Andreas SCHWAB

Policy topics Andreas SCHWAB is active on

What Andreas SCHWAB has said (80)

• 2026-07-14 “Well, I I can pick up where, Johan has finished. We have been working together as a team in the parliament. There is no doubt. Unfortunately, we had to discover that commission and council didn't understand themselves as a team, with us. Commission And like that, the result falls a bit short of the expectations because it's true that if you are starting your business anew and you want to post workers all over the 27 member states, the new platform will help you to understand and to make it fast. However, if you have already a traditional business with some, facilities that you are working with every day, the new system will not help you that much. And that's what me, at least, I was hoping for to achieve with that proposal. And therefore, it's a bit sad that the council didn't want to accept the commission to come up with implementing our delegated act to make this system in the future even smoother. It's a bit sad that we haven't been able to limit further the conditions for the datas that have to be communicated. But as Johan has said, it's a start, and we should use it and we should motivate all service providers that have read the Draghi report and also the others to take use of it to make use of it. My question is always a bit, is our tool faster than globalization, or will globalization be faster than us? And that's a bit the challenge that we are ahead of. But at that moment in time, we cannot change it anymore. We have an agreement, and I think the best way to move forward is to support that agreement. Thank you very much.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• 2026-07-14 “(09:45:45 - 09:46:46): Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Monica. I think we are now having got quite a good setting of the scene of our exchange. Therefore, also from the perspective of the budgetary control committee, it's important that we make sure that what money is going out to countries like Hungary is afterwards being controlled by the European Parliament. We know altogether that we have some concerns in the context of the RF payments, how this can be secured. Therefore, we are looking now forward with great attention to the interventions of the European Commission. We are very grateful that you have been sending 3 commissioners today. We would like to make sure that we have an active exchange. So I would give the floor first to vice executive vice president, Rafael De Fito, and then in the row, to budget commissioner, Piotr Seraphin, and to Michael McGrath at the end, and then we will start our exchange. Rafael, over to you.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2026-07-14 “(09:40:38 - 09:41:57): Good morning, colleagues. Welcome to this common meeting of the committee on budgets and the committee on budgetary control. We are very lucky to see lots of members and the 3 commissioners. Also, a very warm welcome to the 3 representatives of the European Commission, especially to our executive vice presidents and also Piotr Seraphin and Michael McGrath. I'm very happy to share this meeting together with my colleague, Monica Hohlmeyer, for the budget committee, and I would like to give the floor to her later because first, we will adopt the agenda. I don't see any comment on this. Then we come to the chair's announcement. You know that the translation is foreseen in the languages that you have been asking for, and I don't see any comment on this. Then we come to the adoption of minutes of the June 22 when we had our last exchange, and I don't see any comment on this. Like that, we come to the exchange that we want to do today with the European Commission on the MFF in general, but on a more specific topic that has been agreed. To introduce this, if the committee on batch wants, I will give the floor now to my colleague, Monica Ruhlmeyer.”
  Size of EU budget
• 2026-07-14 “(16:58:01 - 16:59:20): Thank you for presenting the assessment. I do apologize that I was not able to join you earlier. As far as Imco is concerned, on the FSR, a few years ago, we noted a gap in European legislation. We closed that gap. We now have strict checks. We needed to tackle distortion of competition through subsidies in 3rd countries. I was rapporteur in Imco for this regulation. It was important to close that loophole to protect European companies to ensure that we don't have excessive administrative burden at the same time, and I think we did strike the right balance. Now we have initial assessment of enforcement. We need to look at practical implementation, make any tweaks required. We will carefully scrutinize any proposed amendments. We need to protect the single market, ensure legal certainty, and focus on long term risks. Those will be our guiding principles, and I look forward to forthcoming discussions. Thank you.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• 2026-06-25 “And I know that this is all very personal because there are families that have people that have been damaged, that have been suffering. And so I know that it's emotional and I think we should therefore really get the facts right. The last point that has been referred to is the AI tool. There is no doubt that there needs to be a control on AI. No one is discussing this. The question is only should there be an AI control in the Medical Devices Act and in the AI act so twice, or is it okay if there is only one control? And I have to tell you, I don't see why there should be two of these controls. Ai has to be safe, but there are plenty of medical devices that are about to come. For example, pills that you swallow that make a control by video of your whole body. And if you don't motivate people to invent on that and to work on that, we will have a problem for our patients in the long run, and therefore, I hope that we find a compromise on, on, on this report. That makes really the point. As my colleagues from the Liberals and from Denmark. Henrik has said on innovation, but for sure with safety for patients. Thank you very much.”
  Medical devices
• 2026-06-25 “Before outlining the practical rules of this exchange, I would like to mention some key issues from the perspective. I appreciate the way this cooperation here has been rapidly organized, and I would like to thank again Pasquale for his availability. As much as VAT is a Fisc matter to check and to look at. It's also one of the major resources for our European budget and the fraud that affects its integrity, that put at risk the integrity of the Union's financial interests, is an increasing source of concern for my colleagues and myself in Conte and also for Pasquale. The criminal misconduct that are more and more being detected by the National and the union's components of the anti-fraud architecture. The AFA are becoming more complex and more difficult to tackle, both because of their volume and intense occurrence, and because of the still existing suboptimal situations in the countering systems, both at national and at union level. I'm glad, therefore, to join Pasquale Tridico in welcoming our guests. The European Chief Prosecutor I mentioned already, Miss Marina Marinelli, the chair of your office. I haven't managed so far. Apologies. And last but not least, Mr. Clement, director of Olaf. I will now hand over to Pasquale. Thank you very much, colleagues, for you being here.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• 2026-06-25 “Very good. Colleagues, we continue now with our common hearing of the Committee on Budgetary Control and on the Fiscal Committee. I'm very happy to sit here together with my colleague, Pasquale Tridico. We are also both in court, so we know about what we are speaking here. We are grateful that you all take the time, and we are therefore continuing now with the exchange of views with the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Eppo. Laura is sitting next to me here and with the European Fraud Office, Olaf and our office on cooperation in the fight against VAT and fraud in the European Union. The European Union is for sure about very positive things as well. It's a very strong success on working together, but unfortunately, in everything which is working well, there are also some black spots and therefore we have to discuss about that today. And on behalf of the members of the subcommittee, I warmly welcome our distinguished speakers and members of the committee who are co-organizing this exchange with us. Cross-border VAT fraud continues to generate substantial losses to the European Union and its member states, with losses from carousel fraud alone estimated at €12.5 billion and 30.8 billion annually. Today's discussion will focus on how to reinforce administrative and judicial cooperation between Eppo Olaf and to better prevent, detect and prosecute VAT fraud in the EU and to safeguard a fair and well-functioning single market.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2026-06-25 “Yeah. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning. Chairwoman. First of all, I also would like to thank our colleague Maria for her presentation. I think it's a very important moment to discuss about what happened to the medical devices sector because of the Pip scandal, which was scandal. Our regulation went far beyond what was good for that sector. And the result is we are missing European medical products today. We get them from the US and from China and from Japan. But there is no European stronghold anymore. And that is super, super scary. And therefore I would like to come back. First of all, on the reflection of the Pip scandal, the Pip scandal was a criminal offence. It was not the lacking controls. There was the tooth going there, but unfortunately they were also criminal. So we should not confuse legal application and criminality. We will not make the laws better if we don't find a tool to fix and to fight against criminality, and on that, we are totally in agreement. We have to make sure that controls are happening, that they are also coming surprising so that what has been happening there cannot happen anymore. But the products they are unfortunately sometimes the reason for an intervention, but also doctors have to put them right. So the hip scandal is referred to quite often, but the hips were fine. The problem were that the doctors have put them not in the right manner. And this is done by courts as a result. It's not my interpretation. So we have to make sure that products are safe, but we have also to make sure that products are not put into a basket of of unsafe tools whilst they have been wrongly placed.”
  Medical devices
• 2026-06-24 “Thank you very much, miss Maletic. And now I would like to give the floor to the commission again. And I would like to ask you to start with the question if you understand that we are not speaking here about some investment of some investment company, but about public money and this parliament looking for an explanation how taxpayers' money has been spent. Over to you.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• 2026-06-24 “The Commission has been criticized for this to propose a voluntary system, but with a mandatory system. Most likely the discussion with Member States would have even been worse, and therefore the. The the mistrust between the Member States themselves, but also the mistrust between the Council on the one side and the European Commission and the European Parliament on the other side, in the area of DG Ampel is uh is very difficult to understand because with this solution, it's hard to believe that the improvement will come quickly, and that's bad for the controls. For those that work in controls, that's bad for the companies and it's also bad for the workers. So it's just a way of defending your turf. Uh, but that was a bit, uh, what I wanted to report to you. We have now concluded that even if there is no delegated act, we we should start the system that brings together 27 national systems into one platform so that those companies that want to start at zero, they will have an advantage because it's one digital system where you can fill in a lot of data once from your company, and then you have only today the integrated data of the worker that you want to post. Um, but it has been a bizarre meeting somehow. Thank you very much. And then I can come to the DMA working Group, which was much more interesting because we have been inviting other authorities from um, with similar laws. The European Union has been with the DMA and the DSA, the front runner on these tools. But we have been seeing plenty of other countries in the world taking the sweet and follow up, and we are therefore joined by important decision maker from the sea, from the British authority, the CMA.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• 2026-06-24 “Reference to the fact that we will be having maybe a heat wave in summer has nothing to do with the climate change in that case, but rather with the European Commission's inability to approve the payments. There have been some questions to the European Court of Auditors. I would like to give you the floor for 2 minutes and to the commission 1 minute and then to our rapporteur because we have then to do our coordinators meeting. Over to you, miss Maletic.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• 2026-06-24 “Wait a 2nd. It doesn't work. Can we check? So now again, 3 members missing, 1 missing. Yeah. Perfect. Everything okay? Yeah. It's fine. Perfect. Then let's start with compromise. Or would you like mister Hailu Hailu Ah, he's not there. Okay. If not, I would have given the the the chance for the rapport to have a quick comment, but, we don't do that. In that case, then we come to compromise amendment 1. In favor? Against abstentions adopted. We come to compromise amendment 2 in favor against abstentions adopted. We come to compromise amendment 3 in favor against abstentions adopted. We come to compromise amendment 4 in favor against abstentions adopted. We come to compromise amendment 5 in favor against abstentions adopted. We come to compromise amendment 6 in favor against abstentions adopted. So the secretary says to me that it should slow down a bit because you are stressed. I see you very relaxed. Very stressed. Compromise amendment 7. In favor against abstentions adopted. Compromise amendment 8 in favor against abstentions adopted. Compromise amendment 9 in favor against abstentions adopted. And that leads us to Compromise amendment 10 in favor against abstentions adopted and compromise amendment 11 in favor against abstentions adopted. And like that, you can come to the final vote. And I'm very happy to see that the committee is very much united today. I would like to see that more often. Please vote at the final vote. Okay. And the vote is closed, and it's adopted. Congratulations to mister Heilermann. Thank you very much. And that leads us to our 1st item, which is combating VAT fraud and the effectiveness of cross border cooperation when it comes to VAT fraud and its impact on the EU budget. There is a draft report, and, our responsible rapporteur is Andrej Knoetek. I haven't seen him yet.”
  EU competences on taxation
• 2026-06-24 “As he is not there, colleagues, I will take the pleasure to read out what he has left me as a note for the report on VAT fraud. So our colleague, Andrej Knoedeck, has asked me to read out this, which is gracias. And he says, firstly, that he wants to apologize, as he's unable to attend today's meeting due to family reasons. Allow me, therefore, to present his remarks on the draft report. This report on combating VAT fraud addresses 1 of the most persistent and costly threats to the European Union's financial interests, cross border VAT fraud. According to the latest estimates, the VAT compliance gap in the European Union amounts to roundabout 128,000,000,000 annually, while carousel fraud alone is estimated to cost between 12,500,000,000 and 32,000,000,000 every year. These are not abstract figures. They represent resources that should finance our priorities and support European citizens and European businesses. VAT fraud has evolved into a highly organized cross border criminal activity. Criminal networks exploit differences between national systems, operate rapidly across jurisdictions and increasingly rely on sophisticated digital and financial tools. Stronger cooperation at EU level is therefore essential. This report highlights the importance of closing existing information gaps while fully respecting data protection requirements and the distinct mandates of the institutions involved. The report also recognizes the valuable role of Eurofisk as an early warning mechanism and calls for its further development, including through the use of advanced analytical tools and artificial intelligence to detect suspicious VAT transaction chains in real time. At the same time, colleagues, the report underlines that cooperation must go beyond the exchange of data. National Tax Administration, National Custom Authorities, National Law Enforcement Bodies, and judicial authorities across the European Union, all at national level, must work together more closely and more effectively. Better coordination between OLAF, EPPO, Europol, and Eurojust might be crucial if we are to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated criminal schemes. Moreover, the ongoing review of the EU anti fraud architecture and the preparation of the post 2027 multi annual financial framework provide a unique opportunity to strengthen the protection of the union's financial interests. The report calls for a more integrated anti fraud framework, clearer government arrangements, stronger reporting obligations, and a more effective recovery of fraudulently diverted funds. By strengthening cross border cooperation, improving information sharing, and modernizing the anti fraud architecture, the EU budget and the financial interest of the European taxpayers can be better protected. The rapporteur looks, therefore, forward to work closely with all shadow rapporteurs in the preparing of a report that sends a strong and clear message to the commission on the view of this parliament for the future EU anti fraud architecture. This is what our colleague and rapporteur, mister Knotek, wanted to communicate to you. And, therefore, I'm very happy now to give the floor to the shadows, and I want to start with mister Stechhofsky.”
  VAT harmonisation
• 2026-06-24 “We had a colleague from Australia, from the authority there, and we had a member of the Japanese embassy here who was reporting about the Japanese way of implementing their rules. What we have been observing in the exchange with these other three authorities, the European Commission was also present and reported, is that the European Union has a very strong but also quite flexible approach, which has been able to give us a tool that is stronger. We don't know yet if it's more efficient, but stronger than what have other legislators. The Japanese have a more. Stable and more structured tool, which makes it a bit more difficult to act on all the changes in digital markets that happen. The Brits have a very flexible tool, but it lacks a bit the basic principles inside, so it's difficult for the authority to, um, to hit strongly because they can only follow and then flexibly ask for changes. So I think we found that the European model isn't that bad so far and it's quite efficient. However we have discussed also again about the fact that the enforcement is not as we have expected and even as it's written in the law, because by April, the European Commission should have come with decisions that we are still waiting for. Probably they will come in July. Um, and like that we had an interesting exchange with um our colleagues from other, um, from other addictions. And I think it was also for those members that attended. Quite interesting. Thank you very much.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• 2026-06-24 “Yeah. Very good. Um, maybe I start with, uh, with the agreement on the e declaration that has been happening yesterday evening. Um, we had together with the employment committee, um and my colleague Johan Danielsson from Sweden, uh, tried to defend the position of the European Parliament on this. And um, we had a trilogue that lasted much longer than foreseen. We had only four outstanding points. In the end, the council was resisting any sort of way of making this law a law with a delegated or implementing act. And, uh, why this? Because there are member states, not all, but there are member states that are so stubborn to just defend their national traditions of quite unsuccessful controlling mechanisms. That they wanted just to put the list full of their own data points and then say, but they cannot be changed. And I can tell you that I'm still frustrated about that. Um, it's it was not a good evening for the cooperation in the European Union. It was not a good evening for trying to make our system more efficient and also better, because if member states complain so much about the fact that they are in difficulties to control workforce, it means that there is a problem, but they are not ready to fix that and to improve or to work on it. Um, that has been quite disturbing. What we have been achieving is that all member states participate and that makes. However, now the system a bit more complex. And so I leave it to your assessment. If we should have better started with a tool only for a few Member States, because the tool is anyhow voluntary.”
  EU competences on social policies
• 2026-06-24 “Good morning, colleagues. It's 10:05 nearly. I'm very happy to see you all. Good morning. Let's kick off our meeting of today. I would like to ask you for the adoption of the agenda. If there are no objections, the agenda can be adopted without modifications, and there are some chairs announcement. The interpretation is provided in the languages set only to count news. The web streaming is done, so, put your tie in the right place. The adoption of the minutes from the 21st 03/24/2026, 04/15/2026, and 05/05/2026 are there to be adopted. I don't see any negative comment. I don't see any hand raised. Then we have the adoption of coordinators decisions. The summary of the coordinators decisions from coordinators meeting of the June 2 was circulated to the members on the June 10. I don't see any comment on this. And then we come to the electronic vote, on establishing the European Fund for Economic, Social, and Territorial Cohesion. And I would like to remind you that some members are replaced. Raul de la Rose is replaced by Juan Ignacio Zolido. I saw him already. Thomas Deutsch is replaced by Anna Maria Wisek. I think she's not yet here. She will become maybe. Andrej Nottek is replaced by Yaroslav Joch. Is the name spelling correct? Thank you very much. And that's all. Then, please. You're placing someone, or you would like to have the floor?”
  EU political integration
• 2026-06-24 “Thank you very much. And I'm very glad that we share exactly the same view on this issue, especially with you. And thanks for your hard work, contribution, and thanks for the European Court of Auditors and the Commission for being here today. We will now make a very short break, and then we will continue with coordinators. Thank you.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• 2026-03-13 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission 20.5.2026 Written question The Omnibus IX (Automotive) [1] introduces a new sub-category for small electric passenger cars M1 (‘M1E’), based on a maximum length of 4.2 metres. This legal definition of small electric cars can be used for targeted simplification and support measures to incentivise production and uptake of small electric vehicles. The proposal to amend the regulation setting CO 2 emission standards for cars and vans [2] provides that, until 2034, for the purpose of calculating a manufacturer’s average specific emissions of CO 2 , each new zero-emission vehicle of category M1E and made in the EU shall be counted as 1.3 vehicles. Based on stakeholder consultation and an analysis of the available electric models on the market , a maximum length of 4.2 metres is considered appropriate to boost the small cars segment, but also to serve the mobility needs of most European households. The establishment of a discrete threshold leads to inevitable edge effects irrespective of the choice of the threshold value. However, a gradual transition would cause complications in compliance and lead to a lack of transparency that the Commission considers disproportionate, in particular in the context of a simplification omnibus. Comparisons show that the most energy-efficient electric vehicles on the EU market [3] have a length below 4.2 metres. In addition, a small vehicle takes less material to be built. [1] COM(2025) 993. [2] COM(2025) 995. [3] In terms of watt-hours per kilometer (Wh/km).”
  EU Competition policy · Road transport environmental policy
• 2026-03-10 “P-000979/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission The Commission agrees on the strategic importance of labour mobility and posting of workers in the Single Market. Labour mobility is regularly monitored by the annual report on Intra-EU labour mobility 1 as well as Eurobarometer surveys 2 and the reporting on social security coordination 3 . The difficulties created by cumbersome procedures for the posting of workers have been identified among the ten most harmful barriers in the Single Market Strategy 4 (Terrible Ten). As announced in the 2026 Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report 5 , the Commission services, together with the European Labour Authority, are working to develop a key performance indicator for the 2027 edition of this report related to the posting of workers. As announced in the Commission work programme for 2026 6 , the Fair Labour Mobility Package is intended to contain a proposal for a European Social Security Pass, a proposal to strengthen the European Labour Authority, which would also address better enforcement of posting rules, and a Skills Portability Initiative. The initiatives would be prepared by making use of the above-mentioned reports, extensive consultations and impact assessments, thus constituting an evidence-based set of actions facilitating free movement of workers, labour mobility and posting of workers. 1 https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/0650998, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/2077850. 2 For example, Special Eurobarometer 528: European citizens’ attitudes towards labour mobility, https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2671. 3 https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/moving-working-europe/facts-andfigures-intra-eu-labour-mobility-and-eu-social-security-coordination_en. 4 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1274. 5 https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/publications/2026-annual-single-market-and-competitivenessreport_en. 6 https://commission.europa.eu/publications/2026-commission-work-programme-and-annexes_en.”
  EU regulation of cross-border and posted workers · EU competences on social policies
• 2026-02-09 “P-000514/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission The Commission closely follow developments in the audiovisual industry, including in subscription video-on-demand services 1 . From the perspective of competition policy specifically, the Commission may intervene where undertakings abuse their dominant position within the internal market (Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)), as well as where concentrations would significantly impede effective competition. In the context of the merger control review of the potential Netflix/Warner Bros deal, the Commission will investigate the potential harmful impact on effective competition resulting from the concentration, such as risks of higher prices but also a wide range of non-price effects, such as lower quality of service, content foreclosure, reduced innovation and decreased diversity in content production. The views of various market participants that may be affected by the concentration (such as competitors, content suppliers and cinemas) will be thoroughly considered in order to determine whether the deal would raise competition concerns. Undertakings are responsible for assessing the compatibility of their practices with the EU competition rules, including information exchanges during the due diligence procedure of a potential acquisition. Potential anticompetitive exchanges of sensitive information between may be the subject of a separate investigation and eventual penalties under Article 101 TFEU and/or to the prohibition of gun-jumping under the merger control rules. 1 See for example: European Media Industry Outlook, SWD(2025)261, 5.9.2025.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• 2025-11-25 “E-004680/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission As the Commission explained in its reply to written question E-000413/2025, commercial cards fall under Regulation (EU) 2015/751 1 on interchange fees for card-based payment transactions (IFR) but the caps on interchange fees are limited to consumer cards. Commercial cards can only be issued to undertakings, public sector entities or self-employed natural persons, used for business expenses, and charged directly to the account of the undertaking, public sector entity or self-employed natural person (Article 2(6) of IFR). In the EU, the share of commercial cards is still small compared with consumer cards. As statistics focus on aggregate data, across card categories, there is no detailed recent public data on the relative growth rates of commercial cards. The Commission is available to further discuss substantiated evidence that stakeholders may have. Under Article 11 of IFR, merchants can steer cardholders to use another payment instrument through rebates, surcharges when allowed at national level. This is enabled via Article 10(5) of IFR, under which issuers must ensure that commercial cards are electronically and visibly identifiable, so that both payees and payers can unequivocally identify a commercial card. National authorities are competent to address implementation issues faced by stakeholders. The UK judgement of 27 June 2025 2 concerns the mandatory multilateral interchange fees imposed by Visa and Mastercard on card transactions in the UK, including those for commercial cards, and ruled that they constitute an infringement of competition law ‘by object’ under EU/UK competition law. These proceedings are specific to the U K market. 1 OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, pp. 1-15. 2 https://www.catribunal.org.uk/sites/cat/files/202506/151711722%20%28UM%29%20Merchant%20Interchange%20Fee%20Umbrella%20Proceedings%20%20Judgment%20%2027%20Jun%202025.pdf.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation · Financial regulation
• 2025-11-11 “E-004469/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission While the Commission cannot prejudge the outcome of any potential future merger proceedings, it remains committed to prevent a significant impediment to effective competition which generally results from the creation or strengthening of a dominant position. As to a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Amazon, the Commission notes though that according to public reports, Amazon did not submit an offer for Warner Bros. Discovery within a deadline for initial bids and that Warner Bros. Discovery has entered into an agreement with Netflix instead while Paramount made a competing offer. As to the market position of Amazon, the Commission had preliminarily found Amazon in the context of a previous antitrust case to be dominant on markets for the provision of online marketplace services to third-party sellers. Furthermore, in case M.10349 – Amazon/MGM, the Commission considered whether the acquisition of MGM would strengthen Amazon’s potentially dominant position in the market for the provision of marketplace services, even though it ultimately concluded that the merged entity would not have the ability to leverage Amazon’s position in the market for the retail supply of audiovisual content into the market for the provision of marketplace services. As already indicated in the current Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines 1 , the Commission can assess competitive harm linked to the access of commercially sensitive information acquired through a merger. For example, the access to commercially sensitive information could lead to higher prices (see paragraph 78 of the Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines). The Commission assessed the question of access to commercially sensitive information for example in Case M.9660 – Google/Fitbit. 1 Guidelines on the assessment of non-horizontal mergers under the Council Regulation on the control of concentrations between undertakings (OJ C 265, 18.10.2008, p. 7).”
  EU rules on digital competition
• 2025-09-30 “E-003788/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission In EU competition law, Article 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) prohibits agreements having either the object or the effect of preventing, restricting, distorting competition within the internal market which may affect trade between Member States. Restrictions by object are types of coordination between undertakings which are, by their very nature, harmful to the proper functioning of normal competition. Such is the case of cartels, whereby competitors aim at coordinating their competitive behaviour on the market or influencing the relevant parameters of competition, for instance fixing prices or rigging bids. For this category of restrictions, while it is necessary to examine the legal and economic context of the agreement, the Court of Justice of the European Union has consistently held that it is not necessary to examine or prove effects on the market. As regards the category of restrictions by effect, it is in general sufficient to show potential effects. Once a competition authority establishes a restriction of competition (by object or by effect) under Article 101(1) TFEU, the undertakings concerned bear the burden of invoking and proving that the agreement produces efficiencies that meet the conditions of Article 101(3) TFEU. There is no basis to require the harmonisation of Swiss law with EU competition law, as Switzerland is a third country. In any event, as noted in recital 3 of the Competition Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Switzerland 1 , ‘the competition enforcement systems of the EU and of Switzerland are based on the same principles and provide for similar rules’. EU companies operating in Switzerland must ensure that their agreements as far as they affect competition in Switzerland comply with Swiss competition law, just as Swiss companies whose activities affect competition in the internal market must comply with EU competition law. The Gaba judgment 2 was delivered in 2016; the Commission is not aware of any significant evolution in the application of Swiss competition law such as to call into question the basis of the EU-Switzerland Cooperation Agreement. 1 Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation concerning cooperation on the application of their competition laws, OJ L 347, 3.12.2014, pp. 3–9. 2 https://search.bger.ch/ext/eurospider/live/de/php/clir/http/index.php?lang=de&type=highlight_simple_query&pa ge=1&from_date=&to_date=&from_year=2016&to_year=2016&sort=relevance&insertion_date=&from_date_ push=&top_subcollection_clir=bge&query_words=Gaba&part=all&de_fr=&de_it=&fr_de=&fr_it=&it_de=&it _fr=&orig=&translation=&rank=1&highlight_docid=atf%3A%2F%2F143-II297%3Ade&number_of_ranks=1&azaclir=clir.”
  EU Competition policy
• 2025-09-29 “E-003775/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has initiated three ex-officio preliminary investigations under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation 1 (FSR), in the wind, security equipment, and nuclear sectors: Wind: The Commission sent information requests regarding certain wind parks in several Member States to investigate market information about alleged foreign subsidies. The information requests were addressed to several Chinese wind turbines manufacturers and to certain European companies. Security equipment: The Commission carried out unannounced inspections in the premises of Nuctech. Nuctech filed applications for annulment of the inspection decision and for interim measures with the European Courts. The interim measures application was rejected by the General Court and the Court of Justice on appeal. Proceedings regarding the appeal against the inspection decision are ongoing. Nuclear: The Commission sent information requests in the context of the construction of new reactors units at Dukovany and Temelín nuclear power plants in Czech Republic. The information requests seek information on alleged foreign subsidies granted to a Korean company and its subcontractors. In each case, the Commission is assessing information collected. In case of sufficient indications regarding distortive foreign subsidies, it will open in-depth investigations. The Commission closely follows developments in the internal market, assesses market information and stands ready to initiate ex-officio investigations, where elements point to distortive foreign subsidies both in concentrations and public procurement procedures. The FSR provides an effective legal basis to assess distortive foreign subsidies granted to undertakings active in the internal market while complying with its international obligations under Article 44(9) FSR. 1 Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market (OJ L 330, 23.12.2022, p. 1, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2560/oj).”
  EU policy on screening foreign investment in strategic sectors and critical infrastructure
• 2025-09-25 “P-003725/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Overall, the export of waste to Switzerland falls under the same EU rules as the transboundary shipment of waste between EU Member States. One exception is the export of mixed municipal waste, which is the residual waste from households that was not separately collected and which is not allowed for export outside the European Economic Area (EEA). The Commission would like to recall that Switzerland has decided not to become a member of the EEA and, therefore, the EU rules applicable within the EEA do not apply in Switzerland. The Commission is aware of the recently raised concerns related to the upcoming prohibition to export mixed municipal waste from the Land of Baden-Württemberg to nearby facilities located in Switzerland. The Commission recently received from the authorities of the Land Baden-Württemberg more information on the matter and is currently analysing the matter further.”
  EU policy towards plastics · Circular economy
• 2025-09-01 “E-003344/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission monitors compliance of market operators, including as applicable adtech intermediaries, with EU regulations related to advertising transparency, accountability for systemic risks, and lawful use of personal data in monetisation. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) imposes targeted obligations on gatekeepers improving transparency for advertisers and publishers, restricting data use without consent, and advancing the EU’s objective of lawful and transparent monetisation in digital markets. The Digital Services Act (DSA) 1 sets transparency and accountability rules for online advertising. Article 26 2 requires clear identification of advertisers and ads. Article 30 3 requires online marketplaces to ensure that consumers obtain information on the identification of the relevant trader and make best efforts to assess whether such information is reliable and complete, or face penalties. Furthermore, under Articles 34 4 and 35 5 of the DSA, providers of very large online platforms and of very large online search engines are required to diligently assess and to put in place effective measures to mitigate the systemic risks stemming from the design, functioning or use made of, their services and related systems, which may include the adaptation of advertising systems. Adtech intermediaries are currently not within the scope of obliged entities under the Anti-money laundering Directive (AMLD) nor under the future Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework applying from 2027 6 . The Commission is currently monitoring the implementation of the DSA, the DMA and the AMLD, and may take further action based on their effectiveness once such monitoring exercises have been completed and the results evaluated. It would be premature at this stage to outline any hypothetical forthcoming actions. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng#art_26. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng#art_30. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng#art_34. 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj/eng#art_35. 6 https://finance.ec.europa.eu/financial-crime/anti-money-laundering-and-countering-financing-terrorism-eulevel_en.”
  EU rules on digital competition · Digital advertising
• 2025-03-26 “E-001269/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Ribera on behalf of the European Commission In December 2022, the Commission declared an amendment to the German Renewable Energy Act (‘Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz’, EEG 2023) compatible with the internal market in line with the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 1 . One of the criteria for State aid approval is to limit aid to what is necessary to address an identified market failure, and thus to avoid over-compensating aid recipients for their investments. Long-term commitments (with potential aid disbursement of up to 20 years) entail significant uncertainty about market developments and thus the possibility of undue windfall profits. For that reason, Germany committed to introduce a claw-back provision (or similar mechanism) to limit eventual overcompensation, in the context of the Commission decision approving the EEG 2023. This commitment is a condition of the approval. The current discussions on the Solar Package I amendments include the outstanding need to incorporate this pre-existing requirement in the scheme. It falls within the responsibility of Member States to notify new aid in line with the applicable legal requirements and to ensure the timeliness and quality of information provided. The Commission is awaiting a proposal from Germany to address the requirement regarding the EEG 2023 approval condition and remains available and committed to rapidly review any such proposal once received. 1 Communication from the Commission – Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022, Official Journal of the European Union, C 80, 18 February 2022.”
  Energy transition (state support) · EU policy on permitting for renewable energy projects
• 2024-11-26 “E-002654/2024 Answer given by Mr McGrath on behalf of the European Commission 1. The proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Liability Directive 1 was designed with a forwardlooking approach to modernise certain fault-based liability rules, considering AI’s unique characteristics (opacity, complexity and autonomy), which differentiate it from traditional software. Legal certainty regarding liability is important for reducing risks and encouraging businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, to invest in AI. Harmonised rules for fault-based liability minimise fragmentation, creating a predictable environment for innovation while ensuring accountability. 2. The proposed Directive does not create any administrative burden for businesses (no reporting, no registration, no documentation obligation) and enhances legal certainty. The proposed AI Liability Directive is targeted and proportionate, as it only deals with aspects of liability that are challenged by the specificities of the AI, while all other aspects of liability are left to national law. 3. The Commission’s aim is to create a framework that does not stifle growth. The proposed Directive does not create any additional hurdles for companies, as it relies on obligations that companies must already comply with under European or national law. The AI Act 2 reduces risks for safety and fundamental rights, the Product Liability Directive 3 sets no-fault liability of producers for defective products, benefiting consumers, and the proposed AI Liability Directive covers liability for damages caused by AI, linked to the fault of any persons. Adaptation of fault-based liability to the specificities of AI allows any type of victims of accidents caused by AI systems to prove a successful liability claim and obtain compensation. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022PC0496 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/2853/oj/eng”
  Artificial Intelligence
• 2024-11-25 “P-002649/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is closely monitoring market developments around Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The Commission is committed to ensuring that AI use in the EU advances in line with the law and in particular the Digital Markets Act 1 (DMA) to preserve contestability and fairness in digital markets while incentivizing further innovation in safe and trustworthy AI systems. As to the specific questions by the Honourable Member, the Commission notes that the integration of AI into or their use with the core platform services (CPS) of designated gatekeepers already gives rise to obligations under the DMA. When gatekeepers deploy AI systems in this way, they need to ensure compliance with the specific provisions which are applicable to the CPS, such as the provisions concerning processing, combining, or crossusing personal data. The DMA has also introduced specific obligations for gatekeepers regarding intended concentrations to bring transparency to acquisition by gatekeepers and to enable early intervention where necessary. Should the use of AI systems, including generative AI, undermine the fairness or contestability of digital markets, Article 19 of the DMA allows the Commission to investigate and act, such as by supplementing obligations by delegated act or via a legislative proposal to add new core platform services. The Commission will make full use of the tools provided by the DMA, where necessary. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022R1925”
  Artificial Intelligence · EU rules on digital competition
• 2024-07-17 “P-001372/2024 Answer given by Ms Simson on behalf of the European Commission Energy from Waste-to-energy (WtE) is considered sustainable if the biogenic waste meets the criteria set in Article 29 of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and the Waste hierarchy 1 . RED also states that Member States shall not grant direct financial support for the production of renewable energy from waste incineration (WI) unless the separate collection obligations in the Waste Framework Directive have been complied with 2 . The EU Taxonomy Environmental Delegated Act includes the activity ‘Treatment of hazardous waste’ which includes the incineration of non-recyclable hazardous waste. The Commission, based on the recommendations of the Platform on Sustainable Finance, will assess in due course, which new activities could be added to the Taxonomy. The Commission will assess the feasibility of including municipal WI installations and other waste management processes, notably landfilling, in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) by July 2026 in accordance with the ETS Directive 3 . In the ETS, allowances do not need to be surrendered for emissions that are captured and stored permanently. Under the Carbon Removals Certification Framework 4 , the biogenic emissions from WtE, if combined with carbon capture and storage, could potentially benefit from the certification, whenever the quality criteria set by the Regulation are met. The respective certification methodology is being developed. The 2018 RED 5 already contained a definition of waste heat for the purposes of the relevant rules contained therein. The Commission is now working on a guidance document to help Member States implement the heating and cooling measures included in the revised RED, including on the application of the waste heat definition. 1 Article 3(3) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, as amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III), https://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202302413, and Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02008L0098-20180705, ‘the Waste Framework Directive’. 2 Article 3c.b) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, as amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III). 3 Directive (EU) 2023/959 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union and Decision (EU) 2015/1814 concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading system. 4 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2014_2019/plmrep/COMMITTEES/ENVI/DV/2024/03-11/Item9Provisionalagreement-CFCR_2022-0394COD_EN.pdf 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018L2001”
  Energy (green transition)
• “Sorry for this. We should come back to the fact that if it's below 5.5 million of the threshold for construction, then the local authorities can start under their national rules immediately. That would create a lot of flexibility. And I think that's what we should be doing. We should prioritize simplification, and therefore the revision must return to the core purpose of procurement rules, ensuring fair, transparent and efficient purchasing, not overprescribing what public buyers should purchase. There is one example and this is the Buy European for some specific sectors. I have observed it as well. Thank you very much. I should speak slowly for some critical sectors. We definitely need a by European obligation, but we should really find out how we can frame and define that part in the best manner. And like that, Mr. Chairman, I skip all the other points and I want to congratulate the Commission again for their performance analysis.”
  "Buy European" provisions
• “Commissioner, thank you so much for joining us today in the Internal Protection Committee. You are a very decent person and you plan your work with calm, and that's great. But you have also said today we have to be bolder. So I quote you on this, and I want to put that into context with the Draghi report that is clearly saying that we don't have enough money to pay everything. So we have to focus where we spend the money and who is also saying very clearly that we don't have enough people to do all the jobs that we would like to be done. So we have also to organize better the people that we have Enabled in order to be able to achieve what we want to have. And I say that very clearly in relation to the point that you mentioned, um, on, um, on safety of goods, on market surveillance, because the HTML and change and whatever issue is about the European Union not having a common strategy on controlling goods that come into Europe and the Market Surveillance Authority not having any structure of cooperation in between them. So we have to focus on what we can be doing to improve the cooperation with customs. But we have also to see how we can either integrate market authority, market surveillance authorities or at least attach them better. So we want to write a letter to the commission president that this is a need of urgency. Now, we cannot just live with the proposal of the handling fee, which is for sure one element that we should seriously consider, but cannot be the only one. So I wanted to ask you very bluntly, how can we be bolder in that context from your point of view?”
  EU competences on consumer protection and product standards
• “Mr. president, Commissioner, congratulations on this strategy. The single market strategy is linked to the Draghi and letter reports. It shows that there's a new self-confidence in the European single market and the EU as a whole. And we could formulate it the other way round. If we were to implement the single market strategy, we can create new growth. And this growth, colleagues, is something that we need. There are huge existing barriers that are in many cases easy to overcome if there is success in the council, together with the Member States and here in the Parliament, if we can create the necessary unity and the necessary majorities. The barriers represent a greater burden than the US tariffs that are now up to about 20%. So now we need to take brave steps to try and overcome the terrible ten that the strategy identifies. What's the first risk? First of all, everyone talks about the Draghi report, but nobody's in. The council is ready to overcome their own reticence. And rather than simply defending their own national practices, the commission doesn't have enough infringement proceedings. We've talked about Hungary. The principles in Hungary are not compatible with the single market. Surely there's plenty that we could do. And there are other issues in all 26 member states. Thirdly, it's worth mentioning. That our Parliament is going to have to get the necessary majorities to get the necessary measures in place in all of the different sectors. The EPP Group is ready for this. We want the single market to create new growth. We need new growth in Europe, especially if we're going to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and if we want to survive in a world of competition. So the council presidencies need to take this serious. It needs to be taken seriously in Berlin, Paris, Rome, etc. so we can only do this job together to implement what you proposed.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you so much, Nicholas Herbst. We have now a short possibility for the European Court of Auditors and the Commission to answer on this first requests, and then all our shadows will get the floor. So I give the floor first to the European Court of Auditors for the response to our two colleagues. Rapporteurs.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• “And therefore, for example, Google is still not in conformity with the Google Shopping decision and therefore there is a decision of the Commission needed also on this. Apart from the AI topic that Antoine was referring to. So I would think as a second point, thanking the commission on the one side doesn't mean that we should not criticise them for being far too slow with the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act, because we can only make a full assessment if we know what this law can bring to us. And then, um, chairwoman, if you allow me and I think this is also a topic for my colleagues in this committee, um, our colleague yesterday was doing a work about space. Um, we talked about how to protect children online. We should not be scared. These decisions, if they touch Chinese or American or from whatever country companies, they are just enforcing our basic principles in competition policy. There are plenty of companies in China and in the US that love our action, because it's creating fair markets and fair opportunities, and therefore we should not be concerned with whatever president's opinion about the DMA or the DSA. We just need action. Thank you very much.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I'm very grateful to all my colleagues and especially to Mr. Lincoln from the European Commission, who has been following this dossier since years now. He has also been giving some ups and downs in these discussions. And therefore, I think, first of all, we are all very glad that we may come here to a first conclusion. Having said that, Mr. Chairman, that doesn't mean that everything looks perfectly pretty because, as my colleagues in their contributions, Miss Grossman, but also Miss Erickson and I have already mentioned, for sure we could shed some light into very specific questions. Um, that still, um, can be discussed. Um, and I won't dwell on this now because I think it will to take too much time. But I think objectively there is a lot of discussions that we can do that touch also a bit to the basics of the European Union and its, uh, rulebook itself. Um, but as a conclusion, we can say this is a very good, um, take over and cooperation that we can have here, and therefore we should give this package our full support, noting that there will be lots of works in the future to make sure that Switzerland and the European Union work closer together. Electricity health has been mentioned. There will be plenty of other issues that will come up? But with this rulebook here, with that bilateral agreement package number three, we can focus on the key questions. We can take the issues up front. And that's what we need in these difficult times. And therefore I would like to thank all my colleagues waiting for their amendments. And then for a final discussion and a vote here in committee. Thank you very much.”
  EU-Switzerland relations
• “Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Colleagues. Back to you in English. On the last meeting of the working group on the DMA. It was the fifth meeting after having already met people from representatives from meta, Alphabet Booking and Apple. And we were this time meeting, um, with meta, as I mentioned, to, to first of all, to explore the follow up on the Commission's noncompliance decision and fine of 200 million on Meta's pay or consent consent model, which is still, it seems, not finally resolved. Um, neither the commission nor the representatives of meta wanted to disclose all, uh, the last, uh, exchanges that there where we have been making pressure together with my colleagues that, uh, this that the implementation of free access without paying with personal data is a principle for all users in the European Union and therefore cannot put into question, cannot be put into question. We had in the meeting representatives from the commission, meta consumer and digital rights organization, also from matrix, but also Boyk and Edri. Um Tomaso Valetti, the former chief economist of the European Commission, was also there. And it was a very, uh, interesting meeting. Thanks also to the Secretariat for organizing it. We have to be clear that it was much easier with this company to meet, because there is only one key challenge under the DMA that is at the moment discussed. It was much more difficult with Apple and Google, and therefore I think it's logical that the meeting this time was much more interesting, lively and went further to the point.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Colleague and colleague. Thank you very much. Well, a big thanks to the European Commission for presenting this action plan to us on automotive policy. I come from a region where there are a lot of suppliers for big car producers, and the problem that we face is that there's a deficit in demand because, uh, citizens simply don't know which cars to buy. So the electronics, electric technology is one that people want to switch to, but it's been left out in the rain. It's been left in the lurch because you might have such a car, but drove on holiday and, um, find that you can't charge, so you really think carefully before you buy such a car. What are we going to do to complete the internal market? We not only need the charging structure that needs to be available on an equal basis throughout Europe, but uniform technical standards for 5 or 6 G uses, which are necessary across borders. And what can we do to ensure that you will have a guaranteed ability to cross borders? And then, um, the, uh, the simplification of homologation, homogenization. Uh. Now in some countries, you need to, uh, to carry a red and white stripe sign, but, uh, um, If. You can put such a sign in all sorts of vehicles in Europe, but you cannot then not use it when you get to Italy. So, um, consumers that buy these cars need to be sure that they go on holiday with the car in the summer.”
  EV charging infrastructure
• “Thank you very much to our rapporteur. We had very good shadows meeting in Strasbourg last week and it started first of all by considering the proposal and we are aligned on the fact that not just because there is the title omnibus it's a good proposal. We will have to check every of these proposals seriously but we share the aim of simplicity and the aim of making legal texts more pragmatic. Like that our colleague has already outlined that we agree also on the fact that urgency can be a reason for specific measures but we didn't want to recoup the proposals that the Commission had not got through in the last twenty years. These common specifications have to be really something of a very, very limited context and we agree to limit it. The only question is what is the reference. We were referring to the Machinery Directive. There are other elements where we can refer to find solutions and I'm looking forward that we will find the solution for having in the end a good and balanced text. Thank you very much.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you very much. Madam president, Commissioner, first of all, thank you very much indeed to our rapporteur and Henrik Dahl, our shadow for an excellent job of work. I dare say that we in the committee pretty much agree on the major planks of this proposal, and I'm very grateful indeed to all of you for that. But the work has not just been done by the Internal Market Committee. We're also talking about unfair practices in the agricultural sector, and people in the farming sector will perhaps view this rather differently and sometimes mistakenly, whereas in actual fact, the single market has to be properly applied across all sectors. Now, of course, you know the just do it Nike speech we've just heard very grateful to the previous speaker, but we've got to be at pains to make sure that we in the Council of Ministers not only secure a majority, but also make sure that everything that has for years been promised as a positive message is actually implemented. And Commissioner, I really don't see how 28. The regime is going to be accepted by 26 members. I don't actually think that that will be possible, because we've got all member countries with their sovereignty, different perspectives, and you're not going to have to push them to create common rules in those areas which are affected currently by the 28th regime. And then I want to come to the Dibrani speech and pick up on that. You know, I mean, this is a fantasy that it's all about deregulation. Absolutely not. That is not the purpose of this. Absolutely. You want simplification. We all want simplification. Let's sit down together. You know, let's have a chat about this. You know, we want the omnibus one to be accepted, you know. And if we don't have deregulation in some areas let's simplify.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Well, thank you very much. I would like to follow up a bit what my colleague Dora David and what Kim Van have said, because I believe that this idea of Euro stack, or to how to strengthen Europe on its own, could be achieved much faster than some people believe. And therefore, I wanted to ask Renate Nicolai, is it feasible that we will invest at least the amount of EU co-funding for the AI gigafactories into EU produced material into EU produced chips which are available, available and which have exactly the same amount of quality as the world market leaders that are very often mentioned. Thank you very much.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• “Yes, thank you. President, Commissioner. Dear colleagues, first of all, I would like to thank I would like to support him, Mr. Erkan, in what he said from the Transport Committee. The Internal Market Committee has also done a lot of work and we managed to achieve a compromise. We have always emphasized that we stronger consumer protection should not be implemented on the backs of SMEs or small travel agencies, because very often they're the ones that do offer these package Holidays are the kind that, as Mr. Urchin said, families like to take. We have tabled amendments. We want a good, simple definition for package travel. Obviously, smaller travel agencies that have to be able to. Offer these package travel without additional elements being seen as part of that. So whether also sanctions, the sanctions obviously are thought for the larger companies. We do have quite a few small travel agencies, family travel agencies. We don't want to threaten their existence. But together with the rapporteur we have in English. Companies that are at the heart of the reform, I have to tell you that I'm not sure that the complaint handling mechanism is really something that they can deal with, because if you have two people in your office, how do you want to make a complaint handling system that is independently supervised? That will be a real challenge and therefore I hope that we can still work it out in a way that for small and micro enterprises that you have been referring to, we find a way for the complaint handling to be as little red tape complaining as possible and like that. And so, dear president, I do very much hope that we can garner a majority yesterday so that we can provide this solution for the small and medium sized travel agencies.”
  EU consumer protection rules: stricter requirements and tougher enforcement vs business flexibility and reduced burden
• “Thank you Anna, I'd like to briefly summarize in German what I think we have to say about the AI Act. I think that in Europe we have a reason to try to place our businesses if they have and want the possibility, businesses who have innovative ideas to make progress in this area. I don't think there's anyone here who could be against that. The existing AI system is simply a series of areas where it's not very clear as it could be. I think this is why the Commission is acting. This has to do with both business innovation and also the protection of fundamental rights, which are important to many people here. Let me give you a specific example. If a manufacturer of kitchen appliances can only sell the product when it's a hundred percent secure in order to increase the security, for example to evaluate the heating, oil, water, other ingredients, if you also have to use additional artificial intelligence to increase the level of protection, then because of the lack of standards that we don't have at present, the product becomes a high risk product. As a high risk product, the business cannot use the AI in that product, so it's very complicated. I don't want to belittle anyone but I think there are simply factual problems that we need to resolve and that is why this has nothing to do with the EU and the US and the government. It's nothing to do with fundamental rights in Europe being somehow undermined but what we're doing ultimately needs to be practicable for those who have to use it. Then together with Mister Boeselager in the Green following the plenary last week in Strasbourg, we had a chat and we agreed that there are some things that we need to achieve and I've no doubt that we can agree in this committee too. Therefore I would be grateful if it would help, if it will help to protect our fundamental rights in Europe it should also help businesses who do have good ideas in this area in Europe.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Sorry for being late. Dear, dear colleagues, welcome to today's today's joint meeting. Buch and Conte, um, which I have the pleasure to co-chair even a bit on guitar. Um, I'm glad to welcome today Mr. Georg Petrovic, the member of the Court of Auditors, to present the opinion of the European Court of Auditors on the performance regulation for the Commission. For the Commission, I welcome Michael Erhart, who is the Director of Central Financial services in DG budget. Hello. And the performance regulation, as you know, colleagues aims to establish a single and simplified framework for budget tracking and performance, representing a shift to how it is currently done in the current MFF. And there are plenty of questions, I would even say criticisms, and that's why we are here to discuss this. And before giving the floor to you, I would like you to adopt the agenda. Um, I don't see any contradiction. Um, I would like to make the chair's announcements also together with us interpretation, web streaming and the adoption of the minutes of 26th of January, 27th and 28th of January. Everything seems to be fine and like that. I would like to give the floor immediately to the European Court of Auditors. Over to you.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• “Yeah. No. It's okay. Thank you very much. Um, a point of concern in this omnibus proposal is, however, the introduction of the possibility for the Commission to adopt common specifications via implementing acts if harmonised standards are unavailable, insufficient or outdated in sectors such as hazardous substances, low voltage equipment, radio equipment or electromagnetic compatibility. I believe that market driven European and international standardization system has proven to be effective. It's true that some people could cooperate more, but I would like to argue that we should continue to ensure international alignment and the competitiveness of the European industry. Hence, common specifications should only be a fallback option limited to specific cases. The proposal gives the European Commission a blanket check to act without sufficiently defined criteria. Therefore, I would argue that we need a clear framework for the development, use and withdrawal of these specifications. Hence, as EPP Shadow rapporteur, I will pay particular attention to prevent fragmented common specification interpretation. And I would also. This digital omnibus not to be used only for business to consumer, but also for business to business in areas of products that could also be bought by consumers, for example, some very Specialized technical stuff that some very specialized people will be able to to use, but not normal consumers. I'm looking forward to a very fast procedure with Rene, and I would like to thank him for an excellent work. Thank you very much.”
  EU competences on consumer protection and product standards
• “Much for giving me the floor. I will be very short, and I will also want to disclose to you that I've been coordinating this with our shadow on the own initiative report. Christiane, I think first of all, the Commission's analysis is quite convincing. However, it leaves out some of the key questions. The first one I want to point out here is that cross-border engagement of companies is not only dependent on public procurement rules, but most of all of the possibility to send workers. And Mr. Ehrenstein is very familiar with the topic. Without the declaration, this won't work. We will need more facilitation measures for companies to really count, calculate and invest in projects on the other side of the border in the same manner as at home, so that they can judge the costs. Without this, cross-border public procurement won't easily fly. Secondly, we need a review of the thresholds. We have a lot of inflation in the European Union. We have recently seen that even the values have been getting smaller. They have been decreased because of international calculation of inflation. But that is creating a more and more difficult situation for small and medium sized procurement entities. Therefore, the report that we have been voting has foreseen some flexibility for these SMEs, and I would like the Commission to come back on this. And I think, thirdly, that the ECJ decision that if you do a new garage for the local fire brigade, which is costing, Let's say 1 million. But where engineering costs a €290,000, you have to go for a public procurement for a tender. Only for the engineering part. This is going too far. We should come back.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you so much, chairwoman, Minister Damianos, Minister Damian, thanks for being here today. Um, I would like to ask you, as a co-rapporteur on the regulation establishing an electronic declaration for posting of workers, I would like to flag to you that despite the significant progress reached a technical level. Also in this house during Trilogues and the Danish Presidency's other steps were done, but still the council backtracks at the last moment. In December last year, refusing to endorse the compromise text on the table, it has been reported to us that the council now refuses to support its own general approach, adopted in May 2005. And all this not to blame you, but just to tell you how complicated the the agenda in the meeting room is that you are chairing now, so I don't envy you. But I kindly ask you also, on behalf of this House, to push your 25 member colleagues, member States, colleagues to come to an agreement either on the general approach that they have taken last year at the beginning of the talks, or to to to come to the Parliament's position, but without a clear decision, how can we make the internal market work? It doesn't work like that. So I can only encourage you to work hard and harder to achieve an agreement there. Thank you so much, chairwoman.”
  EU regulation of cross-border and posted workers
• “I would like to make a second point. If you allow me. I think that also you were very courageous with the omnibus proposals that you did. I think we definitely have an awful lot of rules in the reporting obligations that no one here can explain to the businesses that they have to do. That might not be true for every single reporting obligation, but for a lot. And I think it should be very clear that we have to get rid of those reporting obligations that no one can really explain as quickly as possible. This will strengthen also our say on whatever we do after. But those that are really uncomfortable elements for everyone should just go out. And then maybe just a little obiter dictum. I have always thought that we get rid of the late payments proposed in this form to think about whatever could be better. I hear now that there is even a discussion. It was my understanding that this proposal is running out. Unfortunately. Thank you so much.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• “Um, during the discussion, MEPs present data on how its current model complies with article 52. I mentioned that already, in the light of the non-compliance finding, whether consent can be considered free if the alternative is a paid service has been left open. Um, and whether metas ad funded model entrenches competitive imbalances through exclusive access to user data being reported. And they have also presented a very interesting report that they, uh, also very interesting overview about how far the The implementation of the DMA has gone so far, what advantages it has brought and where loopholes still are reported. Reported that 90% of users selected the free personalized ads option, confirming that the choice is not a genuinely free. We also addressed interoperability in messaging services, which was a clear interest also to other European companies. We had invited metrics where a certain number of member states are already making use of their services, um, which is open to third parties but all encoded and therefore safe. Um, I can only tell you, Mr. Chairman, that we will continue our work and we will report, I hope, as soon as possible on all the meetings we did, and we will do a last meeting before concluding this with the Commissioner. Maybe we can do that also with other members. Thank you very much.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you so much, chairwoman. Um, thanks also to my co rapporteur for a very good preparation of this draft report, which in fact is a very short report, but not so much because we didn't want to work, but because the report of the Commission, the proposal of the Commission is very short. And you could now conclude with the fact that no one is here in the room, and the interest is quite limited, that it's a short term running proposal without any deep meaning. But unfortunately it's not. Um, we are speaking because tomorrow there will be the single market strategy about one of the terrible ten, the famous A1 form, which is since more than 20 years now, since 20 years, one of the biggest stumbling blocks for cross-border posting. Um, and I have had the chance to speak to my colleague and explain to him, and I spoke also to Mark and to Pascal on it. I'm coming from a region where people cross the border every day, sometimes as a dare to pick up the kids, sometimes as a consumer to buy some stuff, sometimes as a worker, and sometimes as a teacher. When they come to the Strasbourg Parliament school classes, the pupils. Now they don't have to do it, but the teachers now have to fill in an A1 form because officially they come as a part of their job. That's at least the interpretation of my state government. Now we can discuss about it, but you can imagine how how problematic for them it becomes to look, first of all for a Social Security number. Because they are functionaries, they don't have it.”
  EU competences on social policies
• “And if we don't consider this more seriously, it will be very difficult. And what can we do there? We can only count on the council to support proposals that have already been in the system, and we have to observe. And I want to be very blunt with this, that I don't have the impression that the Council this time really has understood the message. And therefore, I would like to ask the European Commission what signs do you have that this time it's different? What proof do you have that the 28 regime this time will find the majority? What information do you have that this time on cross-border posting of workers? There will be an agreement in council. I don't see it because the declaration proposal is in the system, and the council had a common position and now it doesn't have it anymore. I mean, it doesn't make sense to to dream. We have to turn into action. And I would like to know from the European Commission where they have insights from the Council that we really can talk seriously about getting into action. Thanks.”
  EU political integration
• “Mr. president, Mr. president, executive Vice-President I think I am well known in this House to respect the rules, especially the speaking rules. So I will stay within my time frame. But I would like to say, colleagues, we want to deliver. We want to make sure that European companies can compete at worldwide level. For sure they have to respect as all other companies in Europe as well, our rules. But our rule book, unfortunately, because it comes from different times, from different legislatures, is not really streamlined and there should be no misunderstanding. We want our rules to be respected, but we want rules that are coherent. And I am very grateful to our colleague Lagodinsky to say that he is here in a spirit of cooperation, because we want to cooperate on serious rules that can be respected by everyone. And I have to tell you, I was on Monday in a very good start up in my constituency in the Black Forest. And these people, a doctorate in physics from the Heidelberg University, is able to balance AI concerns, fast track computing with concerns of data protection as well as data privacy. These people, they are not stupid. They know exactly what we are talking about and they need coherence. And I think this package and I want to thank you as well, executive Vice-President Hanna. This package should bring coherence and all those that are looking forward to bring coherence to help our companies are welcome in this process of negotiations. Thank you very much.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you, Mr. Petrovic. Thanks to the European Court of Auditors. That has been very enlightening. And I would like now to give the floor to the Commission for Further Enlightenment from the Commission side.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• “Yeah. Merci, Monsieur le commissaire. I would like to first of all, thank you for the really courageous steps that you have done in relation to services, because the Draghi report is mentioned all over the place in the European Union. But it's very difficult to see what we concretely want to use from it for our own policies. And that's true for all areas of the of the European Commission, but also for all the member states. Um, my first question, therefore, wants to touch the proposal that you are responsible for on that e declaration. Um, we know that, um, it's rather a, let's say, a pragmatic approach to fix a problem that will be complicated in the, in the Overend solution. But I don't want to, uh, hide to you that I had yesterday a very good phone call with the French minister of social affairs, and she was open in the issue, but was referring to the 2003 2004 regulation, which is stalled in the ample committee. And maybe you can enlighten us a bit on how the commission wants to proceed with this, because it could help to convince France to see more sense in the whole exercise. And you know that I care a lot about France, especially because my border is with France and every A facilitation of cross-border services will depend to a large degree within that country in the middle of Europe.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “And if we don't consider this more seriously, it will be very difficult. And what can we do there? We can only count on the council to support proposals that have already been in the system, and we have to observe. And I want to be very blunt with this, that I don't have the impression that the Council this time really has understood the message. And therefore, I would like to ask the European Commission what signs do you have that this time it's different? What proof do you have that the 28 regime this time will find the majority? What information do you have that this time on cross-border posting of workers? There will be an agreement in council. I don't see it because the declaration proposal is in the system, and the council had a common position and now it doesn't have it anymore. I mean, it doesn't make sense to to dream. We have to turn into action. And I would like to know from the European Commission where they have insights from the Council that we really can talk seriously about getting into action. Thanks.”
  EU regulation of cross-border and posted workers
• “Exactly, thank you so much Chairwoman. Unfortunately, Zala is ill and she has asked me to report back to this committee on the trialogue that took place on the eighteenth of November. As colleagues know, she's telling me this was a short but very efficient trialogue, but building on the excellent technical work done over the past weeks. The trialogue team held four inter-institutional meetings and throughout the entire process there were no major divergences between political groups or groups supported the direction of the text which has now resulted in a balanced compromise between Parliament, Commission, and Council. The agreement updates the Measuring Instruments Directive for the first time in more than twenty years. It extends EU rules to new and emerging technologies including electric vehicle charging equipment, cooling system meters, smart metering, and devices used for hydrogen and other new gases. With this update, we ensure harmonized standards across a single market. We improved device reliability, data security, and durability and like that we will be contributing to reducing market fragmentation and give industry the clarity it has long time been asking for, helping new technologies to reach out to users and consumers faster and supporting Europe's transition to a less CO2 intensive industry. For citizens, the agreement means more accurate and trustworthy measurements of household energy consumption, for example, which over time can also impact their management of energy costs and therefore me. I would like to thank sincerely Zala and Zala would like to thank sincerely all shadows, the teams, and the secretariat for the excellent cooperation. Thank you very much.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you very much, chairwoman. I will be very short. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their constructive contributions to this, um, with the Secretariat and with the advisors, we were able to make a lot of compromises. And we have also been integrating now concerns of other committees that didn't do a contribution. So we have been enlarging a bit our contribution and I think it should go well. Thank you very much.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you, Mr. Petrovic. Thanks to the European Court of Auditors. That has been very enlightening. And I would like now to give the floor to the Commission for Further Enlightenment from the Commission side.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• “Thank you very much commissioner, madam minister, colleagues. Let me tell you that I think you did a very good job this morning reminding us that if we announce that we want to change the law, that we have also to deliver on it. And I cannot hide to you that I myself am a bit frustrated that this takes too much time. You're absolutely right, if you don't like it, it's announced, we have to find majorities and we have to go for it and I take this initiative very, very positively. Thank you so much for this. Now turning to the point that this discussion this morning is about, I would like to thank Commissioner Sejournet and I would like to point out that on a lot of issues it's very complicated to show what practically the single market means and I think that's all the time a bit the problem of our discussion. It's very general and we have to try to make it very precise. So the example and I'm very grateful Commissioner that you have come forward with that proposal. Concretely it means that if you transfer a worker from one country in the European Union to another one, that this can be done easily. We don't want to deregulate but we want to make it easy. He has to go for an A1 form and at the same time his employer has to make an employment declaration on two different forms, on two different systems in twenty-seven member states every time a different way. That's not feasible. This takes too much time, it's pure bureaucracy and we should look for a system that we can merge both declarations into one so that this goes much faster. Secondly, we have been speaking also about customs. We know that we are at the moment invaded by millions per day, by millions of packages from Far East and no control is happening. We are discussing about it since months, since years. I would like to say and we have also here to go for action. Our single market merits a uniform control at its borders to make sure that no country can offer privileged access to specific goods that are dangerous. And finally, I would like to say colleagues, the International Monetary Fund may have gone a bit strongly in maybe also a bit in the wrong direction but that some services have a barrier in the European Union of one hundred ten percent means that more than the double of the price in the end has to be paid just for a service coming from another country. It's a delicate question but we have to work on it and we are looking forward to your road map. Thank you very much.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “President. Everybody in the room. The Commissioner. I think the most important thing for this competitiveness compass is that France and Germany are aligned, more or less on governmental level, to work together and reduce the burden of bureaucracy. Without that cooperation between France and Germany, we're not going to be able to reduce anything. And for that very reason, I'd like to thank you personally for that point that I want to make. A compass is a general exercise, so I won't go into the details, but there can be no doubt that this proposal that the European Commission has made is giving a clear direction that the European Union wants to wants to have an economy that can compete at world wide level, and we know that we have to change a lot to achieve this. And this doesn't put into question green policies, but it makes necessary that we look first and foremost again on our own competitiveness. And this can be done in different ways. First of all, by focusing on the laws that we are doing and on useful and less useful measures. And I am really grateful to the European Commission to have worked hard to tear down measures that were definitely not useful. I will not go into the details. I just would like to comment that I think the concentration, the focus on 25% of bureaucracy to get rid of is a bit small because we do not know what the overall assessment should be. We should fight to get rid of all measures that we do not need in Europe. Thank you so much.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Exactly. Thank you so much to the rapporteur. Our member, Salla Tomasi is unfortunately ill this week and she has asked me to come in also on her behalf. Um, I think what we can say is that this proposal is technically solid and broadly supported. Um, and there are 12 amendments that aim to improve it with practical measures. They focus on allowing sellers to notify authorities of vehicle transfers, adding safeguards to temporary registration, and ensuring both digital and physical certificates to remain available. Overall, the goal is a clearer, more proportional system that works smoothly for citizens, Since businesses and the single market. However, this is now on the registration and I take the opportunity of the European Commission being present that we still have different rules on the car use in other member states. So if there is one need for final full harmonisation, it's that the road traffic rules are harmonised. Because if there is a need in Italy to put a plate of 50 50cm with red and white bars behind a bicycle that you put on your car, and if there is a reason for this, then there is a reason all over the European Union to do so for security. And if there is no reason to do so, then Italy should stop this measure. I could plenty of other options bringing to your attention, chairwoman, but there is a need not only for the registration and for the certification of cars to have rules, but if the drivers have a driving licence that is applicable all over the European Union, that cars are registered all over the European Union. It doesn't make sense that the car traffic rules are still national. Thank you very much for your attention.”
  EU transport infrastructure integration
• “Thank you so much, chairwoman. First of all, I would like to thank our colleague Van Lanschot for a very precise and very short and a very positive outlook on this proposal, which I think is based on common sense. And therefore, I really want to congratulate all of us that we can overcome that stupid debate about deregulation and flexibilization in a context of common sense, where we need just to improve the laws based on common understanding. Because digitalization is essential as a tool to simplify and reduce reporting burdens. In this regard, I strongly welcome this omnibus proposal, which aligns a large number of legal acts, particularly those related to the NLF system, which ensures that products placed on the internal market meet high safety and harmonised standards. I would like, in particular, to welcome the fact that this omnibus targets a digitisation of compliance documents, conformity in digital format, digitisation of instructions and safety information, particularly for industrial products. This will reduce administrative costs for businesses. Ensure faster compliance checks. Now I am speaking much slower chairwoman, but it's still showing me that I should speak even slower. I don't know if there is a problem with the translation.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “Thank you so much, Nicholas Herbst. We have now a short possibility for the European Court of Auditors and the Commission to answer on this first requests, and then all our shadows will get the floor. So I give the floor first to the European Court of Auditors for the response to our two colleagues. Rapporteurs.”
  Discharge of EU institutions and agencies
• “(10:14:57 – 10:16:49): Commissioner, dear colleagues, last night, we discussed the trade agreement with The USA. We concluded a trialogue, and it's rather interesting. It's interesting that Europeans can unite much more easily if we've got The USA on the other side. The core issue today, however, is this. How do we make sure that we really generate the growth potential that we can, greater possibilities, greater opportunities here within the EU? And I think that here, the European Commission, and I'm turning commissioner Sejourney in particular, you know, you've made a number of good proposals. That's great. But we'll only get there if in this parliament, everybody is also prepared to take that necessary step forward. Sometimes maybe setting aside certain issues, you know, not creating fragmentation, creating unity, and creating rules that apply across the board. It's not easy in a parliament, but also, of course, in the council council of ministers. My colleague, mister Rappazi, is in the starting blocks and will no doubt address this too. So in the council of ministers, it gets really difficult, really tricky because you've got 27 member states. You know, they need the rules that we're talking about here, but we're talking about growth as well, 4.4%, and we need to all pull together. They need to all pull together. But it's tricky. And that's why here in this European parliament, we've said it before, I'll say it again, we can't accept a situation where our companies in the single market still have to deal with 27 different systems, different checks, different controls. We want to talk about European added value. Added value means unity. And for that, we need a common system, greater harmonization, and really, consistent application. Thank you. Thank you, mister Repassi. For president?”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Well, chairwoman, thank you very much. I was already speaking before, but I would like to mention here a growing concern that has also been expressed by my colleagues and by myself. In the last meeting, we discuss and we discuss and we ask and we discuss again. But that was not the precondition for the DMA. It was that after the passing of the law, we see action and we don't see enough action. And therefore, if we continue now to ask questions and to discuss, it's not the solution. The solution is action. And therefore I want to make a very few questions. First of all, I want to ask Lucia Benova from the European Commission when finally will be cloud considered a core platform service under the DMA, when finally AI will be integrated as a core platform service into AI into the DMA as AI, as has been shown here, is very important. Secondly, um, I would like to mention also the fact that we have large platforms. We saw it this week that there is a bit also from Amazon that are increasingly enlarging their overview in other markets. Um, and these are all not the key markets where they are, but they all can use their data to shift further. What do we do to make sure that we won't end up with four ecosystems that control everything? And therefore, my question to Ecosia would be, um, as a European search engine, what are the most persistent barriers that you still face when dealing with alphabet? Um, and I think there would be plenty of other questions, but I just want to say we need action. Thank you very much.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much. I mean, first of all, a big thanks to those that have been presenting their points of view here in that hearing. And I would like to join my colleagues that I think we can conclude already from that, that the cooperation between national authorities is not longer sufficient. But I would also like to mention here that the more we put on the on the shoulders of the European Commission, in case we are considering this, the further away from citizens the action will be, um, for a big country like like Germany or like France, because Sandro was speaking just before me. That might be something that we can overcome, but for smaller countries it may be that the intervention is not better. And so what we want to achieve here, I think, is that we improve the conditions for users, for consumers in a way that all operators respect European law and that the action of authorities is timely and it's efficient for consumers. And I am sure that we have to change something in the current system, but I'm not sure that the only solution can be that it's up to the European Commission to do it, or up to a central authority. I think we have to be responsible also, our member states that they are part of this, and that no one can blame the others for having done nothing. Everyone has to do its part, and I think that would be a very constructive approach to, in the end, really help everyone who has a problem with this. Thank you very much.”
  Jurisdiction conflicts between EU and national courts
• “President. Commissioner, dear colleagues, last night we discussed the trade agreement with the USA. We concluded a trilogue and it's rather interesting. It's interesting that Europeans can unite much more easily if we've got the USA on the other side. The core issue today, however, is this how do we make sure that we really generate the growth potential that we can? Greater possibilities, greater opportunities here within the EU. And I think that here the European Commission, and I'm turning to Commissioner Séjourné in particular. You know, you've made a number of good proposals. That's great, but we'll only get there if in this Parliament, everybody is also prepared to take that necessary step forward. Sometimes maybe setting aside certain issues, you know, not creating fragmentation, creating unity and creating rules that apply across the board. It's not easy in a parliament, but also, of course, in the council, Council of Ministers. My colleague Mr. Rapuzzi is in the starting blocks and will no doubt address this too. So in the Council of Ministers it gets really difficult, really tricky, because you've got 27 member states. You know, they need the rules that we're talking about here, but we're talking about growth as well, 4.4%. And we need to all pull together. They need to all pull together. But it's tricky. And that's why here in this European Parliament we've said it before. I'll say it again. We can't accept a situation where our companies in the single market still have to deal with 27 different systems, different checks, different controls. We want to talk about a European added value. Added value means unity. And for that we need a common system, greater harmonisation and really a consistent application. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Sorry for being late. Dear, dear colleagues, welcome to today's today's joint meeting. Buch and Conte, um, which I have the pleasure to co-chair even a bit on guitar. Um, I'm glad to welcome today Mr. Georg Petrovic, the member of the Court of Auditors, to present the opinion of the European Court of Auditors on the performance regulation for the Commission. For the Commission, I welcome Michael Erhart, who is the Director of Central Financial services in DG budget. Hello. And the performance regulation, as you know, colleagues aims to establish a single and simplified framework for budget tracking and performance, representing a shift to how it is currently done in the current MFF. And there are plenty of questions, I would even say criticisms, and that's why we are here to discuss this. And before giving the floor to you, I would like you to adopt the agenda. Um, I don't see any contradiction. Um, I would like to make the chair's announcements also together with us interpretation, web streaming and the adoption of the minutes of 26th of January, 27th and 28th of January. Everything seems to be fine and like that. I would like to give the floor immediately to the European Court of Auditors. Over to you.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget
• “Thank you so much. Uh, chairwoman. Ministers, it's a pleasure that you are here. Welcome to the Internal Market Committee. So it's our pleasure that you take the time to, to explain to us what you want to do in the next six months. And I would like to start with you, um, Caroline, because you were mentioning digital competitiveness, don't you think that we can achieve digital competitiveness only if we move on from the traditional separation of treaty powers for the European Union on the one side and for the member states on the other side, because both areas are too much intertwined, so that national sovereignty is clashing with tax incentives for for big companies in digital and national power over legislation in areas like some areas of data protection, privacy. I could dwell on that are just dysfunctional. For the message that you gave us, that you should become competitive because we are discussing just on a paper on our parliamentary group, and people are saying we should go further, but we don't manage because the competences are a bit in between. And if you. I wonder if you should not put them together to find a solution for digital competitiveness to be taken more seriously. Thank you very much.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you so much, chairwoman. Thanks to the Commission for being here today. Um, I first of all want to express my gratitude for those that lead that, uh, common AI working group in the Parliament and to Brundle, who has made his intervention here already in relation to that point, that has been mentioned before by my colleague from the PFA that we have to deal with some sort of criticism of bureaucracy. I doubt a bit because, uh, on liability, the commission has done a step and I would like to ask, um, the AI office to give me a very short assessment of my impression being wrong or being right. That, in fact they complain that the code of conduct and the other delegated acts are not yet done. And in that time of uncertainty, they cannot innovate and and move on their business as they would like to do so. In fact, they are waiting for these acts to to be done, to then have a final stable surrounding on which they can base their action. Is that the right as an impression or is it wrong? Thank you very much.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Well, I will try to be very short because it was a very constructive debate. I think it is obvious that we have a very strong interest, and it came out again that everyone can join. I believe that we are stronger together, and all the elements and examples that we have heard that went wrong, colleagues, they went wrong under national control. So if there is a problem, you should ask your member state why they don't invest enough to do it here. I think a European system can even help member states to do better. That's at least the interest that we want to do. And I agree also not only with Business Europe, but also with the European trade unions. It's not about the few euros, it's about all the time that Pascal Arimont has mentioned that you lose just to go from Germany to Luxembourg or from Luxembourg to France. And I would like to mention the data protection argument of of Mark. It's true because there are the datas of the, of the, of the working people, of the workers that have to be protected. But in that system, there are also sometimes the names of the private persons that you deliver some service to. And also their data have to be protected. But we will have a look on that. And I'm very positively inspired by our exchange. And therefore, let's hope that we make it, that we can empower national authorities to control better and the single market to work better. Thank you very much.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “As reiterated during the meeting, no platform, regardless of size or origin, is above the rules of the single market. Criticisms that the DMA disproportionately targets US companies is unfounded, as we know. But as in the public, sometimes it's misunderstood. The focus is on market power and conduct and not on nationality. In fact, the European Parliament has long been at the forefront of addressing dominance in digital space, including its 220 14 resolution calling for the separation of Google's search and commercial services. Recent developments outside the EU have only reinforced these concerns in April 2025. So only a few months ago, a federal judge of the US ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising, citing Entrenching dominance and inflating prices. This validates the urgency of the EU. Regulatory efforts like the DMA, and it also shows the urgency of the European Commission to take action now. Hence, during this meeting that was focused on the two ongoing investigations into Google, where once on Google Play steering rules, article five four of the DMA and the self referencing issue in search, which is article six five representatives of Google also presented the company's compliance initiatives, ranging from revised choice screens and billing options to changes in search, ranking and data sharing. All in all, it was a very useful meeting. I want to thank all the colleagues that have been present there, especially also the team that has been preparing that, and we are looking forward to the next meeting after the summer. Thank you so much.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Yeah. Thank you so much, chairwoman. I think it has now been clarified also by by some colleagues. I mean, the proposal didn't come from the EPP. It came from the European Commission. It has fallen into this committee because of the legal basis. And our rapporteur has started very constructively to engage on this. And we are now at a certain point where the arguments that have been put forward are on the table. It seems to me that the commission, the current commission, is still believing that this proposal is good. You may like it or may dislike it, but don't put the burden on the rapporteur for this, Commissioner McGrath has reassured me that he will make now, in the time for the postponed vote, proposals to accommodate concerns that he sees as justified ones. Um, I am not included in these negotiations, but I think that's a very helpful move from his side. I hope that he finds a way that accommodates the concern and to the point that, unfortunately, I was not there when the first speakers were speaking, um, that Katarina made Katarina Barley, that there is a bit something more than minimum harmonisation.”
  EU political integration
• “I have said, and I am grateful for your question, that the coherence between data protection, data protection, general regulation that has been done, let us say, more than ten years ago, together with the treatment of data that are not only the new oil, but like sunshine for the digital economy are needed. And we don't want to break anything down, but we want to make a full coherence between AI and Digital Services Act, but also the GDPR. And there is sometimes maybe it looks for you only minor, but it can have very deep impact on digital businesses. And I think we should look at that to make sure that they can do with one rule, all the rules that we have done. Thanks for your question.”
  Privacy & digital economy
• “Mr. president. Commissioner. Colleagues. Every year we have a new internal market strategy, it seems, and often the new strategy simply contains what the old strategy contained. So, Commissioner, I've listened to your analysis when it comes to the internal market for goods and services, and I was pleased to see there are some new things in your analysis, but nevertheless. It seems that a lot of what you're trying to do is then lost when the member states try and implement it. So I think member states really need to take their responsibilities, particularly the largest ones like France and Germany. But we also need to do something about these American tariffs, the 10%, uh, we have these 10% tariffs and we complain about those constantly, but we shouldn't forget that we have 40% tariffs in place. And these are tariffs that are inflicted by ourselves internally. So we need to find simplification for example In border regions. We have problems for workers. You have a proposal on that. And we need to ensure that all member states go along with the proposal, because otherwise the proposal isn't going to have the desired effects. European tariff policy needs to be looked at, looked at customs policy as well, because we'd be much more effective against Timo and Shine, for example, if we had just one joint customs authority. I mean, we want to fight this flood of packages coming from abroad, but it's difficult with all this fragmentation. I mean, we've been we've been working on this kind of thing for 15 years now. And then member states are always seem to find difficulties when it comes to doing things together in this area. And then a further point here relates to the digital space. I mean, the fact is that the digital space is becoming more and more important, but we still focus too much on the classic, uh, exchange of goods and services. So we need to change our focus, perhaps. Thank you very much.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “President, commissioner and colleagues. First of all, I'd like to congratulate my colleague, Mr. Salvador de Mayo, on this excellent report. I think it really, uh, puts a nail on what the problems are that we have in this area. We've had the figures 4.6 billion small parcels, and the figures that we've heard as well are something that has been brought and imported into the European Union. Um, we're talking about 12 million packages per day. Now, they tend to be carried out through the post as well. And that makes things very complicated indeed. So right now, in the short time available to me, I don't necessarily want to complain too much about our problems. Commissioner has already described the situation. Um, you have everything in the report, and what we have to do is look at how we address all these problems and how we protect our consumers in order to create a new framework. And so our proposal is together with the new A customs code to have a handling fee, so that we would have a way to do something about these small parcels that would be subject to very, very large difficulties going through the customs and the necessary checks. So a fee of €4 per parcel would hopefully help us to carry out better checks and controls and better monitoring for better security and safety.”
  EU policy on custom fee on non-EU imports
• “Thank you so much, chairwoman. Thanks for this presentation. You have been outlining that 75% of, um, dangerous or nonconforming products come from three third countries. Maybe you can dwell a bit about the level of impact of these three countries and how you would classify them, and in relation to the yellow column on refused goods. Um, and the column of inspected goods. I think it would also be very helpful if you could dwell a bit about the fact that inspected goods means all the time only one good, and only the one only good can then be refused entry. Whilst probably millions of same products that have not been inspected and have not been uh, therefore controlled in the second column will never be will have never been possibly rejected, although they they fulfil exactly the same criteria so that European customs or market surveillance problem that you have to prove for every single product. The non-conformity makes it extremely difficult, uh, to use these statistics, because in the blue column, not inspected, if I, if I remind myself, well, uh, the name of that column, There might be plenty of dangerous products that have just not been inspected or could, on the basis of one inspected product, not been blocked entry. Maybe you can speak about that quickly. Thank you very much.”
  EU policy on custom fee on non-EU imports
• “Thank you very much. I will be very short, Mr. Chairman, but I will speak more slowly. Um, I am I'm standing in favour of this file, but it will be definitely defended, I hope, at least by all my colleagues, um, in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, because it has been clear from what the commission said, it's a file that has clearly the advantages of showing to the public, but also to the member states that somehow sometimes are very doubtful on this, that we are stronger together. And therefore, I am very grateful to the Commission to have outlined what the Commission is doing and that by the 1st of June, 2026, the whole file will be operational. There have been some doubts in the Parliament about how member states really approach this, and I have to tell you that I'm not 100% sure that these doubts have now been destroyed. But we have a very good belief in what the Commission has said today, and we will go further. I would like to say that this clear crisis preparedness is something that we need, because we don't want to fall anymore in that lack of governance structure that Covid has, um, created to all of us, to the single market. We need contingency, vigilance and emergency modes and concrete tools such as lists of crisis relevant goods and coordination of procurement so that our single market can absorb shocks in an anticipated dynamic. I would like to ask the commission, on the basis of the publication of this file in the official journal in October 2024. Um, how we can manage the implementation progress and the challenges that still seem to be there.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “(14:55:14 – 14:56:52): Well, that will be a long answer for the Commissioner at the end. But, if you give me the floor now, I'm very happy to do that. First of all, as Pablo has mentioned, we are very happy to see some realignment with the Brits because Mr. Harv is coming back to the Internal Market Committee. But jokes aside, we all see at the British example how useful the single market can be, and we are therefore proud that we have it. But actions like the 1 Market, 1 Europe document seem rather a problem to understand what we do here than helping to implement it because everyone is saying, yes, yes, we are in favor of the single market, but we don't know exactly what we are talking about. It was rather by surprise that 8832004 regulation was adopted a few days before, and we hope now that the e-declaration will follow suit so that at least 2 parts of that document come to life. What we want to deal with, and I think Nikola Menshev has mentioned it, is to overcome this rivalry between member states' regulations. It's not the rivalry between the member states. They want to work together. But the problem is that it's so difficult for the Commission and for the European Union to make it better. Therefore, we won't have the next topic, which is public procurement. I will focus my question over there. Because there is one school that is saying, we need a European preference, and I think we all agree that we need to do more in Europe. We have to become more resilient. The others are saying, that's a good idea, but we have to do it in a pragmatic way. My question to you is what can we do to make this, as the Greens have been mentioning, not an exercise of deregulation but of simplification.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you so much, Anna. Thank you so much, Vice President. First of all, I'm very proud that you are here in person because after last week's declaration of the fines with some of your team members, we feel very honored that you that you take the time to come in person. I think it's important to be very courageous on these issues, because it's not easy to make acceptance or create acceptance for these decisions. And so I'm very happy that you have announced today, if I see it rightly, that hotels in Europe can now take profit of their own prices, even if on booking they have different ones, uh, displayed. That's that's great news. Um, I also would like to come back on questions that have been made by my colleagues on I. We have to be fast because the longer we wait, the more the market will be closed. And this has been mentioned by Svenja. Um, and I also would like to come back on the next cases because these are only the two first ones. Please be so kind to say a bit something on Self-preferencing in relation to Google's vertical search services into and also on steering rules in relation to Google Play, because this will be the next cases. And I kindly ask you to push your team, and we are very grateful for the excellent work to go faster than before. Thank you very much.”
  EU rules on digital competition