Niels FLEMMING HANSEN

Policy topics Niels FLEMMING HANSEN is active on

What Niels FLEMMING HANSEN has said (28)

• 2026-06-17 “(15:56:33 – 15:57:51): commissioner McGrath, thank you very much for being present here today. In a month, the commission will present the action plan for electrification. And it is not merely late. It is very late because the European Union is screaming for action. We need a lot more electricity than before, and it has to be homegrown. It could be the turbines using the wind energy or the solar panels getting the energy from the sun, or it could be from the ground. All of this is very important so that we can retire from using fossil fuels. We can see that energy crises are rising, and the fear is growing. And the fear is also used by politicians here in this room. There are always elections around the corner, and politicians are more occupied with elections. Our member states should be our batteries because that should be our focus regardless of our disagreements. Thank you. Thank you very much, miss Corrado. Thank”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• 2026-06-16 “(15:38:38 – 15:39:48): you very much indeed, commissioner Dombrowski. Now it seems that we're asking you to set up your qualifications in Denmark. We've been looking at, this, and we've identified that 120 hours a year, for each SME is being used on with on administrative issues, and this is costing billions of euros over the year. Now this is also an issue of a national, gold plating as well. That is overregulation on a a national level. Now the commissioner has also mentioned gold plating in the better regulation report in April. We were told that the single market had to be simplified, but there isn't enough transparency. So how will the European Commission develop an approach ensuring that member states do not indulge in systematic gold plating? Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• 2025-10-07 “E-003930/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The European Steel and Metals Action Plan 1 does not propose a ban on the export of scrap metal. It puts forward a comprehensive set of measures aimed at addressing steel capacity, that includes among others a possibility for the Commission to consider trade measures to ensure sufficient availability of scrap in the EU. The purpose is to strengthen the circular economy and reduce dependence on imports of primary raw materials. The Action Plan clearly identifies global overcapacity, mainly caused by subsidised production outside the EU, as the source of market imbalance. In this context, the Commission has proposed a dedicated trade measure to tackle these negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity and stabilise the EU steel market 2 . Furthermore, as part of the Action Plan, the Commission is promoting investments in high-quality recycling, better sorting and treatment of scrap, and the creation of a single market for secondary raw materials. Such measures will be reinforced under the forthcoming Circular Economy Act. Throughout all workstreams the Commission is committed to supporting recyclers and small and medium-sized enterprises, maintain jobs in the recycling sector, and ensure that value creation remains within the EU. Accordingly, the Action Plan will help build a resilient and competitive European recycling and metals ecosystem that underpins quality industrial employment. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0125. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025PC0726.”
  Circular economy · EU Competition policy
• 2025-07-09 “E-002787/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission How climate-friendly transport of captured CO 2 to underground storage is depends on several factors, including the distance between the capture and the storage site and the mode of transport chosen. Operators have an interest to reduce climate impacts as transport of CO 2 is fully covered by the EU Emission Trading System (ETS). In line with the Industrial Carbon Management Strategy, the Commission is preparing a proposal for a regulatory framework that will address the market and regulatory barriers for the deployment of CO 2 transport infrastructures and storage sites. By July 2025, all 44 obligated entities have notified their compliance plans to the Commission. The obligated entities do not disclose the timing of their Final Investment Decisions (FIDs). The Commission expects that the obligated entities will meet their legal obligations. Furthermore, the number of CO 2 storage permit applications in Member States has been rising since 2024.”
  Carbon capture storage and utilisation
• 2025-06-11 “P-002356/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission 1. Since December 2024, after both co-legislators had adopted and the European Parliament confirmed their positions on the file, the Commission has urged the trilogues to start. Denmark recently confirmed that it will take up the CountEmissionsEU file under its Presidency. A swift start of the trilogue negotiations is underway and the date for the opening trilogue meeting is already agreed. 2. The Commission is ready to support and facilitate the discussions between the co- legislators to achieve a timely adoption of the CountEmissions EU regulation. If the adoption were to be significantly delayed, the objectives of the Commission proposal to harmonise the calculation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of transport services to enable customers to choose more sustainable transport options while encouraging the uptake of GHG accounting by businesses, and thereby to contribute to the overall EU’s climate objectives, would be further pushed back. Lack of a unified EU framework would also mean continued use of divergent methods across operators, reducing comparability and interoperability and creating extra burdens to industry. Green transport solutions might not be rewarded properly in the market due to possible greenwashing and consumer mistrust in published information.”
  Climate efforts
• 2025-06-11 “E-002357/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has developed comprehensive guidance as part of an implementation support package 1 to assist Member States in the transposition of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). This package has been developed in close cooperation with Member States through multiple meetings of the EPB Committee and the Concerted Action EPBD 2 . The content has also been discussed with stakeholders. The Commission will continue collaborating with all parties to ensure a successful transposition and implementation of the recast EPBD. The recast EPBD does not include a mandate to develop a pan-European certification scheme. Instead, it supports convergence of systems by identifying key principles which Member States must take into account in their transposition. As part of the implementation support package, the Commission has also presented a common framework for transferring data from national buildings databases to the EU Building Stock Observatory. The Commission is aware of initiatives from international partners 3 . The Commission is considering different options to make best use of the available information and lessons learnt. The Commission is also organising an inspiration webinar 4 in cooperation with the Danish Presidency to showcase practical of digital and data driven solutions that include examples building on measured consumption data. 1 https://energy.ec.europa.eu/publications/communication-approving-content-notice-providing-guidance-recastepbd-guidance-recast-epbd_en. 2 https://www.ca-epbd.eu/. 3 Such as the UK’s SMETER (smart meter enabled thermal efficiency rating) or the Australian NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System). 4 https://energy.ec.europa.eu/events/simplifying-building-renovations-and-epbd-implementation-digital-toolsand-business-models-2025-09-23_en.”
  Energy performance of buildings
• “Thank you very much. And thank you, Hildegard, for great work. I have trouble finding things in here that I disagree with you with, though. Um, one of the things we talk about is this chief. Uh, biotechnical officer in the commission, I think it's important to to underline here that this person will be responsible for ensuring the coherence across the entire biotech, uh, value chain and not, uh, specified. On the other hand, I think this matter is of geopolitical importance, and I think this is, uh, Where we can reduce our dependencies of non-EU countries and we can enhance our strategic autonomy. Uh, also, uh, this is typical, uh, products where you have fewer resources and generating less, uh, less pollution and uh, being less vulnerable to climate induced disruptions. So this is very important. And thank you for great work.”
  New Genomic Techniques
• “Thank you very much. And thank you to my esteemed colleagues for a great work together so far. It has been a real pleasure, and I am hopeful that we can conclude swift and constructive negotiations on this file for the Envi Committee. Our aim is clear to ensure effective environmental regulation while sustainably reporting the backbone of our economy, which are the small and medium sized enterprises, and importantly, also small and mid caps. We have introduced several amendments to the proposal that specify specifically addresses the regulatory burden. First, let's talk about the definition. The thresholds linked to mid cap status are now updated consistently with the proposed SMC definitions. This ensures that the right companies benefit from the right level of simplification in the battery Regulation. We have extended the SME exemptions for battery due diligence obligations to include small mid caps. We are streamlining reporting cycles to a more manageable five year review period. Crucially, we also made the amendments to make it crystal clear that companies are that companies, to fulfil their due diligence obligation, can do so through a single consolidated report across all relevant EU, EU due diligence frameworks.”
  Sustainability of batteries regulation
• “(16:04:03 – 16:05:26): Thank you very much and thank you to the distinguished and broad panel for being here today. I was a rapporteur for the ITRE opinion on the Invest EU omnibus where we secured vital supporting simplification for our SMEs and I would like to ask your opinion on how to improve the Commission's proposal. We ensured secured reporting requirements for smaller amounts of support and how would you recommend we integrate something like this in the proposal? Article twenty seven established the EU for Business network. Would you have any recommendation on how to strengthen the provision like focusing more explicitly on local retail banks to be included in the implementation? And in Article thirty three it's mentioned energy renovations. Should we expand the fund's focus to explicitly reach the household level? And to what extent would a dedicated loan facility for energy renovation strengthen the fund's overall goals for creating lead markets for clean technology while ensuring the transition remains accessible and affordable at the household and SME level? Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you very much. There's no doubt that this is the right way to go. And I have to say that if we just look at the vehicles, the electrical vehicle sales is continuing to grow. In the first 4 months of this year, sales increased by 6% compared to the same period last year. And at that pace, the development remains strong. At the same time, the latest electrical trucks can now travel up to 7 50 kilometers on a single charge fully loaded. But the question is no longer whether the technology is ready, the question is whether our infrastructure can keep up. And therefore, the green transition must succeed. We must invest just autonomously in the electronic grids. That is extremely important or else we will disappoint the green transition. And of course, the energy has to be green as well.”
  EV charging infrastructure
• “Thank you. And thank you to Mr. Ala who, uh, talked about this as well. But I want to look at this from another angle. Mr.. Ogar, how can we ensure that Europe has better control so as to avoid third countries? Uh, coming up with other sources for Russian gas, for example. Minister Bosco, you talked about biotechnology. I know this is a priority of the Danish presidency. What are the specific challenges that you see other than ensuring that the field of biotechnology needs to develop? How do you see the future legislation on biotechnology, and will we get any sort of simplification for the regulations there?”
  New Genomic Techniques
• “Thank you very much, dear colleagues. Dear Jessica, I am not spilling the beans when I say today, we need to speed it up in Europe. The war in Ukraine and our insecurity show clearly that energy isn't just something we get from the socket, it's also security policy. And if the EU wants to be a serious player in global competition, we can't obstruct ourselves. Let me give you an example, 48 companies were ready to invest. They wanted to have photovoltaic cells. They wanted to electrify and be on green electricity. Not because they weren't ready, not because the technology were there. No, but because the electricity grid wasn't able to cope with this. In Denmark, which is a very windy country, if the turbines aren't able to deliver the electricity we need, what does that say about the energy system in Europe? As long as we are dependent on energy from outside, it influences our economy, our companies. And that's why the conclusion should be quite clear. We need to accelerate our approach. The microphone has been cut.”
  EU energy infrastructure integration
• “Thank you chair. Dear Dan, dear colleagues, on January 26th, 13 countries around the North Sea agreed to integrate up to one was a historical moment. This is not just an ambition. This is a decision. And the work starts now. In Denmark, we have taken that responsibility very serious. With the Bornholm Energy Island, we deliver three gigawatts of green electricity to Denmark and Germany. That is enough to power around 3 million homes. 1 million in Denmark, 2 million in Germany. This is about much more than climate policy. It's about security. It's about jobs. And it's also ensuring energy prices are manageable for all in the union. The alternative is continued dependence on expensive and unsustainable fossil energy imports and the geopolitical risks that comes with them. Yet when energy prices rise, some argue that we should slow down the transition, postpone or undermine our market based solutions like the ETS, and return to politics and technologies of yesterday. Not on my watch. There is an old saying when the winds of change blow, some build shelters while others build windmills. Europe must be the continent that harnesses the power of the wind, not the one that seeks shelter from it. Thank you very much.”
  Off-shore renewables
• “Thank you very much. I'll try to ask a very, very long question, then. No, there's there's nothing about the ASAP which the proposal seeks to amend will expire June 30th. One might ask how quickly the file should be treated procedurally. The concern is whether ASAP would legally need to be, uh, need to be amended before it expires. Or could it also be amended past the date? Uh, so far we have not obtained any The explanations from the Commission that extending the ASAP by amending it after the expiration date and therefore reactivating it is, it is indeed possible. Supporting, therefore, that the ASAP would need to be amended before it expires. And I would like to ask you, how could this be achieved if you want it? Thank you.”
  Conditions to access EU budget
• “This simplifies change provides companies with greater clarity and certainty. Secondly, regarding FCA's regulations, we are not weakening the regulations but clarifying that the strengthening and strengthening this amplifications. We have clarified reporting thresholds based on CO2 Equivalents, which provides the necessary legal precision, already drawing on the conclusion reached in council. And importantly, we have included a robust safeguard that the Commission is tasked with reviewing within two years whether these simplification measures affect enforcement or contribute to illegal trade or circumvention. This ensures that we quickly get this, that we can quickly act if there are unintended consequences. Finally, colleagues of the chair of the intergroup for SMEs in this Parliament, I must emphasize the importance of this approach. Our SMEs and SMEs are vital for innovation and jobs. These amendments establish a legally sound, proportionate and future proof framework. They enable small mid-caps to benefit from targeted simplification while Simultaneously protecting our SMEs policy objectives, ensuring regulatory, predictable and pursuing effect enforcement across all union law. I urge you to support this balanced, practical measures. Thank you very much.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “I have to say that I think that the gentleman speaking to me is completely wrong. Of course, it is important with the institution of a chairmanship that goes divided from country to country. From the Danish chairmanship, our biggest effort here is to put the European alliance on the right track, so that we keep moving forward and we need presidency and we need Danish leadership to do that. Thank you.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you very much, chair. It's a great pleasure to be here on talking on such an important topic, and I would like to welcome this exchange of views that we're having today. India is of the euro key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific globally. Global events, including rising geopolitical tensions of the use of economic dependencies as political tool, makes it even more important for us to strengthen the partnership in many areas. Our combined population represents more than one fifth of the world's population, and we have to. And we have two of the world's biggest economies today the EU. India largest is EU's largest trading partner, representing 12% of India's total trade. But India is only EU's nine largest, largest trading partner. The EU is a leading investor in India, but there as well as is here. There's room for growth. A fair a free trade agreement between EU and India has both economic and strategic importance. In this context, during the recent visit of the European Commission to New Delhi, the two sides committed to speed up negotiations and finish them by the end of this year. As we also heard in the press and earlier today. This commitment is, of course, positive news in regards to the ambitions India has to the EU for this partnership. And my question is the following. Have you already seen the effects of this deadline during your round of negotiations you held last week? Another question is what does India want on the on the cbam? I think that is really interested. And I'm also interested to hearing about the other trade negotiations India is involved in, in particularly with the UK. Moreover, during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Washington, the United States and India announced plans of negotiating the first round of bilateral trade agreements, the BTA. How do you see this announcement and what can we expect? In the same vein, it would be interesting to hear about the perception in New Delhi of the new administration in the United States. Thank you.”
  Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
• “If we are serious about that, Europe must become the best place in the world to develop, scale and deploy biotech across industry, energy, agriculture, food and materials. The eradication legislative framework this is fit for the future, predictable, science based and providing real certainty for investors and innovators. If Europe wants to lead. Approval must be faster, clearer and more reliable. In this context, I also want to recall that the committee already did important groundwork. Last year we adopted an own initiative report on the future of EU biotechnology. This report gives us solid political guidance on what we expect and where Europe should go. But there's one challenge we must take even more seriously, and that is communication. Too often the discussions in a room like this and the incredible technologies we are talking about are lost in EU language. If people outside this building cannot understand why biotech matters for jobs, industry and everyday life, the risk of losing public interest and political support is severe. So as we move forward, we must not only get politically right, we must also explain it better. I look forward to supporting the work ahead, and to working with colleagues to secure an ambitious, forward looking and biotech framework that truly takes innovation from the lab to the market here in Europe. Thank you.”
  EU support for bioeconomic applications
• “Thank you very much, chairman. I will be speaking in Danish. It's about time too. We need to look reality in the face. There are two fundamental problems with Russian gas. One, it's Russian. Two, it's gas. So if we say trade can help peace. I think it's a bit of a pipe dream. We have a ruthless adversary here, and we're not building bridges. We have created a weapon which has now been used against us. We have to do away with with Putin's dream of Russia as a superpower. Unfortunately, however, there are some Europeans who block any initiative that we try to take to stop Putin's War machine and I'm fed up with it. How can we continue? Holding out a hand to Putin while he's holding out his hand to take money from our budget.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• “Thank you, dear chair. Mr. Commissioner, I'll be speaking in Danish. I stand here today proud of the fact that we have secured simplification for SMEs in Europe. That was not merely an electioneering promise. It has been honored and implemented. This is a turning point in EU history. This is why invest EU is so important. It is a robust tool to unlock private investment. With €1 we can mobilise some additional €14 in investment. This is vital if it is successful. Now it is easier for companies to access invest EU and that will make life easier for them. We have not yet, however, achieved all our goals. We want to ensure improvements. Some have been in place for a year but the next stage needs to begin. We need simplification Vacation and we wouldn't would like to build on that in the next MFF. If we want to guarantee the Green Deal and the security of Europe. Europe needs to work harder, do more and that will be possible through Investeu. Thank you. Now, on behalf of the EPP, Mr. Rosenberg.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. And dear Commissioner, as a conservative politician, nothing. Nothing is more important than our duty to leave a safe and livable planet to the next generation in a time of uncertainty. See. This report on energy infrastructure sends a crucial signal of hope and decisive action. We have to ask ourselves, not only as politicians, but also as citizens in Europe, what is more important? Building the infrastructure that keeps us safe and independent or continuing long and difficult permitting procedures? I believe this can be done better. The expansion of our electric grid is a matter of Europe's security and strategic independence. Our access to energy must not be in the hands of unfriendly regimes. We must be able to act as each other's batteries. So when the sun shines in Spain and the wind is blowing in Denmark. Therefore, our message today is simple. Parliament has shown the way. Now we expect the commission to follow up with ambitious legislation and for member states to turn words into action. Permits for energy infrastructure must be accelerated. Our citizens expected future generations depend on it, and our security requires it. Thank you.”
  EU policy on permitting for renewable energy projects
• “Commissioner, thank you for being here. So I'd like to address the automotive package with what I hope is a very simple question. The Commission has introduced flexibilities as a pragmatic step toward reaching the target. However, I am very interested to hear the Commission's uh, commission ensure this moves aligns with the goal of reducing compliance costs and administrative burdens. Uh, as we in Parliament discuss broadening these flexibilities, for example, by including other sustainable metals like aluminium or additional alternative fuels, I would like to know from you if Parliament if the Parliament should move in that direction. What will that do to the promised reductions and complexity costs. Do you see risk that adding more flexibility could undermine the other goals of burden reduction, and making sure the laws are proposed are workable for businesses? Thank you.”
  2035 ICE phase-out: strict zero-emission target vs. flexibility for carmakers
• “(09:59:52 – 10:00:47): Thank you very much, and thank you for the great panel to be here. I have to say I am a huge fan of the ETS and I love the model and I can't wait for the ETS 2 to come as well. One of the questions that puzzles me a little bit is that the carbon market raises billions every year from companies that pollute. The money goes to governments. In Denmark, we made a deliberate choice to invest it back into clean energy and industry. But across Europe, the picture is a lot more, paidly, so to say. My question to the panel is very simple. Should companies that pay into the system have more of a say on how the money is spent? Do you think that voters or workers in the industry actually know where the money goes? Thank you.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• “(15:22:56 – 15:24:57): Thank you very much, and thank you, Martin Miliano, for your great report. I have to say I've known you for about two years now and you're moving more and more in a greener direction. That is lovely. And I have to say you are now my ecological friend. So we have to ask ourselves, what do the customers want? Because that is the question here. And the customers want cheap cars that are cheap to run. That's why they sold so many Chinese cars in Europe. And we need to follow up on that. And if we just look at the numbers for a while, in 2025, the first four months of the year, 17% of the sales of cars in Europe were electrical. First four months this year, 23% of the cars were electrical. That means an increase of 5% to 6% a year. So, with 22% as a baseline and we add that up with 9%, we come to around 72, 73% just the way we are right now. So, we need a little bit of push to get over the line with the 90%. And I think that the way you should look at it is what can we do bottom up? What can we do to help the unions protect this? Because the unions are the real problem in the green transition because they are fighting it because they are afraid that people are laid off, which is true. They will be. Some will be. And we need to find a way how to get them other jobs, better jobs, newer jobs, how to educate them. And I think that's the conversation we need to take, not whether the car industry is old or not because the car industry is fine. They are doing very well and they will reach the targets. It's the unions that are the problem, and we need to find a way to help the workers get something else to do. Thank you.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Please, sir. I see the baton. Oh Commissioner, we've heard quite a lot already, and I don't want to repeat some of the wise words we've heard. Very often. We talk about responsibility as economic responsibility, but also the responsibility we have with the environment and future generations. That's why the EU has to invest more in green technology and energy efficiency. It's not about symbolic policies. It's about common sense. If we want robust, clean technologies, we have to invest now and not just in manufacturing. We also have to invest in smarter use of the technologies. That would mean being more independent and creating our own future. When it comes to the next budget, we expect that to be reflected. We need to act. We need to be able to act now. It's not just about innovation. It's about creating jobs and the security of Europe. I hope we can muster the right level.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you very, very much. And thank you for being here. It's it's a great pleasure. So at the moment in the sound, we're discussing a lot on the on the clean tech industry. And one of the big things are that that from 1st of January, we need 2% SAF in our airline industries so that they can fly just a little bit greener. But what I understand in the industry, it's hard for them to, to get agreements with the airline companies to to to do this, and they cannot scale up the production unless they have their unless they have their orders in their book. So is there from your point of view, anything that we can do to to help these people get the green transition rolling a little bit faster than it does right now? Thank you.”
  Decarbonisation of aviation sector
• “Thank you very much, chair and dear colleagues. It's so good to be back in 2026. It's good to be back in what I believe is the best committee in this Parliament. And as we start the new year, it's worth pausing for a moment and asking ourselves a very simple question have we done enough to strengthen European competitiveness in 2025? And what must we do in 2026? Because there's no doubt that Europe now stands for a decisive moment for its competitiveness. We are fortunate that the coming year gives us several important tools to work with. Two of the most important are Biotech Act one and the upcoming Biotech Act two. And we should be honest with ourselves. In recent years, Europe has already lost ground in several industry sectors to competiting regions. But biotech is different here. Europe still has a head start. The problem is that this advantage will not last if we hesitate. That is why I welcome the presentation of the bioeconomy strategy by Commissioner Russell, and why it was positive that Commission finally tabled a biotech act one in the end of last year. Now, as we enter 2026, it's crucial that this committee plays a strong role in shaping both biotech into an ambition and future proof framework, not only for pharmaceuticals but also for industrial biotech. Because biotech is not a niche topic, it's a central to decarbonize industry, improving, uh, what we eat, strengthening food security, building resilient supply chains, reducing our dependence on imported fossil Inputs and creating quality jobs across Europe.”
  EU support for bioeconomic applications
• “Thank you very much, dear colleagues. Dear Jessica, I am not spilling the beans when I say today, we need to speed it up in Europe. The war in Ukraine and our insecurity show clearly that energy isn't just something we get from the socket, it's also security policy. And if the EU wants to be a serious player in global competition, we can't obstruct ourselves. Let me give you an example, 48 companies were ready to invest. They wanted to have photovoltaic cells. They wanted to electrify and be on green electricity. Not because they weren't ready, not because the technology were there. No, but because the electricity grid wasn't able to cope with this. In Denmark, which is a very windy country, if the turbines aren't able to deliver the electricity we need, what does that say about the energy system in Europe? As long as we are dependent on energy from outside, it influences our economy, our companies. And that's why the conclusion should be quite clear. We need to accelerate our approach. The microphone has been cut.”
  EU policy on permitting for renewable energy projects