- 2025-09-18 “P-003619/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission Infection with bluetongue virus (BTV) is a vector-borne disease that has been present in the EU for decades. Regular introduction into and spread within the Union of different BTV serotypes has occurred due to the natural dispersion of the vectors from infected areas during that time. Possibly due to climate change, the abundance, persistence, and expansion of vectors is higher and occurs during longer periods, favouring a more efficient transmission of infection with BTV. BTV spread through insect vectors present in the packages of consignment goods such as flowers or in the means of transport cannot be excluded either. Due to the widespread presence of the disease, the favourable ecological conditions for the vectors in the EU, and the very many potential sources of BTV and introduction and spread routes, there are no suitable proportionate and effective emergency actions, in particular in flower consignments that Commission envisages to adopt. On the other hand, there is already a robust legal EU framework provided for by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 1 and subsequent delegated and implementing Commission acts to deal with animal diseases, including BTV 2 . They are based on latest science and risk assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), on expert opinions solicited during the creation of those acts, and conforming to the international standards of the World Organisation for Animal Health. 1 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj. 2 https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-diseases/surveillance-eradication-programmes-and-disease-freestatus/bluetongue_en.”
Animal diseases prevention and management in the EU
- 2025-06-11 “E-002332/2025 Answer given by Ms Šuica on behalf of the European Commission Family policies and policies to boost birth rates remain under the competence of Member States. The Commission put forward a wide range of initiatives, tools and funding opportunities within the Demography Toolbox 1 , notably to help Member States create favourable conditions for people to pursue their life and family aspirations. The implementation of the Toolbox is a priority for this Commission, along with support measures on the labour market, pensions, health systems, long-term care provision and territorial cohesion. These measures address the demographic challenge with a long-term restructuring and adaptation of socio-economic and territorial systems, rather than aiming for explicit population targets. To date there are no examples of government policies that have directly and effectively managed to curb the decline in birth rates. EU actions to address demographic challenges include initiatives 2 to mitigate the shrinking of the labour force 3 and preserve territorial cohesion in regions particularly affected by demographic decline 4 . These policies are supported by the EU Cohesion Policy, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund (JTF). Moreover, demographic change puts additional pressure on the sustainability of social systems, including pension systems. In this context, the Savings and Investments Union strategy announced measures to support further uptake of supplementary pension schemes. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/publications/communication-demographic-change-europe-toolbox-action_en.; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52023DC0577. 2 The Work-Life Balance Directive, the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, the Council Recommendation on the revision of the Barcelona targets on early childhood education and care (ECEC). 3 The EU Action Plan for Labour and Skills Shortages and the Youth Guarantee. 4 The Rural Pact, the Rural Action Plan and the Talent Booster Mechanism.”
Support for families · EU competences on demographic policy · EU policy on aging workforce and pensions
- 2025-06-11 “E-002334/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission Nitrous oxide can lawfully be placed on the market as a food additive 1 and is an industrial chemical 2 . Recently, the Commission adopted a delegated act 3 under the Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) 4 subjecting by 1 February 2027 nitrous oxide to a harmonised classification and labelling as toxic for human reproduction and the nervous system. Following this classification, it is planned to update an existing restriction prohibiting the placing on the market and use for the general public under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation 5 to include nitrous oxide within its scope. This is not targeted at the use of the substance as a drug. When nitrous oxide is classified as a medicinal product, any issue related to its inappropriate or off-label use shall be reported as misuse through the national pharmacovigilance system 6 . As regards the illicit drugs framework, the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) follows the developments and provides guidance related to nitrous oxide in the European drug market 7 . However, nitrous oxide does not fall under the definition of ‘drug’ within Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA 8 on combating drug trafficking. 1 According to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives, http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1333/2025-04-23. 2 Subject to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC (REACH Regulation), http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1907/2025-04-22, and Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (CLP Regulation), http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1272/2025-02-01. 3 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1222 of 2 April 2025 amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the harmonised classification and labelling of certain substances, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2025/1222. 4 https://publications.europa.eu/resource/cellar/e2325a32-040a-11f0-9503-01aa75ed71a1.0021.02/DOC_2. 5 Entry 30 of Annex XVII of REACH, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02006R1907-20250422. 6 This obligation is in accordance with the Article 102 of Directive 2001/83/EC, https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/83/oj/eng , and the Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP) guidelines VI, which rule that Member States take all appropriate measures to encourage the reporting of suspected adverse reactions, including those arising from misuse, ensuring the continued safety monitoring of medicinal products. 7 See EU Drugs Agency’s 2025 European Drug Report, https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/european-drugreport/2025_en and Report on the Recreational use of nitrous oxide – a growing concern for Europe (2022), https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/rapid-communication/recreational-use-nitrous-oxide-growing-concerneurope_en. 8 Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA of 25 October 2004 laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking, https://eurlex.europa.eu/eli/dec_framw/2004/757/oj/eng.”
Cannabis consumption · EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
- 2025-06-11 “E-002333/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The EU copyright law provides performers, with exclusive rights to authorise or prohibit the fixation of their performances. This may include dubbing actors. At the moment, the Commission does not plan to regulate the use of automated artificial intelligence (AI) dubbing. At the same time, it is important that users know whether content is AI-generated in order to allow them to make more informed decisions how to interact with or interpret that content. Therefore, the Artificial Intelligence Act 1 sets out transparency obligations for AI systems that generate or manipulate content, including artistic content and deepfakes. These obligations will apply from 2 August 2026. Specifically, providers of AI systems (including generalpurpose AI systems) generating synthetic audio, image, video or text content shall ensure that the outputs of the AI system are marked in a machine-readable format and are detectable as artificially generated or manipulated. Those rules aim at protecting the integrity and trust in the information ecosystem and mitigate inter alia the risk of impersonation. To keep ensuring alignment of this technology with the EU’s priorities, the Commission, in addition to the forthcoming Apply AI Strategy, will develop an AI strategy for Cultural and Creative Sectors 2 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0165.”
EU and national cultural identities
- 2025-02-21 “E-000807/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU has so far imposed 16 packages of massive and unprecedented restrictive measures in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. EU sanctions have had a major effect on Russia’s economy, putting its supply chains under significant strain. By closing down sources of essential revenue and access to critical goods and technologies, these measures have made it costlier and more difficult for Russia to wage war. The package of sanctions adopted on 24 February 2025 continues targeting important sectors of the Russian economy and the Russian Government’s means of revenue generation. The EU has notably imposed a port access ban and a ban on the provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport on 74 additional non-EU tankers that are part of Putin’s shadow fleet, circumventing the oil price cap and supporting Russia’s energy sector. A total of 153 vessels are now designated by the EU. Those measures have an important impact in curtailing the activities of the shadow fleet and reducing energy shipping capacities available to Russia. The EU will continue to work with Member States and partners to further close related networks. The EU has also targeted a number of systemically important sectors of Russia, including energy, trade, transport and infrastructure, such as through a transaction ban on Russian airports and ports used to support Russia’s war efforts or circumvent EU sanctions. In addition, to further restrict Russia’s access to revenue, the EU has added primary aluminium to the list of goods subject to a prohibition for their purchase, import or transfer, directly or indirectly into the EU, if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia. The scope of this ban therefore goes beyond import to the EU.”
EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
- 2025-02-21 “E-000806/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission The Commission recognises that cardiovascular diseases pose a significant impact on millions of people, society and health systems in the EU. One of the priorities of the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare is preventive health 1 . The ‘Healthier Together’ initiative 2 provides the strategic framework to support Member States in addressing non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases. The Commission has started to develop an ambitious and robust European Cardiovascular Health Plan 3 on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and related risk factors, such as unhealthy diets. This will build on ongoing work funded via the EU4Health programme 4 , such as the joint actions JACARDI 5 on cardiovascular health and PreventNCD 6 on risk factors, including diets high in salt. The Commission works together with the Member States, under the Expert Group on Public Health, on non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. The Council Conclusions on improving cardiovascular health 7 , highlight a strong political commitment of the Member States in addressing cardiovascular diseases. The Commission also collaborates with the World Health Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/b628b5a2-ac1e-4b9c-bbdd35b82da0ac6b_en?filename=mission-letter-varhelyi.pdf 2 https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/healthier-together-eu-non-communicable-diseasesinitiative_en 3 https://health.ec.europa.eu/non-communicable-diseases/expert-group-public-health_en 4 https://health.ec.europa.eu/funding/eu4health-programme-2021-2027-vision-healthier-european-union_en 5 https://jacardi.eu/ 6 https://www.preventncd.eu/ 7 https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15315-2024-INIT/en/pdf”
EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.) · Nutrition
- 2025-02-21 “E-000808/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission 1. The EU addresses drug trafficking through the current EU Drugs Strategy 1 and Action Plan 2021-2025 2 , focusing on reducing the supply, demand and harm related to drugs. Increasing evidence-based targeted prevention interventions for young people is a priority. The EU roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime 3 further aims at strengthening international cooperation to counter the borderless aspect of drug trafficking, as well as customs and law enforcement action in major logistical hubs with the launch of an EU Ports Alliance. The Commission announced in the ProtectEU Strategy 4 that it would propose a new EU Drugs Strategy and an EU Action Plan against drug trafficking to disrupt routes and business models, as well as an EU Ports Strategy building on the EU Ports Alliance. 2. The ProtectEU Strategy proposes measures to address the recruitment of young people into organised crime, notably guidelines on the protection of minors to assist online service providers in taking appropriate measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security, in line with the Digital Services Act 5 . The latter obliges providers of very large online platforms and search engines to assess the risks that their services may have on minors and adopt risk mitigation measures. The EU will also develop an Action Plan on the Protection of Children against Crime addressing both online and offline threats. The EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 focuses on the healthy and safe development of children and young people. As part of the EU Roadmap, the 2024 EU Crime Prevention Conference facilitated the exchange of best practices against criminal recruitment of youngsters 6 . The Commission is also exploring within the EU internet forum possible action against online recruitment of youngsters, including via cooperation with private companies. 1 EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025, OJ C 102I, 24.3.2021. 2 EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025, OJ C 272, 8.7.2021. 3 COM/2023/641 final. 4 COM(2025) 148 final. 5 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act), OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1–102. 6 https://www.eucpn.org/events/ecpc2024”
EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters · Safety features & content control for child protection online
- 2025-02-17 “E-000710/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The investigation into the incident in Brussels on 5 February 2025 is under the competence of Belgian authorities. The Commission has not received official confirmation on the firearms used, their illegal acquisition, or their origin. The Commission adopted an EU Action plan on firearms trafficking 1 in 2020 which outlines four key priorities, including enhancing international cooperation. The Plan includes specific actions for South-East Europe including the Western Balkans region, where the Commission works closely with partner countries. All these actions are embedded in the goals of a regional Roadmap which was agreed among Western Balkans countries. The Roadmap was supported and funded by the EU 2 with a view to enhancing cooperation, improving information sharing, and strengthening law enforcement capabilities to address this serious issue. At operational level, the Commission actively participates in different actions on firearms within the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats 3 , a Member Stateled platform that brings together Member States, EU agencies and institutions and is funded by the Commission. The multidisciplinary cooperation also targets the Western Balkans. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the Commission's commitment to addressing the serious issue of firearms trafficking. In 2025, the Commission will propose common criminal law standards on illicit firearms trafficking, as well as a new EU Action Plan against firearms trafficking, which will focus on safeguarding the licit market, curtailing criminal activities, based on better intelligence and strengthening of international cooperation with a particular focus on Ukraine and the Western Balkans. 1 COM(2020) 608 final. 2 Council Decision (CFSP) 1788/2018. 3 https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/law-enforcement-cooperation/empact-fighting-crime-together_en”
EU policy on criminal justice · EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
- 2025-02-17 “E-000709/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission The Commission remains committed to addressing cancer. Europe's Beating Cancer Plan 1 , launched in 2021, aims to reduce cancer burden through prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and improving the quality of life of patients and survivors. An assessment of implementation of the Cancer Plan published on 4 February 2025 2 confirms that it is a successful and highly relevant health-in-all-policies-based initiative. It also highlights that achieving the Cancer Plan’s aims requires a major focus on continuing to implement ongoing actions. Most actions have been initiated and are ongoing. Prevention is the focus of 45% of the Plan's sub-actions. Key achievements in this area include the adoption of the Council Recommendations on vaccine-preventable cancers 3 and on smoke- and aerosol-free environments 4 in 2024. Flagships such as the European Cancer Imaging Initiative and the EU Network of Youth Cancer Survivors are now operational. The Commission is working to improve early detection of cancer through the EU Cancer Screening Scheme, promoting 90% coverage of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among girls and increasing HPV vaccination rates among boys. Furthermore, two key initiatives are planned to be launched in 2025. The fifth Edition of the European Code against Cancer aims to raise public awareness on cancer risk factors, providing people with the information and tools to make healthier choices. The EU Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres will link national cancer care structures to ensure access to high-quality care for EU citizens. 1 https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-02/eu_cancer-plan_en_0.pdf 2 https://health.ec.europa.eu/latest-updates/review-europes-beating-cancer-plan-2025-02-04_en 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C_202404259 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C_202407425”
Vaccination · EU measures on lifestyle-related behaviours (smoking, drinking, eating, etc.)
- 2025-02-17 “E-000712/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission assesses on an ongoing basis possible security concerns associated with DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) models. Open-source general-purpose AI (GPAI) models, such as DeepSeek, placed on the EU market must comply with the GPAI obligations of the EU AI Act 1 if the models present systemic risks. These include technical documentation, model evaluations, assessment and mitigation of systemic risks, and cybersecurity protection. These rules enter into application on 2 August 2025 and will ensure that GPAI models available to EU users are safe and trustworthy. Moreover, any transfer of personal data to China by DeepSeek needs to take place in compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which safeguards the fundamental right to privacy and personal data protection. The enforcement of the GDPR is the competence of the national data protection authorities in the Member States. The Commission also observes relevant developments in Member States and third countries. DeepSeek is banned on devices used in the Australian government and the Danish Parliament, while the Italian data protection authority blocked DeepSeek, as the model provider failed to comply with privacy rules. Taiwan advises against its use by government officials, and the United States are considering a government device ban. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng.”
International data transfers · Artificial Intelligence
- 2025-02-05 “E-000521/2025 Answer given by Ms Šuica on behalf of the European Commission Algeria plays a key role as a country of origin, transit, and destination of migration. Algeria is an important destination for sub-Saharan migrants, with some settling and others transiting. The EU’s financial support for programmes covering Algeria is primarily channelled through international partners rather than directly to the Algerian government. The EU continues to advocate for stronger cooperation on migration issues, including on effective readmission of Algerian nationals to all EU Member States, as well as broader migration and security matters. To address migratory pressures on the EU, the Commission is committed to deepening cooperation in a comprehensive way with Algeria through political dialogue and development cooperation. This includes reinforcing existing support for the voluntary return of subSaharan migrants from Algeria to their countries of origin, as well as further engaging Algeria on migration and security, such as border management, anti-smuggling and the readmission of Algerian nationals from the EU.”
EU-Algeria relations · EU development aid (migration conditionality) · Asylum & border control
- 2024-09-23 “P-001787/2024 Answer given by Mr Reynders on behalf of the European Commission All products made available to European consumers should be safe, irrespective of the size or type of business that offer these products. All economic operators consequently need to ensure the safety of products, and the General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) 1 does not make any exemptions for small and medium enterprises and very small enterprises (SMEs and VSEs). This is important also to ensure that consumers can trust SMEs/VSEs regarding the safety of the products they offer, which in turn is key for their growth. In addition, the GPSR provides certain product safety-specific obligations for providers of online marketplaces. As some of these obligations build on the horizontal framework of the Digital Services Act 2 , the scope of some of these obligations excludes micro/small enterprises to avoid disproportionate burdens on these actors 3 . Specific support for compliance is provided for SMEs/VSEs under the GPSR 4 . In particular, the Commission is in the process of adopting specific guidelines for economic operators, with particular regard to the needs of SMEs, including micro-enterprises, on how to fulfil their obligations. For these guidelines, the Commission is collecting and taking into account SMEs’ views. The Commission in general is required to provide general information to businesses regarding the GPSR 5 . This information will be provided on the Commission’s website and via a dedicated communication campaign by 13 December 2024. Some information is already provided in the EU Safety Gate website 6 . Member States must provide, on request and free of charge, specific information to economic operators on the implementation of the GPSR at the national level and national rules on product safety applicable to products covered by the GPSR. 1 Regulation (EU) 2023/988 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on general product safety (OJ L 135, 23.5.2023, p. 1–51). 2 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1). 3 cf. recital 57 and article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065. 4 cf. recital 41 of Regulation (EU) 2023/988. 5 Article 17 (1) Regulation (EU) 2023/988 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on general product safety (OJ L 135, 23.5.2023, p. 1–51). 6 https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate/#/screen/home”
Overall simplification of regulation in the EU (free access) · EU competences on consumer protection and product standards