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Question for written answer  E-001778/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Loucas Fourlas (PPE)

The shortage of skilled labour is becoming one of the biggest constraints to economic growth and technological progress in EU Member States. This problem is exacerbated by an ageing population, the inadequate connection of education systems to the needs of the labour market and the increasing demand for digital and technical skills.

How does the Commission intend to strengthen its strategy to attract and develop skilled workers, in particular in sectors crucial for the green and digital transition?

Submitted: 2.5.2025

Question for written answer  E-001711/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Kosma Złotowski (ECR)

In recent years, the EU has seen a rise in pet breeding mills, which operate illegally or on the fringes of the law. These types of mills not only negatively impact animal welfare, as the animals are often kept in appalling conditions, but also pose a serious risk to public health and the safety of people purchasing these animals. Pet breeding mills circumvent regulations on animal welfare and transport, fail to keep adequate records, do not carry out veterinary examinations and are solely profit-driven, often showing complete disregard for ethical issues. The scale of the phenomenon, the lack of effective legal and institutional mechanisms, and the cross-border nature of the issue mean that action must be taken not only at national level, but also at EU level.

• 1.What specific steps will the Commission take to draft and implement effective mechanisms for identifying, monitoring and shutting down pet breeding mills operating illegally, and is the Commission considering creating an EU database of breeders alongside a system to assess and verify them?
• 2.Are there any plans to amend existing EU regulations laying down standards for the breeding of cats and dogs, with a view to making registration requirements stricter, increasing penalties for operating illegal breeding mills and providing more effective monitoring tools?
• 3.Does the Commission intend to take action in the form of information and educational campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of buying animals from illegal sources, including pet breeding mills, and to support the responsible adoption and purchase of animals only from legally operating breeders?

Submitted: 29.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001794/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Lynn Boylan (The Left)

In the early hours of 2 May 2025, the Conscience – a vessel that is part of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla – was attacked by a drone in international waters and sustained significant damage.

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla is seeking to break the blockade of Gaza, which is now so severe that no humanitarian aid has entered since the ceasefire was broken by Israel in March 2025. EU citizens were present, on board the ship, when it was attacked.

Thus far, Israeli officials have refused to comment on the attack.

Will the VP/HR:

• 1.Demand full transparency and accountability for this attack?
• 2.Demand an immediate end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza?
• 3.Ensure that there are diplomatic and political consequences for attacks on any humanitarian workers – including EU citizens?

Submitted: 2.5.2025

Question for written answer  E-001724/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

The Greek islands’ traditional gastronomy and local products form an invaluable part of Europe’s cultural and dietary heritage. However, for the most part, they are not covered by European protection and promotion mechanisms, such as PDO/PGI indications. As a result, they are threatened by commercial homogenisation and cultural invisibility.

In light of the above, can the Commission answer the following:

• 1.Does it intend to strengthen, through specific programmes or technical support, the recognition of traditional products from the Greek islands (such as cheeses, wines, sweets, herbs) as PDO or PGI products, thereby helping to preserve and strengthen local identity and the economy?
• 2.Does it intend to finance cultural measures to promote the gastronomy of the islands within the framework of European cultural policy, making use of gastronomy as a tool for sustainable tourism and regional development?
• 3.Is there a plan to create a single European platform for the promotion of traditional island products and recipes to strengthen the link between cultural heritage and the agri-food chain?

Submitted: 30.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001742/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dan-Ştefan Motreanu (PPE)

The Danish Government recently announced its intention to ban the distribution of deepfake videos and AI-generated content without the consent of the individuals depicted. The government argues that current legislation is insufficient to protect democracy, public discourse and personal identity from the harmful effects of manipulated content. To address this, Denmark plans to amend its Copyright Act by introducing a new right for individuals over the use of their own body, voice, facial features and image. The proposal would allow for a ban on the distribution of deepfakes and AI-generated material portraying individuals without their consent.

Given the serious threats that non-consensual deepfake content poses to personal rights, trust in public information and democratic stability across the EU, swift and coordinated action at European level is urgently needed.

What concrete measures does the Commission intend to take to address the risks posed by deepfake and AI-generated content and to ensure the protection of citizens’ identity and dignity and democratic values across the Union?

Submitted: 30.4.2025

Question for written answer  E-001689/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Robert Biedroń (S&D), Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D), Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE), Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE), Marianne Vind (S&D), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Maria Noichl (S&D), Isabella Lövin (Verts/ALE), Günther Sidl (S&D), Per Clausen (The Left), Michal Wiezik (Renew), Alice Kuhnke (Verts/ALE), Pär Holmgren (Verts/ALE), Christel Schaldemose (S&D)

While up to one billion fish are farmed in the EU each year, there are no rules to protect them. This allows unethical practices to persist.

Yet several opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) demonstrate that fish are sentient beings, and nine out of ten EU citizens want better protection for farmed fish. Cost-effective solutions are available, with a recent report by environmental economist Griffin Carpenter showing that implementing stunning in EU aquaculture is economically feasible[1].

The Commissioners for animal welfare and fisheries have reiterated their commitment to modernising the rules on animal welfare and making aquatic animal welfare a priority of their respective mandates.

The Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food calls for animal welfare standards to be applied to imports in order to boost food security and competitiveness in the EU.

In view of the above:

• 1.Will farmed aquatic animals be included in the scope of the upcoming consultations on the animal welfare legislation taking place this year?
• 2.Will the Commission commit to delivering species-specific welfare provisions for farmed fish and other aquatic animals, as part of the comprehensive modernisation of animal welfare laws on kept animals, slaughter and labelling, based on the upcoming EFSA opinions on farmed finfish and invertebrates?

Submitted: 28.4.2025

• [1] https://www.eurogroupforanimals.org/library/stunning-results-eu-aquaculture.

Question for written answer  E-001728/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Sophie Wilmès (Renew)

Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is considered to be a terrorist organisation by the EU. Samidoun also has links with terrorist groups such as the Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as Hamas, and actively supports the latter’s actions. As a result, some countries have imposed sanctions on Samidoun. Germany, for example, has prohibited and dismantled the organisation.

Given this, several MEPs sent a written question (Written Question E-003092/2023/rev.1[1]) to the former Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in 2023 to find out whether Borrell intended to propose adding Samidoun to the EU’s list of terrorist organisations. He replied that such an inclusion could only be made ‘on the basis of precise information and material in the national file indicating that such a decision is conforming to the requirements of CP 931’ (Council Common Position of 27 December 2001 on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism).

Therefore, does the Commission intend to propose adding Samidoun to the EU list of terrorist organisations?

Submitted: 30.4.2025

• [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-003092_EN.html

Question for written answer  E-001722/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Niels Fuglsang (S&D)

Non-human primates were involved in a total of 7 658 uses for animal tests in 2022 (up by 9 % since 2021), with France (4 147 uses) and Germany (2 204 uses) being the largest users.

We note with concern that France, Germany and – for the first time, in 2022 – Denmark are the only Member States that use baboons in experiments. In 2022, France reported 73 uses of baboons (an 83 % increase since 2021) while Germany and Denmark each reported 5 uses. France is also the only Member State that uses vervet monkeys, with 51 uses in 2022 (up by 1 600 % since 2021).[1]

In view of the above:

• 1.Could the Commission explain what measures are being taken to encourage Member States to reduce and replace the use of non-human primates for testing?
• 2.Could the Commission explain why these species of primate continue to be used and what is being done to encourage France, Germany and Denmark to permanently phase out testing using these species?

Submitted: 30.4.2025

• [1] https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/envdataportal/content/alures/section2_number-of-uses.html.

Question for written answer  E-001720/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Niels Fuglsang (S&D)

A total of 33 029 skin sensitisation tests were conducted in 2022. The proportion of skin sensitisation tests involving the use of guinea pigs is now at 78 %, despite the availability of a more refined method using mice (local lymph node assay – LLNA)[1].

Can the Commission explain why such a high proportion of guinea pigs are still being used in testing and what is being done to encourage Member States to use the available non-animal approaches, or at the very least, the LLNA, which is viewed as a refinement?

Submitted: 30.4.2025

• [1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16938465/.