MIL European Union Publishing Engine
Source: European Parliament
Among the topics of this edition:
Source: European Parliament
Directive (EU) 2019/790[1] introduced a set of rules to ensure creators’ fair remuneration and an exception allowing, under certain conditions, the use of protected works and other subject matter for the purposes of text and data mining. Rightholders may opt out from the exception by expressing their reservation in an appropriate manner.
The Commission is working to support the effective implementation of the reservation mechanism. In particular, the Commission will soon launch a study to assess the opportunity of introducing a central registry of opt-outs which could make it easier for rightholders to express their rights reservation.
The Artificial Intelligence Act[2] establishes transparency obligations for deployers of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to disclose the existence of generated or manipulated content, including artistic content, in an appropriate manner that does not hamper the work’s display or enjoyment.
The AI Office is tasked with enabling the drawing up of codes of practice to facilitate the effective implementation of the obligations on the detection and labelling of artificially generated or manipulated content.
The implementation of the labelling obligations on music content will contribute to increase transparency on the use of AI-generated music and uphold the unique value of human creativity.
The Commission will further examine the opportunities and challenges related to the use of AI for music creators and artists before deciding whether to propose potential further measures. The Commission is currently developing an AI strategy for cultural and creative industries.
Source: European Parliament
The steel safeguard review investigation has concluded that the EU steel industry is under significant pressure caused by increasing global overcapacity, stalling domestic demand for steel and additional trade measures on steel imports adopted by third countries.
To ensure that the safeguard measure remains effective in the present context, and taking into account the overall EU interest, the Commission considers that a number of adjustments to tariff rate quota management are necessary. These adjustments entered into force on 1 April 2025.
The Steel and Metals Action Plan[1] foresees that, by the third quarter of 2025 at the latest, the Commission will propose a long-term measure providing a highly effective level of protection to the EU’s steel sector.
Resource shuffling refers to the export of less emissions-intensive materials production towards markets with higher carbon costs, while the overall carbon intensity of production remains constant.
The Commission is assessing the risk and magnitude of resource shuffling and will, as part of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Anti-Circumvention strategy, identify policy options to minimise this risk.
As announced in the Steel and Metals Action Plan, the strategy will be part of a legislative proposal for a CBAM revision by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001681/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)
The Greek government is privatising preventive newborn screening by 2029, aiming to adopt a genetic analysis method through human genome sequencing instead of traditional biochemical testing. The process will be entrusted to RealGenix and Beginnings, with the research results belonging to these companies, which raises serious ethical and technical issues, as genetic analysis is still at the pilot stage worldwide.
The ‘programmatic agreement’ between the Ministry of Health and the two companies provides for the conduct of genetic testing for 100,000 newborns by 2029, without prior scientific evaluation or opinion from competent institutions. This process raises concerns about the management of personal data, as well as the possible exploitation of citizens’ genetic material by private companies, with a potential benefit for multinational pharmaceutical and insurance companies. In the absence of transparency and safeguards in a programmatic agreement between the public sector and companies for the genomic analysis of 100,000 newborns, despite the official assurance of compliance with the GDPR, the genetic material becomes the property of the company without clear guarantees for its non-commercial exploitation.
In view of this:
Submitted: 26.4.2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001659/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Hilde Vautmans (Renew)
EU law (Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687) classifies pigeons as ‘captive birds’ even though scientific studies show that they are a ‘dead-end host’ for the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV). The regulations do not take sufficient account of differences in susceptibility between bird species, although HPAIV is now endemic in wild populations.
In addition, EU legislation does not distinguish between Newcastle Disease (NCD) in poultry and Pigeon Paramyxo Virus (PMV) in pigeons. This could lead to unjustified trade restrictions and loss of NCD-free status in the event of a PMV outbreak. In line with WOAH recommendations, the industry advocates recognising this distinction and limiting measures pertaining to NCD in poultry.
Finally, the sector stresses the importance of providing for derogations for pigeon racing, given its genetic and cultural value and the negligible risk of it spreading HPAIV.
Submitted: 24.4.2025
Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-001726/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marion Walsmann (PPE)
China’s recently adopted export controls on rare earth metals, including gallium, germanium and graphite, once again demonstrates European industry’s reliance on Chinese supplies for these critical raw materials. These materials are essential for key technologies, such as electromobility and energy from renewable sources.
Supporters[1]
Submitted: 30.4.2025
Source: European Parliament
The housing crisis in several Member States is caused by several factors. The regulation (EU) 2024/1028[1] on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services (STR) aims to provide Member States authorities with reliable and objective data on short-term rentals to allow them to adopt the most convenient and proportionate measures to counterbalance any possible negative effects of short-term rentals.
Member States that wish to receive data on short-term rentals from platforms are obliged to implement the STR Regulation. In this regard, any registration scheme that Member States want to introduce must be compliant with the STR Regulation.
However, Member States are not obliged to introduce registration schemes or seek data from platforms, in which case the regulation does not need to be implemented.
Public authorities may take different approaches in this area. It is for Member States and their competent authorities to decide whether to put in place registrations schemes at regional level.
In addition, to help tackle the housing crisis, the Commission has appointed the first-ever Commissioner responsible for housing and established a Task Force for Housing.
The Commission will put forward a European Affordable Housing Plan and will tackle systemic issues with the short-term accommodation rentals and make proposals to tackle the inefficient use of the current housing stock.
During these activities, the Commission will give due consideration to the matters described by the Honourable Member.
Source: European Parliament
1. The Green Deal[1] aims at positioning Europe as the first climate-neutral continent in a fair, cost effective and competitive way. The Clean Industrial Deal[2] has continued this path by strengthening the business case for decarbonisation and competitiveness in the EU[3] through actions to improve access to affordable energy, lead markets, public and private investments, materials and resources, global markets, skills and quality jobs. To tailor actions to the needs of individual industries, work goes on with the preparation of sector specific plans, such as those for the automotive[4], steel, and metal[5] sectors. The recent simplification package[6] shows the Commission’s focus also on horizontal enablers necessary for a competitive economy.
2. EU’s industry faces higher energy prices than those of our trading partners and unfair global competition due to overcapacities from other countries. To address this and support the green transition, the Commission adopted the Affordable Energy Action Plan[7]. Reducing dependency on hydrocarbons and expanding clean technologies is key for EU’s energy security. The Clean Industrial Deal targets 100 GW of renewable electricity generation and boosting recycling and use of secondary materials that require less energy than extraction and processing of virgin materials. The EU remains committed to its decarbonisation objectives.
3. In addition to strengthening its domestic supply chains and resilience, the EU remains committed to the effective implementation of critical raw materials policies through strategic partnerships with countries rich in these resources and boosting recycling.
Source: European Parliament
The Commission registered China’s apparent refusal to issue export licenses for the export of artificial graphite to Sweden as an official trade barrier in 2023 following an internal investigation.
The Commission has thereafter been in close contact with Sweden and has raised the issue with China on multiple occasions, during both bilateral contacts with China and at the World Trade Organisation.
On these occasions, the Commission has also expressed its deep concern regarding the overall increase in Chinese licensing requirements targeting critical raw materials in recent years, and the negative effects these measures have on the perception of China as a reliable trading partner.
To ensure secure, resilient and sustainable supply of strategic raw materials, the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)[1] sets out benchmarks for extraction, processing, recycling and diversification and introduces measures to achieve these.
Regarding the long-term availability of graphite, designated as a strategic raw material under the CRMA, the Commission inter alia maps with Member States the projects in the EU; calls for strategic projects; develops and implements strategic partnerships on raw materials; invests in innovative raw material production projects under Horizon Europe[2]; and concludes EU bilateral trade agreements for fair and unrestricted trade in raw materials.
Further improvements on recycling can equally increase the availability of critical raw materials. The first list of strategic projects was published on 25 March 2025[3]. three of them are located in Sweden, and two concern graphite.
Regarding overall availability of raw materials, the Geological Surveys of Europe provide a detailed overview of minerals deposits in the EU[4].
Source: European Parliament
The Commission remains committed to the objectives of reducing the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides, cutting nutrient losses, reducing overall EU sales of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture, and increasing the level of organic farming as well as organic aquaculture.
The Vision for Agriculture and Food[1] underlines that farmers need appropriate support of various kinds to help them make their contribution to achieving these objectives — in an approach which addresses the need for environmental, economic and social sustainability.
The quantified targets referred to by the Honourable Members are not legally binding. However, the underlying indicators are part of the Commission’s established set of context indicators on the Common Agricultural Policy[2], and on that basis will continue to be monitored alongside the Commission’s various other indicators which relate to the farming and food sectors.
Regarding animal transport, on 7 December 2023, the Commission adopted a proposal[3] for a new Regulation on the protection of animals during transport. This proposal is now being examined by the European Parliament and the Council.