Andreas SCHWAB

Policy topics Andreas SCHWAB is active on

What Andreas SCHWAB has said (80)

• 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 · Trade relations with China · Chinese clean tech competition: trade barriers and investment caps vs. open market
• 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)
• “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
• “Mr. president. The consumer agenda is a central plank of European internal market policy. And that is why, Commissioner, it is good that you said that this is the beginning of a journey and the destination should be, as Mario Draghi has said, one in which consumers play a central role and use the products and buy products that are produced here and at the same time boost demand for services regardless of where they are from Germany, Italy, France or Spain. North. South. East. West. All consumers are entitled to enjoy the same rights, and it's our responsibility to make sure that their rights are upheld. But in order for them to be able to avail themselves of these rights, the internal market has to offer more. There are various gaps which we have failed to plug, and they are all listed in the report. And something else is that lots of things sound great on paper, but often what is lacking is consistent application. All too often we see that unsafe or products which lack compliance enter the market because market surveillance doesn't work and our European Customs Authority is not yet genuinely European. So the time has come for us to give some thought as to what we can do Europe wide, to make sure that we provide products and services so that what they find online is actually compliant with European laws. The products and services are safe and that consumers can rely on those products that rely on a label. So I think that we've seen the way ahead. So we want we want harmonization of the market, but we can only do that if we have a specialized authority for market surveillance. I don't think that that's a luxury. Rather, it is absolutely essential. Thank you.”
  EU competences on consumer protection and product standards
• “I would definitely like to follow up, but not on my question, but on the answer, because Minister Brcko has been mentioning the declaration, I'm very grateful for you. I think the advantage that we are about to make is so tiny that we really should manage that all member states participate. If not, I have to tell you I would consider this also a failure of the council to bring together all the Member States. We do really the minimum to make it a common approach to protect workers. But at the same time, I think also the council has to protect the European unity on this approach. And I would kindly ask you to support us on that way.”
  EU competences on social policies
• “Thank you very much, chairwoman. Thanks for the presentation of the European Commission. And I mean, for us, it's music to our ears that there is the promise, one Europe, one market. And it's not the first time that we hear this message in this committee in some or other sort of, of wording, But unfortunately in the last years we have been seeing that we spoke a lot about what should be done, but we have been seeing too little action. Maria Grapini was referring to this. Other colleagues were referring to this. And also Axel, the question is what can we do to turn into action? And I mean, I think it's great that there is a very strong leadership inside the European Commission with Stefan Séjourné and with Ursula von der Leyen on this. But as we know, the laws are made with two institutions, and there is the council and there is the Parliament, and there are the traditionalists, like Miss Shelby, that is saying, oh, we have to do more. In fact, what we don't do enough is to look for fair market conditions across countries.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Honourable members, the Commission has the Resources and tools market investigation non-compliance procedures so the Commission could make requisite staff available to do this and will call for that. In the current budgetary process, we want to ensure that the Commission has the human resources it needs. We need to ensure that non-compliance comes with a cost. We need lines to be truly prohibitive in our resolution, our draft resolution, to be voted on tomorrow. We talk about the way Google behaves and Apple. We don't think that the fee structure is appropriate when it comes to meta and TikTok. They can manipulate the design features. We have a lot of work on our plate, a lot that the commission still needs to do, particularly when it comes to artificial intelligence. Addiction can be manipulated not just buy the market itself, but buy other tools. So let me conclude. President, Vice President, and honourable members by saying the following. We are under political pressure to roll back our legislation, but let's stand firm. We need to protect our digital sovereignty. It is not up for discussion. Thank you.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much. Chair. Colleagues, the European Union and Switzerland have talked for many years about how their Existing, uh, relationship. Um. Should be deepened. During the corona crisis. We realized that citizens, particularly those in border areas, are severely impacted by non resolved legal issues and citizens are in Switzerland should not be worse off than elsewhere. So. The Confederation has used the services of the Federal Council. There have been long negotiations, and now we have a new package of bilateral agreements that will be signed on Monday in Brussels in order to continue this close collaboration. The goal is clear. Relations with Switzerland. Swiss. Partial participation in the internal market. We want to continue those, give legal certainty and continue to work together as like minded partners. In a world that is now in turmoil. It's very necessary that we should work together. What's important? There are four points and they all relate to the European internal market. So it's very important that we should discuss these matters here in this committee. A new way of settling disputes. There is to be a dispute settlement body, which can be called in when bilateral agreements are called into question. There is to be more clarity with regard to state aid so that companies in Uh Switzerland are refused or allowed state aid in the same way as in the European Union to make competition fair. And furthermore, it should be possible for EU citizens to work in Switzerland if there are vacancies available. And, um. Fourthly, when it comes to the free movement of persons, people who have worked in Switzerland should be allowed to continue to reside there if they meet the conditions. **Andreas SCHWAB These rights and duties make it clear that what we have here is not an a la carte menu. We need a balanced framework. So the topics that I've addressed have to be solved in a way that is fair for both sides. A Swiss contribution to the Cohesion Fund will make it possible to ensure solidarity between the 27 member states and the Swiss Confederation. It's also important that we should have a dynamic framework in the future because. When a country accedes to the European Union, they have to comply with all 20, all the acquis. Now, this agreement was signed at a moment in time, but it has not been changed since. There has been a need to adapt. Differences have had to be settled. So we need to do all of that. And it's a very positive thing. And it will mean that the delegation for relations with Switzerland will play a greater role in the future because the Swiss Confederation will involve its parliament more in these talks. That's all I can say at the moment, chair. I think we found a balance between rights and duties. We have improved things for border regions, created the potential for growth, and this is all of direct benefit to citizens. I therefore think that Parliament can sign up to this agreement, despite the fact that in some areas there is a need for more discussion, such as having to announce workers for days in advance and the integrity of the internal market. It's important to have a reliable patient relationship with our neighbour. I look forward to the discussion. Thank you.”
  EU-Switzerland relations
• “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairwoman. I'm really delighted that we have the time this morning in Imco to, um, speak about the outcome of the public consultation with the European Commission on the DMA. Um, we have been for sure pushing for a stronger enforcement, for a faster enforcement. Um, and therefore, I would first of all, welcome the market investigation launched by the Commission on whether Amazon and Microsoft cloud computing services can be designed as a core platform service because cloud is key. And another market investigation on whether the current obligations under the Digital Markets Act are effective in addressing practices that limit competitiveness or are unfair in the cloud sector. These latest announcement are more than welcome, but it's regrettable that we had to wait for them quite a long time. It's widely reported that stakeholders complained that the cloud sector is characterized by strong obstacles to interoperability between cloud computing services, limited or conditioned access for business users, data tying and bundling services, and so on. But Ana chairwoman, give me the chance to add to this that other sectors are waiting for the DMA to fulfill its objectives as well. In particular, the broadcasting sector today, access to audiovisual media services on connected TVs is controlled by a handful of companies, major providers of operating systems for connected TVs, controlled access to services like viewership viewership. I have never said it before, but it's probably the correct term. Viewership, advertising and data. That's especially problematic if the gatekeepers are also designated for attack services and a search engine, as these are critical core platform services for the functioning of connected TVs.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “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
• “President, madam Vice president, dear colleagues, we had to wait four years for this fine to be applied. And in the meantime, a lot of small and medium sized enterprises in the European Union have are being faced with serious difficulties because the core business in publishing opinions and the advertising industry has been lost. So obviously we have to consider what mistakes have been made. But it is right. Madam Vice President, that a market dominant position in such a sector is something that is unacceptable for the 27 member states who make up the EU. And therefore, I should like to thank you on behalf of the EPP for taking this decision. And I think that this proposal, of course, which is based on structural measures, is indeed the right way of pushing the situation in the right direction. However, ladies and gentlemen, it is of course, also right to say that in the case of ad X by Google, we are confronted with a raft of other issues that we will need to grapple with. For example, we have to make an EU contribution to media diversity in Europe. Secondly, there is of course also the question as to how we deal with further developments in other areas where we have market dominance in the digital space and how we can react more swiftly to make sure that we don't have to wait another four years. And I would say in passing, Madam Vice President, that when it comes to AI, we really need to be able to regulate early and make sure that we don't run the kinds of risks that we have in the case of adtech. Europe has to act right now in order to secure the digital future of Europe. Thank you very much.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “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
• “Thank you so much, chairwoman. Our colleague Hendrik has already outlined for the EP that we are really delighted to see that today's meeting between president of the European Commission and Mr. Starmer is about to end with a success. That puts an end of that on that artificial separation between the UK on the one side and the European Union on the other side, and additionally tries again to look on what we can do better, also to help the consumers in the UK that today are much worse off than before. To that extent, the Brexit can also be an example of what achievements the European Union, with all the limits it has, can bring to business and to consumers. And I think we should work hard to convince our UK partners to work again more closely with the European Union. And that's the aim that we will follow on. Thank you so much.”
  EU-UK relations
• “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 very much. Chair. Colleagues, the European Union and Switzerland have talked for many years about how their Existing, uh, relationship. Um. Should be deepened. During the corona crisis. We realized that citizens, particularly those in border areas, are severely impacted by non resolved legal issues and citizens are in Switzerland should not be worse off than elsewhere. So. The Confederation has used the services of the Federal Council. There have been long negotiations, and now we have a new package of bilateral agreements that will be signed on Monday in Brussels in order to continue this close collaboration. The goal is clear. Relations with Switzerland. Swiss. Partial participation in the internal market. We want to continue those, give legal certainty and continue to work together as like minded partners. In a world that is now in turmoil. It's very necessary that we should work together. What's important? There are four points and they all relate to the European internal market. So it's very important that we should discuss these matters here in this committee. A new way of settling disputes. There is to be a dispute settlement body, which can be called in when bilateral agreements are called into question. There is to be more clarity with regard to state aid so that companies in Uh Switzerland are refused or allowed state aid in the same way as in the European Union to make competition fair. And furthermore, it should be possible for EU citizens to work in Switzerland if there are vacancies available. And, um. Fourthly, when it comes to the free movement of persons, people who have worked in Switzerland should be allowed to continue to reside there if they meet the conditions. **Andreas SCHWAB These rights and duties make it clear that what we have here is not an a la carte menu. We need a balanced framework. So the topics that I've addressed have to be solved in a way that is fair for both sides. A Swiss contribution to the Cohesion Fund will make it possible to ensure solidarity between the 27 member states and the Swiss Confederation. It's also important that we should have a dynamic framework in the future because. When a country accedes to the European Union, they have to comply with all 20, all the acquis. Now, this agreement was signed at a moment in time, but it has not been changed since. There has been a need to adapt. Differences have had to be settled. So we need to do all of that. And it's a very positive thing. And it will mean that the delegation for relations with Switzerland will play a greater role in the future because the Swiss Confederation will involve its parliament more in these talks. That's all I can say at the moment, chair. I think we found a balance between rights and duties. We have improved things for border regions, created the potential for growth, and this is all of direct benefit to citizens. I therefore think that Parliament can sign up to this agreement, despite the fact that in some areas there is a need for more discussion, such as having to announce workers for days in advance and the integrity of the internal market. It's important to have a reliable patient relationship with our neighbour. I look forward to the discussion. Thank you.”
  EU-Switzerland relations
• “Um, therefore, we will prepare that resolution that we want to put with you and our colleagues into the European Parliament's plenary, um, to vote on recommending that we strengthen enforcement and that we continue the way that is foreseen, um, and that we will continue our work reflecting what should be done more to make digital markets fair. Um, and I also think, chairwoman, that we should have a discussion about what Europe can do more to become more independent in terms of digital services. Um, there was a day. There is now in the year, every day is a special day. There was the day on, I don't know, on digital independence, something like that. I don't follow these days, honestly, but I was striking by surprise that there is also day for that. And I know that some people, they are already getting rid of some apps to make themselves more independent. And if this is possible for individuals, it's also possible for cities. There are some German cities that have already skipped services, uh, with, um, large gatekeepers. And I'm not, um, I'm not against, um, the social market economy. I just think that if we don't show a certain example, we will never get rid of anything, and therefore we should maybe also continue that debate. Maybe here. Maybe in another context. Thank you very much.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• “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
• “So this is only on broadcasting services, but the DMA enforcement on steering rules. Article 54 of the DMA. Um is also concerned because in the music, gaming and publishing industry report that these these industries report. Despite the fine issued against Apple in April 2025 for preventing app developers from steering users to cheaper offers outside the App Store, things have barely changed with Apple still imposing excessive fees on app developers. Um, and I would like to add that in particular, app developers are still complaining about the amount of fees charged by this gatekeeper the so-called core technology fee of 5% to be paid permanently, in addition to the 2% initial acquisition fee for the first six months and 13% service fee for being there. All this resulting in the cost of using Apple's alternative payment framework being higher than the pre DMA, and these conditions are therefore not an improvement, but a more negative situation and all over. Um, we have also been writing to the commission that AI um boxes in the services of existing gatekeepers should be considered as a core platform service and as the Commission has to make as to make a proposal for this as by way of delegated legislation. It's high time also to explain to us here why this still has not happened. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “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 a majority? What information do you have that at 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
• “(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
• “Chairwoman, um, we have been in Buenos Aires and Argentina from the 26th to the 13th of May. The Inca delegation visited a big number of local players. Uh, key policy areas were covered, like digital markets, consumer protection, e-commerce, customs and product standardization. The delegation engaged in high level discussions with Argentinian public authorities. Uh, we were touching all the time concerns of common interest, especially the Mercosur agreement and all regulatory consequences that this may have a regulatory bodies where major companies like MercadoLibre or global and consumer and global organizations as well. Throughout the mission, we explore the opportunity for regulatory alignment and policy exchange, notably in areas such as digital services, AI, and product safety. I can conclude that it was a very interesting meeting, especially for me, meeting the Argentinian authority for competition. That has also taken the view that they have to look further into the details of digital markets. But as well as the Institute for standardization, where we discussed about challenges of regulating digital markets and other product standards. This to conclude that my colleagues and I think we are six altogether, have had a very important impression and also experience, and we believe that there is a chance for further talks on the Mercosur agreement that can enrich the internal market of the European Union and be beneficial, therefore, for both of us. Thank you very much, gentlemen.”
  Trade relations with Mercosur
• “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. Chair. Colleagues, the European Union and Switzerland have talked for many years about how their Existing, uh, relationship. Um. Should be deepened. During the corona crisis. We realized that citizens, particularly those in border areas, are severely impacted by non resolved legal issues and citizens are in Switzerland should not be worse off than elsewhere. So. The Confederation has used the services of the Federal Council. There have been long negotiations, and now we have a new package of bilateral agreements that will be signed on Monday in Brussels in order to continue this close collaboration. The goal is clear. Relations with Switzerland. Swiss. Partial participation in the internal market. We want to continue those, give legal certainty and continue to work together as like minded partners. In a world that is now in turmoil. It's very necessary that we should work together. What's important? There are four points and they all relate to the European internal market. So it's very important that we should discuss these matters here in this committee. A new way of settling disputes. There is to be a dispute settlement body, which can be called in when bilateral agreements are called into question. There is to be more clarity with regard to state aid so that companies in Uh Switzerland are refused or allowed state aid in the same way as in the European Union to make competition fair. And furthermore, it should be possible for EU citizens to work in Switzerland if there are vacancies available. And, um. Fourthly, when it comes to the free movement of persons, people who have worked in Switzerland should be allowed to continue to reside there if they meet the conditions. **Andreas SCHWAB These rights and duties make it clear that what we have here is not an a la carte menu. We need a balanced framework. So the topics that I've addressed have to be solved in a way that is fair for both sides. A Swiss contribution to the Cohesion Fund will make it possible to ensure solidarity between the 27 member states and the Swiss Confederation. It's also important that we should have a dynamic framework in the future because. When a country accedes to the European Union, they have to comply with all 20, all the acquis. Now, this agreement was signed at a moment in time, but it has not been changed since. There has been a need to adapt. Differences have had to be settled. So we need to do all of that. And it's a very positive thing. And it will mean that the delegation for relations with Switzerland will play a greater role in the future because the Swiss Confederation will involve its parliament more in these talks. That's all I can say at the moment, chair. I think we found a balance between rights and duties. We have improved things for border regions, created the potential for growth, and this is all of direct benefit to citizens. I therefore think that Parliament can sign up to this agreement, despite the fact that in some areas there is a need for more discussion, such as having to announce workers for days in advance and the integrity of the internal market. It's important to have a reliable patient relationship with our neighbour. I look forward to the discussion. Thank you.”
  EU-Switzerland relations
• “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
• “We also have to deal with the fact that the member states since 20 years, because we have to admit it, it's in their part of sovereignty. It's in their part of competences. Competencies didn't care that much about making this a bit easier, but we're doing. As always, and didn't want to change. And therefore I think we should be so courageous to tell them, listen, the member states, whatever you need, we will be very happy to satisfy you with the informations. But just to tell us that the only thing you want to have is flexibility. But you don't say to us, what do you exactly need and why? That's a bit superficial. And therefore I would kindly ask my colleagues to help this position of the Parliament for a strong negotiation tool with the Council in a way to make it, in the end, a tool where all Member States want to participate. The control of work conditions and the remuneration can be ensured, and more flexibility and a bit less of red tape is ensured for companies, especially in regions like the one of Mark Angel or of mine, or also of Pascal, because I think in the north of Sweden it's a bit easier on this. In my region, it's a bit more difficult. So I'm looking forward for a very constructive work. And I have to admit to you, chairwoman, for me, it's the first time that I do a co-rapporteur and therefore I'm still a bit nervous.”
  EU regulation of cross-border and posted workers
• “So it's to be very short. It's not only, in that case a mess, it's in general a mess. But I don't want to underestimate. And I think you were alluding already that for sure. There are also fears and serious concerns of the authorities that feel, uh, without any tools, um, to make sure that safety at work, uh, that fair remuneration can be done. And that's definitely something that links us. We don't want to put in danger at all. Uh, fair remuneration, control of work and, um, all the elements around that. And I was very happy that you said that it's important that all member states join this system. That's also our commitment in the EPP. Um, because what we are seeing is that although member states are at the moment totally independent, They are losing control as well. So a European system that should be, at least from my point of view, the message a European system can even help to fight against the bad guys in cross-border posting, because we have a European system that oversees everything. It not leaves the member states only alone. And for that reason, um, I would love a mandatory system. Um, at least in the long run. I know that this will be very difficult also because I see the situation in council. But what we can do therefore now to make sure that all member States join, we should try to do it. And I can only tell you that I'm very open minded on everything. Also on flexibility of Member states. But I think we not only have to deal with these factual approach issues that I was mentioning and that you were mentioning.”
  EU regulation of cross-border and posted workers
• “Thank you so much, chairwoman, and I'm grateful that I can speak first, although I came a bit later because unfortunately I have a meeting to go. So I asked my colleagues to, um, forgive me for this. First of all, I would like to ask a question to the French representative here who has been reporting about the French measures in relation to the recent incidents with Shane. I know that it's not an easy cooperation task, but I think here we are all together as representatives of the citizens that see what's happening and that observe that it's not going well. So we can only, as a Parliament ask the questions that should find the right answers. And therefore, my first question to the representative of the French government is as to whether she can confirm that the French government in Council last week has also with your under your chairmanship, Mr. president refused to create a common cloud for the data of the customs authorities so that the tracing of products coming into the European Union could be alleviated because French citizens should not believe that this is a problem of the European Union only it's a problem of the member states and France, as 26 other countries have been refusing to create such a common information cloud to trace data.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• “Thank you. President. Vice president, colleagues, let me start by thanking the rapporteur for the excellent cooperation on the report, which this year has a particularly particular emphasis on the geopolitical context, the issue of regulations I, which are shaking certainties. And in some states, the incalculable nature of the situation is becoming a principal. But we're not scared. We think also new opportunities for Europe will arise. A competition policy will be of benefit to consumers worldwide, and innovation can arise where dominant players don't exert total power. By encouraging the markets, the EU becomes a net winner because many workers and investment will be attracted to Europe at this time because they recognize the strength and stability of our institutions. The Competitiveness Report rightly points out that the competition law has to reflect the increasing complexity of the environment, and to improve the competitiveness of the EU. Politics at the national and European level need to play their role in order to secure our international competitiveness. That requires courage and investment incentives for new technology by applying competition law. We have to recognize that it is the commission that is responsible for ensuring that outdated modes of government that apply to conventional business apply to the new markets. We need to recognize the hazards that exist and be confident in applying our common law. Thank you.”
  EU Competition policy
• “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 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.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “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
• “Well, I wanna be very short. I think it has been useful to listen to the commission today and to exchange. I think realism matters. We have a problem with the uptake of cars in the market because those people that we are thinking about, they are rather not buying a new car, but they are normally generally buying rather secondhand cars. And therefore, we have really to understand the market logics and to adapt our climate goals to the market logics. But I consider the argument that has been just done by 1 of the co rapporteurs is striking that for sure, the utility factor is placed here because the CO2 emission report will not make it easy to be adapting to that willingness in CO2 emission regulation. Therefore, we could do it here much faster. But for sure, it has to correspond to real achievements and not only to a presumed number. So I think we can work a lot on issues that can bring us together. In the end, Mr. Chairman, there will be, for sure, nonetheless, a vote, and I hope that we can make that a good success. Thank you very much.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• “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
• “Exactly. I have the pleasure to replace Regina Doherty. She is also from Ireland. Um, and therefore, she could have made much better comments on all the towns that have been mentioned in the introduction of our rapporteur. Uh, but she apologises for being unable to present here her position as a shadow rapporteur. Today we are welcoming as an MEP this proposal from the commission, and we are also grateful for the work of the rapporteur. It's an important opportunity for Imco to feed into a process that will hopefully help to reduce burdens on businesses by removing the cliff edge that occurs when a small and medium enterprise becomes a mid-cap. We should take this opportunity to ensure that the benefits are available as widely as possible. Europe is facing lots of competitive challenges at this moment. We need to do what we can to help our businesses. This is a straightforward proposal, and we are grateful that the EPP amendments have been taken into account by the rapporteur. We think there is more that can be done to make the proposal more effective and proportionate, and we hope this can be taken into account in the negotiations that are about to happen. Therefore, Regina, our shadow rapporteur that cannot be with us today, says that we should ensure that definitions are clearly set out and incorporated into legislation and that we also need to introduce a review mechanism to ensure that future changes can be taken into account for the benefits of mid-caps. And finally, it's also important that the European Parliament should be given every opportunity to feed into the process now and in the future. And that's what she wants to fight for, for the EPP in that process. And we look forward for her to come back for the next negotiations. Thank you very much.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “This is surely something that could be fixed. Um, I think as a general line there is a justified element to say third, countries that want to impact on public opinion on politicians in the European Union should be asked for transparency. And if countries themselves want to go further, there is no negative side on it and it would also be possible for the European Union to go further. But there is no proposal from the European Commission to go further. Also, the legal basis would be at stake then. Therefore, let's have a look on the proposal as the Commission has done it. Let's see what the Commission can help us to do to improve it, so that we can accommodate the justified concerns like minimum harmonisation, like no negative impact on NGOs. And let's avoid to make stupid stories that our rapporteur is looking for some sort of majorities. I know her she is working on the facts to try to find a compromise here, and she has my full support. Thank you very much.”
  Transparency requirements for interest groups
• “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, Mr. Chairman and Mr. Chairwoman, sorry for this. Thank you very much. I would like to report on two meetings, because we are hurrying up with the last two gatekeepers that we had to hear. Um, as we want to prepare the Parliament's position, the position of this committee, um, for the possible review of the DMA in May, we had on secondary 2nd of February a meeting on Microsoft, a gatekeeper that we haven't heard yet. And yesterday we had a hearing on ByteDance in relation to the social media platform TikTok. And both meetings were highly interesting because both gatekeepers have not to many core platform services. Um, that was a bit the problem with Google, because there were so many core platform services that it was very difficult in a two hours hearing to go through all of them here with ByteDance and with Microsoft, it was highly interesting and I can not share the comment of my colleague Kristal. I think for the the deep questions that we were addressing, there were always colleagues that were attending. We had always a great discussion and a very interesting exchange. And I would like to tell you that we see still a lot of need to implement the DMA as it stands now further, because unfortunately, by far it's not yet done the work that the law has been putting in the hands of the European Commission to be implemented.”
  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 political integration
• “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
• “President. Vice president. Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Mario Draghi. In his report, he makes it very, very clear that, uh. Uh, in view of GNP, um, uh, uh, what we want to do is we want to create a situation for citizens that is acceptable. That is one where they can survive well and work well. Uh, now, Mario Draghi is very clear. He wants very many different things innovation, strengthening the internal market and security, decarbonisation. But I wanted to focus on internal market and innovation. That's what I want to focus on as far as internal market. We find ourselves in a situation where there's great, uh, agreement. Some want to, Some are speaking about bureaucracy and deregulation. And just as our colleague from the liberals said that that people really feel handicapped right now because the conditions of the commission, well, they go into such detail that their impediments that are created. So I think it's very important to understand that in the future, civil servants of the Commission have to state clearly what the information requirement is, what the document requirement is, what how can we reduce the reporting requirement in in a way that would not cause problems for consumers and for users as well? I think it has to be very, very clear that this can be achieved through creating a simplification, through better omnibus legislation. The Council has important responsibilities and this particular responsibilities. Unfortunately, the council doesn't meet them. Uh, the on the electronic funds. For example, I think it's very, very interesting indeed. But the council has its own positioning on this particular issue that is presented to the parliament. And it's it's sent it right back. It's a proposition that came from the Parliament. So please tell the civil servants of 27 member states that it's not enough to say that what's not good and what's not there, or what has to be gotten rid of. It's important to work together.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• “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
• “Thank you so much, colleague, for a brilliant question, and I'm sure that you have been already exchanging with your colleague from the Social Democrats who is sitting next to you, who is also in government with us. I think we can rely on Parliament's position that is very clear and has very clearly said that we don't believe that this proposal is the way forward because the, the, the secrecy of, of private writing in the past has been a concept that we have been defending together and we will also uphold it in the future, in the digital future. However, I also think that we share here altogether that the protection of children in digital terms is a real challenge that we have to take very seriously and therefore we have to strike the right balance. The secrecy of personal information has to be kept, but at the same time, authorities have to have the power to investigate seriously.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “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 so much, chairwoman. Commissioner, you have now been answering to my colleague Vanlandschoot that you have full trust in DG comp to enforce the DMA. And now you have said, on the request of Laura, that you are strong, but all the questions that are here are done in a context of Unclarity. Why the DMA, as it stands, is not enforced as has been foreseen within the two year frame. So may I kindly ask you to clarify what you wanted to say? With that you have full trust, even though into the into the services. Even though we know that the DMA is foreseeing a two year period. Thank you very much.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “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
• “Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, I'd like to thank the commission for this initiative. I think it's an important step. Um, and it was high time for it. Um, the there's a multiplicity of declarations and specifications. Um, and it's a good idea to make everything available digitally for the consumer, The Commission has, I'm sure, noted that all groups are positively disposed towards this. This hasn't always been the case. This will help us, make us make progress and the council is prepared to move on this. I'm shadow for the EPP Group. I would like to thank the rapporteur, and I think it's the idea of reaching a solution quickly is a very good one when it comes to specifications. I would agree with my Liberal colleague. I won't repeat everything that's been said, but I would just like to point out that in many areas. There are additional pointless costs due to particular language requirements when it comes to product composition. I think we could simplify things there. It's not very helpful if you have 27 language versions on a product. I think in many cases we could take a step further. I know for older people who aren't well acquainted with the digital world, they'll need some time to adapt. It may not be simple for them, but technology is well advanced and most of the population do use digital services. So I think we can take this step and I look forward to cooperation with my colleagues. Thank you.”
  Food labelling harmonisation at EU level
• “Thank you very much, chairwoman. Thanks for the presentation of the European Commission. And I mean, for us, it's music to our ears that there is the promise, one Europe, one market. And it's not the first time that we hear this message in this committee in some or other sort of, of wording, but unfortunately, in the last years we have been seeing that we spoke a lot about what should be done, but we have been seeing too little action. Maria Grapini was referring to this. Other colleagues were referring to this. And also, Axel, the question is what can we do to turn into action? And I mean, I think it's great that there is a very strong leadership inside the European Commission with Stefan Séjourné and with Ursula von der Leyen on this. But as we know, the laws are made with two institutions, and there is the council and there is the Parliament, and there are the traditionalists, like Miss Shelby, that is saying, oh, we have to do more. In fact, what we don't do enough is to look for fair market conditions across countries. And if we don't consider this more seriously, it will be very difficult.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “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
• “President, colleagues, first of all, I would like to congratulate the European Commission because this is a very good proposal. It's an overarching proposal which brings together a large number of proposals for change, which are definitely leading in the right direction. It's completely clear that we face serious competitive challenges from around the globe, and we need talent in our firms, and we need innovation and we need greater productivity. All this must be on a sustainable basis, but it's very important that decisions can be taken on the ground in the companies and enterprises themselves, and we therefore need to help them to that end. There's been a lot of criticism here in this Parliament, and I think, Madam Commissioner, this means that you actually struck the right note, because if you get criticism from both sides of the hemicycle, the debate will land in the middle. The socialists and the Greens have been, I think, misconceived in their approach to this evening in the debate. It isn't just a question of deregulation for its own sake, it's a question of freeing up industry in order to have a bit more of a bit more self-direction and a bit less of a burden of compliance on an annual basis. So it's a question of placing a bit more trust in the firms themselves so that they comply with all the compliance requirements, initially voluntarily, but then subsequently the legislation will kick in, but hopefully it will be in a less burdensome way. It's very important that we exempt some of the smaller companies because this is otherwise going to be detrimental to them. And so I think Mario Draghi set out a very good roadmap. We need to stick to that. We need to focus on the prize in the medium term. And this is going to lead us to greater competitiveness. Thank you very much.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU