Michele PICARO

Policy topics Michele PICARO is active on

What Michele PICARO has said (13)

• 2025-10-03 “E-003883/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The EU takes robust action to protect its industries from unfairly traded imports and at present has over 200 measures in place. As regards anti-dumping, the Commission takes action to defend EU industry from dumped imports when the conditions are met. The Complaints Office of Trade Defence Services can be contacted to discuss the procedure 1 . There is also comprehensive information on the trade defence website 2 including guides, the evidence and information required as well as the time frame for investigations. Products placed on the EU market must comply with applicable EU legislation, including the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals regulation and relevant environmental and product safety standards. Member States are responsible for enforcement at national level and the Commission cooperates closely with the relevant authorities to ensure consistent and uniform application. Any evidence of the use of prohibited or toxic materials, such as toxic paints releasing carcinogenic micro-particles during cremation, should be followed up with the competent market surveillance and customs authorities. The Commission recognises the importance of effective customs and market surveillance controls in preventing the entry of non-compliant or unsafe products. Customs and market surveillance authorities in Member States carry out the checks based on risk assessment. The Commission is encouraging the active exchange of customs risk related information, and the close cooperation between customs and market surveillance authorities to detect and prevent circumvention and ensure that imported products meet EU requirements. 1 trade-defence-complaints@ec.europa.eu. 2 https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/enforcement-and-protection/trade-defence_en.”
  EU policy on custom fee on non-EU imports · Trade relations with China
• 2024-07-19 “E-001388/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission According to the latest data reported by Member States 1 under Article 12 of the Birds Directive 2 , the EU population status of the common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) was assessed as Declining 3 . If in certain locations and in certain periods of the year this species may cause damages to certain agricultural crops, Member States' authorities can apply several measures in order to prevent or minimise such damages, in accordance with the European legislation in force 4 . Following a solid, scientific assessment of the problem, priority should be given to the relevant non-lethal control methods, including for example the use of netting, repellents, visual scaring devices or acoustic systems (sonic deterrents with distress or predator calls, soft air canons). Under the Common Agricultural Policy 5 , Member States may provide support for preventive actions to mitigate the risk of damages by protected animals, including for protected birds. EU State aid rules 6 recognise the potential damage to equipment, animals and plants caused by such animals. Therefore, Member States are allowed to compensate costs of such damages, preventive measures, or support insurance premia. Targeted and limited lethal control measures to prevent serious damage to crops may also be taken, where justified, within the limits set by the derogation provisions of Article 9, paragraph 1, letter a) of the Birds Directive. Derogations to authorise killing of common Starlings are regularly used in Italy, including by Region Apulia. The Commission has no plans to amend the list of huntable species in the Annexes of the Birds Directive. 1 https://nature-art12.eionet.europa.eu/article12/summary?period=3&subject=Sturnus+vulgaris&reported_name= 2 Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 20 of 26.01.2010. 3 The breeding population trend in the EU was assessed as decreasing both in the short term and in the long term. 4 Annex II/2 of the Birds Directive 2009/147, according to which the Common Starling is not huntable in several Member States, including Italy. 5 https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/cap-overview/cap-glance_en 6 Sections 1.2.1.5, 1.2.1.6. and 2.8.5. of the Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas, OJ C 485, 21.12.2022, p. 1, and Article 26 of Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/2472 of 14 December 2022 declaring certain categories of aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, OJ L 327, 21.12.2022, p. 1.”
  GMOs
• “Miss Ribera. The clean industrial deal has as its objective that of strengthening European competitiveness and promoting decarbonisation. But as it is now, it will probably have the opposite effect because there is no technological neutrality. You insist on electricity, forgetting biofuels and e-fuels. Plus there's the issue of competitiveness. So Europe has very strict levels and standards, but the US and China are being more pragmatic. They have incentives to attract investments in 2023. The EU lost €40 billion because there was inefficiency with emission permits. So if we continue this way, our companies, especially SMEs, will be overcome by the excessive costs and they will have to move out of Europe with very serious consequences. The auto industry is an obvious example. There are derogations, but there are problems with logistics and transport. Financing is not certain. We spoken of €100 million, but we don't have a distribution plan. If there's no guarantee to access the resources, then the companies cannot move forward with transition. So as ECR, we want support for all technologies. We want to protect jobs, support industry because European industry can't be sacrificed to this translation, to this transition which is imposed from above. So are you thinking of the possibility of making this plan fair and more just because otherwise there are just theoretical objectives and we will never attain them.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Thank you, President chair. Now I'll speak in Italian. Thank you very much. Thank you, Professor Pacini, for having shown a clinical data and, have showcased the credibility of Italian academics. Amr is not just a health threat, but above all, it's a political challenge. For a long time, Europe is considered to be a very specific subject, something very far from the daily lives of citizens. But we know that's not the case and calls into question the right to health care, the sustainability of our health care systems, and the credibility of our institutions. So the choice is stark are either we go for change or we will be overwhelmed by the consequences of our slow pace, uh, rapid diagnosis. Studies that focus on pathogens, equal access to new antibiotics, and the regulation of innovative treatments such as bacteriophages. We must make sure that red tape isn't an obstacle. There has to be innovation. It has to thrive because otherwise resistance will advance. Amr is a policy priority or should be on the on a par with pandemics. It's not just about saving lives, it's to make sure that we're not unprepared in the face of a crisis foretold. We have to talk about political responsibility. My question is, should we assess the Amr properties of herbicides, pesticides and others before we place them on the market? That is my question to you.”
  Antimicrobial resistance
• “Thank you very much, chair. The European Semester has played a crucial role in ensuring coordinating coordination of the economic policy in member states. However, following the Covid 19 pandemic, there have been a number of geopolitical uncertainties. In addition to that, that means that we need to revise the economic governance of the EU, and we need to adapt it to the new challenges that the EU faces. At the outset of the year, the Parliament and the Council agreed on an overarching revision of this framework on the 26th of November. The Commission provided the first fall package with the mid-term review and the programme budget documents for the member states for 2025. In addition to that, they had the procedure for the Excessive Deficit Procedure. Now, on the 17th of December, the Commission is set to publish the second part with the annual strategy for Sustainable Growth. The draft opinion Focuses on some of the main issues for our committee, i.e. incentives to the Member States to safeguard the level of investment in a green, digital, inclusive and resilient economy. Specifically, the draft opinion underscores the major gaps in investment in the EU and considers the potential of the new MFF for EU and Member states. Expenditure and factors in the RRF and EU funds for expansion of public investment. I should like to conclude by reminding you that the deadline is the 19th of the deadline for amendments is the 19th of December at noon, and amendments should be tabled only in English pursuant to the 25th of November 2024. 24 coordinators decision because of the short deadline. The vote will take place on the 29th of January. Thank you.”
  EU fiscal rules and oversight of national budgets
• “Chairman. Commissioner, I'm going to talk about the 90% of emissions for 2040 without actually thinking about the current economic situation is simply theoretical. We need to remember how difficult this might be for the productive sectors and for millions of workers. The debate on the Commission's proposal, which we are going to have tomorrow regarding greater flexibility when calculating car manufacturing emissions, shows that it is possible to strike the right balance between Been environmental ambitions and the survival of our industry. How can we ask the car manufacturing industry, or farming, or the building sector to go through radical transformations in a few years, whilst their international competitors work in a far less strict environmental environments? We need to take into account the specificities of our sectors and our Member States. If we don't do that, the 90% objective will not just be difficult to achieve, it will be politically unsustainable. We can use carbon emissions and trading in those as a useful tool, but we need to remember that people outside our borders have their responsibilities too. We cannot allow our environment to collapse, but we cannot allow us to just tacitly de-industrialise. We need to be pragmatic and strike the right balance.”
  Climate efforts
• “President, commissioner, ladies and gentlemen. As we saw during the COVID 19 pandemic, Europe cannot take the risk of failing to prepare for the next pandemic, acting in a fragmented, delayed, or improvised way. So the recent cases of hantavirus and Ebola virus show that health emergencies can emerge very quickly in an unexpected way and put health systems, communities, laboratories, and economies under enormous pressure. It's important that we continue to progress in ensuring that our response to health emergencies be effective, but it's still patchy. The we have to support laboratories. We have to improve access to data. We have to invest in qualified personnel and set up coordination systems between member states. All of those are necessary measures to enable us to reduce response times and enhance the effectiveness of future, actions to tack to prevent and contain epidemics. This is the only way that Europe can act in proximity to its citizens.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• “Thank you. Chair. Commissioner, this automotive practice is being presented as a step change, but it's actually a cosmetic change to a line which has already been decided upon. The CO2 regulation on cars and vans does not change the 2035 date for 100% electric, with 10% compensation for carbon emissions, thanks to the use of synthetic fuels and biofuels. All of this has a placebo effect for Old Green Deal. It doesn't stimulate investment. Tackle the market or offer true industrial incentives. Biofuels are a marginal rate quota. We could have had an immediate transition, which would require assistance in order to be sustainable for countries like Italy. If we keep such rigid links as this, then really it's a slogan rather than a strategy. Do you really intend to correct the trajectory of the old Green Deal? Or rather, is this package simply. Speakers interrupted. Or is this simply an attempt to dress up an irreversible decision in more acceptable cosmetic appearance? The curse refers to carbon as being essential in order to maintain a made in EU production structure. How will that be possible?”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “Thank you very much. No, I'll speak in Italian. Honourable colleagues Today I'm replacing my colleague Bogdan, who has other institutional commitments. This is a very important topic that we're talking about today, mobilising the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Belgium. Uh, we're talking here about a company that's closely linked to, uh, semiconductors in, uh, Eastern Flanders. Uh, semiconductors are important in producing, uh, optical computers and, uh, other technical abilities. And a number of workers have lost their jobs. Belgium was a key player in producing semiconductors for the automotive sector. This is a sector which today is facing significant challenges. Uh, these include the fallout from Russian aggression against Ukraine. There's been an increase in inflation and there's a complex transition from. Uh uh, uh, complex technological transformation. And Belgian workers are threatened. It doesn't just affect the workers who are directly threatened, but also the whole local, uh, social fabric. Um, in Oudenaarde, uh, there has been a 9% unemployment rate. And we're talking here about highly qualified workers and the number of vacant jobs, uh, is dropping. This shows the need to intervene in a coordinated manner to mitigate the socio economic consequences of this, and to help with the transition towards new opportunities. This resolution says that the conditions for mobilising the Globalisation Fund, as provided by power for two um in the 2021 regulation, are entirely met. Belgium's request has been closely evaluated by the Commission, which concluded that if these um, that both layoffs and the general economic, uh, background, um, would justify, uh, the, um, fund being mobilized to cover 95% of the total costs of the measures, um, activated by market measures and administrative costs. The um, the globalisation fund, um, will ensure that we can have a fully coordinated approach. Colleagues, uh, there's one point I want to emphasize. We have to act quickly. We need to ensure rapid mobilisation for support measures, uh, which is key in order to prevent long term unemployment and social exclusion. It will also help to re-establish the economic dynamism of the region. Finally, on behalf of Mr. Ronacher, I would just like to thank the Budget Committee Secretariat for the excellent work that they've done and constant support in preparing this file. Thank you.”
  European Globalisation Adjustment Fund
• “President. So the. So we want simple, uh, regulations, uh, in order to provide for any sort of compensation for passengers in case of delays. This is something which, of course, uh, touches upon the lives of millions of European citizens. So it's extremely important to to provide, uh, for these particular individuals to the rights in all circumstances. I'm thinking about the need for a clear procedures for reimbursement reimbursements, uh, quicker reimbursements as well, and a greater transparency in the contact between um companies and passengers. Also Accessibility. Accessibility for individuals with disabilities or people who are vulnerable as well. So we have to have a clear, objective system with everything clearly divide without the need for interpretation. As it's been right now. It's a fragmented system where every country interprets according to its desire. So we have to have clear regulation. And of course, at the same time, we need to support the competitiveness of the sector.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• “Thank you chair. Thank you Commissioner. Antimicrobial resistance is a challenge for European society and makes it harder for the EU to move from word to action. Therefore, we need a credible one health approach, taking into account the need to be careful with the use of antibiotics and the situation of medical professionals on the ground. Member States are putting into place ambitious national plans to combat antibiotic resistance. Are you helping with that? And then in a more structured way, what about the role of. Future pharmaceutical use of antibiotics on a targeted way in Europe? And what about targeted financing under EU for health and European programmes of a similar nature? There are antimicrobial projects and they go beyond the simple hospital context. Therefore, Commissioner, without structured strengthening of the role of professionals on the ground, I think European policies on antimicrobial resistance will remain unaffected. Very briefly. Thank you chair. Thank you Commissioner. I'd like to emphasize that when it comes to the right to health, which is one of the most precious goods and values in Europe, the market must be coherent with this. And we must look at how EU for health and other programmes which have a big impact on health and supports civil society organisations and patients, how they can be made more effective. Because we're worried about this, there's a global aspect to health that we learned that in the pandemic and therefore this initiative tabled by the Commission on Global Health Resilience. That initiative is one that we'd like to hear more information about.”
  Antimicrobial resistance
• “President. Commissioner. Europe has to. Cannot just realize how important medicine is when there is a shortage. The Middle East war energy cost spiraling through the roof and other factors are making it difficult for the pharmaceutical industry. We should have learned our lesson after Covid to depend on countries abroad for active substances, and medicine is a weakness. We see production as a cost instead of investment in European security. Antibiotics, vaccines, insulin are rare and chronic disease. Drugs cannot be taken hostage by international crises or by rules that do not reflect the reality. The Critical Medicines Act is an important step forward, but we need less red tape and specific funds to produce critical medicines and critical active substances in Europe. So the question is pretty straightforward do we want a Europe that goes from crisis to crisis, that lurches from crisis to crisis, or do we want a Europe that protects citizens? Thank you.”
  Pharma companies manufacturing and production obligations
• “Commissioner, cardiovascular diseases affect about 62 million people, and they give rise to about 1.7 deaths in the EU and a cost of about €232 billion. This is not a marginal aspect. This is something that has to be covered by prevention policies. The cardiovascular health plan is a change in direction that's absolutely necessary. We need to bring a change to the way we do things. We need to make our healthcare system sustainable. Prevention means that we need to counter ultra processed foods being spread and look at food and dietary models which are scientifically recognized, such as the Mediterranean diet, which brings together sustainability, health, agricultural sector and terroir. We need to invest in early screening and digital aspects as well. And digital assistants, and make sure we reduce disparities between member states. Because if Europe wants to be act on health in a confident fashion, then we have to have the resources which are commensurate and results which can be measured.”
  EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)