What Bart spoke about.

17

Sep

2024

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Global measures towards social media platforms - Strengthening the role of DSA and protecting democracy and freedom in the online sphere (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, colleagues, since 2017, the Chinese state can demand from any Chinese company to help execute Chinese offensive espionage operations abroad and its operations to influence elections abroad. One hundred and fifty million – mainly young – Europeans have installed the Chinese app TikTok. Its algorithms help them decide what to like, what to trust and who to vote for. TikTok engineers in China decide what the trends are in Europe, in fashion and music, but also in politics. What could possibly go wrong, dear colleagues? Well, of course, first Chinese espionage can be enabled on a device. And second, our elections can be influenced by the Chinese state. So what to do? First, this Parliament should take its task seriously and set up a serious hearing of TikTok's top executives on whether the TikTok app has a place in our democratic Union. Secondly, when politicians like ourselves decide to use TikTok, don't just reach out to those 150 million young voters, but also use the TikTok app to stand up against the Communist Party in China, its ideology and misbehaviour, or else we are complacent to autocratic censorship ourselves.

17

Jul

2024

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Announcements concerning the ninth parliamentary term

Madam President, today is a sad day. Today, exactly 10 years ago, flight MH17 leaving from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down – a shameful, shameful deed. Shooting down innocent people from ten kilometres altitude, 298 innocent people were killed: 196 of them – I must reiterate, dear President – were Dutch, four Belgians, four Germans, but 17 nationalities in total. More than 80 children were onboard. Russia had effective control of the territories from which that rocket was fired. Russia was beyond any doubt… Beyond any doubt, the Russian military fired that Buk missile. And today we grieve. Today we are united in our grief. And today we seek justice for the dead. And we want to take responsibility. We want Russia to take responsibility. But Russia is not taking responsibility. Three men were convicted in The Hague, but they remain in Russia under the custody of Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin spreads disinformation, false narratives about MH17, and Vladimir Putin still occupies territory and kills innocent people. Later this year, the European Court of Human Rights will come with a verdict. Later this year, the Civil Aviation Organisation will come with a verdict. But I would like to say, as an inhabitant of The Hague, Mr Putin, President Putin, The Hague is the only city in the European Union where you are welcome. And I live to see the day that you end up in The Hague.

24

Apr

2024

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Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel, the need for de-escalation and an EU response (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, the fact that Russia, China and Iran are on their way together to form a bloc against ours is now widely recognised and it is the issue of our time. Today it is Iran's turn. I would like to thank the co-rapporteurs for the unanimity with which this House called last night in the negotiations for the inclusion of the Revolutionary Guard on the EU terror list. If you sow terror on European soil for 30 years, then that has consequences. But there is also a lot of work to be done with regard to the unanimous call to better protect the Iranian freedom-loving people in Europe, including digitally. Essentially, Mr Borrell, this Parliament is dealing with your policy. Much of what is in this resolution should have happened a long time ago. A wise Chinese proverb says: The best time to plant a tree is 30 years ago. The second best moment is today. So put the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the EU terrorism list today. Stop the export of high-tech devices that find their way into weapons against Ukraine and Israel. Punish human rights abusers. Make a fist for the Iranian people, against autocrats.

10

Apr

2024

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New allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, in the upcoming EU elections and the impact on the Union (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, 2024 is the high mass for Chinese and Russian disinformation. In 2024, more than 50% of the world population will vote. Free people will use what China and Russia fear most: democracy. There’s no surprise that we see active measures online, in the real world, and I would like to thank the Czech intelligence agency for actually disclosing that, for their openness on the website Voices of Europe. The best disinfectant is still sunlight. That website is down. So I commend you, dear Commissioner, for that. Great. But I would also like to inform you, dear colleagues, that many videos of that website are still online on social media platforms widely available, like on X owned by the indifferent Mr Musk. So if it’s the EU saying that we are serious about countering foreign malign interference, then set the example now. Make platforms remove the Russian Voices of Europe videos online. Do it now, because the elections are not in June, but they are now.

11

Mar

2024

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Horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, colleagues, thanks to the pressure that’s been put in this House, these European Union buildings like this one are fully equipped with Western hard- and software. But our colleagues in the African Union were less fortunate. Their building is fully equipped with Chinese equipment and, demonstrably, that is being spied and being used against them in their own buildings. Now, last week, malicious software was discovered in our ports and harbours, here in our vital infrastructure. There’s plenty of concerns – all European intelligence agencies have these concerns about Chinese hard- and software, for example, being leveraged in their offensive espionage program – leveraged against us. So we need legislation, and this week we vote on the cybersecurity legislation of hard- and software products in a very good law. Also, because of your support, but also because we, in Parliament, introduced measures that enable the European Commission to impose market limitation, market restrictions to risky vendors and products because our citizens demand security, which means concrete decoupling. So the basis for decoupling and de-risking – sorry, not decoupling, but de-risking – is now here and now we need the full force of the European Commission to execute and keep us safe.

29

Feb

2024

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Commission recommendation on secure and resilient submarine cables (debate)

Mr President, Commissioner, I checked: it’s my 12th speech in this Parliament on the security of subsea infrastructure. So you might conclude I’m obsessed with it. But I guarantee you there’s someone even more obsessed with it and his name is Vladimir Putin. NATO and individual countries – like Tom Berendsen just said – are already operationally active to start countering Putin’s sabotage capabilities. And last week, the European Commission put forward a good plan – finally, I must say – to help protect our subsea infrastructure. Thank you! But I ask you to focus only on the things that the EU does best, and leave the rest to NATO or individual Member States. First, make sure that Russian and Chinese companies are excluded from commercial projects connecting Europe with internet cables. I ask for binding rules so that they can be enforced by the European Commission. Secondly, actively increase the connectivity of our continent with the rest of the world so sabotage will be less effective and consumer prices will be lower. Thirdly, create joint European subsea capabilities. Start by setting a standard for a European repair ship, for example, and build it. Set a standard for coast guard vessels; jointly build them; set the standards and do it. Buy them; set up a joint programme around it for joint information sharing, joint response, joint mitigation. Plant a flag by building concrete capabilities. I’ve seen plenty of strategy. Now let’s see the execution because with the current threat, execution is the strategy.

28

Feb

2024

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Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I stand before you today as a trans-Atlanticus, so as someone who appreciates that our military security is only guaranteed by the superior military strategic capability of the Americans. This is the main reason why Putin is not attacking European NATO member states for the time being. But we in Europe have alienated those American friends from ourselves. With almost all weapons systems that are absolutely necessary to be able to act at scale, but that are also too expensive to develop or to buy ourselves, we leave it to the Americans, and therefore we cannot defend ourselves now. So, from now on we will develop these systems ourselves in Europe or buy them ourselves, in Europe or in the US. The $100 billion defense fund is the absolute necessity. But a fully-fledged European pillar within NATO also needs a European Security Council with countries that are not in the EU, but are in NATO: Norway, United Kingdom, Turkey. Do not wait to set up such a structure, but start today.

27

Feb

2024

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Unitary supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products - Unitary supplementary certificate for medicinal products - Supplementary protection certificate for plant protection products (recast) - Supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products (recast) - Standard essential patents (joint debate - Patents)

Mr President, Commissioner, it is always very careful when the government calls for a fair price to be paid for something. The remedy is often worse than the ailment. Take a look, for example, at how Minister Hugo de Jonge has shut down the housing market in the Netherlands. Sure, he forced lower rents, but investors are now building fewer homes and the market is closing. Something similar is now happening in Europe in the field of patents. You'll be a patent holder. You will have recorded all your knowledge and intellectual property in those patents and make money with them, for example to build 5G and 6G networks in Europe. They reap the benefits of their work, they are companies such as Nokia, Ericsson but also Philips. I say: Nokia, Ericsson, Philips will not let what happened to Dutch investors in the housing market happen. Proposals that create bureaucratic layers, that affect business models of companies and of our European champions, that may play into the hands of Chinese business models. Colleagues, as we have said in Holland for centuries: Watch your case. Support tomorrow our amendments to rationalise this proposal and support our opposition to this bill.

7

Feb

2024

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The fight against hate speech and disinformation: responsibility of social platforms within the Digital Services Act (topical debate)

Mr President, dear Minister, dear Commissioner, I think today we have to speak about mitigating the risk about deepfakes. And of course – of course – we have to criminalise the sharing of deepfake videos of Taylor Swift. We have to oblige creators of deepfake videos to put a label there. But the only way to tackle real – real – threats to our democracy and security is to put obligations on platforms, just like we ask platforms to tackle illegal content, IP infringements, spam, botnets, terrorist content and much more. And rightly so. But no obligations were set for platforms when it comes to deepfakes. Two years ago, we had a great opportunity to oblige Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, et cetera to detect and to watermark and label deepfake videos on the platform, so citizens at least know when a deepfake goes viral that it’s not real. My amendments on this made it to Parliament’s negotiating position, and thank you for that, rapporteur Christel Schaldemose, but it didn’t make it to the final position of the law. The big tech lobby won. And I’m very disappointed about that. Two years ago, one might say, ‘Deepfakes – is that a real life problem?’ But in 2024, we see daily deepfake scams and it’s rising fast and we need best-effort obligations for platforms to detect deepfakes and to label it as an obligation for them. Put it in the code of practice, or legislate before real and existential accidents occur to our democracy and security.

13

Dec

2023

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European Defence investment programme (EDIP) (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, representative of the Council, we’ve just learned the far left doesn’t want to dedicate any money to defence, but Russia, dear colleagues from the left, is dedicating 40% of its GDP to a malicious war in Europe. Let’s not fool ourselves that Putin will stop in Europe – Putin is preparing for a full-scale war with NATO. China, meanwhile, has spent each year a percentage more than its own GDP growth on its military. In other words, it is preparing for a war in Asia. If we want peace, a long-term plan to boost our own defence is the best deterrence against war. It was exactly that which ended the Cold War, by the way, against far left Communists. This European Commissioner has already done great work with two instruments enabling a European defence industrial base for our friends in Ukraine. But we are desperately waiting for a long-term instrument to complement that in order to keep peace. Last but not least, the new European Commission should have one Commissioner, including a Vice-President, dedicated to defence and the defence industry to show our commitment to building a European pillar in NATO.

12

Dec

2023

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European Economic Security Strategy (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioners, China is preparing for a war in Asia, and as soon as President XI is optimistic enough that he will succeed with little costs, the Middle Empire will strike. And in such a scenario, Europe will look at how to use its economic power, its leverage, similar to how we pressured Russia after it started its war here in Europe. But I doubt, dear colleagues, I very much doubt whether we are prepared for such a scenario. The fact is that China already both decoupled and de-risked from us, whereas we still let dependencies increase. So we need ASAP proposals for outbound investment screening to stop strategic industrial exposure in high-risk autocratic countries. We need European export controls on sensitive and strategic technologies, and far stronger investment in screening is necessary as we still see Chinese takeovers of European strategic industries. If you, Commissioner, come forward with such proposals, we will do anything we can to help you Europeanise such approaches and help create the instruments we need for the next generation of conflict.

12

Dec

2023

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Defence of democracy package (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioners, colleagues, I have the tradition of reviewing voting results after this House votes on things the Chinese Communist Party really dislikes, and the Greek Social Democrats tend to consistently abstain or vote against China-critical texts. The underpinning problem is, of course, Greece’s critical port of Piraeus now being China-owned. This is foreign interference at work. In my country, the Netherlands, we consistently supported Nord Stream 2, the pipeline, together with Germany, where it was obviously meant to punch off Ukraine, silence critical voices against Russia’s own malign behaviour. So capturing European elites, like Russia did with Gerhard Schröder, is here, of course, the underpinning problem. Real defence of democracy is therefore to get rid of pressure points of autocratic governments in our society, reduce our own exposure to theirs. Real defence of democracy is therefore outbound investment screening, blocking unwanted takeovers of critical industries, and to name and shame those captured elites. This Defence of Democracy package, dear Commissioners, is much welcomed and I support it. But the real defence of democracy is yet to come.

20

Nov

2023

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Framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology products manufacturing ecosystem (Net Zero Industry Act) (debate)

Madam President, at the basis of many technologies reducing carbon emissions, we find semiconductors, chips. Better, faster chips, better system designs – these are often the main drivers of reducing CO2 emissions. But true industrial policy, dear colleagues, is therefore bringing together industries and technologies downstream, and the Net-Zero Industry Act has the unique opportunity to bring the chip sector closer to the clean tech industry. Yet – yet – we see no mention of chips, no mention of semiconductors in the Net-Zero Industry Act. In fact, instead of synergies, chips are excluded from the scope, and this unnecessarily obstructs the joint research, it obstructs joint ventures, joint academic cooperation and talent development. I fully support what has been done on the net-zero industry by the rapporteur. Great work by the Commission, great work. But when it comes to reaching zero obstacles and net-zero obstacles between chips and between net-zero technologies, much can be done.

3

Oct

2023

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Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations

I was glad that you raised the issue of espionage and also cyber security in China and Beijing. Well, last week an EU institution, ETSI, which sets technological standards here in Europe, here in France, said very quietly, very silently, it was hacked. It didn’t say anything about criminal intent, ransomware intent. It was very quiet on that. Together with the cyber security agency of France, ANSEE, it made public that it was hacked. Of all states, of all adversarial states, only China has a clear strategy to influence sector tech standards, to influence it, and to become less free and to introduce censorship in our technology. What I would like to hear from you and my question to you, therefore, is do you have any technical artefacts from that hack, that point towards China? Is there any indication that China was involved in this cyber operation? Because if it was, it is unfair, like you said. It is unfair trade and competition. It is espionage, and it is another example on how the European Union and Commission should act towards China to reverse the low cost, low risk, high reward for China and actually do something about it.

12

Sep

2023

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Iran: one year after the murder of Jina Mahsa Amini (debate)

Mr President, High Representative, colleagues, this week marks one year since the brave Mahsa Amini was shamefully beaten to death by the Islamic Morality Police in Tehran. We honour Amini, her relatives and friends today and we honour the brave Iranian people because they stood up against their oppressors. In this same week, we also express our continuous disapproval of the Iranian regime, not just for still further suppressing and oppressing the Iranian people or irresponsibly developing weapons of mass destruction, but also because of kidnapping European citizens to put political pressure on us here in Europe. This is unacceptable hostage diplomacy and the European answer for 513 days has been civilised silent diplomacy. Dear High Representative, there is a point in time where silent diplomacy is neither effective nor acceptable. That time is now. Three obvious suggestions. One: as long as Europeans in Iran can be taken hostage without any reason, we must not allow Europeans to travel to Iran. Two: expel Iranian ambassadors from Europe as long as our citizens do not return home safely. Three: finally put the IRGC on the EU terror list but complement that with another obvious course of action, sanctioning the men of Beit-e Rahbari, the Office of the Supreme Leader. They issue human rights violations on a daily basis. This week is to commemorate and to honour those in search of freedom and a better future. This is definitely not a week to stay silent.

11

Jul

2023

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European Chips Act (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, before I came to this Parliament, by profession I investigated Chinese hackers and the Chinese appetite to steal from our European semi-conductor industry was just appalling. It amounted to nothing less than pure theft of our industrial earning power and competitiveness. But with today’s vote on the European Chips Act, we contribute to reverse this trend. After today, Europe is again taking control of its earning power and its digital future. But already today, foundries, factories, researchers and innovation are coming back to Europe as we speak. Nearly EUR 100 billion of investments in 68 projects across Europe are already in the pipeline today. At the courtesy of this Parliament, the Chips Act also stands the geopolitical test of our time, more cooperation with our like-minded partners, stronger protection of intellectual property and European scrutiny on exports, too, and investments in China. With this blueprint for industrial policy, Europe reasserts its status as an industrial powerhouse. The best is therefore not just behind us, it is yet to come.

14

Jun

2023

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Investigation of the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware - Investigation of the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (draft recommendation) (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, it makes perfect sense that some EU Member States use commercial spyware to fulfil legitimate law enforcement requirements. That’s not the problem. The real problem, of course, is, like the rapporteur said, that some EU Member States use this spyware to discredit the democratic opposition and kill democracy in Europe. Poland, Hungary, Greece – shame on them. And I have a triple call to action to the Commission. First, since it is often the Israeli Government signing export licences for the spyware used to kill democracy in Europe, the EU should exert significant pressure on Jerusalem to halt such exports. Secondly, together with our American friends, the EU should put forward primary and secondary sanctions to entities who sell to the rule of law violators. Put these companies out of business. And, last but not least, let me remind the Commissioner that it was the brilliant Canadian NGO Citizens Lab who disclosed the Pegasus spyware scandal here in Europe in the first place. Where, dear Commissioner, is the European equivalent to investigate such technical operations? My amendment to the European budget has already created a budget line to create such an institution. It’s now up to you to follow up and make it happen.

1

Jun

2023

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Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation - Election integrity and resilience build-up towards European elections 2024 (debate)

Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, in the same week that this House rings the alarm bells on malign foreign interference, disinformation, growing hatred and the declining trust in our democracies, often enabled by social media, in that same week, the CEO of Twitter decides to abandon the EU’s code of practice directed to counter disinformation and malign interference. And earlier, the CEO of Twitter had already fired the majority of his staff dealing with such problems. Mr Elon Musk seems to think that he’s in the American Wild West. Well he’s not. He’s operating in Europe, too, and there’s a new sheriff in town here in Europe. From this August onwards, the Digital Services Act enables the European Commission to fine up to 6% of the yearly revenue of Twitter. Dear Commissioner, I urge you to set an example and show how Europe deals with companies undermining our democracy, undermining our security. Because the report we vote on today shows how Russia, how China, how they vehemently continue to do so if we don’t regulate or act.

8

May

2023

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Establishing the Act in support of ammunition production (debate)

Mr President, dear Commissioner, concrete and credible plans for producing 1 million shells for Ukraine within 12 months is just spot on and much appreciated. And I would like to thank the competent commitment of this Commission and especially Commissioner Breton, but also Commissioner Borrell in particular, dedicated to the faith of defence in Europe. But with 5 000 shells, dear Commissioner, fired per day, Ukraine still needs 1.8 million shells instead of 1 million, or maybe triple that, since the numbers are separate of what NATO countries themselves already ordered extra. So I must convey my concern that this initiative might not be enough. Secondly, dear Commissioner, artillery is very, very important – but so are more interceptors for dedicated integrated air defence systems or MANPADS, or more multiple launch rocket system munitions, or more anti-tank missiles, more production lines for tanks or infantry fighting vehicles and combat support, et cetera, et cetera. Outperforming the Russian war economy is probably the best way to peace. In other words, this new munition act is a great breakthrough and a great complement for the European Union if we pull this off. But hopefully only the mere beginning and not the final solution in helping Ukraine win this war.

1

Feb

2023

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Transparency and targeting of political advertising (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, colleagues, many voters in modern democracies base their choice on who to cast their vote for on what they read online on social media. I can hardly think of a bigger threat to our democracies than this because if Twitter, for example, is that town square Mr Musk is talking about, then should it be allowed for just one or two political parties to give speeches on that town square and not for others? Should it be allowed for just one or two political parties on the town square to paste posters? Hell no! Yet this is exactly what is happening online when social media algorithms draw voters into that rabbit hole and isolate them from pluralistic offerings of political views. On that town square, it may also never ever be allowed for authoritarian states such as Russia or China to finance, and therefore dictate, which political advertisements the people in that town of Mr Musk would get to see. The legislation we have before us today fills me with pride because it is tackling exactly such problems for the entire EU. We take matters into our own hands and we keep our democracy safe. My thanks to the rapporteur, Mr Gozi.

19

Jan

2023

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The Global Gateway Initiative (debate)

Mr President, as much as anyone might criticise the EU’s Global Gateway, the strategy and the concept are just brilliant. I mean, sustainable, trusted connections that bring free trade prosperity to all, and delivering all of that to the benefit of the EU’s geopolitical goals. Well done! Sure, there has been heavy, heavy criticism from the European Court of Auditors, which has to be taken extremely seriously, and Parliament will continue to do so and scrutinise the plans from the Commission. But all of that, all of the criticism, all of the cynicism, also today, will immediately dissolve, Commissioner, when the EU delivers, when the EU will become world champion in execution. It’s not about more strategy, it’s not about new wine in new wine skins. It’s about execution. Execution is the strategy. Show procreative power, show executive power and deliver projects, and show us in practice how rare earth materials strategy is hand—in—hand executed with the Development Goals.

17

Jan

2023

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EU response to the protests and executions in Iran (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has conducted many illegal hostages and killings, of course, in Iran, but increasingly on European soil. Members of the IRGC nonetheless send their children to study here in Europe. Social media platforms in Europe are being flooded with outrageous IRGC propaganda. And the IRGC holds financial assets here across this continent. And this will luckily all end soon. This House wants the IRGC to be labelled a terrorist organisation. This House will vote to impose costs on the IRGC and by doing so we demonstrate our support to the brave Iranian people. But let this also be a signal to so many Chinese companies like Huawei, on the brink of helping Iran develop an even more brutal surveillance state, to even further suppress the Iranian people, and to Russia, buying IRGC drones, selling them Su-35 fighter jets – this cannot be without consequences. The dangerous ideology of the IRGC has no place here in Europe, and ‘Zan, Zendegi, Azadi’ starts with putting and listing the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.

14

Dec

2022

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Defending democracy from foreign interference (debate)

Mr President, whatever significant progress we make as humanity, our human nature will not change. So for those who say the problem with foreign interference is the poor, bad, moral or ethical judgment of some individuals, I advise them to re—read the Book of Genesis. It was mankind eating the apple, and mankind will continue to be tempted. The real problem is, of course, that a permissive security environment exists in Brussels and in Strasbourg, where our adversaries operate in the heart of our democracy in order to interfere with it. Until recently, we had a China friendship group with a secretary—general from China who acted, paid by this House, and was authorised to work here. Similar groups exist for Qatar and other states. Russian interns walked the floors of this House. We still allow MEPs to travel to third countries, irrespective of who pays the bills. Our IT systems are vulnerable for espionage, and therefore external pressure on Members. Our security organisation is under—equipped, Commissioner, and hardly staffed to the level we need. Yes, justice must have its way with individuals and corrupt individuals must be punished, but this House urgently needs to create a non—permissive counter intelligence environment so that our adversaries don’t even dare to interfere with us.

22

Nov

2022

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EU-China relations (debate)

Madam President, dear Commissioner, High Representative, some see intellectual property theft on an almost industrial scale as the second-oldest profession in the world. What’s new? Instead of the slow drainage of our economic competitiveness, some see unfair competition with state subsidies, non-reciprocal market access just as mere trade issues, technical, instead of a frontal attack on our prosperity. And some see Chinese disinformation or support for dictators worldwide or its relationship with Russia, its military build-up as merely an expression of the new multipolar world, ‘get used to it’, instead of an attack on the liberal world order. Well, the EU, we respond to such threats with numerous pieces of legislation, critical entities, cybersecurity, foreign direct investment and what have you. But we do so with a country-agnostic, a country-neutral approach. But, in practice, this significantly hampers the effectiveness of these measures. Country-specific problems need country-specific legislation. We might believe we live in peace with the world, but China dictates itself that is in conflict with us. So act accordingly and let’s legislate accordingly.

22

Nov

2022

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Resilience of critical entities (debate)

President, dear Commissioner, yet another piece of well-crafted, much needed and warmly welcomed legislation protecting Europe’s critical infrastructure is key in making Europe safe and prosperous. Thank you, dear rapporteur. It’s just like the NIS 2, like you mentioned, dear Commissioner, and the foreign direct investment screening, the Democracy Action Plan, but also the Economic Coercion Instrument. But what do these files have in common? Against whom are we protecting ourselves? Let’s be clear: the reality is we are protecting ourselves against a small number of three countries who have something in common, namely an offensive intellectual property theft programme directed against us. The second thing is they want to thwart the liberal world order. And thirdly, last but not least, they are willing and able to do so in our own backyard, here, extraterritorially. That’s the problem. It’s Russia, Iran and China; let’s name these three. We might believe we live in peace with the world, but yet they declared a conflict against us. And yet we formulate generic responses. But, dear Commissioner, country-specific problems require country-specific legislation against these three nations. That’s what we’d like to see in future.