Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR

Policy topics Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR is active on

What Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR has said (80)

• 2026-07-16 “(09:59:31 - 10:01:42): I'd add up to some of the concerns that have already been expressed because it's only obvious that the aggression the war of aggression by Putin's Russia against Ukraine has changed completely the state of mind of the European Union. For the 1st time ever, we are talking about European defense industry and the joint procurement and the joint action and implementation to war mongering of the autonomic strategy doctrine. But the point is that it has also changed, obviously, the very nature of war itself. It would have been unthinkable when I was a youngster that war would be like this, drones launched by countries waging war against each other and that's what war is about now. Drongs, which is amend mend war tools. The point is 1st, in your analysis, is there any chance that drones capabilities are to be developed by individual member states as it has been the case of Ukraine so far? Or should it be a joint strategy altogether of the European Union in all when it comes to building up our drone capabilities? And 2nd, I add up to the concern raised by drones going on their own, not subject to human oversight. So drones going out of control. What what what is what is the prospect of something like it happening? I mean, we we we we we saw when we were kids movies about nukes, nuclear bombs going rogue, out of control? Is there a possibility of drones going rogue and out of control? What's going to be done about it? Thank you.”
  Artificial Intelligence for military purposes
• 2026-07-16 “(11:51:12 - 11:53:12): Thank you, chair. I, of course, of course, I do share many of the points that have already been made, the concerns that have been expressed. But the point I'm making is precisely about the nature of this special committee, Democracy Shield. Because when we put in place a special committee, the whole point is delivering conclusions in writing, which are a call for action for the commission. So when it comes to enlargement, we should bear in mind that certainly many of us are convinced that it's not only about fulfilling the requirements of internal market in the so called individually merit based exam for every individual candidate for the accession. It's also about, of course, the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights framework, which is binding latest ruling of the European Court of Justice, more than ever before, article 2 values of the EU. They are binding law for the member states and for the candidates to be. So it's a requirement, but it should also be a requirement I would like you to assess on the matter. The fulfillment of every point being made by the conclusions which are to be delivered by this committee of US Democracy Shield because they should be also binding, and the commission should make sure that they comply with. They should also be binding for the candidates to be for the new members of the European Union 1 by 1. They should also incorporate the lessons learned of our assessment of the threats against the European idea of democracy, which is in writing in article 2, and particularly of the instruments and tools that every individual member state should put in place so that we can all be more resilient and protect the European of democracy altogether in a more effective way in the foreseeable future. Thank you.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• 2026-07-13 “(17:37:09 - 17:38:19): Thank you, chair. I really appreciate it, and I'll make it real fast. First of all, it's obvious that the numbers of terrorist-related arrests are on the rise all across Europe, but the numbers vary dramatically according to member states. Spain is at the forefront. According to your analysis, does it have to do with the efficiency of resources invested or expertise or anything else that is worth noticing? Second, as to the use of online technologies in order to recruit or commit criminal offenses, you know that there is a wide debate in the European Union about the balance to be struck between privacy, confidentiality, and crime law enforcement. According to your analysis, is there anything that could be improved when it comes to pieces of legislation? We're working on Charles as always online. Will there be relevant new legislation to remove content when it comes to terrorist criminal offenses? Thank you.”
  Privacy & law enforcement
• 2026-07-13 “(15:56:57 - 15:58:54): Thank you. Minister Burn minister Burn, I'm here at your left at your left. 1st of all, wish you well, Irish presidency. 53 years in the union, story of success. So every success in this semester of yours. But I will raise 4 questions you have not addressed yet considering that you declined talking about the Migration or Asylum Pact, which is some other colleague business, and you touched upon rule of law. I would dwell on, 1st, a file which is still pending or being unblocked by the council. The EU digital travel credential, which is to make faster and smoother external border crosser crossing of the European citizens when accessing to the EU and exiting the EU. The 2nd is equal treatment directive, which has been blocked by the council for more than 10 years now, and it's impossible to ignore or to escape at least the question, what is your feeling about the equal treatment directive? Then 3rd, you are not part of European Parliament prosecutor's office, but you have you Irish government, you have made the point that you would be willing to be cooperative and to contemplate, to foresee the possibility of accessing the European public prosecutor's office too. And the final point I would like you to address is a file that is pending from an Irish commissioner in the European Commission, which is the completion of the negotiation to access the European Convention of Human Rights pending 15 years now from accomplishment considering that the treaty of Lisbon foresees a mandate for the European Union to be a part of European Convention of Human Rights.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination · Jurisdiction conflicts between EU and national courts
• 2026-07-09 “Comisario Commissioner, when it comes to considerations on the CFP, I would like to talk about ultra peripheral regions like the Canaries. Small scale fishing makes an important contribution to the economy and to jobs, but also to our culture over and beyond sustainability and of course, food security. Craft fishermen require measures based not just on input from the sector, but also from the regional authorities who've been making perfectly reasonable charges regarding the enormous burden of rules on landing and in particular, the digital documents. This is a real burden for small fishermen, and we have to ensure that in the next MFF. We have a clear position on this. It's quite unacceptable. The current situation, the fact that the fisheries sector is being merged with national policies leads to fishermen being ignored. We ignore the legal specificity they need support, financial and otherwise, so as to ensure the sector recovers.”
  Funding for fisheries and aquaculture
• 2026-07-09 “(11:49:04 - 11:49:58): Thank you, madam president. Commissioner. This 28th regime is an ambitious goal creating harmonized rules through the constitution, governance, and capital structures of for innovative businesses. And this is consistent with what the letter and Draghi reports wanted see and also doing it via a regulation. So he needs a qualified majority in council. All of this is good. The parliament supports it, clearly. And we also want to actually lead this initiative, but we're aware of your difficulties because we'll be doing this in conjunction with a lack of fiscal harmonization, which continues to undermine our competitiveness and also harmonization of labor laws. And we're okay. We're harmonizing the business register, but nevertheless, there are 27 different models of business register across the European Union. So this is a plausible model, but there will be difficulties. And, we need to ensure that the legislative result is up to the vision that we have of this. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• 2026-07-08 “(14:37:57 - 14:39:07): Thank you, president Commissario dos Anos. The Commissioner, 2 years into the parliament legislature, we rarely see a point where the opposition forces fail to take advantage of a debate to criticize the government. And on such a sensitive issue as the fight against drugs trafficking in our external borders, I think that we're talking we we need to support the forces of order, and that's exactly what the Spanish authorities have been doing. 17,000 additional staffs have been added to the ranks, and we've got billion euros additional funding for such operations in Gibraltar, Andalusia and other areas. But obviously, a European response is also needed, that's why the 2026 European Union Strategy on Drugs Trafficking with cooperation between Eurojust Commission and Europol. And just as suggested by the drugs agency in Lisbon, we must also put ourselves on the side of the victims and think of them.”
  EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2026-07-08 “(09:42:26 - 09:43:26): Thank you, madam president. Commissioner, a debate on the council conclusions without the council. That's absolutely unacceptable. We need to send 3 messages. Ukraine, support, of course. But when the moment comes to negotiate peace, Europe has to be at the table, not on the menu. Secondly, Russian responsibility. For that to happen, we need to support the, International Criminal Court. The judges are being sanctioned by the Trump administration, and we have to send a clear message. The plenary of the European Parliament adopted an extension of the temporary, derogation to EU privacy. Why did we do this? Because the council hasn't done its job yet, which is to adopt the regulation once and for all that the parliament adopted in its last term about, online sexual abuse of children. So it's the moment to do that. Please send that message, mister Sefcovic.”
  Support for International Criminal Court
• 2026-07-08 “(11:43:49 - 11:44:50): Thank you, president Commissaria. The line Commissioner, this has been a heated debate. There's been a lot of controversy, and this shows that the EU is the region that has been the most affected by global warming, and, the death toll is very high. To lower our standards, to be less ambitious when it comes to the digital agenda and the migration agenda, it would be suicidal, to my mind. And the same applies to reducing green deal standards. There's no way that we should do this, and we mustn't reduce the budget allocated to this in the MFF because we have to make sure that the EU remains ambitious when it comes to renewable energy sources, the fight against, or rather, the fight to achieve decarbonization. We need this to protect our citizens, especially the working class that cannot, stand this heat any longer.”
  Climate policy
• 2026-07-07 “Thank you. Presidente del Parlamento europeo ha tenido lugar. La definitiva del reglamento de derechos de Los pasajeros a aereos Y tiene dos rasgos extraordinarios qué merecen sobre el primero es la mayoria a favorablemente el arco parlamentario casi entero favorables de todos Los grupos parlamentarios y la razon después de tres anos de bloqueo por fin a un acuerdo con el consejo, porque el segundo por fin se producen avance en Los derechos de ciudadania y particularmente de Los pasajeros y muchas veces Los derechos laborales incluso fundamentales en la mano de Los derechos de Los consumidores por fin derecho de compensation frente a Los abuso de las companhias areas, Los retratos Los precios y las ventas por fin el derecho reconocido a embarked y por fin facilidades para las personas con dificultades para q pueden ejercer con respecto de todos Los dias. Gracias, president.”
  EU policy on aviation safety
• 2026-07-07 “La segunda. Con resolver la con una. Cuestion de examen de sus méritos individuals en estado de derecho y lucha contra la corrupcion, sino. También al de la reforma institucionales crear el espacio para todos Los candidatos a la y particularmente un pais tan enorme con una agricultura tan significativa y con problemas de estado de derecho y lucha contra la corruption tan important Como Los gracias presidente de.”
  EU enlargement
• 2026-06-23 “(09:28:33 – 09:31:37): Thank you, Commissioner Brunner. This is a point in which we, S and T, and your presentation of the EU security strategy are not in disagreement on the contrary. We fully endorse the very purpose of the internal security strategy. And, of course, we share the concerns about the threats underlying the internal security strategy, transnational and hybrid in nature, and enhancing safety while protecting rule of law, fundamental rights and democracy and democratic accountability is what this Democracy Shield is about. We have been working in this committee for for more than 1 year now, and we actually have prolonged the time frame for this committee precisely to better deliver when it comes to added value to the internal security strategy. So my question goes 1st as to the commitment of what number 1, implementing fully protecting, enforcing the Digital Service Act because it's about measures related to electoral integrity, public security, foreign interference, and protecting national elections that takes a lot of enforcement by the commission of the Digital Services Act despite the omnibus, despite the risk of watering it down, full implementation and enforcement is absolutely essential. The 2nd point I would like you to comment is the, compatibility of Protect EU with that strengthening democratic participation, trust and fundamental rights. Of course, it's about a good balance between preventive and enforcement policies, preventing policies and enforcement measures. But there is a point I would like you to address explicitly, and it is, of course, sharing intelligence. We have insisted much on building up EU intelligence community, worth of the name. Intelligence sharing. 1 of the most outstanding difficulties we have encountered is precisely the fragmentation of the intelligence community. So you mentioned in the internal security strategy about bringing up sharing intelligence. What are the exact measures that you're intending to develop in order to fulfill that goal and fill that gap?”
  Privacy & law enforcement · EU law enforcement cooperation in criminal matters
• 2026-06-17 “(10:44:13 – 10:45:27): Commissioner Sefkovich, when all the agencies and indicators show that, less people are arriving in Europe. And when after 2 years, we have the binding legislation in the migration asylum pack coming into force, we're about to adopt a returns regulation that flies in the face of all of this. Not only does it give back the possibility of member states contacting governors of 3rd countries for detention for unlimited time of prisoners in then detention and return hubs, then we also have this flying in the face of other regulations. And not only is this being done, but it's also being done in a way that violates the charter of fundamental rights that protects everyone, not just European, but asylum speakers and, 3rd country nationals. So this, flies in the face of European law. Frustrating for everyone.”
  Asylum & border control
• 2026-06-16 “(15:13:46 – 15:14:55): Thank you, commissioner Dobrovsky, for your reply. But please make sure that it's not only you taking note, that you convey the message to the whole of the European Commission. For the audibles regions, it's absolutely essential to keep the level of support that they have enjoyed so far because they have this unique legal basis in article 349 of the European Union. It takes regional policy, takes agricultural policy, takes social policy to help out small and medium enterprises precisely in order to diversify their economy so heavily dependent on maybe agriculture, maybe tourism. And finally, thank you for the sensitive answer when it comes to artisanal fishery. They really need it to simplify their administrative burden. Thank you. If you want for 2 minutes. No. Thank you. I think it was more, comments and further, questions. So, thank you, Roy, for the good words.”
  Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
• 2026-06-16 “Madam Vicunin, the programmed strategic autonomy requires, of course, a whole series of regulation, a whole series of rules like a CHIPS Act, which creates a balance between competitiveness and security with, technological infrastructures, which will be for Europeans there. But the most important thing of this in in this particular initiative is the mobilization of investments of these €5,000,000,000 in order to close that particular digital gap, which we have fallen victim of. We need that for the development of AI. Otherwise, we fall victim to China. If we want to be realistic and if we want technological sovereignty to exist, those billions are absolutely imperative. And it has to be included in the next MFF, and that is something which is once again indispensable. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty
• 2026-06-16 “(15:10:12 – 15:11:31): Thank you, president. Commissioner Tombroskas, reducing the administrative burden for SMEs is, an absolutely essential target that we need to pursue. But to ensure that we achieve it, we need to keep support for businesses. We can't destroy programs such as the COSMY program. Less developed regions and regions with, difficulties such as outermost regions are particularly vital if we look at what has happened in Canaries in the Canary Islands. So my question is, can we ensure the continuation of these of this assistance, is part of the MFF and the European social pillar in the next budget? And my 2nd question, administrative burdens in, artisanal fishing, for example. Will this commission reduce the administrative burden on artisanal fishing, for example? Thank you.”
  Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
• 2026-06-16 “The programmed Strategic autonomy requires, of course, a whole series of regulation, a whole series of rules like a Chips act, which creates a balance between competitiveness and security with technological infrastructures, which will be for Europeans there. But the most important thing of this in this particular initiative is the mobilisation of investments of these €5 billion, in order to close that particular digital gap which we have fallen victim of. We need that for the development of AI. Otherwise, we fall victim to China if we want to be realistic, and if we want a technological sovereignty to exist, those billions are absolutely imperative and it has to be included in the next MFF. And that is something which is once again indispensable. Thank you.”
  EU digital & tech sovereignty · EU industrial funding (mechanism level: EU-pooled vs nationally-financed)
• 2026-03-11 “E-001001/2026 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Fitto on behalf of the European Commission The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) was established as a temporary instrument with a clear end date in 2026. In line with the legal deadlines and the temporary nature of the Facility, the Commission must make the final payments by 31 December 2026. The RRF Regulation does not allow any flexibility regarding the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets after August 2026 1 . The Commission is working closely with Member States to address implementation bottlenecks. In the Communication ‘NextGenerationEU - The road to 2026’ 2 , the Commission has set a clear path forward guiding Member States to take all the necessary actions to ensure a smooth implementation of the RRF in its final months. In particular, the RRF Regulation 3 allows Member States to revise recovery and resilience plans if objective circumstances make it impossible for them to deliver on the previously agreed commitments. Member States can request targeted amendments to their plans and the Commission will support such revisions within the framework of the RRF Regulation. To this end, the Commission has also taken steps to simplify the process for amending the plans. If, despite the above-mentioned efforts, some of the last milestones or targets are not satisfactorily fulfilled, the corresponding disbursement will not be made. The Commission acknowledges the difficulties faced by several outermost regions in implementing RRF funds within the given deadline. However, it does not envisage proposing any extraordinary measures under article 349 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in this context. 1 Article 20(5)(d) Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility (OJ L 057, 18.2.2021). 2 COM(2025) 310 final. 3 Article 21 of the Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation (please see footnote 1).”
  Cohesion and rural funding · Funding for OCTs and outermost regions
• 2025-07-17 “E-002972/2025 Answer given by Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of the Polish legislation providing for the possibility to temporarily suspend access to asylum, and of the decision of the Polish government to apply that measure and to further extend it. The Commission is in contact with the Polish authorities on this matter. The Commission supports Member States in countering the threats arising from the weaponisation of migration by Russia and Belarus. As recalled in the Communication of December 2024 1 , Member States can take exceptional measures to counter the weaponisation of migration, provided that they are proportionate, temporary, limited to what is needed and for well-defined cases. Such measures need to respect fundamental rights, including the principle of non-refoulement. The Commission monitors and ensures the correct implementation of EU law by Member States in accordance with the Treaties. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52024DC0570.”
  Asylum & border control
• “Mr. president, the European Parliament is a budgetary authority and there are very conservative views that believe that less can be done or more can be done with less. And this is what we saw last year. The Socialists and Democrats have made an effort because we need to face up to the social and economic challenges, housing, housing and absolute urgency. And the program of values and rights based on the rule of law and the migration fund and internal solidarity, which makes it possible for the impact for the pact on immigration and asylum. Uh, will be covered by that. And we need to also be, uh, related to the transit countries. But all of this is with fit fits into a multiannual framework, and the commission from 28 to 35 doesn't seem to take this into account. And this is unviable. Thank you.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Commissioner, it was inevitable that here in the European Parliament, we would hear a reaffirmation of the European Union's commitment to international law. And the ICC is a key part of the architecture of the international order which binds the European Union as a source of law. Article 21 says that there's no impunity for crimes against humanity and genocide, etc., and the European Union has an obligation to protect those who work for the ICC who are exposed to arbitrary international sanctions, particularly when they're European, but not only. And in this case, it's the US that is the problem. So we've got this blocking statute, an instrument that protects these people and also reaffirms our strategic autonomy and our commitment to international law and criminal law, again, and against impunity against the most serious crimes. It also clearly expresses the fact that the European Union cannot betray its commitment to international law without betraying itself. Thank you. President.”
  Support for International Criminal Court
• “And in that regard, I find it essential to launch campaigns aimed to informing the public about the use of these EU digital travel applications so that people actually get to know what are we talking of and what's the use, what's the purpose, which is supposedly to make things easier and faster and anticipating the the transfer of the digital travel application so that in In airports, things could be faster and smoother, providing practical guidance on the scanning of the chip in the travel application in the document, thereby ensuring efficient functioning of the application. It goes without saying that we're talking about at this stage, a voluntary digital tool should be no mandatory digital tool application. It's voluntary. So people who are actually going through the ordinary procedure are free to keep like that, but people that should anticipate via the digital travel application could make it faster and smoother at airports and external borders entering or exiting the Schengen Area. So the idea is efficiency in border controls, facilitating smoother travel, enhancing security standards. No problem with that. And I can only count on the opinion of my shadows to work closely. The usual, the usual way we do reaching a common European position for this file. Thank you.”
  EU digital travel & border-data systems
• “Mr. President. Commissioner. The international rules based order and the rules which accompany it date back to the Second World War. That was based on the slogan never again, but never again. Surely can't suggest that tyranny is never anywhere in the world. Never again means that war isn't the response with all the enormous human, economic and material costs it brings with it. International law. International rights are the fountainhead of of European, the European Union, and of our foreign policy. Nobody here in the European Parliament can ignore or turn a blind eye to the brutality of the ayatollahs. At the same time, we support the brave resistance, the heroic young people in the country who have been resisting and dying at the same time. However, we shouldn't. Fail to take delight ourselves while criticizing those carrying out this illegal war. We have to ensure that protection be provided for people who are threatened. Particularly given that those leading this war have not got an exit ramp.”
  EU-Iran relations
• “Well, Commissioner Sefcovic, the fact that Trump is back in the white House has really been a kick to the chessboard, the global chessboard. So I don't think we need to feel weak. We need to be united. A world based on rules, multilateralism. In international trade. There's one message which has not reached everyone. We need to tell Trump that the EU was not meant to screw the US. The European Union was not created to to to bother and annoy the United States. The idea of the European Union is endogenous. It has its own values and we need to be autonomous or strategic autonomy and also autonomy towards those unilateral measures. We can only introduce fair and proportional countermeasures, but affirming the autonomy of the European Union. Thank you.”
  EU-US relations
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner McGrath. The bad news is that the defense of democracy in the face of threats and enemies, both internal and external, since we have both, has become a very politically and ideologically divisive issue in this Parliament. But the good news is that in this European Parliament, there is still a majority which understands that the Commission proposals are reasonable. That's been my experience in my work in the Committee on the Democracy Shield. Clearly, there is a willingness to increase algorithm transparency and to ensure that we hold digital platforms to account where there are extremist and polarising speeches being spread, because we want to spread digital leadership and education, digital literacy, so that we can deal with the penetration of lies and myths and foreign interference. So we must strengthen the integrity not just of our media and of information, but also of electoral processes in the face of artificial intelligence. And we're also willing to debate the idea of a center for democratic resilience, as long as it is a tool for us to share intelligence in the face of experience of foreign interference in our electoral processes. So go ahead, Commissioner.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “I follow the presentation, which is, of course, consistent with the concerns that many of us keep raising about the overall landscape regarding the points you just made and the widespread disinformation and manipulation when it comes to the perception of migration as a fact all across Europe. But I would like you to maybe share with us a thought on the point that you have made yourself, elaborate a bit on the evidence that migration has turned out absolutely, the perception of migration has turned out to be absolutely decisive when it comes to election. And, of course, it's the number one, the paramount issue in which fake disinformation, manipulation, and outright lies are on the winning side. I mean, take whatever country. It's so easy. It's so easy to picture migrants as predators, as predators of social services, as enjoying benefits which are nonexistent compared, of course, to the allocations and allowances and social services which are provided for citizens of the European Union, in particular, for the nationals. And I would like you to elaborate. Once we have described this issue, is there any chance that a change could be brought about by some specific measure that could be made as regarding the perception of how migrants are to be integrated and not excluded, not demonized, or not stigmatized in the European landscape? Thank you.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. Under this item of the agenda of plenary, we are covering a number of major concerns for the European Parliament. Trafficking misinformation, fraudulent recruitment by Russia in African countries. We have information. Saying that thousands of young people have been deceived and sent to the front as cannon fodder. 42% of them have fallen in combat on combat on the Ukrainian front in less than four months. It's scandalous. We have shown commitment as the European Parliament in standing up against the aggression of Putin in financing Ukraine facility militarily by sending ammunition and weapons. And we should do it diplomatically as well to protect these young people from deceit. With all of our force of our delegations in Africa to stop the slaughter of. Young children who are being deceived and whose human rights are of major concern.”
  EU policy on African region
• “Thank you. I'm going to speak Spanish because I want to respond to what I just heard from. A. Colleague who expressed some very serious events in a Spanish area. Pacheco. Who said that? They were afraid that the citizens reacted to the. Aggression of somebody, an older citizen who was an immigrant. But they. There was action that was taken that actually triggered hate toward everyone. But they were waging war against a whole group of people. And by using the. Social media, this triggered off hate. I mean, this could actually call into question the strategy against racism. So I'd like to know if the commission. What the commission thinks would be the best tool to try to prevent the spreading of racism. Protecting victims, education or repression when this leads to hate and violence. Like what happened in Paris.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Madam president, Vice President, this is a step in the right direction because our security is not dependent on 27 member states budgets or some percentage imposed. Whether it's 5% or something different. No, it's dependent on working together to build capacity. So we need to work together on European cyber security to protect our elections, to protect our legislative procedure, our healthcare sector. But even our financial system, which is very much exposed to a cyber attack. And we're seeing that citizens across the EU are keeping money in their homes just in case, but we need to produce some content. We keep saying that we need to have digital sovereignty, but that means that we need to all invest in research and development, which is what we're discussing. We need to have clear European strategies and legislation.”
  Scope of EU cybersecurity obligations
• “President. Council. Commissioner. Now, I think there's actually more for us to do than is reflected in the conclusions of the council when it comes to defence and foreign policy. We seem to be reverting to Trump and it fails to take account of the genocidal The policies of Netanyahu and the need to suspend the Association Agreement. And also to boost our defence capacities and in doing so, commensurately increase our budget. Now we need to look at those countries that have faithfully complied with the pact, and then look at Putin and Lukashenko and look at the most deadly route for illicit trafficking is via the Canaries. Now, of course, we need a space of justice and peace and security. And so really, the council at long last, should be implementing directives and the European law against the sexual abuse of minors. And finally comply with the European Union's mandate and make sure that we at long last, accede to European Convention on Human Rights.”
  Defence spending
• “Mr President, I would like to raise not only the opportunity but also the content of this report by Ms Jalloul Muro regarding the relationship between the European Union and Saudi Arabia, which has proved to be a relevant regional actor. The European Union should actually fulfil its commitment to become a globally relevant actor – if Saudi Arabia is a relevant partner for the US, for Israel, for the Islamic Conference, for the Arab world, how could it not be relevant for the European Union? But I would especially like to praise the strong message of the European Union's diplomatic commitment to human rights, empowering equal rights between men and women and, of course, fighting the death penalty – that is the number one priority for the European Union. But in order to enhance that message to a relevant actor, as Saudi Arabia certainly is, it takes enhancing the bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and the European Union. So I can only thank Ms Jalloul Muro's report on this relation between the European Union and Saudi Arabia.. **Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ @Chair: We have Kelleher.”
  EU relations with the Southern Neighbourhood
• “Commissioner. When the current MFF was approved, we hadn't overcome Covid or dealt with the Ukrainian war or energy prices going up or migration flows that we've seen in Lampedusa and the Canary Islands. So the choice is very clear. The next MFF, if it wants to deal with all of those new priorities with, in addition to climate issues which need emergency refunds and solidarity funds, then it's essential that the MFF can be expanded, including own resources and common European debt. And that all needs to happen. Making sure that classic policies are at the heart of all of this cohesion policy. Solidarity within the EU. In addition, the EPP calls for a more decision making powers, and that can happen with the the clause in article 502, not just the Council. The EPP demands resources and we need to be fully involved in decision making for the next MFF.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Thank you so much, Mr. Gill, for presenting the case of this global compact, which is much of our interest. Sure. You know that the European Union has meant to be pioneer when regulating artificial intelligence, making the difference, but also leading by example, setting a standard. But the thing is that we are seeing a revolution which is unfolding day by day with vertigo, speed, track open ended and the the the challenges are far from being actually foretold. But the thing is that of course we, we, we do care about setting standards, particularly when it comes to its impact on rights and securing digital future, which is equitable in its axis and homogeneous when it comes to some, some some standards that make them compatible with fundamental rights. And these are the questions I would like to raise to you first. We have seen negotiations on the digital compact, the global digital compact. But the thing is that throughout the years, just in the past three years, the world is becoming increasingly polarized. And polarization is also expressed in the digital world and of course, in the artificial intelligence tools. And I would like you to assess how do you foresee that the implications of this increasingly polarized international landscape are going to make an impact on the goal of reaching out for common rules to artificial intelligence and to the sustainability of the European artificial Visual intelligence and standards, which are challenged by, by, by economic actors and trying to bring them down.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “And I would, I would, uh, share with you just some hints of the, uh, Amendments that have introduced to the piece of legislation in my draft report first introduced additional safeguards to ensure the respect for private life, which is certainly a fundamental right enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the treaties, and particularly to enhance the protection of personal data, as well as the principle of non-discrimination and freedom of movement, which is a fundamental right in itself, as we all know, and that I have made by introducing amendments to article eight, particularly by introducing a new article a a paragraph. Second, I have tabled amendments to ensure that the application could only be used by travel travellers out of age over the age of 18, while granting the European Commission the power to amend that minimum age via a delegated act. Why? Because a new digital travel application is feasible when you are out of age. When you're when you're a grown up person. When you are an adult. Not that easy when you're talking about a small kid, because it's not only the, the, the the knowledge of the of the of the application in itself. It's also that it's supposed to match the picture, the image that is taken digitally in your digital application, as to the picture that you have in your, in your in your identity card or in your passport, which is not that certain when you are a little kid.”
  Electronic identity
• “The European A digital agenda. The Sadma and I. These were all rules adopted by the European Parliament. It was done so to. We're not trying to subjugate, uh, European platforms to. We want to, um, also see the Brussels effect and achieve a European sovereignty. But we wanted to protect the fundamental rights which are included of in the European Charter of Human Rights. This is a model of democracy that in no way can be subjugated to any business model of any big tech platform. So, Commissioner, please do not make any concessions to the pressure. Please remain strong, stand tall and do not give any concessions to President Trump. We're talking about defending the model of democracy. We will make no concessions in relation to, um, under the pretext of simplification or flexibility. We do not want to see a degradation of the standards that have been voted on by this Parliament. Thank you.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner, this omnibus package is the first major legislative initiative from von der Leyen to. And it's setting the tone. Simplification doesn't mean deregulation. Investeu could be along the right lines because it allows us to optimize everything which is available currently within existing funds, including legacy funds, to improve investments for competitiveness without forgetting about the environment, which accounts for about half of the investment under the regulation. That may work, but if you start eroding your due diligence and your climate objectives, then you're not moving in the right directive. That's just giving in to a lobby which is complaining about the burden. But we have to look at the overall picture. The same thing with the digital agenda and the migration pact. Finally got signature with partners. But we have to be very clear about not wanting to go backwards in this parliament.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding
• “Thank you so much for the opportunity and really make it short. Every time we discuss institutional aspects as to defense, we always dwell on decision making in the council. And the thing is, the funny thing is that in the treaties, there are solutions to this kind of issues. Passerelle enhanced cooperation, coalition of the willing. But we never dwell on parliamentary scrutiny. We have a problem in that because there is no parliamentary scrutiny when it comes to PESCO. There is no parliamentary scrutiny when it comes to defence policy. There is no parliamentary role. So my question is what should we do in order to correct that wrong? In order to enhance the capacity of the Parliament to exert scrutiny when it comes to foreign policy, security and defence? Thank you.”
  EU competences on defence
• “They're destroying also democracy. And they, in terms of the debate of alternatives in the public space. So the whole public debate is fractured and polarised more and more in a more reductive and confrontational way, in building intransigence, and makes the political debate impossible with these new digital platforms. And it's also a threat to the rule of law, because these evade the rules and these rules don't reach, uh, are not within the remit of any member state. We need the European Union, and it's a new day. It's a new concern for the Venice Commission, the threat to the rule of law and fundamental rights by the digital platforms and their mode of operation. That this is articulated and expressed here. So it's only the regulatory power of the European Union that can rein in. And control these digital platforms, which are falling outside the regulatory power and are even defining it openly or even demanding that the European Union lowers status to accommodate their business model. I would like your comments on that.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you, Madam President. Both the first and the second commission of von der Leyen. You're part of it. Mr. Kubilius has. Meant that no action has been taken in light of the impunity and all of these crimes committed by Putin against Ukraine. We're trying to protect displaced people. We're trying to put into place. Investigative teams cooperating with the International Criminal Court's prosecution office and to get prosecution secured of these crimes against humanity, these war crimes. So we, of course, support the 20 packages of sanctions. But for us to be credible, we need to be consistent. So we need to condemn other things, too. The genocide in Gaza. This is a war crime, and we need to support the the judges and other staff of the ICC who have been accused by the U.S. just for doing their jobs. We must also condemn the war crimes that are being committed in light of what's taking place in the Middle East, in Iran, for instance. Let's call things as they are.”
  Support for International Criminal Court
• “Thank you, Mr. President. The expression Commissioner for freedom of expression, freedom to share and receive trustworthy information. All of this is laid down in the charter. Article 11 Liberty of freedom. To express oneself means that you can say what the powerful don't want to hear. But then the corollary is that informative media. Oh well, all of this means that the MFA means that we need to know about who owns and who funds, and who is paying for the publicity in these. In these publications. And we have the highest levels, thanks to the MFA, thanks to the DSA. And so we have these models in place so that we can protect the rights of European citizens so that citizens can know who's behind these media outlets, who is funding them, and what are private players doing in terms of media?”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner Hanson. We talk about many things which are not really distinctly European, but wine is par excellence. Our culture, our economy, European. By definition, it is 1% of our GDP and employs millions of people. It is a wide scale industry and it is exceptionally important. We need to give support to the areas that are experiencing difficulties, and we need to enable them to have up to 100% support because there's nothing more important than keeping agriculture and outlying areas resilient. Many of these places are producing excellent quality wine, and they just need some support to keep doing it. So we need to give them some support within the cap and also some marketing support so that these excellent heritage wines, such as the wines grown on the volcanic slopes of the Canaries, can continue to be produced, marketed and exported. Therefore, we do need to have some funding in the MFF to make sure this can carry on.”
  Agricultural funding
• “Thank you. Thank you so much. I would like to raise a question. Of course, we appreciate the thorough analysis of the business model of the big digital platforms. And of course, we have countered with our legislation in place. We have been adopting for the past mandate a number of relevant pieces of legislation in order to hold those digital platforms accountable, for one thing, before EU law, because they are trying to escape EU law. But then again, we keep asking whenever we have a hearing with specialists, with panellists, distinguished panelists, as it's the case in this session of us wondering what is to be done in order to counter, be it misinformation that's misleading pieces of apparent info and disinformation which is intentionally, intentionally false fake news and its impact on electoral processes. But the question is, what can it be done in order to do better to educate EU citizens when protecting EU values, protecting the integrity of electoral processes, particularly when it comes to elections, because it is only obvious that the business model is meant, meant to spread fake, to spread hate and of course that it favors anti EU values, namely leaning on extremism, polarization, tribalization of segments of a public opinion of European social fabric which is more and more divided through electoral processes. But the thing is that it is only obvious to that people are buying those lies because they feed their prejudices and attitudes. So what can it be done according to your experience, to your relevant experience? What can it be done in order to educate better EU citizens in order to protect themselves, their fundamental rights, the EU values and the integrity of electoral processes before and against that interference? Massive interference, which is precisely grounded on the business model of the big digital platforms. Thank you.”
  Disinformation & online freedoms
• “Mr. President Commissioner, the objective which the European Union has set itself when it comes to decarbonising its industry, it simply can't be achieved. And that is that it is essential. That includes aviation and maritime transport. I listened carefully to what you said. It's very important that we ensure that we have sufficient funding for this transition, in particular for the outermost regions such as the Canaries. We can't support goods by road. Our connection to the outside world depends on sea transport, and we have to ensure that we accompany the population of outermost regions in the green transition. This is an important part of the message when we discuss the green transition. That was certainly the case during the last Parliament. And this is emerging clearly once again in today's Parliament. It's absolutely essential we do this. We there are no alternatives for us. It's not just a question of competition and connection. It's also a question of respecting the exclusive legal basis which protects outermost regions. This applies to Spanish, Portuguese and French outermost regions. Article 149 and article 150 make it possible not only to adapt European legislation, but also to adopt specific measures so as to ensure that we can defend the rights of our citizens in Europe's most outermost regions. Thank you.”
  Decarbonisation of maritime transport
• “Thank you, Madam President. Comisario Jorgensen. Commissioner. Yes. Of course. It's high time to end Europe's toxic dependence on Russian gas. We've been depending on these cheap supplies for far too long, but we also have to note the agreement between Parliament and Council, whilst also recognising that we're increasingly dependent on the shadow fleet and on US oil and gas. Russia and the US agree on one thing they want a weak Europe. So we have to do exactly the opposite. Have a fair green transition to a decarbonized economy with clean green energy. And we have to do that with our own resources and with adequate financing with joint debt. And we need to ensure that never again can we end up dependent our even worse blackmailed by others for our future.”
  EU approach to energy security (home-made vs import sources)
• “You said an end to discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity is set out in the Charter of European Fundamental Rights. Uh, wage discrimination is already set out. It already exists. It was in the Rome Treaty. And yet, 70 years later, we still see this wage gap as being a huge challenge for the EU. It doesn't just have an effect on care, and the fact that share duties aren't properly shared between men and women, and an equal parental leave. It's also because of a gross wage. Differences in all areas in health care, social services, educational services. Women are doubly discriminated against. So with this challenge, what do we need? A rigorous implementation of a legislation and active policies to ensure equal pay and equal access. And Spain is an example here. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Of the many things that have been discussed, this is the first that has sounded sensible from my point of view. Developing European capabilities that are deterrent as well cannot depend on 27 different budgets that are increased in an arbitrary way. It also cannot be based on this very vague commitment from van der Leyen about the amount that she was going to devote to investing in defense. We need to remove tariffs, remove barriers and make strategic choices so that the investment makes sense in cybersecurity and high tech mechanisms in very highly specialized jobs. Only in that way will we be able to really build a deterrent capability in Europe, which could be the starting point of a European power and a European army as well.”
  EU competences on defence
• “Thank you, chair, for this opportunity to provide some insight as to the trilogues and to the unfolding of the legislative procedure regarding this piece of legislation, which is electronic submission of travel data to digital travel application and the amending regulation regarding the digital travel credential. Uh, you already know that it's not a complicated piece of legislation, but it's meant well to reduce waiting times at airports and borders while crossing external borders of the European Union and increasing security at external borders of the Schengen areas. So we hold a first trilogue in Strasbourg, as I recall, on this file and the Danish presidency. But now we're looking forward the, uh, the current uh, Cyprus presidency to, to to push it forward and possibly to, to complete the legislative procedure. It shouldn't be that complicated. We held a first trilogue. December the 18th was a kickoff to present an exchange, our views and political priorities as to these, uh, as to this regulation. But despite the several points that were made, I mean, lying on different positions on the matter, I still remain confident that we can actually reach out for compromises with the help of the shadows through what I have called from the very beginning, a pragmatic approach in a reasonable time frame. It should be happening in the in the in the Cyprus presidency. The Cyprus presidency has shown interest, committed to advance the work and even reach an agreement within its term. Why not? It can well happen. But we hold the first technical trilogue. Just tomorrow is the technical meeting and then we hope also that swiftly we may push it forward in order to increase the efficiency of border controls, initiating this smoother travel while enhancing security standards. So I count on my shadows to complete the file, and I thank them for the pragmatic approach and the understanding of the of their subject matter, which is at stake. Thank you.”
  EU digital travel & border-data systems
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner. This is one of those times when the title of the debate is a bit misleading. Now there is a crisis in the Middle East, but the crisis is an illegal war, which was triggered by Trump and Netanyahu with very harmful consequences for the European Union. The strategy needs to look about how about taxing those big oil companies that are making huge profits, profits. But we also need to get over the double standard, which is jeopardizing the legitimacy of the European Union and its reputation. There wasn't one mention in miss von der Leyen's speech of suspending the association agreement with Israel that breaches human rights and does not comply with the European treaty. And when it comes to denouncing the attacks on Lebanon and the war in Iran, and also the apartheid in Israel against the Palestinian population in in the Gaza Strip. Thank you, Mrs. Sardon.”
  Relations with Israel - Palestine
• “You said an end to discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity is set out in the Charter of European Fundamental Rights. Uh, wage discrimination is already set out. It already exists. It was in the Rome Treaty. And yet, 70 years later, we still see this wage gap as being a huge challenge for the EU. It doesn't just have an effect on care, and the fact that share duties aren't properly shared between men and women, and an equal parental leave. It's also because of a gross wage. Differences in all areas in health care, social services, educational services. Women are doubly discriminated against. So with this challenge, what do we need? A rigorous implementation of a legislation and active policies to ensure equal pay and equal access. And Spain is an example here. Thank you.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “President. Sexual abuse online is an example of a major cross-border crime. And we're responsible. This is our competence because the crime may cross borders. It's about striking a balance, though, between protecting Minus from pedophilic acts, while at the same time safeguarding privacy. But we did this in the CSA. We strike that balance, but it is stuck in council. So the CSA m regulation was what we've been waiting for. And at the same time, we've had to extend the interim regulation, which pertains to Eprivacy and Eprivacy regulation, so that we cover the obligation to detect and to withdraw and then to prosecute CS a m it's about protecting minors from all forms of crime and sexual abuse and paedophilia online. Thank you.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “Thank you very much. President. Vice president. Having this investigative committee, whether it's Pegasus or the Democracy Shield that we have at the moment, we are trying to learn lessons from bad experiences, and we come up with conclusions. And that's a mandate for initiative. It's a call for the commission to act, but we see a real lack of action. Whether it's Pegasus or Predator in Greece, it was used not to deal with the serious crimes or terrorism with the right judicial Authorization, making sure that fundamental rights were protected. It was used to spy on judges and prosecutors. Members of the political opposition. So. And Vice President Coonan. It is vital that the Commission actually implement these recommendations, act against the member states that are spying on people. This has nothing to do with, uh, collective security. We need to learn the lessons and to act against the company in Israel that provided this software.”
  Surveillance equipment & spyware
• “Thank you, Madam President. Commissioner. Thank you so much. Well, clearly there's a separation here between those who feel that housing is a social right. And whereas others believe that housing is subject to speculation and investment. So we need to focus on the rights, the rights of the individuals, the rights of those without a home, the rights to vulnerables vulnerable people in favour of short term rentals. But it's only the EU that can do one thing. You can make sure that there is no concentration of ha of, of, uh, housing in those vulture funds because that is the real problem. That is why it makes it so difficult for younger people to have access to housing And the same is true for workers. So you need to prevent vulture funds and investment funds to buy up housing. That is part of the solution, and that is what the EU can deal with people who have the right to a home. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “President. Metsola. Commissioner. Siskovic. President. Costa. Um, now, the most useful conclusions are those that we don't find in writing, but we can read between the lines and that is that we absolutely need to look at unanimity and the difficulty that we have with the 27 forming a coalition of the willing and having to exclude Hungary once again because it is so incompatible. And we need to be responsible as members of the European Union and comply with the European Charter of Fundamental Rights that we have debated here in this very plenary. Secondly, when you underscore the need to beef up the external dimension of our migration policy, you always stress returns and voluntary repatriation. And you never say that it's important to negotiate with those countries from which these desperate people are fleeing. And once again, we need the kind of diplomatic architecture which has mutually beneficial agreements. And we need a common visa policy which makes sure we have a humanitarian policy as well as legal visa channels. Thirdly, we need to look at the kind of standards which will give us a common strategy. We have an obsolete system. We need to have representation in the Security Council and make sure that we've got Europe at the table in the Security Council.”
  Asylum & border control
• “And thank you, Mr. Baberowski. Thank you. I add my voice to to the appreciation and acknowledgment that you deserve for the years in office. And of course, by the presenting before us 20 years as a record of the European Data Protection Supervisor. And my question goes short. First, you mentioned that we have a situation with the United States with the so-called transatlantic data transfer. And in that regard, you also mentioned that the situation could only go worse with the current administration. The Trump administration, we highlighted through the negotiation of the latest agreement with the United States as to data transfer, that it was all depending on an executive order that could be anytime repealed by the forthcoming president. That, according to your view, to your experience, to your prognosis, could well be the case only to worsen the situation that has taken so long from the European Parliament to negotiate a new data transfer, transatlantic data transfer with the US. And the second goes as to artificial intelligence on the Brussels effect. You also mentioned the Brussels effect. Are we to expect that we are setting a standard that could actually be replicated by some other actors, considering the difficulties that we encounter precisely to impose the Brussels effect and the EU regulation with the big giants in the name, which are, of course, originated in the other side of the Atlantic in the United States. But some of them are rooted on tax grounds in European Union member states, namely Ireland. Thank you.”
  EU-US data transfers
• “But then there is the case of EU electoral reform. You know that we got a EU Electoral act which dates all the way back to 1976, 1976, and it needs to be reformed. There are two initiatives, 1 in 2018 and one other 2022, and it's still pending on the council to make up its mind and to work on it and to, to, to to to to push it forward, trying to build its own consensus. Because yes, let's face it, takes unanimity as the rules are by now, as the rules are by now takes unanimity, but at least it needs to work on it on every rotating president want you to hear something about it. And then there is another file which is well worth noticing pending on your presidency, which is one we set in motion just recently one in order to respond to the situation of pregnant MEPs which are about to give birth or after giving birth. And we adopted an initiative which is precisely reforming the EU Electoral Act, article six, in order to make it possible for women who are giving birth to be present in the voting by someone of her delegation in that particular case. And that could be perfectly, perfectly completed, perfectly completed by the Cyprus presidency, because it's so, so tiny, so targeted, so, so, so well meant that if you if you put it on the table, it should be adopted. Just just like that. What's your word about it?”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Have we learned from COVID commissioner? We have learned some lessons, and we have an outbreak of the new pandemic, antivirus. So we we've seen that, viruses don't don't know borders, so we need to also be, evidence based. We need to have a responsible solidarity as we've seen, from the government of Spain, and you recognize this. Now the tenth and the May 11, there was, people who who left the vessel, and then we express our condolences to the the families of those who have lost, their lives. But to those who said this is an exercise of solidarity. And, some people have tried to exploit the fear in this, but the response always needs to be strengthened civil protection, European solidarity, and we need to link together health policies. We need to increase funding levels for research.”
  EU competences on health (internal-competence axis, sharpened)
• “Vice president Fitto. Losing out on one of the links in the funding for regions is not just an existential crisis for Europe. It's about that sense of belonging in citizens. And we work for those citizens, particularly thinking here of those in the outermost regions, you can't do more with less. And that's why you will see the socialist priorities set out in our cohesion policy funding for emergencies happening on an ever more frequent basis, but also financing for new priorities like housing policy, one of the new pillars of cohesion that's ideologically divisive, because there are those who think that housing is just a commodity to speculate on, but we don't see things that way. We see housing as a basic right, and the EU has a responsibility to ensure the right kind of funding is provided for that, and housing must be included under cohesion policy. Thank you president. Very well.”
  Cohesion and rural funding
• “Commissioner, it's not acceptable at all to have an MFF where you cannot recognise the raison d'etre of Europe the cohesion policy, solidarity, the European Social Fund, agricultural fund. The second idea is that it's not acceptable that innovation and defence be supported to the cost of interregional solidarity and social cohesion. But the even more unacceptable point is the outermost regions and their participation in governance of the European Social Fund and Regional Development Fund, apart from agriculture, because they have an exclusive legal base, article 349, which would be violated if we do not contemplate the adaptation of any policy that does not respect their specificities, and also for the adoption of specific measures to preserve them. Given the accelerated changes that we are facing. Thank you.”
  EU cohesion/structural-fund architecture: consolidation vs ring-fenced separate funds
• “Thank you, Madam President. Um, Commissioner, article four requires the EU to protect children with all the means available to it, including criminal law against horrendous crimes such as sexual abuse, online child pornography, exploitation of minors for reasons of sexual exploitation. Also using I, the UN, the EU is the only legislator able to actually provide rules on the major operators on the web when they're involved in such horrendous and offensive crimes, and so it's crucial that we should have this, these provisions adopted because it deals with criminal penalties against the perpetrators. Now, the it should be ensured that these crimes cannot lapse either. We have to provide for protection for the victims and the witnesses, and we need effective whistleblowing schemes as well. Huge work has been put in to provide almost unanimous support for this directive, which deserves our support, and the EPP now has a mandate to discuss this in the final stage. We need to see this go through council and see the light of day. Thank you.”
  Privacy & detection of online child abuse
• “Thank you. President. Vice president for the last mandate ended with an excellent achievement. And it's unfortunate that the achievements of that period are now being subjected to a kind of dismantling under the pretext of simplification or realism or lightning burdens or competitiveness, the just and green transition. The Immigration and Asylum pact and the digital agenda. The objective of that was to ensure that the big digital platforms and their business models were subject to regulation, and it's hard to imagine that in such little time, the. Same pessimism is emerging as we saw when it came to the data protection regulation. We'd put in place the highest standards in the world in terms of guaranteeing confidentiality of personal data. And SMEs have taken that on board just as successfully as public administrations. So that is why it is clear that simplification is not about regulation, and we're not undermining our standards. We shouldn't be subject to the blackmail or pressure from big tech companies or the Trump government that supports them. So this is really a matter for the EU. It's not just about regulatory power. It's about our authority and our credibility. Vice president, thank you.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Thank you very much, Commissioner Labib. We have over 700 seats in this Parliament and we have very different, many different governments in the EU. So it's not easy to explain this problem, but we have this anti-discrimination directive and it's been blocked for well over a decade now. It's simply unacceptable. Unacceptable. It's about protecting people against discrimination. That's in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This is not this is about anybody, not just Europeans, foreigners as well. And it's not just about race, sex or religion. No. It's also about age based discrimination, disability, sexual orientation belonging to a minority, for instance. So this directive would actually bolster protection against discrimination in member states, whether legislation such as in Hungary, where there is anti-LGBTQ laws that that ban pride. Even so. Yet presidency, it is time to unblock this directive and to resist against the minority of member states that refuse to accept it.”
  EU policy on integration and ethnic, racial and religious discrimination
• “Commissioner Virkkunen. We absolutely want the Parliament to continue to be involved in this governance forum, and we feel that it's important that we do this, but we need to be consistent with European values, and our legislation needs to be consistent. From the last legislature to this one, we need to have an ambitious digital legislature, a body of legislation, and this needs to include AI. We hear about the Brussels effect, the issue that Brussels regulation has an impact beyond the confines of the EU. Now we can actually set a very good example if we actually do implement these fines, for example, on on Google, then this could be exemplary and we can actually stand up for privacy and fundamental rights at a global scale, and we can promote our strategic independence and autonomy rather than yielding to the pressure of the giants of the internet, which Trump wants to protect, for example, in Silicon Valley. So let's please stick to our principles with this internet governance.”
  EU rules on digital competition
• “Listening to this debate, we've got a recommendation here from the European Parliament for strengthening cooperation with Canada with a like minded partner for strengthening security in the Arctic. We provided such support to Greenland and its constitutional status. International rules, multilateralism. Wto rules not using tariffs as a kind of weapon in a in a war. So we're strengthening cooperation not only through trade, but through politics and through the preferences which we express. And that's what theta can mean, too. There's been a lot of fake news about people saying it's going to be the end of the world for certain sectors, but it's proving positive for consumers and for companies with mutual trust.”
  EU-Canada relations
• “Thank you. President. Council has made commitments, but in order for them to be followed through on, we need unity if we're going to truly achieve reparation for Russians. Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine. We need to use those confiscated assets. And we need to say that the Sharm el Sheikh summit did not lead to a true peace. But we need resources to be available to in order for guarantees and for council's words to be respected. Need to follow through with proper financial support in the MFF 300 billion for safe, affordable housing. Solidarity in the Migration and Asylum pact. Maintaining cohesion policy and regional policy because they're under threat in a totally unacceptable MFF. So the von der Leyen Commission needs to withdraw its MFF proposal and re establish a regional policy at the heart of EU.”
  Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term)
• “Senora. Madam Ombudswoman, Mrs. Teresa Angelino, obviously we would like to wish you all the best in your office and in your term of office. And indeed, we did the same thing to your predecessor, Mrs. O'Reilly. But of course, when it came to your interview for this position, we recalled that the position of the European ombudsperson is a position where you need to defend European citizens when there is maladministration on the part of the EU institutions. And of course, all of this based on the charter. Now, I remember, you know, there's now a new majority. Epp, the far right, talking about Frontex. Frontex mission is apparently to stop migrants from coming. No, not at all. That's not its mission. You know, they are there to guard our coasts, our our borders. But it's not to stop people coming in at any cost, at the cost of human lives, etc. therefore, we have some standards. They are ethical standards, transparency, accountability, good governance, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, articles 49 and what follows. It is something that binds to the European Parliament. It is an ethical and moral commandment that we must abide by.”
  Activities of EU Ombudsman
• “Thank you. President, Commissioner McGrath and Rapporteur Moser. There is a clear demand from people and the Parliament has to respond. Eu has responds. Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights obliges us to protect children. But the legal base is also the same legal base that has enabled us to regulate the business model of big tech. We have addictive algorithms which are subjecting young people to terrible harm whatever parents do. Mental health problems, emotional problems, eating disorders, even self-harm. And it is therefore a duty to intervene in particular when it comes to dark patterns, the indiscriminate exposure to pornography, violence, recruitment to criminal gangs or we have sexual abuse online. And I think that the challenge is really age verification. The EU needs to impose order. We have these ideas of thresholds at 13 and 16, but it is only the EU that can really come up with a response to this challenge, ensuring that young people are not exposed to risks which are very much beyond what parents can do as part of parent responsibility, as a role for the European legislator. Thank you.”
  Age restrictions on children's access to social media · Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “We all we can all have that graphic idea as to the travel conditions to children under the age of 18, but not impossible, particularly in view of technological developments. Should that be the case? The Commission could actually amend the minimum age established in the age of 18 via a delegated act, which would have the European Parliament as a final say. Then third, I have also introduced provisions to enhance enhance data protection, such as deletion of travel data from the database of the border crossing point once the traveler has actually crossed the external border. In the case that the traveler gives up and finally does not cross that external border for some, for some reason there is another. Data protection. Deletion time frame. There should be immediate deletion after the actual practice of the of the of the travel after the person has actually crossed the external border crossing point. And there should be 12 hours of of delay in order to delete those data. If the traveler actually doesn't make it for some reason, doesn't actually cross the external border, then forth, we recognize the necessity to specify in more detail the features and functionalities of the Traveler router and the mobile application to be developed by Eu-lisa Eu-lisa, the agency specialized for large scale data systems for the purposes of this regulation.”
  EU digital travel & border-data systems
• “Of course, I endorse the points that have been made by our person in charge. Ana Caterina Mendez but after having heard the discussion, I can't refrain myself from highlighting a point that has not been made is that we cannot allow ourselves again after a year of hard work, of a special committee, which is the case of democracy shield, of not making sure that the mandate to the Commission to deliver, to bring about new legislation and new initiatives are absolutely compelling. We cannot allow ourselves, because we have seen that much too often, particularly in the past, mandate in which we had nothing less than five special committees. I was a member of the Pegasus committee and just miserable enough. Just in the last plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. We. Of course, we stressed that much of the lessons learned and much of the mandate regarding the Commission to act and bring about new initiatives are still to be fulfilled, are yet and done. So we cannot allow ourselves this time not to highlight in the final part, which is usually the last paragraph in conveying the messages to the rest of the institutions, in particular to the European Commission, that that mandate is absolutely compelling for the Commission to take initiative to do. It's part of the job after us having done ours. Thank you.”
  EU Supervision of the Rule of Law
• “No. We followed the lengthy explanation and presentation with interest, and at this stage, as we're running out of time, the only comment I would allow myself is that we, of course, are willing to keep an eye on the developments ahead because, yes, we have seen an election just recently. Last Sunday we have seen political change finally brought about in Hungary. We, of course, were aware about what's been going on for much too long, and particularly with the intensity of the latest campaign. But the thing is that Hungary has been put on hold under EU law and by EU institutions in every possible way. Article seven. Conditionality, regulation and nothing is to be deactivated just out of the blue and overnight. Of course, the. Those. Those preventions and cautions are already there, and they should be on their way until we see actual change. Being, being, being unfolded before our very eyes. That's it. That's the point I was willing to share.”
  Rule of law in Hungary
• “Thank you very much president. This debate on World Mental Health Day means we need to have more cooperation with the online platforms. The algorithms have a decisive effect on young people. We look at the suicide rate which is a leading cause of death amongst the young people and it's linked to the internet. So I think the message is very clear. The European Parliament needs to legislate to protect young people online. It's urgent. It is absolutely key to have common rules. Otherwise, we have fragmented and contradictory solutions from the national parliaments. And I think the third lesson to learn here is you can't talk about health without talking about mental health and you can't talk about mental health without looking at regulating the access of young people to these online platforms. And we also need to look at privacy and confidentiality of data and the dignity and development of a personality.”
  Safety features & content control for child protection online
• “Madam President. Commissioner McGrath. Yes, they are more frequent and disturbing these attacks against our European democratic model, which is becoming more vulnerable to external interference. It's not just state actors, it's also non-state actors, such as these digital platforms with social networks whose business model are addictive algorithms that destroy European values and create huge damage in new generations, which all of us who have sons and daughters know. They create hatred. So we don't just need digital literacy, we also need a European right. The Democracy Shield Committee that was set up in this European Parliament in the 18th of September, 2024, has just renewed its mandate for another year, and it will come up with conclusions. And it's important that the Commission turns these conclusions into new legislation not only to create a dissuasive impact on Russia, but also on platforms with strong fines, such as those that the commissioner, Teresa Ribera, has been brave enough to impose on Google.”
  Digital platforms liability for harmful and illegal content
• “Thank you, Madam President. Commissioner Kubilius, you used two images in your speech. First of all, Jean Monnet's quote that Europe will be born through crisis. But he didn't say it should happen. Spasmodically. But learning from past experiences, and I think that the Greenland case is a clear example. And now this is the first time that the EU has had to remind everyone that article 42.7 is a collective, uh, security clause. And we reminded everyone of this. And then you talked about waking up the giant. But it's not just about waking the giant up, but it has to go beyond its comfort zone. I think that if we continue with the US defense, then we'll be doing that We need a rapid intervention force. And then finally a vital idea civic education for defence. We need strong leadership, and we need to explain to our citizens what we're doing and why. Thank you.”
  EU competences on defence
• “Thank you chair. And I thank the colleagues staying in the room and surviving to this lengthy working sessions of our Labor committee to be given the chance to engage in an exchange of views with the shadows on the first draft report regarding the so-called EU Travel Application and Digital Travel Application actually establishing a digital travel application via a regulation. It's a piece of legislation we're having here. And first remark is that we are all aware that we are living in most challenging times. The surroundings, the institutional environment of the European Union is facing most challenging endeavors. And certainly we're going to have to deal with the pieces of legislation which will certainly be divisive, subject to lengthy discussions. But this doesn't happen to be the case. I would I would present to you the very simple idea that we are apparently in sight of an initiative taken by the Commission in order to make things easier and faster, particularly when crossing the border checks in order to reduce the waiting times at airports and borders, and at the same time increasing the level of security in the external borders in the Schengen area. So apparently this is a piece of legislation we should be dealing happily with. And, uh, the first, uh, remark being made, I will welcome the Commission's proposal under these considerations that they are supposedly supposed to to to make things easier and faster in the external borders of the European Union, particularly entering or exiting the Schengen Area.”
  EU digital travel & border-data systems
• “Yes. Thank you. We appreciate the thorough examination of the constitutional breakdown that has been perpetrated for 16 years by fetus majority in Hungary. That I mean, that is something we were aware of. And actually, it's been the subject matter of many debates in the plenary in Strasbourg and the resolutions that we have written and adopted. And of course, even by specific missions that have been sent to Hungary a number of times precisely on the grounds that it all started with the comeback of. Viktor Orban to to power in 2010 and right after for 16 years. Yes, but it all started with an electoral reform which provided the securement of nothing less than two thirds to the winner of the elections in the single house parliament in Hungary. And ironically, and ultimately, that has been the defeat of Viktor Orban, providing for two thirds for his opponent, now led by Peter Magyar. But having said this, we're all aware about the constitutional breakdown, the capture of the media, public media, of the Academy of the streets by by by repressing demonstrations and opponents to to free this and Viktor Orban for so long, and of course, of the judiciary and the Constitutional Court. But the question goes, does it really make a difference when it comes to smear campaigns, when it comes to slandering, when it comes to abuse of social media and defamation through social media against opponents, does it really make a difference? Hungary? As to any other democratic society or situation or state in the European Union? Because, let's face it, all of the member states of the European Union are witnessing that kind of a rise emergence of smear campaigns, slandering and defamation through the social media between competitors, which is an erosion of the quality of democracy in all the member states of the social media. So, yes, we're all aware that Hungary makes a difference. But the question is, does it really make a difference when it comes to slandering and smear campaigns?”
  Rule of law in Hungary
• “Commissioner. Nothing threatens the EU as much as contradictions between the objectives and the results. For a long time, the EU has promised a single market without any obstacles. But now the non-tariff barriers are imposing many difficulties on fair competition and economic growth. And this instrument harmonizing insolvency proceedings. And for companies that have gone bankrupt and for recovery really is an second opportunity. It's crucial to promote growth, to fair competition and to reduce these huge number of tariff barriers. Which are seen as a barrier to growth and credibility and legitimacy of the EU and what it promises and what it actually delivers. Thank you.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “(17:17:05 – 17:18:40): I'll just add a comment. I've I have a lot of experience in this field, and I know, about, consensus and the drawing up of institutional reports. And it's not the first time that I've seen the points that have been added because of the representative of the second largest group in this parliament have not been incorporated. 5 of the of the members who went, 3 were Spanish. So it doesn't surprise me that this mission was instrumentalized, and it's not the first to which has minimized certain aspects from the meetings with organizations and representatives of the government, for example. We had mention of sexual, reproductive rights, constitutional affairs, also right wing members dominated this mission. So I just want to highlight that this report does not represent microphone for the speaker, please. Thank”
  Sexuality and reproduction
• “Thank you. President. Commissioner. Artificial intelligence is such a high speed technological revolution that when. But if we look back to technology the way it was, everything else will become obsolete. Here. There was pioneering technology and we had the Brussels regulation in all areas, but we had to be respectful of the principles of basing based here on fundamental rights. We also had the preventative principle where there would be restricted use and prohibited use. That was something that we had under our charter, but it was under supervision. And there was also the need for the commission to be responsible. It was responsible for guaranteeing that the standards that we have would always be under democratic control.”
  Artificial Intelligence
• “Thank you, chair, and thank you, Madame. Uh, we had a talk yesterday in another committee, and surely you heard me saying that, uh, we are all aware that Cyprus happens to be one of the smallest, one of the least populated countries, and yet with an ambitious agenda, we can only wish you well and surely. I mean, as a matter of principle, whenever there is a rotating presidency of the European Union, it deserves the credit of the best expectation. But besides, we think you you really have a room for manoeuvre to to deliver your best. And we wish you to, to, to to to put all the energy into it with our cooperation for sure. This European Parliament, and insofar as we are compelled to be complementary with each other, not to repeat ourselves, not to make the same points I was, I was intending to make the point, of course, of the EU reform, considering that, yes, it's an ongoing argument, particularly in the plenary in Strasbourg, that the European Union has to do something about itself in order to, to, to, to respond. We cannot lean on unanimity much too longer when it leads to block meaning impotence or or silence when, when when our voice needs urgently to be heard. But I would simply dwell on two points that have not been made by my my colleague of the EPP and are interesting. Of course, we are also interested in right of inquiry. For sure. We have been working for it much too long.”
  EU political integration
• “Thank you very much indeed. President. Vice president Fitto, you may well know that cohesion policy is one which is most cherished along with freedom of movement. And that is why we need reform. We certainly shouldn't do away with it. We should look at its focus on our regions as well as multilevel governments. And so we should start off by making sure that its resources are ring fenced in the NFF, because it is there, amongst other things, to deal with increasingly frequent natural disasters. But we also need to promote the social dimension of cohesion policy and regional policy, which is extremely sensitive, particularly for the most vulnerable regions and ultra peripheral outermost regions. So we need social cohesion and we need to have housing policy at scale across the European Union. And also, of course, we should guarantee a social policy which continues to be the main driving force for the legitimation of European integration. Thank you.”
  Cohesion and rural funding · EU cohesion/structural-fund architecture: consolidation vs ring-fenced separate funds
• “Merci, madame. It'll be a minute. Take it as a fact that we. Yes. And members being part of this special committee, democracy shield, do share the importance of the lessons learned which are expressed in the conclusions. But I have an additional question to raise to you. And it is that it's only obvious that comparative evidence shows that when it comes to foreign information manipulation and interference, distrust, political polarization, and inequality are largely to make a bigger impact when there are pre-existing internal fragilities in democratic society. So the question is, are you willing to provide a holistic approach so that beyond the external threats, the external actors, we are also addressing institutional legitimacy and reduction of inequalities? The question is how the Commission intends to integrate into the Democracy Shield, a comprehensive approach to combine space security, social resilience, paying attention to reducing inequalities and enhancing democratic trust.”
  Foreign interference in Europe