Cynthia NÍ MHURCHÚ

Policy topics Cynthia NÍ MHURCHÚ is active on

What Cynthia NÍ MHURCHÚ has said (56)

• 2026-06-16 “(15:48:28 – 15:49:44): Commissioner Dombrovsky, thank you. Put yourself in the shoes of the SMEs in Ireland South that I represent. They measure the success of their business or whether it will survive or not by the margin, the profit margin, the revenue remaining after the SME has deducted its operating costs. They measure KPIs, key performance indicators in order to survive. My question to you, commissioner, is a year and a half into your role, how do you measure your KPIs? How have you measured them thus far a year and a half on? How are you measuring them? And what will be the measure of your success and your huge ambition that you've outlined to us by 2029, the end of the mandate? Because quite frankly, references to omnibus and deep clearing and everything else that we've heard about, that means nothing to the SMEs of Ireland who have told the chartered accountants that 7 out of 10 of them are more pessimistic than 6 months ago. Rising costs are impacting on them, especially labor costs. And the biggest challenge is the topic of this conversation, reducing the regulatory and the compliance burden on them. So please produce the results of your success. Graziano Revolet, Police Commission. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• 2026-03-23 “Answer given by Ms Lahbib on behalf of the European Commission 3.6.2026 Written question Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) (EAA) [1] sets mandatory accessibility requirements for certain products and services, including certain elements of transport services, and optional accessibility requirements for the built environment [2] , for which Member States can opt-in [3] . The Act applies since 28 June 2025, and the Commission monitors its implementation across the EU. In 2022, the Commission issued a standardisation request [4] to revise and develop standards including for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and on the built environment [5] , which should support the implementation of accessibility requirements of the EAA. Moreover, the Commission launched the European resource centre AccessibleEU [6] , designed, inter alia , to support the implementation of EU accessibility legislation. Moreover, Article 9(3) of the Common Provisions Regulation [7] states that accessibility for persons with disabilities shall be taken into account throughout the preparation and implementation of programmes in the different funds to which this regulation applies. As regards public transport, the EU type-approval rules [8] for city buses require accessibility of passengers with reduced mobility, including at least one wheelchair user. All buses and coaches designed for easy access for passengers with reduced mobility and wheelchair users must comply with requirements on accommodation for such passengers, as regards, e.g., steps, communication devices, handrails, floor slopes etc. EU passenger rights legislation requires to assist persons with reduced mobility and persons with disabilities, allowing them to request advance notification for operators to organise staff or equipment required for using their service. [1] Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, PP.70-115, ELI:http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj). [2] Annex III to Directive (EU) 2019/82. [3] Ireland has not opted into the accessibility requirements for the built environment. [4] C(2022) 6456 — Standardisation request M/587, https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/enorm/mandate/587_en. [5] EN 17210:2021, Accessibility in the built environment, https://accessible-eu-centre.ec.europa.eu/content-corner/digital-library/en-172102021-accessibility-and-usability-built-environment-functional-requirements_en. [6] https://accessible-eu-centre.ec.europa.eu/index_en. [7] Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, pp. 159-706) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng. [8] Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC (OJ L 151, 14.6.2018, pp. 1-218) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/858/oj/eng.”
  EU policy on disability inclusion & accessibility
• 2026-03-23 “answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission 8.6.2026 Written questions E-10-2026-001204_EN E-10-2026-001258_EN E-10-2026-001486_EN Since the creation of Your Europe Advice (YEA) thirty years ago, digital advancements have significantly impacted the information services provided by the Commission to EU citizens. These changes, and the necessity to modernise the Commission’s tools, call for adaptation of support mechanisms available to citizens. The current contract for the YEA service will end on 31 August 2026. The Commission is actively reviewing options for a refreshed and modernised approach to ensure the service remains effective, user-centred, and responsive to the needs of EU citizens and businesses. The Commission remains committed to support the other existing mechanisms and information portals (e.g., Your Europe portal, Single Digital Gateway) which will continue to provide a high -quality standard of information to EU citizens and businesses. The Commission remains dedicated to support Solvit Centres, in particular via trainings, best practices and other support tools. This engagement should ensure that the Solvit network continues to deliver the best service for EU citizens.”
  EU political integration · Size of EU budget
• 2026-03-10 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission 19.5.2026 Written question The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Video games’ [1] was submitted to the Commission on 26 January 2026. On 23 February 2026, the Commission met with the ECI organisers to allow them to present the objectives of the initiative in detail, clarify its requests and provide further background information. The initiative was subsequently presented to the European Parliament on 16 April, and it is now in examination phase in the Commission. In line with Regulation (EU) 2019/788 on the European Citizens’ Initiative [2] , the Commission will adopt its formal reply, in the form of a communication, no later than 27 July 2026. The communication will set out the Commission’s conclusions on the initiative, as well as the action it intends to take (including a possible envisaged timeline), if any, and its reasons for taking, or not taking, any action. [1] https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en. [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019R0788.”
  EU competences on consumer protection and product standards
• 2026-03-10 “Answer given by Ms Lahbib on behalf of the European Commission 9.6.2026 Written question In line with the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), state parties to the Convention periodically discuss its implementation with the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2021 the Commission created the Disability Platform, which is an expert group composed of the Member States and civil society organisations, to discuss the implementation of the UNCRPD and the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 [1] . During meetings of the Platform the Member States debrief about their constructive dialogues with the UN Committee, including in relation to health, covered by Article 25 of the UNCRPD. A project funded under the EU4Health resulted in guidelines on improving access to care for people with disabilities [2] . Eight workshops organised within the project offered Member States practical guidance on implementing the guidelines and shared good practices in improving access to healthcare for persons with disabilities. The guidelines were presented to the Disability Forum and can be used to inform the work of the Disability Platform including experts from Member States, EU-level non-governmental organisations, and organisations representing persons with disabilities. The implementation of guidelines is in the remit of Member States, which are responsible for the design of their health policies and the management and delivery of health services in accordance with Article 168(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0101. [2] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/0f191113-d63f-11f0-8da2-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.”
  EU policy on disability inclusion & accessibility
• 2026-02-23 “E-000735/2026 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission There is no specific EU legislation on local transport-on-demand (taxis and private hire vehicles with drivers (PHV)). It follows that it is for the Member States to regulate the sector, in conformity with the general rules of the Treaties on the internal market. In particular, transport services are covered by the freedom of establishment (Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), which precludes any national measure which hampers or renders less attractive the exercise by EU nationals of the freedom of establishment. Member States may nevertheless justify such restrictions in view of overriding reasons related to the general interest, provided that the restrictions are appropriate for attaining the objective pursued and do not go beyond what is necessary for attaining that objective. The Commission’s Notice on well-functioning and sustainable local passenger transport-ondemand (taxis and PHV) 1 aims at clarifying the limits of how Member States can regulate the sector. 1 OJ C 62, 4.2.2022, p. 1.”
  EU Competition policy · EU Single Market harmonisation
• 2026-02-13 “E-000634/2026 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission 1. The proposals put forward by the Honourable Members mentioned were assessed and replied to by the Commission 1 , referring to the work of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) with the Member States through the Emerging and Vectorborne Diseases Network (EVD-Net) 2 and the newly designated EU Reference Laboratory (EURL) for public health on high risk, emerging and zoonotic bacterial pathogens 3 , which covers Lyme borreliosis. There are no current plans to set up a European patient testing registry, but the Commission noted the suggestion. 2. Borrelia tests would typically fall into risk class C under Regulation (EU) 2017/746 4 . They are subject to assessment by notified bodies, which certify the quality management system of the manufacturer and assess technical documentation on a sampling basis or, for self-tests, of every device prior to its placement on the market. There are also post-market surveillance, market surveillance and vigilance requirements applicable when the device is on the market. Therefore, Regulation (EU) 2017/746 provides a framework for independent oversight of these tests. 3. Under the existing EU legislative framework, EU institutions do not have a mandate to perform an evaluation of medical devices. The work of the ECDC and the relevant EURL designated by the Commission is described in point 1. Moreover, as part of demonstrating conformity with Regulation (EU) 2017/746 the manufacturer must ensure that the device is state-of-the-art. An assessment of medical technologies is also performed by health technology assessment bodies at national level. The joint clinical assessment under Regulation (EU) 2021/2282 5 is limited to certain class D devices and therefore would not cover Borrelia tests. 1 Further reply from the Commission, received by the European Parliament on 3 November 2025: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/PETI-CM-760964_EN.pdf. 2 https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/about-ecdc/what-we-do/partners-and-networks/disease-and-laboratorynetworks/european-emerging-and. 3 https://www.rki.de/EN/Institute/International-activities/eu-reference-laboratory/EURL-PH-HEZB/eurl-publichealth-high-risk-bacterial-pathogens-node.html. 4 MDCG guidance on IVD classification: https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/12f9756a-1e0d-4aed9783-d948553f1705_en. 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R2282.”
  Pharmaceuticals regulation in EU · Medical devices
• 2026-02-13 “E-000636/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission In cohesion policy, given public procurement's vital role in shared management, national and regional authorities must establish robust control systems and rectify irregularities, applying financial corrections as needed. Should controls fail or serious irregularities remain uncorrected by a Member State, the Commission can interrupt payment deadlines, suspend payments, or apply financial corrections to recover misused funds. If corrections applied by the Commission are net (when regulatory conditions 1 are met), they reduce the support from the Funds to a programme. If they are not net, the Member State can reuse the concerned amounts to fund other eligible operations. Where irregularities are related to projects implemented by beneficiaries, the Member State must protect the EU budget by applying a financial correction towards the respective project (and beneficiaries). For activities involving exclusively national public funds, compliance with procurement rules primarily falls to national review bodies as per Directives on procurement remedies 2 . 1 Article 104 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02021R1060-20251025. 2 Directive 89/665/EEC and Directive 92/13/EEC: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:01989L0665-20140417; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:31992L0013.”
  Conditions to access EU budget · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• 2026-02-13 “E-000633/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission With an update to the current eForms notices published on Tenders Electronic Daily portal 1 , the Commission intends to require buyers to provide not only the business identifier but also the type of identifier, such as a value added tax number or national identifier. This change will help create a more consolidated view of suppliers participating in EU-wide procedures. 1 https://tenderalerts.eu/.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• 2026-02-13 “E-000637/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The Public Procurement Directives 1 mandate the publication of contract awards and tender documents but allow redactions for trade secrets or personal data. The Directives do not touch upon transactional data like invoices to increase transparency. In preparing the proposal for a Public Procurement Act, announced for the second quarter of 2026, the Commission is exploring how to improve secure data exchange and use as well as performance-based monitoring. The Public Procurement Directives do not curtail the possibilities of contracting authorities or entities to use outcome-focussed or performance-based procurement models. They can be used in all procedures under those Directives. In all cases, payment requires the fulfilment of the obligations enshrined in the contract, the delivery of the goods or services in the form and with the quality required by the contracting authority or entity. In its Single Market Strategy 2 , the Commission committed to mainstream the use of sustainability, resilience and social criteria throughout the procurement process. Moreover, as announced in the Circular Economy Action Plan 3 , the Commission has been proposing minimum mandatory Green Public Procurement criteria and targets in sectoral legislation. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02014L0023-20260101; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02014L0024-20260101; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02014L0025-20260101. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52015DC0550. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0098.”
  Conditions to access EU budget · Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• 2026-02-13 “E-000635/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The current Public Procurement Directives 1 primarily regulate the procurement process up to the award of contracts, leaving post-award contract management and payment data largely outside their scope. As part of the announced revision of the Public Procurement Directives, the Commission will explore means to enable better monitoring, reduce fraud risks and enhance transparency in public spending. Under the current framework at both national and EU level, there is an obligation to publish a contract award notice with the results of the procurement procedure which also contain the value of the contract awarded. This publicity requirement is also applicable in case of subsequent modification of the contract during its execution. Contractual payments are made in accordance with the published values of the award or modification of the contracts. They are also subject to satisfactory performance of the contract and approval of deliverables. Consequently, payments may be reduced for delays of delivery, low quality or underperformance, or in other cases involving a breach of contract. Information on the recipients of funding from the EU budget is available in the Financial Transparency System 2 including the total amount of budgetary commitments for procurement contracts and grants implemented directly by the Commission (at headquarters or in EU delegations to non-EU countries) and other EU bodies such as executive agencies (direct management) or implemented indirectly by other international organisations or non-EU countries (indirect management), and beneficiaries of the European Regional Development Fund 3 . 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/23/oj, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/24/oj, https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/25/oj. 2 https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-transparency-system/index.html. 3 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/european-regionaldevelopment-fund-erdf_en; https://kohesio.ec.europa.eu/en/beneficiaries.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• 2026-02-09 “E-000515/2026 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of certain problems and challenges related to the implementation of Regulations (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices 1 and (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices 2 . It has been taking decisive actions to improve the situation, aiming to ensure more timely patients’ access to medical technologies. Specifically, on 16 December 2025 the Commission adopted a legislative proposal for a revision of the current regulations 3 . The proposed revision aims to simplify the rules for medical devices and in vitro diagnostics to make them easier, faster and more effective, while keeping the highest standards for patient safety. It will make the sector more competitive in the internal market and globally by supporting innovation. The Commission counts on the European Parliament and the Council to prioritise this proposal and ensure a swift adoption. In addition, the Commission is finalising an Implementing Regulation laying down certain procedural requirements for the conformity assessment activities carried out by notified bodies 4 . The main elements of this Implementing Act are maximum timelines for notified bodies to complete the certification procedure. This will enhance the predictability of the process, speed up access of medical devices to the market and guarantee their continuous supply. The act was supported by the Medical Device Committee in March 2026 and will be adopted in April. The Commission has also prepared Delegated Regulations to expand the lists of wellestablished technologies referred to in Regulation on medical devices to make the application of some legal requirements for these technologies more proportionate, without compromising health and safety. These acts have been adopted in March 2026 5 . 1 Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC (OJ L 117, 5.5.2017, p. 1). 2 Regulation (EU) 2017/746 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices and repealing Directive 98/79/EEC and Commission Decision 2010/227/EU (OJ L 117, 5.5.2017, p. 176). 3 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) 2017/745 and (EU) 2017/746 as regards simplifying and reducing the burden of the rules on medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices, and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/123 as regards the support of the European Medicines Agency for the expert panels on medical devices and Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 as regards the list of Union harmonisation legislation referred to in its Annex I, COM(2025) 1023 final, 2025/0404 (COD); https://health.ec.europa.eu/medical-devices-sector/new-regulations_en#simpler-and-more-effective-rules-formedical-devices--commission-proposal-for-a-targeted-revision-of-the-medical-devices-regulations. 4 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14471-Medical-devices-uniformapplication-of-the-requirements-for-notified-bodies_en. 5 Currently under the scrutiny procedure by the European Parliament and the Council until June 2026, see https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/regdel/#/delegatedActs/2643 and https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/regdel/#/delegatedActs/3061.”
  Medical devices
• 2026-02-06 “E-000485/2026 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission As EU law stands at present, direct taxation falls within the competence of Member States. The Member States have considerable autonomy in the negotiation, conclusion, application and termination of bilateral treaties on the prevention of double taxation. The Commission has no competence to intervene in the area of treaties on the prevention of double taxation since these matters concern inter alia arranging the taxing rights and bilateral relations between two Member States. Moreover, EU law does not preclude double taxation of the same income by several Member States. Bilateral treaties on the prevention of double taxation usually provide for a mutual agreement procedure. According to such provisions, residents of the contracting States can submit cases of double taxation to the competent authorities, which will endeavour to resolve them by mutual agreement. Article 24 of the Double Taxation Treaty between Ireland and France contains such a provision. In addition, and as an alternative means to solve tax disputes, taxpayers can take recourse to Directive (EU) 2017/1852. This Directive has been transposed by all EU Member States, including Ireland and France. It lays down rules for a mechanism to resolve disputes between Member States when those disputes arise from the interpretation and application of bilateral treaties on the prevention of double taxation. Member States are obliged to resolve the disputes in a concrete timeframe as provided by the Directive.”
  EU competences on taxation · EU Single Market harmonisation
• 2025-10-20 “P-004127/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission 1. The infringement case 1 was initially opened in 2021 and referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2023 2 . In October 2024, the Italian authorities informed the Commission that the procedure laid down in Ministerial Decree No 688 of 24 May 2023, which governed the arrangements for allocating co-financing to universities employing former ‘lettori’, in order to pay the arrears of remuneration due, has successfully concluded with the payment of the sums due to all eligible lettori. According to that information, Italy has put appropriate measures in place to end the infringement, by identifying the concerned ‘lettori’ as reported during the infringement proceedings and making the appropriate funds available to enforce an acceptable framework to end discrimination. Specifically, Italian universities have taken steps to ensure eligible foreign lecturers had their past arrears recognised and paid, addressing the deficiencies previously identified. 2. As some complainants and trade unions still contacted the Commission after October 2024 and claimed that their situation has not been resolved, the Commission asked the trade unions to provide more information and contacted the Italian authorities and shared this information with them in April 2025, insofar as possible under full respect of the applicable data protection provisions. In May 2025, Italy provided detailed documentation and confirmed that careers of all identified eligible former ‘lettori’ have been reconstructed. Following a review of Italy’s commitments and actions, the Commission decided on 17 July 2025 to withdraw the case from the Court. 1 INFR(2021)4055, https://ec.europa.eu/implementing-eu-law/search-infringementdecisions/?lang_code=en&langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byCase&refId=INFR(2021)4055&page= 1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=refId. 2 Case C-519/23: Action brought on 10 August 2023, European Commission v Italian Republic, OJ C 338, 25.9.2023, p.15 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62023CN0519.”
  Jurisdiction conflicts between EU and national courts · EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2025-09-09 “E-003487/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission According to Article 168(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 1 , Member States are responsible for organising and delivering health services and medical care. They are also responsible for training of health professionals and establishing clinical guidelines, treatment protocols and safety standards. EU policies support them to strengthen their health systems via knowledge sharing, technical assistance, and funding. Improvements of health systems are also encouraged through the European Semester. The Commission is not entrusted with developing or endorsing the European training requirements (ETRs) such as developed by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Directive 2005/36/EC 2 provides for an automatic system of recognition of professional qualifications of certain medical specialties based on minimum training requirements. Member States may choose to notify specialities regulated on national level for inclusion in Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC and withdraw specialisations notified in the past. The UEMS has no formal role in the Directive to define curricula, and each Member State decides whether to follow its ETRs. Quality assurance of higher education is ensured at national level and based on the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance, agreed in the context of the European Higher Education Area and applied to higher education institutions and programmes leading to formal qualifications. This protects students against non-accredited curricula. Professional organisations such as the UEMS may set training recommendations, but these only gain formal effect when integrated into nationally accredited curricula. 1 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, https://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:12008E168:EN:HTML. 2 Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (Text with EEA relevance), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2005/36/oj/eng.”
  Medical devices · EU competences on health
• 2025-06-25 “E-002553/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission The EU supports, coordinates and complements the actions of EU countries related to tourism. Most of the rules applicable to the parking of camper vans are resulting from a national or local competence. On 4 February 2022, the Commission published the transition pathway for tourism 1 , which recognises the importance of infrastructure to support the transition of the sector to more sustainable practices. Building on these efforts, the Commission has launched the preparation of an EU sustainable tourism strategy 2 , expected to be announced in early 2026. This strategy will aim at making tourism more sustainable, competitive, and innovative, while enhancing the overall experience for travellers and supporting the sector's resilience. An extensive consultation targeted at EU tourism stakeholders, and an open public consultation have been launched in June 2025 to support the preparation of this strategy. In this context, stakeholders interested in improving facilities for camper vans and caravans have the possibility to contribute to the consultations with their suggestions. In parallel, the Commission will keep engaging with the local authorities and the sector representatives to identify concrete aspects that could be addressed in the upcoming strategy. In order to tackle the lack of infrastructures, it is reminded that under the 2021-2027 programming period, Cohesion Policy can support tourism infrastructure as part of measures that strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the sector and its role in socioeconomic and territorial development. 1 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/678c08ab-bc06-11ee-b164-01aa75ed71a1/language-en. 2 https://transport.ec.europa.eu/tourism/transition-eu-tourism/sustainable-eu-tourism-shaping-tourismtomorrow_en.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration · EU funding for transportation
• 2025-03-31 “E-001324/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has been following the case of former lettori in Italian Universities very closely with the aim that Italy complies with the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union in cases C-212/99 1 and C-119/04 2 . In July 2023, the Commission decided to refer Italy to the Court of Justice of the European Union for maintaining discrimination of foreign lecturers 3 . Case C-519/23 4 is currently pending at the Court of Justice. The aim of the infringement procedure is to ensure that Italy puts appropriate measures in place to accommodate the requirements of the Court judgments. It is, however, for Italy to decide how to best accommodate the requirements of the Court judgements. Member States have a primary responsibility to monitor the application of the relevant legal provisions and to take the necessary steps for enforcement. In October 2024, the Italian authorities indicated to the Commission that the implementation of the procedure laid down in Ministerial Decree No 688/2023 of 24 May 2023 has ensured that former lettori had the right to reconstruct their career, in compliance with the obligations arising from EU and national legislation and the procedure has concluded with the payment of the sums due to former lettori. In March 2025, the Italian trade unions provided the Commission with recent information regarding the case, which the Commission has transmitted to the Italian authorities for their reaction. The Commission is following the developments of the case. 1 Judgment of the Court of Justice of 26 June 2001, Commission of the European Communities v Italian Republic, Case C-212/99, ECLI:EU:C:2001:357 eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=oj:JOC_2001_227_R_0002_02. 2 Judgment of the Court of Justice of 18 July 2006, Commission of the European Communities v Italian Republic, Case C-119/04, ECLI:EU:C:2006:489 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62004CJ0119. 3 https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?num=C-519/23. 4 Case C-519/23: Action brought on 10 August 2023, European Commission v Italian Republic, OJ C 338, 25.9.2023, p. 15 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62023CN0519.”
  Jurisdiction conflicts between EU and national courts
• 2025-02-18 “E-000740/2025 Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas on behalf of the European Commission As highlighted in the recently published report of the Commission on the ReFuelEU Aviation SAF flexibility mechanism 1 , the regulatory certainty provided by Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 2 (ReFuelEU Aviation) coupled with the incentives and financial support provided under Directive 2003/87/EC 3 (EU Emissions Trading System) have led the aviation fuel industry to ramp-up the production capacity of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the EU, at least for aviation biofuels. The Commission is aware that aviation fuel producers have not yet launched the required investments for the upscaling of synthetic aviation fuel production plants which are crucial to achieve the decarbonisation goals of the aviation sector. As announced under the Clean Industrial Deal 4 , the Commission will come forward with a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) later in 2025, outlining a strategic approach to scale-up and priorities investments in transport decarbonisation solutions, including SAF. Moreover, the launch of the Hydrogen Mechanism under the European Hydrogen Bank in the second quarter of 2025 will mobilise and connect offtakers and suppliers, linking participants with financing and de-risking instruments to facilitate aggregation of offtakers’ demand for hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels in hard-to-decarbonise industrial sectors and transport, e.g. in the maritime and aviation sector. In parallel, the Commission will continue to monitor developments in the sustainable aviation fuel sector and particularly the development of synthetic aviation fuels production projects across the EU. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2025%3A59%3AFIN&qid=1740729099091 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2405/oj/eng 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02003L0087-20240301 4 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/clean-industrial-deal_en”
  Decarbonisation of aviation sector · EU funding for transportation
• 2025-02-18 “E-000739/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The infringement procedure INFR(2007)4011 1 concerned rules in development plans of the Irish counties favouring applicants who have certain ties to the county concerned. Such applicants were exceptionally granted the right to apply for a building permit for a house in pre-urban rural areas where in principle construction of houses was not permitted. The Commission decided to close the case in March 2018. Member States have a primary responsibility to monitor the application of the relevant legal provisions and to take the necessary steps for enforcement. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission remains committed to overview the correct implementation of EU law by Member States. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringementsproceedings/infringement_decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(200 7)4011&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2025-02-18 “E-000738/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is currently reviewing the 2014 guidelines on State aid to airports and airlines (Aviation Guidelines) 1 . It has carried out stakeholder consultations 2 and launched an external support study to be finalised in 2025. The objective is to adopt the new rules before April 2027 and stakeholders will have the chance to comment on the draft guidelines before that date. The revision of the Aviation Guidelines will consider connectivity needs of Member States as well as the need to decarbonise the aviation sector. At this moment, it appears too early to anticipate about the content of the new rules. In that regard, while the Commission acknowledges that regional airports may contribute to connectivity (and thus social and territorial cohesion of the Union), it notes at the same time that operating aid is one of the most distortive forms of public support, which is why the current Aviation Guidelines foresee the phase-out of operating aid to regional airports by 3 April 2027. Considering the sectorial developments since 2014, the Commission will assess whether and under which conditions start-up aid to airlines and operating aid to regional airports (including those with up to one million passengers per year) could be maintained. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=planjo:20140328-018 2 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13915-State-aid-in-the-aviation-sectorCommission-guidelines-on-airports-and-airlines-revision-_en”
  EU Competition policy · Decarbonisation of aviation sector
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. The quiet girl. Kneecap. Rose and Frank SpongeBob. The film me Ireland. Oscar Pochin. This list could keep going longer and longer. Of the innate cultural, wonderful, rich diversity that is associated with our Irish language in Ireland. That language is replicated amongst other languages within the member states of the European Union. It is vital that we protect and defend our cultural diversity, our cultural Sovereignty. It is a huge strength of Europe that we pay tribute and respect and protect our minorities, whether the language is a minority language or a minority language. And so I say to the Commissioner and to the commission, please do everything in your power to protect this directive, to enhance this directive, and to ensure that there is at least 30% of European origin on platforms, and that we do not bend to the culture outside.”
  EU and national cultural identities
• “I like choice. That is why my purse has cash in it, but also cards in Ireland. My government confirmed this week that access to cash legislation will come into effect this Friday. I am very pleased because cash is king for very good reasons. Number one. Choice. Number two. Access number three. Equal rights for older citizens, refugees, the poor, those who are digitally illiterate. It is called financial inclusion. Alternatively, when people are faced with the breakdown of the ATM and no power, we need to have resilience. And of course Alternatively, when we are faced with tech glitches and we can't pay digitally, then of course we need cash. Also, we need an alternative when faced with money laundering concerns and suddenly our bank account is temporarily frozen. It's simple my friends. Cash needs to be mandatory to sit alongside its shiny new cousin, the digital Euro. But the digital euro should never be pushed upon us exclusively to the detriment of cash. I stand with the voters of Ireland South who have told me that they want choice and freedom power over their purse. Let us keep the cash, they say.”
  Means of payment (cash vs digital)
• “Go! Said the commissioner. And I'd also like to raise the Digital Fairness Act. But in fairness, um, all of those issues have already been aired by my colleagues and I share their concerns with regards to the algorithms, not just shaping our digital economy, but actually, you know, it's dictating our everyday life. And because of its algorithm and patterns and toxic influencers and addictive scrolling and all of that, I am delighted, Commissioner, to hear and to listen to you carefully, that you are totally committed to this particular issue of the protection of minors. I think anybody who saw the adolescent series or the Netflix series, I should say entitled adolescence, it struck a chord with many, and it really reflects the real and everyday experience of young people who are being manipulated, and they're all being overwhelmed by online content. I think it really is obligatory viewing for anybody who's sitting on this Imco committee and who is looking at the Digital Services Act. And I do think that the toolbox in the Digital Services Act does need to be rolled out. I listen to you carefully, Commissioner. I hear what you're saying about the balance has to be struck between, obviously, consumer rights to use this wonderful tool that we have, but at the same time, it's simply robbing our children of their childhood. And I do think that it's moving so fast. We need to move faster and we need to be more agile. But in fairness, I have listened to what you've said.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Mr. president, Commissioner, right now in Ireland and across Europe, our democracy is being poisoned not by tanks or troops, but by lies that get likes on every platform. Every day we see false stories and conspiracy theories being pushed into our society. They move faster than facts, target people who are angry or afraid, and turn neighbors into enemies. We have all seen how this spills over into real life threats against journalists, abuse of politicians, harassment of minorities, even street violence sparked by online rumors. The Democracy Shield and the Union is about protecting our information space just as we protect our borders, making it harder for foreign powers and bad actors to manipulate our debates and to control or distort our elections. That is why we need strong, independent local media. They do three crucial things. Firstly, they keep people rooted in their own communities. Secondly, they provide verified facts people can rely on instead of rumours. And thirdly, they ensure that distant commentators and anonymous algorithms do not drown out local voices and realities. We have to protect them. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. Perhaps this is an abstract piece of legislation, a digital market act for some people. But it has a very serious impact. Every day, without realizing people are deriving the benefits of more choices, fair prices and better control over the digital services that they use. Every time you look down to check your phone. You're no longer restricted to any single platform or forced to use a single particular app store. This is your working for Europeans to provide fair digital markets. However, over the past two years, Big Tech has consistently criticized European technology legislation, with political pressure coming from the Trump administration. Ladies and gentlemen, as as we approach the review of the Digital Markets Act, we have a clear choice to face. Do we stand with European consumers, or will we let the gatekeepers get the upper hand again? Stronger enforcement of the DMA means even more benefits for people, better services, and a real ability to choose. This is Europe protecting your rights, your freedom online in the digital age. Thank you.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much. No, I'd just be interested to ask the speakers. All of them. And perhaps it's slightly outside of their comfort zone. But I'm very taken by the fact that our Commissioner for the Democracy Shield and Defense of the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, is currently, as I understand it, if I'm not wrong, in China, he is making a trip to China, and he is led out on all of his efforts to ensure that European standards, regulations, etc. are mirrored in relation to products that are coming out of China and into the EU. And I was just wondering, did any of the experts and thank you very much for your very incisive presentations. Did any of the experts have any views in relation to any more work that the Commission and in particular that Commissioner could do, or perhaps other commissioners in relation to this aspect? So it's the role of the commission essentially is the question. Thank you.”
  Trade relations with China
• “Commissioner. President. If we want public transport to be a realistic option for people, then it needs to be an efficient and appealing option. We need a high quality transport system which is reasonably priced and accessible. Passengers who took the intercity train this morning from Cork to Dublin spent two hours and 39 minutes on the train, but it would have taken the same time to travel by car. Earlier this year, I referred to statistics that showed the train to Dublin is often late. In January 2024, for 20 out of 26 journeys, the train was late. Public transport needs to be cheaper than other options and on time. Not some of the time. All of the time it needs to be comfortable with a functioning internet connection on board. Again, not some of the time. Not most of the time, but all of the time. This is why we need a European framework to expedite infrastructural investment, so people will willingly opt for public transport over their cars. Thank you very much.”
  EU support of rail transport
• “Thank you very much. It's essential that our farmers have a fair income, not only in Ireland, but around Europe. It's projected that average farm incomes in Ireland, across all farm systems, will reach €48,500 in 2025. This represents a 39% increase on 2024, and an 82% increase on 2023, when an average average income was as low as €19,000. I welcome this. Our food security in Europe depends on farmers getting paid fairly for the food that they produce. We do need to strengthen our farmers position in the food supply chain. We need to protect them against unfair trading practices. However, given Ireland's tradition of strong farmer led agricultural cooperatives, especially in the dairy sector. I will be supporting my colleague Barry Cowan's amendment. That amendment allows for member states to provide a derogation for cooperatives on the basis that democratic scrutiny is upheld in milk supply agreements, and that these agreements include fair contractual terms. Thank you.”
  EU policy on farmer–buyer relations in the agri-food supply chain
• “Madame president, thank you so much, Mr. Gil, for attending and speaking so eloquently and informatively about your work. And thank you for your work and happy Saint Patrick's Day to you. And just to say, right now, many, many people from your home country are lining the streets of Dublin to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. We welcome them all. Some of them are there for good. I hope some of them are visiting, but they're always welcome in Ireland. So, Mr. Gil, turning to your very important work and your contribution, much of the debate on AI and democracy. It now centers on a very real risk that my last colleague just mentioned about cross border election interference. And of course, we've seen the rise of information manipulation targeting democratic elections, democratic processes across borders. Now, the European External Action Service, Mr. Gill, they said in 2024 that European Parliament elections were a target of Russian misinformation activity. That's no news to your good self and your office. But the commission's post-election review, it found that AI was being used to manipulate and to produce manipulative content at scale, including in marginal languages. So this is not only about hostile states, but it's about a growing rage and hunger for profit. The profit economy. One investigation, for example, in relation to that profit economy, it found that a Sri Lankan influencer claimed to have made $300,000 from Facebook pages aimed at UK audiences. And that was pushing racist and Islamophobic and anti-immigrant content with generative AI, helping to scale it up.”
  Foreign interference in Europe
• “We need more time to get a full energy independence of Russia. We have to finish what we started and sort out the things that are still missing. We have to ensure that the Russians can't evade our sanctions by circumventing them through third countries. At a time when thousands of Ukrainians have been killed in the war. Every euro that we sell helps the Russian to continue to fund Putin's war. A war that's causing a crisis in the European Union. We have shown the past that we can create independence. We have different, uh, we have developed renewable sources of energy, and we've diversified our source of energy. But there are these, uh, uh, escape routes that Putin has found which threaten our credibility. And they enable Putin to take advantage of our weakness. The union needs to be united and put an end to any intermediary country serving as a backdoor for Russian energy. Thank you.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “Commissioner travelling through Brussels Airport Brussels Airport recently, which was very crowded because of a drone threat. I was struck by the fact that we have stopped investing in infrastructure for aviation in Europe. And why is this so? Because it's no longer considered fashionable, because of the environment. At the same time, in the Middle East and in other places, they are pumping lots of money into building new generation hubs for air for air aviation. And this is attracting planes, tourists and investors into the Middle East. So what we need is in fact support and government support and certainty. Also with regard to this, so that this new safe and reliable fuel can be developed. Now we have to get rid of bureaucracy and we have to get a different type of a framework. The one that we have at the moment is insufficient because. We have to work together, together with the commission, so that we really focus on this particular question. We have to wake up, we have to act, and we have to catch up with America and countries in the Middle East. And we want Europe, in fact, to be in number one in the world in this area. Thank you.”
  Decarbonisation of aviation sector
• “President. The old heartbreaking stories. A delayed flight. A connection cancelled. You're left in the lurch on your own. A holiday trip ruined a holiday. A family wedding missed. And if you look for help, it's back and forth between the airline and the book. The booking provider. This revision wants to put a stop to all of that. You won't have to accept whatever offer from the company for a 24 hour delay. Or even worse, nothing. Airlines will have to propose an alternative within three hours, or you will be entitled to find your own solution, maybe with a different airline or by train, or a mix of both. And those other companies would be entitled to four times the price of the value of the original ticket to compensate for the unforeseen expense. Now the airline will have to deal with the problem, they will have to provide free, pre-filled forms and provide an answer within two weeks. This is a simple process, easy and efficient for Europe's passengers. Thank you very much.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• “Commissioner. Online manipulation is reshaping our society. We can see this every day in our news and in our politics. Young people are often. Children are often the first targets. Ask any parent or teacher or ask myself. As a mother of two, this can move very quickly. Outrage, conspiracy. Shame and then radicalization. Foreign interference has been sowing distrust for too long. Ai now turbocharges this. This is why we need the European Democracy shield that the Commissioner is heading. But a shield only works if there are strong politicians like us all here behind this shield. When online platforms amplify harm, we need to work faster. We need to identify fake information faster and to clearly. Flag this. We need to work together. Let's fight with me. Let's fight for children to protect European democracy. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Chair. Friends, for the last two parliamentary terms, bureaucracy and red tape have grown exponentially in Europe. And we are no longer competitiveness. Too much red tape is increasing costs for SMEs to the point where they can hardly make any profit. Of course, this particularly damages rural communities who Communities who depend on small companies. According to the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, SMEs are 99.8% of Irish companies and they employ two thirds of the workforce. One of the thousands suffering from this situation is PJ Hickson, a small shopkeeper in my native town. He has to struggle with excessive bureaucracy every day. He has to get licences for the National Lottery, beer, wine, spirits, fresh salmon, a music licence and more. Every one of these involve paperwork, fees, bureaucracy, time, banished, red tape. I say put an end to this out of control bureaucracy, and I welcome this measure from the company and more of it.”
  Digitalization of public governance & administration
• “Commissioner. Ombudsman. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge that this is the final report on the activities of the former Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, who was exemplary in the role during her term. The responsibilities of the Ombudsman expanded to address new challenges, the spread of misinformation and disinformation across Europe and the use of AI Ombudsman O'Reilly recommended that the commission make responsible, human centred use of AI in Europe. She showed real leadership. We are legislating for this technology and we should not be afraid to use it with human oversight, of course. But we have to use it for the benefit of the people of Europe, our voters. Europe must be at the forefront not only of innovation, but also of use of AI to improve the lives of the people of Europe. I encourage the new Ombudsman to build on the work carried out by the former Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly. My fellow Irishman.”
  Activities of EU Ombudsman
• “Madam chairperson. Commissioner. If proof were needed. Not that it is the EU centre for Democratic Resilience. Your work, our work, the work of this House is vital. Polarisation is rife not just in the House but throughout the world. Apart from the focus on. I know you are deeply committed to a commissioner in dealing with age appropriate media education and digital literacy for children. I would like to harness and focus in, I suppose really on independent radio and local media. We need trusted news resources. I just want to see where that sits in the new center. And also, Commissioner, we need to protect critical infrastructure from sabotage. Subsea cables, internet connectivity, power grids, etc. because if the public is disconnected and there's a blackout, they're going to lose trust and already have lost trust in our democratic governments to protect them. So I would just like you to address those two matters. Thank you. Commissioner.”
  EU support for traditional (non-digital) media
• “My proposed measures protect high standards and of course, legal certainty and consumer trust, but whilst also cutting unnecessary bureaucracy and the so-called red tape we hear so much about and that holds businesses back. So if we want to remain competitive and of course we do here in Europe, we need to create an environment that rewards ambition and that supports innovation and encourages scaling up. It's about trust and balance and practical solutions that make a real difference in every country and in every part of each country. By keeping this balance, we make Europe a place where success is celebrated. And it is not complicated if we get this right. We not only strengthen our competitiveness, but we also strengthen people's confidence to know that the EU is meaningful, that it works, and that it is for them, not against them. So I want to thank my colleagues and of course, the chair and their teams, our teams, for their contributions during the technical negotiations. I look forward to continuing the discussions and finding the best ways to ensure that we get this right. And thank you in particular to the chair.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you so much, chair. I heard from Kerry DiCarlo. There are two counties in Ireland, as you probably know, and from Clare to Wicklow, another two counties. I hear the same message from businesses. Simplify the rules, but don't weaken them. So that is what this legislation is about. It's a commitment to update the existing rules to reflect the modern realities and ensure that we support the next generation of ambitious, small to medium sized enterprises who wish to grow, be they growing in Lisbon or in Limerick. Now, simplification is not a deregulation and my goal is to remove duplication and unnecessary reporting through this file. We're not lowering standards, but we are seeking to raise the quality by extending simplification measures. We are creating a smoother pathway for growth and preventing the regulatory cliff edges that hold many businesses from expanding. These are local businesses creating local jobs, but global innovation as well. They employ hundreds of people and they bring real value to our communities. In the European Union, it makes no sense for a business in Tipperary or in Lisbon to be smothered with new, heavy obligations simply because they've employed 50 or 60 new people, additional people. Growth like that is a success, and driven businesses deserve rules that recognise their scale but doesn't penalize them.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you chair. Shut up, you stupid bitch. You are just a token diversity hire. What an insufferable and dull individual. You are a fucking traitor to the Irish people. These are just a handful of the comments left on my ex account when I report them to X and to Ireland's national media regulator, nothing happens. Women in politics are 27 times more likely to face online abuse than their male colleagues. These abuse and threats have happened to half of female parliamentarians. Abuse and threats like this are part of our daily life. Therefore, I am calling on the commission to step up and introduce strict targeted criminal provisions. Jackie Fox stood before this very parliament a while ago and spoke about her 21 year old daughter, who died by suicide after receiving a slew of horrific online abuse. This house has a duty to protect European women in the digital space to protect our daughters, our sisters, our mothers. Come on. Women. Together we can do it.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• “Thank you. In Ireland, 66% of children between the ages of 12 and 15 do not tell their parents if they have been victims of cyber bullying. This is because they're afraid, unsure and vulnerable. And 40% of children, in fact, keep cyberbullying attacks to themselves as a secret. And all the time they are being threatened and horribly insulted. They are also being tormented with fake stories and fake accusations, being told that they're useless, weird, thick, stupid, and in many cases they are being encouraged to self-harm and they do this self-cutting self-harm. Self poison. And. And if somebody is being bullied at school, well, this actually continues when they go home. There is no escaping it. 24% of children throughout Europe have reported that they have been victims of cyber bullying. And in fact, this is worse when there is a disability or disease. It goes up to 43%. In fact, the young people of Europe are having their childhood stolen and we can't give it back to them afterwards. So thank you.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “On World Mental Health Day, we're reminded that mental well-being is not just an individual issue. It's deeply shaped by the world we live in. I proudly wear the pin of the Samaritans in Ireland today because economic inequality, unemployment, poor housing, lack of access to education or health care, they all create conditions that can harm mental health, push people to the margins, to the edge. And of course, when people struggle to make ends meet, their stress, anxiety and sense of hopelessness only grows. So mental health care must go beyond therapy rooms. It should include fair wages, safe communities, affordable housing and quality education. Investing in these social foundations isn't charity, it's prevention. When societies address inequality and build security together, they nurture resilience and mental health resilience. Gurmaghagi. Thank you very much dear colleague.”
  EU policy on mental health
• “I meet them all the time. I talk to them all the time, and they simply don't have the resources commissioner. But instead, can they benefit from a simple, clear rulebook? My second question, area Commissioner, is in relation to product safety. I really welcome that. You're going to evaluate how to update the safety rules in light of the upcoming market surveillance and the compliance reform. But could you just give me a little bit more elaboration, a sentence or two about ideas that are on the table to make the platforms more responsible for the safety and compliance of products that are sold through them? And also, how can we improve the effectiveness of coordinated activities on product safety, such as EU sweeps, so that they can deliver faster and more visible results for consumers? And of course, our honest traders and final section commissioner. And again, a short answer will suffice. A forward looking question. And that is how can we use Artificial Intelligence Commissioner to help authorities ensure product compliance and fight against unsafe products, for example, in detecting the dangerous listings at scale, or identifying repeat offenders who sell harmful products. Right.”
  Liability for online marketplaces
• “Dear colleagues, I'm speaking on behalf of my colleague Nicola Mishev. Thank you to the rapporteur, my other colleague in S&D, Laura, for a very comprehensive draft opinion on this really, really important topic of our times. The fact that it remains high on our agenda, it shows the urgency of addressing the risks that our children face, not just in Europe, but globally. We already have very strong rules that the Digital Services Act and new guidelines with effective measures. But dear colleagues, we need implementation. We need enforcement. We need sanctions, strong sanctions for violations to ensure tangible impact. So any new EU measure, I urge you all it has to be risk based. It has to be data based. It has to be guided by the child's best interests, because that trumps all. And we have to target the algorithms and the addictive designs rather than rely on restrictions that risk failing or driving children to unregulated spaces. So platforms must assume responsibility for harmful content, including those awful and tragic, life threatening challenges, suicides, misled and accidental. And they are, of course, viral trends that are circulating on social media to the detriment of our young people. And finally, a chairperson manipulative and gambling like features in video games such as in-game purchases or loot boxes. They're a serious problem, too, and they must be tackled with better safeguards and strict rules. Now, the digital world obviously offers wonderful opportunities, but also serious risks are presented by it, and we need to ensure that children are protected in this environment. So I will table amendments on these points, and I look forward to constructive cooperation with the rapporteur, Laura, and my other colleagues. Maggie.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Thank you. Co-chairs. Many of the major digital platforms that affect minors online, such as Apple and the other US tech companies. They are headquartered in Ireland, as we all know, and the bases, that's their basis across the EU. So is there a risk that the EU rules designed to protect children, which I'm all in favour of, that they're under pressure to bend to the interests of these strong companies, particularly in the current climate. And if so, how can EU regulators ensure that the protection of minors remains strong and enforceable and robust, so that the safety of children online is prioritised over commercial pressures which are coming to bear, particularly now from the powerful global platforms. And of course, the leadership across the Atlantic.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Anna. The commissioner. You're very welcome. Thank you so much. And we are truly privileged to have you here. And a genuinely welcome the direction in which your policy is going. It's very good for consumers and it's good too, for businesses. The backbone of obviously my constituency in Ireland South that you're very familiar with. And because those businesses, they need to have fairness predictability. And they need obviously a single market to thrive. Now, when we know that household spending makes up more than about half of the EU GDP and empowering consumers, it's simply not a side issue. And it's certainly not a side issue for you. And I welcome that. It's quite clear it's central to competitiveness and growth. And you rightly treat the consumer policy as as economic policy. As I say, a backbone. So I just have a few questions, Commissioner. And I'm more than happy, Commissioner, that you deal with them in one line. Answers because I'm conscious of the time too. And first of all, I'll begin with the digital fairness and your commitment to tackling dark patterns and manipulative design. But I suppose my question is, will the new rules give regulators the tools and the resources to act quickly? Emphasis on the word quickly against repeat offenders, including the largest platforms. And second part of that question, Commissioner, how will you make sure that smaller and medium sized businesses are not overburdened by complex compliance.”
  EU restrictions on unfair commercial practices
• “Merci. Madam president, my question to the panel, and first of all, compliment on excellent presentations is about banning integrated AI on social media, or at least the possibility of that. So last week, I note that a Turkish court ordered a ban on access to X's AI chat bot grok. After it posted anti-Semitic content. And a study by the EU's disinformation lab also found that the chat bot provided false and inconsistent answers to users questions on the conflict between Iran and Israel. Reference. Euronews. This is particularly concerning on a platform like X, which has ceased fact checking its content, and instead it relies on community notes to flag misinformation and disinformation. So is X misleading its users into thinking that it can provide both the content and the information necessary to fact check it. And should the EU consider banning AI chat bots that are integrated into social media platforms such as X, so that users have the information that is Reliable from at least one source. So in other words, can we force X to actually indicate where exactly its I generated the content? And finally, I hope none of us in this room are too old to get to grips with this topic, because this is the topic for us as legislators in this House. Our children depend on it and not only our children, but the current generation as well. So let's not talk about being too old to do anything. Let's just get to grips with it. And thank you for helping us to do that.”
  Transparency and oversight of AI-generated content
• “Madame Lagarde, if you are serious about bolstering Europe's resilience and competitiveness, then make good on your commitment here this evening and ensure that the citizens of Europe can continue to use central bank money in all situations, all communities, all parts. By money, I mean cash, because cash is king and queen. And the voters have told me that Madame Lagarde, in their thousands, they want the choice of using their cash along with or without the digital euro. Madame Lagarde makes good. I ask you, on your commitment this evening to support the Legal Tender Regulation to ensure cash remains available, accessible to all, no undue, unintended or hidden restrictions on its use and never a replacement of it. Also drive forward the EU Savings and Investment Union and the simplification of regulatory framework. We are drowning in red tape in banking and businesses throughout Europe. I urge you to work with Ireland's presidency at the end of this year, and make good on your commitments here this evening. Suivez les travaillent ensemble.”
  Means of payment (cash vs digital)
• “Thank you very much, chair. In an age where disinformation spreads faster than facts, as we've been hearing all afternoon, we can't afford to overlook the quiet. But the critical role of independent media in Europe. Every corner of Europe, particularly local newspapers and local radio stations, these are the backbone of public trust. They report with proximity and integrity and accountability and telling the stories that matter to our communities on the ground, not just in accordance with the algorithm. Yet across Europe, as we all know in this room, those local radio stations and local newspapers are under huge threat. They are struggling to survive in a digital world dominated by unregulated sources and click driven content. If we value informed citizenship and social cohesion. Then, friends, we must act to protect these local originators of news. Supporting independent local media is not charity. It's a democratic necessity in my view. So let's think what concrete measures can be taken to ensure protections for our independent local media, so that they can continue to serve as trusted guardians of factual information across our union in the current sea of disinformation.”
  EU support for traditional (non-digital) media
• “Commissioner, friends. 97% of young people are online every day, and for many teenagers, that means long hours on screens that never leave their hands. And we also know that what happens behind those screens too often goes unnoticed by parents. Predators slip into children's lives through private chats and group messages, and algorithms are designed to capture our attention, not to protect the user. Constantly pushing more extreme or sexualized content In games that appear harmless, loot boxes are hidden that mimic casino mechanics, often involving real money. But this is not bad parenting, but a business model built on behavioral psychology and dark patterns. If we're serious about protecting minors, we need age appropriate design. Secure age checks, restrictions on addictive features and loot boxes, and strong enforcement of EU rules. And if we want to strengthen parents confidence, we must approve this resolution and enforce it using all the tools at our disposal. Thank you.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Thank you, president. We can see here with, antivirus and with Ebola that there's going to be no end to these emergency, and we have to be very quick in our work if we want to deal with them properly. We have some lessons that we have learned from COVID 19, and we can see that we have a system that is not working properly. We we we need to be able to work more speedily, more hastily, and we also have to have more investment in the long term in areas of health. We also have to have better cooperation between national authorities and European authorities and as well as more flexibility. We need to have a more sensible approach.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• “Thank you. Merci, chair, and Merci, vice president. Yes. I just want to dwell and ask the Commission again on the possible knock-on effects of this proposal, the acceleration of industrial capacity and decarbonization in strategic sectors. Now, of course, commissioner, you know that everybody supports the idea of building more industry in Europe, but building homes and installing solar panels and delivering public infrastructure, it's already very expensive. And Solar Power Europe has warned that if these rules reduce competition or constrain supply, they could lower participation and leave tenders undersubscribed. And the construction industry have also warned against extra paperwork and rules that add complexity on these strategic building projects. The proposed safeguard state requirements can be set aside in some cases, such as increased cost by 20% in renewable energy auctions or if there is a delay in a project by more than 7 months. So, Commission, my question is, do you believe that that's strong enough? My opinion is I fear not. And I'd like you to tell us how you are addressing the challenges in bringing stronger safeguards or supports to ensure lower costs. Merci beaucoup.”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Europe is dealing with a large increase in the number of threats of foreign interference and disinformation campaigns. People's trust in our European institutions is under attack, creating division among our communities. The world is at a crossroads. Democracy is under extreme pressure, and autocratic regimes around the world use disinformation as a powerful tool for hatred. In Europe, we believe there is a serious need for action in the face of sophisticated campaigns and organised groups focused on dishonest manipulation of information. These campaigns take advantage of digital vulnerabilities to undermine democracy in Europe. This is a mix of cyber attacks, manipulation of social media and outright disinformation. How can we fight back? By investing in high quality, independent journalism, as is recommended by my group, Renew Europe. I would recommend that my colleagues in this House support our request to create this kind of European fund. Thank you.”
  Foreign interference in Europe
• “President, Commissioner. We have a single market, but we are not making the most of it. We need to get rid of bureaucracy. That is too slow. Small companies need support. We need to create more and more jobs and to support innovation. We had promises that bureaucracy and too much paperwork would be gotten rid of. European policy needs to reduce. And implement the 383 recommendations that Draghi had in his report. We don't need to do anything except implement these these recommendations. We need to make things more efficient. We need to get rid of inefficient bureaucracy to use what is already in place in each member state in Europe. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “I know you're deeply committed, and I know you've got a deep understanding of these issues, and I'm glad you do. And I know that you are a family man yourself, and indeed, you're probably dealing with these issues yourself with some of your children. So but that's always a good experience to, to bring to the table. And I suppose the other aspect I just want to raise with you is the Democracy Shield. And I think I mentioned to you already before, on a previous occasion, about the fact that the LGBTQ community are being absolutely persecuted in one of our member states in Hungary. And it is something that I do think should get and gain more priority from your own work and indeed the Commission's work. And not just that community, but lots of other communities. We could I could list off maybe a dozen or more that are not being welcomed into the democratic process, into the democratic functioning of our wonderful European Union, and are being left out. And with being left out comes marginalisation, comes disaffection, disengagement, and the mistrust and the distrust that builds up and that we've seen interfering with our common values here of peace, democracy, equality and rule of law. And therefore, I just want to hear a little bit more from you, Commissioner, maybe on that, because I feel you've answered already the addictive nature of the algorithms in respect of protection for minors online.”
  LGBTIQ+
• “Thank you very much. Chairperson. Thank you indeed to Mr. Schultz and Mr. B and Miss Matera. I do apologize for missing most of your submissions, and I do apologize if perhaps some of these observations questions have already been answered. But by all means I would appreciate a quick response to them. We all want climate change. There's no doubt about that. But we can't put the cart before the horse, and we want workers and businesses to electrify. And we as politicians want to lead out on that and as legislators. But there's nowhere near enough charging points. That's possible. And to allow this to be rolled out, especially in rural areas, and I represent a rural area in Ireland's south. Now it's kind of like being asked by a mobile phone in a town where where there's no proper tower signal. And so that's not really a climate transition strategy to me. And it risks turning this green transition into a luxury that can only be afforded by big companies or people who have got money to invest in their own systems, charging systems and people living in cities and so forth. So we do want climate action, but we want that action to work. Just in a nutshell, the question is how do we fix that mismatch between regulation and the real life infrastructure, but make sure that we keep voters and citizens positively engaged. And you spoke about permits. I heard that Miss Matera very interesting. Three years versus three months. Wholly unacceptable I agree. What else is the red tape holding back the fast tracking of charging points? Thank you so much. Thank you. Chair.”
  EV charging infrastructure
• “Thank you very much, Anna, and thank you, executive Vice-President, for coming in person one year into the implementation of the Digital Markets Act. Startups are telling me my voters in Ireland's South, that there are more challenges than. Benefits for them due to the compliance burden, the disruption of established distribution models and creating uncertainty in an already challenging funding environment. So rather than unlocking new opportunities, they're telling me that the Digital Markets Act, at this point in time, a year in that it's rigid regulatory framework. It's actually threatening to further restrict growth by forcing curated online marketplaces and forcing them to revise their business model. It's delaying, innovating and scaling up and going to market and obviously getting funding. And just to remind ourselves that the start up is the start up difference between Europe and the USA is huge. We have three. There are three times the amount of starts up in the US than there are in Europe, and indeed the venture capital investment, which you're aware of. Vice president the venture capital investment in the EU is at a lowly 34.3 billion in 2022. By comparison with the United States of 116.7 billion. So, in conclusion, achieving this balance between market regulation, which is so important, and the market realities, this is key, especially when 65% of EU's working population is employed by SMEs and it generates just over half of the union's economic wealth. So given the importance of SMEs and startups, how will you, as commissioner, measure and also effectively ensure that the DMA is benefiting smaller businesses in practice? Thank you so much. Thank you chair.”
  EU rules on digital competition