WEBVTT NOTE Brussels Live. Transcribed and translated automatically from the original sound. Mistakes are possible. Independent service, not affiliated with the European Parliament or the European Commission. Source: © European Union. AI-generated: Transcripts, translations and summaries on this site are generated automatically by AI: speech recognition (Soniox), machine translation and summaries (Mistral AI). Not edited by humans before publication. EU AI Act, Article 50. 00:00:00.230 --> 00:00:03.699 Good afternoon and welcome to our midday briefing. 00:00:03.770 --> 00:00:05.690 We have two announcements for you today. 00:00:07.370 --> 00:00:13.579 And I will begin in French. First of all, following today's meeting with the heads 00:00:13.650 --> 00:00:17.489 of cabinet of the European Commission, I can I will now speak in French. 00:00:17.553 --> 00:00:22.426 First of all, following today's meeting with the heads of cabinet of the European 00:00:22.496 --> 00:00:28.556 Commission, I can present you with tomorrow's agenda for the College meeting, as 00:00:28.688 --> 00:00:31.506 well as the press events we are preparing. 00:00:31.572 --> 00:00:36.385 So, the College is expected to adopt a European strategy for sustainable tourism, 00:00:36.448 --> 00:00:42.002 which will be the subject of the College's minutes and a press conference by 00:00:42.077 --> 00:00:47.178 Commissioner Tsitsikostas. The College will also adopt the European Commission's 00:00:47.272 --> 00:00:54.970 work programme for 2027, as well as the 2026 annual report on simplification. 00:00:55.051 --> 00:01:02.350 And a press conference by Commissioners Dombrowski and Šefčovič will take place on 00:01:02.429 --> 00:01:05.883 this subject following the College's round-up. 00:01:05.945 --> 00:01:10.634 Finally, the College will also adopt the enlargement package, which will be 00:01:10.678 --> 00:01:18.333 presented at a press conference. by the High Representative Callas and Commissioner 00:01:18.443 --> 00:01:21.770 Koss, and we we have organised a technical briefing 00:01:22.310 --> 00:01:23.450 off the record 00:01:23.450 --> 00:01:33.565 on this subject tomorrow at 10 a.m. So that is the agenda for the College. 00:01:33.652 --> 00:01:40.026 And the press events related to it. And then, as usual, you will receive more 00:01:40.124 --> 00:01:44.930 detailed information by email later in the afternoon. 00:01:48.170 --> 00:01:54.375 Now let me also draw your attention to the fact that it's our first daily news of 00:01:54.449 --> 00:02:00.710 the month and we are publishing a table as we are now systematically doing every 00:02:00.830 --> 00:02:08.870 month with the legislation which enters into force or in application this month. 00:02:08.990 --> 00:02:17.436 Which may be useful for your reporting. And it's linked to the daily news at the 00:02:17.504 --> 00:02:23.768 very end of it. And finally, let me extend a very warm welcome to a group of 00:02:23.870 --> 00:02:28.373 visitors joining us in our press room today. 00:02:28.490 --> 00:02:35.603 I understand we have 23 students from the Utrecht School of Journalism. 00:02:35.690 --> 00:02:40.559 I hope you enjoy your time here among future colleagues. 00:02:40.670 --> 00:02:49.128 And that you enjoy this midday too. And that's it for our announcements and we can 00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:54.410 now take your questions. Let me start here. 00:02:58.370 --> 00:03:01.832 Thank you. Alice Tyree for Rapporteur. I have a question regarding the meeting that 00:03:01.870 --> 00:03:04.954 is meant to take place in Brussels this week. 00:03:05.030 --> 00:03:09.590 With U.S. Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and representatives from NATO, the EU, 00:03:09.653 --> 00:03:14.165 Germany, France, and the UK, could you give us the name of the person who will be 00:03:14.208 --> 00:03:16.130 representing the EU? Thank you very much. 00:03:16.850 --> 00:03:23.916 Thank you. I can confirm that indeed this week Wednesday, so tomorrow, the European 00:03:23.985 --> 00:03:30.319 Commission will host a meeting with representatives from Ukraine, from the United 00:03:30.433 --> 00:03:37.024 States, France, Germany, the UK, NATO, and the World Bank. 00:03:37.130 --> 00:03:44.339 And this meeting will build on earlier talks that took place in Miami. 00:03:44.450 --> 00:03:53.200 With Ukraine, and with U.S. also at the time, in view of a lasting sustainable peace 00:03:53.278 --> 00:03:59.999 in Ukraine. And the meeting on Wednesday will focus on Ukraine's post-war 00:04:00.082 --> 00:04:08.394 reconstruction and prosperity, and on our side it will be at the level of our 00:04:08.475 --> 00:04:16.698 national security advisor. So high. Level officials. 00:04:16.910 --> 00:04:18.110 Yes, Gina. 00:04:20.750 --> 00:04:25.372 So I just wanted to quickly follow up. So the Commission is hosting the meeting and 00:04:25.453 --> 00:04:29.590 did you know that Mr. Witkoff was going to announce it on Twitter last night or on X 00:04:29.636 --> 00:04:31.190 last night or was that a surprise? 00:04:32.210 --> 00:04:36.989 Thank you. Indeed I confirm the Commission is hosting this meeting tomorrow and 00:04:37.070 --> 00:04:41.028 obviously we are in touch with our counterparts in the U.S. 00:04:41.090 --> 00:04:46.646 also regarding announcements and the upcoming meetings. 00:04:46.790 --> 00:04:47.990 Yes, Gina, follow up. 00:04:49.550 --> 00:04:52.031 Yeah, thank you. That doesn't quite answer my question though. 00:04:52.070 --> 00:04:54.950 Did you know that Mr. Witkoff was going to announce it last night? 00:04:55.850 --> 00:04:59.885 I don't know if we knew. I know that we are in contact with Mr. 00:04:59.990 --> 00:05:06.701 Witkoff and other representatives of the United States regarding these talks. 00:05:06.830 --> 00:05:13.370 And therefore it's absolutely normal that this is announced at some point and we 00:05:13.418 --> 00:05:18.031 have the opportunity to confirm that indeed we are hosting this meeting here with 00:05:18.114 --> 00:05:22.430 you today at the midday. Yes, Vitali. 00:05:25.610 --> 00:05:29.723 Vitali Sizovov, Freedom TV Channel. Just a short follow up. 00:05:29.810 --> 00:05:35.503 Do you expect a visit of President of Ukraine because he announced it last week that 00:05:35.562 --> 00:05:39.711 he was going to visit Brussels but then I think the visit was canceled? 00:05:39.770 --> 00:05:40.970 Thank you. 00:05:41.630 --> 00:05:49.034 I'm not aware of a visit of President Zelensky to Brussels at least not in order to 00:05:49.085 --> 00:05:54.366 meet any commission representative. I'm not aware of such meeting and visits for 00:05:54.500 --> 00:06:04.331 this week. Other. Questions? Laura Dubois. 00:06:04.550 --> 00:06:07.430 I don't know if it's on this topic. Online. 00:06:08.150 --> 00:06:08.990 Laura. 00:06:08.990 --> 00:06:11.406 Yes, hi. Laura Dubois for The Financial Times. 00:06:11.450 --> 00:06:14.593 Also on the meeting. Can you tell me who will attend from the American side, please? 00:06:14.630 --> 00:06:15.830 Thank you. 00:06:16.250 --> 00:06:25.227 I cannot not yet. We'll have to wait a bit for that piece of information. 00:06:25.370 --> 00:06:29.241 Other. Topics that you'd like to raise today? 00:06:29.330 --> 00:06:32.870 Yes, please. Yeah. Yes. 00:06:36.290 --> 00:06:37.730 Hello Thibault Maillet from Arte. 00:06:38.330 --> 00:06:42.005 Today the Czech public media are on strike to protest against the abolition of the 00:06:42.045 --> 00:06:47.335 license fee and the cuts to their budget. Under the European Media Freedom Act, 00:06:47.390 --> 00:06:51.366 member states must ensure that public services media have sufficient, sustainable, 00:06:51.415 --> 00:06:58.033 and predictable fundings in the. European Commission view are the measures adopted 00:06:58.083 --> 00:07:01.190 in the first reading in Czechia in breach of the EMFA. 00:07:02.990 --> 00:07:10.433 Thank you, Thibault. I'll ask Markus to join us. 00:07:10.610 --> 00:07:14.390 On the media-related legislation in Czechia. 00:07:18.410 --> 00:07:24.737 Thank you very much for your question. We are aware of the decisions by the Czech 00:07:24.803 --> 00:07:32.518 Parliament's Chamber of Deputies and the approval of the bill at first reading 00:07:32.810 --> 00:07:40.465 earlier. In October. We will continue to follow closely the developments what I can 00:07:40.564 --> 00:07:46.386 say more in general on our position on public service media is that public service 00:07:46.428 --> 00:07:50.544 media play a special role in ensuring that citizens have access to information and a 00:07:50.623 --> 00:07:55.130 diverse content offering. And as a matter of fact the European Media Freedom Act 00:07:55.190 --> 00:07:59.830 EMFA contains a number of safeguards to ensure media freedom and pluralism in the EU 00:07:59.893 --> 00:08:05.004 including in relation to the independent functioning of public service media. 00:08:05.150 --> 00:08:08.698 The implementation of the EMFA is a priority for the Commission and we are in close 00:08:08.744 --> 00:08:14.405 contact with all member states including the Czechia to ensure that the EMFA is 00:08:14.467 --> 00:08:15.710 being complied with. 00:08:17.330 --> 00:08:18.590 Thibault, you have a follow up. 00:08:21.350 --> 00:08:26.450 So have you been in contact with the Czech government and when? 00:08:26.750 --> 00:08:31.491 And NGOs have also pointed out that most EU member states have not yet fully 00:08:31.550 --> 00:08:37.298 implemented the EMFA. What is the Commission's response to this concerns and what's 00:08:37.363 --> 00:08:40.831 your analysis? Thanks very much. Yes, I can confirm that we have been in touch with 00:08:40.866 --> 00:08:45.129 the Czech authorities. The Czech authorities have also replied to a letter that 00:08:45.185 --> 00:08:49.064 we've sent earlier. And we are currently assessing the letter. 00:08:49.130 --> 00:08:50.330 The reply. 00:08:51.650 --> 00:09:03.350 Okay. Other questions for Markus? And Matúš online? 00:09:08.510 --> 00:09:09.710 Hello, can you hear me? 00:09:10.310 --> 00:09:11.510 Yes, Anna we can. 00:09:11.930 --> 00:09:15.298 Perfect. Thank you so much. Anna, much thanks for the Portuguese agency. 00:09:15.350 --> 00:09:18.939 I have some questions regarding the portrait protest in Portugal. 00:09:19.010 --> 00:09:24.935 I wonder if the Commission is accompanying a monitoring I'm sorry. 00:09:25.010 --> 00:09:29.895 The situation and do you have some how some concerns of the police crackdown on the 00:09:29.949 --> 00:09:33.118 protesters in Portugal? There was also one ruling yesterday. 00:09:33.170 --> 00:09:37.834 So is the Commission aware about this latest court ruling of the right to 00:09:37.896 --> 00:09:40.310 demonstrate? All you can say about this. Thank you so much. 00:09:41.690 --> 00:09:46.507 Thanks. Thank you very much, Anna. Well, I can only be very brief on this. 00:09:46.550 --> 00:09:50.813 You know national authorities are competent for maintaining public order and law 00:09:50.870 --> 00:09:53.930 enforcement matters so this is something for the national authorities. 00:09:57.530 --> 00:10:07.401 Good. Thank you. Other questions to Markus? 00:10:07.730 --> 00:10:13.490 I don't see any. Other topics that you'd like to raise today Antoine? 00:10:20.450 --> 00:10:25.100 Thank you, Paula. Antoine Muto for Japanese Public TV and HK. 00:10:25.190 --> 00:10:32.074 This is about the latest incidents regarding supermarket fridges across Europe. 00:10:32.150 --> 00:10:36.948 What is please your assessment of the situation and also how high do you perceive 00:10:37.010 --> 00:10:43.933 the risk that this could be the result of government sponsored hybrid attack? 00:10:44.030 --> 00:10:46.790 Example given emanating from Russia. Thank you. 00:10:48.770 --> 00:10:55.610 Thank you, Antoine. Tomorrow give us the latest on our side on this. 00:10:55.730 --> 00:10:58.952 Thank you, Paula. Bonjour Antoine. So the European Commission is definitely in 00:10:58.990 --> 00:11:03.967 direct contact with the member states and the relevant national authorities which 00:11:04.019 --> 00:11:08.011 are the ones currently carrying out the investigations of very important to keep in 00:11:08.057 --> 00:11:12.849 mind. Now I can confirm that this morning we have convened two meetings a first one 00:11:12.915 --> 00:11:18.559 early this morning with the EU inter-institutional task force this is together with 00:11:18.612 --> 00:11:22.442 the EU agencies so you have ENISA you have Europol and you have of course the 00:11:22.490 --> 00:11:27.430 relevant commission services that were there so that was a first meeting and another 00:11:27.501 --> 00:11:32.985 meeting in the late morning today this time coordinated with EU Cyclone so this is a 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:37.168 meeting with the member states with the national authorities including the ones that 00:11:37.237 --> 00:11:42.899 were affected here what is important is to have information sharing of course of 00:11:42.974 --> 00:11:47.518 what happened how to best respond to this collectively because it's not limited to 00:11:47.565 --> 00:11:52.664 one member states but to several member states and these incidents of course show 00:11:52.715 --> 00:11:57.230 once again how cyber attacks can disrupt essential services and affect citizens' 00:11:57.290 --> 00:12:01.743 daily lives now on the attribution let me be extremely careful here it is not for us 00:12:01.790 --> 00:12:05.852 from this podium to attribute such cyber incidents I just said that the 00:12:05.898 --> 00:12:10.101 investigations are currently being carried out by the national authorities and we're 00:12:10.144 --> 00:12:11.344 in close contact with them. 00:12:13.370 --> 00:12:15.710 Yes. Antoine you have a follow up? 00:12:18.530 --> 00:12:23.714 Thank you, Toma. Since it already happened that kind of incident obviously happened 00:12:23.782 --> 00:12:29.729 as well in France some weeks ago do you see any link between the two since yesterday 00:12:29.773 --> 00:12:34.523 it happened not only in one country but if I'm not mistaken at least five or even 00:12:34.601 --> 00:12:41.162 six countries across the European Union and also how. 00:12:41.570 --> 00:12:46.423 Yeah. What is your level of preparedness preparedness towards the potent the 00:12:46.488 --> 00:12:51.721 possibility that this could come from a foreign intelligence or a foreign actor or 00:12:51.817 --> 00:12:57.770 from abroad I mentioned Russia because I can imagine this is right now one of the 00:12:57.839 --> 00:13:03.803 countries which is maybe not suspected but at least in the radar of many people 00:13:03.866 --> 00:13:08.706 across Europe so yeah thank you. Thanks again Antoine. 00:13:08.750 --> 00:13:10.756 I would be extremely careful when it comes to attributions. 00:13:10.790 --> 00:13:14.919 It's not for us to do for now. Now what do these incidents show? 00:13:14.990 --> 00:13:20.276 Definitely that I mean these are not isolated incidents and of course we have to be 00:13:20.346 --> 00:13:24.347 collectively resilient and prepared for such cyber incidents. 00:13:24.410 --> 00:13:28.979 This is why the EU has of course put an entire toolbox at its disposal to support 00:13:29.030 --> 00:13:32.133 member states. I mean here you have for example I can mention a couple of them but 00:13:32.176 --> 00:13:37.125 you have the cyber resilience act which is focusing on devices and to increase the 00:13:37.203 --> 00:13:40.886 resilience of our manufacturers and companies. 00:13:40.970 --> 00:13:44.817 For these devices but also of course the cyber solidarity act where we cooperate 00:13:44.862 --> 00:13:49.570 with member states and NIS2. So these are just some examples of what we have already 00:13:49.610 --> 00:13:54.996 put in place to tackle what is indeed an increased number of cyber incidents that 00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:56.240 are affecting the EU. 00:13:57.830 --> 00:14:06.110 Thank you. Other questions to Toma? Nope. Other topics? 00:14:06.230 --> 00:14:16.502 Yes please. Elli Hila from Finnish Podcasting Company YLE. 00:14:16.670 --> 00:14:21.950 I have a question regarding Russian athletes competing in the EU area. 00:14:22.070 --> 00:14:27.334 Most recently international ice hockey federation welcomed the Russian team to join 00:14:27.397 --> 00:14:32.566 the games next year in Germany. How does the commission view these developments? 00:14:32.630 --> 00:14:36.750 Should Russian athletes be competing in Europe? 00:14:36.830 --> 00:14:43.300 And related to that as the commission is preparing a proposal on visa restrictions 00:14:43.374 --> 00:14:47.617 for Russians are athletes somehow included in this? 00:14:47.750 --> 00:14:51.340 And what's the timetable for for this proposal? 00:14:51.410 --> 00:14:52.610 Thanks. 00:14:53.630 --> 00:14:55.696 Good afternoon everybody. Thank you for the question. 00:14:55.730 --> 00:15:00.208 I cannot reply on visa. That would be more for my colleague. 00:15:00.290 --> 00:15:09.058 What I can say regarding the international ice hockey federation and the appeal 00:15:09.290 --> 00:15:18.128 against against this against the decision of the federation we take note of the 00:15:18.230 --> 00:15:26.570 decision of the ruling of the court in relation to participation of Russian teams in 00:15:26.638 --> 00:15:32.973 competitions organized by the international ice hockey federation in line with the 00:15:33.062 --> 00:15:38.630 autonomy of sport international federations are responsible for their decisions and 00:15:38.690 --> 00:15:44.512 it's up to them to decide about the organization of the sport events about the 00:15:44.591 --> 00:15:51.650 participants etc. However both federations and member states should act in line with 00:15:51.730 --> 00:15:55.571 the EU sanctions and restrictive measures. 00:15:55.670 --> 00:16:03.246 We also observe that the hockey federation decision to include Russian teams from 00:16:03.307 --> 00:16:08.579 international competitions had been deemed necessary to protect the safety and 00:16:08.657 --> 00:16:15.020 security of all participants and safeguard the integrity of its competition. 00:16:15.110 --> 00:16:20.850 So now we need to wait for the reaction of the international ice hockey federation. 00:16:20.930 --> 00:16:31.527 We always say that sport. Should not serve as a tool of propaganda and that 00:16:31.636 --> 00:16:39.254 normalization of Russian and Belorussian athletes in international competitions as 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:48.130 long as the war in Ukraine continues is is something what we don't want to support. 00:16:48.230 --> 00:16:56.138 There is also a decision of the European Council from mid-October where member 00:16:56.282 --> 00:17:04.072 states expressed their view that as long as there is no just and lasting peace in 00:17:04.158 --> 00:17:10.329 Ukraine there should not be a normalization of Russia's and Belarus participation in 00:17:10.383 --> 00:17:19.119 international sports and cultural events. So no Russian anthems symbols and flags in 00:17:19.233 --> 00:17:24.530 the sports events in Europe are are supported. 00:17:25.670 --> 00:17:32.330 Thank you. And on the question regarding the visa we have no further comment at this 00:17:32.390 --> 00:17:41.172 stage to to offer. Other questions to Eva since we have her with us on the podium? 00:17:41.330 --> 00:17:53.353 No? Other topics that you'd like to raise today? 00:17:54.110 --> 00:17:55.310 Yes. 00:18:06.050 --> 00:18:09.834 Alors que plusieurs États membres de l'Union européenne mais aussi des pays 00:18:09.889 --> 00:18:14.770 candidats sont ébranlés depuis des semaines par des manifestations violentes des 00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:21.132 pillages voire même en France un attentat qualifié par les autorités de terroriste 00:18:21.235 --> 00:18:27.438 et raciste viennent de s'ouvrir à Dakar les Jeux Olympiques de la jeunesse. 00:18:27.530 --> 00:18:33.200 Cet événement sportif mondial le premier du continent africain ne nous rappelle-t-il 00:18:33.250 --> 00:18:39.804 pas l'importance cruciale de la coopération avec ce très jeune continent de plus de 00:18:39.903 --> 00:18:48.517 1 milliard 500 000 individus et ce poumon vert de la planète à la veille de la COP 00:18:48.590 --> 00:18:56.247 31 et qui regorge aussi de nombreuses richesses comme les minéraux stratégiques etc. 00:18:56.330 --> 00:19:06.753 Question. Où en est maintenant la coopération avec avec l'Afrique compte tenu que la 00:19:06.950 --> 00:19:11.745 Russie et la Chine sont aussi sur le terrain? 00:19:11.810 --> 00:19:13.010 Merci. 00:19:14.030 --> 00:19:19.055 Merci Odile et c'est bien d'avoir des questions aussi concernant comme on a eu tout 00:19:19.156 --> 00:19:26.810 à l'heure. Le sport et c'est très bien effectivement que l'Afrique soit l'hôtesse de 00:19:26.930 --> 00:19:32.600 ces Jeux Olympiques la jeunesse que tu as mentionné et pour ce qui est de notre 00:19:32.666 --> 00:19:37.988 coopération et elle est large très large si tu regardes par exemple tout ce qui 00:19:38.034 --> 00:19:42.586 concerne les projets Global Gateway et tout ce qu'on fait pour promouvoir les 00:19:42.650 --> 00:19:50.654 investissements pour promouvoir le bien-être de des populations toutes à travers de 00:19:50.750 --> 00:19:56.264 l'Afrique ça c'est un des instruments qu'on a pas seulement avec l'Afrique mais 00:19:56.323 --> 00:20:00.839 aussi avec l'Afrique si tu regardes ce que on est en train de faire par exemple pour 00:20:00.932 --> 00:20:10.181 tout ce qui concerne les les les matériaux les critical raw materials où on envisage 00:20:10.283 --> 00:20:18.043 de stimuler que les les nations africaines puissent développer elles-mêmes ces 00:20:18.170 --> 00:20:24.325 ressources au lieu de les envoyer envoyer tu as mentionné c'est notamment la Chine 00:20:24.371 --> 00:20:30.926 pour être raffinée là-bas donc on est en train d'avoir des alliances étroites dans 00:20:31.040 --> 00:20:35.640 si tu regardes pratiquement toutes les politiques que ça soit le commerce que ça 00:20:35.742 --> 00:20:43.379 soit le digital que ça soit bien évidemment le le développement la connectivité où 00:20:43.443 --> 00:20:48.132 on est en train notamment de soutenir le développement pour tout ce qui concerne la 00:20:48.203 --> 00:20:55.278 connectivité qui était essentielle pour le développement tu n'as qu'à choisir la 00:20:55.370 --> 00:21:04.749 politique préférée et voir que on a une une un rapport très étroit avec l'Afrique 00:21:04.862 --> 00:21:14.623 qui reste qui reste une priorité pour nous tous ici à la Commission. 00:21:14.750 --> 00:21:20.327 Voilà. D'autres questions pour nous aujourd'hui? 00:21:20.450 --> 00:21:21.650 David. 00:21:27.830 --> 00:21:37.192 Thank you Paula. David Price your democracy and In Canada the president made an 00:21:37.287 --> 00:21:43.708 announcement that in the spring of next year there will be a meeting of the full 00:21:43.757 --> 00:21:49.884 college and the government of Canada I would like to have a little bit more 00:21:49.928 --> 00:21:59.550 information about this it seems if you have a meeting of the commission which is 00:21:59.690 --> 00:22:06.793 supposed to be representative of the European people and also impartial and behind 00:22:06.890 --> 00:22:13.695 closed doors you have if you have a government presence then you're going to have a 00:22:13.780 --> 00:22:21.308 super lobbyist involved in European affairs I'm wondering what sort of thought is 00:22:21.369 --> 00:22:26.933 behind this concept of having a government and college meeting of this nature if it 00:22:27.050 --> 00:22:32.047 need that it need if it takes place in a democratic framework it needs to be open so 00:22:32.146 --> 00:22:38.524 will the meeting be open secondarily is this a start of a larger arrangement of 00:22:38.605 --> 00:22:45.584 having governments sitting in with the commission are we going to see for example 00:22:45.650 --> 00:22:53.354 Norway Switzerland maybe even United Kingdom sitting in with the the commission to 00:22:53.486 --> 00:22:58.194 have discussions the commission is supposed to be impartial and I'd like to know 00:22:58.285 --> 00:23:05.664 what sort of democratic safeguards you've got so that the people can also have their 00:23:05.870 --> 00:23:08.570 their word rather than just governments. 00:23:10.370 --> 00:23:17.663 Thank you David. So at last week's I would say historic summit between the EU and 00:23:17.734 --> 00:23:24.428 Canada indeed one of the points discussed there was the idea of Canada becoming an 00:23:24.490 --> 00:23:30.632 associate member of the EU and as President von der Leyen had the opportunity to 00:23:30.710 --> 00:23:38.353 outline notably at her press conference last Friday in Montréal this vision which is 00:23:38.450 --> 00:23:43.548 shared by by the member states and is translated in a comprehensive joint 00:23:43.655 --> 00:23:52.115 declaration which came out of this summit these this this vision is then anchored in 00:23:52.190 --> 00:23:58.821 three very concrete pillars and those pillars are the policies the programs and 00:23:58.871 --> 00:24:04.933 governance and the question you raised concerns precisely the governance where it is 00:24:05.050 --> 00:24:13.779 about bringing our institutions much closer together we started with the commission 00:24:13.877 --> 00:24:19.918 the council of course in the summit with the presence of both President von der 00:24:19.997 --> 00:24:27.699 Leyen and President António Costa and this could also in the future entail contacts 00:24:27.765 --> 00:24:34.243 from parliament to parliament even maybe from court to court but the meeting between 00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:41.030 the college and the government of of Canada as was announced last week would be a 00:24:41.102 --> 00:24:46.724 very concrete follow-up to the summit and building. 00:24:46.790 --> 00:24:52.415 On what happened already last week basically last week there were several members of 00:24:52.468 --> 00:24:57.938 the college who participated in this summit and who had the occasion to discuss with 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:04.350 their counterparts in Canada from the government various specific areas where we are 00:25:04.446 --> 00:25:11.366 willing and ready to engage further in view of this closer partnership and a further 00:25:11.438 --> 00:25:17.003 meeting between the college members the full college and the full government of 00:25:17.090 --> 00:25:25.997 Canada is just a building up of this discussions and a follow-up to the summit last 00:25:26.113 --> 00:25:34.070 week yes please oh. Sorry David yes a follow-up. 00:25:36.830 --> 00:25:42.530 Yes thank you I would like to know whether this these meetings will be open because 00:25:42.590 --> 00:25:51.363 the commission is set up to be an impartial body which can make proposals if it is a 00:25:51.454 --> 00:26:01.746 closed door meeting then you have the proposer of European legislation in in behind 00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:07.942 closed doors with another body which we can call a lobbyist in in the larger sense 00:26:08.023 --> 00:26:15.872 of the word it's a super lobbyist so will the meetings be open or or how what sort 00:26:15.950 --> 00:26:18.710 of format do you you do you plan to have these meetings 00:26:19.190 --> 00:26:23.743 Well the meetings will be as open as any other meetings with other foreign 00:26:23.818 --> 00:26:30.009 governments where we have and we did so already last week share with you a lot of 00:26:30.091 --> 00:26:37.244 information about the discussions taking place in these type of meetings with 00:26:37.318 --> 00:26:43.268 notably a press conference and the possibility to go further into what has been 00:26:43.325 --> 00:26:48.719 discussed so it should not be different from other meetings that take place 00:26:48.844 --> 00:26:54.050 regularly with governments across the world yes please 00:26:57.290 --> 00:27:05.473 Okay Dutch newspaper Trouw I have a follow-up question on the summit last week EU 00:27:05.604 --> 00:27:12.114 Canada Prime Minister Carney said that Canada will be on board of Made in Europe 00:27:12.170 --> 00:27:19.447 program is that so or is it a subject for negotiations the coming month and the same 00:27:19.524 --> 00:27:27.238 with UK there soon will be a summit with UK will be this subject of this summit as 00:27:27.285 --> 00:27:28.485 well thank you 00:27:29.930 --> 00:27:38.320 Thank. You I. Can only say what actually also President von der Leyen said with a 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:49.158 similar question that she got at the press conference on whether the you refer to 00:27:49.230 --> 00:27:54.392 the Made in Europe that's that is part of the industrial accelerator act and the 00:27:54.450 --> 00:28:01.070 president has been very clear that according to our proposal the proposal from the 00:28:01.130 --> 00:28:06.141 commission it includes all the countries with whom we have a free trade agreement 00:28:06.191 --> 00:28:13.010 that is clearly the case of Canada with whom as you know we have set up so indeed 00:28:13.115 --> 00:28:25.273 Canada would be part of the industrial accelerator act but again it is still being 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:33.410 negotiated. Other questions for us today? Yes please. 00:28:37.250 --> 00:28:41.249 Thank you. Víbor Vlainić, Croatian Radio Television. 00:28:41.330 --> 00:28:47.282 A group of MEPs sent a letter to the president of the commission and to the 00:28:47.363 --> 00:28:53.798 commissioner Šefčovič asking them to remove the protective measures on import of 00:28:53.882 --> 00:29:01.584 electrotechnical steel which is a critical raw material to produce transformers. 00:29:01.670 --> 00:29:06.842 And they're arguing that the European producers don't don't have enough of their own 00:29:06.926 --> 00:29:13.379 domestic steel to produce transformers. Which puts them in a bad position because 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:20.272 with the measures which were introduced in September import is becoming more 00:29:20.337 --> 00:29:28.850 expensive and this situation is making it more affordable to import finished 00:29:28.958 --> 00:29:33.247 products transformers from third countries namely China. 00:29:33.410 --> 00:29:38.798 So the question is will you reply to the letter of the members of the parliament and 00:29:38.870 --> 00:29:44.606 will the commission adjust or maybe remove those temporary measures? 00:29:44.690 --> 00:29:45.890 Thank you. 00:29:46.730 --> 00:29:53.254 Thank you. I'm looking at the team and all of here we are not aware yet of this 00:29:53.381 --> 00:29:59.262 letter but if you say that it's been sent probably it has maybe it hasn't arrived we 00:29:59.333 --> 00:30:06.438 will check look at the at the exact content of the letter and get back and of course 00:30:06.521 --> 00:30:13.673 if this letter is received as any letter from an MEP it will get its due attention 00:30:13.790 --> 00:30:18.815 and response. Other questions for us today? 00:30:18.902 --> 00:30:24.851 Not the case. So thank you very much. Thank you to our interpreters. 00:30:24.938 --> 00:30:27.650 Wish you a very good afternoon.