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1. Mobility issues in rural areas are fully recognised at EU level[1]. Under the current programming period of the European Regional Development and Cohesion Funds, investments should contribute to addressing rural mobility issues and promoting sustainable solutions[2]. T o assist rural municipalities , the Commission designed and funded the SMARTA-NET project[3], which delivered a catalogue of innovative rural mobility solutions, training programmes for local authorities and practitioners, and established the European Rural Mobility Network, connecting 70 rural municipalities from 14 Member States.

2. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) can support projects of accessibility to mountain areas, incl. innovative and soft mobility transport solutions, under the Specific Objective (c) (ii)[4] of Regulation 2021/1058[5].

The Regional Programme Sicily ERDF 2021-2027 has in fact planned such actions of support to improve accessibility to inner areas, smart public transport systems and soft local mobility[6].

These actions are based on local strategies and with local authorities responsible for the planning and selection of projects. The responsible local authority for Madonie, an inner area with a dedicated territorial development strategy, is currently selecting projects.

The Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan includes around EUR 4.6 billion of investments that could, as part of their scope, promote sustainable mobility in mountain areas.

3. Any internal reallocation of the resources within the Regional Programme Sicily ERDF 2021-2027 can be requested by its Managing Authority to the Commission, following the approval by the Monitoring Committee, if adequately justified and in line with applicable Regulations[7].

• [1] The New Urban Mobility Framework (2021) promotes sustainable connections between rural, peri-urban, and urban areas. The Commission’s Long-Term Vision for Europe’s Rural Areas (2021) calls on Member States and regions to develop sustainable rural mobility strategies. In the 2023 Barcelona Declaration, EU transport ministers agreed on the importance of recognising sustainable rural mobility needs in regional and national transport planning systems and called for investments, leveraging the Social Climate Fund and Fit for 55 policies. The Logroño Declaration (2023) advocates allocating EU funds to rural mobility projects.
• [2] Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 on the European Regional Development Fund and on the Cohesion Fund (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 60-93) includes references to rural and mountainous areas in Recitals (1), (45), (47) and Article 10 (Support for disadvantaged areas).
• [3] https://www.smarta-net.eu/.
• [4] Specific Objective (c) (ii) ‘developing and enhancing sustainable, climate resilient, intelligent and intermodal national, regional and local mobility, including improved access to TEN-T and cross-border mobility’.
• [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1058/oj/eng.
• [6] Actions 3.2.3, 3.2.4 and 3.2.7 of the Regional Programme, respectively.
• [7] Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 ( https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1058/oj/eng ), Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 ( https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng ).

The Commission undertook a thorough analysis of the economic, social and environmental impacts before proposing amendments to the CO₂ emission standards for cars and vans in 2021[1] and considered the developments in other regions of the world, including China. The Commission continues to monitor the progress towards zero-emission road mobility and it will submit its first biennial report by the end of 2025.

On 5 March 2025, the Commission put forward an Action Plan for the European automotive sector[2], which builds on a Strategic Dialogue launched by the President of the Commission[3]. The action plan includes a package of measures to further support the EU battery industry, including financing under the Innovation Fund, looking into direct production support to companies producing batteries and non-price criteria for components such as resilience requirements. This complements the existing public support, which has been essential to the development of the EU battery industry, including the two battery-related Important Projects of Common European Interest[4], alongside the support provided by Member States through the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework[5].

During his hearing, the Commissioner for Energy and Housing highlighted the role of nuclear energy in supporting decarbonisation and competitiveness in Europe. Nuclear energy is, and will continue to be, an integrated part of the EU energy mix. The planned EU Clean Energy Investment Strategy will address the investment needs for nuclear energy and will be underpinned by a Nuclear Illustrative Programme. Moreover, the Commission facilitates the development and deployment of small modular reactors in Europe within the dedicated Industrial Alliance[6].

• [1] Impact assessment accompanying Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening the CO₂ emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in line with the EU’s increased climate ambition.
• [2] https://transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/89b3143e-09b6-4ae6-a826-932b90ed0816_en?filename=Communication%20-%20Action%20Plan.pdf .
• [3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_378 .
• [4] https://www.ipcei-batteries.eu/.
• [5] https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/state-aid/temporary-crisis-and-transition-framework_en.
• [6] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/industry/industrial-alliances/european-industrial-alliance-small-modular-reactors_en.

Information on Global Gateway and its flagship projects is available on the European Commission’s website[1], which also provides links to approved action documents. EU Delegations also regularly facilitate dialogue with civil society and the private sector in partner countries, sharing information on EU investments. The European Parliament is kept informed both through its observer role on the Global Gateway Board and its participation in the strategic board for the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), main Commission tool for mobilising investments.

As regards the selection of Strategic Projects under the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act[2], the evaluation is conducted by external experts with professional expertise in the technical, financial, environmental, social and governance dimensions. In line with Article 7 of the CRM Act, the proposed list of Strategic Projects is then presented for the opinion of the CRM Board chaired by the Commission and composed of Member States, with the European Parliament as an observer. The final list is then adopted by a Commission Decision.

The contribution of EUR 900 million in a Team Europe approach (EU, Member States, European Investment Bank) for Global Gateway projects was announced in a communiqué from the President of the Commission on 18 December 2023[3]. The funding will support four Global Gateway Initiatives on green deal, connectivity, health and education[4]. They won’t be directly or indirectly linked to the mining sector as they target inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation, youth led innovation and green investment in Rwandan cities, vaccines, medicines and health technologies, and early childhood services.

• [1] https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/publications-library/global-gateway-flagship-projects-infographics_en .
• [2]  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401252 .
• [3]  https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6724 .
• [4]  https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/rwanda/global-gateway-rwanda_en?s=115.

The ‘In-depth analysis of the situation of the wolf in the EU’[1] is a report procured by the Commission and produced by independent international experts. The Commission does not share the view that the report misrepresents scientific findings.

The Commission has continuously underlined that irrespective of the legal protection status of the wolf, investment in co-existence remains essential[2]. The in-depth analysis of the situation of the wolf in the EU has also confirmed the importance of implementing prevention measures tailored to the specific circumstances of each exploitation, as well as to ensure expert technical advice in early phases. In the proposal for reducing the protection status of the wolf under the Bern Convention[3], the Commission underlined that ‘in general, damage to livestock has increased as the wolf population has grown, which confirms the importance to invest in effective prevention measures’.

The Commission based its proposals to reduce the protection status of the wolf under the Bern Convention and under EU law on the best available scientific data on wolf populations in the EU and Europe, including an assessment of the threats and pressures on the species. The proposal concerning the Bern Convention was supported by both the Member States in Council and by Contracting Parties to the Bern Convention outside the EU.

• [1] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5d017e4e-9efc-11ee-b164-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.
• [2] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6752.
• [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52023PC0799.

The EU pledge for planting 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030 was launched in 2021 as a non-binding, but meaningful target to further enhance afforestation for climate, biodiversity and the bioeconomy[1]. Its implementation depends on voluntary grass-roots initiatives across the EU.

The Commission supports tree planting initiatives by giving them visibility though a web page[2] including a ‘ counter’[3] launched in April 2022. Although not all planted trees are reported, up to now, 65  organisations[4] in the 27 Member States have participated, as well as numerous citizens, via the dedicated MapMyTree[5] application . Organisations vary from state or region authorities to cities, private companies, foundations, universities and non-governmental organisations.

In order to further promote the pledge, in March 2025, the Commission announced the ‘Tree billion trees Award’[6] that will be organised starting from 2026 in order to recognise innovative and impactful tree-planting projects.

There is no specific budget for implementing this voluntary pledge. However, several possibilities exist to fund afforestation and tree planting projects at local level. The Commission published guidance on such funding[7] opportunities in 2024 and will update it before end of 2025.

The Commission does not plan to appoint national coordinators, but it may support local initiatives, in particular through jointly organised events. An expert report on the challenges to implement the pledge will be published in 2025.

• [1]  Commission Staff Working Document The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge For 2030 accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – New EU Forest Strategy for 2030, SWD/2021/651 final.
• [2] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030/3-billion-trees_en.
• [3] https://forest.eea.europa.eu/policy-and-reporting/3-billion-trees.
• [4] https://forest.eea.europa.eu/policy-and-reporting/3-billion-trees/organisations?searchTerm=.
• [5] https://mapmytree.eea.europa.eu/.
• [6] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030/3-billion-trees/3-billion-trees-award_en.
• [7] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/c216e918-d646-11ee-b9d9-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.

Legal protection of biotechnological inventions in the EU is governed by Directive 98/44/EC[1] ‘Biotech Directive’. According to the provisions of the directive, biological material which is isolated from its natural environment or produced by means of technical processes may be patentable if it also meets the general patentability requirements, such as novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.

However, the directive excludes animal varieties and animals produced solely by essentially biological processes from patentability. In this context, an ‘essentially biological process’ is defined as a process that consists entirely of natural phenomena such as crossing or selection (e.g. conventional breeding methods). Accordingly, animals and their offsprings resulting from conventional breeding methods, without the application of a technical process such as genetic modification, would generally not constitute a patentable invention within the meaning of the directive.

Patentable biotechnological inventions relating to animals include, for instance, modifications of animal genome aiming to tackle hereditary diseases or enabling animals to survive environmental changes. Where a patented invention (e.g. a modified gene) is incorporated into an animal, the protection extends to any material in which the patented genetic information is contained and continues to perform its function. This principle also applies to the offspring of such animals, provided that the patented invention remains present.

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1998/44/oj/eng .

Insect producers are food business operators and therefore must be registered and comply with the same safety requirements and Good Hygiene Practices as for any other food, including Regulation (EC) 852/2004[1] on the hygiene of foodstuffs. These requirements need to be controlled by the competent authorities in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625[2] on official controls.

In 2015, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in a Scientific Opinion providing a risk profile related to production and consumption of insects as food and feed[3] that: ‘Despite the documented occurrence of parasites in insects and the linkage between sporadic human parasitic disease and insect consumption (in certain third countries), a properly-managed closed farm environment would lack all the hosts necessary for the completion of parasite life cycles and proper management before consumption, relying on freezing and cooking, can eliminate risks.’

Directive 2003/99/EC[4] obliges Member States to monitor and report zoonoses and zoonotic agents, compiled by EFSA in the annual European Union One Health Zoonoses report[5]. No zoonotic parasites in insects have been reported in these reports, demonstrating the validity of the EFSA opinion and the efficiency of the existing hygiene rules.

• [1] Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs. OJ L 139 30.4.2004, p. 1.
• [2] Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation) (OJ L 95, 07/04/2017, p. 1).
• [3] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4257.
• [4] Directive 2003/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 November 2003 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents, amending Council Decision 90/424/EEC and repealing Council Directive 92/117/EEC (OJ L 325 12.12.2003, p. 31).
• [5] Latest (2023 data) available at https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/9106.

The Commission and the Member States are working towards the timely implementation of the new Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport and additional sectors (ETS2), which was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in 2023. This includes regular technical level discussions and exchanges at the political level with all Member States, including Poland.

The Commission’s impact assessment[1] for the review of the ETS Directive provided a detailed analysis of the socioeconomic impact of ETS2. The impact assessment shows that the ETS2 effects on fuel prices are limited. Furthermore, ETS2 contains strong safeguard mechanisms to avoid prices rising very fast, including a safeguard to delay the start of the system to 2028 in case gas or oil prices are exceptionally high in 2026.

Europe’s reliance on imported fossil fuels causes energy price volatility and higher supply costs, significantly impacting consumers’ energy bills. To reduce energy costs for consumers in the EU, we need to reduce energy consumption and accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy, which is an effective way to achieve decarbonisation. The Social Climate Fund (SCF), financed by ETS2, aims to ensure that vulnerable households and micro-enterprises will be supported in this transition. The purpose of the SCF is to turn ETS2 into a clearly progressive measure, and to spur green investments that will address the root causes of energy and transport poverty.

• [1] SWD(2021)0601 final.

Foods obtained from Category c new genomic techniques (NGTs) plants fall under the Novel Foods Regulation[1] if they feature significant changes in the composition or structure of the resulting food, affecting its nutritional value, metabolism or level of undesirable substances. Given that such foods offer identifiable benefits to the consumer, food business operators have a strong interest in bringing such food to the market with relevant labelling information that is part of an authorisation under the Novel Foods Regulation.

It is the responsibility of food business operators to verify whether the food they intend to place on the EU market falls within the scope of the Novel Foods Regulation and complies with that regulation. The Official Controls Regulation[2] sets rules for the official controls performed to ensure compliance with food and feed law. These rules entrust national authorities with the responsibility to carry out controls at all stages of production, processing, distribution and use of food and feed, including to ensure that food business operators apply for the necessary novel food authorisation where necessary, amongst others as regards novel foods that may derive from Category c NGT plants.

The Commission’s proposal on plants obtained by certain NGTs contains transparency measures for Category c NGT plants that would support food business operators in the assessment of whether the trait(s) and characteristics introduced or modified in a Category c NGT plant give rise to the significant changes in the food that would qualify it as novel. The Official Controls Regulation also provides the Commission with audit and control powers in the Member States and non-EU countries, enabling action at EU level when necessary.

• [1] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/2283/oj.
• [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625/oj.