 2025-10-29 “E-004255/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission On 10 September 2025 the Council adopted a Decision authorising the Commission to open negotiations with Morocco 1 . The Council informed the European Parliament of its Decision in accordance with Article 218(10) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). After negotiations, the Commission adopted a Proposal for a Council Decision on the signature and provisional application of the Agreement on 18 September 2025. The Parliament and Council were both informed of this Proposal. Article 218(5) TFEU allows for provisional application before entry into force if necessary. On 23 September 2025, the Commission presented its proposal to the International Trade (INTA) Monitoring Group for the Maghreb. As explained at this and subsequent meetings with the INTA Committee, provisional application of the Agreement was necessary to provide legal certainty for traders and ensure compliance with the ruling of the Court. Provisional application was therefore legally, economically and politically necessary. On 2 October 2025, the Council adopted a Council Decision on the signature and provisional application of the Agreement 2 . The Agreement signed on 3 October 2025 fully meets the requirements defined in the judgment in Joined Cases C-779/21 P and C-799/21 P 3 . As explained in the 2023 Report on the impact and benefits for the population of Western Sahara of the extension of tariff preferences to products originating in Western Sahara 4 , the jobs generated under the application of the 2018 Agreement represent over 18% of the territory’s active population in Western Sahara. There is no statistical data available allowing further estimations. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32025D2053&qid=1759502035328. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202502022. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/1510/oj/eng. 4 https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/report-impacts-and-benefits-eu-morocco-agreement-extending-tariffpreferences-products-originating_en.”
  Trade relations with Morocco
• 2025-09-26 “E-003753/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Monte Arna project does not appear to be covered by Annexes I or II of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 1 but is near a Special Area of Conservation 2 . In accordance with Article 6 (3) of the Habitats Directive 3 , projects likely to have a significant effect on Natura 2000 sites must undergo an assessment regarding the sites’ conservation objectives. Member States must implement these requirements. The Commission has provided methodological guidance for this 4 . Ensuring EU environmental law compliance is chiefly Spain’s responsibility and alleged breaches are best handled by national courts. The Commission evaluated Spain's Recovery and Resilience plan (RRP) 5 under Article 19 of Regulation 2021/241 6 , ensuring the do no significant harm (DNSH) principle. DNSH requirements are included in Spain's Council Implementing Decision. For payment requests, the Commission checks that these requirements are used as eligibility criteria when projects are proposed. Member States must ensure DNSH compliance during project implementation, while enforcing EU and national environmental laws. EU fund usage must align with EU and national laws, verified during the selection process. When the funds are managed directly by the Commission, it does this verification itself. Under the Resilience and Recovery Facility 7 , the Commission checks that Member States’ management and control systems ensure that EU funds used to implement the national RRPs are used according to the rules and comply with EU and national law. If it is not the case, Member States will be required to improve their systems, and the payments may be blocked until the improvements are implemented. Depending on the seriousness of the weaknesses identified, financial corrections may be applied. 1 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 2 Dunas del Puntal y Estuario del Miera - ES1300005. 3 Article 6 (3), Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 4 https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/3f466d71-92a7-49eb-9c63-6cb0fadf29dc/library/bb79f67f-907b-491c-b4625e283ac5faa5?p=1&n=10&sort=modified_DESC. 5 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility/country-pages/spains-recovery-and-resilience-plan_en. 6 Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, pp. 17–75. 7 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resiliencefacility_en#:~:text=The%20Recovery%20and%20Resilience%20Facility%20%28RRF%29%20is%20a,stronger %20and%20more%20resilient%20from%20the%20current%20crisis.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding
• 2025-09-26 “E-003754/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 1 , for Annex II projects, such as cable cars 2 , the competent authorities must determine whether an assessment is needed through a case-by-case study or by applying previously set thresholds or criteria, considering the selection criteria of Annex III 3 . The EIA Directive, however, does not apply to projects such as the ACD Engaña construction project 4 as it is not a category included in Annexes I or II. Under the Habitats 5 and Birds Directives 6 , when a project is likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site, Member States must conduct an appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of its conservation objectives. If the obligation to carry out assessments arises simultaneously from the EIA and the Habitats Directive, the authorities shall, where appropriate, provide for a coordinated procedure. The use of the means of redress available at national level is the most effective way to address individual cases of possible non-compliance. The specific review procedure under the EIA Directive allows the public concerned to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions subject to the Directive’s provisions on public participation. This complements the Commission’s approach on enforcement action, which focuses on cases of systemic non-compliance 7 . Compliance with the ‘Do No Significant Harm principle’ is a requirement for a measure to be included in a Recovery and Resilience Plan 8 . For this measure 9 , the obligation that the calls for projects under the Spanish Territorial Plans for Tourism Sustainability at Destinations comply with a list of excluded activities and the relevant EU and national environmental legislation was assessed positively 10 . 1 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of 16 April 2014 - OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 2 Referred to in Annex II, 12 a) of the EIA Directive. 3 Including the cumulation with other projects. 4 Project to improve the abandoned railway platform and build a shared bicycle-pedestrian access lane to the Engaña Tunnel. 5 Articles 6(3) and 7 of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 6 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (Codified version). OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25. 7 As set out in the Communication of 19 January 2017 (EU law: Better results through better application C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10–20) and in the Communication of 13 October 2022 COM (2022) 518 final - Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers. 8 Article 5(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, OJ L 57, 18.2.2021, pp. 17–75. 9 Component 14. 10 Under targets 217, 218 and 219 (second, third and fourth payment requests, respectively).”
  EU policy on permitting for renewable energy projects
• 2025-07-29 “E-003128/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission In its proposal to establish a European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) 1 , the Commission suggests repealing a number of programmes, including the EU programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) 2 . The specific activities funded under LIFE would remain under the remit of the new, encompassing ECF, as stated in Articles 33 and 37 of the proposed Regulation. While LIFE activities have been firmly anchored in the ECF, support for projects contributing to EU’s strategic priorities in the area of environment will be provided under the National and Regional Partnership Plans and specifically within the EU Facility 3 , including support to strategic nature projects. Cross-national activities will also be supported by these Plans, promoting best practices and nature conservation efforts throughout the EU. The Nature Restoration Regulation 4 is legally binding and directly applicable in all Member States, who have an obligation, independent of EU funding provisions, to ensure that all provisions are met. The Commission will continue to offer support to the implementation of the Regulation, including through a wide range of funding options that will continue to be available through the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 5 for supporting the protection of nature and the restoration of biodiversity. In addition, the Commission has proposed in the proposed Performance Regulation for the EU Budget 2028-2034 to set up an overall spending target of at least 35% on climate action and environmental objective, applicable to the EU budget for the new MFF period. Finally, the Commission has launched a roadmap towards nature credits 6 , as a complementary source of funding to attract private investors into nature restoration projects. 1 COM(2025) 555, Article 85. 2 Regulation (EU) 2021/783 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013, OJ L 172, 17.5.2021, p. 53–78, https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en. 3 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the committee of the Regions - A dynamic EU Budget for the priorities of the future https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0570. 4 Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024. 5 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/eu-budget-2028-2034_en. 6 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the committee of the Regions - Roadmap towards Nature Credits. https://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=comnat:COM_2025_0374_FIN.”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU · Agricultural funding
• 2025-07-15 “E-002885/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission’s mandate under the Euratom Treaty does not extend to radioactivity monitoring of international waters. In accordance with Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty, the Commission is only entitled to access and verify the operation and efficiency of Member States’ facilities located on Euratom Community territory necessary to carry out continuous monitoring of the level of radioactivity in the air, water and soil. The Commission has previously verified the adequacy of radioactivity monitoring facilities in the Galicia and Cantabrian coastal marine environment 1 . In line with its statutory role and legal powers, the Commission will continue to ensure that Member States comply with EU law related to the prevention of marine pollution, including provisions implemented from international agreements such as the London Convention 2 . As part of its responsibilities under the Euratom Treaty, the Commission will ensure that Member States comply with the requirements of Directive 2011/70/Euratom 3 , which establishes a Community framework for the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste. 1 Verification under the terms of Article 35 of the Euratom Treaty ‘Galicia and Cantabrian coastal marine environment’ on 18 October 2021. See report: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/nuclear-energy/radiationprotection/radioactivity-environment/verifications-radiation-monitoring-eu-countries_en. 2 The Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 is one of the first global conventions to protect the marine environment from human activities and has been in force since 1975. Available at: https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/OurWork/Environment/Documents/PROTOCOLAmended2006.pdf. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/70/oj/eng.”
  Nuclear energy · Water pollution
• 2025-06-19 “E-002480/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Commission recalls that, before the project referred to by the Honourable Member receives green light, the competent authorities in Spain are expected to fulfil all the relevant requirements laid down in EU environmental legislation, in particular those enshrined in the Habitats 1 and Birds 2 Directives, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 3 . In this regard, in order to clarify the baseline for the assessment of any new project, the competent authorities need to complete the implementation of the measures necessary to put an end to an ongoing infringement case 4 regarding the inadequate protection of the Natura 2000 site Delta del Llobregat 5 . The latest amendment to the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) 6 , promotes costeffective and economically efficient greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Aviation carbon dioxide emissions (CO 2 ) have been covered by the ETS since 2012. However, with the exception of the COVID pandemic, aviation emissions have continued to rise. Today, aviation is one of the last sectors with rising emissions in Europe. Following the proposed expansion of Barcelona-El Prat airport, the cap on emissions set by the ETS will remain at the same level. The CO 2 emissions from those flights leaving Barcelona El-Prat for a destination under the scope of the EU ETS will continue to be covered by the EU ETS carbon price 7 . 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 2 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25. 3 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (codification), (OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1– 21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 4 Ref. INFR(2020)4133: https://ec.europa.eu/implementing-eu-law/search-infringementdecisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2020)4133&page=1&size=10 &order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate. 5 Code ES0000146. 6 Directive (EU) 2023/958 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 amending Directive 2003/87/EC as regards aviation’s contribution to the Union’s economy-wide emission reduction target and the appropriate implementation of a global market-based measure, OJ L 130, 16.5.2023, p. 115–133. 7 The ETS Directive currently covers flights within the European Economic Area, as well as departing flights to Switzerland and the United Kingdom.”
  Decarbonisation of aviation sector · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-06-10 “E-002311/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU follows closely the human rights situation in the department of Chocó (Colombia). In this region, inter alia, the EU supports local youth councils, accompanies the urban peace dialogues in Quibdo, and provides broad emergency assistance, for example, following last year’s severe flooding. As part of the campaign Defendamos la Vida, human rights defenders from the Bajo Atrato recently participated in a workshop to strengthen capacities for protection and advocacy of human rights defenders and social leaders in Bogota. The protection of social and environmental leaders is among the top human rights priorities of the EU in Colombia. Protection is provided via global programmes like the protect defenders mechanism, as well as Colombia-based projects like El derecho a defender derechos, a EUR 2.15 million project to protect and empower human rights defenders, social leaders and communities. Human rights issues are regularly discussed in the EU’s bilateral dialogue with Colombia, including, most recently, at the High-Level Political Dialogue in Brussels on 27 June 2025. The EU-Colombia Human Rights Dialogue, tentatively scheduled for October 2025, provides a space to exchange on topics and cases of concern, such as the ones mentioned by the Honourable Member, and to identify new areas of cooperation. As part of its dialogues with national authorities, the EU will monitor the actions under way to restore the rights of the Jiguamiandó community (Carmen del Darién, Chocó).”
  EU competences on human rights · EU-Brazil Relations
• 2025-06-02 “E-002203/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission The Commission refers to its reply to parliamentary question E-002366/2018 1 . The Commission recalls that the administration of justice falls within the competence of national authorities. The Commission has assessed the transposition into national legislation of the provisions of the Victims’ Rights Directive in all Member States. In May 2020, the Commission adopted a report on the implementation of the Victims’ Rights Directive 2 which assesses the extent to which Member States have taken the necessary measures to comply with its provisions. The Spanish law transposes all essential elements of the binding provisions of the Directive into national law. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission continues to monitor the correct enforcement of these provisions in all Member States, including in Spain. Rights of victims of crime remain one of the key priorities for the Commission. In 2023, the Commission proposed to revise the Victims’ Rights Directive 3 to further strengthen the rights of all victims of crime in the EU, notably the rights of the most vulnerable victims. Among others, the Commission proposes that the most vulnerable victims should be able to rely on free psychological support for as long as necessary – if justified by individual assessment. The proposal is currently under negotiations by the co-legislators. 1 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/-ASW_EN.pdf. 2 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA, COM(2020) 188 final. 3 Proposal for the amendment of Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA.”
  Rule of law in Spain · EU policy on victims' compensation rights
• 2025-05-29 “E-002167/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The duty to render assistance to persons in distress at sea is a legal obligation under international law. Actors involved in search and rescue operations must act in a lawful, swift and coordinated way to make sure that those in distress at sea are brought to safety as rapidly as possible independently from the circumstances. The Commission has no power to carry out investigations in this area; it is for national authorities to investigate and ensure the necessary follow-up, as relevant. The Commission is reinforcing its cooperation with partner countries on legal pathways through Talent Partnerships, to foster mutually beneficial labour mobility. The Commission also proposed the EU Talent Pool 1 , which will be the first EU-wide platform and has the objective of facilitating access to legal migration pathways in the EU. The Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework Regulation 2 also offers pathways to protection to the most vulnerable. The Commission's work in promoting complementary pathways aims also to provide safe and legal avenues to protection in addition to resettlement and humanitarian admission 3 . The Pact on Migration and Asylum 4 further strengthens the protection of vulnerable persons, including women and girls, by ensuring that gender-related aspects are duly considered in the screening, in asylum procedures and that adequate support is provided to women and girls in the reception system. The Commission has intensified cooperation with transit countries in Western Africa, notably Mauritania and Senegal, focusing as well on search and rescue at sea, to save lives, and migrants protection, notably the most vulnerable, including women and children. 1 https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/legal-migration-and-resettlement/work/eutalent-pool_en. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1350/oj/eng. 3 https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/legal-migration-and-resettlement/resettlementand-humanitarian-admission_en#complementary-pathways-linked-to-education-and-labour. 4 Qualification Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 Articles 8(5)(b), 9(2)(f) and 10(1) - https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1347/oj/eng. Asylum Procedure Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 Articles 13(7)(a), 20(4), 21(2), 34(2)(d) and 36(5) - https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1348/oj/eng. Reception Conditions Directive (EU) 2024/1346 Articles 20(3), 20(4), 22(1), 24, 25 and 28(1) - https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1346/oj/eng.”
  Legal migration · Asylum & border control
• 2025-03-25 “E-001247/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EUR 2.5 million project ‘Apoyo a la consolidación de la paz en Colombia’ was launched in March 2024 and supports three distinct peace processes (Buenaventura, Quibdó, Estado Mayor de los Bloques y Frente) through civil society projects and communication and advisory tasks, all implemented by the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ). The EU Delegation to Colombia holds regular exchanges on the situation in Buenaventura with Government, including the Adviser Commissioner for Peace and his local delegation. The EU Special Envoy for the Peace Process met them in March 2025. The Delegation travels there frequently to meet local authorities, the Catholic Church, civil society and business organisations, and local representatives of the United Nations and the Organisation of American States. The Ambassador’s most recent visit, on 8 April 2025, entailed delivering with the ICTJ kits for micro-entrepreneurs and cooperatives, mostly composed of women and youth, active in recycling, barber and beauty salons, rural community markets and traditional fishing. The project also supports local community communication initiatives. Despite a spike in homicides in the first months of 2025, the Buenaventura process remains active. While the groups committed to re-activating the truce on 8 April 2025, the situation remains volatile. The Delegation has been supporting dialogue efforts throughout, including through a consultancy on de-escalating violence in the city.”
  EU relations with left-wing Latin America
• 2025-02-04 “E-000493/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Commission does not possess detailed information about the project referred to by the Honourable Member, and whether it could have significant effects for the Natura 2000 site 1 or the energy system of Tenerife. Therefore, the Commission is not in a position to express its views on the compatibility of the project with the provisions under the Habitats Directive 2 or assess its potential impacts on the island’s energy sustainability. Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive determines that any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site must be subject to an appropriate assessment of its implications for the site concerned. Such plan or project can only be approved if it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site. Should a project have negative implications for the site, it can only be carried out for imperative reasons of overriding public interest and in the absence of alternative solutions, and provided that the Member State takes all compensatory measures necessary to protect the overall coherence of the network, in accordance with Article 6(4) of the Directive. The responsibility for applying these provisions lies with the Spanish public authorities. In order to assist them in this task, the Commission has issued guidance documents supporting those involved in managing Natura 2000 sites 3 and has published studies on addressing conflicts and promoting benefits in the Natura 2000 network 4 . 1 ES7020017: https://www.idecanarias.es/resources/ZEC/AnexoI/ES7020017_I.pdf 2 Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 3 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/natura-2000/managing-and-protecting-natura2000-sites_en 4 https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/3f466d71-92a7-49eb-9c63-6cb0fadf29dc/library/642f6372-437e-434f-b041000f24e8d9e0/details?download=true”
  EU strategy for tourism development · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-01-21 “E-000232/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission As set out in its reply to written questions E-000297/2023 and E-001749/2024, internal security matters, including actions by national authorities for the purpose of maintaining law and order and safeguarding internal security, remain the responsibility of the Member State concerned. Consequently, policing matters, such as the one referred to by the Honourable Member, fall within the remit of the national authorities. In cases falling outside the scope of EU law, it is for Member States, including their judicial authorities, to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected in accordance with their national legislation and international human rights obligations. As regards the Law on Official Secrets, in its 2024 Rule of Law Report the Commission recommended Spain to advance with strengthening access to information, in particular via revision of the Law on Official Secrets, taking into account European standards on access to official documents. The Commission is engaging with Spain on the follow-up given to the Report and in the context of the upcoming 2025 edition.”
  Rule of law in Spain · Surveillance equipment & spyware · EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2025-01-02 “E-000002/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The Commission condemns any form of violence. Violence runs counter to the common values upon which the EU is built. As the Commission set out in its reply to written questions E-003732/2020, E-005750/2020, E-006692/2020, E-001857/2021, E-003458/2021 and E-000040/2022, any use of force by law enforcement authorities should always be exercised in a proportionate manner. Inhumane or degrading treatment of any individual is unacceptable. Maintenance of law and order is primarily a competence of the Member States. They must promote and ensure respect of fundamental rights as provided for in their constitutional order and under their international law commitments. In the case referred to by the Honourable Member, it is therefore for the Spanish authorities to conduct independent and accountable investigations leading to the determination of all relevant facts, in accordance with national legislation and international human rights obligations.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• 2024-12-12 “E-002908/2024 Answer given by Ms Zaharieva on behalf of the European Commission Any research and innovation activities carried out under Horizon Europe 1 must have an exclusive focus on civil applications. During the execution of project financed via Horizon Europe grant agreements, all beneficiaries must ensure that the activities under the action comply with this horizontal rule. The Commission is closely monitoring the correct implementation of grant agreements signed under Horizon Europe. The projects in which Israel Aerospace Industries participates are of a purely civil nature. These include, inter alia, projects to develop hybrid electric regional aircrafts, to revolutionise liquid hydrogen aircraft refuelling at airport scale, and to advance material science applications to reduce the generation of waste and enhance the safety of workers 2 . The Commission remains vigilant and is ready to take appropriate action should the Horizon Europe legal framework not be respected, notably regarding the exclusive focus on civil application as well as legally required behaviour of participants 3 . However, the actions or behaviour of the State of Israel cannot be considered automatically attributable to its entities participating in Horizon Europe grants. 1 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-opencalls/horizon-europe_en 2 https://cordis.europa.eu/search?q=frameworkProgramme%3D%27HORIZON%27%20AND%20(%27israel%20 aerospace%20industries%27)&p=1&num=10&srt=Relevance:decreasing; https://dashboard.tech.ec.europa.eu/qs_digit_dashboard_mt/public/sense/app/dc5f6f40-c9de-4c40-8648015d6ff21342/sheet/3bcd6df0-d32a-4593-b4fa0f9529c8ffb0/state/analysis/select/Organisation%20PIC/999969315 3 Article 19 of the Horizon Europe Regulation; Article 14 Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement, OJ L95, 23.03.2022.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• 2024-12-11 “E-002871/2024 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission In the Spanish chapter of the 2024 Rule of Law Report 1 , the Commission noted that, in October 2023, Spain ratified the Council of Europe’s Convention on Access to Public Documents, which recognises a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities. The report also informed that the Spanish government intends to re-launch the adoption of the draft law on official secrets and thus recommended Spain to advance with this adoption. The Commission will continue to assess developments pertaining to media freedom and pluralism in all Member States, including Spain, in the context of the preparation of the 2025 Rule of Law Report. The Commission considers that safeguarding the common memory of crimes of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, as well as transition to democracy, is essential to safeguarding EU values of human dignity, fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy for current and future generations. However, it should be recalled that remembrance policies are under the competence of Member States. The Commission remains committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure compliance with EU law and upholding the rule of law in all Member States and will continue to work with the Spanish authorities to promote the rule of law. More generally, same as for all the Member States, the Commission follows rule of law developments in Spain under the annual Rule of Law Cycle and its report. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/2bd09a6f-ef56-494a-8303e0de808ee981_en?filename=23_1_58063_coun_chap_spain_en_0.pdf”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law · Rule of law in Spain
• 2024-11-26 “E-002663/2024 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen On behalf of the European Commission The Commission notes that in general the rights conferred to final customers that purchase electricity for their own use from a commercial supplier in Chapter III of Directive 2019/944 1 apply in case there is a connection to the electricity network. Household customers have the right to be connected to the electricity network under terms, conditions and tariffs set in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 59(7). Pursuant to Article 31 of the Directive. Naturgy – in its capacity as distribution system operator - is obliged to maintain under economic conditions a ‘secure, reliable and efficient electricity distribution system in its area’. Article 9(2) of the Electricity Market Directive (EU) 2019/944 is an option for Member States to impose Public Service Obligations and not a legal obligation as Member States may chose other measures to achieve these objectives. The case pertains to a horizontal dispute between the community of La Cañada Real and the distribution system Naturgy. This dispute should be settled by the competent national authorities. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/944/oj/eng”
  EU competences on social policies · EU approach to electricity market and prices
• 2024-10-24 “E-002250/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. The site ‘Sierra del Escudo’ 1 has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the Habitats Directive 2 , which requires that Member States take appropriate steps to avoid, in such SACs, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species, as well as significant disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated. The competent national authorities can agree to a project likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site, only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned through an appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site's conservation objectives 3 . Member States are responsible of ensuring the proper implementation of the Habitats and Birds Directives 4 , as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 5 . 2. The monitoring of the correct implementation of mitigation measures and their effectiveness, and the implementation of corrective measures, if needed, to ensure that the site is not adversely affected during the project’s execution works or operational phase are primarily the responsibility of the Spanish authorities. The Commission has issued guidance to support Member States in this task 6 . Without prejudice to the Commission’s role as guardian of the Treaties, and as stated in Communication C/2016/8600 7 , the redress mechanisms provided at national level are the most appropriate means to deal satisfactorily with individual cases of possible incorrect application of EU law. 1 Site code ES1300016. 2 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 3 Without prejudice of Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive. 4 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25. 5 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 6 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/2c9f4a14-8f97-43ac-a274-4946c142b541 7 Communication from the Commission — EU law: Better results through better application C/2016/8600. OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10–20.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-24 “E-002249/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) 1 was subject to an open public consultation which gathered more than 1.2 million responses, many from partner countries. Since EUDR’s entry into force, the Commission has collaborated with partners and rolled out significant support, for instance via the Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation Free Supply Chains. The Commission published guidance documents on 2 October 2024 2 after the conclusion of internal discussions, which integrated the answers to questions received until the last moment throughout the consultation process. 2. The Commission, both at the level of cabinets and services, are in permanent contact with Members of the European Parliament and with Member States. Strengthening the partnership between the Commission and the European Parliament is an important principle that was explicitly repeated in the Political Guidelines 3 . In its contacts with Members of the European Parliament, the Commission is committed to a balanced and fair approach, regardless of political parties. 3. The targeted amendment 4 is a response to support stakeholders, Member States and third countries in their preparations for EUDR implementation. It was never a condition for finalising trade agreements with Indonesia and Mercosur. In both agreements, the EU is working to include provisions in support of the fight against deforestation. While negotiations with Indonesia are not yet finalised, the impact on deforestation of the recently finalised Mercosur agreement is expected to be positive in terms of reduction of deforestation, due to the clear commitments undertaken by the parties and bearing in mind that EUDR prohibits the placing on the EU market of commodities from deforested areas. 1 Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206–247. 2 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_5009 3 Adopted in July 2024: https://commission.europa.eu/about/commission-2024-2029_en 4 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 as regards provisions relation to the date of application, COM(2024) 452 final/2.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-04 “E- 001952/2024 Answer given by Ms Zaharieva on behalf of the European Commission 1.The total requested EU contribution to Israeli entities in signed grants since the 7 October 2023 is EUR 298 150 419, 00. However, this figure might not be exhaustive since data from European Innovation Council equities and from the cascading grants (European Institute of Technology) are not yet available. 2. The bilateral relations with the State of Israel continue to be governed by the international commitments undertaken, in particular the EU - Israel Association agreement on the participation of Israel in the Union programme Horizon Europe 1 . This is not currently envisaged to change. The Commission will continue to uphold the EU position on the situation in the Middle East as expressed by the European Council in November 2023 and March 2024, and will remain vigilant to ensure that beneficiaries comply with the applicable legal framework, including the provisions of the Horizon Europe model grant agreement and the guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities 2 . 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:22022A0323(10), OJ L 95, 23/03/2022. 2 Commission Notice Nr. 2013/ C 205/05: Guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards (OJ C 205, 19.7.2013, p. 9).”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• 2024-10-03 “E-001944/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission 1. The analysis published in December 2023 by the Commission 1 has shown that the conservation status of the wolf in Europe has significantly improved over the last decades. In particular, the estimated population has almost doubled in 10 years. A potential change of the protection status of the wolf in the Habitats Directive 2 would not remove the objective of wolf recovery. It would provide additional flexibility to those Member States that need it, without obliging all Member States to change the protection status of the wolf at national level. In any event, species listed in Annex V are also protected and Member States are bound by the obligation to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for these species. 2. The Habitats Directive requires Member States to take the necessary measures to ensure that the exploitation of species listed in Annex V is compatible with maintaining them at a favourable conservation status. They shall include the continuation of the surveillance provided for in Article 11 and may include, where necessary, temporary or local prohibition of hunting, regulation of the periods and methods of hunting, or the establishment of a system of licences or of quotas. 3. Any future change of the protection status of the wolf in EU legislation will be subject to an amendment of the appendices of the Bern Convention by a decision of its Standing Committee 3 , the next meeting of which is in December 2024. Following the entry into force of such amendment, the EU would be allowed to modify the corresponding annexes of the Habitats Directive to adapt the protection level of the wolf in EU law. The Commission proposal will be limited to a modification of the protection status of the wolf only. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/env/items/813295/en 2 i.e. moving the species to Annex V of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 3 https://www.coe.int/en/web/bern-convention”
  Large Carnivores
• 2024-09-09 “E-001660/2024 Answer given by Mr Reynders on behalf of the European Commission EU law does not apply to the requested extradition in the case at issue, as neither the EU nor Denmark have concluded bilateral agreements on extradition with Japan. In line with its Article 51(1), the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU is addressed to Member States only when they are implementing EU law. In situations such as the present one, where there is no link with the implementation of EU law, it is for Member States, including their courts, to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected, in accordance with their national legislation and international human rights obligations, including the European Convention on Human Rights. The right to protest at sea is considered an internationally lawful use of the sea and thus an exercise of the flag State’s freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The protest shall remain peaceful and should not threaten human life, the marine environment or property. The EU and its Member States maintain a firm stance against whaling and uphold the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling. Within the IWC, the EU and its Member States that are Party to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW) promote cooperation to ensure an effective international regulatory framework for the conservation and management of whales. The aim is to ensure a significant improvement in the conservation status of whales and bring all whaling operations by IWC members under IWC control. For countries that are not parties to the ICRW, the EU has consistently voiced strong concerns over any whaling activities and will continue to use all diplomatic channels to engage with these countries and discourage such practices.”
  EU competences on human rights
• 2024-09-07 “E-001653/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission Crematoria do not qualify as medium combustion plants, as incinerators, or co-incinerators under EU law 1 . These projects are not expressly listed in the Annexes of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2 and are therefore not subject to a mandatory environmental impact assessment. If they qualify as an urban development project 3 , Member States have to decide if an assessment is needed because of their likely significant effects on the environment, taking into account the criteria set out in Annex III to the Directive. The EIA Directive provides for specific review procedures at domestic level that allow the public concerned to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions subject to its provisions on public participation. The Commission considers that the use of those means of redress available would be the most effective way to address individual cases of possible non-compliance, which is furthermore consistent with the Commission’s strategic approach on enforcement action, focused on cases of systemic non-compliance 4 . Finally, EU rules on air quality 5 do not apply to individual sources of pollution. Such rules require that the registered concentrations of certain pollutants in ambient air do not exceed the limit values set therein. In this respect, following an infringement procedure launched by the Commission, the Court of Justice of the EU found 6 that Spain had failed to comply with its obligations under the Air Quality Directive as regards nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) concentrations in several air quality zones including Madrid. The Commission notes that, according to the latest official data on air quality 7 , compliance with the limit values for NO 2 in Madrid was achieved in 2022. 1 Including under Directive (EU) 2015/2193 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants, OJ L 313, 28.11.2015, p. 1–19, and Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (recast), OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17– 119. 2 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (EIA Directive), OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 3 Project category listed in Annex II 10(b) of the EIA Directive. 4 As set out in the Communication of 19 January 2017 (EU law: Better results through better application C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10–20) and in the Communication of 13 October 2022 COM(2022) 518 final - Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers. 5 In particular, Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, OJ L 152 11.6.2008, p. 1. 6 Judgment of 22 December 2022 in Case C-125/20, Commission v Spain - EU:C:2022:1025. 7 Made available by the European Environment Agency in September 2023.”
  EU policy on urban development · Air quality policy · Industrial emissions directive (IED)
• 2024-09-03 “E-001610/2024 Answer given by Vice-President Šuica on behalf of the European Commission As the Commission noted in its reply to written questions E-000431/2024 and E000766/2024, the rights of the child are enshrined in Article 24 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 1 . The EU strategy on the rights of the child 2 aims, among others, to combat violence against children and ensure child protection. The Commission has adopted a Recommendation on integrated child protection systems 3 . The EU is not party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 4 , but as Article 24 of the Charter is based on the UNCRC, the latter needs to be considered when interpreting the rights of the child. In a situation where Member States are not using EU funding for activities mentioned in the question, it is for their authorities, including their judicial authorities, to ensure that fundamental rights are effectively respected and protected in accordance with their national legislation and international human rights obligations, including the UNCRC. 1 These include the right to such protection and care as is necessary for their well-being as well as that child's best interests must be a primary consideration in all actions relating to children, whether taken by public authorities or private institutions. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0142 3 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/36591cfb-1b0a-4130-985e332fd87d40c1_en?filename=C_2024_2680_1_EN_ACT_part1_v8.pdf, 23 April 2024 4 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 20 November 1989, https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child”
  Support for families
• “Thank you. Chair. First of all, thank you for allowing us to be here or for being here. We are primarily concerned about Gaza. The Israeli attacks on Lebanon as well. Two workers were killed by Israel. The workers for the UNHCR. This is a dramatic situation. And Lebanon is one of the primary targets of Israel to violate international law and in order to question the UN and the right to return of refugees. We think that the EU should take stronger measures to put an end to this situation from a humanitarian perspective. The EU is the primary donor and provider of humanitarian aid, but we continue to think that this is a dramatic situation on a world level with a with impact on women and children. Sexual violence. It seems that Europe is replacing development cooperation with private initiatives. And we are very critical of global gateway and the violation of barrier of um. Of borders. Resources that should be used for humanitarian aid are instead used for border control. This is concerning. How can we ensure, secondly, that humanitarian aid doesn't perpetuate dynamics of colonialism, but rather reinforce the sovereignty of people? Thank you.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Yes. Yes, madam. Labib, you are the Commissioner for equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management. So who do we contact when we say things are being violated? When we hear what's said by Vanderlei and that we've really got to see that this is something of the past, but we've got to prepare for the future. So what happens also when we look at the extreme right members of the commission that you're a part of? And what I'd like to say is that the feminist wars, they don't exist. We saw this with Iran and we've seen this with Afghanistan. We now are seeing this with Iran. Imperialistic wars are always opposed to feminism, not just in just in the West. We've got Israel, the EU and the United States. They're not going to save women here. They're killing women. They're killing women. Right now. We see this happen in Palestine, in Lebanon it, and it ran. And the school of children that were murdered in Iran. The hundreds of women that have been killed in the last days in Lebanon. The 12,000 Palestinian women who've been killed in the last few years in Palestine. And we see that there have been hundreds of thousands have been moved. This has all been over the bodies of dead women. So we see this extermination. No one really puts their finger and points this out.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much indeed. When the Ukraine war broke out, you said that we would become more independent and more sovereign. But this is a barefaced lie because three years on, we are even more dependent in energy terms on the US. They have increased their exports of liquefied natural gas, and we have seen the large logistics companies as well as energy companies profiting from the war. And we have also seen a reduction in social rights and an increase in energy poverty. And the plan that you are presenting to us today is one which is born in a European Union, in which we have 42 million people who suffer from energy poverty. And right from the outset, the energy market has been an oligopoly. And this is really a fraud for the citizenry. And we need, therefore, to tax energy companies to intervene in the energy market and make sure we have public control thereof. Thank you.”
  EU approach to electricity market and prices
• “And thank you, chair. I would like to insist on the nomination for the Palestinian organizations, because the first victim of war is the truth. And there's not just a war in Palestine. There is a genocide. And yet Israel is still propagating socialist propaganda and to suppress the voice of Palestinians who are telling the truth in Gaza. There have been thousands. There have been hundreds of journalists assassinated in Gaza in the last year. And Israel is working to prevent these horrendous, inhumane attacks from being known. And a few days ago, we saw an Israeli military who surrounded the Al Jazeera headquarters in Gaza and saw how they were persecuting the entire people of Palestine. Other activists are jailed. They are still working to restrict freedom of expression and to restrict the defense of freedom and peace. When this ends, and if this ever ends, they are working so that it is remembered and that it never occurs again. This is our task is the task of Europe to protect these rights and freedoms. Because if we renounce these rights and we renounce the human rights the world over. Thank you.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Ursula von der Leyen said that we were going. There was, uh, no longer going to be international law. That's part of the past. Well, thanks for being so honest, Commission president. Genocides are swept away. You're in favor of the genocide against the Palestinian people. This is totalitarianism. And there won't be humanitarian rights for the people of the South, nor for the European people. Chat control is a serious precedent. It is a system which allows mass surveillance based on any pretext. Commissioner, why would there be cameras in people's houses just in case a crime was committed. Because that's what you're suggesting. And to the PPE, you don't you don't defend children. There was an attack on a school in Iran, wasn't there? Don't criminalize, um, migrant children. Allow there to be sexual education throughout the EU. Protect schools. So why don't you actually protect children by going after the people that are mentioned in the Epstein papers and protect children's rights, but also please protect the right for people to communicate and to have privacy. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Thank you. First of all, I think we have to talk about how sexual violence is a weapon in warfare. Taking control of women's bodies. That's a way of attacking the enemy by taking control of women's bodies. It happens also to boys and men, but particularly women. Women suffer when there's war, sexual violence, sexual exploitation and trafficking. And then it's also difficult for them to rebuild our lives when they try to be active players in the permanent reconstruction. And then it's also difficult for them because social rights and human rights backslide. Now, none of this violence is new, but it does have different faces. Recent wars have been increasingly violent and increasingly cruel. And this violence is written on the bodies of women. So it's done not just by formal armies, but also by paramilitary groups and other groups. So I think there are some really big questions when we talk about how to deal with sexual violence as the EU. One, what we have to do is to defend peace, because if there's peace, there won't be this fallout of sexual violence. So we need more diplomacy, cooperation. We need to deal with genocide as we see in Palestine. And then there are these mantras. Where we don't see, we see this mantra where people say that the more that you dispense spend on defense and militarization, the safer you'll be. And we're militarizing our culture. And I think that further sets in stone gender stereotypes. There's a second thing we need to do. We need to push for peace. And women need to be at the forefront of political negotiations. Third thing we need when we talk about violence against women, we need to ensure that there is asylum for women who are fleeing these wars. And forth. We need to have a complete overhaul or transformation of society.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “It's always the reproductive and sexual rights of women that we discussed. Palestinian women are giving birth in the streets in Palestine while hospitals are being bombed. I mean, if you're going to have um. Right. You've got to have this basic infrastructure if you're actually respecting women. So this then is something which really flies in the face of women who cares about women? Well, only when they're useful to colonial interests. I mean, that's old school thinking to see women as being second class citizens in colonies or entities without their own entity or their own voices. And more and more violence, more and more inequality. And then we ask for human humanitarian aid. What could the Saharan Sahrawi women look? What happened in 1997 in the European Union there? We gave 17 million then. Now it's down to 6 million. Perhaps you could explain that about the Saharan people. So what's the point if, on the one hand, you're going to have financing for this, and then you've got the EU continuing to finance that, but also financing the bombs which are killing people such as the Lebanese and Palestinian. Then we could look at Sudan, we could look at Cuba, we can look at Congo, we can look at Latin America. Women are the first to suffer from this criminal alliance. And the EU is part of this with Israel and the United States. This is the main threat to humanity as a whole at this point in time.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “Thank you. Chairman. First of all, Secretary of State, you mentioned peace. Combating inequalities, tackling climate change, reinforcing civil society. But Hungary is a country where the government is actually backsliding drastically when it comes to human rights. Systematic violations of human rights, first of all, with the rule of law, with the concentration of the media and persecution of journalists, control of courts by the government, and then also to the attack on human rights with the attack on the rights of LGBTI people, women and in particular the closing of borders and criminalization of refugees. People requiring asylum migrants and part of the actions of the EU has meant that there has been the justification and the excuse of the war, because the war is used as an excuse to neglect the defence of human rights. So I question how can the Hungarian presidency claim to have a credible leadership in human rights defence when it's actually playing a leading role in working against them? The policy towards migrants and asylum seekers run counter to the founding principles underpinning the founding of the EU, and obviously mean that they're also actually counter to the roots of human rights defence. And so I'm not going to ask you on migration, because we know what your view is, militarization of borders and against, as I said, migrants rights, it's very clear that the make Europe great again means defending peace, human rights and an anti-racist agenda in favor of the rights of migrants as well as women and environmentalists. Thank you.”
  Rule of law in Hungary
• “Thank you very much, chair. First of all, thank you very much for being here. Thank you very much for your courage and for your fight. And thank you for listening to our requests. And we in plenary are going to present the situation of women in Afghanistan, demonstrating our concern about this situation, because the Taliban regime is erasing women from the map. Afghan women have always been a model of progress, a model of fighting for their rights. So thank you very much. Your courage is fundamental. It is important to listen to your voice, and we should like to thank civil society, above all, for the women who have been fighting, and let us dispense once and for all for this awful Taliban regime. It's important that we in the West criticize the military interventions also in NATO. Afghan fell, and it's important that we realize the impact that it has on civil society, on structures in general, on the infrastructure and on life as a whole. And it's important that we support women and also minorities. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “We've got. A lot of people are not aware, but we do have eyes. It's called Frontex. It's a structure which makes migrants their target. This European coast and border guard tramples on the most basic human rights. They pursue vessels at sea. They fire at these vessels. They finance countries known for undermining human rights. And many shipwrecks and deaths are the upshot of the fear of many vessels. They are afraid that Frontex will stop them and return them to Libya. Egypt and Tunisia say where the people on board can be thrown in jail, enslaved or slaughtered. The US is terrorizing its population. When we're talking about poor people and black people. So people do not deem this to be terrorism, Frontex and Ice receives a hell of a lot of dough billions over the past few years. They are not held accountable when it comes to trampling on people's rights. Acts like a private company in the US that there seem to be police on every corner. Racially profiling people just because they are black are criminalizing people because they are black. There is indeed a right to asylum on paper. But the new EU deportation regulations, uh, allow things like what Melanie did in Albania. Striking out on a clear course. 30 people were slain by ice last year. 1000 thousands of people were locked up. These are the scapegoats for an extreme right campaign. Millionaires and the friends of Epstein are still getting off scot free and continuing to do what they do. So let's ditch Frontex and let's ditch ice.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner, the techno oligarchs are doing business with online violence. I think you need to connect two realities. Firstly, a New Mexico jury in the US said that meta should pay an enormous fine for hiding points that enable sexual exploitation of children. And then there has been another ruling, this time in Los Angeles, which again found meta guilty of addictive design with Instagram. So what do these rulings tell you? They tell you that violence on digital platforms is no accident. It has to do with design. It's deliberate encouragement of violence. And secondly. You can go to a school where bullying takes place, any school where this takes place. And you know what you what you need prevention, training, clear rules, protocols, ways to report education to deal with machoism and racism, involvement of families. And above all, it's important that the school actually wants to deal with the bullying. And what is happening with digital platforms is that the response is to say that those who have ownership are not responsible. Actually, they just want to do business with violence and there is no real social pressure. Instead, you have algorithms which actually fuel this violence and mean that these are not safe spaces, because Trump's friends do not want to face up to this. They actually just want to make profits because cyber bullying is bullying. And the platforms are like schools where the bullies have taken charge. And so until we face up to the fact that those bullies are in control and they are. They own the digital platforms. All that we do in the institutions will be a dead letter. What we need is clear rules to deal with violence. Thank you.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content