Member of the European Parliament · Spain · EPP · Partido Popular
What Alma EZCURRA ALMANSA has said (2)
2025-03-27“E-001294/2025 Answer given by Mr Kubilius on behalf of the European Commission The classification of the functions of government (COFOG) is a classification of transactions designed to apply to general government and its subsectors. In the current version of the COFOG classification, which is used both globally and in Europe, there are 10 divisions, including division 02 Defence. The classification is centred on primary purpose of government expenditure. Thus, division 02 Defence captures all government expenditure with primary purpose of supporting and developing defence capabilities, but it excludes expenditure and investment that has other primary purposes, like climate change. The activation of the national escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact for defence 1 was justified by the exceptional circumstances created by Russia’s aggression of Ukraine and its major impact on Member States’ public finances. The activation is framed in scope, size, and time to cater for a quick transition to a higher defence spending regime while preserving fiscal sustainability. Member States should use the financial assistance provided under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) Regulation 2 to carry out common procurements. Eligible defence common procurement should relate to the list of priority areas identified by Article 1 of SAFE Regulation. In addition, Article 16 sets out eligibility conditions applying to contractors, subcontractors and products participating in common procurement supported by SAFE. Therefore, to be supported under the SAFE instrument, investments also contributing to tackling climate change need to fall into one of the areas identified in Article 1 of SAFE Regulation and be channelled through common procurement, which complies with the eligibility conditions set out in the Regulation. 1 https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/document/download/a57304ce-1a98-4a2c-aed536485884f1a0_en?filename=Communication-on-the-national-escape-clause.pdf. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/1106/oj/eng.”
Climate efforts · Defence spending
2024-10-14“P-002058/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission 1. Article 14 of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) 1 lays down that, in accordance with the polluter-pays principle, the costs of waste management, including for the necessary infrastructure and its operation, shall be borne by the original waste producer or by the current or previous waste holders. Articles 8, 8a and 14 provide for covering these costs by the producer of the product from which the waste came. The waste management of several waste streams that are found in municipal waste is subject to extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations whereby the producers cover waste management costs. This concerns notably packaging, electric and electronic equipment, batteries, and some single use plastic products in municipal waste. The Commission has also proposed to introduce EPR obligations for textiles. 2. In addition to EPR, Annex IVa to the WFD contains a non-exhaustive list of examples of economic instruments and other measures to provide incentives for the application of the waste hierarchy. These instruments and measures can be used, at Member States’ discretion, to cover the costs for waste management. The Member States, including local authorities, can also take other measures which are not listed in Annex IVa in order to implement the requirements set out notably in Articles 8, 8a, 11, 14, 15 and 28. The measures may also vary depending on which actors they are imposed, such as businesses/producers or households, for instance. 1 Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109–140, amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109–140.”