Sérgio HUMBERTO

Policy topics Sérgio HUMBERTO is active on

What Sérgio HUMBERTO has said (15)

• 2025-06-04 “P-002245/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The reference stating that 10% of accidents are caused by technical defects appears to be based on a misunderstanding. Rather, the impact assessment accompanying the proposal calculated with 6% for motorcycles, based on relevant studies 1 . As regards consultations, over 83% of the respondents to the online public consultation were citizens, many of them users of two-wheelers. The representatives of user groups, including car drivers, lorry drivers and motorcyclists were involved in the targeted consultation as well as other stakeholder groups. The Commission carried out a rigorous impact assessment in line with Better Regulation rules and the proposal does not impose new obstacles to free movement. On the contrary, the proposal contributes to free movement by allowing to take periodic inspection abroad and enhanced exchange of information between Member States, while seeking to ensure the safety of all road users. Periodic inspection of motorcycles with an engine size above 125 cm 3 has been required by Directive 2014/45/EU 2 since 2022, and 20 Member States conduct such tests. While infrastructure upgrades and education on safe driving are key components of a safe system, vehicle inspection has shown its own benefits. 1 Such as, among others, on the effect of periodic technical inspections on traffic accidents (Hudec J. and Šarkan B. (2022), https://komunikacie.uniza.sk/pdfs/csl/2022/03/17.pdf), a case-control study of motorcycle crashes (Haworth et al. (1997), https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/216370/atsb174.pdf), or Maids. (2019). In-depth investigation of accidents involving powered two wheelers. https://www.maidsstudy.eu/pdf/MAIDS2.pdf. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/45/oj/eng.”
  Driving licences
• “Thank you. Chair. I'm shadow for the EP. So, on behalf of the group, congratulations to colleagues and members here. First of all, I'd like to offer my congratulations to the rapporteur for all of the work undertaken. This is a sector in rapid evolution which plays a fundamental role in the future of healthcare in Europe. It's essential that this file lead to a realistic position. On behalf of the Parliament, with participation of more than 500 amendments, demonstrates the great level of cross-cutting interests in the area. As shadow shadow for the EP. I would like to set out the EP position and contribute with the proposals, reinforcing innovation but also sustainability and inclusiveness. I'd also like to highlight notably the vital role of SMEs and startups. These are really the engine of innovation in the area and they need enabling conditions to promote growth thanks to access to financing, thanks to strategic partnerships. That's why I'd like to highlight the importance of public private partnerships in investigation, research and development. Collaboration between the private and public sectors is essential. To translate scientific knowledge into concrete solutions for citizens. Finally, it's essential to reinforce the link between the academic world and the biotech industry. Promoting synergies and investing in an ecosystem which is innovative. With a net positive impact for public impact. As a consequence, the report should really be a guide for political decision making when it comes to biotech so that this is an ally promoting European citizens well-being. So as far as the EPP, we're very strongly involved in supportive of this work. Thank you.”
  Public and private sectors role in healthcare services
• “Thank you. Thank you very much. So I am speaking here as a European citizen, but also as an MEP. And this is something very important. And it has consequences for the lives of millions of people in Europe. But I'd like to say the following. First of all, connectivity, particularly in the far flung regions, this is absolutely key. And there it ought to be automatic. Of course, any sort of compensation, if there's delay or if there's some sort of a failure as far as the contract between passenger and airline and of course, three hours, not four hours, so that we don't risk sending the message out that we're taking steps backward. We want to protect European citizens above all. And we have to, of course, guarantee that protection through measures that show that we are supporting basically that these particular rights are protected. It looks like we're having backstepping rather than forward moving forward.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• “Colleagues. Executive director, it is a pleasure to welcome you here again to the European Parliament. And congratulations on your presentation. I have some short and straightforward questions. First, the human aspects and competitiveness. We have seen that. There's been a 2% reduction in the number of certified officers in the EU. So there are fewer certified officers. That means less security. So we absolutely must support all training colleges. We need training centres with updated curricula to ensure decarbonization and for autonomous vessels. My second question is about digitalization and simplification. Digitalization is there to simplify matters. That's true, but Emsa needs to be sure that the maritime one stop shop will actually reduce red tape. There should be one single notification necessary. And then a general question really about the application of the new regulation. This is going to be a test really for what we have agreed in the European Parliament. Can you give us any details? What about the new monitoring services, monitoring and surveillance? How can we strike a balance between competitiveness for European ship owners who have already invested in sustainability and protect them from fleets that don't have to respect the same sustainability standards.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport
• “Thank you very much. Chairman. Commissioner. Colleagues, the subcontracting chains are now longer than ever. And when responsibility is diluted over the course of these chains, the the workers are the most vulnerable. The report that we're debating today deals with a serious problem. It's the way in which these subcontractors avoid social responsibility. We need to establish responsibility in order to guarantee fair competition and effective protection of workers. Fighting this abuse is a clear priority for us. But it's clear as well that subcontracting in itself is a legitimate tool that can be very useful in the European economy. What we have to fight against is the abusive use of these chains. We can't punish those companies that obey the rules, and we need to make clear rules for SMEs. We don't need more red tape. We need better taxation and rules that are applied coherently. And we need enhanced cooperation from authorities. We need to protect workers rights, guarantee a fair single market. These are not contradictory objectives. These are two sides of the same coin.”
  EU policy on labour exploitation in global supply chains
• “Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. I will speak in Portuguese. I'd like to extend my greetings to the Commissioner. It's a pleasure to have you here, as always. And to have this debate here. We have issues to discuss and to resolve. Now, Portugal doesn't have any high speed train track at the moment, but the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, uh, looked at an impact assessment and viability strategy to try and link up the national rail network with the European network. And the question really is, in which way will the European Commission ensure that the Trans-European rail network objectives will be aligned with the territorial cohesion objectives along the key axes and networks. Will there be a feasibility study to look at the viability of connections in the periphery for sustainable transport, without those being sidelined? Uh, to, uh, to favor other routes? Thank you very much, Commissioner. I'd like to focus on the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan and mentioned the issues concerning outermost regions. The isolation and the small scale may make it difficult for these areas to access sustainable transport. Uh, solutions. It means that, um. So this raises a number of questions. Will there be specific financing for those regions to be able to adapt to the transition? And secondly, it's crucial for these regions to select a number of sustainable fuels. And and how will they ensure that there's interoperability between the different options. And finally, regarding the international dimension and their strategy, there was supposed to be the framework report on climate air transport. Now we know that sustainable transport needs to be promoted globally and this is going to be taken. Steps will be taken by the Commission to ensure this and that. There's going to be a coordinated response. How are we going to ensure that the response is coordinated amongst the Member States? Thank you.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “Thank you very much, chair. I'll be very quick to use my minute. And I'd also like to thank our guests. Demographic change is clearly a scourge, and we need to take full cognisance of the fact that the population is decreasing. This is a reality. And now I'd like to go to the questions very clearly. I'd like to know what we can do to take this demographic change that many think is a threat. How can we turn that into an opportunity to modernize our social systems, strengthen European cohesion, and secure a sustainable future for all Europeans? The cross-cutting way to question the Commission. And so here's the question. How can we use the European Semester and Structural funds to support Member States to implement the reforms that they need to rise to this common challenge? Thank you.”
  European Semester (social dimension)
• “(16:55:02 – 16:59:11): we've just heard by the previous reporter. This study has confirmed a number of concerns we've had here in the employment committee. I think that you followed, some of the discussions we had this afternoon on the ESF. And, I think that our position here is clear. We're not trying to raise the ceiling from, 14% to 20%, but we want a standalone European, fund that isn't part of the national plans and with ring fenced budget. As you said, we don't want €79,000,000,000 but we need a lot more than that. So we've had an interim report today, which looked at said €125,000,000,000 And there were different points which have an impact on this as well. But here, in any case, in the employment committee, it's pretty clear for us. Our position is clear, especially on the performance framework. I like to hear that you said that getting the figures for the sake of having the figures isn't the the objective. You have to look at the output and the indicators as well. Now yesterday, I met with an an organization which isn't covered by the ESF, but works on regional employment here in Brussels. And this was an organization which is designed to bring people back in the labor market, and their KPI is to ensure that at least 25 of the, the job seekers actually get a job. And if that figure is not reached, then the organization who works with these, people, these job seekers would lose, what or rather they wouldn't be reimbursed for the money they've, spent. This organization is, has as its job. Well, they may well end up trying to find jobs for people who are a little less tricky as it were, who are a bit closer to getting a job. When we look at these performance indicators, we can see they're not always fit for purpose. That is hitting our numerical targets rather than actually achieving our goals. The next few months, we will be fighting to turn the tide here, I think, because there isn't a guaranteed transitional period for the time being. We know we're going to have to negotiate for months on end here in the parliament in order to finalize our report. The commission's proposal will come into force as of 2028, so that's in no time at all. And there's no transitional period. There's no no plans for a soft launch. A lot of operators are simply giving up. They think if it's going to be that complicated to request European funds, there's no point. So we really will lose out across the board. So in our report, I think the recommendations that you have made, I think we really do see eye to eye on this. I don't really have any questions for you now. I'm sure I will come back to you at a later date. But I really hope we can ensure that this report goes beyond our committee. Perhaps some member states could take a look at it because it we really are looking at a landmark moment here. They are going to be directly affected as well, And that's a real concern here today. So thank you once again for this study.”
  EU expenditure on social policy
• “Mr. president, thank you. Commissioner colleagues. First and foremost, my thanks to all those who risked their lives combating fires. Let us not forget also those who have died and those who have lost everything. This summer of 2025 was the hottest in my country, Portugal, the highest of the last 94 years. It is a clear, unequivocal sign of climate change. The fires in the south of Europe are increasingly destructive, for forests are destroyed, properties are damaged. Ecosystems become fragile. More than 1 million hectares were destroyed in Europe. The European Union must react before the disaster. To rescue. You cannot continue to be a temporary mechanism. There must be a permanent fleet, in particular in the countries which are worst affected. It is time to change. It is time to have a European forest policy which protects our lives, our forests and our future.”
  Management of EU forests
• “Thank you very much. President, Commissioner. Colleagues. Poverty in the European Union is not an exception. As has already been mentioned, it affects more than 95 million people in one of the most wealthy regions of the world. This is a policy failure that requires a coherent European response. Now, I think it's important that we commit to the objective of significantly reducing poverty by 2030, but this will only happen if it's taken seriously. If there are measurable targets with clear governance and mechanisms to accompany all of this. The European Semester should allow for the correction of policies when they don't produce results. In Portugal and in other member states, we know that economic growth on its own is not enough. There are people who work hard but stay poor. So that's why a European strategy that's genuinely effective has to insist upon quality work, decent salaries and access to social services. Social ambition has to go hand in hand with a strong economy, with budgetary responsibility and policies which give value to employment. Combating poverty is a political choice. This Parliament has to show that it's capable of turning commitments into actions, objectives into real results for millions of Europeans. Thank you.”
  European Semester (social dimension)
• “President. President. Thank you very much, Commissioner. Colleagues. In 2022, more than 60,000 European citizens lost their lives as a result of excess heat. This reality requires responses, first of all, in the area of housing. We must accelerate the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive on housing. We need sustainable air conditioning systems to combat heat waves in cities. We cannot accept a situation where our houses are a risk factor. Secondly, health. We need to reinforce coordination between national systems with prevention plans. We need to have vigilance for epidemics and particular attention to the most vulnerable, the elderly, children and those who are chronically ill. Adaptation to climate change will require pragmatism, responsibility and a collective commitment. That is what our citizens expect from Europe. Thank you.”
  EU climate adaptation and disaster preparedness
• “Thank you very much, president. Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, for way too long, Europe has been depending on external supply chains, especially for active ingredients for medicine. I think now the lion's share of production is outside Europe, mostly in Asia. And that means that our health systems are in jeopardy. They depend on supplies from abroad, and there could be problems with rising costs. But it's not protectionism that is going to help. We need to cooperate. We need diversification. Europe has scientific knowledge. It has skills and the regulation that would that allows it to be a trailblazer, to be a leader in this field, we have to invest because against a backdrop of an unstable. Unstable, unstable world. Then we have to protect the health of our citizens.”
  Supply chain diversification requirements in medicine procurement
• “(16:52:09 – 16:54:45): Chair colleagues and professors, Ian Begg, authors of the study. Now the study we're discussing here today does confirm a number of our concerns. The new architecture of the MFF is designed to achieve simplification via the NRRPs, but, this simplification cannot lead to the dilution of, social policy. As my draft opinion says and as, I have argued at other times, have to guarantee clarity and distinction between 2 different regulations. We cannot allow for overlaps and contradictions. We need a strong ESF to protect protect concrete social provisions, and we need the NRPPs, which will work as a solid framework for this. Each national plan must contain a social chapter, which is clearly identifiable and dedicated to the matter. And we talked about competitiveness. Yes. But we have to look at high quality employment as well. This requires robust, strategies looking at different qualifications and ensure that, the con local economy is fully supported, that is our SMEs, as well as the social economy, by also always respecting the particular characteristics of our regions. I'd like to conclude with 2 questions for the authors of the study. Firstly, in order to ensure this clear division and avoid the ESF, and its financing being absorbed by the NRPPs, we need robust safeguards in order to protect the funds which should go to the most vulnerable parts of our population to fight to protect youth unemployment. How can we do this? The second question, knowing that investment in human capital, as the professor said, takes years to bear fruit, how can we identify indicators in the new budget, without undermining the viability of the most complicated and long term social projects. Thank you.”
  EU expenditure on social policy
• “Thank you very much, Mr. President. Commissioner colleagues, the EPP has defended the correct path, a moderate path and a responsible path. Reducing emissions without distraction, without destroying Roaring connectivity to produce a modern SAF, and to ensure that maritime and airline sector needs to remain competitive compared to the US and Asia. This transition will only be successful if it's realistic. It needs to be gradual as well and it needs to be economically viable. We cannot penalise the outermost regions. We cannot undermine territorial cohesion in the European Union. What we're talking about here is not just a question of tourism. We're talking about jobs, mobility and the right to connection to all of the European territories. Europe will only win this race if we support industry rather than suffocating it.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport · Decarbonisation of aviation sector
• “Thank you sir. I will speak in Portuguese. So, um. Commissioner. The thing that defines a politician are their acts. Not their words, their deeds, not their words. And I think what we need now is more convergence, more competitiveness. And we need a budget that invests in skills and regions without leaving anybody behind. What the European Parliament expects of the Commission is a brave, clear, firm response. And I do have a couple of questions. We know that a limit of 1% GNP is out of step with current requirements. Would the Commission be willing to defend a more realistic and more ambitious budget, and put an end to the national adaptations that which do distort budgetary justice and undermine solidarity? We do need budgetary flexibility. That is true, but not at the cost of the stability of certain social programs. So I would like to know how the Commission is going to guarantee continuity with the various projects relating to employability as well.”
  Size of EU budget