What Jeannette spoke about.

Mr President, I fully agree with the Commissioner that we want to go down this path. But the search is how – even in times of higher costs for the last investments – we can maintain the level playing field there, but above all how we can ensure that there are equal obligations, both for what we import and for what is produced.

Thank you to the Commissioner and thank you for working on postponement. I think it is important that we also discuss with the sector how much time is needed to come up with serious, new legislation. We see naturally that there are problems with the import and with the provision of information. These are things that we really need to take a good look at. And how that relates to our internal Europe

Mr President, every day millions of packages from platforms such as Temu and Shein flood our market, often barely controlled, unsafe and on terms that European entrepreneurs cannot compete with. With this agreement on the new EU customs law, we are finally tackling this problem at its source. E-commerce platforms become responsible for the products they sell on our market. Those who earn from the

Mr President, if an SME drops out before being able to submit a tender at all and a government subsequently chooses the cheapest instead of the best solution, our procurement rules do not work properly. Yet that still happens too often. That is why it is good that European public procurement rules are finally being overhauled. Congratulations to the Commissioner for submitting the document. The VV

Madam President, Commissioner McGrath, thank you for being here for this debate on the Electrification Action Plan. I say Action Plan, and that is what we need. We need more action for consumers and industry. Let me look specifically at industry, because when we see industry, and especially the chemical industry, they are very important to the competitiveness of Europe. The chemical industry makes

Mr President, sustainable biofuels are an important part of our European energy mix, and we should make it a lasting competitive advantage. Across Europe, significant investments are being made in scaling up sustainable biofuels for maritime transport and aviation alike. For our energy independence, it is very important that we make sure that we continue on that. But our first movers are facing he

Mr President, when I visit our industry in the Netherlands, I hear the same thing every time: the ambition and the technology are there to make it more sustainable, but the business community is suffocated in paperwork. Europe wants to become faster, cleaner and stronger. Then we cannot afford that projects that make that possible have to wait years for a building permit. In the Netherlands we see

Mr President, Europe is taking the first steps towards its own sustainable aviation and maritime fuel industry. The Sustainable Transport Investment Plan mobilises €2.9 billion until 2027. This is a good start, but far from the €100 billion needed by 2035. When scaling up synthetic fuels, we should not forget biofuels: they remain indispensable in the mix to make it more sustainable and meet the i

Mr President, Europe is losing billions in growth. And why? Not because our entrepreneurs are failing. No, because we do. We make rules, barriers, but above all we do national box thinking. As a result, we have 27 Member States, while we want to exploit one market. Recently I was looking for a company that specializes in products for hobby painters. A different label for each tube and a different

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am here on behalf of Dutch SMEs and the many entrepreneurs across Europe who struggle with overly complex tendering frameworks on a daily basis. Existing regulations are inscrutable and discouraging, especially for small businesses. With our own-initiative report, we advocate simplification and clear and flexible rules that give room for innovati

Mr President, water is not only vital for people and the environment, it is also a strategic resource. We can't live without enough clean water. Then we cannot guarantee food security, achieve climate goals and support innovative industries. Most of you probably think that the Netherlands has enough water, but we also have persistent drought. This makes us realize that we are not immune to water d

Mr President, Europe must become more entrepreneurial, not more bureaucratic. Entrepreneurs want to innovate and grow. Don't forget: the majority of entrepreneurs in Europe are small and medium-sized enterprises. They become entangled in a forest of reporting obligations. As far as I am concerned, we must take SMEs as a starting point. So that's why I asked this question: Can the Commission commit

Mr President, Commissioner, a strong internal market is the foundation for growth and progress and the means to survive the upcoming trade war. Because only if we really operate as one block, one internal market, do we stand strong. The recently presented Competitiveness Compass should contribute to this. It provides a clear roadmap, but the urgency is great and speed is needed for our industry. Y

Mr President, Commissioner. I am hearing more and more reports about reducing investment in our European industry. In many places, it is feared that sustainability will slow down. Also in the cluster Rotterdam, Antwerp and the Ruhr area. The Green Deal is a necessary step towards a clean economy and I want to stick to that. But stability is needed for a strong business environment. We must not ign

Mr President, Commissioner, in light of our goal to make the EU a competitive and sustainable powerhouse, I welcome the commitments of the Budapest declaration. Firstly, I cannot stress enough the need for a collective effort to unlock the full potential of our single market which is a driver for innovation, growth and resilience. This is especially vital for our manufacturing sectors which are ce

Mr President, Commissioner, Europeans place countless orders on foreign e-commerce platforms every day. Customs in the Netherlands alone processes 3.5 million parcels per day, forty per second. Let's be clear about it: Most of these packages come from China. Chinese companies are flooding our market with products, such as toys, that do not meet our European standards and safety regulations. Recent

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the effects of climate change are being felt across Europe. We are seeing this again with the tragic events in Central Europe. European residents are increasingly confronted with droughts, sea level rise and floods. Agriculture is also hit hard. Everywhere, in southern Europe, but also, for example, in the Netherlands, drought results in freshwater

Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, this is a serious subject on which I am giving my maiden speech today. The floods in Central and Eastern Europe have cost lives and destroyed communities. My thoughts go out to the victims, among residents and aid workers, and their families. This disaster, like the floods in the Netherlands in 2021 and the many forest fires in southern Europe, pai