Author: MIL OSI Publisher

The Commission deplores violations of the fundamental rights at work committed against any worker, including high-risk jobs such as fishers.

In line with this, the Commission actively promotes the effective implementation of fundamental international labour standards from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) within the EU and by partner countries[1], including the conventions setting out standards on adequate working conditions for fishers[2] and the elimination of forced or compulsory labour[3].

As a member country of the ILO, China has the obligation to uphold the fundamental principles and rights at work. Through its human rights dialogue with China, the EU raises its concerns about labour rights and the use of forced labour with the Chinese authorities[4].

In addition, the EU adopted in 2024 t he Forced Labour Regulation[5], which prohibits products made with forced labour on the EU market.

From the entry into application of the regulation in December 2027, the Commission and Member States’ competent authorities will be able to investigate allegations about the presence of forced labour practices in the manufacturing products intended for the EU market and eventually ban the products concerned when sufficient evidence is found.

• [1] For an overview of policies and measures, see the communication from the Commission on decent work worldwide for a global just transition and a sustainable recovery (COM/2022/66 final) https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=25260&langId=en, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52022DC0066
• [2] ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No 188).
• [3] ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No 29); ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No 105).
• [4] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/china-39th-human-rights-dialogue-european-union-took-place-chongqing_en
• [5] Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (OJ L, 2024/3015, 12.12.2024), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3015/oj/eng

The regulation on the establishment of the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Framework[1] mandates Member States to offer digital identity wallets. It provides the possibility for effective age verification (AV) within the EU.

To bridge the gap until the EUDI wallets become available, the Commission is developing a privacy preserving, data minimising, harmonised AV solution.

Under Article 28(1) of the Digital Services Act (DSA)[2], all providers of online platforms accessible to minors must ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security to minors on their services.

Those providers of online platforms accessible to minors, including app stores (i.e. Google Play), must implement appropriate and proportionate measures to fulfil such obligations.

Independently from app stores’ obligations, some app developers distributing their apps on app stores (i.e. TikTok) also fall under the scope of Article 28(1) of the DSA. To comply with that provision, providers of online platforms accessible to minors may have to implement AV, based on their risk profile[3].

Providers of app stores designated as very large online platforms are required, under Articles 34 and 35 of the DSA, to identify, analyse and assess the systemic risks stemming from the design, functioning or use made of their services, considering inter alia any actual of foreseeable negative effect for the respect of the rights of the child enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU[4], and put in place effective mitigation measures to address such risks.

• [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards establishing the European Digital Identity Framework (OJ L, 2024/1183, 30.4.2024).
• [2] Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022).
• [3] The Commission will set out in Guidelines in which scenarios it would expect online platforms to implement age verification or age assurance in order to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security.
• [4] Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (OJ C 326, 26.10.2012).

Question for written answer  E-001612/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE)

Negotiations between the EU and the Maldives on the possible abolition of tariffs on imports of fisheries products have been ongoing for seven years, with no resolution in sight. Last year, the Maldives ratified the Samoa Agreement, taking a further step towards closer cooperation with the EU and joining the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). After years of negotiations, it is crucial that significant progress is made on this issue.

• 1.What is the current state of play of negotiations between the EU and the Maldives?
• 2.What are the obstacles currently preventing the conclusion of a mutual agreement?
• 3.Within what timeframe does the Commission envisage the possible resolution of the outstanding issues?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001631/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Galato Alexandraki (ECR)

Greece’s cultivation of cotton, a strategically important agricultural product for many regions, is under pressure due to uncertainty in international markets and severe weather events that have caused delays in spring sowing. Producers are calling for the reference price on the basis of which crop-specific aid is calculated to be immediately adjusted to reflect real market conditions. The current reference price of EUR 59.40 per acre is considered outdated, given that average trading prices remain well below production costs. Farmers and their organisations are calling for the reference price to be increased to EUR 85 per acre in order to ensure the viability of the crop and to cover losses from changes in international prices.

In view of the above:

• 1.Given the reduction in eligible areas and the financial pressures faced by cotton producers, is the Commission considering adjusting the reference price for cotton aid to reflect current conditions and ensure full use of the funds available?
• 2.What additional measures does the Commission intend to propose to support cotton producers, with a view to ensuring the sustainability of the crop and strengthening their competitiveness within the European Union?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001661/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D), Yannis Maniatis (S&D), Nikos Papandreou (S&D)

The Arta-Karditsa link road is a critical artery for Western Greece, Epirus and Western Thessaly, areas facing severe problems of geographical isolation, demographic decline and economic backwardness. It is considered that the upgrade of this road into a modern and safe motorway featuring sustainable and environmentally friendly infrastructure will contribute to the revitalisation of the local economy, the strengthening of agri-food production and the stimulation of the return of young people and families to the countryside.

Taking into account the strategic importance of connecting the Ionian Road and the E65 for interregional cohesion, as well as the imperative need for balanced development and the elimination of disparities between regions, in combination with the funding possibilities offered by the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Cohesion Fund:

• 1.How does the Commission assess the contribution of the upgrade of the Arta-Karditsa road to achieving the EU objectives for sustainable regional development and addressing the desertion of the countryside?
• 2.Does the Commission intend to encourage and support the integration of this project into the appropriate EU funding programmes (TEN-T, RRF, NSRF) and collaborate with the Greek authorities on its development and implementation?
• 3.What initiatives is the Commission planning in order to strengthen infrastructure that combines social cohesion, economic extroversion and green transition in remote and mountainous areas, such as the Acheloos Valley and the mountainous municipalities of Epirus and Thessaly?

Submitted: 24.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001628/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Katri Kulmuni (Renew)

In July 2023, the Commission published voluntary guidelines on ‘closer-to-nature’ forest management. The guidelines state: ‘The text might not necessarily reflect the views of all the listed individual authorities and organisations since it includes compromise drafting for areas on which views in the group significantly diverged’.

The guidelines do not represent a consensus-based agreement on closer-to-nature forest management practices and should not be referenced or incorporated in EU legislation, and do not sufficiently account for the diversity of forest types and forest management approaches across the Member States. They largely promote continuous cover forestry, which does not necessarily support carbon sequestration in all forest types.

According to the EU forest strategy, the Commission will develop a voluntary certification scheme based on these guidelines.

• 1.What is the current status of the development of this scheme, and what specific need is it intended to address?
• 2.Will the Commission link this initiative to the Carbon Removal Certification Framework or the development of nature credits?
• 3.How will the Commission ensure that the ‘closer-to-nature’ forest management guidelines – which do not represent the views of all contributing authorities and organisations – remain entirely voluntary and are not incorporated into EU legislation or legally binding EU frameworks as such?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001614/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
João Oliveira (The Left)

The Draghi Report introduced the idea of a ‘28th legal regime’ for ‘innovative companies’, which aims to provide them with ‘access to harmonised legislation concerning corporate law and insolvency, as well as a few key aspects of labour law and taxation’, including in the Commission’s Competitiveness Compass. On 20 March 2025, the Council called on the Commission to present a proposal ‘in time to allow the co-legislators to take decisive steps by 2026’.

This proposal uses ‘innovation’ as a pretext for making it easier to establish a lowest common denominator for labour protection and taxation as the new standard in all Member States.

What is needed is the very opposite: the removal of exemption schemes and an end to the use of countries, territories and regions that have favourable tax systems – profits should instead be taxed in the countries where they are made – while workers’ rights and pay should be improved.

In view of the above:

• 1.What criteria will guide the harmonisation of legislation on labour protection, tax evasion and avoidance and the fight against fraud and the concentration of companies into monopolies?
• 2.How will the Commission ensure that the proposal is not used by companies to bypass stricter national legislation?

Submitted: 23.4.2025

The EU has taken several measures to safeguard media independence and prevent undue influence from third countries. The provisions of European Media Freedom Act[1], generally applicable from 8 August 2025, establish transparency requirements for media ownership and state advertising revenues, including those received from third-country public authorities or entities.

They also mandate that public funds for state advertising in media or supply or service contracts with media be allocated through transparent, proportionate, and non-discriminatory criteria.

The Commission also co-finances the Media Pluralism Monitor and a media ownership monitoring project. However, these measures do not include monitoring of external donations or measures to prevent external donations.

The Commission does not have an overview of the media outlets that have received funds from USAID.

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1083