Anouk VAN BRUG

Policy topics Anouk VAN BRUG is active on

What Anouk VAN BRUG has said (12)

• 2026-06-15 “(18:00:58 – 18:01:56): Commissioner, president. Coffee, new clothes, traveling. All these things are things we do with a credit card or a bank card. They're all things that we do on a perfectly normal basis. But Visa, Mastercard, or PayPal, Apple Pay are usually the ones that are our go tos, and these are all American. And this, therefore, makes us exceptionally vulnerable. We in Europe need to invest more in our own technology, in our payment solutions, in innovation. It's quite clear. We've got to take that control. We have to have all these things within our own sovereignty, and it's high time that we took serious action because we can't simply outsource important things like payments. Therefore, commissioner, could you tell us what you're going to do so that Europe can get control over its payment mechanisms? Thank you.”
  Digital euro
• “Thank you very much. Commissioner, I'm very glad to see that you focus strongly on competitiveness. If the EU wants to remain competitive, we need to do everything in our power to keep our businesses here and help them grow and flourish. It surprises me, therefore, that one of the new owned resources that you're proposing, the core mechanism, would come down to a tax on our businesses. We want to strengthen our businesses and put putting more financial strain on them is the last thing we should do, and goes against what the Competitiveness Fund's aims to accomplish. Could you elaborate on your decision to propose this tax and how this will help our competitiveness in the future? Thank you.”
  Own EU resources
• “If we want Europe to be stronger, we need to invest in a proper manner. Very smartly. We need to start with security. More investment in our own defence so that we're no longer dependent on the United States. But when we can guarantee our own defence, it also means that we need to innovate. We need to bet on our industry, because what we're doing today means that we can be leaders, technologically Logically speaking, so that our jobs and our welfare and our welfare state can be protected. But chairman, we need to make choices because not each project will contribute to this. And we can't always say, well, let's get a bigger budget because people are paying the bill. So we need to reprioritize. Let us stop spending where it makes no difference, and let us start spending in security innovation and in our economic clout. Let us not just do a little bit everywhere, but let us do something with a budget which makes Europe a wealth wellbeing country.”
  Defence spending
• “Yes. Thank you, chair. And welcome Mr.. First of all, thank you very much for your thorough feedback on my report. One of our shared priorities is to prepare the ECB for a new geopolitical era, and we must do everything in our power to strengthen the international role of the euro and enhance its position as a global reserve currency. My first question is what concrete steps will you take to more actively promote the use of the euro in international transactions. And my second question is how can we reduce our reliance on US payments infrastructure and develop a truly European system that safeguards our strategic autonomy? Thank you very much.”
  European Banking Union
• “Thank you. President, madam Commissioner, Vice President, Defence Armaments Munition all contribute directly to our security in a more and more troubled world. And this, in turn, serves as a guarantee for our safety, However, we know that the situation with Russia is very much a threat to us and therefore we mustn't let the armaments industry down. Belgium has taken an important step in order to help with this issue, and the EIB is affording us protection and protection to the EU citizens. And I thank Mr. de Groot for the efforts deployed in this area. That is not enough in itself. We need to continue down this path, and I would urge us to continue to strengthen the EIB. It is absolutely essential to our security. Let's break taboos. Let's invest in our defence capacity. That would be a way of strengthening Europe and our future. Thank you.”
  Defence spending
• “Thank you, Chair and commissioners, thank you for being here tonight. The Recovery and Resilience Facility was a crucial tool in stabilizing Europe's economy during the Covid 19 crisis. Now, as we approach the later stages of its implementation, it is essential to ensure that the euros that can be spent before the deadline are spent effectively and strategically. First, while the RRF was designed for economic recovery, today's geopolitical reality demands that we reassess our priorities. Has the Commission explored to what extent the Rff's framework allows for funds to be used to build up defense related resilience. And second, the RF was meant to benefit all member states. Yet in practice, some have barely even used it, even though they were eligible to do so. Does the Commission acknowledge this, and how will we make sure that future EU financial instruments are designed to better fit member States actual needs? The European Court of Auditors has flagged serious issues with regards to the implementation of the RRF, including double funding, weak oversight and unclear impact. Will the Commission implement all the recommendations of the ECA in full and if not, which ones does it consider unnecessary and why? I look forward to your answers. Thank you very much.”
  Defence spending
• “We have to invest in our defense to make sure that we remain safe because our security is not for free, but the money that we need for it is not free either. We've made clear agreements with each other about state indebtedness, and to make sure that European member states are financially robust. Now new situations require new choices. That's the same case with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the corona outbreak, and also today to guarantee our security and safety. We need money in order to do this. So the question of taking choices becomes important. We need to save money where we can. We need to direct our priorities to invest in new security. If we don't do that and just let state indebtedness to increase or public debt to increase, it's the taxpayer has to foot the bill and we can't allow that to go ahead. In the Netherlands, we are daring to do this, but we need to do this throughout Europe because we stand shoulder to shoulder facing these challenges. We need to assume responsibility. And that means sort out your own backyard in financial terms. So it's not somebody else has to foot the bill. Make sure they have fiscal solidity. Invest in defense. Thank you.”
  Defence spending
• “Madam president. Commissioner, when my father first suffered from heart disease, he realised that his heart was beating too fast and he was short of breath. Fortunately, he went to the doctor and he got assistance in time. But not everybody recognizes the signs. So clearly. The European Commission's report shows that heart problems often feel different for women. They are less clear in terms of the chest pain. Sometimes a feeling of fatigue or nausea are symptoms that get waved away by doctors. And. The consequence of this is that women seek help later and thus run greater risks by taking more women into account, both for research and assistance. I think we are setting out a clear signal. We are taking a step forward and it's now time for action.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you, chair, and thank you, Commissioner, for being here. Uh, I fully agree that reducing national debt levels and ensuring strict compliance with the Stability and Growth Pact is essential. And this is not only a matter of sound economic governance, but it is also a precondition for strengthening the international role of the euro, and at the same time, current geopolitical and energy developments are exposing vulnerabilities in the global reliance on the US dollar. We see countries, particularly in the Middle East, increasingly exploring diversification, and this creates a strategic window of opportunity for us. The euro has the potential to emerge as a leading global reserve currency, but this will not happen automatically. So, dear Commissioner, I would like to ask you what concrete steps will the Commission take to actively strengthen the international role of the euro, particularly in key regions such as the Middle East? Thank you very much.”
  EU fiscal rules and oversight of national budgets
• “Madam Minister. With this new budget, we can help to build a new Europe. This is a real opportunity. But we need to seize this opportunity. We need to make the most of it. We need to look at defence. We need to look at improving infrastructure and digital security. It is also important for our economy, our companies, to grow with more space for technological development, clean technologies and cutting edge innovative technologies. We are competing with the United States and China when it comes to chips, so it's important that we continue developing so we can be independent. It is important that we have a big budget that looks to the future so Europe can be united and prosperous. We need to think about what the voters want for the future.”
  Size of EU budget
• “(15:08:06 – 15:08:40): Thank you very much, and thank you, mister president, for being here in the parliament today. In the European Union, we have a clear agreement that member states must keep, their debts and deficits under control. And this is essential for our our economical stability. But currently, in times of crisis, you see that some countries are ready to step away from these, rules. So my question is simple. How will you make sure that fiscal discipline is, respected in your area, And how do we protect, sound economic policy, especially in these times of crisis? Thank you very much.”
  EU fiscal rules and oversight of national budgets
• “President, Commissioner, Europe is full of talent. Everywhere we have startups popping up with clever ideas and technologies which make our economy stronger and make us less dependent on others. But all too often we say the same thing happened, which is that a company starts in Europe, grows a bit, and then decamps to another country because they can't secure enough funding back home to continue their growth. If we want strong European companies and if we want to be competitive, we need to start with the startups. They need to be able to secure enough funding, not at the start only, but also when they want to continue their growth. And that's why European capital markets now finally need to be put in order. It's only in doing so that the Netherlands and Europe can continue to be strong in today's world. Fewer rules and differences between countries, more investment, and above all, more opportunities for our companies to continue their growth here. Because we have the talent in Europe now, we just need to make sure that the funding follows. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation