Answer to a written question – Possible violation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union by the Italian Highway Code – E-000726/2025(ASW)

Source: European Parliament

Under the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, non-discrimination is a core principle. However, for the Charter to be applicable, the measure in question must involve the implementation of EU law[1].

In general, traffic rules remain primarily a matter of national competence, and the situation described involves a national rule, specifically Article 122(2) of the current Italian Highway Code[2].

Accompanied driving schemes usually involve drivers below the standard minimum age for a certain driving licence category who are accompanied by an experienced driver.

Article 4(6)(d) of Directive 2006/126/EC[3] grants Member States the discretion to lower the minimum age for certain driving privileges, however without requiring an accompanied driving scheme.

As there are currently no EU rules on accompanied driving schemes, the national rule in question does not implement EU law and hence the Charter does not apply.

It is the responsibility of national authorities and courts to ensure that national measures adhere to fundamental rights, potentially under Italian law or the Italian Constitution.

That said, things will change in the future. During the recent negotiations on the upcoming fourth Driving Licence Directive, the co-legislators endorsed the Commission’s proposal to mandate an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme for Category B.

However, they chose not to extend this obligation to Category C, leaving the implementation of the scheme optional for both Categories C and C1.

The planned introduction of accompanied driving is expected to promote greater harmonisation across Member States in the future.

  • [1] Art. 51 (1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
  • [2] Law Decree 121/2021, as amended by Law 177/2024.
  • [3] OJ L 403, 30.12.2006, p. 18.

Written question – Israeli settlement products: alignment of EU policies with UN resolution – P-001801/2025

Source: European Parliament

Priority question for written answer  P-001801/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Mounir Satouri (Verts/ALE)

On 15 January 2025, in a written response, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič stated that the ‘EU positions and policies are fully aligned’ with the UN General Assembly resolution of 13 September 2024[1].

However, this resolution, recalling the conclusions of the 19 July 2024 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), calls on all states ‘to take steps towards ceasing the importation of any products originating in the Israeli settlements’.

  • 1.In light of the UN resolution and the ICJ advisory opinion, does the Commission consider that the EU’s differentiation policy – which merely renders Israeli settlement products ineligible for trade preferences under the EU-Israel Association Agreement – is aligned with paragraph 5(b) of said resolution and paragraph 278 of the aforementioned advisory opinion? And if so, on what basis?
  • 2.Does the Commission consider that Member States are violating international law by continuing to allow the trade of Israeli settlement products within the EU market?
  • 3.How does the Commission plan to move forward with the ban on Israeli settlement products?

Submitted: 5.5.2025

  • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-002150-ASW_EN.html
Last updated: 7 May 2025

Answer to a written question – The EU’s digital transformation programmes and the European funds that have been disbursed to achieve it – E-001032/2025(ASW)

Source: European Parliament

The Digital Europe Programme (DEP), the first programme entirely dedicated to the deployment of digital infrastructures and an important enabler of the European digital transition, has an overall budget of EUR 8.1 billion for funding activities in six areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society and semiconductors.

Due to the 50% funding rate of the programme, the same amount is being invested by Member States and beneficiaries from the programme.

2024 saw the signature of the 500th grant under DEP. This milestone represents an overall investment of EUR 3.3 billion, with EUR 1.9 billion contributed from the DEP budget. Over EUR 1 billion has been invested in over 140 procurements and in contribution agreements.

Through InvestEU, EUR 83.63 million have been committed to support strategic digital technologies and EUR 67 million for investments in semiconductor technologies that are expected to mobilise EUR 2.1 billion.

The implementation of DEP is on track to achieve its objectives. A number of big initiatives have been launched: deployment of world-class supercomputers and artificial intelligence factories, launch of leading semiconductor pilot lines, European Digital Identity ( eID) pilot projects, The European Quantum Communication Infrastructure Initiative (EuroQCI), security operation centres, Destination Earth, the European Virtual Human Twins Initiative, and the network of Digital Innovation Hubs in all Member States.

These flagship initiatives for the EU are now well recognised by the Member States and stakeholders alike, paving the way for European digital transition.

Detailed data on the implementation of DEP, including financial data, can be found in the DIGITAL dashboard[1].

  • [1] https://dashboard.tech.ec.europa.eu/qs_digit_dashboard_mt/public/extensions/CNECT_DIGITAL_dashboard/CNECT_DIGITAL_dashboard.html

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on violations of religious freedom in Tibet – RC-B10-0248/2025

Source: European Parliament

pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
replacing the following motions:
B10‑0248/2025 (Verts/ALE)
B10‑0251/2025 (S&D)
B10‑0254/2025 (Renew)
B10‑0256/2025 (PPE)
B10‑0259/2025 (ECR)

Sebastião Bugalho, Danuše Nerudová, Michael Gahler, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomas Tobé, Reinhold Lopatka, Liudas Mažylis, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Mirosława Nykiel, Wouter Beke, Luděk Niedermayer, Vangelis Meimarakis, Milan Zver, Tomáš Zdechovský, Miriam Lexmann, Ondřej Kolář, Jan Farský, Loránt Vincze, Jessica Polfjärd, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Hannes Heide
on behalf of the S&D Group
Adam Bielan, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Assita Kanko, Maciej Wąsik, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Alexandr Vondra, Mariusz Kamiński, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Michał Dworczyk, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Engin Eroglu, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Ľubica Karvašová, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas
on behalf of the Renew Group
Ville Niinistö
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

European Parliament resolution on violations of religious freedom in Tibet

(2025/2692(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 having regard to its previous resolutions on Tibet and China,

 having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the Chinese authorities have become increasingly oppressive; whereas the human rights situation in Tibet continues to deteriorate; whereas respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of the EU’s relations with China;

B. whereas Tulku Hungkar Dorje, a respected Tibetan Buddhist religious leader and humanitarian figure, died on 28 March 2025 under suspicious circumstances while in custody in Vietnam, following his arrest by Vietnamese and Chinese authorities; whereas his body was reportedly cremated without the consent of his family, raising serious concerns;

C. whereas Tibetan Buddhists, who are systemically targeted by Chinese authorities and face forced disappearances and physical abuse, represent the largest religious group among political prisoners in China;

D. whereas credible reports identify extensive pressure from Chinese authorities on Rinpoches to align with the Chinese Communist Party’s narrative, including forced interrogations and attempts to enforce support for the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama;

1. Strongly condemns the repressive assimilation policies throughout PRC and their violations of universal human rights, especially in Tibet, which seek to eliminate distinct Tibetan religious and cultural traditions and heritage; calls for a clear separation between State and religion in China;

2. Firmly opposes any attempt by the Chinese Government to interfere in the selection of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leaders, including the Dalai Lama;

3. Expresses its deep concern and sorrow over the suspicious death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje and extends its sincere condolences to his family, monastery and followers;

4. Strongly condemns the continued persecution of Tibetan religious and cultural leaders and the practice of transnational repression by Chinese authorities, including the cultural and linguistic assimilation of children in state-run residential schools, reflecting a broader policy of forced assimilation; calls for the suspension of extradition treaties with the PRC;

5. Calls for an immediate, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into his death, with international oversight and access to evidence and witnesses, and the immediate return of his remains;

6. Demands that those responsible for wrongdoing be held accountable under international human rights standards and law; demands that the EU impose sanctions on officials and entities responsible for human rights violations in Tibet;

7. Urges the PRC to uphold its obligations under international law and cease all discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, allow peaceful religious practice, and release all religious and political prisoners, including the rightful Panchen Lama and Ilham Tohti;

8. Urges the EU and Member States to raise this case in bilateral and multilateral dialogues with PRC and Vietnam, and demand accountability for human rights violations in Tibet; insists on also raising the repression of other religious minorities such as the Uyghurs in Xinjiang;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EUSR, the governments of PRC and Vietnam, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Central Tibetan Administration.

 

 

Briefing – Territorial supply constraints: An unaddressed barrier to single market integration – 07-05-2025

Source: European Parliament

Territorial supply constraints (TSCs) still constitute a barrier to the single market. TSCs are restrictions on the supply of goods that are linked to the territories in which sales are made at different levels in the supply chain. A study delivered for the European Commission in 2020 estimated that eliminating TSCs could lead to consumer savings of around €14 billion. In the absence of specific rules, this problem has been tackled at EU level by competition law, but with only partial success. Competition law is constrained by certain parameters, notably the requirement for agreements to exist between contracting parties or for one of the parties involved to have a dominant position on the market, which means that it is not suitable to tackle all instances of TSCs. The same phenomenon has been visible in the past in similar policy areas. For example, unfair trading practices in the food sector were also addressed, with partial success, by competition law, before specific legislation was adopted. To meet recent calls for action on TSCs, the same progression – from partial regulation through competition law to full internal market legislation – may be required.

At a Glance – Disappearance of migrant children in the EU – 07-05-2025

Source: European Parliament

Between 2021 and 2023, at least 51 433 unaccompanied minors were reported as missing across Europe, averaging nearly 47 children a day. Over 18 000 migrant and refugee children were reported as missing across Europe between 2018 and 2020. It is feared that many of these children may have been exploited and abused for sexual or labour purposes. The European Parliament has repeatedly stressed the need to address this issue.

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia – RC-B10-0249/2025

Source: European Parliament

pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
replacing the following motions:
B10‑0249/2025 (Verts/ALE)
B10‑0250/2025 (S&D)
B10‑0252/2025 (Renew)
B10‑0255/2025 (PPE)
B10‑0258/2025 (ECR)

Sebastião Bugalho, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Sandra Kalniete, Željana Zovko, Andrzej Halicki, Michał Szczerba, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Ana Miguel Pedro, Dariusz Joński, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomas Tobé, Reinhold Lopatka, Liudas Mažylis, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Mirosława Nykiel, Wouter Beke, Luděk Niedermayer, Vangelis Meimarakis, Milan Zver, Tomáš Zdechovský, Danuše Nerudová, Miriam Lexmann, Ondřej Kolář, Jan Farský, Loránt Vincze, Jessica Polfjärd, Andrey Kovatchev, Ewa Kopacz, Matej Tonin, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Thijs Reuten, Evin Incir, Pina Picierno
on behalf of the S&D Group
Adam Bielan, Rihards Kols, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Aurelijus Veryga, Reinis Pozņaks, Alexandr Vondra, Maciej Wąsik, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Michał Dworczyk, Assita Kanko, Jaak Madison, Mariusz Kamiński, Roberts Zīle, Charlie Weimers, Beatrice Timgren, Dick Erixon, Sebastian Tynkkynen
on behalf of the ECR Group
Petras Auštrevičius, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Abir Al‑Sahlani, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ľubica Karvašová, Michał Kobosko, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Eugen Tomac, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar, Dainius Žalimas
on behalf of the Renew Group
Villy Søvndal
on behalf of The Left Group
Hanna Gedin, Jonas Sjöstedt, Merja Kyllönen

Document selected :  

RC-B10-0249/2025

Texts tabled :

RC-B10-0249/2025

Texts adopted :

European Parliament resolution on the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred and deported by Russia

(2025/2691(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 having regard to its previous resolutions on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,

 having regard to the UN Charter, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the UN Convention on the rights of the child, and the Genocide Convention (CPPCG),

 having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas since February 2022 around 20 000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to the Russian Federation and Belarus or detained in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, with only 1 293 returned and 624 confirmed dead, according to President Zelenskyy’s ‘Bring Kids Back UA’ initiative; whereas according to the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) the real figures are probably much higher, as these transfers and deportations continue;

B. whereas international law prohibits forcible transfer to an occupied territory or deportation from an occupied territory to the territory of the occupier, which is a war crime under the Rome Statute and may amount to genocide under the CPPCG;

C. whereas on 17 March 2023 the ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for their responsibility for the war crime of unlawful transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children;

1. Strongly condemns the violent actions of the Russian Federation and the complicity of Belarus in the mistreatment of Ukrainian children, including murder, forced transfer and deportation, illegal adoption, sexual abuse and exploitation, forced Russification and militarisation; stresses that these acts form part of a genocidal strategy to erase Ukrainian identity;

2. Urges the EU to hold those responsible to account and to sanction individuals and entities implicated in these crimes;

3. Demands that these crimes cease immediately and that Russia reports the identities and whereabouts of all deported Ukrainian children and ensures their well-being and safe and unconditional return;

4. Urges Russian federal and local authorities to grant international organisations, such as the ICRC, OHCHR and UNICEF, access to all deported Ukrainian children;

5. Denounces the forced imposition of Russian citizenship on deported children and their state-sponsored adoption by Russian families as part of a deliberate policy of forced assimilation;

6. Calls for the EU to closely cooperate with and support Ukrainian authorities, international and non-governmental organisations in their efforts to document all missing and deported Ukrainian children; urges the international community, including the United States, to maintain HRL’s funding and the EU to ensure its continuation;

7. Emphasises that any genuine peace deal must include the repatriation of these children and accountability for forcible transfers and deportations;

8. Urges the international community to hold Russia accountable by reinforcing coordination through the ICC, the ICJ, and the Special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the President, Government and parliament of Ukraine, and to the United States, Russia and Belarus.

 

 

Highlights – Presentation of ECA Special Report 11/2025:Transparency of EU funding granted to NGOs – Committee on Budgetary Control

Source: European Parliament

NGO © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

On 14 May 2025 the ECA Special Report 11/2025 : “Transparency of EU funding granted to NGOs. Despite progress, the overview is still not reliable” will be presented to Members of the Committee of Budgetary Control (CONT) by reporting ECA Member Laima Andrikienė.

The Court examined the EU Funding granted to NGOs under the EU’s internal policies (such as ESF+ and Erasmus+). It found that the transparency of these funds is not sufficient, due to the absence of a common definition among Commission, Member States and other implementing partners of what a NGO is. Another issue identified by the Court is that information in the financial transparency register is not verified, and therefore of unknown quality. The Court recommends the Commission to correct the issues identified.

Highlights – BUDG-CONT-ECON – Presentation of Court of Auditors’ report on EFSI – 13.05 – Committee on Budgetary Control

Source: European Parliament

ECA Special report 07/2025 © Image used under license from Adobe Stock

On 13 May from 15:00 to 16:30, the BUDG, CONT and ECON committees have invited Mr Lefteris Christoforou, the European Court of Auditors’ Member who led the audit team of its Special report 07/2025 on “The European Fund for Strategic Investments”.

Launched in 2015 by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) aimed at tackling the investment shortfall within the EU after the financial crisis, by mobilising an additional €500 billion in investments by 2022 through various debt and equity instruments. The initiative was supported by a €26 billion EU budgetary guarantee and €7.5 billion in EIB resources. According to ECA’ special report the programme made significant strides in addressing the investment gap. However, it fell short of its target, with an estimated overstatement of the reported amount of €503 billion by €131 billion (26%). This presentation will provide an opportunity for the ECA to share its findings and discuss them with the BUDG, CONT and ECON Members.

JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania – RC-B10-0260/2025

Source: European Parliament

pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure
replacing the following motions:
B10‑0260/2025 (Verts/ALE)
B10‑0261/2025 (S&D)
B10‑0263/2025 (Renew)
B10‑0264/2025 (PPE)
B10‑0265/2025 (ECR)

Sebastião Bugalho, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Michał Szczerba, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomas Tobé, Liudas Mažylis, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Mirosława Nykiel, Wouter Beke, Luděk Niedermayer, Vangelis Meimarakis, Milan Zver, Tomáš Zdechovský, Danuše Nerudová, Miriam Lexmann, Jan Farský, Loránt Vincze, Jessica Polfjärd, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Marit Maij
on behalf of the S&D Group
Adam Bielan, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Assita Kanko, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Alberico Gambino
on behalf of the ECR Group
Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Urmas Paet, Marie‑Agnes Strack‑Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Michal Wiezik, Lucia Yar
on behalf of the Renew Group
Catarina Vieira
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

Document selected :  

RC-B10-0260/2025

Texts tabled :

RC-B10-0260/2025

Texts adopted :

European Parliament resolution on the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania

(2025/2690(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas Tundu Lissu, leader of Chadema, Tanzania’s main opposition party, was arrested on 9 April 2025 in Mbinga, following a peaceful rally advocating electoral reforms;

B. whereas Lissu narrowly survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and was forced into exile, only to face renewed persecution upon his return to Tanzania;

C. whereas on 10 April 2025, Lissu was charged with treason, along with three offences of publication of false information under cybercrime laws; whereas treason in Tanzania carries a potential death sentence; whereas the EU is unequivocally opposed to the death penalty under all circumstances;

D. whereas shortly after Lissu’s arrest, Chadema was disqualified from the October 2025 presidential and parliamentary elections, based on the party’s refusal to sign an electoral code of conduct;

E. whereas ahead of the November 2024 local elections, Tanzania’s Government impeded opposition meetings, arbitrarily arrested hundreds of opposition supporters, imposed restrictions on social media access and banned independent media; whereas thousands of opposition candidates were disqualified from participating; whereas at least four government critics were forcibly disappeared and one Chadema official was abducted and brutally killed;

F. whereas Tanzania’s ranking in Freedom House’s freedom report was downgraded in 2025 to ‘not free’;

1. Condemns the arrest of Lissu and expresses grave concern over the charges against him, which appear to be politically motivated and carry the risk of capital punishment; calls on the Tanzanian Government to immediately and unconditionally release him, ensuring his safety and his right to a fair trial and legal representation;

2. Urges the Tanzanian authorities to end the escalating crackdown, arbitrary arrests, violence, attacks and harassment against opposition members, human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, LGBTIQ+ activists, journalists and civil society organisations, and to independently investigate police abuses and enforced disappearances, to uphold the rule of law, freedom of expression, press, media and association, and judicial independence, to bring Tanzania’s cybercrime and media laws in line with international human rights law, to respect the rights of political parties and to ensure free and fair elections;

3. Calls on the Tanzanian authorities to reinstate Chadema’s full participation in the October 2025 elections and to engage with all political parties in transparent and inclusive dialogue on electoral reform, in consultation with civil society groups and other stakeholders;

4. Calls for the EU and its Member States to critically engage with the Tanzanian authorities regarding Lissu’s case and to closely monitor the trial; urges them to consider appropriate measures if the human rights situation continues to deteriorate; urges Tanzania to abolish the death penalty and commute all death sentences;

5. Reiterates the need for the EU to ensure that its development cooperation with Tanzania, including the Global Gateway initiative, is consistent with the promotion of human rights, freedom of expression and fair trial standards;

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and Parliament of Tanzania, the African Union and the VP/HR.​