Parliamentary question

Written question to the European Commission

Numerous reports have emerged of human rights violations and atrocities allegedly committed by the Croatian police against migrants on the EU border, as well as various disturbing reports from NGOs and in the media that the Commission has yet to make progress with the announced monitoring mechanism intended to ensure that all measures applied at the EU’s external borders are proportionate and in full compliance with fundamental rights and EU asylum laws. Furthermore, recent reports and the disclosure of email exchanges in the Guardian media outlet accuse the Commission of a cover-up for withholding evidence of the Croatian Government’s alleged failure to supervise the police and its mismanagement of EU funds concerning the above monitoring mechanism, the establishment of which was a condition of receiving funds to strengthen Croatia’s borders with non-EU countries. It is stated that the Commission would caution against drawing misleading conclusions and has asked the Croatian authorities for clarifications regarding outstanding issues.

We expect full disclosure of the findings and demand full transparency. 

1. How has the Croatian Government used money earmarked for the border police and which specific organisations have received the funds?

2. Has the Commission received any information from monitoring mechanisms revealing the failure to supervise Croatian police compliance with asylum laws and human rights?

Answer given by Commissioner Johansson on behalf of the European Commission

According to the information in the final implementation report for the action ‘Technical monitoring border control activities’, the Croatian authorities spent EUR 87 567.72, of which EUR 78 810.94 in EU contribution from an emergency assistance grant.

More specifically, EUR 17 469.87 was spent on training activities by the Ministry of Interior, EUR 59 637.91 on cooperation/training with international and civil society organisations (including the Croatian Red Cross (EUR 19 048.74), the International Organisation for Migration (EUR 19 437.98), and the Croatian Law Centre (EUR 21 151.19)), and EUR 1 703.16 on the final roundtable organised by the Ministry of Interior.

The Commission takes any allegations of violence and human rights violations seriously. However, information received by the Commission does not indicate failures to supervise the compliance of the Croatian police with fundamental rights.

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Parliamentary question

Question for written answer to the Commission

In connection with the measures taken to contain the spread of Covid-19, the meeting industry (trade fairs, conferences, etc.) was one of the first sectors that was forced to shut down. Given the nature of the work, it will also be among the last to reopen.

This is an activity which is labour-intensive and where human knowledge is key. The collapse of businesses in this sector would entail the loss of many jobs and valuable know-how. Given the multiplier effect of activities in this industry, its collapse would also cause further economic, social and societal harm more broadly (trade fairs have an impact on the development of businesses and the sale of their products; conferences generate additional income in tourism and provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and behaviour in many areas of activity, etc.). In Slovenia, these activities provide around 15 000 jobs in total. Europe-wide the figure is far higher. We would therefore like to know:

1. Given the specific situation facing the meeting industry in connection with the crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, is the Commission drawing up tailored measures for this sector to mitigate the consequences and accelerate the recovery?

2. Is the Commission, together with the Member States, drawing up guidelines for an exit strategy for the meeting industry?

Answer given by Commissioner Thierry Breton on behalf of the European Commission

The MICE segment (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions) is among sectors benefiting from a number of emergency measures put in place by the Commission to alleviate the immediate burden on firms affected by COVID-19. It should also benefit from for ‘Next Generation EU’, a new recovery instrument of EUR 750 billion, as well as from targeted reinforcements to the 2021-2027 EU budget proposed by the Commission on 27 May 2020. The Commission proposal recognises tourism, including MICE, among the most affected sectors. While Member States will ultimately decide on recovery priorities and investment needs, tourism should be supported under this ambitious recovery instrument, while also remaining eligible for financial aid under several EU programmes.

The gradual reopening of the meeting industry as part of a broader tourism sector has been facilitated by the comprehensive package of initiatives to resume transport and tourism in a safe manner adopted by the Commission on 13 May 2020. In the autumn 2020, the Commission will hold a tourism convention to have a collective dialogue about long term vision of tourism in the EU and its transformation in view of its sustainable recovery and green and digital transition. This long term vision will encompass the whole tourism ecosystem, including the MICE segment.

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Parliamentary question

Parliamentary question

The Western Balkans still constitute a strategic region for the European Union. The enlargement process has proven that EU enlargement helps countries with socio-economic reforms and democratisation, resulting in a win-win situation for both the EU and the candidate country.

The possibility of enlargement would keep the Western Balkans on the path of reform and progress.

The Commission has recently suggested a new methodology, given that the process so far has not been efficient and has not yielded the results hoped for.

ow does the Commission plan to reform the enlargement process to make it more efficient and transformative for the region and ensure concrete results?

Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

On 5 February 2020, the European Commission adopted the communication Enhancing the accession process — A credible EU perspective for the western Balkans. The Commission’s proposals aim to drive forward the EU accession process, by making it more credible, with a stronger political steer, more dynamic and predictable.

The Commission is working on three tracks for 2020: Firstly, to take forward the Commission’s proposals set out in its communication of 5 February 2020 to enhance the accession process and make it more effective.

Secondly, and in parallel, the Commission stands firmly by its recommendations to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, and has in view of their further tangible reform progress confirmed it with updates on 2 March 2020.

Thirdly, in preparation of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb in May 2020, the Commission will propose an economic development plan for the western Balkans.

Supporting the western Balkans in meeting the requirements for EU membership is a priority for the Commission. The Commission is working to improve the tools at its disposal to support and encourage the reform process. Ultimately, progress on the EU path will depend on the ability of the candidate countries to implement reforms and deliver concrete results ensuring all requirements are met.

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Parliamentary question

Parliamentary question

The European Schools can and should be a paragon of European education, benefiting from the best and most innovative ideas coming from DG EAC. Unfortunately, the schools are currently lagging behind in several of the eight key competences for lifelong learning set out in the Council Recommendation of 22 May 2018 (OJ C 189, 4.6.2018, p. 1), including digital competence, civic competence, entrepreneurial competence, personal, social and learning competence, and the technology and engineering strands of the STEM competence. As a result, the schools have yet to benefit from their close ties with the Commission. DG EAC could be more heavily involved in the European Schools, considering that the EU institutions’ ability to attract qualified officials is closely related to the quality of the education offered by the European Schools.

DG HR continues to represent the Commission on the governing bodies of the European Schools, provide educational oversight of the money being spent by the Commission on the European Schools, and ensure value-for-money in pedagogical terms.

How does the Commission aim to ensure that DG EAC has ‘pedagogical oversight’ of the European Schools, given that the European Schools serve as a vision of future education?

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the European Commission

Directorate-General Human Resources and Security (DG HR) provides a financial contribution to the European Schools system and represents the Commission, on behalf of the European Union, in the schools’ decision-making bodies. In this framework, DG HR closely cooperates with Directorate-General Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) on pedagogical aspects. The decision-making bodies, notably the Joint Teaching Committee and the Board of Governors exercise the pedagogical oversight.

DG EAC ensures that the Secretary-General of the European Schools and his staff are kept informed about all educational matters relevant to the schools’ curriculum and diplomas. Notably, they are invited to participate in the European Education summits and in various events related for instance to the eight key competencies for lifelong learning, the recognition of diplomas and school certificates and the Pisa results of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Moreover, DG EAC recommended experts for the ‘Pedagogical Reform’ Working Group established within the European Schools system in particular in order to make proposals for the development of curriculum standards based on the eight key competences for lifelong learning.

The introduction of the eight key competences into the curriculum is one of the key priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the European Schools (2019/2020). In parallel, work on a framework for digital competence and entrepreneurship is progressing. The involvement of concerned services is required in the development of the different competences.

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Parliamentary question

Parliamentary question

With the Sixth VAT Directive, the European Union adopted a uniform basis for the assessment of goods and services. The Member States are accordingly authorised to have reduced VAT rates for supplies, products or services that have a social or cultural purpose, but these rates must be at least 5 %. Exceptions were allowed in some Member States that already had zero or extra-low rates (below 5 %) on 1 January 1991. Zero rates are used in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom for various things, including supplies of printed books, booklets, newspapers, periodicals, brochures, catalogues and similar products. Zero rate VAT for printed books can also be found in other countries in the world, such as Mexico, Ukraine, Albania, India, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, most South American countries and some African countries.

Having zero rate VAT on printed and electronic books, booklets, newspapers, etc. should be of great interest to Member States in order to support writers and journalists. Would the Commission be willing to reform the Directive in order to include an exception allowing Member States to adopt zero rate VAT should they so desire?

Answer given by Mr Gentiloni on behalf of the European Commission

In 2018, the Council adopted a Commission proposal, allowing Member States to align the VAT rates they apply to electronic/online publications with the reduced, super-reduced or zero VAT rates already in place in each country for printed publications (notably books, newspapers and periodicals). However, only Member States that already apply a historical super-reduced rate (below 5%) or a zero rate for paper publications may apply such rate to their electronic equivalents.

These new rules were the outcome of a compromise during negotiations amongst Member States, which restricted the initial Commission proposal allowing all Member States the option to use super-reduced VAT rates and a zero rate for electronic publications.

The new rules will apply temporarily, pending the adoption of an overall reform of the rules governing VAT rates proposed by the Commission. The legislative proposal would enable all Member States to apply a zero rate to both printed and electronic publications. A unanimous decision by EU Member States is required for this reform to pass into law.

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Parliamentary question

Parliamentary question

In 2016, 1.3 million people died from cancer in the EU-28, representing more than one quarter (26.0 %) of total deaths. Projections suggest that the incidence of cancer could double by 2035.

The Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced her intention to bring forward a plan for the new legislature to fight cancer.

The EU cancer plan will use data from Member States to make sure that the right priorities are set.

How will the Commission ensure that accurate data is collected from all Member States and that it is used in the best possible way to achieve a comprehensive and detailed database for the fight against cancer throughout the EU?

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

The Member States submit data to Eurostat within the context of the framework Regulation (No1338/2008) on EU health statistics and Implementing Regulation on causes of death statistics (No328/2011), including on cancer. These yearly administrative statistics are broken down by sex, age groups and cancer site and are available at national and regional level. They are provided in absolute numbers, crude death rates and standardised death rates according to the European Standard Population.

Cancer screening statistics by different socio economic status is collected from citizens on the basis of the Implementing Regulation (No2018/255) on the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). This is complemented by yearly administrative statistics on breast and cervical cancer screenings. Additional data and information on cancer screening is included in the second report of the Council recommendation on the implementation of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening.

In addition, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre runs the European Cancer Information System (ECIS). ECIS provides the latest information on indicators that quantify cancer burden across Europe. It permits the exploration of geographical patterns and temporal trends of incidence, mortality and survival data across Europe for the major cancer entities. Statistics in ECIS include historical time trends as well as national predictions, broken down by sex, age groups, year, and cancer site.

They are provided in absolute numbers, crude standardised rates according to the European and the World Standard Population, and can be visualised through interactive maps, graphs and tables.

All these data sources will be used when drawing up Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.

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