During the structured dialogue, members of the Parliament’s Economic Committee confronted Commissioner Teresa Ribera with a number of urgent topics the European Union currently faces. Economic competitiveness, the housing crises, digital market, and automotive were among the top issues. Although the discussions were generally calm, there was a prevailing view among the MEPs that Commission is acting sluggishly and that certain procedures should significantly speed up.
Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, arrived to meet MEPs from the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) in a good mood. That did not change during the nearly two-hour exchange of views; however, Commissioner was unable to give concrete answers to some of the MPs’ suggestions.
“A constant abuse”
Regulation of digital services was among the key issues during the dialogue. Ms Ribera reminded MEPs that several investigations has been recently opened in this field. That includes investigations into practices conducted by Google and those tackling cloud services. “We are acting in the interest of Europeans… it is all about competitiveness,” Commissioner Ribera stressed.
MEP Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew/FRA) urged to speed up the investigations into the practices of large digital platforms, especially those based in the United States. She cited META and WhatsApp, companies that are, according to Ms Yon-Courtin “constantly abusing their positions”.
Europe should not give way at all to American tech giants (…) We are still waiting for further measures from the Commission. – MEP Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew/FRA)
“Europe should not give way at all to American tech giants,” urged MEP Yon-Courtin. She also said that “what has been done is not enough… we are still waiting for further measures. Commission has to be strong, we are waiting for a clear signal.”
Commissioner Ribera assured that the Commission’s mission is “to keep level-playing field so that consumers are fully protected.” She also agreed on that “we will not allow anyone to tell us how should we enforce.”
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Affordable housing as EU-wide problem
On the housing crisis, Commissioner Ribera announced that Commission will present Affordable Housing Package later this month. “There are a number of proposals pushed by member states. The Package should give member states flexibility to support affordable housing efficiently while maintaining transparency and accountability,” explained Ms Ribera.
She also underlined that the Package will allow financing of affordable housing to become easier, faster, and more aligned with the Green Deal. It should be presented on 16 December.
End of combustion engines, really?
MEP Gaetano Pedella (Left/ITA) commented on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent initiative on combustion-engine cars. In the end of November, Mr Merz urged the Commission to ease a planned ban on new combustion-engine cars from 2035, arguing that automakers need more flexibility in the shift to electric vehicles. MEP Pedella called it “a highly political issue” and asked how much is Commission ready to do on this matter.
He did not receive any specific answer, however. Commissioner Ribera first reacted in a philosophic manner emphasizing that “we are living in a very challenging time when the European project will either survive or collapse.” Being pressed to give a more concrete information, Ms Ribera admitted that in the general economic context, car industry is a very relevant industry. “We are carefully studying Chancellor Merz’s suggestions (…) Everyone nedds a sort of certainity—investors, producers, as well as citizens,” she concluded.
