In case you missed the confirmation hearing of Commissioner-designate Virginjus Sinkevicius, you can watch it or read the autogenerated transcript.
He was confirmed soon after by both the Environment and the Fisheries Committee.
so please take your seats
so I will say a few words in French to
start with Julie sweetie
Oh No and let me just say on behalf of
the env Committee on Environment Public
Safety and food health and also on par
for the Fisheries Committee a very warm
welcome to the Commissioner designate
for Environment and oceans this is the
second hearing for the env committee we
are holding this as a joint hearing with
the Peche Fisheries Committee these are
issues that for within both our remix
when we saw the list of commissioners I
think that we were probably first rate
for your age commissioner designate 28
years old is that going to be a problem
I do not think that will be a problem I
think quite the country we will probably
have more younger commissioners in the
future because I think we need to have
all of the generations represented
within the European Commission you have
a particular responsibility today which
entails replying very clearly and
specifically to the members questions
these questions will be on a range of
subjects that fall under the competence
of the Environment Committee you will
talk to us about zero pollution by
diversity the circular economy and of
course oceans which falls under the
remit of the Fisheries Committee you
have a lot of responsibilities as well
when it comes to the Green Deal this is
one of the major priorities of this new
commission so we look forward to some
clear and specific answers to our clear
and specific questions I will now give
the floor to Chris Davies who all talk
somewhat
the organization of this hearing thank
you I feel obliged not to give my age
though it’s obvious to me that I’m the
oldest person on this platform by some
way in some cases so welcome
Commissioner designate mr. syncovich yes
you will understand that my Lithuanian
pronunciation is dreadful so I’ll use
the the name by which you were no doubt
use you call during your three years at
University in Wales so the structure of
the debate we start with a opening
statement from the Commissioner
designate which will last for 15 minutes
we then open to a total of 25 questions
from members of the two committees
members will have a maximum of one
minutes 30 seconds to ask their first
question though we would advise them to
use less time than that
the Commissioner designates will then
have two minutes in which to respond
the original questioner will have a
follow-up of 30 seconds or help if you
have kept well within your time perhaps
a little more and there will be a
one-minute response from the
commissioner designate we’ll take this
in rounds the first round will be a
series of seven questions on
environmental themes the second round on
fisheries matters at the end the
Commissioner designates will have some
five minutes to make a closing statement
I’m reminded to tell you that
interpretation is provided in 23
languages all speakers can use their own
language speakers are reminded not to
speak too quickly or the interpreters
may not be able to follow you and I also
report that this debate will be streamed
live on Parliament’s internet site and
it will be possible to access a video
recording of the hearing
Commissioner designate in the letter the
mandate given to you by the
president-elect she points to the fact
that you have to achieve maximum
sustainable yield of our fisheries you
have to stop overfishing in our seas by
the end of next year
you have to ensure that the landing
obligation the discard ban is complied
with at present it is not so being and
you have to put an end to environmental
environmentally harmful subsidies which
lead to overfishing so no controversy
not much to do the first session will be
for environment questions though so you
have time to relax and think about fish
a bit later the flow is yours for your
opening statement
audible members good afternoon and thank
you for this invitation to share my
vision for my coming mandate it’s a
great honor for me to be here as the
first Commissioner designate Warren
after the fall of the Berlin Wall it’s a
sign of trust in my generation a
generation with the European idea in its
DNA to me Europe means freedom and
fairness openness and opportunity at the
same time it means taking responsibility
the latest wave of climate strikes shows
that Generation Y and generations that
are ready to take responsibility being a
tiny part of this young generation and a
father I am determined to take this path
for us 2050 it’s not just a target on a
piece of paper we will have to leave it
now I will turn to my mother tank to
address you in my native latrine Ian
monopoly Tina Carrera procedure in
Kimmy’s a pearl Ananta
thank you very much my political career
began with my election in Vilnius as a
member of the lithuanian Parliament I’m
chairman of the Economic Affairs
Committee I have been a finance minister
and I have learned to serve my country
and to get to grips with its problems as
you will have done where you come from
and I would like to thank my home
country my member state for the
opportunities that they have afforded me
an environment between the digital
economy and industry between innovation
and social wealth that is not my belief
the path of challenges is the path of
opportunity it leads to a more
sustainable healthier and more
prosperous society our journey to green
climate neutral planet has started it
will be hard as a commissioner I will do
everything in my power to take us down
that road we are many on this journey we
see this from climate protests European
elections and the Eurobarometer 92% of
Europeans want a climate neutral EU by
2050 we need to listen and by presenting
the Green Deal as her first priority
president-elect von der Leyen
has done exactly that my greatest
ambition if confirmed would be to make
the Green Deal a reality on the ground a
deal that works for auctions for the
environment and for our citizens who
should be front and center throughout
honourable members some of you were
surprised to see oceans in the name of
my portfolio I understand your concern
you want an assurance that the new
Commissioner will have the well-being of
our fishermen and women
in mind I can give you that assurance
now we’ll live on a blue planet
Fisheries and the oceans have to remain
a cornerstone of our policies and those
policies have to deal with many things
the future of our fishermen and women of
course but the environment as well we
have to deal with climate change as we
saw from the recent IPCC report we have
to deal with plastic pollution that
affects the entire food chain and we
have to deal with nutrient runoff from
agriculture that caused dead zones in
our seas my portfolio brings all these
things together healthy oceans means
healthy fish stocks and a healthy fish
stocks – a thriving community of
fishermen and women a healthy
environments mean healthy citizens with
a lower burden of disease
I would strive for a joint up approach
throughout my mandate in a close
cooperation with you for the environment
the president-elect has asked me to lead
on three key initiatives in the European
Green Deal I will do this under the
leadership of the executive vice
president France timmermans whose
experience and support will be vital
these areas are biodiversity the
circular economy and zero pollution
biodiversity is disappearing the sixth
mass extinction has already begun if
confirmed as Commissioner for
environment I would represent Europe at
the Convention for Biological Diversity
in China next year that conference will
be a critical opportunity to turn the
tide I would like to return with three
things the first is the development of
biodiversity equivalent of the Paris 1.5
degrees climate goal secondly I believe
that national commitments on on ways to
meet the overall objectives would help
to deliver on them thirdly we need a
mechanism for measuring progress our
partners are looking at us for enhance
support and more focus development
cooperation in the fight against
biodiversity loss
but our international credibility will
also depend on the progress at home we
need to lead by example with concrete
measures this requires action on
pressure points like forestry soil the
food system energy and climate change
it’s time to show how these problems can
be solved with solutions designed for
the future not borrowed from the past
the president-elect is demanding new
standards for biodiversity wide-ranging
Starlin standards from for trade
industry agriculture and the economy I
am determined to deliver but here again
honourable members I need your help in
mainstreaming biodiversity across you
and national policies my second priority
would be the circular economy I want to
raise the profile of circularity I want
to make sure it is not only a word but
also an action if we ensure the circular
use of just four materials steel
aluminum cement and plastic we cut their
industrial emissions in half going
circular makes sense
I believe the action plan could involve
three major strands it could start with
the look the way we produce and consume
goods with action on eco design and
focus on reuse and repair it could also
take the circularity to new sectors like
textiles construction food and ICT the
second strand is helping consumers to
make informed choices when they see a
product claiming to be green they need
to believe it and thirdly we need to
move beyond recycling we don’t just want
to minimize waste we want to prevent it
completely wherever we can in textiles
in construction and many other areas my
last action area is zero pollution as a
father as a citizen and as a European
Commissioner I want to make pollution I
think of the past
I want Europe of a clean air clean water
clean tear and safer chemicals
pollution will demand a wide-ranging
approach it will mean specific
initiatives in key areas and reinforced
measures to address the main sources of
pollution for chemicals it will mean
looking at hazardous substances and
endocrine disruptors for water it will
mean tackling new and harmful pollution
sources like nutrients micro plastics
and pharmaceuticals and it will mean a
new approach to pesticides in synergy
with the work of the Commissioner for
health on the forum to fax the form to
for farm to fork strategy sorry it’s hi
to stimulate take-up of non chemical
alternatives our policies has always
been route rooted in rigorous science
that approach must continue under the
eight environmental action program which
will help to mainstream the sustainable
development goals I turn now to my aims
for oceans the first will be full
implementation of the Common Fisheries
Policy we must strive for balance
wherever we fish fish sustainably
fishing profits raised by 2022 I will
evaluate the Common Fisheries Policy to
identify how address issues not
sufficiently covered in the current
policy because we need policy that works
for our fishermen and women our coastal
communities and our environment it must
also deal with many differences what
works in the North Sea may not apply in
the Mediterranean every sea basin is
unique and we must take that into
account our efforts for sustainable
fisheries and healthy productive oceans
must not stop at our borders they use a
global leader in ocean governance I
would use that leadership to enforce our
sustainability principles worldwide to
make sure that we can deliver on
sustainable development goal for life
below water I will work with the Trade
Commissioner designate Phil Hogan to
reach a global agreement on ban harmful
fishery subsidies I will push for more
marine protected areas and for more
effective management in our waters on
the high seas and pristine areas like
the Antarctic we need new rules for the
conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity on
the high seas and I will continue our
fight against illegal unregulated and
unreported fishing this problem
threatens responsible fishermen and
women in particular those working Kaunas
me a small-scale who suffer from an
affair competition and depleted
resources fishing is a noble profession
every day our fishermen and women do
hard and risky work to supply us with
the highest quality protein we must
stand by either side the well-being of
our coastal communities is at risk our
policy against illegal unreported and
unregulated fishing is considered to be
the best in the world but these rules
are useless without effective
implementation I want to work with you
to make sure that our fisheries control
system is fit for purpose and ensures a
level playing field I will address
shortcomings wherever I find them third
I want to invest in potential of
sustainable seafood to deliver
farm-to-fork strategy on sustainable
food european seafood plays a major role
in our diet our fishing fishing fleet
lands over 5 million tones and
aquaculture brings 1.4 million tones on
the market i will also lead to develop a
new approach for a sustainable blue
economy this should bring together
everything from marine knowledge and
research to maritime spatial planning
marine renewable energy blue investment
and regional maritime cooperation 3.5
million people work in the blue economy
– some of you that may sound a small
number for me it’s more than the number
of inhabitants in my home country as the
president-elect reminded us legislation
is only good as as its implementation I
would work closely with the members with
the member states to improve that
implementation in all policy areas using
every tool at my disposal that includes
dialogue the environment implementation
review infringement proceedings and the
you port we need laws that work for our
citizens
for environment and for oceans and
fisheries and for businesses across the
you honorable members we face new
challenges success will depend on our
working together you will see me
regularly in your corridors and meeting
rooms
I’ll be here for bilaterals debates and
trial ox we need more direct exchanges I
will visit your countries not only the
capitals but also the regions and the
coastal communities as well my thanks
for invitations I have already received
as I said at the beginning we have to be
close to our citizens you are the red
legitimate representatives I would
placing my trust in you I would relish
the opportunity to work closely with you
for the next five years thank you very
much I now look forward to your
questions and I will answer them best I
can
[Applause]
thank you so we’re going to start with
seven first questions from the MV
committee members political group a
political group and then we will move to
seven questions for the purge committee
so we start with the EPP Jessie Kapoor
Shaad Thank You chair and Thank You mr.
Commissioner designate
I will now speak the Swedish language
program done over here over on the issue
of climate and environment these are
very important global issues we have a
common target but in order to achieve
this objective we need to be able to
trust in our research and the research
is very clear forests play a key role
when it comes to climate well maintained
forests will allow us to capture co2 so
forests can help to provide warmth they
can help us live so we need to encourage
good forestry practices we also have a
lot of biodiversity in forests in the
biodiversity strategy we have mentioned
a first and I think it’s important that
we find the right balance between
sustainable forestry management and also
protecting biodiversity we are currently
seeing droughts and dry periods that
have really affected European forests
animals that live in these forests have
really suffered it is very important for
us to be able to protect forests there
are three million Europeans who are
involved in the forestry sector it is
important that forestry management bears
in mind environmental difficulty so how
will you ask
in a designated ensure that we really
make the most of all these opportunities
offered by first in the future strategy
for the perfection of biodiversity first
please stick to your time 130 maximum 30
seconds as a follow-up of 115 feet 45
thank you okay thank you okay thank you
thank you for your question and I’m a
via Parliament called on Commission to
step up before the forest raishin a few
times and forests are important around
40% of EU land surface are covered in
forest and they have to be protected and
well-maintained first of all it is
important also to bear in mind new
challenges it is important that each
member state has effective management
plan on forests because of the forest
fires we saw what happened in Siberia in
Amazon but we had the same in Greece it
is very important not to forget
management plans it is important to
address an even implementation of you
timber regulation of legislation which
is already are implemented but not among
the Member States but the major
cornerstone of course to protect forests
would go under biodiversity strategy
2030 it will be one of the biodiversity
strategy will be one of the key pillars
of the you Green Deal I don’t think so
there is possible green bean without a
effective management of biodiversity so
for us it is important to address forest
degradation and especially poor
conservation habitants and species
protection and the torah’ 2000 areas and
by in a Tula 2000 areas I’m talking not
only about that number of protected
areas we sometimes reaching 30 25% but
actually real implementation and it
doesn’t mean that there will be hope
that any human activities
we have to assess it it is of course
important to have a concrete measurable
actions and most importantly of course
funding so for the follow-up questions
30 seconds after John Malcolm McCune
uncommon RBI 30 summers so I’m Logan
who do commerce I Castella to well you
will clearly be working with the other
commissioners as well how are you going
to work with mr. Timmons how will you
ensure that forestry management is
really incorporated into all
environmental policies thank you very
much a very good question and this is
exactly I think the key of our work with
- France timmermans in my mission
letter it’s clearly stated deliver a EU
by D you biodiversity strategy it is
important that working together with the
France timmermans we will make sure that
it’s actually included in other
legislation agriculture energy transport
and so on everything
what causes troubles today basically
what causes the 6th mass extinction and
it is important to address and I want to
make a very I want to be very firm here
because we talked about that more
resources needed more money but it is
very important that we would be
strategic on this goal it is I mean that
other areas would also involve the
biodiversity in into their spheres so
that we all reaching the same goals
because we cannot be having business as
usual regards agriculture and then
having ambitious goals for biodiversity
2013 thank you for s ng says a Luana yes
thank you
we are now up against the wall of
indifference in the climate change we’re
seeing atmospheric pollution as you know
it causes thousands of death every year
it also leads to health problems
economic problems as well and so
environmental pollution if we fight it
we can help to save lives and so my
question is what immediate specific
measures do you plan to take to tackle
this type of pollution for example from
agriculture or industry and to ensure
that air quality criteria are respected
in all Member States do you plan to
propose a new measure that will adapt
European legislation on air quality to
the most recent indicators that have
come out are you going to impose or
propose specific measures from the EU to
have clean zones in European cities
cities and finally are you going to
propose stricter emissions criteria for
Euro 7 vehicles ok thank you very much
for your question indeed I share the
same feeling it’s unreasonable situation
when 400,000 people die every year
because of the air pollution in d-u if
we can have different lands looking at
it economy it’s 24 billion a year and
most importantly that a loss are there
but we yet didn’t manage to achieve full
implementation of those laws and in
regards of World Health Organization our
standards for for example find
particular is at the level recommended
in 2006 so I will present to college
endorsement a clean air action plan
setting out first of all a zero
tolerance to non-compliance with the
current air quality standards of course
we have to address the you legislative
Frank framework mapping it adopting it
to the latest that will show
recommendations and of course
speaking about the cities what you have
asked its first of all is dialogue and
mechanism enhancing assistance to member
states to cities to adjust regarding the
clear zones I would be very specific
here that local authorities may choose
to introduce traffic restrictions or or
co2 free zones regarding in regards of
Euro seven I think this is one date in
five years it is possible to have Euro
seven working together with the
Commission and designate for internal
market diesel cars more questions do you
together with the internal market
commissioner plan to withdraw these
vehicles from across the European market
and following the dieselgate scandal
that we’re still seeing in the media do
you think that we are up against a wall
when it comes to this climate crisis
okay thank you for a question in regards
the dieselgate I think it tossed us a
very serious lesson which we cannot have
another dieselgate that’s for sure and I
think manufacturers industry realize is
the same regards of recalling vehicles
this house adopted you vehicle type of
approval framework which will be in
place from 2020 September the first and
there will be such opportunity but I
think we should help our industry to be
competitive let’s look where the
industry is going hydrogen electricity I
think our car manufacturer who are among
the top
in the world they definitely can catch
up with some American electric vehicles
which are popular but we already see the
day shifting we have to help them
through the research we have to help
them through the public transport which
has to be green and of course clean
alternative fuels go to the end of your
sentence keep your additional sentence
for the next and Sir Frederick Reese for
Renu thank you very much I’m sitting
over here commissioner designates
this is a double premiere the youngest
Commissioner ever and responsible for
oceans now of course that’s a very fine
sending announcement but you’ve still
got to deliver as a reporter on one
single-use plastics and the fishing here
I’d like to mention pollution and
plastics these are responsible for 70%
of marine and pollution and we have done
much but we have got much left to do and
page 11 of your written replies
biodegradable applications can bring
added value for the environment it was
also noted wec and then you talk about a
regulatory framework now you’re not
correct to talk about innovation and on
biodegradability of plastics I am
perplexed to put it mildly
because at present there are no European
standards in real world conditions
particularly in the marine environment
and my question is are you sure that
this is the right way to go and my fear
- syncovich is is that there’s a need
to change paradigms and change mindsets
but on the contrary we are seeing an
enormous
hype but it’s not going to change the
minds of manufacturers or consumers and
just to add in a second question on
plastic packaging which you intend to
address there is a directive which is
expected next year and are you prepared
to commit to a target for reduction a
binding one with a figure attached I see
thank you very much for your question of
course I agree
business as usual if nothing changes it
will lead that in 2050 will we’re gonna
have more plastic in our seas and oceans
than fish and the Commission I have to
say that it took really great step
together with the Parliament single use
of plastic items ban this is a great
step forward we cannot stop on that and
I have to I’m going to of course seek
for the full implementation of the
plastic strategy but the next steps has
to be micro plastics especially in text
in textile style tires and pallets
that’s where the main sources
biodegradable plastics what you have
mentioned we have to establish a clear
regulatory framework and indentify
actually some applications for which
biodegradable plastics are made of
chemicals mainly and then of course
plastic packaging I think this is the
next key step is actually to decrease
over packaging tackling over packaging
and I think this must go not only
changing society but it must do also
with the business needs they can cut on
their expenses and of course it is
important not to be on our own with this
international action so in the UN and
the g7 but also the lateral relations
with our partners we have a great
example to show exactly a great example
to follow
and I will definitely do so follow it
for 15 seconds 15 seconds 15 seconds
thank you
I hear the driver is my microphone on I
can hear the commitment on microplastics
and Ivan made a mental note of that will
be proceeding on that together just a
question in eco design to improve the
durability and recyclability of plastic
products have you already given thoughts
from instant designate to introduce
microbe plastic filters for example in
washing machines to stop that getting
into a river so after and everything
else thank you
you noted very well washing machines is
one more area and where we can widen
HECO design but I think we can widen it
even more I could design for me it’s
it’s something really great what which
was created in these chambers I remember
those first debates regarding eco design
and people were saying so now you is
going to regulate light bulbs in our
countries but in the end of the day from
the introduction of eco design you have
saved amount of electricity equal to
Italy and I think we have to maintain
this ambition to equal Italy’s yearly
consumption I’m sorry and of course we
have to keep that ambition and I think
we have to go for a non-toxic cycle it
is very important that plastics are made
from non-toxic chemicals which can be
later reused in the circular economy and
then we can through the innovation we
can have many different appliances thank
you next question for the Greens sandy
gold
commissioner designate in your written
answers you stress the fact that
Europe’s most vulnerable populations
remain disproportionally affected by
health hazards and you are right our
children remain exposed to endocrine
disrupters persistent chemicals and
nanomaterials according to whu-oh
studies the number of people affected by
many endocrine related disorders is
increasing it is estimated that 25% of
all children in Germany including my own
children suffer from so-called shark
teeth the disease found to be linked to
bisphenol A a well known endocrine
disruptor so my question is what
concrete steps will you take to protect
our children and other vulnerable groups
from continuous release of dangerous
chemicals such as endocrine disruptors
as a litmus test will you deliver
finally the non-toxic environment
strategy with all its four legs
nanomaterials endocrine disruptors
cocktail effects and exposure to
chemicals from products thank you thank
you thank you very much for your
question
and I completely understand you not as a
commissioner designate but also as a
father as a customer as a father over
three and a half and as a father which
my daughter is going to be born on
October 20 so soon to become a second
time father so I definitely understand
chemicals are around us they around us
everywhere you know our daily life and
ores also in over a hundred you’ll
legislation Act so it is important of
course that chemicals would be addressed
as it was stated in the seventh EAP it
is important that ensure that safe
non-toxic materials and products we have
we are champions in
which compliance reach is is is
something that doesn’t have alternatives
in the world we have to make use of it
even more so it is important to boost
innovation specifically on endocrine to
stop disruptors of course it is
important to fully implement the new
strategy which would be a serious step
forward most important it is based on
precautionary principle and I think that
endocrine disruptors they have to be
standardized and perceived as the CM are
in the same same level so secondly it is
important that we would protect those
the most vulnerable elderly people
children it is important that endocrine
disruptors would be prohibited from toys
cosmetics which we apply directly on our
skins food contact materials and if I
may and but what about thank you for
that commitment but what about the non
toxic environment strategy will you
deliver it with all the forelegs as I
mentioned thank you under zero pollution
ambition we will have three main pillars
clean your action plan for all clean
water action plan plan and non toxic
environment strategy which has to go
beyond we have moved a lot through these
five years and really base work was done
extremely good many chemicals underwent
and legislation underwent fitness check
reach was reviewed with pointing out 16
objectives we can definitely build on
that a very very solid legislation
the next question for AG Simona
Baldassare microphone plays with speaker
and I got miss Ella dissing yada
commissioner designate this is a very
important portfolio and I’m sure that
the work that you’ll do will be driven
not just by a desire to follow
emergencies as they arise as we’ve seen
so far but but based on scientific
studies and scientific method and also
the minimum level of good economic and
social sense that is necessary I’m
wondering whether the Commission tends
to follow up on its communication on the
environmental impact of pharmaceutical
products the Commission itself has said
that in all EU member states we’ve seen
residual residues from pharmaceutical
products in all types of waters and this
has an impact on health and on the
environment although we’re not sure what
risk this has to human health and what
concentrations they must be and we would
need some scientific proof and based on
the information we have available
measures should be taken so my question
to the Commission is what follow-up do
you plan to give to this just the new
Commission plan to put forward a
legislative plan on the environmental
impact of in pharmaceutical products
thank you thank you for your question so
pharmaceuticals have already been
included in the watch water legislation
regarding chemical pollution for quite
some times and it’s it is important
under water action plan to strengthen
actually monitoring of it right now the
fitness checks of concerned directive
under way also of the Water Framework
Directive and also directive on
Environmental Quality Standards after
that we can we can do an assessment if
there is
needed changes I think we all see that
Pharmaceuticals is an increasing threat
it is very important to preserve it
being in the water so major of course
prevention is is tackling them by the
source and strengthening monitoring
under the zero pollution ambition which
Commission plans to pursue in conclusion
a legume so to conclude the Commission
are you going to adopt any legislative
provisions or not and if so will be a
regulation or a directive because out of
the two options with the directive not
to be the most appropriate to ensure
proper respect of subsidiarity okay
thank you thank you for a question of
course it is only to say and I’m ready
to discuss it later on with the
committee to brief because as I’ve said
you know pharmaceuticals are already
included in in in the water legislation
but also framework for directive for
water is undergoing it it’s check and
we’ll see if there is an it after the
check we can then say is there a need to
be additional included for motor
vehicles or not as I said I’m open for
additional discussions with the
Environment Committee on this issue
after the check who is done and then
presented to you thank you
for easier kitty okay
Commissioner in the last decade we
witness an exponential growth of the
population of large carnivores we also
witnessed an invasion of wild boars duty
a cormorants crows in other conflict
prone species with increasing damages to
agriculture loss of human life due to
traffic the Commission Ethics is trying
to identify exactly in a catastrophic
especially a catastrophic effect on
biodiversity I think we need a European
action plan which allow us to combine
our ambitious goal in terms of
biodiversity with the safety of the
people and the farm animals
not to mention the economic survival of
the smaller farmers and fishermen are
you aware of the frequent calls
including from members of this
Parliament to change the EU legislation
response to the increasing conflicts
with this species especially the wolf
what would be your guidance as a
commissioner to balance street
protection laws and the derogation of
the same legislation such as regulated
hunting quotas some are the hunting and
fishing communities in Europe have shown
a strong commitment to habitat
restoration and preservation we are
talking of a more than 25 million EU
citizens what would be your opinion on
using such categories as a tool to
maintain a balanced biodiversity and to
restore polluted areas to their
corrected status thank you thank you
very much for your question I fully
understand understand your question I’m
coming from the country country I know
best which is which has a lot of
agricultural activity and I do
understand the farmers who lose their
livestock and then the first thing which
they think about is of course a bullet
but I’m afraid it’s it’s not a silver
bullet and it’s not gonna solve the
issue regarding wolves they are still in
quite a dangerous situation and I think
that’s the question of coexistence
wolves were there all the time we’re
just trying to restore it and
coexistence can be solved with the
measures like protection first of all
was there a fence was the livestock
protected enough so that wolf couldn’t
get there I think we have to work on
raising awareness among the farmers
among the people and solve it through
the coexistence question nevertheless
the habitants directive
guidance on species protection it has
some flexibility countries can imply
some some of the changes however I think
the best is actually to solve it through
the manners of coexistence of
understanding of protecting your
livestock and taking all the measures
that are available and the most
important that you can get even funding
for that from life program on the other
hand as well if you lost your livestock
let’s not forget the fact that you are
completely refunded for it as a
continuation of the question I like to
have your opinion on the fact that the
habitats directive is applied not in a
very harmonized way throughout EU state
member what would be your approach to
this problem thank you thank you for
your question first of all I think the
directive has undergone fitness check
and it’s it’s it’s fit for purpose I
think that flexibility actually is a
chance for countries to solve issues if
there is needed protection for other
species we have 66 endangered species
but you know there is not only wolves or
bears there is a duress as well and if
there is of course conflict I think that
the flexibility which is given to
countries authorities to resolve thank
you
the last question for the first round of
MV members from the GUI Malin Bjork you
very much I’m here designate you have a
very very important portfolio as you
highlighted yourself not only young
people but very very young people are
watching us so that we deliver climate
justice biodiversity are the questions
that will determine our future and we
need system changes and I think many of
us here don’t really feel confident that
the EU is on a path to deliver those
system changes and when I hear action
plans
I see endless scoreboards and the risk
of getting lost here with another set of
tables so my question is to you and I
will focus on biodiversity because some
other issues have been raised we don’t
have enough tools at European level so
which ones will you actually develop in
relation to some other areas that
sometimes is defined as competing such
as the Common Agricultural Policy EU
trade policy EU industrial policy and in
order to change consumption patterns in
Europe what concrete policies will you
put into the biodiversity action plan
thank you thank you for your question
and I think it is absolutely correctly
noted by you and I wouldn’t single out
any of those that’s the biodiversity
2030 strategy has to be about it has to
be sectoral it has to be included in the
sectors agriculture industry transport
and energy they all are important they
all causing now biodiversity losses and
we have a strategic goal I’m sure it
will be most likely funded better
halting the biodiversity but that would
be waste of money if that is not going
to be included if the biodiversity
strategy is not going to be mirrored in
other sectors and I think it’s very
clearly stated
as well in the mission letter of vice
executive vice president France
Timmerman’s that me as a commissioner I
have to deliver the strategy but the
vice president will make sure and will
help by coordinating that it will be
mirrored then I think we can achieve
some great results and not only have
score boards which I think we still do
have to check how we are doing to
measure the results I think they have to
be accountable measured but also
important that they would be mirrored in
other sectoral areas which today are
causing the most of the the extinction
of the executive biodiversity
thank you very much
I still think that you will have to have
some important fights even before it
comes to timmermans table and the form
to fork strategy will be one of your
tools so how do you think that you can
be able to influence the Common
Agricultural Policy so that it can
deliver for climate justice but for the
consumer and for health and biodiversity
thank you thank you thank you very much
first of all farm to fork has has to be
a very good tool to hold the
deforestation and not only I’m talking
about the the you it has to assess our
footprint in overseas and it is
important that where I see my one date
through different work it is fishing
sector so that we know and we can trace
fish from the net to a can and so that
we know what is served here in the U we
have high market standards but we have
very good market and secondly of course
is the same comes with the deforestation
we have to know what is the supply chain
it must be the frustration free supply
chain ensure
Thank You commissioner designates you
concluded your opening remarks by saying
that you relished the opportunity to
work with members here for the next five
years can I just say as a British member
that I welcome having that opportunity
to so we’ve had team envy now we have
team pêche and a series of questions on
Fisheries issues we start with EPP mr.
Myanmar for one and a half minutes thank
you very much commissioner designate I
appreciate that at the beginning of your
statement you appreciate the fact that
we would like to see fisheries included
in your official title so we would like
you to pass this on to mrs. von der
Leyen as well now I am actually going to
refer to brexit and now we hope that the
future economic partnership between the
EU and the UK will go alongside an
agreement that maintains a reciprocal
agreement to waters and to resources so
I’d like to hear your opinion on that
and then secondly dealing with the
generational renewal in the fisheries
sector that’s something which is very
important if we want to attract young
people we need to improve conditions on
board
it’s not about fishermen fishing more or
having overfishing we want better type
of fishing and I think the EMF F can
help in this area so I’d like to know
your opinion on this generational change
in the sector there is also small-scale
artisanal fishing which is very
important that’s 75% of our fleet this
is an industry which struggles more with
tough changes or abrupt changes so I
think any changes should be of a more
gradual
nature when it applies to this
small-scale artisanal fishing thank you
very much for your question regarding
brexit we still yesterday we had a plan
proposed but we still don’t know when in
half when it happened and how it’s going
to happen
nevertheless I really have to thank if
ok I have to thank mr. Bonilla for
making himself available in these two
weeks to meet me a couple times brief me
on brexit and I can tell that despite
any scenario we will be prepared we’ll
be prepared of course to talk with Great
Britain and of course there will be a
negotiations on a brexit deal that can
be with the deal brexit that can be of
course easier we will have a transition
time with no deal brexit there is few
scenarios which of course will be
discussed afterwards but let me assure
you that we are prepared on the
generation on the generational on the
youth employment we have met in
Strasbourg we talked about it other
Spanish MEP s also raised this question
Italian as well and I’ve been given a
thought about it
would that improvement onward would
really attract more young people to to
fishery I’m not sure
honestly I’m a young person as well if I
would be choosing what would be the key
element to make my choice I think it’s
certainty about future and that’s what
we have to ensure that there is
certainty about future and by striking a
balance between social economic and
sustainability we can ensure them that
there is a future within the sector and
then of course through the MFF funding
through other funds we can improve
conditions help our fishermen and women
out there
microphone right okay let’s just
compromise over the liver well thank you
for the commitment with regards to our
young people I think that’s a very
serious challenge that we have ahead of
us and I think good conditions on board
our ships are important in making the
jobs more attractive now it’s not so
much if there will be brexit or not or a
period of transition what I want to know
is if we do have the brexit what will
our future relationship be I think we
need an ambitious future relationship
and we cannot sacrifice fishing in any
future agreement I think it’s important
we have a bilateral agreement that
maintains access to waters and resources
in the case of brixon thank you thank
you for for a question and I agree
regarding young people and we have to
deal with this challenge together I hope
we will have a dialogue will invite
stakeholders and we’ll do our best in
order to make a fishermen and women a
noble profession regarding brexit of
course there will be a relation but
let’s not exclude fisheries there will
be a deal and for I have to only ensure
you that for mr. Bernier this question
is very important he used to serve as a
minister responsible in France for
fisheries he knows the sector very well
he knows the problems and this question
is definitely covered
miss Aguilera for one and a half minutes
laughs yep legendarium Thank You chair
and welcome to the Commissioner
designate the fishing sector in EU is
extremely important in terms of income
employment also our cultural identity
food and food security for a lot of
coastal communities the fishing sector
can make up to half of the jobs
available in small villages for my group
the s and D we can’t forget these
communities sorry for repeating this the
fact that fisheries isn’t actually
mentioned in any of the portfolios for
this commission we want to see the
European maritime and Fisheries fund
maintained without cuts how are we going
without that how will we face up to the
challenges facing the sector the
socio-economic side is a vital pillar of
fishing policy and one of the main
problems facing the sector and
particularly small-scale fishings
fishing is young people how are you
going to tackle the socio-economic side
of Fisheries Policy and the multi annual
plans of different fishing areas are
very diverse from one from the other so
how are the multi annual plans going to
take account of the differences
particularly the Mediterranean thank you
thank you for your question regarding
the coastal communities I agree with you
and it is important not to let them down
I serve still serve as a minister of
economy and innovation and when I what I
did when I was appointed for those two
years every Friday I went to a different
in Lithuania we have in total is 60 and
I visited about 52 by this time and I
did it not because someone asked me to
come but I did it because I cared I
visited large industrial plants to a
very small shop owners and I did it
because they cured how do you really
live with the legislation we we vote for
and then they have to basically apply it
on the ground so it is same goes with
the fisheries community as I have said
we will engage in the dialogue
I think Common Fisheries Policy is
exactly about that about striking a
balance between sustainability social
and economic aspect EMF F is just one of
the tools which can improve and help us
reaching those targets regarding
multi-annual pans I think every C basin
is unique and has to be assessed and of
course it is important to engage in the
dialogue take into account advisory
councils talk with the Member States on
their positions and then do to come up
with the plan which would again strike a
balance but we have to maintain
sustained sustainability sustainability
is that long-term game which can attract
the young people into a sector I agree
security it is important conditions on
the board it is important I agree but
again they have to see future in the
sector that they can provide for
themselves and for their families that
the profits my race that there have a
possible career path to expand their
fleet see well I’m happy to hear you
recognize all of the different pillars
environmental socio-economic often these
aren’t always recognized I can you say
in front of the Parliament that there
won’t be any cuts to the maritime and
Fisheries fund it’s a small fund and we
need all of it also what are you going
to do to
you look at the role of women in the
sector at least you did mention this the
person who’s before you didn’t mention
women efficient at all thank you very
much
regarding EMF the proposal is already in
house and I hope we will be able to
maintain a sustainability ambition a
economic social ambitions in there and
we’ll find the best what helps our
fishermen and women out there regarding
women regarding gender balance
unfortunately I’ve seen the recent WWF
report which tracked me and we have to
do a lot more to improve conditions
I think the first problem is that it’s
focused mainly on the catching sector
where of course most of the job is done
by male but let’s not forget who is
running businesses who is making those
calls who are the ones to waiting
actually and getting the first signal if
something happens who is dealing with
the government with the regulation its
women and they have to be paid they have
to be equally respected and I will try
to do it by setting it first of all that
we have to have in advisory councils a
representation equal representation in
our events and so on by setting it by
example of course we have to go even
deeper and discuss it with the sector
and with the stakeholders from a small
thank you to a large thank you mr. Cowen
one and a half minutes thank you very
much chairman commissioner designate
last round of reform of the CFP gave us
fisheries management tools such as
management plans multi-annual ones the
landing obligation and also technical
measures intended to reduce the cap the
catch of juveniles all seeking to reduce
the impact of fish on our fishing on
marine environments
and there has been progress which we
welcome but the tools do not always
everywhere attain their objectives for
example the Baltic Sea management plan
which are very well aware of I think
three years ago but cod stocks remain
very low and various reports have been
made it doesn’t just depend on the fish
or on fisheries it’s also climate change
it’s also very maritime pollution
land-based and do you have a global view
on the resources of the ocean and the
environment do you think that the
current policy based on fishing pressure
on the resources is up to the task of
giving us sustainability by 2030 or I
going to use the width of your portfolio
to tackle all of the manifold dimensions
to this problem not just the fish bed
thank you very much for your question
and indeed you are right not only
fishing is causing loss of biomass is
causing decline of stocks it’s the
health of ecosystem and by talking about
the biodiversity 2030 strategy I
definitely don’t mean only land I mean
as well a marine area seas and oceans
because healthy seas and healthy oceans
it’s something what absorbs enormous
amounts of co2 which provides food jobs
even energy now so we have to maintain
in this spirit and see if P has been
reformed it xx in 2013 I will have it in
my Monday to review it by 2022 we will
definitely address the short comings but
we have to be very realistic
see CFP is not a holistic legislation
which is going to
address all the causes the causes has to
be addressed already now with the
biodiversity strategy make it early and
then of course we can make it in line
the green new deal is going to be taking
into account many areas it of course
will have to be in line with the green
new deal as well so also a new
challenges so we’ll definitely do it
very carefully in 2022 and I hope I also
can count on the parliaments committee
help as this is very technical file it
is important which bear is not only
environmental but social aspects with it
and I truly count on our cooperation we
have support thank you for that answer
I’m very happy that you mentioned
getting out of your office to meet
people in a sector on the ground and I’m
very happy to see that that’s a very
good thing all of the reforms which you
are going to be responsible for which
we’ll be voting on I think they’ve got
to be you’ve got to work with us don’t
just depend on your civil servants good
as they are but talk to us and Mbps as
representatives of constituents and
people on the ground then come regularly
formally informally to the committee and
have a chat Thank You mr. color skin for
your first of all invitation when we met
in Strasbourg to meet to visit Brittany
if I’m confirmed I will definitely do so
and in regards of course thank you for
cooperation and I truly hope that I can
count on you mr. Sullivan one and a half
minutes for the greens
and thank you to the commissioner
designate so far my question to you is
regarding the European maritime and
Fisheries fund the MFF the latest
version of which has been under
discussion in the Fisheries Commission
since said July framing that discussion
has been the glaring fact that the EU is
still overfishing well beyond the
capacity of the seas as the latest
assessment from the scientific technical
and Economic Committee for fisheries has
shown 41% of the fully assessed oxen the
North East Atlantic are overfished
improvements have been too little too
slow especially given in the
Mediterranean Sea basin a staggering
eighty-seven percent of stocks are over
fished the current position of the
council and the Parliament on the EMF F
revision might actually increase
existing over capacity in the sector in
contradiction with the stated aims of
the EU Common Fisheries Policy capacity
enhancing subsidies lead to overfishing
and you don’t need to believe me in this
regard there are economic reports from
the World Bank and the European Court of
Auditors that have laid the problem out
in stark terms so my question to you
commissioner designate is what will you
do to bring the current position of the
Parliament and the council back in line
with the objectives agreed under the
SDGs the sustainable development goals
and the commitments of the WTO efforts
to ban destructive subsidies that would
increase the excess of capacity thank
you thank you for your question I agree
the MFF needs to support our Gulf Common
Fisheries Policy implementation
commitment to implementing sustainable
development goal 14 it is also important
to assess that its envelope is not
unlimited
and it’s a public money being a minister
of economy and innovation between iam I
have had a huge amount huge envelope
let’s say for a country of you funding
my main principle was to look and not to
overlap with the private funding if we
see that some areas can be funded by
private money we shall not spend public
money on it because it’s just not enough
secondly of course I hope that ambition
will be kept and I will be definitely if
confirmed will make myself available for
dialogues in the committee in trial ox
of course in order to keep that ambition
together with the Member States
I do understand their concerns as well
and we will try to find best possible
solutions to address important issues
small-scale fishermen but as I said it
cannot contradict our goals CFP and
sustainable development thank you very
much for your sponsz
and i suppose that was my central point
you have said that you will not allow e
au policy and to contradict the best
available scientific data and that i
understand from you that you would be
prepared and this is a question ii would
would you be prepared to withdraw a
proposal in terms of funding if you felt
it was literally contradicting a good
sustainability policy thank you thank
you for your question let’s not rush
into wood rolls and roared the red lines
because usually there will be someone to
tackle your red line and then you have
to respond additionally I have I think
we have to engage in a dialogue and
address the issues as well agree that
public monies has to be spent on
reaching our goals
it is important also that it is a
sensitive period we living brexit it
might happen and we will have in that
period where the EMF funding has ended
in and it will only started 2021 so
further delay of the EMF f funding would
be also not acceptable so through the
dialogue saying out loud our arguments
putting them on the table we have to
find the best solution to strike a
balance this comes mrs. Conte for the ID
group one and a half minutes if they if
the Commissioner does is mix and see you
from 1977 up till now they’ve been 11
commissioners in your Lynda position
you’ve been nominated to throughout this
time the word fisheries has appeared in
the title of the dossiers today we have
Environment and oceans as fisheries only
take up the last few lines and we’re
concerned about the fact that madam van
der Leyen is not placing enough
importance and attention on this
important economic sector I’d like to
know that you recognize how important
that sector is what should we expect
from you the word fisheries has been
deleted are you also going to be
removing resources from the sector the
Commission has to respect fishermen’s
rights fisheries should be given the
attention it deserves we have to involve
fishermen in resource management and not
just employers legit lawyers from on
high which will be damaging to the
environment and the economy so I’d like
to know do you plan to increase maintain
or cuts fishing resources in comparison
with the previous Commission
don’t you think it would be better if
your dossier was call it Environment
oceans and fisheries to better reflect
the role of fisheries in Europe thank
you thank you for your question first of
all on the name of the title I think
let’s look beyond the title let’s look
into content I think this is that’s the
important can today evaluate me as a
person who will be representing
community not the title is going to
represent community try to help the
community I think we should focus and
put all our energy into what is needed
today for the fishermen and women to
tackle their problems and you noticed
very well that EMF a funding proposal is
is here and it’s not going to be changed
it’s already in the in the house and
it’s being discussed but it’s important
also to help will help our fishermen and
women to tackle environmental causes
understand that biomass decline is not
only fisheries activities it’s much
broader than that and we have to be firm
on this and not separate environment and
fisheries it is it goes together healthy
environment brings is healthy fish
larger fish is larger profit for a
fisherman and women to coastal
communities this is this has to be our
goal and we have to be all reaching for
that goal together however even if it’s
not in the name we are going to be
responsible for the future of fisheries
so fisheries are going to be a
fundamental economic part of the EU and
I just like to emphasize the importance
of this situation in the Mediterranean
their small-scale fishermen including
around Ireland’s making
efforts to improve the situation with
fish stocks and to fight challenges that
are often beyond their abilities and
they struggle even to survive so what
should we expect from you in the
Mediterranean and why should we believe
in you thank you first of all it is
important a level playing field and it’s
important to halt the unregulated
illegal fishing because first of all
small-scale fishermen and women they
they have the problems with illegal
fishing and illegal fishing we have to
look at it not as a problem of that fish
caught illegally it’s the a whole set of
problems the whole picture of problems
economical problem taxes are not paid
labor situation labor safety is not
there and and so on so we have to make
sure we fighting it properly regarding
the trust today before these hearings I
visited European how history of the
European House European House history
and funny story about the Treaty of Rome
that by struggling getting it to Rome in
1957 it actually had to be signed on the
first page and uncoupled last pages so
this union is built on trust and we have
to trust each other to reach for our
goals and not let down the communities
we care ok in Commissioner a you exceed
in your time of course can I remind
everyone about that time and I’m gonna
just ask you from the chair here could
you also respond to mrs. country’s point
about the Mediterranean which of course
is said to be one of the most over
fished seas in the world
thank you sure I think there have been a
progress regarding regarding programs
regarding multi annual plans in the
Mediterranean
we have to continue in this staff we
have to assess as many as possible
stocks because stocks are not assessed
properly and if we will gather as much
as possible data then we can provide a
sustainability approach a proper
sustainability approach to fishermen and
women communities it is important also
the lateral agreements agreements like
net for fish forever with the other
countries which also fish in the
Mediterranean Sea it is important to
engage with them and make sure that not
only we who subordinate who respect the
laws but also our partners as well thank
you mrs. Thomas H gospel in a candidate
to Zappa verneka regularly Sachi I is
the Commissioner designate the issue of
regionalization is a very important one
it’s a priority for the Member States
with the Common Fisheries Policy we have
rules for regional cooperation and
conservation measures particularly the
multi annual plans that we have and also
rules on discards how are you going to
ensure that these principles of
regionalization are incorporated into
the future proposals such as regulations
we’re basically concerned about the fish
stocks in the Mediterranean how we going
to be able to deal with this through
multi-and your plans for some of our
worst affected fish stocks thank you
indeed I think as we said every sea
basin is unique and it needs is its
assessment of course we have to maintain
sustainably
as he said sustainability is a key for a
long-term game and I am as well elected
in Lithuania as a member of parliament
and I truly believe in dialogue and I
think multi-annual plans is exactly
about bringing that dialogue bringing
dialogue with the local communities of
fishermen and women about bringing that
dialogue within non-eu even member
states and it’s about finding the best
possible solution in regards I think we
should continue this way multi-annual
plans they show that there is a progress
on extremely over fished box by reaching
those agreements we can fish better more
sustainably but of course we’ll have to
do much more than that and find
agreements between ourselves between EU
Member States but also agreements
between non EU Member States so let me
summarize any modality in a corner thank
you very much I would also like to know
how you are going to ensure that these
regional fisheries and management
organizations are taken into account
when future plans are drawn up to ensure
that we have proper regional
regionalization and we have the views of
all the stakeholders incorporated thank
you regarding Arif moles and their
advice I think they’ve been a reality
partners for for many years for every
sea basin for movement off off off off
tuna migration of tuna and so on I don’t
see any obstacles not to get involved
into further dialogue but I would also
like to bring your attention onto
advisory councils it is also important
because I think their speciality is in
that that they represent large scale
fishermen but as well small-scale
fishermen and this is the chance where
their voice can be
you hurt thank you for GUI mr. bumper
for 1/2 minutes we machine give you
thank you very much mrs. and cabbages
over here the IPPC had a special report
on the oceans very worrying and forces
us to act resolutely to tackle various
forms of pollution and there is asphyxia
and anoxia
you know oceans and billions of tons of
oxygen have been left in the water and
it’s basically done to fertilizers and
other nutrients which are ending up in
the indices seismic exploration causes
noise in particular cetaceans and whales
because their sonar depends on being
able to hear sound and they’re being
deafened and we have protected maritime
areas the there is increasing activity
in the polar regions with heaven heavy
fuel oil being used this has effects on
the plankton and other maritime
organisms and the Arctic is an area
which we should be protecting in a way
that we already do the Antarctic
Antarctica and what people talk about a
treaty what individual provisions would
you see like to see inscribed in that
treaty okay thank you very much for your
question you are absolutely right oceans
are key and it’s key to preserve them
healthy it will be good for environment
for our fishermen and women communities
coastal communities and we know the main
main reasons of course its which has to
be tackled its overfishing it’s not
enough
protected areas it’s also pollution
marine litter we have to also improve
international legal framework so that
not only you member state would be
onward and subordinate and respect the
rules but the others as well
and we can tackle and I think this
portfolio has everything to tackle it
successfully
first of all biodiversity 2030 strategy
it is important it will include oceans
secondly of course it is circular
economy plan when we talk about the
marine litter when we talk about
shipments of waste it’s again it’s a
opportunity I think for our economy and
with the working circular economy with
the resource resources reuse we can very
successfully tackle this causes of
course it will require much more we will
need to have on board others other
sectors agriculture extremely important
we have already problems in the Baltic
Sea mainly to do due to nutrient runoff
from industry from agriculture
unsustainable so it will definitely have
to tackle all the causes and it is
within this portfolio and I think if I’m
confirmed till this will be one of my
key duties to show that it was great
solution to make this portfolio together
environmental oceans and fisheries this
all sectors which cannot exist they
without each other they are all
connected
massive overhaul a port thank you very
much for that response I agree with you
100%
what you say that this is not something
that ye you can do by itself and if I
could just add to that and make a point
on the Mediterranean which is dear to to
me answer to many of us
it’s very polluted high concentration of
plastics higher than even the Pacific
and the question is the Mediterranean
Union
that’s a framework are you going to use
that to get practical actions to clean
up from the Mediterranean of course
thank you very much for your question
and and Kure regarding Mediterranean Sea
basin of course it is important and it’s
important to work with our partners not
only on on cleaning up on on using our
tools we are happy to share our best
practices but it is important also for
the CFP implementation it is important
to tackle illegal unreported and
unregulated fishing so this is I think
is the best way to spend resources
helping our partners as well fight with
the causes help them by giving best
advises by showing our best practices
and having them onward that’s the only
way of course you has a unique position
to lead this way so we are going to
enter into the second part mr.
Commissioner designate of the hearing we
are going to have the 11 remaining
questions following the don’t rules rule
sorry starting and then we will mix the
committee so no Envy on one side and
pass on the other side which is to my
view good way to proceed so we will
start with the EPP mr. brazilís mr.
Commissioner designated I want to come
back to your answer on wolves number of
them is increasing up to 13 or even
14,000 individuals throughout you the
ecological balance has been disturbed
and agriculture is suffering permanent
damage
similarly since adoption of updated bird
directive a population of such versus
cormorants has increased angling fishery
stakeholders claimed that it came to an
unacceptable and unsustainable threat to
fishery interests
this problem is relevant for Baltic Sea
region including our lavinia do you
agree that more flexibility should be
given to the member states on well
regulating population of some protected
species if you allow me like mr. modulus
we are from the same country so I will
respond in between Ian Galvin was
professor Oh Lou DiMaggio young sir
thank you for your question yes this
question is an extremely important one
the directive that you were referring to
does provide a certain amount of
flexibility for member states I
understand the problems of farmers and
the frustrations they feel when they
lose a sheep for instance but the
solution to these problems isn’t can’t
be found with guns but must be found
through a series of measures that can be
implemented to manage wolves for
instance for example types of fencing
and there are already European funds
financing these types of measures and
they also provide reimbursement for
farmers who have lost animals in this
way also the directive allows a certain
amount of flexibility now on to the
cormorants you are talking about and in
a particular region in Lithuania were
seeing the impact of the past and the
effects of the past
well flexibility has been given to mint
in the states to self-regulate if there
is a threat to fishing or biodiversity
then there are measures that can be
taken do you do Shantay kilometer on
more euros malik well in CONUS where i’m
from 200 kilometers from the sea I’ve
seen cormorants which I’d never ever
seen before in my life so the solution
isn’t so simple
culling Birds or trapping them taking
their eggs these are all forbidden
practices
and this is a problem for fishermen so
I’d like a more specific response go
well going back to the directive what we
have to see you know what is written
black on white this parliamentary
committee had referred to the fact that
we didn’t need to reopen the directive
it the fact that it was okay as it was
and that I did guarantee sufficient
flexibility so therefore we’ll have to
check and see whether member states are
using all of the means that are granted
to them that are allowed to them now the
Commission could of course provide
advice as to the interpretation of the
law and as I said there is flexibility
in implementation for SMG walkout and I
thank you very much you have talked
about the protection of diversity
biodiversity how important this is in
tackling climate change you’ve talked
about mass extinction we’re looking at
around a million species of plants and
animals that are threatened with
extinction the EU in its strategy on
maintaining biodiversity isn’t actually
going to achieve its targets it’s not
going to stem this loss of biodiversity
so are you going to have ambitious and
binding targets in the EU biodiversity
strategy for 2030 and if that is the
case what will your targets be and will
you ensure that the necessary financing
and personnel resources will be devoted
to biodiversity and also to focus on
forest
thank you very much for your question
first of all I think we had targets we
had targets for 2010 we had targets for
2020 we will definitely have targets and
they will be ambitious because there is
no other way for 2030 unfortunately I
think targets is not enough they have to
be measured and monitored it is
important to have a review mechanism
secondly it is hot most important
because if we talk about major causes
it’s a land and sea use change
it’s a over exploitation of Natural
Resources climate change pollution and
invasive alien species so it’s it’s all
concerned with the climate change so we
have to fight the causes and as I’ve
mentioned at the beginning and you very
well noted yes that will need a funding
especially recreation of species not
over 2000 areas proper protection that
will need a funding but funding is not
enough and I truly hope cooperating with
the vice-president France timmermans we
will achieve it that this ambitious
goals of Natura of biodiversity 2030
those targets they are also implied into
other legislatives like agriculture
activities one of the key industry
activities transport and we have to use
tools which are provided for us impact
assessment they have to be done very
carefully sometimes I think Member
States as we see from experiences they
try to change it or go around it and and
that’s not a good practice especially
when we speak about Natura 2000 areas
where we have many protected species out
there thank you very much for your
specific answer
you talked about having measurable
targets I think this is very important
perhaps you could be a bit more specific
about what type of indicators what type
of targets you’re going to have and then
secondly you said of course that targets
by themselves aren’t enough so when it
comes to maintaining biodiversity aren’t
you going to have something binding in
place so a legally binding situation
there thank you
regarding measurable targets so of
course measure target can be increased
of protected areas of the oceans and sea
basins increased you for example 30
percent but I think I’ll be definitely
definitely flexible here regarding
biodiversity 20 30 targets to discuss it
also with the committee what’s the
vision of the committee what are the
keys which we have to achieve I think it
is very important to ensure
implementation when we talk about
binding legal Act there is lots of
binding legal acts with which are not
properly implemented in Member States
and zero toleration on not
implementation legal acts this is the
way to approach it
regarding the targets we will deliver a
biodiversity strategy but of course I
don’t have it yet now I am open to
discuss it as well with the committee
thank you for the EPP new class helped
matigan it in focus
thank you over here we both come from
the eastern Baltic and we’ve seen
problems with fisheries not necessarily
caused by
fish fishing itself we’ve seen fish
deaths which are not just fisheries I
think that there’s a lot of money still
in the pot we’ve been unable to absorb
money which was intended for fisheries
and if the Commission has a proposal
which is then adopted by council there
are going to be implications for Denmark
for Poland for Lithuania the danger is
that if the there are less opportunities
is going to impact the fishing fleets
and that’s what happens if you have
brief or temporary closures is there a
way which is done bureaucratic and quick
which will get the Member States on
board I’m not just talking about the
next e-m-f F but I think the Commission
and paramita are doing well it’s um what
can we do for people if their livelihood
is threatened by things we should decide
about the EU level thank you for your
question indeed this problem will be one
of the first things to tackle the farm
confirmed of course the Commission
already started and and and have a
conversation dialogue with the Member
States with regarding the current
situation regarding potential financial
support we are at the end of the EMF F
period and of course there will be
struggle to mobilize all the possible
resources I’m sure Commission together
with the Member State will find a
solution I can only promise you that if
I’m confirmed we will continue a
dialogue to look at the best possible
solutions but the question is not an
easy one and and here we will need a
solutions analyzing carefully situation
and we cannot stop it at this year we
will have to look at way more into the
future
regarding decline of stocks especially
Eastern caught we have to be very vocal
about the causes about the activities
which actually cost such decline of
stocks and of course fishermen and women
communities are the first to suffer and
it is a great example that environment
and and those changes which are
affecting affecting firstly those and
the most vulnerable ones and then we
need to find solutions solutions might
not be easy
we will might be looking at the tools of
how to retrain people how to give them
another different opportunities region
you coming from
is also a very famous tourism region
flight against and r2w our demands on
people thank you
well I’m glad that and we agree on the
scale of the problem and its extension I
think that climate change is clear has
an impact on fisheries are you going to
take would you take a holistic approach
so it doesn’t become bogged down on the
subject of quotas because clearly goes
way beyond just applying a quota
indeed climate change is is the reason
behind it
water trend temperature in Baltic Sea
raised and that had enormous effect on
the eastern caught for this reason we
have a pool biomass we have a not pool
but actually on the verge of extinction
cod stocks and of course we have to come
to this reasoning holistically as I’ve
mentioned through the tools which I’ve
mentioned before but they have to be
also legislations has to be applied in
other areas agricultural activities they
also play a very important role
pesticides use fertilizers play very
important role with the situation which
we currently have in the Baltic Sea
q for Renu Maria Rodriguez Ramos
generation Yara Thank You Commissioner
designate you’re responsible for setting
up the new biodiversity strategy also as
you have been charged with by the new
president elects you’ll be looking at
biodiversity agriculture environment and
we have two major problems one is the
budget now you’ve said this the budget
is not sufficient by any means to
protect biodiversity we would need a six
billion per year and the European funds
are only going to cover 20% of this the
problem is not just the budget the
Commission has said that if we
incorrectly transpose European
environmental law well incorrect
transposition by member states is
causing a billions in terms of
environmental damage and damage to human
health
so can you hear before this committee
commit to ensuring that the new
biodiversity strategy will increase the
budget to protect biodiversity and also
are you planning any measures to improve
the scrutiny and follow-up and
implementation mechanisms for EU
environmental legislations will the
Guardian will the Commission scrutinize
Member States as guardian of the
treaties thank you thank you for your
question regarding budget I will be
definitely vocal about need of increased
budget and I think together working with
vice-president France timmermans
together working with other
commissioners I think
Madam President Elect stated it very
clearly that it’s a strategic goal and I
think strategic goals has to be funded
sufficiently of course it’s a college
decision and we will engage into talks
and negotiations what should be the
priorities but biodiversity if you look
at main priorities sustainable
development goals this is the basic four
in order to reach sustainable
development goals if you talk about the
climate change just three cent a UN
report says that biodiversity good
ecosystem health in oceans and land
healthy biodiversity is responsible for
37 percent of climate change so I think
it’s strong arguments and inaction will
definitely will definitely cost us much
more than action regarding environmental
laws madam president elect she was very
clear and it stated in the mission
letter as well a zero tolerance for in
compliance and it is very important and
I have said in my speech that I will be
definitely looking at all the possible
toolbox of course first of all it is
important to engage help member states
within the dialogue but if nothing left
and there is not enough just enough done
that can end up with the infringement
procedures which is many of them already
happening
si por último well yes during your term
can we expect to see any new ambitious
instrument to protect forests not just
in Europe but also in third countries
that are being impacted by our
consumption and I would like to ask if
you have any specific measure that your
plan to improve supply chains that for
products that often lead to
deforestation thank you so regarding the
forestry the first station and beyond
the you its of course we have to
reassess our footprint and I will be
definitely working closely with the
other commissioners it is important that
resources funding we are allocated to
other countries that they wouldn’t
actually lead to the frustration is one
secondly it is important to improve
labeling and as I’ve said it is
important to have the frustration-free
supplying change chains but in order to
reach that of course we have to improve
monitoring mechanism and I will be
definitely working on it
thank you for in Ana’s Cree even since
each
um Vigo Spadina syncovich of the last
days literally of this Candide alchemist
our Commissioner designate you are from
Lithuania you are commissioner designate
for environment and oceans so let me ask
you a question that I don’t think anyone
has asked yet and this is related to
environmental protection and
specifically exposure to radiation let
me start with something more in general
and then perhaps more specifically about
Croatia in my member state the current
standards for protection from 1998 so
more than 20 years ago there was an
international commission that dealt with
this at the time and they focused
specifically on thermal radiation but in
the meantime we have learnt a lot about
non-thermal ionizing radiation as well
and this is similar to this you have
with pesticides and endocrine disruptors
we hadn’t borne in mind the cumulative
effects and it’s the same for radiation
we hadn’t taken into account the non
thermal effects and with the new
technology that’s being developed 5g
6070 this problem only is only becoming
worse so I wonder if you’re going to
take into account 20 years of scientific
development and research and put in
place better standards to protect
against this type of radiation thank you
okay thank you
non thermal radiation hmm first of all
of course as far as I know I’m not an
expert on non thermal radiation but Sun
as well is in that group as non thermal
radiation many things human activities
as well as you have mentioned 5g and
networks and so on pesticides and
decline disruptors as well on this issue
I think first of all we have very
clearly set priorities on tackling and
as I have I mentioned regarding the zero
ambition pollution tackling endocrine
disruptors regarding pests
sites use as well I think it should be
looked very carefully through the zero
ambition pollution we have to subsidize
ecological farming more and more so I’m
always ready to take a scientific advice
I’m always ready to look at it I know
that World Health Organization is are
always let’s say on top of such issues
they usually issue Member States advises
countries advises how to deal with on
one or another issue and I am as well if
confirmed are always ready and
respectful to scientific advice if such
threats especially to human health erase
or no speculative authority dilemma
repair well responsive and Logitech so
you have said that you will be traveling
across Europe I would invite you to come
to Croatia in Croatia
these antenna towers are just springing
up like mushrooms all over the place and
the authorities aren’t properly
regulating this in Croatia you don’t
need a permit construct a construction
permit to put up one of these antennas
we have seen concerns there were
problems in Zagreb there’s a number of
illegal antennas there we have a study
going back to September 2008 we have
certain standards for antenna towers
near nurseries near-miss schools so I
would ask you to come and have a look
and to talk to our Health Ministry we’ve
had this law in place for 10 years and
it’s simply not being enforced we have
not had these antenna properly
registered thank you I actually visited
Croatia two years ago with my five and I
think it left a
a fantastic feeling especially people
how warm they were and in regards of
course it is important to keep their
health in a good status important tool
to use is of course if impact assessment
and impact assessment is in the
legislation of every member state it has
some flexibility but that flexibility
cannot you know do too much and an
overlooked major issues which can cause
problems to human health
thank you
Thank You mr. chairman Thank You
Commissioner designate studies have
shown that a circular economy strategy
can help to reduce the EU emission gap
by half during the last Monday to
European Parliament and the SMD Group
strongly pushed the Commission to put in
place policies to support a transition
toward a circular economy which resulted
in the circular economy action plan
however the actions focused mostly on
the end-of-life phase whereas it is
necessary to look at the entire
lifecycle of products starting from the
design with this in mind what measures
will be part of the new circular action
plan and how do you bring how do you
plan to bring the EU closer to achieving
a non-toxic circular economy would you
create a new specific product
legislation or broaden the scope of the
eco design directive to tackle issued
issues linked to resource efficiency
moreover there’s an increased concern
especially with young people with
younger generations about the throwaway
culture in particular when it comes to
clothing what measures do you intend to
propose in the framework of the circular
economy in regard to the textile sector
thank you circular economy I think it is
an exciting opportunity to you to have
to maintain sustainability and most
importance to reuse our resources 88% of
our resources are thrown away only 12%
are used so we see we have a huge
potential and first of all of course we
have to tackle all phases of this cycle
from design because usually what you
have mentioned very well that it’s
already in design phase that the device
or or any appliance it will serve for a
short time of period and will be thrown
away
it’s also designed that we cannot
disassemble we cannot change battery
screen or or or microphone so it is
important of course to tackle it in the
design sphere important to tackle the
throwaway culture and I think here is
the best way of course is so that one is
changes the design where you can have a
longer cycles but secondly we have to
use our SMEs and I have a very great
example which a lot might know but
latrine Ian’s startup wintered which
actually created a platform to sell
textile products basically your closing
and and this is has enormous potential
which I already see used in Belgium
France and other countries it is very
important that circular economy we use
new technologies digitization it’s a
chance blockchain we can track resources
we can track materials and and and and
and have a you know a really working
cycle it is important also to mention a
construction sector which is responsible
for one third of of the waste and it
will be among the priorities in the
action plan as well thank you thank you
for your answer as a follow-up we
strongly believe that the
efforts to tackle plastic pollution must
be accelerated and stepped up other than
the actions included in the plastic
surgery what kind of measures would you
take to reduce plastics how do you plan
to address not only intentionally added
micro plastics that can be found among
others among other products in cosmetics
but also non intentionally produced
micro plastics and in your written
answer or your written answer you talk
about better exploiting green public
procurement we from SMD believe
sustainable public procurement is a
better term because it’s more inclusive
when it comes to the social dimension
this can be a very important enabler and
multiplier for the circle economy which
measures would you take to accelerate
the use of green or as we call it
sustainable public procurement as a
minister I was encouraging a lot to use
innovative public procurements I was
responsible for public procurement and
it makes people feel completely
different and we have to move
I think member states have to have goals
how many percent they will use in green
procurements and increase those goals of
course we can assist with the help how
to do it regarding plastics as I’ve
mentioned before we cannot let tolerate
that culture that it takes 5 seconds to
produce 5 minutes to use and then it’s 5
centuries – – to degrade so
biodegradable of course micro plastics
and more sense most important that it’s
a non-toxic so that we can definitely
use it in cycle
commisioner desolate you have been under
scrutiny for two hours now
but you can relax this is the last
session of five questions so the end is
in sight this is taught for the EPP I
was ever upon you in the old names at
Cosi see thank you very much chairman
commissioner designate we have got a
track record in the EU of protecting the
environment however one continents
cannot simply go it alone and we need to
global cooperation with the other parts
of the world and other regions
I think that your contribution will be
one of ensuring that next year in China
the world’s leaders get an ambitious
agreement and come up with a proposal
for a new strategy on biodiversity up
until 2030 going through your written
applies it is clear that the EU want to
help the EU take a leadership role on in
the international arena in order to
combat the decline of biodiversity how
do you intend to get there do you have
practical proposals how are you going to
get third countries on line on site to
tighten up their environmental
requirements of course it is important
to have ambitious in this goal and in
order to first of all to have other
countries on board we have to lead by
example so it is important that we show
that biodiversity strategy is ambition
ambitious but it’s also being
implemented in you as well
secondly of course it is important to
have measurable goals which can be
monitored it is very hardly hard to say
now what those goals could be we have to
engage into dialogue with our partners
with the countries I will definitely be
looking for
advice and I think if confirmed I would
love that to China I would travel not on
my own but with the delegation from the
envy committee so that we represent a
strong position and of course a
discussion and dialogue on possible golf
when I was thinking about it which those
goals could be but this is my opinion I
think it would be a great goal to have
30 percent of protected areas in the
world and then 70 sustainably maintained
on top of that I think we have to have a
separate article on Arctic Arctic policy
we see that the changes in Arctic with
the melting ice puts more and more
pressure on it and and and and we have
to maintain to still use sustainability
and we cannot make the same mistakes
which were done in the past that’s my
thinking about ambition in China of
course as I said I will be open for
discussion with the committee in order
to elaborate on it but it is also
important that our partners also sign
under it
amita juntos Rajan biología
thank you very much you’ve mentioned how
important that and that it is to
streamline looking after a biodiversity
in other policy areas and you have given
examples in your written replies where
you talk about international trade
agreements saying that we have got to
make sure that these most stringent
environmental requirements are written
into them as well how can we ensure that
there is full compliance with
international agreements in Member
States and what sanctions or penalties
can you bring to bear if they fail to
live up to that thank you
first of all of course it is it’s going
to be important to work closely with the
commissioner designate Phil Hogan for
trade and it is important to erase those
questions into attained attention at the
World Trade Organization WTO it is
important that of course sustainability
sustainable development goals under
which signed 197 countries are not only
used but everyone’s goal to achieve it
is and this is important to do to make
sure so I think we have to work closely
with the with the Commissioner
responsible for trade and I will
definitely make myself available in
order to give a certain knowledge of
what we’re basically looking for and of
course it is important also to protect
our market as I said from supply and
change unsustainable supply and change
chains sorry mr. Corbett’s for the SMD
Thank You Commissioner designate surf
for oceans and seas I might add you
might want to have your title adjusted
to make that clear
do you Green that the problem of marine
litter in our oceans and seas has become
one of the biggest threats to our marine
environments and also causes huge
economic and social damage to coastal
communities fishers often pick up marine
litter and their nets historically they
were penalized for that they had to pay
to dispose of it if they brought it back
to port that’s beginning to change in
some countries and of course our MFE MFF
does support investments including waste
and marine litter collection investments
and the fishing for litter programs
which have been partially successful a
low take-up so far of that fund but
partially successful but do you agree
that it’s now time for comprehensive
European legislation aimed at tackling
the disposal and recycling of marine
litter in EU waters and how do you
attend how do you intend to tackle that
in your term of office yeah I I think it
is it is important that actually under
the EU Green Deal me from my mandate I
would I will develop an initiative for
clean healthy and of course sustainable
sustainably managed seas and oceans and
it is important for reaching 30% goal of
marine protected areas under Natura 2000
and not only that 30% but of course it
has to be very well maintained very well
implemented that’s one important to know
that it doesn’t mean that if it’s a
Natura 2000 a protected area that
activities cannot be done economical
activities like fishing its way away
from that
of course it is important to ensure
sustainable fishing and talking about
reducing pollution including marine
litter it is important that actually
circular economy plans that plan kicks
in and we don’t throw away resources
which can have value but we put them
back into into into our economy reuse it
make out of the different different
appliances regarding incentivizing
fishermen and women many countries
already does that but I think we have to
go even further than that ports they do
a lot of activities and we have to
ensure that those activities are
sustainable water which is taken and
then returned back would be cleaned up
and so on in order to reach all those
goals of course we have to look to make
a proper dialogue and to incentivize
those sustainable goals which we want to
reach this and many of the other issues
addressed in the question and answer
session now might lead to the need for
new measures to be taken by the EU but
in your mission letter it implies with
this one in one out principle that any
new measure requires the repeal of an
existing measure no matter how necessary
that existing measure might have been do
you accept that measures and legislation
that we take should be evaluated
according to its merits and not
according to some statistical fetish
about the total number
thank you thank you for your question as
a minister of economy and innovation I
also worked a lot in the Twinner to
decrease administrative burden but it is
very important to know that it cannot be
a mechanical move and I think it was
discussed with previous commissioners
designate that it’s not going to be most
importantly I will definitely ensure
that by decreasing administrative burden
we don’t lower our environmental
legislation which is important which
will have to increase and as I have
talked regarding biodiversity we have
ambitious goals but those ambitious
goals can be achieved only by
implementing across the sector’s that
legislation environmental legislation
Holmgren the greens thank you very much
thank you very much for your answers so
far as you mentioned you will lead both
on the zero pollution ambition and on
circular economy in other words it’s in
your hands to create synergies between
them according to the seventh
environmental action plan we should
develop non toxic material cycles so
that recycle waste can be used fully as
a real reliable source of raw materials
unfortunately the previous Commission
did more or less the opposite it
authorized substances of high
toxicological concern that should not be
recycled
such an approach to circular economy
works directly against zero pollution
toxic substances remains in our society
for a longer time to get a second life
and it undermines reach the chemical
legislation so my question to you is
will you link these two issues zero
pollution and circular economy will you
work towards a non-toxic circular
economy one that gives clear
priority to face out of substances of
very high concern over the recycling of
such substances thank you for your
question I think there is a clear link
actually in portfolio as a whole between
what is stated in my mission letter zero
pollution strategy biodiversity circular
economy and if we take one of these out
the others will not really succeed and
this is very important that’s why I
think all these actions are going they
have to be one of the central pieces in
the new Green Deal zero pollution it’s
of course linked with the with the with
with the non toxic strategy why because
first of all only if we don’t waste our
resources we can put them successfully
back into a cycle secondly I think
circular economy will be successful only
when we actually find a way to have a
non-toxic cycle so basically plastics
which are made of chemicals friendly
chemicals let’s call them this way and
then we know that we can reuse them in
many many other ways and they then they
can be applied in different sector this
is the only way for a successfully
working circular economy and definitely
through my mind date I will be reaching
for that thank you
the European Parliament has objected so
far six times to reach authorizations
which have been granted by the
Commission against the provisions of the
law back home in Sweden our government
together with the Parliament also own a
court case against the Commission for
unlawfully granting such an
authorization so my next question is how
will you follow up
on these objections will you bring about
a change respect our objections and the
court judgment and ensure that the
provisions of reach with regard to the
substitution of substances of heavy high
concern are properly applied thank you I
think as it’s at reach provides euros
with the best and most comprehensive
approach in managing chemicals in the
world and there is definitely should be
compliance with the reach reach view has
been done and those shortcomings
regarding those here’s one of the third
one third of those years they will be
all addressed by the Commission and I
only look forward actually through the
reach to include it as a one of the key
pillars talking about the non toxic
strategy on the base what we have in
reach on data we can build a very strong
non toxic environment strategy and
especially in regards of chemicals and
then go even beyond endocrine disrupters
which are currently under review but as
soon as it finishes we’ll definitely be
sure working on it just be well for
renew Europe it’s in your Candida chan
commissioner designate the men and women
in the fishery sector need your support
so we think it’s important that you have
this title fisheries within your
official title we are working on our
control regulation this is going to be
very important in the first part of our
legislative period you have said we need
high standards for fisheries products
you have talked about the whole chain
that’s involved here you’ve talked about
artisanal practices sustainable
practices these are
often areas where women are involved in
processing and packaging for example
helping to create these products of very
high quality we think having
traceability is very important because
that actually gives added value to these
prodigies products and improves income
for these communities consumers have a
right to know what we’re buying and what
we’re consuming so what is your position
here are you going to table some
legislation to move in this direction
I think visualization of the fisheries
funds could help benefit the men and
women living in coastal areas help
improve their income as well are you
also going to support regionalization
thank you very much
thank you first of all question on women
role and as I’ve said report recently
showed that first of all it will be
important to work with with a
commissioner designated Ally on tackling
this this issue this is also one of the
areas how you can make a sector
attractive to young people that everyone
in this sector is respected and you
rightfully so noted that work of working
with fish afterwards it’s a very hard
work and it’s not equally paid so it is
going to be also important question on
the agenda regarding traceability I
think we all agree that we like good
quality food and it is important for our
new standards to be maintained so one of
the key things is of course labeling so
that consumers knows what is buying that
really green label means something and
of course we need to have a disability
as if set from the net to a can and it
is important to work on it it is
important to use
all the possible digitization tools on
that and help not only here in the u n–
using programs like catch but help our
partners as as well to use such programs
and i think then we can definitely
improve and have a further discussion on
possible better labeling and of course
market standards which are very high
into you and we have to maintain it
i suppose that i think thank you very
much i think clearly the role of women
is important and i think we need to have
a acknowledgement of this at a European
level traceability is something that
doesn’t need to be improved but more
than just working on this making
progress on this I would like to hear
from you as to whether we should
incorporate the origin of products into
the labeling of these types of Fisheries
products that’s the specific question
and I would also like to hear your
position on the regionalization of
Fisheries funds which I think makes
sense in terms of the Common Fisheries
Policy
okay so origin as I said it’s very
important but we have to make sure first
of all that what is on label is a true
information so this is the important
step to tackle and I think it is
possible to do through digitization
processes for our market then when we
know for sure of course we can put it on
the label because we all know that our
consumer have a right and formative
choice regarding regionalization I think
as I’ve said before I think it’s a great
tool for a now especially used a lot
regarding Mediterranean Basin and we
will definitely continue using it
involving advisory councils it is
important that it again facilities
dialogue not
only between you Member States but also
non EU Member States who also shared the
same citizen and so we turn to opening
question number 25 mr. van Dalen I will
turn to Dutch faucet of Chairman this
Parliament and especially its Fisheries
Committee has had a big debate a big
argument with the the Commission over
the next Fisheries fund there was a fear
that we were going to have opportunities
and I was going to further deplete the
fisheries resources and we have now got
fishing vessels which have got hybrid
engines and which are very selective as
well in the North Sea I don’t think that
we have got to be over afraid of
overfishing
I think tax and quotas are going to be
sufficient but my actual question my
concrete question is why we so why are
we so afraid of new vessels which are
selective which do their job very very
well in a way which is good to for the
environment I think that should be the
way we are going that should be the
direction of travel in a new EMF F I
understand if I may actually that it was
mainly
the pulse fishing by because it was
translated if you if you if I could ask
you actually and I apologize but it was
translated as the new vessels that we
afraid of new vessels in my earpiece and
if you could just repeat the question I
would appreciate it and could answer
then it fully I’m sorry Bonnie no it’s
really the approach of the new fisheries
fund because the new fisheries funds
must I think be used for to build new
boats there should be financial support
because the new vessels new vessels are
better they’re more efficient they’re
more selective and I think that that’s
one of the things which should be
fundable under the new IMF effort
regarding the MF funding and possible
building of new boats we need to have I
think a a further discussion on that
because I’m not sure that this is the
best way where public money could be
spent I think this is the investment
which could come actually from private
money from reinvestment private money we
have a lot to improve the colleagues
before they asked about improvements of
the current of the condition some of the
small-scale fisheries fleets they are 30
years old so we should talk about the
security it as an important question but
I’m not sure that building a new boats
would definitely go in line with our
goals which are agreed under the CFP
implementation in regards of selectively
more selective gear I think we
definitely should look for it through
the research through the science but
improve it and this is where we can
definitely invest public money into
research into new decisions which will
help our fishermen and women fish more
sustainably more selectively and provide
with best possible solutions
what as I said we need ships that are
environmentally friendly without
emissions in the coming period and for
me it’s clear we should support them out
of the new Fisheries fund and I call
upon you to have not a strict position
and is on the side of the Commission but
support our industry to have good
fishing ships that are environmentally
friendly Thank You mr. van Dalen
and I agree with you the goal is of
course to have environmentally friendly
decisions and as a Minister of Economy I
can say that usually fleets small
businesses they struggle for R&D; funding
and I think this is the area where
public money could be spent on R
actually on facilitating helping with
them with the research with the
decisions which can later be applied I’m
not sure that the intention is good but
I I’m not sure that it will lead to
actually result we do want to achieve
thank you thank you oh thanks to all
members who’ve asked questions the
Commissioner designates now has the
opportunity to make a five minute
closing statement
so Commissioner designate this is the
race the sprint to the finishing line
thank you honorable chair honourable
members thank you again for this
opportunity to make my case I was most
interested to hear the commitment with
which you made your comments and ask
your questions I know how much you care
and I particularly noted that
biodiversity circular economy small
large scale fishermen and women
communities are the most important for
you for my part I hope I have been clear
about my desire to work in partnership
with you
sustainability is a shared
responsibility I want to share that
responsibility this mandate will be the
greenest that Europe has ever seen we
see that from the turnout in the
European elections from the size of the
Environment Committee and from the
mission letters that the president-elect
has sent it will be also very blue the
recent IPCC report has shown just how
important healthy oceans are for the
future of our planet the European Green
Deal is a threat that runs through the
next commission from the very top down
to individual portfolios from climate
and oceans to fisheries and agriculture
from transport and investment to
foresight and health but the deal is not
only about policies it’s not only about
environment and it says it is certainly
not about the economics it’s about sort
of society we want it’s about the
fishermen and women who can no longer go
out to the sea it’s about those who have
been disadvantaged by economic
transformation I want to ensure that
policies and the mime indeed contribute
to a fairer society a society that
leaves no citizen behind I want to
ensure that we will be successful with
just transition with benefits enjoyed by
all we need targeted measures for the
vulnerable I want to be part of a team
that leads Europe towards a more
ambitious approach because when we are
ambitious we are in just improving the
environment we are creating social
justice we are improving the health
quality of life and the well-being of
our citizens when Europe fails to act on
issue like pollution we don’t just fill
the environment we fail the economy we
fail human health and we fail the
well-being of our citizens
on many fronts this joint portfolio is a
huge opportunity
our president-elect has asked her team
to ensure that Europe leads on the
transition to a healthy planet and to
make sure we become the first climate
neutral continent a healthy planet
planet Mays means a healthy environment
and it also means healthy seas a marine
protected area is a safe haven for
biodiversity but it also brings
long-term Games gains for fisheries and
gain for fisheries is a win for the
fishermen and women who rely on our seas
honourable members we cannot protect our
oceans unless we protect our land an
ambition like zero pollution will have
enormous consequences for our seas when
so much marine litter originates on land
more than 40% of marine mammals and
seabirds are already affected they need
urgent help biodiversity zero pollution
farm-to-fork so many of our priorities
now acknowledge the advantages of joint
up approach I ask your help to get
closer to the citizens and reach out to
our local communities I want to rely on
your knowledge and your advice when I
travel to your Member States you know
your constituents best the Forester who
is building resilience into our woods
the fishermen and women who fear the
disappearance of their catch
you are a bridge to our citizens and I
hope my journey will take me across that
bridge
thank you very much
[Applause]
thank you very much to also Commissioner
designate you can have a beer and relax
now it’s up to us and the coordinators
so the coordinators of the two
committees the coordinators of the two
committees will meet at 6:00 and jointly
at 7:00 for the evaluation thank you