Stine BOSSE

Policy topics Stine BOSSE is active on

What Stine BOSSE has said (80)

• 2026-07-13 “(16:03:31 - 16:04:26): I promise you to be very short. I just want to thank you all again for taking that mission. I was part of it last year. I found it extremely interesting. And I found your report is following exactly the same path as what we experienced. I just want to bring to our common attention 1 fact. The the contribution to the WHO from the EU countries, like all of us, plus what we do together, is the double of what US contributed before they left. This we should all know, and that is why, I mean, they want to engage with us. I mean, because we are clever and we are nice people, but also because we are the we are the funding fathers and mothers. Gerald Hauser, please. Thank”
  EU funding and budget allocation for health programmes
• 2026-07-08 “Thank you very much, mister Sokol. Yes. A very good question indeed. And I do think that many of the things that we have done together already in this, field and the biotech act 2 are very, important cornerstones. But if I should mention 1 more thing that is desperately needed and that is in well, I guess, also in the hands of this commissioner, but definitely in the hands of other commissioners and Van der Leyen and all the countries, it is, of course, to make the Capital Markets Union work, much better and and much stronger than we've seen, up till date. We know that, capital is the thing that is needed when we want to grow these businesses, and it is too scarce and it's too easy to go to The US and to get the capital. So, yes, please, that also.”
  EU industrial funding (mechanism level: EU-pooled vs nationally-financed)
• 2026-07-08 “Commissioner chair, dear colleagues, Europe has a hidden strength, our bioeconomy, our bio based solutions. What is this? Well, it is the power of the new and the very old. The power of the gigantic and the very, very small. The largest trees in our forest and the smallest smallest microorganisms. They feed, they heal, they ferment, and they build. The bioeconomy contributes almost 1,000,000,000,000 annually to our union, more than 8% of GDP, and supports 17% of our jobs. We must use this strategic asset to build for our future food security and to deliver our clean transition. Europe's position is under pressure. The US and China move very fast. Now our Europe needs a strong biotech act too to create lead markets, to buy greener, to simplify how we regulate.”
  EU support for bioeconomic applications
• 2026-07-02 “(10:55:02 - 10:56:59): Thank you very much on behalf of the Renew Group, and thank you to the Commission for joining us in this important discussion. In the past 20 years, the export of textile waste from the EU to the rest of the world has more than doubled. I'm therefore pleased with the ESPRS' provision to minimize destruction of unsold goods. However, I am concerned that the focus has shifted from securing minimum sustainability standards for textiles to information requirements. When the textile industry still accounts for 10% of global emissions and considering the EU's objective to reduce administrative burdens for businesses, prioritizing new reporting and information requirements over binding product standards seems difficult to justify. Environmental performance labeling is an important tool to improve transparency and to inform customers by but in my view, this should be accompanied by ambitious product standards. I would therefore like to ask the following 3 questions. How can the commission justify that information requirements are being set before adopting the actual requirements for the products? And how does this align with the simplification agenda? What evidence does the commission sit with that additional information requirements will deliver greater environmental benefits than mandatory product requirements? Why does the commission consider an additional performance label when the EU already has recognized schemes in place? Thank you very much.”
  Sustainable fashion
• 2026-06-29 “Unfortunately, miss Anderson just left the room, but, I will, say what I wanted to say anyway. It it is interesting. I I really agree with missus Anderson on the fact that we should take the citizens' position in in in especially files like this. But then everything, of course, regarding agreeing stops because not seeing that our pharmaceutical sector and health care sector as such is exactly what we're talking about here, and that this is key to benefit our citizens now and in the future. I just do not get that. And then thank you to colleague, Lise, for being so clear on exactly also these issues, but also being clear on the fact that we need to do more together. And here, I just want to say to Christopher Storm, I think you heard him right. And and to work nation by nation on these issues does not make a lot of sense. We are under a great pressure. And if we don't see these pressures from The United States as of now and from China, then we are just a little bit naive. I'm sorry. And then on the China issue, we will also put forward there, mister Liesen, thank you for raising that subject, Also, an amendment, regarding, making sure that that there is a better balance regarding, the trials and and, in Europe. So thank you for putting that subject up.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened) · EU-China relations
• 2026-06-29 “Thank you so much, dear colleagues, dear all, and especially dear Rabotas. Thank you for a very constructive and excellent report starting point. So speaking on behalf of Renu Sandd, I would like to say the following. The Biotech Act is an incredibly important initiative at a time when Europe is under attack. It sounds dramatic. It is dramatic. Our continent once led the world in biotechnology. Today, we are struggling to compete for a bronze medal. We are losing ground in pharma innovation, investment and manufacturing. And as for food biotech, Europe innovates, but makes it much harder to translate innovations to real products than others do. The gravity of the situation really needs to sink in. Once clinical research and manufacturing leaves Europe for The US or China, which is doing every day, it will never come back. And our patients will be the 1st to pay the price. As the foundation of patients' access to medicine is our ability to invent and make these medicines here in Europe. So we must use Europe's edge in biotechnology or we will lose it. This is why Renew believes that we must fight for an ambitious biotech act now to deliver for our citizens, not only Draghi, and to ensure that we invent, invest, manufacture and use biotech in and for Europe, and to fight back against the harmful effect of Trump's administration's most favored nation policy. The price of our citizens' health cannot be set in the White House. On industrial policy and IP, we will propose to ensure that EU sets a strategic direction for its industrial policy that incentivizes, to invent and make in Europe and made in Europe are as valuable as possible and that we send the right signals to investors to attract capital to the right products and the incentives apply to a meaningful number of products to make a real difference to protect EU patients' access to innovative medicines. We will also propose better conditions for biosimilars. On clinical trials, we believe that we must move from a group of trial nations to a trial union, delivering a single market for clinical trials. Given the catastrophic situation for rare disease patients in light of Trump's policies, we propose a fast track for clinical trials for orphan drugs and a 28th regime, which will centralize ethic assessment across the union while respecting the red lines of the Member States. On strategic projects and centers of excellence for ATMPs, cell and gene therapies, we want to ensure that these joint European projects benefit every member state and every citizen, no matter where they live. Our top priorities for these projects will be to fund the scale up of biosimilar manufacturing, genetic drugs, which will be available to as many as possible. As for center of excellence for AT and Ps, these must have a cross border effect and we must begin trialing pilots for cross border pathways for diagnosis and treatment. This will be good both for our patients and our innovative life science ecosystem. And on food biotech, we need to enable our EFSA to work with innovation, bringing clear and more sustainable products to market. Across the proposal, we will prioritize rare diseases, patient involvement, women's health, phasing out of animal trials, sustainable and long term investments in biotech and many other priorities. I look forward to presenting our text on July 7 and to working with all of you in the coming months. Thank you very much.”
  EU policy on ethical standards in biotechnology applications
• 2026-06-24 “(09:43:06 – 09:44:35): Thank you very much. And yes, indeed, a very, very interesting presentation and extremely interesting perspectives, obviously, and possible mistakes. My question would be a couple of questions. The 1st 1 would be the interlink between AI and personalized medicines. So right now, we are working with the Biotech Act. Are there areas there where you see and can foresee that we should be on the forefront? I mean, we don't look at this on an annual basis. So we have to look ahead and see, you know, are there areas here where we should have new thoughts when we do the legislations? And 2nd, I would like you also to elaborate on 2 things. 1 is alongside with what Andrew Kaites was just mentioning on the data health data space, the EIN systems. And the 3rd question, in both areas and this area, where do you see and how much would you think the need for common investments? We are now talking, of course, about the MFF. And where do you see this filter in? We've done, many of us in this room, a lot to try and drive also for health investments in the digital window in the ECF. Is that where it should sit? Or how do you how could you guide us there? Thank you.”
  EU funding and budget allocation for health programmes
• 2026-06-24 “(10:30:22 – 10:32:55): Thank you very much. 2 very good presentations again. And 1st of all, please, Ms. Das, if I understood you correctly, you were worried about some of the items in the Biotech Act as we're sitting with right now. Could you elaborate a little bit more on that? That's 1 thing. 2nd, please bear in mind that what we're trying to achieve in exactly this piece of legislation is a pushback against the great and horrible attack that we are facing from from the current, US administration. And it might be that it it attacks our pharmaceutical sector 1st, but 2nd will be patients. And already now we see 35% less launches of new medicines in Europe. And that filters directly into our patients being treated a lot worse than they could have been. So please elaborate a little bit on that. And also, please add if there are and come back to any of us who are sitting with this legislation if there are areas where we oversee that there could be things that we should think about on your behalf. So so feel welcome to to do that. And to you, mister Luka, very impressive. I love the thought that AI is is really making many, many things more accessible and efficient, and, you know, it should be for all. We should have an aim that all these things should be for all citizens and should just improve the total delivery here in Europe. So that's all the positives, and I can, you know, elaborate long on that. But I want you to also think about and how should we be prepared and how should we, legislate against the fact that 1 doctor makes 1 mistake. And let's be fair. This happens. That's why it's a tough job to be a doctor because people make mistakes. But if we make 1 mistake in an AI thought model, that sort of splashes out in many to to and, you know, reaches many people. So how how do you think about that? How do you think we should think about this? And and does it and, I mean, I'm there. I'm on board with some of the colleagues to my to my right. That's not often, but that's the case right now. We should actually also worry about how do we avoid mistakes that could be terrible because they are affecting a lot of people.”
  Pharmaceuticals regulation in EU — innovation/access axis
• 2026-06-23 “(10:57:05 – 10:59:25): Thank you very much, dear colleagues, dear Gassares. I would like to thank you for taking a progressive approach to 1 of the core issues in the Envy opinion, namely paving the way for food and feed biotechnology or so called novel food to go to market. Food biotechnology, like biotech in general, is a global competitive edge for Europe. It is aligned with our clean transition and CO2 reduction goals. It contributes to lowering land to land pesticide use, and it helps build our ability to feed ourselves our strategic autonomy and to reduce our resilience on imported proteins for animal feed. 66% of high protein feed is imported. And vitamins, 1770% are imported from China. Just think about it. 70% of our vitamins are imported from China. Probably not a good idea. While Europe is good at inventing, we aren't so good as others in bringing these products to market. To move forward, we need to modernize the mandate of the European Food and Safety Authority, EFSA, to work with innovation and to ensure that we can enable regulatory learning and evidence generation too. Ultimately, help bring products to market, which will all contribute to the EU competitiveness, clean transition and strategic sovereignty goals. We agree on many other points, promoting the reduction and phase out of the use of live animals in pharmaceutical drug development, the 1 Health approach and the prevention of zoonotic disease and antimicrobial resistance, not least via the use of biotechnology. On behalf of Renu, I look forward to working with you all to ensure that our envy opinion delivers for our people, Europe's sustainable future and our competitiveness. Thank you.”
  EU policy on novel foods
• 2026-06-03 “(16:32:03 – 16:33:31): Thank you very much. And, unfortunately, I will have to admit that you are now talking to somebody who did use sun beds and who also suffered from melanoma. Melanoma. Melanoma. And this is 20 years ago. But what I would like to ask you, because I see everything that you are trying to address here, and I appreciate everything that you're saying, especially also mentioning the EIN systems. They are so important that we need to keep on investing in these systems. But what I would like to ask you is the role here also of the pressure we are putting on ourselves. And now I'm talking about social media. I'm talking about the fact that we and include me, please. I go to Greece regularly, and I I am in the sun. I protect myself, but I am in the sun, and I love the tan. How can we how can we talk about this in a different way? How can we not take away the fact that we like to have some tan but not have the dangerous tan? And now I'm also a grandmother of teenagers. And what they do is they look at the level of sun, and then they go out when it's highest. And I tried to explain to them that's when you shouldn't go out, but they said, but this is where we get the highest 10. How can we what is what is your experience here, and how can we support you in this I mean, huge communication task?”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• 2026-06-03 “(15:24:50 – 15:25:29): So during the last two incidents, Ebola and Hanta, when you have told the countries, you have to have this reaction, you have to take these countermeasures, you have to do this and that, is your impression that there is a reaction, that they are listening, that there is a higher level of awareness around your guidance in this area, the commission's guidance, or do we still have a question of countries not really realizing what they should do? Thank you, Stina. And the last question is from Catarina Martins, please.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• 2026-06-03 “(15:22:11 – 15:24:47): Thank you very much. I'll start with women's health. And thank you for your work in this area and that you're passionate about exactly this topic. Now we spoke, I think, about a month or two ago on exactly this question of should we have a strategy or are we okay? And you convinced us that we are actually okay. There are a lot of initiatives, and when we add them all together, they probably look like a strategy. So I would just encourage you to comment on this and then also to comment on how can we communicate this clearer. How can we help you and support you in making sure that everybody is aware that there is actually a strategy and there are actually a lot of initiatives from your side in the area of women's health. Second, on this whole area of emergency and health. I think it was perhaps even in this room, in the beginning of the mandate, we all talked about the increasing risks in this area due to the fact that The US was pulling away from WHO, pulling away from USAID or laying down USAID, and that that would have an effect on the risks for Europe. So what is happening right now is horrible and terrible, but we are not and we should not be unprepared. But I would like to ask you, with the level of funding that we are putting in this direction today, is this reflecting the increased risk or do you actually see that we should look for more funding, especially of course pointing out to the next MFF? And then second, did we learn? And I think you have encouraged us to say, yes, we did learn from the COVID-19 that one of the very, very important areas is also that the countries, that the nations actually listen, that they take measures when things occur. So during the latest two situations occurring, have you found that the nations are actually reacting as they should and they are alert and listening and doing whatever you are asking them or suggesting them to do?”
  EU funding and budget allocation for health programmes
• 2026-02-03 “E-000428/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission The Alert Mechanism set out in Directive 2005/36/EC 1 concerns professionals who are prohibited or restricted from pursuing professional activities in a Member State. The Directive lists the professions covered by alerts, including doctors and requires Member States to send alerts through the Internal Market Information (IMI) system. Therefore, it serves as a single mandatory EU-level mutual warning system, ensuring that all competent authorities registered in IMI can instantly receive alerts. In line with the division of competencies in this area between the EU and the Member States, it is for the host Member States to decide how to follow up on alerts within their legal and operational frameworks. The Implementation Report adopted on 20 February 2026 2 concludes that the EU legal framework facilitates cross-border mobility, while safeguarding general interest objectives such as service quality and public safety. The Report also indicates that the recognition processes could be further improved, particularly through digitalisation and it informs the upcoming skills portability initiative 3 . The Commission is regularly monitoring the Alert Mechanism. New guidelines and training on its features and use was provided to over 500 competent authorities in December 2025. Additional IT developments of the Alert Mechanism are planned to be deployed through March and April 2026. The Commission has also organised discussions with Member States’ experts to facilitate exchange of best practices. Without prejudice to the competences of the Member States in the areas of healthcare and education 4 , the Commission will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the system and consider further improvements. 1 Professional Qualifications Directive, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02005L0036-20251029. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2026%3A86%3AFIN&qid=1771867093407. 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/15894-Skills-portability-action-2facilitating-modernising-and-expanding-recognition-processes-for-regulated-professions_en. 4 The definition of health policy, the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care as well as the organisation of education systems, are the responsibilities of Member States.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• 2025-02-19 “P-000773/2025 Answer given by Ms Lahbib on behalf of the European Commission Through contributions to the World Health Organization and health initiatives, the EU and its Member States are leading contributors to global health financing. The EU remains committed to global health, including by supporting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and is taking a wide range of actions such as the Team Europe Initiative on SRHR in Africa and financial contributions to the United Nations Population Fund and the Global Fund to Fight HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria 1 . The EU will continue supporting global health in line with its commitments and available resources. The fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a Commission priority 2 . The 2022 Global Health Strategy sets out EU’s international actions. The 2023 Council Recommendation sets recommendations to address AMR. The Commission has played an active role in reaching a preliminary agreement in recent negotiations on a Global Pandemic Agreement. This agreement includes AMR and is expected to be formally adopted at the 78 th World Health Assembly in May 2025. The Commission also supports the Quadripartite MultiStakeholder Partnership Platform and the AMR Multi-Partner Trust Fund 3 and engages with international partners (G7, G20). Moreover, the Commission’s proposed reform of the EU’s general pharmaceutical legislation 4 provides for incentives for the development of novel antimicrobials and contains measures for the prudent use of antimicrobials. Building upon the Preparedness Union Strategy, the Commission will present a medical countermeasures (MCM) strategy to enhance the EU’s preparedness for health threats such as AMR by improving innovation and access to MCM, including antibiotics and AMR products. This will complement the Commission work with Member States to develop a financial incentive pilot in the form of a revenue guarantee. 1 https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/ 2 The 2024 United Nations General Assembly declaration marks a milestone of international commitments: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/world-leaders-commit-decisive-action-antimicrobialresistance 3 https://www.qjsamr.org/ 4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/legal-framework-governing-medicinal-products-human-useeu/reform-eu-pharmaceutical-legislation_en”
  EU-US relations · Support for international humanitarian organisations
• “Thank you very much and thank you for the discussion. Following the written announcements already. Friday last week we announced that the deadline for tabling amendments is set to the 4th of March at 6:00 in the evening. So next point on the agenda, dear colleagues the next item. Yeah, we'll just wait for different seating. We need the experts.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• “Thank you very much. Tilly. And then I will give the floor to myself again, just for a short comment. First of all, thank you very much. To the rapporteur. I think it is very good work. And it's very important work. I want to mention a couple of things that have not been said. Perhaps. Otherwise, I very much aligned with all comments research and screening for ovarian cancer. There are some of the ovarian cancer types that are very, very terrible, and they occur at a very early age, but they are genetically identified. So actually with screening programs and with much more communication and knowledge and knowledge of your own family history, if only women know that they have to know we could put ourselves in a different place. So I want also that to be highlighted. Then I think also, there's a lot to be said about clinical trials. You've said a lot of it, but also there I think there's something for us to think about. Bitterness in the, in the biotech act everywhere where we can actually think about demanding more from clinical trials regarding gender. I think we should do so. And then finally, I really. I think you said it. Martinez on the on the question of AI, but we really risk to take on board all the biases that we are sitting with and this we should definitely avoid. That would just be ridiculous. So so I'm happy that you are nodding. If it's in there, I'm even more happy. And and thank you very much for that. And then I just want to ask Madeline Saby, if you if do you want to connect via your phone but not be interpreted, then it's now. No. No. Okay, then I want to give the floor back to our rapporteur. Miss Martins.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much. And indeed. And we should have a strong opinion on the budget, mainly because there is so many elements in the budget that actually cater for some of the transitions that are urgently needed, and I would probably not be in a lot of agreement with the former speaker, our dear colleague from the ECR. We we obviously need to still have strong investments in the green transition in the clean industrial deal. There are many areas where it it is necessary and it is called for that. We have investments ongoing in this area. I would also argue, and this is alongside with what has been said, that when we talk about green transition, when we talk about the clean industrial deal, we are also talking about security and defence, and we are also talking about competitiveness. If we don't want to leave the whole playing field when we talk about green transition to China, then we need to speed up and we need to understand where the new and modern modern world is going. So we welcome all this. And then there is one area that I will definitely want to talk into in a little bit more detail. And that is the area of rescue to cut any thing regarding the rescue at the times we are living in, I consider really irresponsible and I think that we as a committee should stand clear on the sides of our citizens knowing that rescue is really stepping up and and serving us, serving us, serving all of us.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Dear colleagues, fellow Europeans, I speak with pride as one of the vice chairs of the Committee on Public Health In Europe, no one goes bankrupt because of a cancer diagnosis. In too many places in the world, access to care depends on wealth or politics. In Europe, we take care of our people. And yes, despite what some may claim, this also applies to patients in Greenland. Eu has a plan to beat cancer and we are on track in a majority of countries. But we must of course do more. Every minute five people in the EU are diagnosed with cancer. Two die. One of them could be saved. We need thorough actions against tobacco, vapes, ultra processed foods and harmful consumptions of alcohol. We need much stronger cross-border Border cooperation in diagnosis, screening and treatment. Eu stands strong. We must become even better together. Thank you.”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “Mr. Chairman. Dear colleagues, Every EU citizen needs to be able to access cheap and affordable energy. We have that today in the countries where the transition to renewables has come the furthest, because this is a transition, that means that we will come, become less dependent on expensive fossil fuels. And that's the way industry needs to move as well. Industry needs access to cheap energy from wind, solar and nuclear power. That is what enhances our competitiveness, and that's why we have the ETS system which which makes our own energy, turns. Turns our own energy into a good business. And it's moving investments in the right direction. Ets makes sure that the ones who pollute also pay, which is common sense, and it also helps to finance the transition. Quite a luxury. But the Patriots and ECR want to abandon the system altogether, which is a huge mistake. What we need to do is expand on the ETS and revise it. That's what we need in order to enhance our security and competitiveness in the long run. Thank you.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “Thank you very much. Um, my mother grew up during the war in London. Uh, and I'm very familiar with what happens in that case. You, I mean, PTSD, she suffered from that in those days. We didn't know what it was called because it was just, you know, bad nerves or whatever, but it was clearly PTSD. So we lost her when she was 54. Uh, she couldn't cope anymore and she took her own life. These situations actually reach out for generations and everything we can learn, understand, prevent from what is happening in Ukraine. Of course we should. To Mr. Hauser. I mean, this is about asking Russia to stop. Is there war? Is there aggression? Could we have stopped? Could we have stopped Hitler? Well, it was only it was only the way that we discussed it. Right. So this is my plea to how we should deal with this. We need, of course, to do regarding these areas of defense. We need, of course, to take exactly the same understanding when we talk about what are the learnings from what's happening in Ukraine to support, to help, but also to understand much better. That's what's happening in defense, to understand how is warfare nowadays the same? Exactly. We should do here to have a much deeper understanding, because I'm very sorry, ladies and gentlemen. This could be us and we have to get on board. The fact that we need to understand what's going on there to also protect and prevent, uh, for our citizens. Thank you.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Thank you very much. Tilly. And then I will give the floor to myself again, just for a short comment. First of all, thank you very much. To the rapporteur. I think it is very good work. And it's very important work. I want to mention a couple of things that have not been said. Perhaps. Otherwise, I very much aligned with all comments research and screening for ovarian cancer. There are some of the ovarian cancer types that are very, very terrible, and they occur at a very early age, but they are genetically identified. So actually with screening programs and with much more communication and knowledge and knowledge of your own family history, if only women know that they have to know we could put ourselves in a different place. So I want also that to be highlighted. Then I think also, there's a lot to be said about clinical trials. You've said a lot of it, but also there I think there's something for us to think about. Bitterness in the, in the biotech act everywhere where we can actually think about demanding more from clinical trials regarding gender. I think we should do so. And then finally, I really. I think you said it. Martinez on the on the question of AI, but we really risk to take on board all the biases that we are sitting with and this we should definitely avoid. That would just be ridiculous. So so I'm happy that you are nodding. If it's in there, I'm even more happy. And and thank you very much for that. And then I just want to ask Madeline Saby, if you if do you want to connect via your phone but not be interpreted, then it's now. No. No. Okay, then I want to give the floor back to our rapporteur. Miss Martins.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “02:22 – 10:03:59): Thank you very much. Actually, I don't want to repeat what Peter Lise said. I agree completely. If anything, we should, what we see now in the world should make us speed up on this transition. And I want to remind both the ECR and the PFE, this is not only a question of green transition. This is a question of our security. It's a question of this Union's independence, and you should get that into your thinking when you think about the ETS system. Member states that invest in changing their energy supply are now in a better position than they were. That is, of course, a comment especially to Mr Knetek. And then I just wanted also to, if we talk about growth, this is to the ECR group, if we talk about growth, the growth in cleantech in China last year was eighty-four percent, in the European Union seventy-eight percent, not bad, not bad at all, because that's, of course, in real numbers, it's higher in the US, twenty-three percent. That's probably why Mister Trump doesn't like windmills. I mean, come on, let's wake up, and let's celebrate that we live in a Union where we can afford also to have a social compensation. Where on earth in the world do they have that? Let's celebrate that and let's cherish the things that we've actually got at our hands. Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “And I do think that we are exactly where we are now because of the push. I also think that we should lift the lift our eyes and look at what is happening in China if we want to think about our own competitiveness. Let's watch how far they have come in China regarding renewables. And this is also a defense issue. It was said earlier by a colleague. It is definitely a defense issue. Look at what's happening now in the Gulf and the oil. Oil price will gallop in the sky. And this is not what we need. We need the complete opposite in Europe. We need to get away from our dependence on oil and gas. And I would like to ask the Commission, do you take into consideration and do you have impact studies telling you exactly? If we lift the pressure from the gas pedal on all these pieces of legislation. I'm not talking about simplifying, but I'm talking about deregulation. If we lift our foot from the gas pedal, what will that mean for the targets that we want to achieve, the speed that we are going with?”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you. Commissioner. Good to see you here. Uh, I strongly believe in open markets and the benefits of a global trade. Uh, but we also have to be honest about the risks. Today, Europe imports around 75 of its protein feed and up to 90% of key vitamins, often from a handful of countries. So how do you square this with our ambition for food security and safety? What is your concrete plan to make our food system more resilient when supply chains are disrupted or sanitary crises hit? And importantly, are we being bold enough on solutions because we already have technologies, biotech, fermentation, new breeding techniques that could reduce our dependency dependencies and strengthen European production. Are we moving fast enough to deploy them at scale, or are we still letting regulation hold back innovation in the Biotech Act? Thank you.”
  New Genomic Techniques
• “Thank you very much. And I have a couple of questions that I would like to to ask you first of all, on the prevention question, I guess that really starts from birth or how could I understand this? So so when you talk about prevention, what is what is the what is your your thoughts there? And do we have any knowledge of all these AirPods and things that we have like headphones and with, with music. And so is there, is that is that healthy? Is that good or is it on the contrary, something we should be worried about? And the second question is regarding countries, do you have in the report or anywhere else where we can see differences between countries, because that's often where we get more knowledgeable. You know who's doing well, who can we find inspiration from, and how does that look across the European Union?”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “Chairman. Commissioner. Madam president. Commissioner, colleagues. Cardio vascular disease kills 1.7 million people per year. Cost €200 billion per year. High blood pressure, heart failure, things that we're familiar with. But many young people are taking up smoking at a very young age and have other unhealthy habits. How long can we afford to wait to do something about this? I think this plan is a step in the right direction. Finally, we have something so that we can start dealing with what makes us sick. The cheapest option shouldn't always be the most unhealthy one. We need to look at ultra processed over sweet food. We also have to look at healthy options Such as, uh, zero VAT on fruit and veg and sport because we know that works.”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “Catch the eye if you would like to speak. The focus in the next cop will be new national determined contributions. In other words, emission reduction targets for 2040 and 2035. This year, it is ten years since the Paris Agreement, where we globally committed to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Well below two degrees. And where are we now? 2024 was the hottest year on record, the first year exceeding 1.5 degrees. Wmo confirms the past ten years as the top ten hottest years on record. And what do we do? The US pulls out of the Paris Agreement again. Coal use globally has still not peaked. Climate disinformation is at an all time high. Far right and populist parties continue pretending like climate change isn't real and what is actually happening. Thanks to the thanks for the fit for 55 package, the EU is projected to reach 54% emission reductions in 2030. Renewable energy continued almost half of the constitute almost half of the EU's electricity in generation in 2024, at 47%. One positive note also to take on board is that China after heavily investing in innovation into renewables, is seeing the first ever decline in emission, even if it's just a small decline. It's positive and it shows that change can happen. The EU climate policy works and we need to stick to it. We cannot give up hope of fighting climate change and we cannot give up on 1.5 degrees. It is vital that the EU strengthens its climate diplomacy and continues pushing for international action. Despite the current geopolitical challenges, the EU needs to take the lead on this also at Cop 30. Thank you.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you very much. And first of all, thank you very much to the rapporteur. But also thank you to my colleague Leon. Alien for some some very good interventions here. And thank you very much for the report. It is extremely necessary. I just wanted to share one worry point, and that addresses what Mr. Barriga was saying earlier regarding whether this is, uh, an issue we can solve country by country or if it really needs cross-border thinking. If I just only take my own country, Denmark. We have now lost about 50% of the wells for groundwater. And it is no secret. It is, of course, because we are an intensive agriculture country and we cannot solve the the regulation around PFAS for our farmers without solving it for all farmers in Europe, because that's a question of competition. So we need to think about these things together. And in this case, a chain is never stronger than the weakest link. We need to do this together. Also, if we think about the strains that will be on our budgets in the years to come, we will need money for many, many, many things that we have not been needed money for for many generations. So we will have to think differently about our investments. And here I can only say, and I will quote the Commissioner for budget, everything. We can do better and cheaper together. We will have to do in a new way and together. Uh, and perhaps I would say for, for this water issue in many areas, it is only by working together that we can solve it. And then I also want, along with what Anna was just saying, to say that, you know, we do have strong industries. We do have a lot of innovative companies that can actually help us solve these issues. So let's get going. Let's make the investments and let's implement the frameworks that we have. It's 20 years old. The water framework directive. It's not a it's not a new thing. And we don't need more a new legislation. Let's just just get on board the legislation we have. Thank you.”
  PFAs
• “Chair. Commission. Europe is burning 10,000km² of forest have been destroyed in the flames this summer. In southern Europe, this is the equivalent of the entire islands of Zealand and Funen. This is three times as much as what burns during a normal summer, and it's the largest area since we started measuring this area. This is not strange because Europe is the continent in the world that experiences the fastest warming. But while this is happening, the Danish People's Party and the so-called Patriots are doing their best to sabotage our climate legislation, the purpose of which is to put an end to global warming. I would ask you, and I will address the Danish People's Party and the so-called patriots here, how many insurance actuaries, how many firefighters, meteorologists, farmers who have seen their harvest be destroyed? How many victims of these flames do we need to gather around us in this hemicycle before you're willing to see and understand what is happening? You try to provoke our Our legislative work, which is shameful. Are you really looking for an answer in coffee grounds here? Or do you just don't want to know what is happening? Yes, there will be a price to pay if we're going to change our habits and prevent disasters. But if we do not act, we will have to pay with our wealth and our welfare. Let's act together now.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you very much. And thank you for being here. And thank you for. Thank you to the W.H.O. for your continued leadership in advancing these issues. Uh, which at the end of the day means strengthening the global solidarity. And. It tries to ensure equitable, equitable access to, uh, pathogens and related benefits. What what I would like to, uh, to ask you, uh, because I echo completely what Andriukaitis just said And and for many of us, it is pretty astonishing what is going on, uh, not least by the Trump administration. But if you could put some words on, how do you see the the EU position itself? Uh, we had the pleasure, uh, with a delegation from the committee to visit you and also studied also some of the figures. And the EU is a is a big supporter, obviously, and will continue to be, uh, as far as I can see, into the future, uh, for the organization. But how can we together, uh, perhaps do even more and, and where do you see the areas where where we also when we look into the MFF and other issues, where is the areas where we can really together make a difference? Uh, in this whole area of, uh, of being better prepared especially in the times we live in. And I mean everybody, including our God forbid, it. But some of these things can also be used aggressively against us. So so how do you how do you see us, uh, playing a perhaps even bigger role?”
  Support for international humanitarian organisations
• “Thank you so much. And thank you, dear colleagues. Uh, first of all, there are people, obviously, who want a lot less, perhaps even nothing. And there are people who want a lot more. Uh, and that is, uh, that is also to be expected. But there are also and this is wonderful for me, obvious, uh, possibilities in joining forces here because, uh, as much as I acknowledge what we heard just now from from my guests, both the Greens and from the Social Democrats regarding that, we we have to see also that we we are actually good here in Europe. We have a longer life expectancies than, for example, in the US. Uh, that is, I think, also worth noting. And then also, I really, really think that the idea of bringing water up to, to a different level is, is absolutely, uh, very, very crucial. And, and the fact that we can work with, uh, the, the idea that competitiveness and doing ourselves not just a favour, but actually making sure that this planet is liveable, that these things don't. They're not fighting each other. They can actually go hand in hand. So thank you very much for your feedback. At this stage, and I look very much forward to continuing the good cooperation. Thank you. All of you. Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “I just want to ask you. What is your suggestion to stay? Uh, relying on Russian gas and oil and gas from the Middle East. What is your actual solution? What is your actual source of energy? Looking ahead. And do you know what investment means? That means investing. Now, with a relatively short payback period, with the cheapest energy you can ever imagine. When we get the grid running.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you. And thank you for being with us today. Also, dear colleague, um, I'm very pleased that you are actually pushing for an ambitious 2040 climate target. And as you can hear from the questions raised here today, it is not necessary. It is not an easy target for you to take on board. Apart from the main objectives of about actually making sure that our planet is liveable, I also think it is very nice to hear from our EPP colleagues and other colleagues that this is also a question of competitiveness for our continent. It is about incentivising and reaching energy independence. This is for us very crucial. It is about also European security. Even the industry is well aware of this. A recent joint industry declaration, and I know you are familiar with this, including the German industry calls for actual ambition, and I think this is an important statement from the industry. I know that not all countries are in the declaration, but many are. And it's not only the way that we can make the incentives. We also have a need for massive investments. And now my good colleague has left. But yes, there is a lot of wind in Denmark. But I guess in many, many countries there is a lot of wind, but there is not a lot of sun. In Denmark. If you compare to southern Europe, and the whole magic of all this is of course to have a common energy grid. And I would like your comments on also working together with our colleague Dan Jansen on the fact of actually pushing for a space in the MFF to cater for a common grid. And that is, of course, also making sure that this is sustainable going into the future. Thank you very much.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you very much, chairman. Dear commissioners, Renew Europe warmly welcomes the 35% climate spending target in the MFF. It is a driver of our long term competitiveness and as we all know, if we do not invest sufficiently in the transition, the costs for societies will explode. Unfortunately, the target is going to be very easy to fulfill. Why? Because critical raw materials, military mobility, airport terminals and runways and road infrastructure all count towards climate mitigation or adaptation in the performance regulation proposal. But they are clearly not. These investments often pull in the opposite direction. This kind of questionable tracking risks diverting scarce resources away from genuine climate and environmental action. Let's make sure our investments match our ambitions. If we want Europe to stay competitive and avoid an explosion in the cost of disasters, we must ensure that every euro counted as climate spending truly delivers for the transition, not just on paper, but in reality. So my question is, would you be open to reviewing or specifying these classification to ensure alignment with actual climate spending? Thank you.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding
• “Nice to see you here. I just wanted to ask you, can you name which countries in the EU who have a larger gross national product than the two largest tech companies?”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Dear colleagues, dear Mr. Halici, thank you for presenting a balanced working document. First of all, the very low availabilities in budget 26 highlights the fact that common debt must be focused the supplemented and supplemented by genuine own resources in order to avoid preempting the budget on behalf of Renault. I would like to highlight several priorities for the upcoming negotiations. First of all, adequate funding for the Connecting Europe facility. Energy is vital to our strategic interest. We know the scale of investments required to modernize our electricity grids is immense. This critical this critical to accelerating the renewables build out. Securing European energy independence and achieving our climate goals. Secondly, we cannot accept the proposal. Council cuts to EU for health, a programme that has already been cut by 20% in the MFF revision. A programme that the Draghi report clearly identifies that life science sector is a cornerstone of Europe's competitiveness and strategic autonomy. We must bolster this sector to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our citizens. Despite the proven success of rescue. The council proposes significant 20% cuts to the programme. This comes at a time where severe weather events are increasing and frequent and bigger than ever. The Renault Group will strongly oppose this cut. Further funding gaps on biodiversity remains a key issue in budget 26.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Thank you very much. And thank you, Commissioner, for reminding us, uh, the circumstances of the RF. Uh, it is as if the memory is short. So thank you for reminding us. So I will save that part of my speech. Uh, but then I also want us to reflect on, uh. And you did so. So I won't ask you for answering that again. On the the issues of transparency and what have we learned and have we been good enough at controlling and all this? But I would like you to comment on the following. Uh, it seems financially logic that if you have a loan, you also know exactly how to repay it. And of course, what I'm alluding to is, uh, own resources. And would you, uh, kindly comment regarding the MFF if we ever thought about, uh, having common debt again, would it not be a logic also to then talk about, uh, own resources? And also, we find it slightly worrying that the council has not yet adopted the adjusted basket for new own resources proposed by the Commission. A couple of comments on that also. Thank you.”
  Own EU resources
• “That is why we, in Renew have taken a comprehensive approach to incentivise environmentally friendly activities across the ECF to safeguard the Union's long term competitiveness. In that same spirit, we propose a forward looking definition of competitiveness, one that recognizes that long term competitiveness and the clean transition are mutually dependent. Competitiveness means. And this I will now just tell you or read it out to you. Competitiveness means the union's capacity to raise its productivity, to foster innovation, to bolster its strategic autonomy and independence, and to ensure the resilience of its economy against security, geopolitical, climate and environmental risks or any other systemic shocks in a manner that is consistent with the clean transition. Quote finished. Further, we significantly strengthened the and enhance the life programme and its objectives. We strengthened the mandate to reduce strategic dependencies on energy, fossil fuels and critical materials. We widen the biotech definition in recognition of such technologies key role in driving sustainable innovation and sustainable growth. We encourage innovation that strengthens the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of digital and AI technologies. We strengthen the focus on adaptation and mitigation of climate related disasters, because we are already witnessing the rapidly increasing costs and impact of climate change, placing growing pressure on public budgets, businesses and citizens.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you. Perhaps I'll speak Danish. Sorry, colleagues. So, in any case, good morning. I'm delighted to see you here, Minister. And I'd like to speak to what Crystal just said. I also think it would be interesting to hear what you think about the issue of antimicrobial resistance. I think it's great that the Danish presidency has decided to put that on the agenda. High up on the agenda. Indeed. I know you're wearing another hat today, but I'm sure you'll be aware of the tripartite agreement being concluded in Denmark. This, of course, is the result of tripartite negotiations. And I wonder whether you could say a few words about it, because. It refers to the environment, and I think the environment is a tripartite issue. You mentioned vegetarian diets. I'm sure you eat lots of vegetables, but for those who are carnivores, and I'm speaking to my colleagues here, perhaps you can eat a bit of both. Some meat, but some vegetables as well. I'm thinking about European farmers now. How do we help them see Mercosur as a good thing? Because the agreement will improve well-being and prosperity in Europe. What's your view on that? We'll will now finish. The catch the eye. But before that, I'd like to make a comment myself as a member of this committee. In your initial speech, you talked about animal welfare during transport. This is, of course, a serious concern, but we're also aware of the fact that that proposal has been presented. Well, well, this was presented by the previous commission. So it's from over five years ago. And it's a proposal which was subject to more than 3000 amendments in the parliament. So there's clearly no consensus on whether there is a need for such a proposal. And. I think it's would be a good thing if you open or reopen the debate on that in council, because we think that this many of us in this House think the proposal should be withdrawn. You now have the floor once again for ten minutes to respond to all the questions. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “So there is an appetite definitely with the Commission. And I think also, at least in some member states that are beginning to see the point of doing these things more together. Another area of, of comfort is where I was helping you out chairman, on the conference of committee chairs the other week with Metsola. She was very interested in our agenda, and she promised that she would keep it high. Also on the agenda for the Parliament next year. So that was also comforting. And then I would tend to agree with what Mr. Hauser is, is alluding to but I also heard that it was at least between the lines in your report. And for me, that is enough at this stage. But there is something, and we should always listen carefully when things are raised, that might be at the end of the day you know, work themselves into problems that should have been handled differently. So I think it is worth listening to and and perhaps not for this year's report, but then have it in the back of our minds for next year that there is something there. And I have heard also people from the commission talking about there might be some things about the way that things are organized that should be looked into. And we could, of course, encourage that. Thank you very much.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you very much for being present here today. And thank you also to Miss Ellinger. And that concludes this intervention. Thank you very much. And we go on to the next item on our agenda. Gender inequalities in health specifically as regards gender specific conditions. We continue this afternoon with this point and it considers the draft opinion on the gender inequalities in health, especially as regards gender specific conditions. The lead committee is Femm. I will give the floor first to the sand rapporteur, then to the Sant shadows and to any member who asks for the floor based on catch the eye. I will finally give the floor to the commission. If you want to take the floor, please raise your hand so that the Secretariat can see it and take note. Miss Martins, rapporteur for the Sant opinion. You have the floor for four minutes to present the draft opinion and.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much. And it sure is encouraging to hear all good colleagues working in the same direction in this very important matter. I want to draw your attention to, uh, the next, uh, time in Strasbourg where we are also voting on the water resilience strategy. The report on that, where some of the groups have actually managed to take out quite a lot of the really substantial effort to reduce PFAS. So please go back and have deep conversations with your groups and, uh, and make sure that you that you actually catch the amendments than some of us will, uh, put into this because we do need action now. We have no time to waste. We must make sure that we ban PFAS on a total level. This is not going to be possible from one day to the other, but it has to have that direction in consumer goods. It has to be now in other products. Yes, there is a developing time, but look what happened with the firefighting foam. It was because the sense of urgency is there. Then you get the innovation, then you get the developments. If we slack on this, we will see no improvement. So let's keep up the speed and please encourage your colleagues in the groups to do so.”
  PFAs
• “Commissioner, chairman, dear colleagues, the Hondius cruise ship case is a true reminder. We all remember COVID. Back then, Europe was not prepared. Today, we are stronger. During the Hondius case, European experts were deployed, repatriation flights were coordinated, and critical data was shared in real time. That is our health union in action. But we must never be complacent. We are now also facing another Ebola outbreak as mentioned by our commissioner. Virus does not respect borders. When a health care crisis hits, we are all in the same boat. That's why more European cooperation is the way forward. While the far right, as we just heard, retreats into shortsighted nationalism, we choose citizens' safety. We choose foresight. We must invest. That's the way to go. Thank you.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• “Commissioner. Chairman. Dear colleagues, I stopped in. I am proud. And in a time where the media is talking about cuts that we have agreed on the budget for next year, and we've done that responsibly, and I think we can be proud of that. We have competitors like China in the US, and we have the war in in Ukraine involving Russia on our borders. So we have to improve our resistance. The Queen change the We have to have a safer, more competitive Europe and a future proof Europe. And I'm pleased that the EU is investing in the health sector. That really is supporting the health sector to be more resistant in the case of pandemics or health crises, for people's physical and mental health, and for exchanging patient data. This will benefit many European citizens. Thank you very much for your cooperation. **Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ: It's in the middle of a storm, and yet we use buckets to get the water out. Instead, we need to stabilize the ship to have a steady ship to know where we're going. I'm using this metaphor because this is the yearly budget. We barely managed to move a few funds around to strengthen our priorities, but what we truly need is a systemic solution, something that enables us to be strong in the face of dangers such as defence dangers like we have in Romania today with Russian drones all over our skies. Such as systemic dangers such as the ones for the youth with their housing crisis, with their thinking, Erasmus scholarships, with the failing health system, with the need to adapt for climate because we have already lost the battle to stop the climate change. So, Commissioner, I'm not here to judge. I'm just saying that for the future, we need computerized loans. We need to stand together as a union to really stop the feeling of chaos and have the feeling of leadership. Thank you.”
  Size of EU budget
• “We now I'll switch to Danish. Yes, we are very good here in the Parliament and elsewhere of drawing up a wish list along an expensive wish list. And there are very good reasons to do this, because, of course, we have to ensure that the EU gets ever stronger. We are under considerable external pressure, and we need to further develop the EU's resources for health, energy structure, transport structure, defence. These are tough enough founding values. If we want a new dialogue with new innovative proposals, we can come up with more and more. This is absolutely crucial. We need stability for the EU and in order to do this, we need our own resources. But we mustn't forget, as members of the Parliament and the Commission is more than aware of this, is that it's up to the financial ministers back in our own countries that. We're not talking about increasing taxes on the one hand and cutting them for others. Thank you.”
  Own EU resources
• “Thank you very much. Uh, pleasure to see both of you here. And I have a question. One for each of you as you can, as you can gather from the questions already reached. There is a there is a kind of, uh, I wouldn't say divided, but very different approach to some of the environmental issues that we are dealing with, uh, in this moment of time. And I do think it is important also to underline that even a wealthy country like Denmark is relatively wealthy in the European, uh, context, also has issues. I mean, if you look at the water Directive framework, we are not champions. And I'm sorry to say this, but I think it has to be said in this room. Uh, and I would like, uh, perhaps to, uh, to, to, uh, to minister elaborate a little bit on What could we do and what should we do? And what is the effect of not doing something? I mean, we can prove it, that the waters around us are not healthy, and that is due to the fact that we did not implement the water directive framework.”
  Water pollution
• “Thank you very much. And, uh, uh, actually, during my campaign, uh, becoming a member of the parliament, I didn't, I didn't hear your name. But now I know your role has been so crucial. And thank you very much for that. But I did hear your name, Professor Scarpa, in dialogue with, uh, the patient organization in Denmark. They know you and they know they are in systems and they know the whole organization. And I'll have to say, I was blown away by the fact that these people with the you should think less resources because they are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, uh, two very ill patients. They are dealing with all this on top of what they have in their own family. So I just think that is also for us to pay tribute to, to the many, many patients and their families. What I want to say to you, and now it is fingers crossed, because hopefully during the trilogues later this week, uh, and it is a clear priority for for renew group. We will see that, um, very rare diseases will be prioritized in the new pharma package. So hopefully we see this. And then I think it is also very important exactly what you're saying.”
  EU rare diseases policy framework
• “Chairman. Commissioner. Dear colleagues, first of all, I want to acknowledge the work already done with the pharma package with the Critical Medicines Act, with now also the work being done on the Biotech Act. All very needed Because our European health care system are under attack, our patients are losing access to life saving medicines, and our share of clinical trials is shrinking. Investments are leaving our continent. It is not breaking news on television or a central part of the trade deal, but it is the result of the most favoured nation policy, a policy designed in the white House to gut the social systems of Europe. 35% fewer medicines are launched in Europe. And this is just the beginning. I will say it loud and clear the price of our citizens health cannot be decided in the white House. Now is time for a real single market for clinical trials. It's time for a 28th regime for biotechnology. It's time for Europe to become the best place in the world for life science, to maintain the brightest minds, innovation and investments, to invent and make new medicines in and for Europe. This is how we build our resilience and security. Thank you.”
  Pharmaceuticals regulation in EU — innovation/access axis
• “Thank you very much, Christian, for for your work. And the the role of store is is obviously pretty essential for, for our work. It has been a strong support for the European Parliament at a time when AI technology was still new. And we are very much looking for ways on how to efficiently, effectively regulate this AI. Which can do miracles, and with big technologies, it can also do less good things. But my question for you is about biotechnology. And then I have another question also. And the revolution that we are seeing in these years, this commission has declared that biotech is a critical technology. And that's the EU leadership here is essential for our economy and our geopolitical success. For me, that is a pretty obvious it is essential for the health of our citizens, for our climate, and for clean industrial transition. It has so many good and sound elements and giving the new bioeconomy strategy, that is. And the upcoming biotech act. How can you help to ensure that the Parliament and Europe leads in understanding and leveraging the potential of biotechnology. I think that is a huge question. And then I have a little a little question which can seem small, but I guess it's also pretty huge. The gender gap in health. And it goes both ways, actually. There's a gender gap which we normally speak about and probably, I don't know, the, the, the sizes of these gaps, but it is the question of, you know, women being diagnosed much later than men and all these areas of, of women's health that are not really, you know, put a light on. But there's also the other side of the equation, namely the fact that, for example, a lot of or more men than, than women commit suicide. What are these? What is this about? What is this gap? So, so to be curious and focused on why are these gender gaps there? That would be my my second question. Have we got knowledge and if not, would you be looking to to supply knowledge?”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “(16:32:03 – 16:33:31): Thank you very much. And, unfortunately, I will have to admit that you are now talking to somebody who did use sun beds and who also suffered from melanoma. Melanoma. Melanoma. And this is 20 years ago. But what I would like to ask you, because I see everything that you are trying to address here, and I appreciate everything that you're saying, especially also mentioning the EIN systems. They are so important that we need to keep on investing in these systems. But what I would like to ask you is the role here also of the pressure we are putting on ourselves. And now I'm talking about social media. I'm talking about the fact that we and include me, please. I go to Greece regularly, and I I am in the sun. I protect myself, but I am in the sun, and I love the tan. How can we how can we talk about this in a different way? How can we not take away the fact that we like to have some tan but not have the dangerous tan? And now I'm also a grandmother of teenagers. And what they do is they look at the level of sun, and then they go out when it's highest. And I tried to explain to them that's when you shouldn't go out, but they said, but this is where we get the highest 10. How can we what is what is your experience here, and how can we support you in this I mean, huge communication task?”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “Tough enough. And then I would probably ask you, uh uh, Minister, uh uh, also to elaborate on, please explain to us in some detail how does this tripod work on the ground, what is happening right now? Because I think it is a source of inspiration for everybody to understand that if you put also people who might disagree from the starting point, different interests. But if you put them together and you decide that this is the task and it is a demanding task, then you can actually achieve also a pretty, uh, excellent results. And then finally, just, I think, you know, to remind all of us, uh, in this committee, I mean, if you look at what has happened during the summer in Europe, the fastest heating continent, we have to solve this climate issue. It is not something we can just say, okay, now it's overtaken by, uh, competitiveness issues, security issues and so on and so forth. It has to be part of the solution is also to solve this big crisis for all of us. Thank you.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you very much. Uh, Next part of the renew team. Exactly. So thank you very much for your for your fight for the ETS system. Uh, it is absolutely crucial. And it's been said throughout this session that we keep that direction and that there is predictability out there for businesses and of course, also for countries. I have two questions and they are not easily solved, but please elaborate on your view there. One is again the the funds coming out of the ETS system. How can we steer more carefully the way they are spent? And if I heard you correctly, you said they should be spent towards the the companies who have actually paid. I'm not sure that's that's the right way. They should be spent to actually fuel the transition. They should be spent where it is difficult for countries to, to obviously find funds other way, other way to, to make sure that they are spent for the transition. And then second, how do you see the bottleneck problem? Look at what happens between Spain and France. I mean, now Mr. Vondra has left, but obviously nuclear power is a lot more expensive than wind and sun. And how do we even this out? How do we make this electricity market more liquid and and throughout Europe that is also to benefit all the businesses and of course, our citizens.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “Good to see you. Anyway. Um, I have a couple of questions. First, and a comment. First of all, uh, I think, uh, that your answers on biotech and the necessity of speed and innovation, uh, are very accurate and good news, not only to the biotech sector, but also to us as citizens. A couple of questions, though. Uh, bio control. Could you comment on that? What's your opinion? What's your view? Um, what are the potentials and where are the risks? Um, how do you view the perspectives of biodiversity and the lack of biodiversity? What are the risks involved in this? And then finally, I liked your comment on saying that unhealthy food should not be looked upon as food. So knowing that highly processed food is very often very unhealthy. Have you got any ideas of notifying us as citizens. So, you know, it's often very expensive and. What's what's your take on that? How should we how should we expect, uh, ideas from you?”
  Nutrition
• “Thank you very much for being present here today. And thank you also to Miss Ellinger. And that concludes this intervention. Thank you very much. And we go on to the next item on our agenda. Gender inequalities in health specifically as regards gender specific conditions. We continue this afternoon with this point and it considers the draft opinion on the gender inequalities in health, especially as regards gender specific conditions. The lead committee is Femm. I will give the floor first to the sand rapporteur, then to the Sant shadows and to any member who asks for the floor based on catch the eye. I will finally give the floor to the commission. If you want to take the floor, please raise your hand so that the Secretariat can see it and take note. Miss Martins, rapporteur for the Sant opinion. You have the floor for four minutes to present the draft opinion and.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Both of you. I think our very generous chairman allowed you the speaking time also out of the the any other business point. But but the matter of sanctions really rests with the intergroup and the effort group. But, of course, we can all have our concerns and our opinions and so on. But I will leave it to the to the chairman to to take note of your comments. So thank you very much and thank you for bringing it up. And then on to the any other business. No. Okay. Then it's only for me to say that the next meeting. Dear colleagues will be on the 18th and 19th of March. And thank you very much for this meeting. Thank you.”
  EU public communication strategy
• “49:46 – 10:53:29): Thank you very much. So the ETS is, of course, the most important tool, as I said before, not only to fight against climate change but also for our security. And I just hesitate to understand why people again and again cannot see that the fact that we are so relying on gas and oil from outside of Europe and that this instrument that is taking us out of that squeeze, that should be taken down. I just, I just cannot get it, and that is only from a security point of view. So businesses all over Europe have taken note of the ETS system. They have invested, and they have geared their business models towards this system. So if we deviate from this, which would be a catastrophe for many reasons that I just mentioned, that would also be very, very bad for our businesses. I gave you the numbers before. We are keeping up the pace with China on this transition, and we are overtaking what we for many years have thought as our big brother, the US. But in this case, it is actually not us that is in the lead; it is China and it is Europe. So this transition actually fuels the whole innovation going on in the European Union today. The ECS is a source of finance for member states, but it is obviously only a source of finance to keep up the transition, to make sure that there is money, there are funds, so nobody can say we don't have the funds. The funds are there. And then, of course, also as we talked about earlier, it is also something where there is support for citizens, knowing well that this transition is expensive. Nobody ever said anything else. It will be costly. The benefits, when we have done the transition, are on the other hand tremendous. And then I just want to understand Mr. Knotek's comment. If I understand it correctly, I mean, stay in sectors that would be against all common sense. The ETS system is for transition. It is for transforming sectors. So hopefully I misunderstood you, but that is only to be clear here. Climate populism, that is a new interesting word. I never heard that before. I can't see any glimpse of populism. This is painful. This is not popular. Everybody knows it's painful, but everybody also knows it's goddamn necessary.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “(15:24:50 – 15:25:29): So during the last two incidents, Ebola and Hanta, when you have told the countries, you have to have this reaction, you have to take these countermeasures, you have to do this and that, is your impression that there is a reaction, that they are listening, that there is a higher level of awareness around your guidance in this area, the commission's guidance, or do we still have a question of countries not really realizing what they should do? Thank you, Stina. And the last question is from Catarina Martins, please.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• “Thank you very much. Then I'll just give myself the floor for perhaps more comment. And many of you actually mentioned it. What is so important now is that we get this right in the next MFF. And and I loved your comment on, you know, this is the EPP position. We want there to be more funding. Please keep that position because that is exactly what we need. We have to make sure that we can bridge from where we are now to where we actually want to go, and we need to go in the area of where we were just after Covid, before the cuts in the budgets. And then I want to quote our Commissioner for for budget. What we can do better and cheaper together. We must. I mean, this has to be our mantra in the Senate committee to make sure that we really get things in the right order here. And then on to Martin Hausling. Where is Martin?”
  Size of EU budget
• “Dear colleagues. Mr. president, Commissioner, we start again over in potential energy. Once again, we're facing a possible energy prices crisis. With the war in the Middle East, the unpredictability of Trump, it is raising our energy prices and everyone feels it. It's become quite clear that the European dependence on energy from outside makes us vulnerable. But Danish People's Party and the Denmark Democrats want to lower the taxes and excise duties on petrol or diesel, where we are already dependent on the Middle East or Russia. And I thought those two parties didn't really like countries in the Middle East. I just think they're being very short sighted. It's a fact that our energy is cheaper if we produce it ourselves, and Europe won't be safe until we are independent of energy from outside. So we need more renewable energy, wind, sun or nuclear. In the EU energy we control because that's your security and my security. Thank you.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you very much for being present here today. And thank you also to Miss Ellinger. And that concludes this intervention. Thank you very much. And we go on to the next item on our agenda. Gender inequalities in health specifically as regards gender specific conditions. We continue this afternoon with this point and it considers the draft opinion on the gender inequalities in health, especially as regards gender specific conditions. The lead committee is Femm. I will give the floor first to the sand rapporteur, then to the Sant shadows and to any member who asks for the floor based on catch the eye. I will finally give the floor to the commission. If you want to take the floor, please raise your hand so that the Secretariat can see it and take note. Miss Martins, rapporteur for the Sant opinion. You have the floor for four minutes to present the draft opinion and.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you for accepting a blue card. I have two questions for you. First of all. Was it Russia that was the aggressor and entered Ukraine. And it continues to be the aggressor and can stop the Ukraine war just by withdrawing. Secondly, how many times here in the hemicycle has voted in favor of increasing the support to Ukraine?”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Thank you. And I will speak on behalf of Anna Vasconcellos. Uh. Europe is full of talent, people with ideas and projects and can help the EU achieve its ambitious policy objectives, in particular concerning the climate and environment. The budget exists on paper, but too often it is hard to access in practice. Layers of compliance requirements may be well intended, but many times become an obstacle to desired results. The Commission's proposal to move towards a single, simpler performance framework for the EU budget is therefore welcome as it forces. Am I in the wrong? No, no, as it focuses more on measuring outcomes instead of inputs. If we want to solve big problems, we need to start with something simple good data, clear goals, and systems that actually learn and adapt. Right now, our EU budget framework struggles on all three. It is too rigid, which makes it slow to respond. It is too complex, which makes it hard to understand what is working. And in some cases it is consistent with inconsistent, which means we cannot compare results or scale. We have a system where we measure a lot of initiatives but not enough outcomes.”
  Conditions to access EU budget
• “Catch the eye if you would like to speak. The focus in the next cop will be new national determined contributions. In other words, emission reduction targets for 2040 and 2035. This year, it is ten years since the Paris Agreement, where we globally committed to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Well below two degrees. And where are we now? 2024 was the hottest year on record, the first year exceeding 1.5 degrees. Wmo confirms the past ten years as the top ten hottest years on record. And what do we do? The US pulls out of the Paris Agreement again. Coal use globally has still not peaked. Climate disinformation is at an all time high. Far right and populist parties continue pretending like climate change isn't real and what is actually happening. Thanks to the thanks for the fit for 55 package, the EU is projected to reach 54% emission reductions in 2030. Renewable energy continued almost half of the constitute almost half of the EU's electricity in generation in 2024, at 47%. One positive note also to take on board is that China after heavily investing in innovation into renewables, is seeing the first ever decline in emission, even if it's just a small decline. It's positive and it shows that change can happen. The EU climate policy works and we need to stick to it. We cannot give up hope of fighting climate change and we cannot give up on 1.5 degrees. It is vital that the EU strengthens its climate diplomacy and continues pushing for international action. Despite the current geopolitical challenges, the EU needs to take the lead on this also at Cop 30. Thank you.”
  Climate efforts
• “The number of deaths, the risk we are running with, and the effect also right now with war on our continent. So all these things have to be not in a, not in an alarming way, but in an educated way. Explain to people. And that, uh, takes me on to lifestyle, the fact that we and I can take my country. I'm Danish, uh, as one of the countries still not using as much antibiotics as we used to do, but we produce half of the pigs for all of Europe. Meaning that what we use is also still an issue. And this might be controversial, but I will say it anyway. Perhaps that also goes into how much meat we eat. So it's how we actually deal with our production of meat. But it's also the way that we consume, whether we choose, uh, fruit and vegetables, uh, alongside with meat or how we actually compose our, uh, our diet. So I'd like to also to hear your comments on that. Thank you.”
  Antimicrobial resistance
• “Comment on now we are talking about how we vote. So when you within your group would sit with the file on the 2040 target. Are you going to proactively work towards something that will really make a change in the future, so that we will prevent further climate change? Thank you.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you very much. So water is, as we all know, essential for life, for our economy and for our societies. And in a world facing water scarcity, pollution, climate change, that means that we either have too little water or too much water. Understanding and managing this vital resource is more critical than ever. Unfortunately, it's not going in the right direction. Our water resources are under pressure due to mismanagement, unsuitable land use, chemical pollution including PFAS, and increased water demands. But we do already have good legislation. And as it was mentioned by the commission, this is where it sometimes becomes a little abstract. We are talking about deregulation, simplification. And in this room today we are talking about lack of Implementation for 20 years. We've known about this. So. Ladies and gentlemen, this is overdue. A common the common implementation strategy. This has not been successful. So I'd like to elaborate on the commission's toolbox in terms of different approaches. And given the 2027 deadline to reach good chemical and biological status for all EU water bodies set under the Water Framework Directive. We are in a hurry. So only 26.8 of surface water bodies are in good chemical status or in good chemical status in 2021 compared to 2015, where it was 33.5. So where the legislation was taken started, this actually was in a better state. So what is your intention and what is your toolbox necessity from the commission side to actually enforce this happening in our Member States? Could you please elaborate it a little bit more on this approach? And is it enough? Will it bring us in to safe havens? And then I would like you to answer, perhaps for more specific questions regarding the toolbox. The legal, first of all, the legal proceedings for lack of reporting and compliance. What can we do about this? Second, supporting the Member States administrative capacity and facilitating exchange of good practices. Is this enough? And thirdly, streamlining and reporting requirements to ensure comparability of data and to ensure that we are actually approaching the right page of landing. Thank you very much.”
  Water pollution
• “Thank you very much. And thank you for the report. I have not read it in depth yet, but a couple of comments and perhaps one question. Uh, it is very obvious, uh, that we do need to spend more money together. We have so many investments ahead of us. Just look at the what's going on right now with our energy prices. And if we really want to make sure that we are supplying ourselves that needs investments and look at the defense side. So I'm not I'm not questioning at all the, the, the need for for spending more. What I would like to hear your opinion on is the balance between Draghi and Letta. If we are going to spend more together, we also have to make sure that we do better together. And that means probably also stopping things going on in nation levels. I want to quote our Commissioner Sarafan, within the first I think it was half year of his mandate. He said, what we can do better and cheaper together. We must. So I would like to hear your reflections on that. Is there any indications in the report where we can actually stop doing things and then doing it together and save money on the nation levels to actually spend money more clever together? Thank you.”
  Defence spending
• “Thank you very much. Tilly. And then I will give the floor to myself again, just for a short comment. First of all, thank you very much. To the rapporteur. I think it is very good work. And it's very important work. I want to mention a couple of things that have not been said. Perhaps. Otherwise, I very much aligned with all comments research and screening for ovarian cancer. There are some of the ovarian cancer types that are very, very terrible, and they occur at a very early age, but they are genetically identified. So actually with screening programs and with much more communication and knowledge and knowledge of your own family history, if only women know that they have to know we could put ourselves in a different place. So I want also that to be highlighted. Then I think also, there's a lot to be said about clinical trials. You've said a lot of it, but also there I think there's something for us to think about. Bitterness in the, in the biotech act everywhere where we can actually think about demanding more from clinical trials regarding gender. I think we should do so. And then finally, I really. I think you said it. Martinez on the on the question of AI, but we really risk to take on board all the biases that we are sitting with and this we should definitely avoid. That would just be ridiculous. So so I'm happy that you are nodding. If it's in there, I'm even more happy. And and thank you very much for that. And then I just want to ask Madeline Saby, if you if do you want to connect via your phone but not be interpreted, then it's now. No. No. Okay, then I want to give the floor back to our rapporteur. Miss Martins.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. And thank you very much for for taking that, uh, very, very timely mission as, as was named. Uh, I just wanted to to highlight that, uh, if all goes well, uh, the Amr issue will be one of the top issues during the Danish presidency. And we should, of course, play our cards well into that. Um, it is for me very obvious that it starts with prevention. It starts with how we handle animals. We produce in Denmark, about 50% of all pigs in Europe, and I'm still not sure that it's really done in the best way. It's better, but not yet. First in class. But we we should talk about this and find new solutions. And then of course, also encourage and find a way when we talk about the both the Critical Medicines Act but even also in the pharmaceutical package, how do we encourage, uh, research to, to not just research but also to market new antibiotics because we will need that. We already need it. Um, and then of course, I think it is also a very good remark, uh, from our colleague to say this is also at the end of the day, it becomes a social. It becomes a societal issue. Who are we? How are we going to deal with, you know, new possibilities and funding clashes in the future? Also a very timely discussion in my opinion. But but let's keep in mind also in, in in this committee that and hopefully the Amr will will surface on the agenda next. Yeah. Next half year.”
  Antimicrobial resistance
• “Both of you. I think our very generous chairman allowed you the speaking time also out of the the any other business point. But but the matter of sanctions really rests with the intergroup and the effort group. But, of course, we can all have our concerns and our opinions and so on. But I will leave it to the to the chairman to to take note of your comments. So thank you very much and thank you for bringing it up. And then on to the any other business. No. Okay. Then it's only for me to say that the next meeting. Dear colleagues will be on the 18th and 19th of March. And thank you very much for this meeting. Thank you.”
  EU engagement with civil society
• “49:46 – 10:53:29): Thank you very much. So the ETS is, of course, the most important tool, as I said before, not only to fight against climate change but also for our security. And I just hesitate to understand why people again and again cannot see that the fact that we are so relying on gas and oil from outside of Europe and that this instrument that is taking us out of that squeeze, that should be taken down. I just, I just cannot get it, and that is only from a security point of view. So businesses all over Europe have taken note of the ETS system. They have invested, and they have geared their business models towards this system. So if we deviate from this, which would be a catastrophe for many reasons that I just mentioned, that would also be very, very bad for our businesses. I gave you the numbers before. We are keeping up the pace with China on this transition, and we are overtaking what we for many years have thought as our big brother, the US. But in this case, it is actually not us that is in the lead; it is China and it is Europe. So this transition actually fuels the whole innovation going on in the European Union today. The ECS is a source of finance for member states, but it is obviously only a source of finance to keep up the transition, to make sure that there is money, there are funds, so nobody can say we don't have the funds. The funds are there. And then, of course, also as we talked about earlier, it is also something where there is support for citizens, knowing well that this transition is expensive. Nobody ever said anything else. It will be costly. The benefits, when we have done the transition, are on the other hand tremendous. And then I just want to understand Mr. Knotek's comment. If I understand it correctly, I mean, stay in sectors that would be against all common sense. The ETS system is for transition. It is for transforming sectors. So hopefully I misunderstood you, but that is only to be clear here. Climate populism, that is a new interesting word. I never heard that before. I can't see any glimpse of populism. This is painful. This is not popular. Everybody knows it's painful, but everybody also knows it's goddamn necessary.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “Thank you very much. Uh, I want to take you about 50 years back to my classroom in Denmark. And we were taught about the climate change. It was called, uh, glasshouse emission, that sort of thing. You could not see it. And I remember thinking about how would it be when I'm above 60 and these changes actually occur. So, ladies and gentlemen, who might be in doubt, please just check the facts. 30 years later, I found myself working in the insurance industry, and I got curious. And if you are in doubt about climate change, just go and study with together with Europeans in insurance companies or in banks. What is going on? Or you can trust the oil industry. The oil industry from the Middle East. You guys in here, trust them. Let's invite them all. Let's get them all here together. The IPCC specialists, the people from the oil industry. Let's get the actuaries in here. Let's get the firefighters who are faced with this change. Let's get them all in here. And let's decide what's right and what is not right. I just cannot understand why people should not be allowed to prepare, should not get the information out there to prepare. How can you sit with this colleagues and say, this is a very good idea? Because this is not facts. We know this is facts. We know that the catastrophes. And so to the colleague here saying that this is what has happened in Valencia all over again. Yes, but in much smaller scales. And then to my good colleague here, if you think it is. And it is expensive. Transition is expensive. This is why we need to do this together and to talk about competitiveness and growth also within this area. It is going to be expensive, but do you think it is going to be for free? Not to act. This is going to be ten times as expensive. Thank you.”
  Climate efforts
• “Thank you very much, Mr. President. Commissioner, dear colleagues. Our preparedness union is getting real. I could have spoken about viruses threatening situations, but I will focus on the positive. We can be efficient in countering global health threats. As a union, we must think together, innovate together, purchase together, stockpile together and be ready to act together. Build on rescue. It's time to leverage the public procurement to make joint purchases of much needed vaccines and other countermeasures. Innovation is about preparedness, too. Yes, we can ensure that we are ready to invent, see new products in the market, and invest. How? With more Europe. A strong coordinating role for the Commission, for Ecdc and for her. That's what we need. That's what we're finally getting. Thank you.”
  Covid-19 vaccines procurement
• “Thank you. And thank you very much for your very good priorities. I want to draw your attention to some of the things that we also listened to here in the committee yesterday regarding security and regarding the cyber security issues that are facing all countries, and especially in the times that we unfortunately are living through. I would just encourage you to also pay attention to this issue and here, because we are all going to be facing very, very constrained budgets country by country, but also when we talk about our budgets together. I'm also on the Budget Committee, and even for 2026, we are trying to get some of the money back into the budget. You know, we're doing our best to see if that cannot happen. But let's face it, we will all be facing in the years to come a very, very difficult situation with need for more money in obvious areas. So I would also encourage you to think about how we can be in the framework of the commission. Talk about common procurement. I spent some time yesterday with some digital people who are working exactly in this sector. And if I listen to the very, very excellent budget Commissioner Serafin, he's very good. And he said the following, even in the hearings, and he repeated it the other day. He said two things. He said, first of all, everything we can do together, cheaper and better, we should do together. It needs to be an obligation. We need to be much more bold. We cannot just sit and watch everybody else being bold around us. Second, what he said was go home, all of you. It was in this Inter parliamentary session. Go home all of you, and tell your nations to come up with more money for the common areas because it's going to be cheaper in the long run. So I'd like to hear your comments on that. And are you also planning to look into cyber security for our hospitals, especially at this time?”
  Cybersecurity investments for critical infrastructure
• “49:46 – 10:53:29): Thank you very much. So the ETS is, of course, the most important tool, as I said before, not only to fight against climate change but also for our security. And I just hesitate to understand why people again and again cannot see that the fact that we are so relying on gas and oil from outside of Europe and that this instrument that is taking us out of that squeeze, that should be taken down. I just, I just cannot get it, and that is only from a security point of view. So businesses all over Europe have taken note of the ETS system. They have invested, and they have geared their business models towards this system. So if we deviate from this, which would be a catastrophe for many reasons that I just mentioned, that would also be very, very bad for our businesses. I gave you the numbers before. We are keeping up the pace with China on this transition, and we are overtaking what we for many years have thought as our big brother, the US. But in this case, it is actually not us that is in the lead; it is China and it is Europe. So this transition actually fuels the whole innovation going on in the European Union today. The ECS is a source of finance for member states, but it is obviously only a source of finance to keep up the transition, to make sure that there is money, there are funds, so nobody can say we don't have the funds. The funds are there. And then, of course, also as we talked about earlier, it is also something where there is support for citizens, knowing well that this transition is expensive. Nobody ever said anything else. It will be costly. The benefits, when we have done the transition, are on the other hand tremendous. And then I just want to understand Mr. Knotek's comment. If I understand it correctly, I mean, stay in sectors that would be against all common sense. The ETS system is for transition. It is for transforming sectors. So hopefully I misunderstood you, but that is only to be clear here. Climate populism, that is a new interesting word. I never heard that before. I can't see any glimpse of populism. This is painful. This is not popular. Everybody knows it's painful, but everybody also knows it's goddamn necessary.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “And I do agree with my colleague here. The quality of your presentation has been has been very good. But let me also elaborate a little bit further on the comments here. Will you agree with the Draghi report that the green transition is actually conditional for, uh, competition and also security. So it's not only a climate issue, it's also a question of competition going forward versus China and the US. And of course, and obviously look at how we now are relying on gas from Russia. This can of course not go on. So do you agree also that this is a security issue?”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Thank you very much. And I have a couple of questions that I would like to to ask you first of all, on the prevention question, I guess that really starts from birth or how could I understand this? So so when you talk about prevention, what is what is the what is your your thoughts there? And do we have any knowledge of all these AirPods and things that we have like headphones and with, with music. And so is there, is that is that healthy? Is that good or is it on the contrary, something we should be worried about? And the second question is regarding countries, do you have in the report or anywhere else where we can see differences between countries, because that's often where we get more knowledgeable. You know who's doing well, who can we find inspiration from, and how does that look across the European Union?”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
• “(15:22:11 – 15:24:47): Thank you very much. I'll start with women's health. And thank you for your work in this area and that you're passionate about exactly this topic. Now we spoke, I think, about a month or two ago on exactly this question of should we have a strategy or are we okay? And you convinced us that we are actually okay. There are a lot of initiatives, and when we add them all together, they probably look like a strategy. So I would just encourage you to comment on this and then also to comment on how can we communicate this clearer. How can we help you and support you in making sure that everybody is aware that there is actually a strategy and there are actually a lot of initiatives from your side in the area of women's health. Second, on this whole area of emergency and health. I think it was perhaps even in this room, in the beginning of the mandate, we all talked about the increasing risks in this area due to the fact that The US was pulling away from WHO, pulling away from USAID or laying down USAID, and that that would have an effect on the risks for Europe. So what is happening right now is horrible and terrible, but we are not and we should not be unprepared. But I would like to ask you, with the level of funding that we are putting in this direction today, is this reflecting the increased risk or do you actually see that we should look for more funding, especially of course pointing out to the next MFF? And then second, did we learn? And I think you have encouraged us to say, yes, we did learn from the COVID-19 that one of the very, very important areas is also that the countries, that the nations actually listen, that they take measures when things occur. So during the latest two situations occurring, have you found that the nations are actually reacting as they should and they are alert and listening and doing whatever you are asking them or suggesting them to do?”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• “Thank you very much. And thank you to both Court of Auditors and Commission. Um, first of all, we acknowledge your sincere attempt to simplify and to make also harmonization. Uh. Something that we really need to do. So, uh, hopefully. And that's why I would like a comment on the simplification. Give us some examples where you really see that this is more simple. It's easier. And also easier for the end users. Uh, and here you said earlier that it would probably be up to the, to the countries also by implementing. But could there be implementing guidelines, could there be some kind of support and help and a slight push to make it, uh, more easy for, for the countries to make it simple? Uh, then I am completely or we are from the new completely aligned with the the criticism from the from the Court of Auditors. We need clearer and more precise definitions. The proposed climate and environment spending definitions are just filled with loopholes. Let me give you a couple of examples. Investments in military mobility counts as contributing to climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and environment investments in increasing airport terminal capacity or new runways count as contributing to climate adaptation and environment investments in road infrastructure counts as contributing towards climate adaptation and environment. This just cannot be correct, or at least it should be specified more. There might be situations where it's the that's the case, but it should be, uh, should be precise. And and an actual impact has to be measurable. This is spending public funding and we're actually promising something to our citizens. And then secondly, we we do think that we need more ambition on the climate and environment spending targets. Uh, I mean, now when we talk about climate, it is also about our security. So, so please also, uh, think they're, um. Yes. And I can see you are now in five seconds. You will. Five seconds. Okay. Just, uh, I want all of us to think about reading the full report, because the full report clearly also talks about the transition of our economies and our energy systems. Thank you.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding
• “We count what we spend, not what we build. What we fund. But we are less good at tracking and addressing how EU spending actually contributes to our policy objectives. And when data is fragmented across multiple platforms and reports, no one knows. Not policy makers, not Europeans in general get a clear picture of what the budget performance is. So the proposal should be first on indicators. We need few box ticking output metrics and more meaningful performance and qualitative indicators that tell us where policies are working and allow us to adjust. Second, transparency and accountability. A single gateway should not just exist. It should be usable, integrated, and clearly linked with all existing EU dashboards through structured cross-referencing. Third and last. On the do no significant harm principle, we need consistency to full harmonisation across all programmes. But we should also be pragmatic and make sure this principle guides better decisions and not block much needed innovation. Thank you for your attention. I look forward to working constructively with the rapporteur, says Anna, and all shadows on the crucial file. Thank you.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding