What Virginijus spoke about.

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– I can only say that we always listen to the majority of citizens and I’m extremely happy to see huge involvement into our policies from citizens. Every policy or proposal that had a large amount of citizens’ signatures behind it usually went through this House also extremely successfully. So we always call for citizens’ involvement and very carefully listen to their voice. The European Green Dea…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your remarks. I can only say that, absolutely, our trade agreements overall, our policies when it comes to environmental protection or the fight against climate change, has to be horizontal and of course, has to intake our Green Deal policies. Otherwise, it’s going to be extremely difficult to implement the Green Deal if we will see the Green Deal or the environmental pol…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Mr President, so speaking about the funding, of course we have a LIFE fund which could be helpful, which is our environment fund. Even so, it’s a very little fund. Secondly, I think what’s very important when we speak about natural areas, about the management and so on, that also should be a part of the Member States’ recovery and resilience funding, which can be addressed through those funds. S…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your question. First of all, it’s our responsibility what is planted and what management plans are prepared, especially for Natura 2000 areas. Usually for Natura 2000 areas that’s extraordinary cases, but we see this trend more dangerous outside Natura 2000 areas. I think one of the major aims of our 3 Billion Trees initiative is not only to plant the 3 billion additional…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– I think it’s not mentioning and highlighting any Member State, because I think what’s extremely important is ensuring a level playing field to our fishermen and that the rules should be applicable across the board. Only then can we advance with the implementation and ensure that our fishermen and women, first of all, by doing their activities, will respect the rules. So a level playing field is,…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your question. So, as regards the marine resources protection, we are working on the plan, which will be finalised this year, as regards the marine resources protection action plan. Then, as regards fisheries activities, of course, our CFP has to play a crucial role, but not only CFP, also our fisheries fund, which is actually aimed at investing into more sustainable fish…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your question. So absolutely. That’s what I probably meant by saying that implementation is crucial. So, of course, traceability and monitoring, verification of data that is received based on geolocation data at the source by operators is crucial to have. Then we can ensure that our legislation reaches its aims and we have approved data that can prove the origin of the co…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your question. So our proposal was based on an impact assessment, and it addressed the six commodities that have the biggest impact currently on deforestation. We account that in our impact assessment these six commodities are responsible for 80% to 85% of deforestation globally. So of course we wanted to ensure addressing the biggest part, let’s say, of deforestation, bu…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Absolutely, pollinators are a crucial part of our ecosystem, and we are seeing a steep decline in pollinators, especially wild pollinators, in our nature. Therefore, in nature restoration legislation, as a specific target, we actually have a target on pollinators, ensuring that they do not decline and instead reach a positive status. Secondly, when we speak about pollination and so on, I think i…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your question. So you’re absolutely right. We already see that this summer, the beginning of the summer is very hot. We had heat waves in the regions and of course, early forest fires in some parts of Europe, particularly in Greece. I would say that we were prepared as much as possible and rescue deployed its capacities around Europe, especially around those regions where…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– I always say that in order to fight issues like climate change or biodiversity loss or pollution, they respect no borders. Of course we have to cooperate transboundary, but also at the regional level because, at the end of the day, implementation comes to the regional level. Especially when we speak about our sea basins, about our seas, we know how our regions are heavily dependent on activities…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– First of all, there is no chance that we can succeed in the fight against climate change or halting biodiversity loss without the oceans playing a vital role, oceans, of course, including the sea basins that we all know best. And here, I think, speaking against the background of the Ocean Conference in Lisbon, we can clearly say that this year we need to use, as much as is possible, to actually …

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Absolutely. I think when we speak about any agreement, funding we know is going to be a complicated part, especially when we talk about biodiversity. Remember the Paris Agreement? For Paris to become a reality there was a Copenhagen before, where actually the number on funding was finally met and then it sort of started a true dialogue towards an ambition. We don’t have that time for COP15. We a…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your question and for the very clearly expressed ambition, but I think we have to be realistic on the ambitious targets that we set. There’s nothing wrong with being realistic, because, looking back, we have failed to implement the targets before. And every time we return, we return with new targets. And of course, I’m happy to do so. But I think there is a clock ticking …

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– At the moment, it does not have a mention, and of course, knowing the dynamic of the COP and the UN, that might be challenging. But I think what’s extremely important is that we keep it in mind and we know what is the issue. As I said, you know, the issue as regards the Odessa port blocking is, first of all, a war crime. Secondly, it is a logistical issue. But then, when we see the situation als…

5

Jul

2022

EN Speech

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Question Time (Commission) Increasing EU ambitions on biodiversity ahead of COP 15

– Thank you very much for your question and of course, thank you very much to all Members of this Parliament for putting this question, this important question, on the agenda as we are heading towards COP15. Finally, the date and the place is clear. So of course, for us to have an ambitious outcome, we need to be united and also lead by example. So the first part of my answer to you is that we hav…

4

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Protection of the rights of the child in civil, administrative and family law proceedings (short presentation)

– Madam President, honourable Members, first of all I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Vázquez Lázara, the Committee on Legal Affairs, and all of those who contributed to this report. The Commission notes with great satisfaction that the report aims to ensure that the best interests of the child are the primary consideration in judicial proceedings, regardless of whether they are civil, crim…

4

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean (debate)

– Madam President, honourable Members, thank you very much again for this good debate tonight and for the important work that has gone into this initiative report. Yes, fisheries in the north-east Atlantic may be structured differently following the departure of the United Kingdom, but allow me to once again stress that the fundamental principles of the EU’s engagement in the north—east Atlantic r…

4

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Future of fisheries in the Channel, North Sea, Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean (debate)

– Madam President, Honourable Members, I would like first of all to thank the rapporteur, Mr Pizarro, as well as the shadow rapporteurs, for this important report. I cannot agree more that the impact of Brexit on the EU fishing sector goes well beyond the geographical area of the United Kingdom and affects our fisheries relations with other coastal states in the North-East Atlantic. I also agree t…

4

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Use of vehicles hired without drivers for the carriage of goods by road (debate)

– Madam President, honourable Members, thank you for this debate and for your worries and orations, and I am pleased to hear that most of you are in favour of the agreement. Honourable Members, the Commission very much counts on the support of the European Parliament to finally adopt the long overdue revision of the Hired Vehicles Directive. Most importantly, this revision will result in meaningfu…

4

Apr

2022

EN Speech

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Use of vehicles hired without drivers for the carriage of goods by road (debate)

– Madam President, the Commission made its proposal to revise the EU rules on hired vehicles in June 2017. Almost five years ago. It is the last piece of legislation from the mobility package. The objective of this revision was to achieve greater flexibility for companies in the use of hired vehicles by removing some of the possibilities to restrict the use of such vehicles which exist for Member …

10

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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The need for an ambitious EU Strategy for sustainable textiles (debate)

– Madam President, honourable Members, thank you again for putting the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles on today’s agenda. Addressing the impacts of this sector is a key part of our response to the environment and climate challenges of our times, and thank you for recalling the various challenges and also opportunities involved. I can assure you that we are on the same line as reg…

10

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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The need for an ambitious EU Strategy for sustainable textiles (debate)

– Mr President, the textiles sector has major effects on our climate and our environment and, in fact, textiles consumption is one of the top four supply-chain pressures on resource use, land use, water and greenhouse gas emissions. As a value chain, it places huge pressure on biodiversity. Many hazardous chemicals are still used in textile products and a considerable share of the microplastics re…

9

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 (debate)

– Madam President, honourable Members, I am grateful for the opportunity we had today to discuss once more the eighth environmental action programme (EAP), and I would like to thank all of you for your interventions. Our citizens, in particular the youngest, expect us to address the climate and environmental crisis. Yes, in the meantime, tragically, we are facing a new crisis caused by Russia’s wa…

9

Mar

2022

EN Speech

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General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030 (debate)

– Madam President, I’m very happy that we reached a political agreement just before the end of last year. We have avoided a big gap between the seventh and eighth environmental action programme (EAP) and this is great news. With this agreement, I believe we have reached our common goal together. Our agreement on the way, we see the future is essential for our unity and resilience. And here we have…