Author: MIL OSI Publisher

Question for written answer  E-001636/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Benoit Cassart (Renew)

The war in Sudan has given rise to a sizeable movement of people. In 2024, some 1 800 Sudanese nationals were registered in Morocco by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), out of a total of 3 900 people registered there. In 2025, the UNHCR has already counted 1 300 people, a large majority of them unaccompanied minors, who are particularly easy prey for terrorist movements such as Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda. The reduction in UNHCR funding goes hand in hand with increased instability and insecurity in the region.

How does the Commission intend to tackle the domino effect of a reduction in the UNHCR budget – and consequently in its staff – on stability and security in the regions concerned?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001624/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dimitris Tsiodras (PPE)

Platforms and social media allow for the dissemination of content which may have a negative and irreversible effect on the health of minors. Such trends include the recent ‘SkinnyTok challenge’, which encourages minors to stop eating for a prolonged period of time and promotes the ideal of extreme weight loss. This trend is dangerous, given that it has the potential to harm the health and physical development of a large number of minors. At the same time, access to such content is spreading very quickly and is found in hundreds of thousands of posts.

In light of the above, can the Commission say:

• 1.What does it intend to do to tackle the proliferation and rapid spread of such social media phenomena?
• 2.Following on from the Digital Services Act[1], does it consider that such content constitutes a systemic risk and that very large platforms should therefore apply the DSA provisions on risk management, such as identifying, assessing and mitigating these risks?
• 3.How effective are platforms’ efforts to ensure that minors have access to educational content on healthy eating and sources related to eating disorders?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

• [1] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC.

Question for written answer  E-001559/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE)

Every year, dozens of tonnes of juvenile pilchards (Sardina pilchardus) are caught illegally along the southern Italian coast. According to the numerous reports (backed by copious evidence) that were sent to the authorities in 2023,2024 and 2025 by Gruppo Adorno (an NGO), undersized pilchards – the sale of which is illegal – can even be found in certain markets. These complaints have fallen on deaf ears, as the sale of juvenile pilchards continues unabated, the situation not having changed at all since the Commission replied to an earlier question for written answer on this topic (E-000814/2024).

Since the adoption of a 2016 law decriminalising the holding, landing, transhipment, transport and marketing of undersized fish species, Italian law enforcement agencies no longer confiscate the vessels and means of transport used in these activities during sting operations, and the latter rarely threaten shipping anyway as they are predominantly carried out on dry land. In addition, because fish traffickers often farm out transport operations to indigent subcontractors, the fines levied for these offences are almost never paid.

In the light of the above:

• 1.Will the Commission contact the Italian authorities with a view to establishing how many seizures have been carried out since 2020?
• 2.Does the Commission hold that the sanctions provided for by Italian law are suitable for the purposes of safeguarding aquatic species and ensuring compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009?

Submitted: 16.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001613/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Anna Maria Cisint (PfE), Susanna Ceccardi (PfE), Silvia Sardone (PfE), Isabella Tovaglieri (PfE), Roberto Vannacci (PfE), Paolo Borchia (PfE)

Given the delicate economic and social situation facing the European Union, with global challenges requiring careful allocation of resources, the Commission’s decision to finance ‘The European Qur’an’ project to the tune of almost EUR 10 million warrants further investigation.

At a time when the public and businesses are calling for support and concrete responses, it is vital to understand the priorities underpinning the Union’s action and the extent to which they adhere to the founding principles of its institutions.

In view of the above:

• 1.Can the Commission explain the political and cultural objective of ‘The European Qur’an’ project and how it forms part of the Union’s strategic priorities?
• 2.Who are the direct and indirect beneficiaries of the funding, and what criteria were used to select them?
• 3.How does this funding align with the principle of religious neutrality enshrined in the EU’s founding treaties?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001584/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

Lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage and mountain tea are among the aromatic and medicinal plants that can have great export potential due to the growing demand for an increasingly advertised – especially on social media – way of life based on natural products. They can be used for drinks, cosmetics, aromatherapy and pharmaceutical preparations, as well as in cooking.

These crops are especially advantageous for Greek farmers due to their xerophytic nature, allowing for cultivation with minimal water – an increasingly critical factor in a region facing growing water scarcity. In addition, semi-mountainous/mountainous soils are not suitable for many intensive crops, but they are ideal for plants such as oregano and mountain tea, as these are inherently organic products that do not require pesticides and fertilisers. Lavender and mountain tea have the highest export value per kilo, especially if standardised or processed (essential oils, premium packaging). Most of them can be grown organically, greatly increasing the final price. The benefit increases significantly if there is drying/standardisation or collaboration with a cooperative. Unfortunately, although there are many opportunities to enhance the value of these products, often producers throughout the province are not effectively informed of these.

What policies would the Commission recommend to the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and local government agencies to increase these Greek crops, especially those of small producers?

Submitted: 21.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001610/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Aurelijus Veryga (ECR)

The application of extended producer responsibility (EPR) to pharmaceuticals under Article 9 of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive raises several concerns. Notably, only the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors are required to finance the removal of micropollutants, despite contributions to such pollution from various other industries.

The directive’s impact assessment lacks a comprehensive analysis of its implications for the pharmaceutical industry, particularly regarding access to medicines and pricing, at a time when many Member States are already facing shortages of medicinal products and efforts are under way to enhance the EU’s pharmaceutical autonomy.

In the light of these issues:

• 1.Does the Commission plan to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the EPR’s impact on patient access to medicines and on healthcare system costs?
• 2.If so, would the Commission consider pausing the implementation of the directive until such an assessment is completed?
• 3.Does the Commission intend to review the directive and consider expanding the scope of the EPR scheme to include other sectors contributing to water pollution, in order to ensure a fair and equitable application of the ‘polluter pays’ principle?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

Priority question for written answer  P-001645/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dariusz Joński (PPE)

The EU rail freight sector is currently facing a crisis, incurring losses amounting to millions of euros. Given that the Commission is the guardian of the single market and the principles of fair competition, I would like to ask the following questions:

• 1.Does the Commission consider that the granting by the national market regulator of a Member State of a licence to a third-country entity – which is part of a state-owned company of that country – that does not meet the requirements of EU legislation on unbundling and separation of accounts is compatible with EU law? I would like to point out that the non-EU operator has been provided with commercial resources (locomotives and wagons) enabling it to compete with EU operators.
• 2.Does the Commission consider the activities of such an entity on the EU internal market to be compatible with EU law?
• 3.Do such activities not violate the principles of the functioning of the common market, and do they not pose a threat to EU rail companies which are subject to the full gamut of EU rules?

Submitted: 24.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001627/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Rosa Serrano Sierra (S&D)

In recent years, especially after the pandemic, many Spanish cities boosted sustainable mobility measures which received part-funding from EU funds. However, this trend has stopped – and even been reversed – in several places currently administered by Spain’s Popular Party, in many cases in coalition with Vox, which have begun to remove cycle lanes, reopen pedestrian streets to vehicles and prioritise motorised traffic.

These decisions constitute backsliding on sustainable mobility and place an additional obstacle in the way of the future Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) to be adopted in urban centres such as these by 2027 in conformity with Regulation 2024/1679.

Given this situation, can Commission answer the following questions:

• 1.Is sustainable urban mobility still a priority for the Commission?
• 2.Does the Commission not consider that promoting active mobility through concrete measures to improve walking and cycling can have positive repercussions on the accessibility of functional urban areas in the EU?
• 3.Does the Commission not believe that local-level decisions to dismantle cycling infrastructure, remove pedestrian areas and give preference to vehicle use clash with the SUMP objectives of switching towards more sustainable forms of mobility and reducing air and noise pollution?

Submitted: 23.4.2025