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Brussels Live
Transcribed and translated by AI

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Good afternoon, and welcome
to our midday briefing.

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Apologies for the delay; let me begin with
the agenda of President von der Leyen for

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next week. On Tuesday, the President
will chair the meeting of the College of

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Commissioners here in Brussels. On
Thursday, she will travel to Canada to

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participate in the EU-Canada summit
together with President Costa.

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She will also be accompanied by HRVP
Kallas and a number of executive vice

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presidents and commissioners. At the summit
on the Thursday, at the margins of the

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summit, President von der Leyen will
deliver a keynote speech on EU-Canada rel

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ations. At the CDH Institute, she will
also participate in an EU-Canada business

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roundtable. The summit will then continue
on Friday, and both presidents will meet

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with Prime Minister Mark Car ney. There
will also be a press conference on Friday.

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This summit will be an important occasion
to reaffirm and further strengthen our

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close partnership with Canada. At our
summit last year, we set a high level of

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ambition for our relationship, and of
course this year we intend to take that

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ambition even further. We will share with
you more details in the coming days, so I

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encourage you to keep an e ye on our
communication channels like always, where we

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will be providing you with
additional details on the visit.

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This concludes the President's
agenda for next week.

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Moving on, I would now like
to invite Eva to the podium.

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She has an announcement concerning the
EU Civil Protection Mechanism on a rather

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special occasion for us.

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Good afternoon, and thank you, Arianna.
Indeed, today I would like to wish happy

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birthday to our European Civil Protection
Mechanism, 25 years of saving lives and 25

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years of European solidarity in action. Our
European Civil Protection Mechanism is a

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powerful example of how
Europe can act as one.

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Since it was established in 2021, it
has been activated around 900 times;

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the re quests came from 160 countries
and 8 international organizations.

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The mechanism has been strengthened
over the past quarter century.

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We have coordinated assistance during
wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and health

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emergencies ; also during the heat
waves, and also during COVID-19.

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We have helped also repatriate Europeans
from around the world in time of the

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crisis, and we provided
massive support to Ukraine.

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Sending generators and evacuating
Ukrainian patients from hospitals.

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I invite you to read our press
release about the details.

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And as disasters and crises do not stop
at national borders, nor should our sol

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idarity; this is why we today announce 22.

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5 million in humanitarian aid for Yemen,
at the time of the immense needs ca used by

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escalation of the conflict.
This comes on top of 87.

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5 million already allocated this year.
Let me stress that our humanitarian aid is

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provided in line with the principles of
humanity, neutralit y, impartiality, and

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independence. And it never goes to
governments, or parties of the conflict.

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It's delivered through our trusted international
partners, who provide assistance to

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people in need. And despite the serious
current challenges in reaching those people

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in need, in Yemen right now, these principles
will continue to guide our assistance

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also there in Yemen. You also have details
in our press release, so please check

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them.

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Thank you, Eva.

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I will now continue with a reminder about
the informal meeting of the European

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ministers responsible for trade,
which is being held today in Dublin.

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The Commission is represented at this
meeting by Commissioner Ševčovič.

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During this meeting, the minister will
discuss ongoing negotiations on the European

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Union's free trade agreements, as well
as our trade relations with our main

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partners. The discussions will focus in
particular on opening up new markets, in

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order to diversify our trade, strengthen
our economic resilience, and support

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European competitiveness. Commissioner
Sevchevich will take part in the press

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conference scheduled
for today around 15:00.

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I therefore invite you to save your questions
on these topics, and more generally on

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the European Union's trade policy,
for this dedicated press conference.

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And finally, I would like to extend a warm
welcome to a group of visitors joining us

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today here in the press room. I understand
that we have 25 journalists from

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different EU member states visiting us
as part of a program organized by the

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Director General for
Regional and Urban Policy.

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I hope you have a great time here in
Brussels, and of course in particular with us

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here in the press room. It's a
pleasure to have you with us.

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With that, we are now ready
to take your questions.

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Let's start here in the
press room. Go ahead, yeah.

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Hi, Lisa Heselund from a Danish TV2. I
would like to ask you about the peace

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negotiations for Ukraine. Particularly,
there are now reports that a group of

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European leaders are being considered as
represent atives in peace negotiations

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among others: the Danish Prime Minister,
but also the Norwegian and the Swedish, or

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I think the Finnish leader. We know also,
of course, that Björn Sæberg, the head of

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cabinet of the president , is deeply
involved already in these talks, so I would

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just want to know if you can confirm
whether this is an idea on the table and how

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far you are with this idea, and also if
the Commission thinks it's a good idea to

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have a group of European leaders representing
Europe in, well, in potential and

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future negotiations. Thanks.

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What I can say, and then I give the floor
to Christian, is that of course, as you're

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aware, the European Union was present at
the talks earlier in the week that took

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place in Oslo. The expectation is now that
there will be tal ks, further talks at

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multilateral level, at
senior official level.

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Of course, the European Union will
also be represented in that occasion.

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Christian, anything you want to add?

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Yeah, so this is what is concretely
ongoing, and you know, more broadly, these

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negotiations are happening in different
form ats, different places, different

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levels, involving heads of state and
government, ministers, senior diplomats, and EU

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officials. And the EU is involved, and
this is what I can say at this stage.

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You have a follow-up.

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Yeah, just if you can.

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Tell us if you are you backing the idea
of a group of leaders representing Europe.

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There have also been talks about, for
example, the higher representative of Kaja

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Kallas representing
Europe, or other ideas.

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Do you think this is a good idea that
you have a core group of leaders as

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representatives in these talks? Thanks.

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Thank you. What I can say is that we have
always, of course, worked to have Ukraine

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in a position of strength, and we have
always worked for a just and lasting peace

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for Ukraine. We're doing
so at every occasion.

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Now the expectation is to have multilateral
talks at senior official level, and

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we're not going to comment beyond that. Of
course, if Christian wants to add, but I

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don't think there's more to say.

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Go ahead, if you have a question on this.

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Vitaly Sizov, Freedom TV
channel. Just follow up:

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could you reveal some detail of feedback
that you got from Vitkov after he came back

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from Moscow, and as you understood
correctly, he was going to, like, expand this

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format to include Europeans in
negotiation with Russians and Ukraine?

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What's the result? Will you be presented
during the next possible round of meeting

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between Russia and Ukraine,
and the United States?

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Thank you.

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Look, as we said, we are working constantly
to have Ukraine above all in a position

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of strength, and for a
just and lasting peace .

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What we can say is that now there is
an expectation that there will be a

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multilateral-level discussion with
representatives at senior official level.

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The EU will be present at these talks, and
we're not going to provide a running com

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mentary of the exchanges at this stage.
We just can confirm that this is the

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expectation to have these talks at senior
official level happening in the near

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future.

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Other questions for us today, since
Christian is here with me, I would focus on

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questions for Christian. Go ahead.

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Thank you so much, Ariana. As Ariana
Stepanenko radio for Europe-Ukraine, you

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mentioned that there is an
expectation of multil ateral talks.

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But Peskov, Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin
spokesperson, already said today that the talks

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scheduled for the November, they
are supposed to be trilateral.

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So do you mean yet another round, which is
supposed to happen later, or just this is

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expectation for now but there is no conf
irmation that this is going to happen?

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Thank you.

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I think I have been clear on the fact that
this is the expectation that we have, and

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we're not going to comment
further than that for now.

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Yes, go ahead.

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Hello, Adrienne de Calon for AFP. Just
to clarify, can you explain if this

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multilateral talks can
include the Russia ?

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Will the EU and Russia
sit at the table together?

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Thanks.

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The format should be similar to the ones
of the previous talks, for example in

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Miami, so I would not have more specific
det ails than just confirm that the format

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should be the same.

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Yes, go ahead.

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Yes, Ariana, it has—sorry, to insist on
this, but I think everybody is thinking of

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the same thing. When you say that it's
going to be multilateral, but follow the

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example of Miami, do you mean that the
European representatives will not sit at the

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same table as the
Russians at the same time?

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They will do it separately? Not
at the same table as the Russians?

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Thank you.

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At this stage, I wouldn't have
further details to provide.

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The expectation is that there would be a
joint commission council representation

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that would attend the meetings. Beyond
that, as I said, I don't have other elements

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to share. Other questions for Christian?

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On foreign affairs matters in
general, since he's here with me.

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Yes, go ahead.

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Magdalena Cedrow, Polish Press
Agency. Thank you for the floor.

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Changing the topic, but
it is also on the G20.

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It is about Polish
aspirations on for the G20.

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Poland wants to formalize its presence in
the group by securing a permanent obser

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ver or guest status with
the goal of full membership.

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Does the commission support these efforts?

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Will it back Poland officially? Thank you.

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Thanks for the question. What I can say
is that we support the efforts of Poland.

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And we welcome the engagement
of all member states.

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With the G20 and in the G20.

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You have a follow-up.

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Is the support of the commission conditional
on the presence of another EU member

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state with a similar
economy, for example Spain?

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I have—I would just repeat what I just
said, that we, of course, we welcome the

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engagement of all member states
with the G 20 and in the G20.

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Other questions for Christian?
Since he's here with me.

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At the back of the press room, I—

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Adrian Bakić, Slovenian
public broadcaster.

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I have a question regarding the upcoming
elections in Serbia, where the president of

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the assembly and acting president, Ana
Brnabić, protested over the upcoming—over the

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composition of the EU observation
delegation, saying it is biased.

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How do you comment on that coming from
a country that is EU member, to be?

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And how important test will the upcoming
elections on Sunday be for Brussels about

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the Serbian European path? Thank you.

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Yeah, first, let me—let me say that the
EU is closely following, of course, the

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upcoming elections in
Serbia on 25 October.

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Free, fair, and transparent elections
are at the core of European dem ocracy.

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They must be organized in line with
European and international standards.

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Specifically, on the election observation
missions, let me be clear that we take any

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attemp ts to discredit members of the
European Parliament in the election observers

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very seriously. Election observation
missions deployed by well-established

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international organizations, including by
members of the European Parliament, are

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playing an important role to ensure the
democratic process and accountability are

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respected. Their work is based on clear
standards, impartiality, and long-standing

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expertise. So we expect all countries,
including of course candidate countries, and

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potential candid ates, to engage constructively
and transparently with recognized

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international election
observation efforts.

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The deployment of the long-term OSCE ODR
election observation mission at the request

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of the Serbian authorities, by the way,
as well as the invitation of the European

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Parliament, are important steps towards
ensuring credible election observ ation and

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supporting the contribution of domestic
observers to the integrity of the electoral

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process. Thanks.

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Other questions for Christian today?

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Not the case, as far as I
can see. Not even online.

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Oh, sorry, Jorge, I had
missed you. Go ahead.

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Yes.

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Thank you.

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I'm not sure if this is
for Christian or Tomaj.

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It's related to Ukraine because, as you
probably seen, President Zelensky has

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accused the United States of deliberately
delaying or suspending purchases of U.S.

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-made weapons and we know that these
weapons, for the most part, are paid for by

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Europeans. So basically you. Which
makes you a part of the transaction.

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Have you seen an indication that this
suspension or this deliveries are taking

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place? And have you asked the U.S.
government to clarify what's going on?

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Thank you.

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Okay, in this we would have to—we would
have to look into and get back to you.

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Okay. Other questions for us today or
for Christian in this specific case?

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I have one question. Is it for Christian?

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No? Okay. I have one
question—not for Christian.

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Okay, then Christian, thank you.
We come back to other topics.

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Let's go to the back of
the press room. Thank you.

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Good morning. Vincenzo
Genovese from Euronews.

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I have a question on today's Calle
Callas visit to the ICC in the NAG.

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I would like to know if the EU is considering
to activate the EU blocking statu te

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to protect the ICC from the
consequences of the U.S.

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sanctions that have been
announced a few weeks ago.

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Thank you very much.

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Anwar joining me, then let's see if we have
anything else to add with other spokes.

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00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:47,905
Yes, indeed. I'll start on your first leg,
since you mentioned the high rep and her

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visit. Today, indeed, the high representative
Calle Callas is today in The Hague to

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show the EU's unwavering commitment and
sol idarity to the international criminal

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court and international criminal justice.
This afternoon, the high representative

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will meet with the president of the ICC,
President Tomoko Akane, and the court's

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00:17:09,793 --> 00:17:15,232
regist rar, Osvaldo Zavala-Giller. This
visit takes place in the six months window

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that creates in deed space
for dialogue and diplomacy.

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Thank you. And on the rest of your question,
I think we have already said in the

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past all we had to say on the matter,
so nothing to add at this stage.

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Other questions for Anwar,
since he's here with me?

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00:17:31,402 --> 00:17:32,800
Yes, Odile, is it for Anwar?

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00:17:33,460 --> 00:17:33,940
Yes.

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Go ahead.

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00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:44,595
Odile Arvé, for Radio North Britain.
Une question sur le Moyen-Orient.

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00:17:44,698 --> 00:17:52,449
Le projet E1, the construction de 1,000
habitations séparant effectivement.

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00:17:52,553 --> 00:17:55,240
Ça ne marche pas, là? Bon.

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00:17:55,540 --> 00:17:56,260
Ça marche.

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00:17:56,260 --> 00:17:56,980
Ça marche. Bon.

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00:17:56,980 --> 00:17:57,580
Oui.

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Alors, oui. Donc, dans la perspective de
deux États, Is raël et la Palestine, on

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sait que le projet E1 de construction de
1,000 habitations sépar ant effectivement

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le territoire palestinien rendant de ce
fait impossible la traversée pour les

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00:18:20,517 --> 00:18:27,910
habitants, a été fortement critiqué.
Mais on apprend maintenant que il y a une

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00:18:28,005 --> 00:18:35,967
annonce du Premier ministre israélien
Netanyahu de fermer toute la Cisjordanie après

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00:18:36,062 --> 00:18:42,697
des attaques contre des Israéliens.
Est-ce que vous avez une réaction?

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00:18:42,791 --> 00:18:43,991
Merci.

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00:18:47,020 --> 00:18:51,655
Merci. Merci, Odile. Je me permettrai de
répondre d'abord sur le plan E1, avant de

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00:18:51,711 --> 00:18:54,933
toucher du doigt la deuxième
question, qui est la tienne.

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00:18:54,989 --> 00:18:59,285
Alors, s'agissant de la publication par
le gouvernement israélien de l'appel

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00:18:59,341 --> 00:19:04,089
d'offres de construction de plus de 1,000,
200 log ements dans le cadre du projet de

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00:19:04,146 --> 00:19:08,724
colonisation dit E1, nuit, et ce,
fondamentalement, à la perspective de solutions

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00:19:08,780 --> 00:19:11,606
fondées sur la coexistence
à deux États. Pourquoi?

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00:19:11,663 --> 00:19:16,410
La mise en œuvre du plan E1 diviserait la
Cisjordanie en deux, isolant Jérusalem-Est

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00:19:16,467 --> 00:19:19,971
et érodant davantage la viabilité
de la solution à deux États.

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00:19:20,028 --> 00:19:24,719
Ceci se passe pas dans un vacuum, mais dans
un écosystème où la Cisjordanie connaît

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00:19:24,775 --> 00:19:29,467
une instabilité accrue, ainsi que des
niveaux de records de violence de la part des

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00:19:29,523 --> 00:19:32,293
colons violents. Notre
position, quelle est-elle?

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00:19:32,349 --> 00:19:36,927
Elle est très claire. Les colonies
israéliennes en Cisjordanie, y compris dans la

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00:19:36,984 --> 00:19:40,657
zone E1, sont illégales, et ce,
au regard du droit international.

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Et c'est la raison pour laquelle nous avons
exhorté et nous continuons d'exhorter le

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00:19:45,518 --> 00:19:49,983
gouvernement israélien à retirer l'appel
d'offres, à mettre fin à ces plans E1,

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00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:54,618
ainsi qu'à tous les autres projets
d'expansion des colonies et à veiller à ce que

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00:19:54,674 --> 00:19:58,913
les auteurs de violences commises par
les colons répond ent de leurs actes.

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00:19:58,970 --> 00:20:03,718
S'agissant de l'horizon politique, qui a
toujours été le nôtre, à savoir celui de la

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00:20:03,774 --> 00:20:08,126
solution à deux États, nous, Union
européenne, réaffirmons not re attachement

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00:20:08,183 --> 00:20:12,704
indéfectible à une paix globale, juste
et durable, fondée sur la solution à deux

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00:20:12,761 --> 00:20:17,395
États, conformément aux résolutions du
Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies, avec

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deux États démocratiques, Israël et la
Palestine, vivant côte à côte, et ce, dans la

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paix et la sécurité à l'intérieur
de frontières reconnues et stables.

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Donc, voici quand il s'agit de
notre position sur ce projet E1.

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00:20:29,830 --> 00:20:32,486
Maintenant, quand il
s'agit de la dernière des.

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00:20:32,543 --> 00:20:37,177
Développements que tu as mentionnés. L'Union
européenne condamne tous les actes de

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00:20:37,234 --> 00:20:40,060
terrorisme et de violence
à l'encontre des civils.

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00:20:40,300 --> 00:20:45,176
C'est extrêmement clair. Permets-moi
d'ajouter que tout en reconnaissant les

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00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:50,630
préoccupations qui sont celles d'Israël en
termes de sécurité, et a fortiori dans le

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00:20:50,694 --> 00:20:55,763
contexte de tensions accrues en Cisjordanie,
nous, Union européenne, soulignons

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00:20:55,827 --> 00:21:00,960
l'importance de la liberté de circulation
à l'intérieur de la Cisjordanie, ainsi

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00:21:01,024 --> 00:21:04,360
qu'à l'intérieur et à
l'extérieur du dit territoire.

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00:21:07,120 --> 00:21:10,660
Merci, Anwar. Est-ce qu'on a
d'autres questions à ce sujet?

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00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,320
Je ne vois pas de main levée.
D'autres questions pour Anwar?

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00:21:14,380 --> 00:21:19,300
Pas de main levée non plus. Merci, Anwar.
D'autres questions pour nous aujourd'hui

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00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:22,780
sur des autres sujets? On
revient ici en salle de presse.

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00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,040
Oui.

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00:21:30,340 --> 00:21:35,877
Hello. I think I'm from MLEX.
Just a question for Thomas.

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00:21:35,974 --> 00:21:43,843
Just a follow-up on some of the big news
this week in the United States regarding

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00:21:43,940 --> 00:21:52,101
Meta. And this is a rather large court
ruling against Meta that was about 25 billion

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00:21:52,198 --> 00:21:58,609
dollars following up another ruling
in August that was 18 billion.

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00:21:58,707 --> 00:22:06,478
So in the last couple of years, we've had
a steady stream of complaints by U .S.

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00:22:06,575 --> 00:22:13,181
administration officials about the
DSA and, to some degree, the DMA.

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00:22:13,278 --> 00:22:21,342
But essentially, the complaint is that
these European legislations and rules are un

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00:22:21,439 --> 00:22:29,210
fairly targeting EU companies. And my
question today is how the Commission would

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00:22:29,307 --> 00:22:36,691
respond to these accusations in light
of these massive rulings against Meta.

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00:22:36,788 --> 00:22:44,171
In the tens of billions, far exceeding
any DSA decisions to date or even DMA

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00:22:44,268 --> 00:22:49,125
decision s. That are in
the millions. Can the U.S.

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00:22:49,222 --> 00:22:57,188
administration say that the European
legislation is actually targeting or unfairly

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00:22:57,285 --> 00:23:04,183
targeting U.S. companies when U.S.
states are levying such large fines?

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00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:05,480
Thanks.

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00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:12,386
Thanks, Matthew. Let's start maybe with
the obvious that we have said many times

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00:23:12,443 --> 00:23:15,795
from this podium. We have the
sovereign right to legislate.

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00:23:15,852 --> 00:23:18,750
And this, of course, applies
to the digital sector.

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00:23:18,807 --> 00:23:21,364
And we always do this
in a proportionate way.

298
00:23:21,421 --> 00:23:25,682
We do not enforce and regulate by flag.
We enforce and regulate by problem.

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00:23:25,739 --> 00:23:30,342
That's a big, big difference. So the DSA,
the DMA, DI Act, they apply to the U.S.

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00:23:30,399 --> 00:23:33,808
companies. They apply to Asian
companies, Chinese companies.

301
00:23:33,865 --> 00:23:36,422
They apply, of course,
to European companies.

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00:23:36,479 --> 00:23:40,058
One of the prime examples was
this week with a booking dot com.

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00:23:40,115 --> 00:23:44,718
Now, that being said, when we enforce our
legislation, we start with the problem.

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00:23:44,775 --> 00:23:49,434
And we always said that, speaking of the
DSA and Meta, for example, because you're

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00:23:49,491 --> 00:23:52,787
referring to this company,
that this is a shar ed concern.

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00:23:52,844 --> 00:23:57,560
We have a DSA investigation in two years.
We reached the same conclusion as we have

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00:23:57,617 --> 00:24:02,106
seen on the other side of the Atlantic.
Now, again, when the company is able to

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00:24:02,162 --> 00:24:06,651
offer safeguards in the U. S., then we
expect these safeguards to be offered in

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00:24:06,708 --> 00:24:10,004
Europe. This is what we're
currently discussing with Meta.

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00:24:10,061 --> 00:24:13,357
Let us have this dialogue.
Let's see where this will lead.

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00:24:13,413 --> 00:24:16,652
And again, then you're referring
to the size of the fine.

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00:24:16,709 --> 00:24:21,198
When we start an investigation, and even
when we conclude an investigation, the

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00:24:21,255 --> 00:24:24,210
amount of the fine is not
where we're starting with.

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00:24:24,266 --> 00:24:28,983
We are always having a proportionate fine,
which is proportionate to the breach, to

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00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:32,904
the gravity, to the duration. So
we take these factors into account.

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00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,199
And all of this, of course,
to have a change of behavior.

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00:24:36,256 --> 00:24:40,120
So the fine has never been the
objective of any of our legislations.

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00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,184
Thank you, Thomas. You have a follow-up
question, a quick one, please, because I

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00:24:46,231 --> 00:24:48,360
still have many hands
raised from colleagues.

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00:24:48,407 --> 00:24:49,607
Thank you.

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00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:57,468
While you're up there, Thomas, of course,
we've got lots of news in the last couple

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00:24:57,545 --> 00:25:01,765
of weeks about riots in France
and social disturbances.

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00:25:01,842 --> 00:25:08,287
And then allegations that the social media
platform s are not doing enough to remove

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00:25:08,364 --> 00:25:14,656
some of the images or misinformation that
might contribute to f omenting even more

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00:25:14,732 --> 00:25:20,794
violence. And I'm just wondering what
the Commission's role is when it comes to

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00:25:20,871 --> 00:25:26,088
regul ating platforms versus what
the role of the member states are.

327
00:25:26,165 --> 00:25:31,383
Because each member state has their
own digital service coordinator.

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00:25:31,459 --> 00:25:37,368
Is it really the role of the Commission
to organize meetings, call upon these

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00:25:37,444 --> 00:25:43,889
platforms, to do more? Or is it the member
states themselves, in this case France or

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00:25:43,966 --> 00:25:49,721
Belgium, Italy, where the actual events
are occurring, for them to take the

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00:25:49,798 --> 00:25:56,166
initiative to contact the companies and to
say, well, we need a lot more efforts on

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00:25:56,243 --> 00:26:00,386
your side to stop the
misinformation on the platforms?

333
00:26:00,463 --> 00:26:01,663
Thanks.

334
00:26:03,100 --> 00:26:07,347
Thanks, Matthew. The first role is with
the companies and with online platforms.

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00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:10,426
They have to make sure in the
DSA is very clear about it.

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00:26:10,479 --> 00:26:14,885
They have to make sure that their systems,
their algorithms, their services are not

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00:26:14,938 --> 00:26:19,238
being mis used in such a context. So it
is for online platforms to make sure that

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00:26:19,292 --> 00:26:23,379
they comply with a number of obligations
that are laid out in our regulation.

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00:26:23,432 --> 00:26:27,892
Then, of course, the DSA also gives an
entire toolbox to our member states that they

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00:26:27,945 --> 00:26:32,085
can make use of in such a context if
they see the need to rely on these tools.

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00:26:32,139 --> 00:26:36,386
For example, law enforcement authorities
under the DSA can send orders to online

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00:26:36,439 --> 00:26:40,792
platforms to get certain information. What
is the role of the Commission in there?

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00:26:40,845 --> 00:26:44,614
We are, of course, always ready to
support our member states if needed.

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00:26:44,667 --> 00:26:48,596
This is why we had meetings, for
example, with the French Digital Services

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00:26:48,649 --> 00:26:52,789
Coordinator, ARCOM, but we had also a
board meeting with all dig ital services

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00:26:52,842 --> 00:26:56,824
coordinators because of the cross-border
dimension of the events that we're

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00:26:56,877 --> 00:26:59,478
currently facing in some
of our EU member states.

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00:26:59,531 --> 00:27:03,672
What is our role? Again, supporting our
member states, seeing if platforms are

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00:27:03,725 --> 00:27:07,760
responsive to the steps and the measures
that o ur member states are taking.

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00:27:07,813 --> 00:27:12,272
Should that be not the case, for whatever
reason, then, of course, the Commission is

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00:27:12,325 --> 00:27:16,360
ready to support and to also play its
role if there is a systemic dimension.

352
00:27:18,340 --> 00:27:22,234
You have a related question,
I think. Is it related?

353
00:27:22,308 --> 00:27:26,651
Okay, go ahead. It's fine.
Yeah. It was a second question.

354
00:27:26,726 --> 00:27:27,926
Go ahead.

355
00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:35,753
Thank you. Regarding the ongoing talk with
Meta, which you mentioned earlier, can I

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00:27:35,820 --> 00:27:41,211
just get a sense of whether if Meta were
to implement the same exact measures it

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00:27:41,279 --> 00:27:45,591
promised to implement in the U.
S., at some point in the future?

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00:27:45,659 --> 00:27:49,365
Because from what I understand,
it's not yet operative.

359
00:27:49,432 --> 00:27:55,093
Whether that would be enough for the
Commission to close the DSA probe against Meta?

360
00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:58,058
Good question. Our DSA
case is quite broad.

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00:27:58,125 --> 00:28:03,651
We have an issue not only with the one
safeguard that is being offered in the U.S.

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00:28:03,718 --> 00:28:09,244
by a company, meaning the two-hour screen
time limit, we have a broader issue with

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00:28:09,311 --> 00:28:14,972
the addictive design, with the rabbit hole
effec t, and this is what the DSA aims to

364
00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:20,565
tackle. So I mean, it's for our services
to determine if it will be enough or not.

365
00:28:20,632 --> 00:28:25,215
Our basic principle is that if Meta
can offer safeguards in the U.S.

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00:28:25,282 --> 00:28:30,471
to protect children in the U.S., this
must be offered immediately for kids in

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00:28:30,538 --> 00:28:34,446
Europe. Now, will this be
enough to close the case or not?

368
00:28:34,514 --> 00:28:39,635
For our services, I said it here, we
will not settle the case for one or two

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00:28:39,703 --> 00:28:45,093
safeguard s. We really need to tackle,
and this is the objective of the DSA, the

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00:28:45,161 --> 00:28:48,058
core addictive features
of these companies.

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00:28:48,126 --> 00:28:50,080
We want a change of behavior.

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00:28:53,380 --> 00:28:54,760
Follow-up. Go ahead, John.

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00:29:00,820 --> 00:29:06,577
Has such an offer been made on
the part of Meta platforms, Inc.

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00:29:06,669 --> 00:29:07,869
?

375
00:29:08,740 --> 00:29:12,520
We are in constructive discussions
with Meta on this precise issue.

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00:29:15,580 --> 00:29:18,876
Let's see if we have related
questions. Are there related questions?

377
00:29:18,925 --> 00:29:22,027
Not the case. Are there questions
for Thomas on digital matters?

378
00:29:22,076 --> 00:29:24,160
We're going to stay
with digital. Go ahead.

379
00:29:27,580 --> 00:29:30,554
Thanks very much. Maximilian
Henning from Rapporteur.

380
00:29:30,610 --> 00:29:33,023
This is a question a
bit out of left field.

381
00:29:33,079 --> 00:29:37,793
China, this summer, set up an international
AI group of governments called the World

382
00:29:37,849 --> 00:29:42,507
Artificial Intelligence Corporation
Organization, or WICO for short, has China ever

383
00:29:42,563 --> 00:29:46,828
reached out to the Commission on whether
it wants to join this organization?

384
00:29:46,884 --> 00:29:50,475
If yes, when and how did it do
so? And did the Commission reply?

385
00:29:50,531 --> 00:29:52,720
And if yes, what did it say? Thank you.

386
00:29:55,780 --> 00:30:01,462
Thanks, Maximilian. I'm I can tell you that
we have not received a formal invitation

387
00:30:01,529 --> 00:30:04,370
whatsoever to join that cooperation group.

388
00:30:04,438 --> 00:30:09,646
Let me recall that the Commission's
position has always been extremely clear.

389
00:30:09,714 --> 00:30:15,193
We need to tackle the risks that come from
AI with global partners, because these

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00:30:15,261 --> 00:30:19,657
challenges are global ones, not
isolated , to the European Union.

391
00:30:19,725 --> 00:30:24,866
And in this context, let me say that
we are already working with like-minded

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00:30:24,933 --> 00:30:30,615
partners in different for a, be it the U.N.,
be it the G7, the G20, the OECD, and we

393
00:30:30,683 --> 00:30:36,026
have recently joined PAC Silica. So these
are the existing fora in which we are

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00:30:36,094 --> 00:30:41,640
raising our concerns and promoting the
work that we're doing here with our AI Act,

395
00:30:41,708 --> 00:30:46,240
because let's not forget it. Europe
already has the rules in place.

396
00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:49,600
Follow-up, Maximilian. Go ahead.

397
00:30:51,940 --> 00:30:54,570
You say you have not
received a formal invitation.

398
00:30:54,622 --> 00:30:59,041
Can you say anything on any contacts on
this matter below this level of formal invit

399
00:30:59,093 --> 00:31:03,406
ation? And I also want to ask, if such an
offer were to come, would the Commission

400
00:31:03,459 --> 00:31:07,246
actually have a choice? Because, as
you say, you have signed PAC Silica.

401
00:31:07,298 --> 00:31:11,243
And the Americans have been pretty
clear that this seems to be an either-or

402
00:31:11,295 --> 00:31:12,495
situation. So thanks.

403
00:31:14,020 --> 00:31:17,601
We have signed PAC Silica. We have
not received a formal invitation.

404
00:31:17,654 --> 00:31:21,866
I will not go into ifs, nor into hypothetical
bilateral discussions we're having

405
00:31:21,919 --> 00:31:23,920
with our Chinese counterparts on this.

406
00:31:25,900 --> 00:31:30,470
Okay. Related questions to this.
Gabriela Zerondes, not on this.

407
00:31:30,542 --> 00:31:33,684
Odile Zerondes? More
or less. Related. Okay.

408
00:31:33,755 --> 00:31:39,040
Odile, then Gabriele, and then Vitali,
I think, had a question for Thomas.

409
00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:43,000
Or Odile Harvey for Radio Nord-Bretagne.

410
00:31:44,500 --> 00:31:52,661
On 9, 10 and 11 November, the Paris
Peace Forum will be held in Paris.

411
00:31:52,778 --> 00:32:01,289
And on the programme, there is also
an entire session on the Kids Summit.

412
00:32:01,406 --> 00:32:10,733
I wanted to know whether you will be
represented there, to promote the Kids Act,

413
00:32:10,850 --> 00:32:15,280
etc. Will you be attending? Thank you.

414
00:32:17,860 --> 00:32:21,288
Thank you, Odile. I can confirm
that we will indeed be present.

415
00:32:21,342 --> 00:32:25,641
It is true that the Kids Act and the
protection of minors online is an absolute

416
00:32:25,696 --> 00:32:29,559
priority not only for the President,
but for the Commission as a whole.

417
00:32:29,613 --> 00:32:33,640
So, indeed, we have a strong interest
in taking part in these discussions.

418
00:32:35,860 --> 00:32:37,060
Okay. Gabriele?

419
00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:39,040
I can get back to you.

420
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:40,540
Sama agrees with this,

421
00:32:40,540 --> 00:32:46,514
actually. Gabriele Rosana, venir. Greece
passed the Greek Parliament passed a social

422
00:32:46,585 --> 00:32:52,416
media ban for children under 15, which is
due to take effect on the 1st of January

423
00:32:52,487 --> 00:32:58,390
2027. I would like to know if the Commission
considers this a fragmentation somehow

424
00:32:58,461 --> 00:33:04,364
of the internal market , if this somehow
hinders or jeopardizes the internal market

425
00:33:04,435 --> 00:33:08,559
while you are working on a
uniform ban for the entire E U.

426
00:33:08,631 --> 00:33:14,106
And if perhaps member states should not
wait for that, since it's a matter of

427
00:33:14,178 --> 00:33:17,378
priority and you want
it to be ad opted soon.

428
00:33:17,449 --> 00:33:18,649
Thank you.

429
00:33:20,380 --> 00:33:23,078
Thank you. Let's start
with the overall objective.

430
00:33:23,132 --> 00:33:27,611
We're fully in line with our member states
who do want to do more to prote ct their

431
00:33:27,665 --> 00:33:31,874
kids in the online world in light of all
the harms that is being done to them.

432
00:33:31,928 --> 00:33:34,734
This is precisely why we
have proposed the Kids Act.

433
00:33:34,788 --> 00:33:39,159
Now, indeed, several member states have
notified their draft national laws to the

434
00:33:39,213 --> 00:33:42,774
European Commission . We have
addressed procedures that we follow.

435
00:33:42,828 --> 00:33:45,364
We assess these drafts
based on our assessment.

436
00:33:45,418 --> 00:33:48,872
We may give recommendation, a
detailed opinion to member states.

437
00:33:48,926 --> 00:33:53,351
And we then take it from there. Now, indeed,
our main objective is not to fragment

438
00:33:53,405 --> 00:33:57,668
our internal market. All kids across the
entire European Union deserve an equal

439
00:33:57,722 --> 00:34:01,661
level of protection. This is precisely
why we have proposed the Kids Act.

440
00:34:01,715 --> 00:34:06,140
And we definitely urge our co-legislatures
to advance the work on this as quick ly

441
00:34:06,194 --> 00:34:10,618
as possible because we have no time to
lose when it comes to the protection of our

442
00:34:10,672 --> 00:34:11,872
kids online.

443
00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:14,200
You have a follow-up, Gabriele.

444
00:34:16,780 --> 00:34:22,756
Since you used yourself the fragmentation
word, do you think that if the Kids Act is

445
00:34:22,828 --> 00:34:28,590
not in pla ce, before the 1st of January,
then there is a risk of fragmenting the

446
00:34:28,662 --> 00:34:29,862
internal market?

447
00:34:32,200 --> 00:34:36,193
Yes, and we have proposed the
Kids Act with clear age limits.

448
00:34:36,258 --> 00:34:41,364
No own accounts below 15. Accounts with
the supervision and control of parents

449
00:34:41,429 --> 00:34:45,291
between 13 and 15, and no social
media at all for under 13.

450
00:34:45,356 --> 00:34:48,629
So our position on this
matter is extremely clear.

451
00:34:48,695 --> 00:34:54,062
And this is what we have proposed for all
member states across the entire European

452
00:34:54,127 --> 00:34:55,327
Union.

453
00:34:57,400 --> 00:35:01,240
I don't see other hands raised
on digital matters for Thomas.

454
00:35:01,303 --> 00:35:05,080
Therefore, we can move to Vitali.
If it's for Thomas, still.

455
00:35:07,060 --> 00:35:13,126
Yes, Vitali Sizov, Freedom TV channel, on
security maybe you have got some feedback

456
00:35:13,199 --> 00:35:17,438
from SpaceX company on Starlink.
Do you have some updates?

457
00:35:17,511 --> 00:35:20,800
Did they react in some
way on your statement?

458
00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:30,033
Usually never comment on bilateral
discussions we're having with the companies.

459
00:35:30,099 --> 00:35:35,513
I mean, it is more for the Ukrainian
authorities to confirm or not if full services

460
00:35:35,578 --> 00:35:40,667
were restored in Ukraine. What I can say
on this matter is definitely at least

461
00:35:40,732 --> 00:35:46,081
recall our position, which is that the
latest reports that Starlink has decided to

462
00:35:46,146 --> 00:35:49,799
slow down its services in
Ukraine are deeply concerning.

463
00:35:49,864 --> 00:35:54,887
And inconsistent with previous sharing
of these essential needs for Ukrainian

464
00:35:54,953 --> 00:36:00,367
soldiers and for Ukraine to prote ct its
territory and defend its citizens and this

465
00:36:00,432 --> 00:36:05,912
is why if not already done we definitely
still ur ge SpaceX to restore full services

466
00:36:05,977 --> 00:36:07,177
for Ukraine.

467
00:36:09,160 --> 00:36:15,646
Other questions for Thomas? Not
the case as far as I can see.

468
00:36:15,752 --> 00:36:21,069
Other questions for us
today? Daniele from remote.

469
00:36:21,175 --> 00:36:25,960
Daniele? Daniele? You
need to press on speak.

470
00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:27,640
Oh, yeah. Daniele.

471
00:36:28,240 --> 00:36:32,185
Sorry for that. Thank you
very much for the floor.

472
00:36:32,264 --> 00:36:36,525
It's Daniele Weber for the
Luxembourgish Public Radio.

473
00:36:36,604 --> 00:36:39,997
It's on an evergreen
this time of the year.

474
00:36:40,076 --> 00:36:46,388
The daylight saving time. And yeah, many
of us remember Jean-Claude Juncker, the

475
00:36:46,467 --> 00:36:51,044
former commission president,
saying the people w ant this.

476
00:36:51,123 --> 00:36:55,542
We are doing this. Meaning
abolishing changing the time.

477
00:36:55,621 --> 00:37:02,012
Or yeah, the clock. You know what I mean?
So ever since that was 2018, ever since

478
00:37:02,091 --> 00:37:08,561
nothing happened, so I wanted to know
whether the commission is acting in a way in

479
00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:13,532
this matter today. Can you confirm
that there will be a study?

480
00:37:13,611 --> 00:37:19,845
When will the results be published? And
what questions are asked in this study?

481
00:37:19,924 --> 00:37:23,080
What is the aim of the study? Thank you.

482
00:37:23,500 --> 00:37:24,580
Very much.

483
00:37:24,580 --> 00:37:28,288
We share your enthusiasm on the topic.
It's one of our favorite press room topics,

484
00:37:28,334 --> 00:37:30,640
and in particular in Akaiza.
It's thrilled with it.

485
00:37:31,180 --> 00:37:37,454
And listen, thank you, because this allows
us to make an important public service

486
00:37:37,531 --> 00:37:43,882
announcement, which is that this weekend
we will be turning backlog s by one hour.

487
00:37:43,960 --> 00:37:50,311
I will personally only turn it back by 55
minutes because I don't want to be late.

488
00:37:50,388 --> 00:37:56,894
But on this issue, member states, our
position has remained the same since 2018 when

489
00:37:56,972 --> 00:38:01,464
we made the proposal to the
co-legislatures on this issue.

490
00:38:01,542 --> 00:38:05,647
Member states are best placed
to decide on this time.

491
00:38:05,724 --> 00:38:11,920
And since then, I mean, for eight years
now, this proposal has been stuck in the

492
00:38:11,998 --> 00:38:16,722
council. There has not been a
decision between member states.

493
00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:23,073
But we have been constructively engaging
with success ive council presidencies to

494
00:38:23,151 --> 00:38:29,580
see what we can do. Our job as the commission
is to foster consensus amongst member

495
00:38:29,657 --> 00:38:35,621
states and help coordinat e. But
ultimately, this decision is with the member

496
00:38:35,698 --> 00:38:42,204
states. You asked about the study. Yes, we
are working on a study as well that would

497
00:38:42,282 --> 00:38:46,774
then be ab le to possibly
support in this decision-making.

498
00:38:46,852 --> 00:38:53,048
The. Work is ongoing. I do not yet have
the date when we will be able to present

499
00:38:53,125 --> 00:38:59,631
results. But obviously the study will be
looking into the various aspects of related

500
00:38:59,709 --> 00:39:05,982
to changing the time inter estingly, the
summertime or changing clocks in Europe.

501
00:39:06,060 --> 00:39:12,411
It started during the first world war. And
then it was kind of scrapped for a bit.

502
00:39:12,488 --> 00:39:18,840
And given that we are in an energy crisis
now, it was France that exactly 50 years

503
00:39:18,917 --> 00:39:23,564
ago introduc ed summertime,
reintroduced summertime, to say.

504
00:39:23,642 --> 00:39:29,915
Energy as a response to the oil crisis.
But of course we have since had we have a

505
00:39:29,993 --> 00:39:36,034
directive in place since 2000 on this.
And following many requests from member

506
00:39:36,112 --> 00:39:42,540
states, the European Parliament, we then
decided in 20 18 to make a proposal and it

507
00:39:42,618 --> 00:39:48,891
has been stuck in the council ever since.
So as a result, this weekend we will be

508
00:39:48,969 --> 00:39:54,545
turning our clocks back by one hour.
Other questions on the time change?

509
00:39:54,623 --> 00:39:58,341
Let's see. Since I see
hands raised from remote.

510
00:39:58,418 --> 00:40:01,981
Gerardo, Tommaso, is it
on this? Probably not.

511
00:40:02,058 --> 00:40:05,931
No. Okay. Thank you. Other
questions for Anakaisa?

512
00:40:06,008 --> 00:40:07,480
She's here with me.

513
00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:11,567
Not in the press room. I have
two hands raised from remote.

514
00:40:11,612 --> 00:40:13,720
Let's see if it's for
you. Let's go to Gerardo.

515
00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:18,280
Yeah. Hi. Can you hear me?

516
00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:19,600
Yes. And we see you. Hi.

517
00:40:20,620 --> 00:40:26,467
No. I mean, it's on the operation revival
that was launched mentioning Juncker.

518
00:40:26,541 --> 00:40:30,907
But it's on the previous
commission. College of Commission.

519
00:40:30,981 --> 00:40:35,200
There was a reporting this
morning on New Observer about.

520
00:40:35,620 --> 00:40:38,920
Gerardo, just one second. Apologies.
Let me check if Tommaso's for Anakaisa.

521
00:40:39,460 --> 00:40:40,180
Ah, yeah, yeah. Right.

522
00:40:40,180 --> 00:40:42,560
I will get back. Tommaso,
is it for Anakaisa?

523
00:40:42,613 --> 00:40:44,200
Since your hand stayed raised.

524
00:40:46,420 --> 00:40:50,128
Yes. Good afternoon. It
is for Anakaisa, actually.

525
00:40:50,202 --> 00:40:55,986
Tommaso Vallavotti at Encrono City. It's
just a curiosity because the European

526
00:40:56,060 --> 00:41:02,140
Parliament yesterday adopted a position
on the ET S, which called for the adoption

527
00:41:02,214 --> 00:41:08,147
of revised parameters for some industrial
sectors, among which there is ceramic,

528
00:41:08,221 --> 00:41:13,189
ceramics. Which is a very important
sector for the Italian economy.

529
00:41:13,263 --> 00:41:19,195
Which is actually penalized by the fact
that it has been excluded from the CBAM.

530
00:41:19,270 --> 00:41:25,424
May you please explain why ceramics was
excluded from the CBAM, which is actually a

531
00:41:25,498 --> 00:41:31,431
penalization for the sector because they
paid ETS but they face competition from

532
00:41:31,505 --> 00:41:37,289
ceramics imported from out side the EU,
which doesn't pay any price for carbon

533
00:41:37,363 --> 00:41:38,920
emitted. Many thanks.

534
00:41:41,740 --> 00:41:47,592
If I understood correctly, you would ask
me to explain the European Parliament

535
00:41:47,667 --> 00:41:53,894
decision or their request and this is
something I'm I would have to send you to ask

536
00:41:53,969 --> 00:42:00,121
the European Parliament about th is. It
is part of the co-decision process that is

537
00:42:00,196 --> 00:42:05,673
related to the ETS proposal that or
the review that we made back in July.

538
00:42:05,748 --> 00:42:11,675
But on the individual changes that the
European Parliament is now making, these

539
00:42:11,750 --> 00:42:17,827
would be for them to comment, not for us.
We are obviously very closely following

540
00:42:17,902 --> 00:42:23,904
and supporting the co-leg islatures in
this process, but not commenting on their

541
00:42:23,979 --> 00:42:27,880
individual decisions.
Tommaso, you have a follow-up?

542
00:42:33,380 --> 00:42:36,635
Uh, yes, I do, because—
I mean, the question is:

543
00:42:36,703 --> 00:42:42,332
ceramics has been excluded from the CBAM,
which is applies— applies only to certain

544
00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:47,825
sectors. May you please explain why
ceramics is still out of the CBAM, which is—

545
00:42:47,893 --> 00:42:53,047
which is a competitive disadvantage for
the sector, because they face unfair

546
00:42:53,115 --> 00:42:55,760
competition from abroad, right? Thanks.

547
00:42:57,320 --> 00:43:02,736
Um, CBAM is actually taxation, so it would
be for my colleague, uh, she— she will

548
00:43:02,803 --> 00:43:06,080
get back on— on this — on
the ceramics exclusion.

549
00:43:08,600 --> 00:43:12,774
Thanks a lot, Anna. Kai is Louise, you
want to provide an answer already, or you

550
00:43:12,826 --> 00:43:14,600
want to get back later to Tommaso?

551
00:43:15,200 --> 00:43:18,320
Later. Okay, Tommaso, we'll be in touch.
Louise, we'll be in touch in the afternoon.

552
00:43:19,280 --> 00:43:22,280
Thank you. Gerardo, we
come back to your question.

553
00:43:22,340 --> 00:43:23,720
If you can start again.

554
00:43:30,980 --> 00:43:37,575
Yeah, hi, um, Gerardo from Politico. Yeah,
there was this reporting this morning on

555
00:43:37,654 --> 00:43:44,329
you observer, uh, on former Commissioner
Didi Reynders, there was an exchange that a

556
00:43:44,408 --> 00:43:50,924
WhatsApp exchange that was published, uh,
between him and an intelligence operator

557
00:43:51,003 --> 00:43:57,519
from the Belg ian intelligence, and it was
while Reynders was also a member of the

558
00:43:57,598 --> 00:44:04,273
college. I just want to know, since also
the commission wanted to participate, and I

559
00:44:04,352 --> 00:44:10,391
think the commission said one year ago
that it would have contributed to the

560
00:44:10,470 --> 00:44:16,986
investigation of the police, if this
WhatsApp message was from, uh, Didi Reynders,

561
00:44:17,065 --> 00:44:23,104
actual phone at the commission, and it
is something that was provided by the

562
00:44:23,183 --> 00:44:29,778
commission, and also in general, if you
have a comment on the ongoing investigation

563
00:44:29,858 --> 00:44:32,480
and the new developments, thanks.

564
00:44:33,380 --> 00:44:38,059
Thank you. Balázs joining me, I doubt we
would say much on ongoing investigation,

565
00:44:38,117 --> 00:44:42,796
and of course we stand always ready to
cooperate with the national authorities on

566
00:44:42,854 --> 00:44:44,240
all matters, but Balázs.

567
00:44:44,660 --> 00:44:49,791
Ariana did my job as usual, so indeed we
are very much aware of the proceedings

568
00:44:49,856 --> 00:44:53,038
pursued by the Belgian
authorities on this point.

569
00:44:53,103 --> 00:44:58,363
To my knowledge we have not been contacted
by the Belgian authorities, but should

570
00:44:58,428 --> 00:45:02,000
this be the c ase we will of
course as usual cooperate.

571
00:45:03,260 --> 00:45:08,924
Thank you, Balázs. Since Balázs joined me,
other questions for Balázs on the files

572
00:45:08,994 --> 00:45:12,171
he covers? No. Ah, wait,
a couple from remote.

573
00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:13,760
Let's go to Alexandra.

574
00:45:17,300 --> 00:45:20,000
Thank you, Ariana, for the
floor. Do you hear me well?

575
00:45:20,720 --> 00:45:21,920
We do, and we see you as well.

576
00:45:23,300 --> 00:45:29,193
On the same story, regarding former
Commissioner Didier Reynders, irrespective of

577
00:45:29,266 --> 00:45:34,868
the Belgian investigation, does the
commission consider that this revelations

578
00:45:34,941 --> 00:45:38,360
warrant an internal
security review? Thank you.

579
00:45:41,180 --> 00:45:47,062
I would slow down a little bit and recall
that from what we understand there is an

580
00:45:47,133 --> 00:45:52,943
ongoing investig ation, so no conclusions
have been drawn, so I would not jump to

581
00:45:53,015 --> 00:45:56,960
any conclusion for this reas
on. At this point in time.

582
00:45:58,940 --> 00:46:01,520
Thank you, Balázs. I see
Tommaso has a hand raised.

583
00:46:08,440 --> 00:46:09,640
I will just begin:

584
00:46:10,240 --> 00:46:17,638
sorry for asking another question, but
it's just on Ital y, because Prime Minister

585
00:46:17,728 --> 00:46:25,036
Meloni said after the European Council
that she has talked with President von der

586
00:46:25,126 --> 00:46:32,615
Leyen and that she's optimist in as far as
the request of flexibility is concerned.

587
00:46:32,705 --> 00:46:40,193
I wonder if you are already in contact with
Italian authorities on this matter, and

588
00:46:40,284 --> 00:46:45,787
if you expect high -level contacts
in the next days or weeks.

589
00:46:45,877 --> 00:46:47,077
Many thanks.

590
00:46:49,900 --> 00:46:53,664
Und die the point of
flexibility in the Italian case:

591
00:46:53,735 --> 00:46:59,700
I think what is important to recall is that
Ital y recently requested the activation

592
00:46:59,771 --> 00:47:05,238
of the national escape clause. On the
Commission's side, there was a positive

593
00:47:05,309 --> 00:47:09,144
assessment, and the file has
now moved to the Council.

594
00:47:09,215 --> 00:47:13,547
And it is for them to deliver
a final opinion on the request.

595
00:47:13,618 --> 00:47:19,441
Obviously, this would give Italy extra
fiscal space, be it in the field of defense

596
00:47:19,512 --> 00:47:22,920
or in the field of energy.
This is their choice.

597
00:47:22,991 --> 00:47:28,246
And what I can confirm is that we have
had good discussions with Ital y in

598
00:47:28,317 --> 00:47:34,282
particular as to how to make the best use
of the extra fiscal space when it comes to

599
00:47:34,353 --> 00:47:35,560
energy me asures.

600
00:47:38,620 --> 00:47:42,220
Other questions for Balasz? Not
the case. Thank you, Balasz.

601
00:47:42,280 --> 00:47:45,280
Other questions for us
today on different matters?

602
00:47:45,340 --> 00:47:46,540
Go ahead.

603
00:47:50,020 --> 00:47:54,150
Hi, thank you for the floor, Alessia
Balducci, now Italian News Agency.

604
00:47:54,208 --> 00:47:58,570
I have a question on the trade-and-fence
partnership with Tur key announced

605
00:47:58,629 --> 00:48:01,537
yesterday by Prime Minister
of Canada Mark Carney.

606
00:48:01,595 --> 00:48:05,958
I would just like to know your take on
this, because we know that Carney is

607
00:48:06,016 --> 00:48:10,844
interested in an alliance for the future,
open not only to the European Union, so w

608
00:48:10,902 --> 00:48:15,788
ithout going into speculation and prejudging
the outcome of the summit, but for now,

609
00:48:15,846 --> 00:48:20,499
I would just like to know: do you see
this Canada-T urkey agreement as part of a

610
00:48:20,557 --> 00:48:25,152
bigger alliance for the future plan, like
does this fit in that frame, and then

611
00:48:25,211 --> 00:48:29,806
secondly, if I may, have other partners
reached out to you specifically showing

612
00:48:29,864 --> 00:48:34,401
interest in this alliance for the future
idea, or is this more of a Canada-led

613
00:48:34,459 --> 00:48:36,960
initiative that you
are just tagging along?

614
00:48:37,018 --> 00:48:38,218
Thank you.

615
00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:43,781
On the first part of the question, as
you said, this is a trade agreement.

616
00:48:43,840 --> 00:48:48,399
We're not taking trade questions today;
there is a presser dedicated to trade

617
00:48:48,458 --> 00:48:52,010
matters at 3 o'clock, so we're
not going to enter into that.

618
00:48:52,069 --> 00:48:56,509
On the upcoming Canada summit, of
course, the alliance for the future is an

619
00:48:56,569 --> 00:49:00,417
important component. We will have
the summit coming up in a week;

620
00:49:00,476 --> 00:49:05,330
right now we're focused on that, and we
will see in the future how to go about it,

621
00:49:05,390 --> 00:49:10,363
but our priority is to strengthen our
relationship with Canada and the summit is the

622
00:49:10,422 --> 00:49:14,507
first very important occasion to do
so. Other questions for us today?

623
00:49:14,566 --> 00:49:18,296
Not the case. That brings us to
the end of our midday briefing.

624
00:49:18,355 --> 00:49:22,499
Thank you very much for having
participated, also to the interpreters.

625
00:49:22,558 --> 00:49:27,413
We wish you a very nice weekend, and we
will be back on Monday with our next press

626
00:49:27,472 --> 00:49:28,672
event. Goodbye.