On 16 September 2016, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Member of the EC in charge of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, participated in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament held in Strasbourg, France, where she gave an opening statement on the patentability of plants and essential biological processes - O.Q.On this occasion, Elżbieta Bieńkowska started her speech by saying that the European Commission has taken action to ensure that products resulting from natural processes are not patentable.

On 16 September 2016, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Member of the EC in charge of Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, participated in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament held in Strasbourg, France, where she gave a closing statement on the patentability of plants and essential biological processes - O.Q.On this occasion, Elżbieta Bieńkowska sent the political message that plants obtained by natural biological processes should not be patentable.

On 12 February 2019, Karmenu Vella, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, participated in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, where he gave an opening statement on minimum requirements for water reuse.On this occasion, Karmenu Vella addressed the proposal on water reuse, which promotes treated urban wastewater as a reliable alternative water supply for agricultural irrigation. He explained that it seeks to extend the lifecycle of water, turning a waste product into a resource and is fully in line with the circular economy concept actively promoted by the European Commission.

On 12 February 2019, Karmenu Vella, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, participated in the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, where he gave a closing statement on minimum requirements for water reuse.On this occasion, Karmenu Vella namely addressed the issue of polluted soil, water scarcity and water reuse for agricultural irrigation in the EU.

On 11 February 2019, Karmenu Vella, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, gave an opening statement at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between Côte d’Ivoire and the EU (2018-2024).On this occasion, Karmenu Vella presented the conclusion of the new Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement which reinforces the stable relationship between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire for mutually beneficial outcomes; in particular improving compliance with international measures, including combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU).

On 11 February 2019, Karmenu Vella, Member of the EC in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, gave a closing statement at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between Côte d’Ivoire and the EU (2018-2024).On this occasion, Karmenu Vella presented the conclusion of the new Protocol to the Fisheries Partnership Agreement which reinforces the stable relationship between the EU and Côte d’Ivoire for mutually beneficial outcomes; in particular improving compliance with international measures, including combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU).