Dan BARNA

Policy topics Dan BARNA is active on

What Dan BARNA has said (34)

• 2026-06-17 “(10:34:58 – 10:36:03): Thank you, I share the enthusiasm around the new accession negotiations, and I congratulate the Cyprus presidency for opening the 1st cluster for Moldova in Ukraine. But let's not kid ourselves with this patting on the back on social media. Enlargement is crucial for the security and the relevance of the European Union, but it's not enough to pay lip service. We need to step it up with concrete measures. We have we're racing against the time and delays make us vulnerable. Beyond political promises, we need resources. The reality is that without a proper MFF targeted for enlargement, we cannot build a larger and more United Europe with tentative budgets. This is why my message is clear. Leaders need to embrace more courageous vision based on individual performance. Drop your blinkers where you only look at 1 term in office.”
  EU enlargement
• 2026-01-20 “– Doamnă președintă, acest al 28-lea regim este, în sfârșit, răspunsul Europei la una dintre cele mai importante crize cu care ne-am confruntat în ultimii ani. Faptul că acele companii europene de succes care deveneau profitabile, care aveau nevoie de creștere, au trebuit să părăsească piața europeană, mergând în America sau în alte piețe europene, în Marea Britanie, tocmai pentru dificultatea de a face afaceri în Europa. Această reglementare vine ca un răspuns la această provocare prin înființarea unui nou vehicul juridic, a unei noi companii europene, posibilitatea de a înființa pentru un antreprenor, pentru un inovator, posibilitatea de a înființa o companie în 48 de ore, digital, o companie care să fie recunoscută în toate statele europene. O companie care să poată să crească, să poată să se adapteze, să nu se mai lovească de birocrația și de acele blocaje birocratice care existau într-un stat sau altul. Este un răspuns necesar, este un răspuns prin care economia, antreprenorii europeni primesc un balon de oxigen și au șansa de a-și dezvolta companiile aici, în Europa. Un răspuns pe care îl așteptam cu toții, o decizie foarte bună.”
• 2026-01-20 “– Doamnă președintă, acest raport care a fost adoptat astăzi de Parlament și pe care l-am votat cu toată încrederea este de asemenea un răspuns pe care Uniunea Europeană trebuie să îl adreseze necesității de sprijin umanitar cu care se confruntă umanitatea. În contextul Statelor Unite care s-au retras de pe majoritatea piețelor cu crize umanitare, în contextul în care crizele nu mai vin așa cum a fost în anii anteriori, să spunem, una după alta, dând posibilitatea de reacție statelor și instituțiilor europene, suntem într-o situație de multicrize, exact cum spune și titlul raportului, în care capacitatea de adaptare și speranța la viață a multor comunități depinde, din păcate, în multe cazuri în momentul de față doar de Uniunea Europeană și de capacitatea acesteia de răspuns. Acest raport încearcă să construiască cadrul necesar pentru o reacție cât mai adaptată și cât mai structurată pe necesitățile foarte diverse. Că vorbim de Ucraina, că vorbim de Gaza, că vorbim de Africa, sunt zone unde prezența europeană este necesară și unde un răspuns adecvat poate să facă diferența. Un raport necesar, l-am votat cu toată încrederea.”
• 2026-01-20 “– Doamnă președintă, am votat acest raport pentru că este un instrument prin care pacienții din întreaga Europă vor avea asigurat de acum înainte accesul la medicamente fundamentale. Practic, statele vor fi obligate de acum, statele europene, să asigure stocuri pentru acele medicamente fundamentale care, într-o țară sau alta, de-a lungul timpului, au lipsit, creând o presiune extraordinară pe persoanele și pe pacienții dependenți de aceste medicamente. O altă veste importantă este faptul că Republica Moldova a fost introdusă în mecanismul european de achiziționare a medicamentelor și s-a redus numărul de achiziție comunitară de la standardul de 9 state la 5, ceea ce face mult mai mult, mai eficient întregul mecanism, astfel încât riscul ca un pacient să rămână fără un medicament de care depinde viața sa este foarte mic. Un raport necesar, un raport care trebuie salutat. Calitatea vieții pacienților europeni devine mai bună din acest moment.”
• 2025-12-17 “– Doamnă președintă, am votat pentru acest raport privind mobilitatea militară, pentru că flexibilitatea este cuvântul cheie al acestei perioade în care securitatea și siguranța Europei sunt puse la încercare. Acest Schengen militar, despre care se vorbește în raport, este de fapt răspunsul necesar și obligatoriu pentru ca Europa de Est, în principal, dată fiind poziția flancului față de Rusia, să fie capabilă să deplaseze în timp real unități militare de pe întreg cuprinsul Europei, să fim capabili să ne apărăm în această construcție a apărării pe care, iată, în noul context geostrategic, o Americă mai puțin Big Brother, suntem obligați să ne adaptăm. În acest context, această facilitate privind mobilitatea militară este o cerință obligatorie și o temă importantă pentru perioada care urmează, fapt pentru care am susținut acest raport.”
• 2025-12-17 “– Doamnă președintă, am votat pentru acest raport pentru că este o inițiativă cetățenească. Peste un milion de cetățeni au exprimat acordul pentru această inițiativă și este datoria Parlamentului European să asculte vocea cetățenilor. Acesta este un prim argument. Un al doilea argument pentru care susțin acest raport este faptul că dreptul unei femei la destinul ei, la felul în care dorește să-și trăiască viața, este un drept uman fundamental, care trebuie apărat în orice context și în fața oricărui argument. Este un raport necesar și rezultatul de astăzi din Parlament arată că, într-adevăr, Parlamentul European răspunde la așteptările societății europene, așa cum este astăzi.”
• 2025-12-17 “– Doamnă președintă, renunțarea treptată la gazul rusesc este o necesitate strategică necesară pentru viitorul Uniunii Europene. Vedem în istoria acestui secol și al celui trecut o Rusie agresivă, o Rusie care continuă să fie un pericol pentru Europa și care s-a alimentat, a fost finanțată de banii europeni. Această dependență trebuie să înceteze. Faptul că această rezoluție pe care am votat-o propune un calendar pentru renunțarea treptată la aceste gaze este mai mult decât necesară, pentru că strategic, pentru viitorul Europei, este autonomia energetică. O Europă autonomă, energetică, o Europă care nu mai depinde de Rusia, are un cuvânt greu de spus în ceea ce înseamnă securitatea și stabilitatea continentului european.”
• 2025-05-15 “P-001961/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The organisation and conduct of elections are the competence and responsibility of the Member States, in accordance with their national constitutional rules and legislation, as well as their international obligations and applicable EU law. National authorities and courts are primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with the applicable rules. With regards to the Romanian elections of May 2025, the Commission has been closely following relevant developments regarding the obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), and has been in frequent contact with national authorities, non-governmental organisations and Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines. At the request of the Digital Services Coordinator, the Commission also supported the organisation of a roundtable and a tabletop Exercise with the above stakeholders to ensure election preparedness for the new round of elections. In response to the formal initiation of proceedings 17 December 2024under the DSA 1 TikTok has made a number of changes to its systems and processes, including access to platform data, improving political account labelling, designing tools for users to manage content recommendations, and reinforcing internal resources, in particular in their election task force working on covert influence campaigns and advertising integrity. The investigation is ongoing: and the Commission continues to gather and analyse evidence, as well as assess TikTok’s changes. 1 Commission opens formal proceedings against TikTok on election risks under the Digital Services Act https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_6487.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms · Recommender systems
• 2025-04-16 “P-001558/2025 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission Democracy is a founding value of the EU. Elections are at the core of democracy and should be fair and free from any interference. The organisation and the conduct of elections are the competence and responsibility of the Member States, in accordance with their national constitutional rules and legislation, as well as their international obligations and EU law. National authorities and courts are primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with the applicable rules. The Commission has no competence to intervene in the organisation and conduct of national elections. The Commission supports Member States on electoral matters, mainly through the framework of the European cooperation network on elections 1 . The Commission is also working with Member States to support the application of EU law provisions relevant in national electoral contexts, such as those in the Digital Services Act 2 and Regulation (EU) 2024/900 3 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising (“the Regulation”). According to Article 30 of the Regulation, it applies fully from 10 October 2025. The Commission is fully committed to ensuring and supporting the entry into full application of the Regulation and will, once the Regulation fully applies, monitor its enforcement by national competent authorities. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/democracy-eucitizenship-anti-corruption/democracy-and-electoral-rights/european-cooperation-network-elections_en. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2065. In 2024, the Commission issued Guidelines for providers of Very Large Online Platforms and Very Large Online Search Engines on the mitigation of systemic risks for electoral processes, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52024XC03014&qid=1714466886277. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/900/oj/eng.”
  Rule of law and democracy in the EU (political compass) · Disinformation & online freedoms
• 2025-04-11 “E-001511/2025 Answer given by Ms Kos on behalf of the European Commission The autonomous trade measures (ATMs) 1 continue to provide temporary full trade liberalisation for Moldovan agricultural products by eliminating remaining import tariffs and quotas on seven products not yet fully liberalised under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) 2 . These measures have contributed to increased export levels. The Commission remains committed to facilitating a smooth transition from the current ATMs to the new DCFTA regime under Article 147 of the Association Agreement, which envisages reciprocal concessions aimed at enhancing trade liberalisation, particularly concerning products subject to tariff-rate quotas. The objective is to progress from a short-term unilateral framework to a long-term reciprocal arrangement, thereby supporting Moldova’s EU accession process, including alignment with EU standards, and enabling Moldovan agricultural exporters to expand their access to EU markets. The new Growth Plan 3 (GP) will provide the necessary funding to bolster investments in Moldova’s productive sectors and reinforce the trade partnership between the EU and Moldova. The GP will prioritise key sectors, including agriculture, energy, and transport, promoting sustainable economic growth, employment creation, and social development. The Commission will collaborate closely with Moldovan authorities to ensure effective implementation of the GP and a potential DCFTA review under Article 147, offering technical assistance and capacity-building to support Moldova in meeting its obligations and capitalising on arising opportunities. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1501. 2 https://trade.ec.europa.eu/access-to-markets/en/content/eu-moldova-deep-and-comprehensive-free-trade-area. 3 https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/growth-plan-moldova-regulation_en.”
  EU-Moldova relations · Import of agri-food products in the EU
• “Thank you chair. Madam Commissioner, thank you for constantly being here and answering to our questions. The Western Balkan region's path to EU membership has been a multi-decade journey, marked by both significant milestones and periods of stagnation that risk disillusionment. The EU's renewed geopolitical focus on enlargement, alongside initiatives like the Growth Plan, aimed to accelerate integration and deliver tangible benefits to citizens sooner. However, deep rooted challenges, particularly in the areas of rule of law, democratic governance and resolving bilateral disputes. It is the case exactly. These days continue to complicate the progress. So my question is, considering this persistent difficulties in in achieving irreversible reforms in the fundamentals, despite years of engagement and tailored support, what single most innovative strategic adjustment could the Commission introduce to more effectively empower domestic agents of change and ensure that adopted reforms translate into truly resilient democratic institutions and tangible improvement in citizens life, thereby rebuilding and sustaining their faith in the accession journey? I mean, the question simply is how can we be more consistently present there in the in the Western Balkans especially? Thank you.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you, commissioners, for being. Thank you, commissioners, for being here. This unprecedented funding is existential importance for Ukraine. This is clear. This package further links support to Ukraine, to its Europe, to its European integration. And in this regard, I have one question. It is crucial that the EU manage to approve such a massive and urgent support package through a fast track procedure in Parliament, and without having unanimity in the Council through so-called enhanced cooperations. I believe that this episode creates a promising precedent for the future of accession negotiations. Also, the Danish presidency came up with the new front loading approach that has allowed to de facto unblock the opening of the clusters for Ukraine and Moldova. What is the Commission's take on this major development. Thank you.”
  EU enlargement
• “Hello all guys. Pleased to see you again here. My question is, in a way, if that the current legislative program we are developing is also addressing the The reconstruction issue because in Europe there are many countries are already preparing their their contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine. And the current legal framework in Ukraine, of course, is not adapted to this. So is this a priority in this moment? Okay, it's not a critical priority, but I considering this. Thank you.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Thank you chair. Dear colleagues, it's my pleasure to present the draft opinion and proposed amendments concerning the Multiannual Financial Framework Framework for the years 2028 to 2034, specifically regarding heading three global Europe. While we welcome the proposed reinforcement of the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation instrument in the global Europe which reaches Euro 1900 billion, we must acknowledge that this level of funding remains insufficient to ensure the Union remains remains a credible global actor, especially given the United States retreat as a global security guarantor and the scale of humanitarian crisis. We are calling for an increase to Euro 211.24 billion, remaining 10% share of the total Set as 1.27 of EU ni. A central theme of our amendments is transparency and granular oversight. We category of posts. We categorically oppose the weakened parliamentary involvement inherent in the current proposal. Specifically, we reject the proposed budgetary nomenclature that aggregates vast resources into broad pillars without visible thematic ceiling. This structure prevents the budgetary authority from tracking expenditure on vital priorities such as human rights and or climate action. Therefore, we demand clear and separate budget lines. Furthermore, we insist that all substantive policy choices, including the adoption of multiannual indicative programmes, be adopted through delegated acts rather than implementing acts to ensure this Parliament's systematic involvement. Regarding the Europe Pillar, we express concern over the lack of a defined allocation split between candidate countries and the eastern neighbourhood.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Thank you, Mr. President. Let me extend my sincere gratitude to the rapporteurs for their meticulous work on this draft report concerning the Moldova Growth Facility. The substance of this initiative is such that I believe most, if not all, groups can find common ground in supporting the vital assistance package for Moldova. The concise nature of the report itself reflects our shared determination to ensure its Swift implementations. Annotations allow me also to emphasise that what I consider to be the most crucial aspect of this endeavor, the growth facility for Moldova, should be considered in reality, an emergency support package. It is a lifeline to a nation grappling with extraordinary challenges. We all celebrated when the EU referendum in Moldova narrowly passed. We all applaud the re-election of the president, Maia Sandu, a steadfast champion of European democratic values who has demonstrated remarkable resilience against the Russian relentless hybrid warfare and disinformation campaigns. Now, it is imperative that the people of Moldova tangibly experience the benefits of EU integration. They need to see and feel the positive impact of it, the positive it has on their lives, their family and their future. The struggle between the European future and the regression to a Soviet style past remain an ongoing battle, one that will undoubtedly be reignited during the next year's general elections, which are crucial for my own country. Romania served as a poignant reminder of the insidious tactics employed by Russia to manipulate, misinform and interfere in the democratic process. It is our collective responsibility to prevent a similar scenario from unfolding in Moldova. We must stand in solidarity with Moldovan people as they navigate these challenges and safeguard their hard earned democratic progress. Thank you.”
  EU-Moldova relations
• “For over four years, the Kremlin has been treating the Geneva Convention as a mere suggestion or as an international law. From Romania. These horrors are not only seen on TV. 44 drones or pieces of drones have fallen in our country. The latest crashed in a large city recently. Hundreds of people have been evacuated. Justice has no. Cannot can no longer be a postwar luxury. It has to become our immediate priority. We have to move over the rhetorics of condemnation and make sure that accountability is inevitable. In concrete terms, this means setting up the Special Tribunal for Crimes of Aggression to eliminate jurisdictional gaps and bring to justice the architects of these terrorists and Russian assets must be seized and used to compensate the victims and to rebuild what Putin's missiles have been tearing apart. Impunity impurities, the oxygen of dictators. If we allow killing civilians becoming normalized in 2026, we do not only fail before Ukraine, but we make we submit the rule.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “In a geopolitical environment increasingly defined by a great power rivalry and rising protectionism. The European Parliament highlights a critical truth Strengthening our bond with Canada is no longer just a choice. It is a strategic necessity as we face an unstable transatlantic relationship with the US, marked by shifting priorities and economic friction. Canada remains our most reliable, like minded ally on the North American continent. We share more than values. We share a commitment to a rule based order and economic resilience. A vital pillar of this renewed partnership is our energy security. This report emphasises the urgency of deep cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, specifically to a modernized Canada Euratom Agreement. By collaborating on nuclear reactors and securing stable supply chains for nuclear fuel and critical minerals, we can break our dependencies on hostile actors and power our green transition together In an era of fragmentation, let us choose the partner that stands with us for a secure, sovereign Europe. We must look to Canada. Thank you. And I want to thank Tobias and the other fellow rapporteurs for shadow rapporteurs for the very constructive approach in this in this debate. Thank you Tobias.”
  Nuclear energy
• “This is a step increase in the interest of protecting the EU budget. I would be inclined to table an amendment to lower the the amount to 14, as this will already mean a doubling, a doubling compared to the original proposal. However, we have to take the future negotiations in the trialogue into consideration, and 14 would and might be the middle ground between the both proposals. Therefore, I would recommend now to support the proposal of the rapporteurs in this regard. Third, from a prudent budgeting perspective, I am not happy with the decision of the rapporteurs to cover the 9% provisioning required for the loans from the Ndic Global European Emerging Challenge. Emerging Challenges and priorities cushion. As the name implies, the cushion is meant for emergencies and unforeseen circumstances, and a strong argument can be made that the situation in Moldova is neither. However, given the political volatile situation in Moldova, understand that the reasoning behind this decision. Moreover, the budgetary consequences are manageable as we are talking about one €145 million in three years, and there is still about €1.6 billion available in the cushion. Therefore, I would recommend against making this point a red line. I have a few additional minor adjustments I would like to table, but in the interest of the time I will not mentioning them here. I am happy to hear you. So thank you.”
  Conditions to access EU budget
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I want to thank Mr. Weiss for his thorough and consistent report and all his efforts in this year and last year also. North Macedonia has carried the title of candidate country for more than two decades. Already been said this one. And in all this time, the their citizens shown steadfast commitment to the path of integration in the European Union. So this is a this is a certainty. North Macedonia successfully completed the screening process in December 2023 and has made measurable progress in the implementation of its reform agenda. These results show a country moving in the right direction toward full membership. They are important steps to make now in order to benefit from the momentum that has been created in the European integrations. To succeed, however, the political class in North Macedonia must put aside division. We need to see renewed political commitment and constructive cross-party cooperation to secure the reforms needed, including the urgent adoption of the constitutional amendments required to unblock the opening of the fundamentals cluster. We all wish to see faster progress most urgently in those areas that sustain democracy itself the rule of law, preventing and combating corruption and media freedom. These pillars are essential not only to preserve democratic institutions, but to maintain citizens trust and their willingness to engage in the country's modernisation. The rule of law, anti-corruption efforts and media freedom are the areas that demand our most careful and impartial scrutiny precisely because they can be fragile, as some of our own union members have learned. For this reason, we must keep our assessment, assessments, objectives and our focus on European criteria. Leaving bilateral disputes to be addressed through open dialogue outside the accession process. I look forward to working with all our colleagues on the next report, and trust that together we can ensure a fair, transparent and more streamlined process that reflects both our values and our common commitment to a united, democratic Europe, including Western Balkans. Thank you.”
  EU relations with Western Balkans
• “Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will also speak in Romanian. In the report. We see three main causes for errors. Administration. Problems in adequate administration. Negligence and certain intention and the interpretation of the regulation framework that that's not adequate. With your experience from analyzing these information from each country. What recommendations do you have in terms of setting priorities that for these causes, what would be the priority that would improve absorption? And the second question of my 20 years of experience before I became a politician in this field of fund absorption, the criteria that authorities, audit authorities are using, do they lay an emphasis on the quality dimension in terms of reaching results? Because there are many situations where projects that have met their successfully met their objectives, but given some formal errors, I'm not talking about fraud. Fraud is very clear case. It needs to be sanctioned. It goes without saying, but these formal errors that maybe blocked the projects some or local authorities had to give back money. Although these projects met their objectives and the beneficiaries deemed them successful. But this leads to this reluctance to use European funding and leads to poor absorption. And the audit authorities in Romania were being too formal, almost nastily so. The color of the chairs was not the right one. They asked for their money back. So this makes people not want to use European funding.”
  Conditions to access EU budget
• “Thank you. Chair. Madam Vice President, very precise question. First one you mentioned in the open, the Moldova was a great example that the resilience is possible over this, this threat from Russia and the hybrid attack. And it's is the time for Europe to deliver back to Moldova. Any progress in the in the perspective from from opening the negotiations? This is the first one. And the second one is we are starting in the in the Parliament to discuss about the MFF, about the budget. How is your okay? You are from the commission. I can imagine the position, but I'm asking is the current budget which is allocated for for your minister Are sufficient. Effective. You feel it is okay. You need some improvement. Thank you.”
  EU-Moldova relations
• “Thank you, Madam President, a standing rapporteur. I have to share a matter of deep regret. Azerbaijan has recently made a unilateral decision to break off relations with the European Parliament. Now, make no mistake. Azerbaijan is an increasingly important partner for the European Union. It is a reality. We see eye to eye on energy and we see eye to eye on regional connectivity. But a true partnership requires open doors, not closed doors, to those who claim this parliament is being biased, hostile or politically motivated. Let me set the record straight. Our position is based on facts, not friction. We are not picking on anyone. The European Parliament applies the exact same standards of human rights to Azerbaijan as we do to every single global partner and, crucially, as we do to ourselves. Some ask, why do we vote so many resolutions regarding this region? It is not an obsession. It is a reflection of how deeply we care. The South Caucasus is an immense geopolitical importance, and the issue there are incredibly serious. Furthermore, these are not just our isolated concerns, they are shared by the Council of Europe two that completely disproves any accusation of prejudice. It is our fundamental duty to defend human rights. We must stand up for those facing politically motivated repression, whether they are fighting for freedom inside their country or living in exile. As our business ties grow, our core values cannot be swept under the rug. That is why I am calling on the Commission and the European External Action Service to stand strong and unified. We must ensure that our fundamental values are never sidelined or silenced by only commercial interests. This Parliament remains a staunch supporter of a lasting, civilised peace in the region. We fully back the normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and we want a deeper, richer cooperation with both nations. But let us remember a truly vital partnership cannot only be built on foundation, on a foundation of mutual respect and shared values. Thank you.”
  EU-Azerbaijan relations
• “Thank you, Madam President. I will speak Romanian. Dictator. For personal or. Global. Assistance. Or. Lumi. Pentru. Reputation. Internazionale. A. Putin, I invited Russia. And. Ukraine in the inclusion complex. Putin. Destul de mult determinare nostra. Morale. Obusier de football sa opera. Mult mai mult decat in Bucha sa Mariupol exista un. Pentru a distruge souveranitat ci. Solidarity. Ukraine. Nu este un trend. Cultural sportive AR trebui sa multumesc.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Thank you. I will present the position of my of my colleague from the budget. Let me first express my gratitude for Mr. Muresan and Mr. Mixer for their hard work on this file. This facility will provide a strong impetus to the Moldovan economy and society, and strengthen the country's commitment to EU membership. I believe it is a solid draft report, one that to me seems to strike a good balance between making necessary changes and allowing for smooth negotiations in the trialogue. In the same spirit, and because of the good work already done by the rapporteurs, that the concerns I would like to bring up are a few, but I believe. Good to mention. First, scrutiny by the Parliament of the implementation of the facility can and should be strengthened ever further. One particular measure I would like to mention here and will table as an amendment, is a facility. Dialogue with the Commission would hold twice a year with the competent committees of the European Parliament to discuss progress in the implementation of the facility and the reform agenda. The facility for the Western Balkans on which this facility is explicitly modelled has such a dialogue too, and it would offer the Parliament a strong and necessary tool for scrutiny. Second, in their draft report, the rapporteurs have raised the pre-financing component that was set by the Commission from 7% to 20%.”
  EU-Moldova relations
• “Thank you. Chair. As we face challenging trade talks with our American partners. We must not forget the vital importance of our transatlantic bond. For over 70 years, the partnership between Europe and the United States has been the foundation for global prosperity and security. This is about more than just tariffs. It is about our shared democratic values and our joint responsibility to tackle global challenges, from climate change to cyber security. Choosing protectionism now would be a huge error, undoing decades of shared progress. We must work towards a fair trade relationship that strengthens both sides, guided by a spirit of cooperation. Let us be inspired by President John F Kennedy, who said we must seek a world where peace is not an interlude between words, but an incentive to the creative energies of humanity. In that spirit, let us use our energy to build a stronger, safer future for both the European Union and the United States. Thank you.”
  EU-US trade relations
• “I would firstly like to thank the rapporteur for the draft opinion. Despite the short deadlines, he has managed to capture the essential points from an international trade perspective. Especially the inclusion of the international procurement instrument in the opinion is important in the current international trade climate, and our shadow also welcomes the references to the WTO Agreement on Government procurement. Hahn has put forward some amendments building on this to further underline the role of international public procurement. The EU public procurement market is one of the most open in the world, and for our group, it is important to keep it that way. As long as there is a level playing field and all actors obey by the rules. Therefore, the amendments our shadow has put forward also underlined the importance of avoiding that public procurement is used for protectionist purposes and to include the dimension of third countries, bids and suppliers, in the opinion. Finally, our shadow also included a mention of the public procurement tools for suppliers and buyers in the Access to Markets portal, as she finds this to be relevant in the context of digitalisation of European public procurement. Thanks.”
  "Buy European" provisions
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I want to thank Mr. Weiss for his thorough and consistent report and all his efforts in this year and last year also. North Macedonia has carried the title of candidate country for more than two decades. Already been said this one. And in all this time, the their citizens shown steadfast commitment to the path of integration in the European Union. So this is a this is a certainty. North Macedonia successfully completed the screening process in December 2023 and has made measurable progress in the implementation of its reform agenda. These results show a country moving in the right direction toward full membership. They are important steps to make now in order to benefit from the momentum that has been created in the European integrations. To succeed, however, the political class in North Macedonia must put aside division. We need to see renewed political commitment and constructive cross-party cooperation to secure the reforms needed, including the urgent adoption of the constitutional amendments required to unblock the opening of the fundamentals cluster. We all wish to see faster progress most urgently in those areas that sustain democracy itself the rule of law, preventing and combating corruption and media freedom. These pillars are essential not only to preserve democratic institutions, but to maintain citizens trust and their willingness to engage in the country's modernisation. The rule of law, anti-corruption efforts and media freedom are the areas that demand our most careful and impartial scrutiny precisely because they can be fragile, as some of our own union members have learned. For this reason, we must keep our assessment, assessments, objectives and our focus on European criteria. Leaving bilateral disputes to be addressed through open dialogue outside the accession process. I look forward to working with all our colleagues on the next report, and trust that together we can ensure a fair, transparent and more streamlined process that reflects both our values and our common commitment to a united, democratic Europe, including Western Balkans. Thank you.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you. Madam president, I will speak in Romanian. Yes, thank you very much. The Cyprus presidency has rightly identified the urgent need for Europe to be strong when it comes to security, competitiveness, strategic autonomy. But obviously none of these can be properly defined without enlarging the European Union. Enlargement remains one of the most transforming of the instruments that the European Union has for the European space. A secure, resilient and integrated Europe will obviously help our neighbours. We have to open up negotiations immediately with the candidate countries and respecting the methodology that has already been put in place. So we have the excellent example of the Republic of Moldova, who confirmed last year the trust that we have placed in them and got a very high ranking when it comes to the progress they have made. But we have to recognise that merit and I think when it comes to strategic autonomy and there has to be the right kind of funding as well. So we really must move forward swiftly. With the negotiations on the MFF 2028, 2034, and we have to allocate more funds to the candidate countries. So we need a we can't have a secure European Union without the necessary investment in future. Members, thank you very much and I wish you all these success.”
  EU enlargement
• “In a geopolitical environment increasingly defined by a great power rivalry and rising protectionism. The European Parliament highlights a critical truth Strengthening our bond with Canada is no longer just a choice. It is a strategic necessity as we face an unstable transatlantic relationship with the US, marked by shifting priorities and economic friction. Canada remains our most reliable, like minded ally on the North American continent. We share more than values. We share a commitment to a rule based order and economic resilience. A vital pillar of this renewed partnership is our energy security. This report emphasises the urgency of deep cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, specifically to a modernized Canada Euratom Agreement. By collaborating on nuclear reactors and securing stable supply chains for nuclear fuel and critical minerals, we can break our dependencies on hostile actors and power our green transition together In an era of fragmentation, let us choose the partner that stands with us for a secure, sovereign Europe. We must look to Canada. Thank you. And I want to thank Tobias and the other fellow rapporteurs for shadow rapporteurs for the very constructive approach in this in this debate. Thank you Tobias.”
  EU-US relations
• “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I want to thank Mr. Weiss for his thorough and consistent report and all his efforts in this year and last year also. North Macedonia has carried the title of candidate country for more than two decades. Already been said this one. And in all this time, the their citizens shown steadfast commitment to the path of integration in the European Union. So this is a this is a certainty. North Macedonia successfully completed the screening process in December 2023 and has made measurable progress in the implementation of its reform agenda. These results show a country moving in the right direction toward full membership. They are important steps to make now in order to benefit from the momentum that has been created in the European integrations. To succeed, however, the political class in North Macedonia must put aside division. We need to see renewed political commitment and constructive cross-party cooperation to secure the reforms needed, including the urgent adoption of the constitutional amendments required to unblock the opening of the fundamentals cluster. We all wish to see faster progress most urgently in those areas that sustain democracy itself the rule of law, preventing and combating corruption and media freedom. These pillars are essential not only to preserve democratic institutions, but to maintain citizens trust and their willingness to engage in the country's modernisation. The rule of law, anti-corruption efforts and media freedom are the areas that demand our most careful and impartial scrutiny precisely because they can be fragile, as some of our own union members have learned. For this reason, we must keep our assessment, assessments, objectives and our focus on European criteria. Leaving bilateral disputes to be addressed through open dialogue outside the accession process. I look forward to working with all our colleagues on the next report, and trust that together we can ensure a fair, transparent and more streamlined process that reflects both our values and our common commitment to a united, democratic Europe, including Western Balkans. Thank you.”
  EU enlargement
• “I switch to English to be clearly understood. The way the world is today in this day started when Putin attacked Ukraine. That was the flame who who burned the who burned the world in this moment? And Putin attacked Ukraine without any excuse. This is the the main problem. And this is why we are discussing today exactly this topic. Thank you.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Thank you, thank you chair. Thank you, commissioners, for being here. It's somehow an optimistic image to see all four of you presence here. Still, all of you address quite consistent your specific portfolio, which is good and natural. But in the same time all of you talk about the greater flexibility and greater coordination and discussing about particularly global Europe, how this coordination will work. Because I'm not seeing here the high representative. I don't know if she was invited or she was not available. But my question for you is how this coordination between I mean, the world is changing is changing the priorities weekly. I can say. So this expected coordination, how do you foresee as working in the next period? This is the first question and the second one is related with Europe pillar because the lack of defined allocation split between Euro pillar, which currently blurs the distinction between candidate countries and the eastern neighbor, risks risk, undermining the predictability of the accession process. So my question to you is can you commit because the discussion it is very alive in the Parliament. Can you commit supporting a financial framework that guarantees these dedicated allocations, thereby ensuring transparency and giving the budgetary authority the ability to track and protect pre-accession funding essential for the future membership? Because all of us agree that the enlargement is one of the defense shield for the for the future, which is coming to us. There are other question marks relating the practicalities, but for the moment these two issues coordination and global European pillar. Thank you.”
  EU enlargement
• “To address this, we propose a specific breakdown distinguishing these allocations to ensure predictability in the accession process for Ukraine. Our amendments insist that Ukraine reserve clearly distinguish between resources for recovery and reconstruction versus those for pre-accession assistance. With the latter align with the methodology used for other candidate countries. On the implementation side, we must uphold the highest standards of financial management. We are echoing concerns regarding financing not linked to costs, and insist that funds be strictly conditional upon concrete milestones related to the rule of law and fight against corruption. This conditionality must be rigorous, as current provisions in other facilities have proven too weak. Finally, we seek to empower our partners on the ground. Our amendments call for the formal recognition of local and regional governments as fundamental development actors, and demand their mandatory involvement in the drafting of multiannual programmes. We also call for continued. Continued resources for the civil society organisations, particularly local and women's rights organisations, to maximise impact. We insist that the European Investment Bank be formally anchored as our primary strategic financial partner, to leverage private investment effectively. In summary, these amendments are designed to ensure that the union's external funding is not only adequate in scale, but also transparent, accountable and strategically aligned with our core values of the rule of law and democratic oversight. Thank you.”
  EU enlargement
• “Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of our Renew Europe shadow rapporteurs. Who unfortunately was not able to be here for this extraordinary meeting. This vote today and the compromise amendments proposed by the rapporteur, is an exercise in striking a balance between speed. On the one hand, as some member states consider having the safeguard regulation in place, a precondition for them to decide on Mercosur agreement and addressing the concerns by the agricultural community. On the other hand, at the same time, we must also be honest about what is possible, what is within the Parliament's power to amend and what is not even part of the safeguards. Much of the content of the safeguard regulation is based on what it is in the Mercosur agreement. So we can't change, for example, transition periods or how long the safeguard regulations can be applied, as the Parliament does not have the power to amend trade agreements. The compromise amendments are drafted with this in mind, and they are incorporating those parts of the opinion which are applicable. Our shadow rapporteur urges all colleagues to vote in favour of the compromise amendments and reject all other amendments in order to have a coherent Parliament position when entering into negotiations with the council. Because we owe it to the agricultural community to ensure that there is a safeguard regulation in place when the Mercosur agreement is signed. Thank you. Thanks a lot for the Greens. Saskia Brinkman.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur