Francesco TORSELLI

Policy topics Francesco TORSELLI is active on

What Francesco TORSELLI has said (25)

• 2026-06-16 “Commissioner. Digital sovereignty will be achieved when we have data infrastructure and the ability to defend this infrastructure and data. Now, there are ambitious efforts in order to move in these particular directions. But there's. But I'm I think that the third factor has become much more important than the first factor. But I think it's very, very important to focus on these. We have to find a European way for AI to move forward through new technologies. If if we copy or if we try to manipulate or that which exists from others, we will not succeed. We have to be on the forefront with our own, with everything agriculture, energy, artificial intelligence is like that. It's a sector. It's a sector where we need our own path for sovereignty. We don't want to copy what others have done. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-06-16 “Well, thank you. Thank you very much. Put on your headphones. Okay. Thank you very much, colleague. I do feel that the solution, would be exactly what you said. In other words, find a European path. I don't think it would be simply, depending on foreign technologies, but find our own in house technology and secure ones. That's the solution. Of course, we have technology there which isn't secure in nature, but if we want to be autonomous, independent, we have to find our own hardware as well, not just software. So I think it is here that we have to really focus. And, of course, the CHIPS Act is focused on software, but we need the hardware as well and not copy that which exists out there already. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-06-16 “Well thank you. Thank you very much. Put on your headphones. Okay. Thank you very much, colleague. I do feel that the solution would be exactly what you said. In other words, find a European path. I don't think it would be simply depending on foreign technologies, but find our own in-house technology and secure ones. That's the solution. Of course, we have technology there which isn't secure in nature, but if we want to be autonomous independent, we have to find our own hardware as well, not just software. So I think it is here that we have to really focus. And of course, the Chips act is focused on software, but we need the hardware as well and not copy that which exists out there already. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-06-16 “Colleagues, commissioner, digital sovereignty will be achieved when we have data, infrastructure, and the ability to defend this infrastructure and data. Now there are ambitious, efforts in order to move in these particular directions, but there's but I'm I think that the 3rd factor has become much more important than the 1st factor, but I think it's very, very important to focus on these. We have to find a European way for AI to move forward through new technologies. If we copy or if we try to manipulate or that which exists from others, we will not succeed. We have to be on the forefront with our own, with everything, agriculture, energy. Artificial intelligence is like that. It's a sector. It's a sector where we need our own path for sovereignty. We don't want to copy what others have done.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-03-10 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission 22.5.2026 Written question The Voices European Festival of Journalism and Media freedom receives co-funding from the Commission, following an open call for proposals with a maximum total contribution of EUR 3 000 000, for the duration of 27 months. This is a preparatory action initiated by the European Parliament, which are typically defined as experimental initiatives designed to test the feasibility of new actions and prepare new programmes. The festival is organised as a project carried out by a consortium of European and local organisations with strong EU-wide networks for media. As such, the choice of speakers is made by a dedicated coordinator designated by each of the organising partners. The Commission has no involvement in this process. It should also be recalled that the concerned call for proposals included strict, transparent and pre-established criteria to select projects and that the Commission does not have a role in implementation decisions taken by the beneficiaries. The Commission is committed to ensuring that projects are properly implemented in accordance with the terms of each agreement in line with the Financial Regulation [1] . [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/2509/oj/eng.”
  Conditions to access EU budget · EU research funding
• 2025-09-22 “E-003660/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The provisional measures on imports of fused alumina were based on preliminary findings indicating the pressing need to address injury caused by Chinese imports to the EU industry, to safeguard its viability, and to support fair competition within the internal market. The investigation is currently ongoing, with the Commission continuing to gather and verify relevant data. All interested parties have been invited to submit comments and request hearings. As part of its assessment of the EU interest, the Commission examines closely the situation of all interested parties, including users of the product under investigation, and is carefully considering all submissions received in line with the applicable procedural framework, in particular those aimed at mitigating the potential impact on users. The Commission is expected to reach a final determination by 16 January 2026. Regarding the scope of the current anti-dumping investigation, it is limited to imports of fused alumina originating in China. Imports of downstream products, including abrasive materials incorporating fused alumina, do not fall within that scope. An investigation into such downstream products from China would require the submission of a substantiated complaint in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 1 . As regards circumvention, Article 13 of the basic Regulation establishes a distinct procedure. The Commission monitors closely trade flows to detect possible circumvention practices and, where appropriate, may initiate an anti-circumvention investigation. In the present case, the Commission is mindful of the risk of circumvention and will continue to monitor developments carefully in line with the applicable legal framework. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/1036/oj/eng.”
  Trade relations with China · Chinese clean tech competition: trade barriers and investment caps vs. open market
• 2025-03-31 “E-001323/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The Commission acknowledges the importance of strengthening cooperation between EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and national police forces to tackle serious crimes, such as murder. As outlined in the ProtectEU strategy 1 , the Commission is committed to delivering concrete and key actions to reinforce Europol's capabilities through an ambitious overhaul of its mandate, and to support Member States in improving crossborder operational cooperation and facilitating seamless information exchange. To ensure that judicial cooperation remains effective in addressing all forms of serious and organised crime, the Commission will also assess the need to further strengthen the European Investigation Order and the European Arrest Warrant. The implementation of specific precautionary measures to prevent a person from absconding from justice, including real-time data exchange systems for surveillance of defendants, remains primarily within the competence of Member States. The Council Framework Decision 2009/829/JHA 2 can be used to transfer pre-trial supervision measures, namely obligations and instructions imposed on a natural person, to other Member States. 1 COM(2025) 148 final: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0148. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_framw/2009/829/oj/eng.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters · Privacy & law enforcement
• 2025-03-10 “E-001032/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Digital Europe Programme (DEP), the first programme entirely dedicated to the deployment of digital infrastructures and an important enabler of the European digital transition, has an overall budget of EUR 8.1 billion for funding activities in six areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society and semiconductors. Due to the 50% funding rate of the programme, the same amount is being invested by Member States and beneficiaries from the programme. 2024 saw the signature of the 500th grant under DEP. This milestone represents an overall investment of EUR 3.3 billion, with EUR 1.9 billion contributed from the DEP budget. Over EUR 1 billion has been invested in over 140 procurements and in contribution agreements. Through InvestEU, EUR 83.63 million have been committed to support strategic digital technologies and EUR 67 million for investments in semiconductor technologies that are expected to mobilise EUR 2.1 billion. The implementation of DEP is on track to achieve its objectives. A number of big initiatives have been launched: deployment of world-class supercomputers and artificial intelligence factories, launch of leading semiconductor pilot lines, European Digital Identity (eID) pilot projects, The European Quantum Communication Infrastructure Initiative (EuroQCI), security operation centres, Destination Earth, the European Virtual Human Twins Initiative, and the network of Digital Innovation Hubs in all Member States. These flagship initiatives for the EU are now well recognised by the Member States and stakeholders alike, paving the way for European digital transition. Detailed data on the implementation of DEP, including financial data, can be found in the DIGITAL dashboard 1 . 1 https://dashboard.tech.ec.europa.eu/qs_digit_dashboard_mt/public/extensions/CNECT_DIGITAL_dashboard/C NECT_DIGITAL_dashboard.html”
  EU industrial funding
• “Thank you president. Thank you Commissioner. Artificial intelligence represents an opportunity. And this goes to when it comes to trade. Of course, there is a concrete risk, however, becoming a digital colony depending on someone else, depending on platforms, clouds, hardware, hardware models developed far away from Europe. So building a completely European value chain from start to finish is certainly a very exciting aim. It's certainly very exciting to think about that, but if we are to be realistic today, it does seem that it's going to be quite difficult to achieve. But making our our digital ecosystem as European as possible, well, that is something that is more realistic, perhaps with tangible support to businesses. It might also be good to look at regulatory simplification since we see that there is a risk for businesses to spend more time on red tape rather than being innovative. A European regulatory sandbox for strategic businesses, particularly start ups and SMEs, to test AI in a swift and competitive fashion that will ensure that Europe is back at the heart of technological development, including AI. I think that it's still possible for the EU to be a leader when it comes to this global challenge. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• “In these last three seconds, somewhere in Europe, a child has received a message that is humiliating him or her in front of the others. He or she cannot delete it and cannot defend himself or herself because it's online. But online humiliation is never ending. You've all said it. One out of six adolescents report that they were buried online. And there's also a. I would say that given the situation, we need more school, more awareness raising, but also more family. It isn't enough to be scandalized when you hear about the most recent bully. When we're the ones who just, uh, come up with hate online. The government tried to bolster prevention, but now, at the moment, we need the courage to take the next step. We need true accountability, true rules, but without exploiting this. Because if we want to fight against cyberbullying, we need pragmatism and not ideology.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Thank you. Chair. I will break this French agreement and I will speak in Italian. I would also like to thank our colleague for the work that he has done, the shadow rapporteur. We went along the same lines from the very beginning. We tried to be non-ideological and base ourselves on non-negotiable factors we did not understand in September the will of some countries, such as Brazil, to accelerate at all costs and try to conclude something that has taken so long and there has been a deferrable a deferral. And thanks to the good work of the Italian government, we've also managed to achieve some very good results. The 5% figure, for example, and the money to be allocated to the various crises of the various sectors involved and reciprocal reciprocity. So we believe that today this agreement is much more balanced. It sets out the strategic role, which was one of our objectives here in Europe, as being a bridge in the world. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “Thank you very much, president. Thanks to online shopping. 12 million packages arrive in Europe every day, many of which are of a value lower than €150, and the vast majority come from China. Now they are not subject to customs duties, and there are field checks, but 80% of checks find that goods do not comply with European standards. Most of them are toys and clothing, but our companies have always been willing to make sacrifices to improve their quality and make sure that they offer better guarantees to consumers. But whose side is Europe on? Are they only thinking of raw materials and new labeling E passports without trying to find some remedy? A break on this market? If we're talking about these billions of packages responsible for 50% of the counterfeit goods which are circulating in Europe. Thank you.”
  EU policy on custom fee on non-EU imports
• “Thank you very much, president. The commission is presenting a package which promises simplification and competitiveness. These are objectives that we conservatives are in favor of. So we're happy about that. But companies do not need new promises. They need Europe to stop strangling them under all of these rules, obligations to conform, which change every year. Because today those that are producing are actually paying for the disparity between European theory and daily practice. In Brussels, we talk about a potential savings. Are companies have to deal with the cost straight away with these regulatory updates the different obligations they have to adhere to these incomprehensible procedures. We are in favor of digitalization, and we think that 120 billion per year of potential savings are very ambitious and necessary objective. At the same time, we are clear in saying no. If innovation is used as a pretext to centralize decision making and impose illogical rules. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thanks very much, chair. Thank you to the rapporteur and thanks to Mr. Mato, who made it possible to draw on the free trade agreement and tie it into a regulation whose aim is to safeguard and protect European producers. This was a pivotal step without which things would have been a lot more difficult. So thank you for the work you've conducted. Clearly, the work we have conducted as shadows has served to hone the initial text tabled by the Commission. The compromise amendments represent significant headway as far as we are concerned. There are two things missing here the reciprocity principle and the automatic triggering of the safeguard mechanisms. The key thing is that what European producers want, what is asked of European producers, should also be asked of Mercosur producers. Without that, we're barking up the wrong tree. To the 11th hour, we will try and stand up for these two principles in the final text.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “Thank you chair. Thank you. Commissioners. Dear colleagues, please take off. Take off your headphones because I will speak in Italian. As the representative of the ECR Group. Commissioner, I welcome the outcome of yesterday's summit. I'll just dwell on a number of points that you mentioned in your report. The first, without doubt, is defence, because cooperation with the UK Armed Forces and intelligence services will today certainly position us better to deal with the challenges of the immediate future. The second point that is particularly close to our heart is fighting illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings, which is already a topic in the centre of the agenda that the government of my country, Italy, alongside that of the UK, is tackling in a serious and cooperative manner. The topic of trade, in particular with regard to phytosanitary and agri cultural checks is important. Commissioner, in light of yesterday, have you already calculated in numerical terms what benefits this new agreement may bring for SMEs in the agri food business and for consumers? And the last point is youth mobility, which again, is close to our hearts. And I would very much like to see the UK rejoining Erasmus+.”
  EU-UK relations
• “Good afternoon, president von der Leyen, in listening to your words today in relation to unfair competition and defending the independence of European productivity, one understands very clearly that you are well aware of the damage that has been done by the Green Deal over the past five years to farmers and industry alike. And we're here to make a simple request. Let's be pragmatic in the EU and make sure that the necessary incentives and funds are available so that our industry can survive. Let's streamline the red tape. Let's train people so that they can use new technologies. Let's have clear and homogeneous rules, as you call them. That's what our farmers and entrepreneurs want. And there are technological innovations which pose a challenge. That's all true. But on the basis of what you said today, let's face them and give them the instruments to fight those who do not respect the same rules which in the EU we have imposed on ourselves. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you very much, president. 92% of Europeans. Are invested in service from outside the EU. And this is similar to cloud services and software as well, because all that money then is going to non-European companies. These aren't just numbers. This is a vulnerability of strategic proportions. We need to look at our economy, our security, our democracy. And that will depend on infrastructure, which today is not under our control. This digital area is a new area where superpowers are fighting over it. Those who have the data will have the power, and we need to reflect on that, commissioner, about how to defend this sovereignty. Digital sovereignty is no longer an option. It is the sole solution to guarantee freedom for future generations. Let's not forget that today, if we have to choose between digital commodities and digital sovereignty, surely we have to be able to have both.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• “We need a clear structure of the report where we can elaborate on how we will achieve first, the high speed connectivity with fiber, 5G and six G and satellite communication systems playing its role. Secondly, we need to set out how we create and strengthen collaborative connectivity and computing ecosystems with high performance computing, semiconductors, cloud, AI systems, quantum technologies, and data centres. Thirdly, we need to make sure that our digital infrastructure is secure and resilient, with submarine cables and cybersecurity being in the centre of our attention. And most importantly, these three chapters should be underpinned by a joint plan for the creation of a European stack of digital technologies where, together with European industry, we will form the backbone of European infrastructure consisting of semiconductors, connectivity solutions, sovereign cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence and underpinning software standards and protocols. We need a joint public private partnership to overcome current dependencies which weaken our competitiveness. I am looking forward to cooperate with the with the rapporteur and with the group shadows, sharing similar vision with an aim to achieve comprehensive report outlining an ambitious vision for the coming years. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• “Thank you very much, president. We can say that we all agree on the fact that we need to regulate the digital economy and tax aspects relating to it, and we also have to look at BEPs base erosion and profit shifting. Beps is used by companies to use differences in taxation across the member states in order to shift their profits where the tax regime benefits them the most. This isn't a unilateral European tax on digital services that we can decide to do as we want. The European Commission, let me say to you that you have to pursue multilateralism, tax justice, but please let us not harm ourselves. As we've seen it happen in other areas of manufacturing, the car industry, agribusiness, uh, because otherwise we'll be dealing a blow to consumers once again. And instead of achieving tax justice and tax equality, we won't be doing that. Thank you very much.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you. Thank you very much, president. Artificial intelligence management of algorithmic management is something which will seriously affect the workplace. And it's for that particular reason that we need to be ready and on top of things. And tomorrow, what we're going to vote on here has considerably improved when compared to the initial texts that were submitted. Now, the issue of opportunity, the opportunity to be able to that is something that was missing before. And now we have indeed a very bolstered, improved text now transforming the regulation in order to be able to make sure that everything falls in line properly with fair competition. This is something extremely important. And at the regulatory level, we do have to take this into consideration. It's important for work, for health, for things to move along smoothly overall. Indeed, we have a major challenge before us, and we have to look closely at artificial intelligence and algorithmic management and the various nuances there. Thank you very much.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Thank you very much. President. It is impossible not to go along with a plan of action which is designed to make energy more affordable. But let's see whether we achieve that, looking at what we need to do for that to be the case. Because for the next 25 years, our energy needs will double. National grids will have to be extended by at least 60%. So what economic resources can we put in to achieving these objectives? Is it enough to tell Member States to reduce their energy consumption and get prices down, gas prices down? The reply is no. We need specific investments. We need specific actions. So I want to ask you, Commissioner, precisely what you have done to resolve the issue of energy poverty, because right now I have heard nothing about biofuels and gas, and they are ways that are perfectly valid to achieve our objectives. Thank you.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “You started your comments by saying that while others invest, we regulate that, right? There is, uh, an illustration of the worst advice of the EU in the last 20 years. Then you talked about the gap between the US and China and the EU. That's fine. Well, you know it exists. You know very well that there's another gap in Europe. 44% of Europeans have a digital deficit, 150 million European citizens can't send email or research anything on Google. And this is another gap. I'd like to know if you have any intentions of trying to fill that gap in something else. Is the access to social platforms by vulnerable persons. Uh. Italy and Denmark are amongst the countries experimenting with a limiting app for minors, but we also have the elderly being affected by, uh, tricks and, uh, fake news. So I'd like to hear your opinion on this, uh, access to for vulnerable people. Thank you.”
  EU policy on accessibility of digital infrastructure
• “Thank you chair. You have already put on your headphones and I will speak in Italian. Now having listened to the reports from Mr. Budget and the other shadow rapporteurs, I think there is some margin to do some excellent work on this file, this committee initiative. I think that we can lay the foundations for a clear standards framework, which is rigorous, which can be used to Are built as a regulatory structure. Digitalization and artificial intelligence. Are transforming our entire world, including the world of labor. And I think that Algorithmic Manager has a huge management, has a huge potential in terms of improving efficiency and optimizing production processes and supporting production in many sectors. But I agree entirely with the rapporteur when he says that this evolution cannot leave aside the rights of workers. It cannot decide autonomously issues such as hiring, firing and changes in wages, changes in contracts, promotions. And on this the ECR Group remains firm. The final world term must always be Taken or for a human being. The human being must use the technological support and international and artificial intelligence, and not be used to by that technological support. This is the key to this for us, and I think it's the key for all of the committee. Having listened to the colleagues that spoke before me. The other major issue is the issue of transparency. You already referred to this transparency of algorithms. There are two aspects missing in this transparency. The first is that workers must be informed constantly that their work is being assessed by artificial intelligence, or by an algorithm as well. But in parallel, there is the issue of the ownership of the data acquired by artificial intelligence. So who manages this? Who coordinates that? Who regulates that? I have every faith that we will do some great work together. Thank you very much.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Thank you. Chair. Dear rapporteur, Dear Shadows and colleagues, on behalf of Renew Europe, let me start by looking at the big picture in the current geopolitical situation, with the war at our doors, with our traditional allies being increasingly unfriendly, with our traditional rivals testing our resolve and posing increasing threats to our resilience, European sovereignty and resilience of our digital infrastructure becomes a top issue not only for this committee, but for the whole of the EU. Therefore, our report is extremely timely and important. Consideration of a draft report is usually a moment to thank the rapporteur for the draft and to start further work on this basis. And I do thank Madame Knafo for the effort. But I also wonder if this draft sets the stakes and challenges correctly. I am a bit disappointed to see that some crucial elements for the deployment of infrastructure, like spectrum policy, are not mentioned at all. Permitting for the infrastructure deployment and security of submarine cables are key issues and they deserve much more attention. Unfortunately, I see much more focus on praising the Trump administration and criticizing EU than on proposing serious measures needed to ensure Europe's tax sovereignty. To me, what we need the most is a vision. We need a bold vision on how we invest and develop European digital infrastructure, because this is where our sovereignty should start.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• “Now, the conservative group has always looked kindly on the Mercosur agreement. That's been the case from the get go because we share economic, cultural, historical interests and clearly one of our main goals, if not the main goal, is to put the finishing touches to this agreement as things stand. The Commission is putting forward an agreement which could be fine tuned. It's up to us not just to try and beat the clock, but we must act until the 11th hour to try and hone this agreement. But how? It can be honed by clearly slotting in a safeguard clause based on reciprocity. So those who export to the EU absolutely must comply with the same standards which European producers must abide by. In so doing, the safeguard clause ought to kick in automatically and there should only be one safeguard clause. We cannot wait for all three safeguard clauses to apply if we want to protect our stockbreeders and crop producers. Extending the adaption period from 12 to 18 years would be great, because 15 years would allow us to protect all of our European production sectors. This would mean at the end of the day, we would have a more balanced, fairer and more sustainable agreement because it would represent the beating heart of our economy and the associated interests. I want this agreement to be rounded off on, whereas other people want to do this opportunity away from us, but we must be plain as to what our goal is coming up with an agreement which has a positive trickle down effect on our producers and breeders.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur