Question for written answer E-002417/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 César Luena (S&D)
According to the EU Water Resilience Strategy, water management should prioritise nature-based solutions. However, using human-made infrastructure alone or in combination with nature-based solutions is also necessary, provided that the environmental impacts of this are carefully assessed and that all relevant stakeholders are involved. In addition, these actions must form part of an integrated and sustainable water management strategy that fully reflects long-term climate reference scenarios and projections to avoid stranded investments.
The strategy also stipulates that the Nature Restoration Regulation provide an opportunity to support water quantity management and enhance resilience against droughts and floods with nature-based solutions. Water and climate resilience must be fully integrated in the national restoration plans that are to be prepared by 2026.
In light of this:
How will the Commission ensure that Member States effectively prioritise nature-based solutions over grey infrastructure in restoring the water cycle, and that they take heed of long-term climate scenarios to avoid new investments becoming stranded assets?
Question for written answer E-002474/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)
Recently, we have witnessed an unprecedented escalation of nationalist provocations from the Government of Skopje, with direct challenges to Greek history and the agreement they themselves signed. The policy of tolerance and equidistance that the European Union systematically demonstrates undermines its credibility towards its Member States and strengthens extremist voices in the Western Balkans. Greek citizens, but also the peoples who believe in the Europe of Nations and Fatherlands, demand clear answers:
1.How does the Commission intend to react to the escalating unacceptable rhetoric from Government officials in Skopje, which undermines stability in the region and offends the values and principles of the European Union?
2.Does the Commission consider that the public questioning of the historical and cultural heritage of Member States by political figures from non-EU countries is compatible with the obligation to respect the European acquis and good neighbourly relations, a prerequisite for the country’s progress towards Europe?
3.What specific actions does the Commission intend to take to protect the standing, sovereign rights and cultural heritage of Member States, such as Greece, when they are subjected to public insults and historical distortions by government officials of candidate countries?
Question for written answer E-002418/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 César Luena (S&D)
The European water resilience strategy proposes an overall improvement in water efficiency of 10 % by 2030, but does not set binding targets for individual sectors (e.g. agriculture, industry, tourism or energy).
1.How will the Commission ensure that the most water-intensive sectors effectively reduce their abstractions – especially in water-stressed regions – if clear and mandatory sectoral targets are not set, in line with the prevention principle and the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)?
2.Some 81 % of the water consumed in the EU goes to users who abstract water directly at the source using private systems, and many of these are not properly registered or controlled by the national authorities. In view of this, why has the Commission not announced in its European water resilience strategy specific legislative measures to improve the control and monitoring of these abstractions, in line with the requirements laid down in Article 11(3) of the Water Framework Directive?
Question for written answer E-002473/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)
The proposal to allocate additional resources to EU border regions is confirmation of the serious pressures faced by local communities. However, the deterioration in quality of life and the increase in the cost of living are largely due to uncontrolled illegal immigration, a result of the Government’s inadequacy in protecting the borders and effectively managing immigration.
It is crucial that funding is not used to cover Government failures, but is directed exclusively to providing essential support to Greek citizens who are struggling.
In view of the above:
1.Recognising that EU border regions are under particular pressure, to what extent does the Commission attribute the deterioration in the quality of life, the increase in the cost of living and the degradation of social cohesion to uncontrolled illegal immigration?
2.How does the Commission intend to ensure that the additional financial resources do not simply cover the failures of Member State governments to manage illegal immigration, but are used exclusively to provide essential relief to local populations and restore public safety and well-being?
3.Will the Commission request specific data from Member States, such as Greece, on how illegal immigration affects daily life and the economic situation in local communities?
Question for written answer E-002459/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D)
A few days ago, a fire broke out at an illegal landfill in the Langada area of Kefalonia, causing the release of a toxic cloud which has affected the island’s capital (Argostoli), Lixouri and the surrounding areas. The event is causing serious concerns regarding the health of residents and the impact on the local environment.
In addition to the dangerous nature of the phenomenon, there are complaints regarding the competent authorities’ inability to prevent it and their delayed response, as well earlier warnings that were allegedly ignored.
This is a serious incident of environmental degradation with potential cross-border impacts (due to the atmospheric transport of pollutants) and serious risks to public health.
Accordingly:
1.Has the Commission received official information from the Greek authorities regarding the fire in Langada, Kefalonia, and its environmental impact?
2.Does the Commission intend to mobilise EU technical assistance and/or take scientific steps to measure pollution and assess the risks to the health of residents?
Question for written answer E-002469/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Alex Agius Saliba (S&D)
Following reports[1] in my Member State, Malta, on the topic of waste incineration, and false claims that this facility can negatively affect the population, I would like to request some clarification in order to be able to debunk potential misinterpretation of the European rules. In the particular case of Malta, due to the limited physical space on the islands, we cannot rely on landfill for non-recyclable waste as a solution, and waste incineration is an important part of our waste management system.
1.Could the Commission confirm that waste incineration will continue to be allowed under the relevant EU rules, such as the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) or other legal requirements?
2.Does the Commission take into account the physical limitations of small island Member States when making its policy on waste management and circularity?
3.Could the Commission clarify what is expected from waste incineration plants to comply with European requirements under, for example, the best available techniques principles and how the prescribed environmental impact assessment (EIA) gives assurances on air quality and other aspects that are important for neighbouring inhabitants?
Submitted: 18.6.2025
[1] https://timesofmalta.com/article/no-ecohive-save-lives-residents-protest-planned-waste-incinerator.1109520, and https://timesofmalta.com/article/wasteserv-complains-standards-commissioner.1109939.
Question for written answer E-002447/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Sabrina Repp (S&D)
The Kyrgyz Republic has repeatedly proposed the creation of a European university in Central Asia as part of its national education and digitalisation strategies. This initiative is reflected in several joint EU-Central Asia documents, including the EU-CA Roadmap 2021-2023 and the 2022 Foreign Ministers’ Joint Communiqué. It is also aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and the EUR 300 million allocation for education and digitalisation in the region.
1.How is the Commission supporting, or planning to support, the establishment of a European university in Central Asia, particularly in Kyrgyzstan, within the framework of the Global Gateway strategy?
2.Will the Commission consider including this initiative in future EU-CA cooperation frameworks, and what concrete steps are envisaged to involve European higher education institutions in this regional project?
Priority question for written answer P-002235/2025/rev.1 to the Commission Rule 144 Tiemo Wölken (S&D)
In March 2025, Investigate Europe[1] and other media outlets revealed that Soft2bet, a gambling firm headquartered in Cyprus and Malta, is linked to 114 online casinos that have been blacklisted by Member States. Since the publication of the investigation, anonymous actors have filed false US Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaints to de-index these news articles from Google in the EU. In over 60 complaints, fake claimants copied the original investigation and backdated it, making Google believe that their copy was the original article and/or posed as Investigate Europe, filing infringement claims against outlets that co-published or shared the investigation. This has led to the de-indexing of genuine articles about Soft2bet in Greece[2], Poland[3], Malta[4], Estonia[5] and other countries.
1.How will the Commission ensure that journalistic work published within the EU is not subject to false copyright complaints, so as to guarantee that Google and other search engines properly filter false infringement claims in the future?
2.Is the Commission aware of Google’s use of potentially error-prone algorithmic or AI filtering systems to assess copyright claims?
3.Is the Commission aware of any other cases of systematic abuses of copyright protections in the EU aimed at censoring the press?
Question for written answer E-002454/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Peter Agius (PPE)
Reports from practitioners in the beauty industry, including tattoo artists, massage therapists, beauticians and manicurists, indicate that inadequate regulatory oversight at both national and EU levels is leading to a rise in the number of unqualified practitioners performing treatments. In some cases, this poses significant health risks, including scarring, burns and infections. Furthermore, the initial treatments may be performed poorly, requiring multiple corrective interventions.
A key issue is the complete lack of harmonisation in beauty education standards across Member States, which results in inconsistencies in training quality, course duration and certification requirements. Moreover, non-EU nationals are entering EU Member States and delivering substandard services, which gives rise to concerns about consumer safety and fair competition.
The industry is further disrupted by impromptu educators offering rapid certification courses that allow individuals to enter these professions without adequate training.
Given this:
1.What measures can the Commission consider to address the safety and health concerns resulting from the number of unqualified practitioners in the beauty sector, which poses a risk to European citizens?
2.How does the Commission plan to address the issue of unqualified practitioners operating within the beauty sector and posing a risk to their clients, particularly practitioners from non-EU countries?
Priority question for written answer P-002466/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Gabriela Firea (S&D)
In the space of less than a month, two pregnant women in Romania were killed by their partners. These shattering tragedies oblige us to act decisively to prevent such incidents and protect women in real time.
Therefore:
1.How does the Commission intend to transfer good practices between Member States that have implemented real-time protection measures for women, and what support can the Commission offer so that Romania can develop discreet mobile alert applications, electronic tags for attackers and digital monitoring systems along the lines of VioGén/AlertCops in Spain?
2.What specific financing lines, especially within the CERV programme or other existing mechanisms, can be activated immediately to help Member States to develop these tools, with a focus on countries in central and eastern Europe, where femicide is increasing?
3.How does the Commission intend to monitor the implementation of these measures fairly between Member States, so that women all over the EU, including in Romania, can benefit effectively from real-time protection, and not just from limited pilot projects?
Priority question for written answer P-002466/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Gabriela Firea (S&D)
In the space of less than a month, two pregnant women in Romania were killed by their partners. These shattering tragedies oblige us to act decisively to prevent such incidents and protect women in real time.
Therefore:
1.How does the Commission intend to transfer good practices between Member States that have implemented real-time protection measures for women, and what support can the Commission offer so that Romania can develop discreet mobile alert applications, electronic tags for attackers and digital monitoring systems along the lines of VioGén/AlertCops in Spain?
2.What specific financing lines, especially within the CERV programme or other existing mechanisms, can be activated immediately to help Member States to develop these tools, with a focus on countries in central and eastern Europe, where femicide is increasing?
3.How does the Commission intend to monitor the implementation of these measures fairly between Member States, so that women all over the EU, including in Romania, can benefit effectively from real-time protection, and not just from limited pilot projects?
Since 2015, the Commission and the EU Agencies active in the field of migration[1] have provided significant operational support, while the financial support made available to Greece under the Home Affairs Funds is over EUR 5 billion[2], providing Greece with the means for an ambitious and comprehensive migration management policy.
In the context of the reform of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the EU has a permanent, legally binding but flexible solidarity mechanism as laid down in the Asylum[3] and Migration Management Regulation[4], guaranteeing that no Member State will be left alone when under pressure.
Greece has so far benefitted from various solidarity schemes, for example the relocation schemes established by the 2015 Commission Decisions, the 2020 voluntary relocation scheme[5], and the ongoing Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism (VSM)[6].
The Commission supports external border management through policy, funding, and operational support. This support includes the multiannual strategic policy for European integrated border management by the European Border and Coast Guard[7], strengthened European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) operations, and deploying digitalised systems[8].
Under the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, Greece is benefitting from more than EUR 1.1 billion under the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI)[9] to implement measures related to border surveillance and integrated border management.
The Commission also enhances cooperation with third countries and implements crisis response mechanisms to address irregular migration, migrant smuggling, and security risks.
Finally, the management of EU external borders is closely linked to the Pact on Migration and Asylum, particularly through the Screening Regulation[10] and contingency planning.
[1] EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol).
[2] During the 2014-2020 programming period, more than EUR 3.39 billion were made available to Greece to manage migration and borders under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Internal Security Fund (ISF- Borders and Visa, Police) and the Emergency Support Instrument (ESI). Under the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework, so far more than EUR 1.66 billion have been made available under the Home Affairs Funds (AMIF, Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument, ISF) to support the implementation of existing and upcoming priorities in the area of migration, border management and internal security.
[3] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a New Pact on Migration and Asylum, COM/2020/609 final.
[4] Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/2013, PE/21/2024/REV/1, OJ L, 2024/1351, 22.5.2024; ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1351/oj.
[5] More than 5,300 vulnerable persons were relocated from Greece, including 1,500 unaccompanied minors (UAMs).
[7] The national authorities of Member States responsible for border management, including coast guards to the extent that they carry out border control tasks, the national authorities responsible for return and Frontex constitute the European Border and Coast Guard.
[8] Like the Entry Exit System and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System.
[9] Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy PE/57/2021/INIT, OJ L 251, 15.7.2021, p. 48-93.
[10] Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/817, PE/20/2024/REV/1, OJ L, 2024/1356, 22.5.2024.
On Tuesday, 15 July 2025, from 11:00 to 12:30 in Brussels (room Antall 2Q2), the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) will hold a public hearing on the implications of the decisions of the ICJ and ICC on the EU’s role in supporting a peaceful solution for the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This hearing intends to clarify the overall situation and to provide both legal and political insights in the search for constructive EU positions on the matter.
The experts invited are Gleider Hernández, Professor of Public International Law, KU Leuven and Michael Meier, Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) and Associate Fellow. Geneva Centre for Security Policy.
The loan will co-finance projects included in the 2021-2027 plan of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and other EU funds.
The EIB loan will enable the Andalusia regional government to co-finance projects in various provinces of the region, from healthcare and education infrastructure improvement to sustainable urban transport and digitalisation.
The agreement highlights efforts to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion, one of the EIB Group’s cross-cutting strategic priorities.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €133 million loan with the Andalusia regional government (the Junta de Andalucía) to co-finance social, green and digital investment in the Spanish region. The EIB loan and co-financing from the Junta de Andalucía will make it possible to back projects contributing to the dual green and digital transition, social infrastructure development, jobs and training, and cohesion in Andalusia.
The loan is part of the EU operational programme for cohesion policy funding 2021-2027, particularly the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund.
The loan will co-finance projects in various provinces of the autonomous community, including the renovation and improvement of infrastructure like hospitals, health centres, music conservatories or primary and secondary schools where climate change adaptation works will also be undertaken; job incentives, training and labour inclusion; support for research, development and innovation in universities; and digitalisation, sustainable urban mobility and energy transition projects.
The agreement highlights the commitment of the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) to economic, social and territorial cohesion, which is one of the cross-cutting priorities set out in the Group’s strategic roadmap for 2024-2027. All the projects will be implemented in Andalusia, which is considered to be a cohesion region by the European Union.
This is the third loan signed by the Junta de Andalucía and the EIB under the 2021-2027 plan of the European Regional Development Fund, with the first €195 million loan being signed in December 2022, and the second €215 million loan signed in April 2024.
Background information
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impactprojects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024. This financing is contributing to the green and digital transition , economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for citizens in Spain.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of the EIB Group’s headquarters for media use are available here.
The loan will co-finance projects included in the 2021-2027 plan of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and other EU funds.
The EIB loan will enable the Andalusia regional government to co-finance projects in various provinces of the region, from healthcare and education infrastructure improvement to sustainable urban transport and digitalisation.
The agreement highlights efforts to promote economic, social and territorial cohesion, one of the EIB Group’s cross-cutting strategic priorities.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €133 million loan with the Andalusia regional government (the Junta de Andalucía) to co-finance social, green and digital investment in the Spanish region. The EIB loan and co-financing from the Junta de Andalucía will make it possible to back projects contributing to the dual green and digital transition, social infrastructure development, jobs and training, and cohesion in Andalusia.
The loan is part of the EU operational programme for cohesion policy funding 2021-2027, particularly the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Just Transition Fund.
The loan will co-finance projects in various provinces of the autonomous community, including the renovation and improvement of infrastructure like hospitals, health centres, music conservatories or primary and secondary schools where climate change adaptation works will also be undertaken; job incentives, training and labour inclusion; support for research, development and innovation in universities; and digitalisation, sustainable urban mobility and energy transition projects.
The agreement highlights the commitment of the European Investment Bank Group (EIB Group) to economic, social and territorial cohesion, which is one of the cross-cutting priorities set out in the Group’s strategic roadmap for 2024-2027. All the projects will be implemented in Andalusia, which is considered to be a cohesion region by the European Union.
This is the third loan signed by the Junta de Andalucía and the EIB under the 2021-2027 plan of the European Regional Development Fund, with the first €195 million loan being signed in December 2022, and the second €215 million loan signed in April 2024.
Background information
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impactprojects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024. This financing is contributing to the green and digital transition , economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for citizens in Spain.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of the EIB Group’s headquarters for media use are available here.
Question for written answer E-002411/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE)
Since 2022, tens of thousands of wild animals, mostly protected species, are reported to have been exported to the ‘Vantara’ zoological complex, located within an oil refinery complex in India. Numerous sources indicate that these exports do not comply with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) requirements, particularly for species listed in Appendix I. The European Union is among the main exporters, having sent over 5 400 specimens from its Member States. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is also implicated: chimpanzees, declared as captive-bred by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) despite the lack of known CITES-compliant breeding facilities, are being exported to Vantara. Yet the ICCN receives significant EU funding for conservation projects.
The CITES Secretariat has been tasked with investigating this matter, while non-governmental organisations are urging the Commission to take action.
1.What checks has the Commission carried out to ensure the legality of exports from the EU?
2.What evaluations have been carried out concerning the ICCN, and does the Commission plan to suspend its funding until the CITES technical assessment and verification mission is completed?
Question for written answer E-002411/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE)
Since 2022, tens of thousands of wild animals, mostly protected species, are reported to have been exported to the ‘Vantara’ zoological complex, located within an oil refinery complex in India. Numerous sources indicate that these exports do not comply with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) requirements, particularly for species listed in Appendix I. The European Union is among the main exporters, having sent over 5 400 specimens from its Member States. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is also implicated: chimpanzees, declared as captive-bred by the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN) despite the lack of known CITES-compliant breeding facilities, are being exported to Vantara. Yet the ICCN receives significant EU funding for conservation projects.
The CITES Secretariat has been tasked with investigating this matter, while non-governmental organisations are urging the Commission to take action.
1.What checks has the Commission carried out to ensure the legality of exports from the EU?
2.What evaluations have been carried out concerning the ICCN, and does the Commission plan to suspend its funding until the CITES technical assessment and verification mission is completed?
Question for written answer E-002426/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dick Erixon (ECR)
The European Court of Auditors’ Review 03/2025 highlights a growing mismatch between the EU’s expanding financial ambitions and its capacity for effective oversight. With calls for a larger post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) to fund new priorities and crisis responses, the review stresses that this must be accompanied by strengthened audit and control mechanisms. The experience of NextGenerationEU demonstrated that neither the Court of Auditors nor national audit institutions were sufficiently resourced to fully cover the surge in spending.
This concern is reinforced by the Court’s finding of a record-high error rate in EU spending in recent years, signalling increasing risks to sound financial management.
In the light of this:
1.How does the Commission intend to ensure that increases in the post-2027 EU budget are accompanied by a proportional strengthening of audit and control capacity?
2.Will the Commission commit to linking future budget expansions to guaranteed increases in resources for the European Court of Auditors and relevant national bodies?
3.What concrete steps will the Commission take to reduce error rates and ensure effective use of EU funds under the next MFF?
Question for written answer E-002405/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Viktória Ferenc (PfE), Tamás Deutsch (PfE), Kinga Gál (PfE), Enikő Győri (PfE), András Gyürk (PfE), Annamária Vicsek (PfE), András László (PfE), György Hölvényi (PfE), Csaba Dömötör (PfE), Ernő Schaller-Baross (PfE), Pál Szekeres (PfE)
The ongoing war in Ukraine has had a severe impact on society as a whole, including women on the home front. Due to mass conscription and the constant existential threat of war, many of these women are alone, left caring for multigenerational families under increasing psychological strain. Rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD and burnout are rising.
At the same time, women belonging to the Ukraine’s Hungarian community often face additional linguistic and cultural barriers that limit their access to appropriate mental health services. Identity – especially cultural, national and linguistic identity – is one of the most powerful psychological protective factors, especially in crisis situations. Any efforts to promote mental health regeneration must recognise that mental health interventions cannot work in a culturally neutral environment.
1.What concrete measures has the Commission taken, or is it planning to take, to ensure targeted, linguistically and culturally accessible mental health support for Hungarian women in Transcarpathia, in view of the war-related challenges and the heightened vulnerability of these women?
2.When does the Commission plan to publish the EU4Health 2025 work programme, and how will it support mental health interventions targeting national minority populations in war-affected areas, such as the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia?
Question for written answer E-002422/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Liudas Mažylis (PPE)
Since the Russian Federation began its occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in 2022, this piece of strategically important infrastructure has become the focus of constant military action and geopolitical blackmail. On 6 June 2025, Russian nuclear energy chief Alexey Likhachev informed the IAEA that a detailed plan to restart the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant had been drawn up. There have also been reports that Russia intends to disconnect the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from Ukraine’s electricity grid and integrate it into Russia’s energy system. Given Russia’s ongoing military operations around the nuclear power plant, restarting it would only increase the risk of a nuclear disaster.
In light of this, could the Commission answer the following questions:
1.Is the Commission aware of Russia’s plans to restart the reactors at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and has an assessment been carried out in cooperation with the IAEA on the possible consequences for nuclear safety?
2.How does the Commission assess the role of Rosatom in this process, and would it consider urgently adding this company and its subsidiaries in Europe to the EU sanctions list for its direct involvement in the reckless operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant?
3.Given that some Member States, such as Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, have already imposed national sanctions on Rosatom and its management, will the Commission consider adopting measures to coordinate these national decisions at EU level in order to ensure the overall effectiveness of the sanctions regime?
Question for written answer E-002425/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dick Erixon (ECR)
The European Court of Auditors’ Review 03/2025 highlights several structural weaknesses in the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) that should be addressed in the post-2027 period. These include the insufficient flexibility of the budget to respond to crises, the proliferation of instruments outside the MFF, and a lack of clarity concerning accountability for new tools such as NextGenerationEU. The review also stresses the need for better alignment between political priorities and financial programming, and the importance of strengthening transparency, parliamentary oversight and performance orientation.
In the light of these concerns:
1.How does the Commission intend to strengthen budgetary unity and democratic accountability in the design of the post-2027 MFF?
2.What measures will be taken to ensure that future crisis instruments remain within the MFF and under proper parliamentary scrutiny?
3.Will the Commission commit to a comprehensive review of spending effectiveness and institutional transparency before proposing the next MFF?
Question for written answer E-002425/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Dick Erixon (ECR)
The European Court of Auditors’ Review 03/2025 highlights several structural weaknesses in the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) that should be addressed in the post-2027 period. These include the insufficient flexibility of the budget to respond to crises, the proliferation of instruments outside the MFF, and a lack of clarity concerning accountability for new tools such as NextGenerationEU. The review also stresses the need for better alignment between political priorities and financial programming, and the importance of strengthening transparency, parliamentary oversight and performance orientation.
In the light of these concerns:
1.How does the Commission intend to strengthen budgetary unity and democratic accountability in the design of the post-2027 MFF?
2.What measures will be taken to ensure that future crisis instruments remain within the MFF and under proper parliamentary scrutiny?
3.Will the Commission commit to a comprehensive review of spending effectiveness and institutional transparency before proposing the next MFF?
Question for written answer E-002409/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Özlem Demirel (The Left)
In 2023, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) published a brochure titled ‘My guidebook on return’ to prepare children, young people and unaccompanied minors for their removal. Until recently widely overlooked, the illustrated publication trivialises the coercive measure of deportation with child-friendly language and colourful images, as if it were an exciting adventure.
1.Who was tasked respectively with producing, designing, translating and printing the brochure, and what resources were spent on it?
2.When, in what volume and in which languages were the brochures published, and where are they handed out in printed form?
3.How does Frontex respond to the criticism that the brochure does not speak openly about the return process, thus concealing the reality of the often traumatising measures?
Question for written answer E-002413/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Marco Squarta (ECR), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR), Ruggero Razza (ECR), Mario Mantovani (ECR), Francesco Torselli (ECR), Alberico Gambino (ECR), Carlo Ciccioli (ECR), Paolo Inselvini (ECR), Francesco Ventola (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR), Lara Magoni (ECR), Denis Nesci (ECR)
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has had serious educational consequences in recent months in that it has jeopardised access to higher education for thousands of young people. Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/817 governing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2021‑2027 provides for the possibility of targeted measures being triggered in crisis situations or exceptional circumstances so as to ensure continuity of education.
Such flexibility has already been used in response to the Ukraine crisis, through ad hoc measures such as Erasmus 4Ukraine, extraordinary scholarships and facilitated mobility.
In view of the need to support the right to education of young people impacted by conflicts in order to promote academic cohesion, resilience and cooperation at international level, it would be appropriate to consider extraordinary instruments for Gaza too, without ignoring the need to carefully check that all the requisite security conditions are fulfilled.
In the light of the above, can the Commission state whether it plans to assess, within the framework of the Erasmus+ Regulation and its flexibility clauses, the possibility of triggering an extraordinary call for proposals or specific measures to support the academic mobility of students from Gaza, conceivably also through hybrid (online or in person) learning, in partnership with European universities?
Source: United States Senator for Kentucky Mitch McConnell
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, convened today’s hearing “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Navy”. Prepared text of his opening statement follows:
“I’ll begin by welcoming Secretary of the Navy John Phelan, Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James Kilby, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric Smith. I’m grateful to each of you for your willingness to lead at a pivotal moment for the Department, and to the sailors, Marines, and civilian personnel who advance Navy and Marine Corps missions and keep America safe every day.
“I’m particularly grateful to the sailors who have stood watch in the Gulf and the Red Sea over the last 20 months helping to defend Israel, US interests, and freedom of navigation against Iranian-backed terrorists. And to the crews deployed there right now who launched Tomahawk cruise missiles as part of the joint operation to strike what I hope is a fatal blow to Iran’s nuclear aspirations.
“I also want to recognize the Marine Corps, whose fallen comrades were among the earliest victims of Iran’s decades-long war against the United States and Israel — those taken hostage with U.S. Embassy personnel in Tehran and the hundreds killed in Beirut in 1983, before any of us on this dais showed up in Washington.
“Generations of servicemembers carry the scars of Iran-backed attacks on American personnel in the region over the decades. Their sacrifices remind us that ‘Death to America’ is more than rhetoric.
“For too long, Tehran itself faced negligible costs for the actions of their terrorist proxies. Thanks to Israel’s initiative in turning the tables – and the President’s decision to back them up – the Islamic Republic is finally paying a steep price.
“This weekend’s events are yet a further reminder of the challenges facing the joint force today. And my colleagues and I hope to understand the extent to which you think the President’s budget request would provide the resources necessary to meet, deter, and defeat them.
“Each of the Services is grappling in its own way with the reality of renewed major-power competition and with the increasing alignment of America’s adversaries. As you know, major transformations test assumptions and service culture. They test the capacity of the industrial base. And, importantly, they hinge on transparent working relations with Congress and on robust and consistent full-year investments in major priorities.
“I’ll offer just a few observations in this vein. First, the good: Secretary Phelan, I’ve appreciated your recognition of Congress’ role in equipping the Navy and Marine Corps and the collaborative approach you’ve taken with this subcommittee. Your willingness to communicate transparently will continue to benefit our shared mission of restoring the Navy’s preeminence. I also appreciate your persistent engagement with the maritime industrial base. Your travels to see our shipbuilding challenges across the country, firsthand, have not gone unnoticed. We will not solve this problem without the private sector.
“Likewise, General Smith – The Marine Corps spent years developing a clear rationale for major transformation, made tough and deliberate choices, and engaged Congress effectively along the way. Marine Corps Force Design 2030 continues to offer other services valuable lessons as they pursue transformation efforts of their own. I look forward to hearing how the Marine Corps’ own transformation to meet future threats is going: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But, to be quite frank, the decisions this Administration has made on resourcing the Department of Defense – a full-year CR that failed to address rising costs of operations and maintenance and major modernization requirements, a one-time reconciliation investment that risks new cliffs for sustainment, and a base request for FY26 even lower than the previous Administration’s FY25 request – make each of your jobs more difficult.
“At the most basic level, an FY26 base defense topline that doesn’t keep pace with inflation – let alone with the ‘pacing’ threat of the PRC – does not show we’re serious about the tasks before us. Neither does pretending that one-time injections of funding are a substitute for consistent appropriations. For example, none of you needs me to point out the breadth of bipartisan support for accelerating procurement of Virginia-class submarines. If the Administration shares our interest in meaningfully expanding shipbuilding capacity, why are investments like this one not built into the base budget request? Why are we allocating funds under extraordinary parliamentary authorities for capabilities that would otherwise have been funded in an annual appropriation? Will the Navy even be able to complete two Virginia class subs with reconciliation money before the funding expires?
“Leaving aside the color of money, we’ll also want to hear your assessment of the impediments to delivering essential capabilities like submarines, destroyers, and amphibious vessels at the speed of relevance. This subcommittee has been consistently generous, but despite pouring billions more dollars into the effort, the timeline for producing a Virginia-class sub continues to stretch longer. Of course, we don’t just need to build platforms faster. We need to figure out how to make munitions more efficiently – especially the exquisite missile defense interceptors and long-range fires on which current operations are relying so heavily. How has the Navy handled the high operational tempo in the Red Sea? How does the FY26 request reflect the urgent need to deepen our magazines in a more cost-effective manner?
“Finally, I’m curious about the lessons your services are taking from current conflicts. What has the Navy learned from the demands of long deployments and the costs of air wing accidents on the U.S.S. Truman? What lessons is the service taking from Ukraine’s decimation of Russia’s Black Sea fleet? How is the Navy approaching force protection itself? Is it hardening major assets, both in port and at sea? Does it have sufficient resources to do so?
“What is the Marine Corps learning from Russia’s ground war in Ukraine? How does information-sharing at the cutting-edge of modern warfare inform the service’s ongoing transformation effort? To what extent is success in the face of unique Indo-Pacific circumstances dependent on things outside your control, like logistics and transportation provided by other services or commands?
“I will be curious for each of your observations. I would just suggest that any honest accounting of the task at hand will have to reckon with the deficiencies of the defense topline. If our objective is to build a force capable of projecting power globally to deter, fight, and prevail against Chinese aggression, possibly while engaged in conflict in other theatres, I don’t see how this budget request gets us there. So we’ll look forward to your testimony in just a moment.”
Children from Tomnacross Primary School in Kiltarlity have been congratulated for helping to develop their local play park as part of Highland Council’s investment in play areas across the Inverness region.
The Kiltarlity Play Park has been upgraded with new equipment which was chosen by the children and includes a basket swing, a flat spinning disc to challenge balance and coordination, new swings and a climbing frame with a top perch for watching Shinty.
Chair of Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee, Councillor Graham MacKenzie said: “I’m delighted that new equipment for all ages and abilities has been installed at Kiltarlity Play Park, thanks to the inspiration and creativity of the children from Tomnacross Primary School. The children played a central role in designing their newly upgraded play park and this project ensured that young people were at the heart of the design process to create a play space that’s inclusive and community focused.
“By supporting young people to design their own play spaces, we not only encourage creative and collaborative thinking but also ensure that children have an opportunity to share their views on what play means to them in their own community. The young people of Tomnacross Primary School have shown true leadership and vision and have set an excellent example of how young voices can help shape the places in which they live. I would like to thank the children for their commitment to the project and look forward to the park’s official opening event.”
An official opening of the new Kiltarlity Play Park will take place on Friday 27 June at 10.30am and all members of the community are warmly invited to attend.
Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Ian Brown, said: “This has been a fantastic community-driven project that reflects Highland Council’s wider commitment to supporting child-led initiatives and promoting every child’s right to play, choice, and inclusion. The success and popularity of Shinty in the area created the need for a new training pitch, which in turn created the opportunity to redevelop the play park. I am delighted to see how well used the new equipment is, and my thanks to everyone involved in this exciting project.”
Funding for the project was allocated by the Inverness City Area Committee as part of the Scottish Government’s Play Park Renewal Fund. Additional funding was received from Kiltarlity Shinty Club.
Communities across the Highlands who are interested in upgrading their local play areas can contact Highland Council’s Play Park Strategy Coordinator for more information: lynn.macgillivray@highland.gov.uk
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China will continue to work with Islamic countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to promote the continuous development of relations with them, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.
Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a question about the 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, which was held from June 21 to 22 in Istanbul, Turkey.
The official representative recalled that the participants of the event recognized China’s efforts to protect Muslim communities, highly appreciated the comprehensive development of relations between China and Islamic countries, and expressed hope for further strengthening of cooperation between the OIC and China.
“This is the sixth time that the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ resolution has included language that is friendly to China. The Chinese side welcomes this,” Guo Jiakun said.
Calling the OIC a symbol of unity and independence of Islamic countries and a bridge for developing their ties with China, Guo Jiakun noted that in recent years, China, Islamic countries and the OIC have continuously deepened mutual trust, expanded cooperation in various fields and strengthened inter-civilizational exchanges, which has yielded significant results.
The Chinese diplomat also pointed out that representatives of the OIC and its member states have visited China on numerous occasions, including to Xinjiang. According to Guo Jiakun, this has allowed them to better understand China’s ethnic and religious policies and the development situation in Xinjiang, and to give a positive assessment of what they have seen. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tbilisi, June 24 (Xinhua) — Mariam Kvrivishvili has been appointed Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. This was announced by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at a briefing at the government administration.
The appointment follows the resignation of Levan Davitashvili, who previously held the post.
Since May 2021, M. Kvrivishvili has held the position of Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development and oversaw key areas, including the development of tourism and aviation.
In 2019-2020, she headed the Georgian National Tourism Administration.
M. Kvrivishvili is also a member of the political council of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
L. Davitashvili has been appointed to a new position — Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister on Economic Issues, as well as Secretary of the Economic Council. He has headed the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development since February 2022, while simultaneously serving as Deputy Prime Minister and then First Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 24 (Xinhua) — China opposes the use of force to resolve disputes and always stands for peace, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.
Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
As the Chinese diplomat noted, Israel and the United States used force against Iran, citing “potential future threats,” thereby seriously violating international law and encroaching on the sovereignty of the Iranian state.
Dialogue and negotiations are the only way out of the situation, Wang Yi said, stressing that all parties should resume dialogue on an equal basis and promote the return of the Iranian nuclear issue to the path of political settlement.
The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry also drew attention to the fact that the Palestinian issue remains the core of the Middle East problems and in this regard it is necessary to facilitate the implementation of the two-state solution.
H. Fidan, for his part, said that if Israel wants to protect its security, it should agree to a two-state solution and stop the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.
He added that Türkiye expects to strengthen communication and coordination with China in order to jointly achieve peace and stability in the Middle East region. –0–
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, on the margins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Building on the two countries’ already strong ties, the Prime Minister and the President discussed deepening the Canada-Latvia partnership, with a focus on increasing trade and investment, including in defence and energy.
They reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional security and underscored the importance of achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. They also discussed the need to increase pressure on Russia, including through sanctions.
Prime Minister Carney reiterated Canada’s support for Euro-Atlantic security, as demonstrated by its leadership through the Canada-led NATO Multinational Brigade in Latvia. He thanked the President for Latvia’s exemplary role in hosting Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members serving under Operation REASSURANCE. The operation includes approximately 2,000 personnel, making it the largest deployment of CAF members overseas.
The Prime Minister also outlined Canada’s plan to rebuild, rearm, and reinvest in the CAF – meeting the NATO 2 per cent target this year and accelerating defence investments in the years ahead.