Písemná vysvětlení hlasování Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS

Another example of Russia’s refusal to comply with its international obligations is its refusal to return the Romanian national treasure entrusted to it for safekeeping. I voted in favour of this resolution, which calls for more proactive efforts by the EU to assist its Member States in protecting and recovering cultural assets and national treasures. Romania is not the only country to have suffered from Russia’s criminal looting. My own country, Lithuania, as well as other neighbouring countries that lived under Soviet terror and even before, have suffered cultural and historical losses that are now stored and displayed in Russian museums. This injustice must be rectified.

Trends in media freedom across the EU are worrying. Declining trust in traditional media sources, violence against investigative journalists, crackdowns on critical voices and independent media, and the proliferation of hate speech on the internet are all posing new threats to freedom of expression and the daily work of journalists.
Media freedom and pluralism are fundamental values that go beyond media ownership. Dominant operators should not exert undue influence on citizens and there should be transparent mechanisms to ensure that the media are truly independent.
Thus, I voted in favour of the European Media Freedom Act that proposes robust new regulation at EU level: enhancing transparency of media ownership, protecting journalists against the disclosure of their sources and against the deployment of spyware.

Creating reliable, ethically responsible and technically sound artificial intelligence (AI) will support innovation while ensuring the highest respect for fundamental rights and freedoms. With the AI Act, the EU has become the first in the world to introduce real regulation of AI.
I voted for it because I believe it will provide legal certainty for innovation and investment, and facilitate the development of a legal and secure single market for AI. It will set out harmonised rules on AI to ensure proper functioning of the internal market and the free movement of AI-based goods and services cross-border.
Moreover, there will now be clear obligations for AI tools, taking into account their potential risks and level of detrimental impact on society, with a particular focus on those in high-risk areas such as critical infrastructure, healthcare and border management.

The evaluation of the existing Directive on the safety of toys has identified a number of shortcomings in its practical application, such as certain deficiencies in ensuring a high level of protection of children from the potential risks posed by toys, in particular from the dangers posed by harmful chemicals. The evaluation also concluded that enforcement of the Directive was not sufficiently effective, in particular as regards online sales, and that many unsafe toys remain on the EU market. I therefore welcome the proposed revision of this directive, as it will ensure more effective and future-proof rules. It will also ensure that toys on the European market are safe and affordable.

Removing obstacles to the development of activities of non-profit associations across Member States is essential for a better and stronger functioning of the non-profit association system in the EU. Thus, I fully support the creation of European cross-border associations in order to remove remaining barriers to the third sector in the Union.
However, I also believe that this form of association can only be used for purposes compatible with the values of the European Union.

I agree with the aim of this regulation to simplify reporting obligations and reduce administrative burdens in the fields of road and aviation transport. This should be achieved by various means, in particular by reducing the frequency of reporting and removing certain elements from reporting obligations.

I support these new rules because I believe that they will enhance transparency in the field of short-term accommodation rentals and will help public authorities ensure a balanced development of a sustainable tourism sector. The introduction of registration requirements for hosts and short-term rental properties, including the granting of a unique registration number to be displayed on property websites, will improve the collection and sharing of data from hosts and online platforms. The data generated will be shared between public administrations across the EU and allow administrations to fight against illegal listings. In my opinion, this will help to better protect residents and service users.

The rapid digitalisation of society accelerated by COVID-19 has created a rise in demand for digital ID services and digital exchange of information. Moreover, the legislation is a direct response to the recommendations from the Conference on the Future of Europe, for the creation of a European common digital identity to streamline cross-border digital transactions and services.
This new Digital Identity Wallet will provide for free ‘qualified electronic signatures’. It will allow citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online without having to resort to commercial providers. I believe that the creation of the European Digital Identity Wallet is a key step to empowering our citizens and our businesses by providing an app in which they have full control over their documents, identification and other essentials important in everyday life.

Every day, we witness the brutality of the Putin regime, whose terror is directed not only at the brave people of Ukraine, but also at its own citizens. The assassination of Alexei Navalny is a tragic loss for Russia and for the part of society that wants change. I voted in favour of this resolution and I join the call for all those responsible for Navalny’s agony to be brought to justice. I strongly support the use of the EU’s Magnitsky Act to sanction these people, as well as other 6 000 people identified by Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation as enablers of the Putin regime and its war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the Memorial Human Rights Centre, there are around 700 political prisoners in Russia, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, Yuri Dmitriev, Ilya Yashin, Alexei Gorinov and Alexandra Skochilenko. I will continue to campaign for their release and work to ensure that their stories, like Navalny’s, are not forgotten and that their sacrifices are not in vain.

I welcome the review of EU drivers’ rights because taking into account the fact that even around 20 000 people die on EU roads every year, it is important to ensure traffic safety and use the possibilities of digital solutions with the new driving rights rules.
With the new rules, we propose to test future drivers’ knowledge of driving on snowy or slippery roads, the risks of using a mobile phone, the blind spot, getting out of the vehicle and the advantages of car assistive driving systems in driving exams.
I support the option for drivers to receive a digital driving license alongside their paper version. It is a great advantage that such digital rights, which would be valid throughout the EU, could be used on a smartphone.