Charles GOERENS

Policy topics Charles GOERENS is active on

What Charles GOERENS has said (22)

• 2026-06-29 “(18:05:46 - 18:08:41): Thank you, chair. I will speak on behalf of our renew shareholder, mister Gerens, who, unfortunately, couldn't be here today. I will read the statement from him. Thank you, Robert Beke, for this draft opinion. Overall, Rinu is very pleased with the direction of the text and welcomes its balanced approach. As this is the final year of the current MFF, it is worth remembering what European agriculture has endured over the past 6 years. Climate change, animal diseases, market instability and Russia's war against Ukraine have placed enormous pressure on our farmers who have shown remarkable resilience despite rising costs and growing uncertainty. Looking ahead, we already know that the next budget will be under pressure. We will be expected to do more with fewer resources. Yet agriculture remains a strategy sector for the European Union. It is fundamental to our force in security, competitiveness, rural vitality and strategic autonomy. 3 priorities stood quite our work. 1st, we must prepare for the future enlargement of the union. This transition must be carefully anticipated to preserve the stability of agricultural markets and ensure fair conditions for both farmers and consumers. 2nd, we need to strengthen the resilience of European agriculture. Recent outbreaks of blue tongue, African swine fever, lumpy skin disease and other animal diseases have shown that prevention is far more effective than crisis management. We, therefore, support stronger investment in preventive animal health, including vaccination, surveillance and the Tinian European preparedness mechanism to coordinate veterinary vaccines, while supporting EU production capacity. 3rd, we fully support the focus of generational renewable. However, attracting young farmers requires long term investment in people, innovation and vibrant rural communities. Finally, Renew strongly supports a robust and dedicated cap budget after 2027. We must also preserve Horizon Europe and maintain ambitious funding for climate action. Agriculture and climate are inseparable, and our budget must reflect this reality. We thank the Robert Ture once again and look forward to working together with these issues. Thank you.”
  Animal diseases prevention and management in the EU · Agricultural funding
• “Thank you. Dear colleague, during the first round, we will first take questions of Afco or DS members for two minutes each, starting with the group EPP, followed by SMD, PFA and ECR. Our guest speakers will then have eight minutes altogether to reply to the questions as instructed. Instructed in advance, the groups can decide to allocate the speaking time to one member for two minutes, or divide it between two members for one minute each. Um, I will start by giving the floor to Mr. Kunia from the EPP for two minutes.”
  EU political integration
• “President. Silicon Valley is now apparently concerned about the negative impacts of social media on their own children. So they care about their own children, but not other people's children. So why shouldn't the EU want to protect young people, parents who are not tech billionaires? We need to dismantle lies. This tsunami of disinformation, counter truths and interference in European elections, and manipulation of the opinion of European citizens. The highest political levels in the US are defending this on the grounds of freedom of speech. They're menacing, threatening EU legislators with severe consequences. And this is a fox in a hen coop or a predator in the jungle. What I call on the European Commission to do is adopt the measures which are in the existing legislation. Do not give in to these threats or blackmail.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Therefore, we have to do things smartly. The rapporteur is along the lines of the OECD that assessed for criteria assessment relevance. First, I think that we can say that, yes, the the criteria are relevant when the Commission is involved. The second involved is effectiveness when it comes to the implementation for the. Of means to achieve the objective. And if there are enough. Third. Efficacy. Correctly, and the rapporteur underscored the fact that the fourth is the most important, and that is sustainability. And I would. And I recognize what Mr. EPP said. And he said this extremely clearly. These criteria are here, and they should be they should respond to the principle of proportionality. And I hope that the rapporteur could rebound on this. I think that this would mean that we can have a differentiated approach in practice. That is common sense, in my opinion. If we do not factor in the context, and I believe that the example that I gave you shows clearly that the issue of context is extremely important. If, you know, if you have a country like Senegal that has a good starting point and then you. Or that is just another context where things are just beginning to get up and running. Thank you. That's essentially those are essentially my comment.”
  Global priorities for international development
• “Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Let me reassure you straight away. I'm not going to exceed my speaking time. I wanted to highlight something. The EU was, in fact, the first to take a decision whereby we would systematically have a connection, a link between AI and human responsibility, or indeed political responsibility. So that's an angle, if you like, on AI. And it's a priority for many of us. And it's to make sure that AI is at the service of our societies. The EU was the first to understand this, to comprehend this. The first one to be determined to legislate in this particular area, in a world, of course, where might is often seen as right. Nevertheless, we wanted to make sure. We wanted to make sure that the European Union is recognised for the fact that it had that clear sightedness and that it came forward with the legislation that we're all familiar with now and which I think sets us out everybody and in particular across the Atlantic, you know, not everybody else sees it the same way as us. It has to be said, and this is going to be a constant point of tension or test for us to maintain our legislation, to defend our legislation against attacks coming from elsewhere. You know, this is going to be constant testing of our system, and I hope that we'll be resilient enough, strong enough, and I very much hope that ethically, we will also stand strong here in this House and also in our member states. There are attacks coming from elsewhere. We need to stand firm. We shouldn't be discouraged. In fact, we should make sure that our laws, our regulations in this particular field become, if not global standards, at least international standards, when it comes to implementation. Thank you.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Thank you. Yes. This question is very important. If you build a school in a partner country, you determine the location, the terms of reference. And then the most critical point is when you give the keys of that school to the recipient. So my question is thinking about what the rapporteur said about sustainability being the most important criterion. At what point does the evaluation end? If the project ends in 2030, it's only in 2040 that you're going to be able to say whether the sustainability criterion is fulfilled. Is there still, you know, a roof on the school? Are the teachers other pupils? It's only at that point that you're going to be able to have a credible, more or less credible opinion. So how do you determine that time.”
  Global priorities for international development
• “Thank you. Chair. For those who had hoped to find a harmonious and constructive framework to work in, then I think over the last 15 minutes, you. They will be pleased. Thank you very much for this constructive approach. Second point. When we have such a file where we see the rapporteur for the budget committee taking part and the co-rapporteur for them, or for taking part in the discussion, we could not have a better situation to harness all of the expertise we have. So from the procedural point of view, I think that this is a real win for our committee to to have the input from these two valuable experts. Third point, among all of the different things mentioned, I want to mention a few points. Us aid, US aid that just started. And we're going to, over the next few months and years, figure out how far the damage goes. It's a crescendo and this decision It falls to on the shoulders of the U.S. president and the administration. And I think the concerns are clear. There will be deaths. There will be children who don't grow up in the right conditions. There will be devastating situations where, uh, together alongside other stakeholders, we are going to need to unlock and deploy funds that we have, and we really have very limited means to stand up and shoulder this responsibility. I can say here that member states have a role to play, but most of them have reduced their development budgets, and that's a completely unacceptable and runs counter to the commitments made in 2015 and indeed in 2000 during the conference in the Netherlands and Monterrey.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “I didn't know that Mr. Andrews was not going to be present today. But I can speak in my own name. We are from the same group and we share many views. So just a few remarks on the report that has been presented by our colleague, Mr. Gerking. Yes, for the most part, I endorse the majority of his remarks. The focal point is really is the text. Is the context specific enough such that we can have an exemption exemption to the commission's line as proposed? And I would say yes. By way of example, I financed myself a project to promote craftsmanship in Niger about 20 years back, and the assessment was surprising. It was relatively negative. And I had a, um, additional report and assessment. And I said to the assessor, you have a negative assessment because there are not enough results in terms of training when it comes to training of craftspeople, as the project had set forth to achieve. And I would say that the reason for this is extremely easy. We didn't take the best possible elements to have a good result at the end. At the end, we took people who were living in absolute poverty. So essentially had nothing, no basic training, nothing at the outset. And we took these people and we turned them into craftspeople. If we had taken the best people to put into the program, well, then the result would have been different.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Thank you. Chairman. I too would like to thank our three speakers for their extremely interesting and stimulating statements. We welcome the projects completed and regret failings where they have occurred. We cannot be skeptical, however. And I would like to comment on something quite specific, something that tends to be overlooked. One of you touched upon this. You talked about forced marriage and child marriages. This is a scandal, something that we see at a sweeping scale in some regions. We should not leave ourselves resigned to this forced marriage. Child marriage was handled at the European Parliament. We produced a report. I was rapporteur, it was a few years ago. And I'd like to know what the current state of play is. There are two scenarios here. Firstly, forced marriages. Child marriages. Female genital mutilation are banned in legislation in a given country, but that country does not have sufficient resources to enforce legislation. In those cases, we need to check whether the government is doing its best or not, certainly try to move the line, move things forward. Now, the other scenario is that the government in place actually authorizes forced marriage, child marriage and female genital mutilation. So I have a question for you all for the commission, in particular on the strategy it plans to roll out to put an end to these practices. We need a strategy here. We need a strategic approach. The European Union must use all Levers at its disposal. Work with UN agencies such as Unicef, the UN Development Programme. Use all institutions and structures they are in place. But someone needs to seize the initiative here to ensure that the European Union is committed to addressing this issue. We must put an end to these unacceptable practices. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I want to join those who commended the presentation that was made. I have three questions. Firstly, you stated in your presentation. That you took stock of the private sector's participation in the humanitarian front. I would like to know whether you are referring to patronage for good causes or whether it was a paid participation. I want clarification on that point. Secondly. Given that humanitarian aid is often almost always a response to a failure. And if we think that there is a higher demand and that there are fewer funds on the part of member states, I'm not talking about the commission. I'm talking about member states. What do you suggest to deal with humanitarian aid? Humanitarian policy is a question of choices. And when you have choices to make in terms of helping someone but that you don't have you have limited resources, you don't have enough resources to continue to see projects through. How will you operate and what will the criteria be to determine who will be recipients of aid and those who will no longer be recipients of humanitarian aid and. If you think about the long term, do you foresee? When it comes to humanitarian aid, do you foresee a phasing out process in certain fields? And the third question is a question regarding methodology. When I see the amounts that are allocated to public development aid. This encompasses age to developing countries. And so countries are eligible based on the fact that their developing countries. But we are also talking about welcoming refugees here. So what is the share. In terms of public development aid. What is the share allocated to European Union member states who are dealing with migration flows. And this is money that is not invested in developing countries. Thank you.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Ladies and gentlemen, it's urgent that we act. The renewal of the delivery contracts of fertilisers for the rest of the year and for the 2027 crop has become a genuine headache for the longer term. We need more robust responses. They will be vital to reduce the vulnerability of the EU and to ensure not only for fertilisers, but for other things too. We have no dependency. I think we can say that when it comes to nitrogen rich crops like soya, we're waiting for the cows to come home to do anything. And we're also got problems in that our cereals use a fertiliser that grows in the Middle East and deserts. We need to work on security of supply in the long term. So can the commission perhaps say how it intends to use the global gateway to ensure we have secure deliveries of fertilisers? If we can't produce them ourselves and then developing our own production capacity for fertilisers, we have to rethink our industrialisation policy. Faced with a US that doesn't want anything to do with this, and a China which just wants to see us struggle. So we really need to act before it's too late.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “But we really should agree on the priorities. The Global Fund should be the last priority that we give up on. The situation would get worse. So far since the 2000, we've only seen progress. So it is up to Europe to take the initiative and to make the correct decision, especially by continuing to fund this fund. The commission is behind me, knows just how important this is. Especially when it comes to increasing pledges for that. And secondly, I'd like to make the most of the commission being here to say that of course, we need to deal with the void created by the United States, but also within the tools that we have at our disposal, for example, the global gateway. Perhaps we could make that more strategic tool. That means we should move from a project based approach to a program based approach to a partnership based approach as well. Let's allow our partners in the South to create an environment within which the Global Fund can be more effective. And on that we have choices. And I think it makes sense to take a truly strategic approach by trying to focus on health to ensure that all of the initiatives are carried out. It is up to the European Union's executive to ensure that. We have one key actor from Africa here today, from the Ministry of Health, and I think we can work together to ensure that health care is better, to give hope to others and to ensure that private capital is mobilised through the global gateway gateway, for example, and so that this mobilisation of private capital can continue as well. Now, of course, you can comment on what I've just said. Thank you.”
  Global priorities for international development
• “Thank you president. Millions of people in developing countries are seeing their food rations reduced, and they fear being cut off from medicines that will help them fight against Aids, amongst other situations. That's got even more serious since US aid withdrew. These people are being condemned to death. Now we can have their voice heard as we prepare the next MFF. Here an alignment of circumstances is undermining now the solidarity that we've tried to build over the last 50 years. Let's take the Perspective. Look at the USAID withdrawal and together with the international community, make sure that we support those who have lost out through globalization. The EU must reorganize the way international solidarity is set up through official development aid. We must act despite the stupid and idiotic comments made even here in this Parliament. We must fight some of those member States who see in official development aid just one more budget adjustment variable. We must stick to our course to help the South, even if they don't get to vote for us.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Thank you. Dear colleagues, dear guests, I think we can all agree that artificial intelligence is increasingly affecting not only political communication, but also the broader electoral environment and the functioning of democratic institutions. As new technologies reduce the cost and speed at which interference can occur, they raise questions about resilience of electoral procedures, the preparedness of electoral authorities and the safeguards needed to preserve trust in democratic processes. In this context, Afco committee has selected the expert, Mrs. Ines Narciso, head of Information, Integrity and Resilience, Cyberspace Cyber Peace Institutions in Lisbon, who will address how AI is beginning to affect the organisation and administration of elections. Whether existing legal and institutional frameworks in the EU and its member states are equipped to respond to these developments, and what institutional safeguards may be required to ensure that AI strengthens, rather than undermines, democratic electoral systems. As we know, the EU has already established an important legal framework to address these challenges. This includes the Artificial Intelligence Act, which introduces the world's first comprehensive regulatory framework for AI based on a risk based approach aiming to ensure trustworthy and human centric AI while protecting fundamental rights and democratic values.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Having a positive impact. So I think we have to have a strategic approach from the EU to vis a vis the developing countries so that they can move towards sustainable development. Now there's a turning point for humanitarian aid as well. Integrating humanitarian aid into this is not a good thing in my view. I think we have to be fully impartial when it comes to humanitarian aid and keep it outside the instrument. Because the chief objective of humanitarian aid is one of the key characteristics is its independence. Now governance. We're talking about the council. So the member states, the comitology principle. It's all pointing towards the member states being in charge. They always have the last word. And the very same member states are the ones who are going to cut funds. Eu funds. You haven't even got. 25 of them still keep sticking to their initial objectives. So we have to have a an institutional shift. We have to amend this. And you may say, well, that's already written in between the lines, but I think if that's the case, then I think we should have it very clearly set out in a citation.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Thirdly, the reserve for humanitarian aid, which is different from the Ndic Global Europe. That reserve is a €595 million. To meet the expectations we've expressed. We would have to practically mobilise all of it outside of the EU for operations having to do with humanitarian aid. Fourthly, during the mid-term review, the geographical programmes for the 2024 to 2027 period were reduced, which in my opinion is a real scandal at least. Faced with the frugal nature of some of our member states, we weren't able to go any further. So our goal and the amendments that we would like to submit will be heading in the direction that the $29 18 billion laid out in the Nisi. Global Europe until the end of 2027 be mobilized. So we are faced with some significant choices that have to be made. And I would ask you or the Secretariat to let us know of the timetable of what we have to do between now and September in order to respect the budgetary procedures. I don't have that under my nose here, so I'd be grateful if you could add to that information. So that saves you a bit of time. And that also gives us opportunity to my colleagues to react to what I've said.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “I think that member states credibility must mean that they stand up to shoulder this challenge. So to to address all of these issues, when we have a budgetary deficit and when we see the reserve is practically been exhausted in the framework of the global Europe and for humanitarian action, we know that we're going to need to devote most of these funds to different catastrophes that will come forth in the coming months and years. We need other sources of financing. We're going to need to speak about debt. I asked Mr. Cicala about this. We are going to need to stand together and organize a conference on partial cancellation or full cancellation of debt in Africa. We need to hold those accountable who loan money to Africa, and it's those creditors who need to stand up and be accountable for what they've done. And then there are some member states who are really struggling and who are facing high interest rates, and they cannot survive. We need to take this seriously. China has a role to play as well. I do hope that we'll be able to start to find solutions to the different issues that have been outlined. Very are barriers. Chair, I hope that. You have followed my explanation and thank you to the Commission. Thank you to the shadow rapporteurs. And thank you above all to Anna and the Parliament services here who have been overseeing this file. And thank you to my assistants as well.”
  Debt relief for developing countries
• “Thank you very much indeed, chairman. At the very least, we could say is that we're not going to get bored in the next few months. So this is an opportunity to discuss global Europe and to take stock. Let's look at the amount. 200 billion is probably not going to be the amount that we end up with. I think you'd have to be blind to miss that point. The overall fund is shrinking, despite the fact that the global context is is rather unfavorable for development aid globally. Thinking about the United States in particular. So the first thing to note is that this instrument is going to allow us to really change direction in a spectacular way, because poverty reduction is no longer the only focal point here. And it's about development policy more widely. And we're replacing one set of objectives with a new set of objectives. So we're taking into account EU interests and third country interests. And then there's a balance to be struck. So we're taking here a turn because it's all about resolving our problems. The global gateway has a key role to play in this instrument. And it can represent an opportunity for developing countries. Yes, but let us not fall for the promise of the trickle down effect.”
  Global priorities for international development
• “My question was how you go about detecting for fraud. So let me just expand on that a bit. When the country that's a recipient of aid and its general budgetary support, if the way that country is being run could affect the management of that budget and how that money is spent, and the UN could negatively affect the aims of this money is being given for how do you detect this? Do you work very closely with the IMF, for example, which is on the ground in a lot of these countries that also, uh, Works in providing financial support. Do you work with other international institutions? It's not a criticism. I'd just like to understand a bit better how it works.”
  Conditions to access EU humanitarian aid
• “Thank you, Madam President. The committee has tabled budgetary amendments that go beyond the amount set by the Council. In parallel, the Budget Committee proposes an increase in the funds earmarked for humanitarian aid that is currently highly under-resourced. In fact, the uptick in crises around the world is a real headache for development and humanitarian Action. The withdrawal of USAID has left a $6 billion gap. Europe cannot offset an amount of that size according to the principles of communicating vessels. At best, we can reevaluate our priorities as the leading humanitarian and development player. And this, along with the few remaining countries that still uphold compassion in politics, the international coalition of the Frugals are succeeding. Alas, that means a refusal to help children, women and refugees who, without our solidarity, are doomed to demise. Let each shoulder their responsibility.”
  EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
• “Yes. Thank you to the experts who have explained the problems from their different perspectives. I think we're taking quite a short term approach in our economic general, in our stance, particularly when it comes to the plan for agriculture. We don't have any reserves at this season for fertilisers is over. And so I don't really see how the changing prices for fertiliser in May will have an impact on food this year, because fertilisers were bought last November and December. Anyone with any foresight in agriculture makes their purchases at that time. And so if we're seeing long term problems, it's that there aren't enough reserves and stocks. This we've basically got rid of all fertiliser production in the European Union. And even with sebum, we aren't able to recreate the industrial fabric in this field and we haven't had enough foresight. What makes prices rise is speculation. We haven't anticipated enough. We know. We knew that the Strait of Hormuz was a trap. It made us more vulnerable. This has been since time immemorial, basically, that we've known this. And the most absurd example was for pulses with a 19% rise. Can someone explain to me how the increased prices of nitrogen fertilizer can have an impact on the price of pulses? Because we know that pulses in themselves biologically don't really need artificial fertilizers. They stock nitrogen from the air themselves. This is a plant that is independent, does not require nitrogen fertiliser, be it soya, broad beans, peas or any other pulse pulses. Anyone who knows anything about agriculture is aware of this. They don't need to purchase nitrogen fertilizers for these crops. And so I think the problems we need to face up to now are, of course, exacerbated by the crisis of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but could be very much improved in our own policies.”
  Use of fertilisers
• “Exactly, uh, where the spending is going. What ministerial, uh, department is dealing with that? So there if there has been any kind of irregularity or fraud, I think it's easier to detect. But if we look at this in the context of general budgetary support, I think there it is more difficult. So my question to the Commission and to the Court of Auditors is what methodology do you use to see if, uh, to see if the financial interests of the EU have been negatively affected? So, uh, what degree of irregularity or fraud would you consider to be a threat to the EU's financial interests? So I know that there are political sanctions, uh, that exist when these irregularities are detected, which of course is normal from the side of the commission, but presumably also aid is suspended until there are better procedures put in place. But I think this is an issue that we don't really talk about. I certainly haven't. So I think it would be interesting to know more about the specific problem. Thank you.”
  Accounting and auditing of EU budget