Michael McNamara
Member of the European Parliament · Renew · IE
“A Uachtaráin, is éacht pearsanta duit an lá seo, a Thaoisigh. Guím gach ádh ort agus go n-éirí leat. The success of the Irish Presidency will be built on long hours by countless Irish civil servants far from today's limelight and that of recent days, and I think we should remember their work and wish them success as well in their importan…”
“Included in that is EUR 135 000 for wool scarves to be of uniquely Irish artistic character, but not necessarily Irish wool. It's 30 degrees outside, Taoiseach. When it does cool down, everybody around here is well capable of buying their own scarves. 2-0121-0000”
“Mr President, as Ireland assumes the presidency of the European Union, I think it begs questions about what education system is required to be European and to serve that. It seems to me that two things are essential. The first is that we start teaching children European languages as early as possible in their education.”
“That hasn't happened and instead of getting closer to happening, it's getting further away. Teachers are being left to their own devices, not receiving the training and not receiving the resources.”
“Madam President, to mark the fact that Ireland will commence the implementation of the migration pact this week, but by saying that considerable efforts will be required to meet the obligations contained therein.”
“While much is made of the fact that the EU imposes an obligation upon Ireland, like every other Member State, to accommodate asylum seekers while they are in the process, little is made of the huge discrepancy in spending between the two.”
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“Included in that is EUR 135 000 for wool scarves to be of uniquely Irish artistic character, but not necessarily Irish wool. It's 30 degrees outside, Taoiseach. When it does cool down, everybody around here is well capable of buying their own scarves. 2-0121-0000”
“A Uachtaráin, is éacht pearsanta duit an lá seo, a Thaoisigh. Guím gach ádh ort agus go n-éirí leat. The success of the Irish Presidency will be built on long hours by countless Irish civil servants far from today's limelight and that of recent days, and I think we should remember their work and wish them success as well in their important tasks. As we assume leadership of the EU budget, we must lead by example. Try to do more with less, not less with more. We need to invest in our beleaguered defence forces, but that does not mean abandoning the proud role of neutral, non-aligned states, and our place among them. Instead, we're spending EUR 293 million on this presidency. It's far too much, Taoiseach. Pull back on it, it's not necessary.”
“That hasn't happened and instead of getting closer to happening, it's getting further away. Teachers are being left to their own devices, not receiving the training and not receiving the resources. In Clare, where I come from, where the biggest town in my constituency is, there is no second-level education school whereby people can get a full education in the Irish language. That also needs to change. 1-0190-0000”
“Mr President, as Ireland assumes the presidency of the European Union, I think it begs questions about what education system is required to be European and to serve that. It seems to me that two things are essential. The first is that we start teaching children European languages as early as possible in their education. The other is, of course, that we maintain an education system whereby Irish people can obtain an education through the medium of the Irish language for the entirety of their education, it being our first language. There are translators in booths now translating this into Irish. Unfortunately, neither is possible. In 2020, the Minister for Education promised that we would start teaching modern European languages in third class in primary school.”
“While much is made of the fact that the EU imposes an obligation upon Ireland, like every other Member State, to accommodate asylum seekers while they are in the process, little is made of the huge discrepancy in spending between the two. In 2025, Ireland spent EUR 1.2 billion accommodating applicants for asylum, but only EUR 8.5 million on appeals, and similarly a fraction of the accommodation cost on processing applications. That simply does not make sense. It needs to be addressed. 1-0187-0000”
“Madam President, to mark the fact that Ireland will commence the implementation of the migration pact this week, but by saying that considerable efforts will be required to meet the obligations contained therein. The migration pact requires the decisions made in respect of asylum applications to be made very quickly, with six months for the standard procedure, three months for accelerated and border procedures, and two months for applicants who have applied for protection elsewhere in the EU. The latest available figures for Ireland suggest that it takes 14 months to come up with a first instance decision and almost that again on appeal.”
“It undermines our authority and undermines our credibility to criticise these gross violations of international law and human rights in Iran. There were 2 100 civilians killed by the illegal attacks, according to Time magazine, which is not a known propagandist... (The President cut off the speaker) 3-0566-0000”
“Mr President, Amnesty International recorded 2 707 executions in Iran in 2025, an increase of 78 % from the previous year, 2024. I join colleagues in unequivocally condemning the death penalty – it has no place in a civilised society, be it Iran, one of the oldest civilisations in the world, China or the United States. 47 of those executed last year were for politically motivated charges, according to Amnesty International. Since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, the UN has verified the execution of at least 32 political prisoners, which, again, I have no problem in joining in criticising and condemning. However, it is the silence of this House regarding those illegal attacks on Iran that equally I have a problem with.”
“Pero también planteamos nuevas ideas, como un gravamen sobre los servicios de apuestas y juegos de azar en línea, un gravamen sobre los servicios digitales dirigido a las principales plataformas digitales, así como un gravamen basado en un tipo impositivo uniforme sobre las ganancias de capital procedentes de criptoactivos. La introducción de nuevos recursos propios genuinos es imprescindible para garantizar ingresos sostenibles para el próximo presupuesto a largo plazo de la UE (MFP 2028-2034). Solo con nuevos recursos propios genuinos —vinculados a las políticas de la UE— podremos asegurar una mayor y mejor inversión conjunta en nuestras prioridades comunes: la seguridad y la soberanía de Europa no pueden garantizarse si no se asegura un gasto ambicioso en prioridades comunes.”
“Solo con nuevos recursos propios genuinos —vinculados a las políticas de la UE— podremos asegurar una mayor y mejor inversión conjunta en nuestras prioridades comunes: la seguridad y la soberanía de Europa no pueden garantizarse si no se asegura un gasto ambicioso en prioridades comunes. 3-0539-8750 Elena Sancho Murillo (S&D), por escrito – Desde el Grupo S&D apoyamos una cartera ambiciosa de nuevos recursos propios como condición para contar con un marco financiero plurianual ambicioso que pueda responder a nuestras crecientes necesidades. Necesitamos ingresos sostenibles, predecibles y resilientes para el presupuesto de la Unión. Por ello, acogemos con satisfacción los esfuerzos de la Comisión por identificar nuevos recursos propios y manifestamos claramente nuestro apoyo al enfoque planteado como un paquete.”
“Por ello, acogemos con satisfacción los esfuerzos de la Comisión por identificar nuevos recursos propios y manifestamos claramente nuestro apoyo al enfoque planteado como un paquete. Pero también planteamos nuevas ideas, como un gravamen sobre los servicios de apuestas y juegos de azar en línea, un gravamen sobre los servicios digitales dirigido a las principales plataformas digitales, así como un gravamen basado en un tipo impositivo uniforme sobre las ganancias de capital procedentes de criptoactivos. La introducción de nuevos recursos propios genuinos es imprescindible para garantizar ingresos sostenibles para el próximo presupuesto a largo plazo de la UE (MFP 2028-2034).”
“La introducción de nuevos recursos propios genuinos es imprescindible para garantizar ingresos sostenibles para el próximo presupuesto a largo plazo de la UE (MFP 2028-2034). Solo con nuevos recursos propios genuinos —vinculados a las políticas de la UE— podremos asegurar una mayor y mejor inversión conjunta en nuestras prioridades comunes: la seguridad y la soberanía de Europa no pueden garantizarse si no se asegura un gasto ambicioso en prioridades comunes. 3-0539-8125 Marcos Ros Sempere (S&D), por escrito – Desde el Grupo S&D apoyamos una cartera ambiciosa de nuevos recursos propios como condición para contar con un marco financiero plurianual ambicioso que pueda responder a nuestras crecientes necesidades. Necesitamos ingresos sostenibles, predecibles y resilientes para el presupuesto de la Unión.”
“3-0539-7500 Leire Pajín (S&D), por escrito – Desde el Grupo S&D apoyamos una cartera ambiciosa de nuevos recursos propios como condición para contar con un marco financiero plurianual ambicioso que pueda responder a nuestras crecientes necesidades. Necesitamos ingresos sostenibles, predecibles y resilientes para el presupuesto de la Unión. Por ello, acogemos con satisfacción los esfuerzos de la Comisión por identificar nuevos recursos propios y manifestamos claramente nuestro apoyo al enfoque planteado como un paquete. Pero también planteamos nuevas ideas, como un gravamen sobre los servicios de apuestas y juegos de azar en línea, un gravamen sobre los servicios digitales dirigido a las principales plataformas digitales, así como un gravamen basado en un tipo impositivo uniforme sobre las ganancias de capital procedentes de criptoactivos.”
“Pero también planteamos nuevas ideas, como un gravamen sobre los servicios de apuestas y juegos de azar en línea, un gravamen sobre los servicios digitales dirigido a las principales plataformas digitales, así como un gravamen basado en un tipo impositivo uniforme sobre las ganancias de capital procedentes de criptoactivos. La introducción de nuevos recursos propios genuinos es imprescindible para garantizar ingresos sostenibles para el próximo presupuesto a largo plazo de la UE (MFP 2028-2034). Solo con nuevos recursos propios genuinos —vinculados a las políticas de la UE— podremos asegurar una mayor y mejor inversión conjunta en nuestras prioridades comunes: la seguridad y la soberanía de Europa no pueden garantizarse si no se asegura un gasto ambicioso en prioridades comunes.”
“Solo con nuevos recursos propios genuinos —vinculados a las políticas de la UE— podremos asegurar una mayor y mejor inversión conjunta en nuestras prioridades comunes: la seguridad y la soberanía de Europa no pueden garantizarse si no se asegura un gasto ambicioso en prioridades comunes. 3-0539-6250 Idoia Mendia (S&D), por escrito – Desde el Grupo S&D apoyamos una cartera ambiciosa de nuevos recursos propios como condición para contar con un marco financiero plurianual ambicioso que pueda responder a nuestras crecientes necesidades. Necesitamos ingresos sostenibles, predecibles y resilientes para el presupuesto de la Unión. Por ello, acogemos con satisfacción los esfuerzos de la Comisión por identificar nuevos recursos propios y manifestamos claramente nuestro apoyo al enfoque planteado como un paquete.”
“Necesitamos ingresos sostenibles, predecibles y resilientes para el presupuesto de la Unión. Por ello, acogemos con satisfacción los esfuerzos de la Comisión por identificar nuevos recursos propios y manifestamos claramente nuestro apoyo al enfoque planteado como un paquete. Pero también planteamos nuevas ideas, como un gravamen sobre los servicios de apuestas y juegos de azar en línea, un gravamen sobre los servicios digitales dirigido a las principales plataformas digitales, así como un gravamen basado en un tipo impositivo uniforme sobre las ganancias de capital procedentes de criptoactivos. La introducción de nuevos recursos propios genuinos es imprescindible para garantizar ingresos sostenibles para el próximo presupuesto a largo plazo de la UE (MFP 2028-2034).”
“But I also have to be clear: we were tasked by you, and we were also asked by the president of the European Council to work on the assessment of the European Parliament's proposal. I really appreciate that the European Parliament took an active role in this exercise because, as I have already said on many occasions, this topic is politically sensitive and your support is and will remain crucial to find a good agreement. 3-0538-0000 SĒDI VADA: ROBERTS ZĪLE Priekšsēdētāja vietnieks 3-0539-0000 Priekšsēdētājs. – Debates ir slēgtas. Rakstiski paziņojumi (178. pants) 3-0539-5000 Nicolás González Casares (S&D), por escrito – Desde el Grupo S&D apoyamos una cartera ambiciosa de nuevos recursos propios como condición para contar con un marco financiero plurianual ambicioso que pueda responder a nuestras crecientes necesidades.”
“For the first reflection, I was thanking you already for the interim report, but what I want to also share with you is the source of my optimism. You put three new ideas on the table, but I also know – we all know because it was said by the President of the European Council after the first discussion among the heads of states and governments – that there were many heads of states and governments that approach your ideas with an open mind. That's also the reason why I'm getting a bit more optimistic, that maybe we will manage to build something on that basis. Finally, because there were also some concrete questions – indeed, I'm not in a position right now to give concrete answers. As I said at the beginning, we are working on the assessment of your proposals. They will be published, I believe, relatively soon, and you will get them.”
“The second, as I said at the beginning – we are still working on the assessment of the proposal of the European Parliament. But I would appeal to you, I have heard some voices even today, and I am aware that there is no perfect candidate for new own resources. I know, also, that for the package that we have presented with five candidates, there is criticism from that or the other corner. You have heard it also today –we are discussing online gambling, but even on that topic you will find critical voices. There will be critical voices on each and every proposal. But when we reflect on your proposals, it is not our intention to replace the package which is already on the table. It will be rather to complement it with some new ideas that come from the European Parliament.”
“This is the very nature of this debate, and I think we have to be honest; if we want to have funds for cohesion policy, for agriculture policy, for research and development, for competitiveness, it is not enough to only talk about how to spend money. We also need to talk about how to collect resources so that we can finance common policies. That I think everyone should remember. Sometimes I appreciate if there are voices, if there are people – and there are people, including in this room – that don't want to see common agricultural policy, that don't want to see cohesion policy, then I really understand they have a right to be against own resources. But if you support common European policies, you need to also engage in a common process of looking for a way to finance the EU budget. That would be my first reflection.”
“So I would welcome clarification from the Commissioner on that but, in principle, I have no problem whatsoever with taxing the gambling industry and taxing them heavily for the damage that they are causing in society. 3-0536-0000 (Ende der spontanen Wortmeldungen) 3-0537-0000 Piotr Serafin, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, thank you for this debate. I have a few reflections. The first is related to many of the voices I have heard here. Formally speaking, the topic is a new own resource. But, in practice, we are debating today whether, in the next multiannual budget, there will be enough resources to finance our common priorities.”
“Madam President, I very much welcome this debate. Ireland, part of which I represent in this House, already has a gambling tax – a 2 % levy on all bets laid in Ireland and a 2 % levy equally on online bets in Ireland. I have no problem with increasing that tax. Gambling is clearly a major issue, it's an issue that is destroying particularly young lives, as we see more and more young people becoming addicted to gambling, we know sports stars et cetera telling their stories. I think we should follow the policy of taxing things that are bad and seeking to reduce taxes on things that are good, so I have no problem with that whatsoever. My only question is: if this EU tax comes in, will that be as well as national taxes, or will it somehow be instead of national taxes, something I would have a problem with?”
“Don't go to police authorities and they don't, because they don't believe that they will receive protection. And I spoke to one former constituency colleague of mine who would have served in Dáil Éireann with both of us, Commissioner, and he said he has been to many funerals of young men who have taken their lives now because they see no alternative, they see no way out. Simply put, we do need to find a way to instil confidence in people that they will receive protection. We do need to address this at national level and at European level. 3-0429-0000”
“Madam President, I very much welcome this debate on the rights, supports and protection of victims of crime. And I want to focus on one group of victims of crime in particular, and that is victims of drug debt, intimidation and drug-debt enforcement. They are a group that are increasingly prevalent, unfortunately, in the constituency which I represent ‑ Ireland South ‑ and they are increasingly prevalent across all of Ireland, and I believe it cannot be a problem that is unique to Ireland. As drug use increases across Ireland and across the European Union so too does drug debt and so too does drug enforcement. These are often young men, but young people who are afraid to seek help, they are told, don't go to the Gardaí. Don't go to the police force.”
“But it is worth noting that the vast majority of taxes in many Member States, including Ireland, are chosen and levied nationally by act of those parliaments. For example, European law sets a minimum excise duty of EUR 0.42 per litre of unleaded petrol, whereas in Ireland the excise duty is far higher. It sets a requirement of 15 % VAT, whereas in Ireland it is far higher. There is leeway at national level and this must be taken. 1-0234-0000”
“Mr President, I see Commissioner McGrath here and I wish to recall the debate which occurred in the Irish Parliament, in which he and I were both members, around the cost of fuel in Ireland in 2022. I think there's going to be a very similar debate coming up very soon in the Irish Parliament, as there will be in national parliaments and indeed this Parliament, given the tragic, horrible and illegal events unfolding in the Middle East. What I wish to address is this tendency of national parliaments to blame the European Union and say, 'Well, we can't lower fuel prices because they are set by the European Union.' Yes, they are to a certain extent, and I think the European Union will have to act at some point if what is now unfolding continues to occur.”
“With regard to sport, though, there is this tendency to put it all behind a paywall. I am old enough to remember Italia 90 and Euro 88, which gave Ireland huge confidence, brought people together and, in a way, perhaps contributed as much to the Irish economic resurgence as any economic measures did. But that was when groups of people were able to watch it. Now, increasingly, all sport is put behind a paywall. That is simply not fair, it's simply not good and it's particularly unfair in the context of sports which are receiving considerable exchequer funding for their activities. 3-0461-0000 Catch-the-eye procedure 3-0462-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, of course we need to combat piracy in sports coverage. But equally I think we need to be cognisant of what's driving it and we need to be vigilant about the tendency to put all live sports behind a paywall and we need to be vigilant about unscrupulous operators. For example, Sky recently argued in an Irish court that they were under no obligation to tell their consumers when their contract was coming to an end and to tell them what new deals they could avail themselves of. Instead, they could roll over the contracts at existing prices without offering them new or lower prices. That, I believe, is unacceptable and the court found it was unacceptable – and it did so based on EU law, which is hugely important to those who ask what EU law ever does for us.”
“We have failed, though, as an Irish Government, and we're not alone in that – it seems a pan-European problem to build houses. Instead we've built an edifice of state control, of agencies, of regulators, et cetera, who soak up political energy, soak up exchequer capital, but don't actually deliver housing for our people. That is a huge problem that needs to be tackled as well. 2-0356-0000”
“Madam President, I say again, Commissioner, I welcome you and very much welcome your presentation of the European affordable housing plan and what it contains: a loosening of the rules around State aid to allow for more national funding and additional EU funding, as well as the discouragement of speculative investment. All of that is very welcome. Again, Commissioner, I welcome your balanced approach in saying that, yes, Airbnbs are a problem, but we're not going to ban them completely. I'm from a country which has effectively banned them completely, has no plan whatsoever on enforcing it, and I come from a county within that country that is very reliant on tourism, but doesn't have hotel beds for a variety of reasons that I don't intend to go into, so it is a matter of balance.”
“It is fostering huge resentment because they are facilitated in proceeding with huge developments in areas where members of the community can't do anything because of environmental designations. 2-0107-0000”
“And there is nobody in our planning system who can interrogate that report because we don't hire environmental scientists, we don't hire ecologists. So we take these huge corporations at their word. They say that they have taken the environment into account but, of course, they take profits into account fundamentally, because that's what they're set up to do. These companies are emanations of the State. It's the ESB and it's Coillte that are doing this. And of course, as regards local ownership, there simply is none. They sponsor some football jerseys or some other patronising claptrap for the communities, and that is the extent of the local buy-in.”
“Mr President, Commissioner Jørgensen, I wish to commend you for the very balanced approach that you've taken to this. In your opening presentation, I heard you say two things that I would consider to be of considerable import. One is that we need to continue to protect our environment while we advance these grids, which are absolutely necessary. I think nobody doubts that. The second thing is that there has to be a share in the ownership for local communities. Neither approach, unfortunately, is being adopted in Ireland. There is environmental subterfuge going on, where these huge developers submit an environmental impact assessment report, which is often cut and pasted from another part of the country – very obviously cut and pasted, because it mentions places from another part of the country.”
“Are we willing to lose face only with trade commissioners who have been trying to negotiate this and impose this over the heads of sovereign states for decades now, and failing? Our own deputy Prime minister in Ireland, the Tánaiste, despite commitments made in the run-up to the election, was unable to say whether or not there was a blocking majority at this stage. It is quite clear that a blocking majority is now forming. It is time for our government to get off the fence. It is time for us to stand up for what we have espoused for 40 years now, and block this deal. 1-0255-0000”
“Mr President, this afternoon, the Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, was quoted as saying that Europe would lose face if we do not continue with the Mercosur deal. Colleagues, I say Europe will lose faith if we do continue with the Mercosur deal. We will lose face with those who have believed for 40 years now, that it is possible to farm in a way that is compatible with the environment, we will lose face with those who for 40 years have reduced a dependency on antibiotics and believed that it is important that antibiotics be by prescription only. We will lose face with those who believe that we can farm in a manner which is compatible with animal welfare standards. And we have to ask ourselves fundamentally, are we willing to lose face with our own citizenry, with food production standards that have been set by the European Union?”
“It is very easy – and I have seen it myself in the Irish Parliament – it is very easy to sit on the sidelines and constantly throw stones, and when the opportunities are offered to go into government and make difficult decisions to shirk those responsibilities. 1-0204-0000”
“Eux qui, en France, conduisent une politique criminelle, eux qui conduisent une politique qui met à bas les cheptels. Juste une question, M. McNamara: savez-vous où sont passés les macronistes français? 1-0203-0000 Michael McNamara (Renew), blue-card answer. – You well know that there isn't unanimity on how we deal with many issues in many groups, including the Renew Group, including your own. The one thing I suppose, that we have absolute unanimity on in your group is a complete failure to ever take power in any country and ever be responsible for the decisions required. But do I agree with some of the decisions that have been made in France, frankly? No I don't. Am I required to agree with them all? I am not. What I will say, though, is that the group that I am part of, and many groups here are willing to take difficult decisions.”
“We really have to look seriously to DIVA tests and the possibilities that offers because it is simply not working and farmers are losing. They are losing more and more money because of the artificial caps in Ireland and other countries, but they are also losing hope and losing patience with the system that is manifestly failing. It is succeeding in the same way that the war on drugs is succeeding, i.e. it is manifestly failing before our eyes. (The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question) 1-0202-0000 Anthony Smith (The Left), question «carton bleu». – Monsieur McNamara, j’entends que vous interpellez, en Irlande, votre gouvernement. Alors j’ai une question à vous poser, parce qu’en fait vous êtes dans le même groupe, Renew, que les macronistes français, qui, ce soir, dans cet hémicycle, ne sont pas là.”
“Madam President, Commissioner, I have to say, I've listened with some scepticism to your plans to eradicate this disease. And that scepticism is informed by my experience of TB eradication in Ireland. TB eradication programs were underway in Ireland 20 years before Ireland joined the European Union. Compulsory for ten years before they did. And yes, TB is far from eradicated. The government spending of EUR 157 million on the eradication programme is welcome. It's a doubling of the budget from previous years, but I have to say I am still sceptical as to its success. None of that money will be spent on vaccination. The reason for that is that the European Union precludes vaccination as a method of combating this.”
“I do not, I was not here when it was passed only a year and a half ago, I didn't vote for it. You were, you did, so I want very clear explanations as to why it needs to be amended so soon. On 'stop the clock', I would like to know if we are to stop the clock on particular provisions, how do we know we won't have to stop the clock again under pressure from big tech? So the onus is on you to explain why we need to introduce these and what market surveillance has been done to prove that or to show that. 2-0502-0000”
“Mr President, Madam Vice-President, I welcome your stated aim of this digital simplification omnibus. Who could argue against simplification? We all want to reduce the regulatory burden. We all want to reduce overlapping and duplicative reporting requirements. We all want to increase regulatory uncertainty. I particularly welcome your statement this evening that this was not about undermining our digital rulebook. However, the reported statements of your transatlantic interlocutor belie that to a great extent. We do really need to avoid a Groucho Marx approach to regulation: 'These are my principles. But if you do not like them, I have others. These are our laws. But if you don't like them, we have others.' In particular, the AI act: I was not here a lot, many in this House have a very paternalistic approach to it.”
“I am glad, Commissioner, that you have said that you support President Trump's efforts because it is not at all clear that your colleagues in the Commission do. 3-0308-0000”
“Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, on Friday, it will be three years and eight months since Putin's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. It is an act that is to be entirely condemned without any reservation. But equally, it is now three years since I was told by an Irish Army officer in the Irish Parliament that the defeat of the conventional Russian forces was nigh. That hasn't happened. I wish it maybe did, but I have to live in the real world. It's not happening. Yet, we are told that, contrary to what some believe in the House, we are not seizing Russian assets. Instead, we are making a loan of EUR 140 billion of European taxpayers' money, to be securitised with that money, which will be confiscated when Russia loses. But they're not losing – there is the problem. So it's time for plan B, it is time for negotiation.”
“If the technology that we as Europeans rely on is not under European democratic oversight, and is at the mercy of foreign or commercial interests, how sovereign are we? Given the level of interdependence in the modern digital world, is it even possible to be fully sovereign? Can Member States or the EU ever exert full control over a technological domain? These are all difficult questions that governments and the Commission have been grappling with since May, and, Madam President, I look forward to your answers to those difficult questions in the upcoming act. 3-0326-0000”
“Mr President, colleagues, the suspension of the ICC chief prosecutor's email as a result of US sanctions last May set alarm bells ringing around the globe – including, of course, in Brussels. Our vulnerability and reliance became immediately apparent: where our data is stored, by whom it is hosted and where that company is headquartered are suddenly key considerations. US cloud companies control 70 % of the European cloud market. Only 15 % of the European market is controlled by European service providers. If large proportions of our data – even, sometimes, sensitive data – are hosted outside of our jurisdictional reach, how sovereign are European states and how sovereign is the European Union?”
“The 21st century will be shaped by partnerships that dare to deliver, so let us choose delivery over rhetoric. The future is EU-India and the future begins now. 2-0516-0000”
“India's success strengthens Europe. Europe's success supports India. And our success together strengthens something larger still: a rules-based international order, where sovereignty is respected, climate goals are met and prosperity is broadly shared. However, we do not ignore the challenges ahead. Yes, India is an important importer of Russian oil; unjust participation in the Zapad military exercise, albeit at a much lower level than originally planned – our concerns have been directly communicated to the Indian authorities. At the same time, the Commission is convinced that engagement is the right way forward. Prime Minister Modi, in a recent call with our President, reaffirmed that India opposes Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and that now is the moment to deepen cooperation with Europe.”
“– Madam President, honourable Members, today's debate shows the importance and challenges also lying ahead for EU-India relations. But one thing is very clear: 60 years after establishing diplomatic ties, Europe and India are ready to write a new chapter – practical, ambitious and accountable as well. Our joint communication is not a manifesto to be framed, it is a plan to be implemented. While in the coming days we will adopt Council conclusions on India, we will soon propose a joint EU-India comprehensive strategic agenda for adoption at our next summit, which will demonstrate the commitment of our Indian partners to this joint cooperation. This partnership goes beyond business or tech. It backs open societies and markets, open science, clean energy for growth, secure seas for trade and mobile talent that can learn and thrive.”
“But in looking to develop a future with India, it would be really foolhardy of us to lecture India on where it should position itself in the geopolitics of the world. India has always pursued a middle way. When there were revolutions and wars on its frontiers, it pursued a middle way. It will pursue its own course, whether we like it or not. The question is whether we can respect and value India as much as it deserves as a trading partner to be respected and valued. Not lecture and hector to it, but rather to respect it and try to move forward together and to accentuate that which we share, rather than our differences. 2-0514-0000 (Fine della procedura "catch the eye") 2-0515-0000 Hadja Lahbib, Member of the Commission.”
“Madam President, Madam Commissioner, colleagues, at this time when instability and change are the only constants, I think it is vital that the European Union look across the world and try to reach out to countries with which it shares values and look to accentuate that which it shares, rather than accentuate differences. India has much in common with the European Union and its Member States. It cherishes democracy. It cherishes the rule of law – it has done since its foundation. It also builds its future on education, trying to move forward, trying to build technology in that regard. With regard to the rule of law it shares a common law legal system with at least one Member State, namely my own.”