Bringing the EU close to citizens, empowering farmers, and investing in AI and innovation In May 2025, Commissioner Serafin visited Poland (9-10 May), Germany (12 May), and Austria (15-16 May), where he met with government officials and beneficiaries of EU funding. Agriculture, farmers, innovation and technology was the focus of the 6th leg of his Tour d'Europe. Page contents Page contents Poland------------------ Commissioner Piotr Serafin started the first part of his tour in the city of Poznan! STOP 1: Empowering farmers Commissioner Piotr Serafin spent Europe Day in Poland as part of his Tour d'Europe, to discover how the European Union’s budget has a tangible impact in everyday life. His visit began in the village of Łagwy, where he visited a local farm to discuss how EU funds support Europe’s food safety and rural development. He also discussed how the application for EU funds, including the direct payments works in practice. STOP 2: Strengthening food safety through investments and innovation Together with Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, and Czesław Siekierski, Polish Minister for Agriculture, Commissioner Serafin visited the family-owned cheese factory “Frąckowiak”, a leading manufacturer and distributor of a local fried cheese in Poland, established in 1992. Visits such as this one are crucial for Commissioner Serafin to see first-hand how cohesion and agricultural funds contribute to the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of the agricultural sector in the EU. STOP 3: Advancing AI and innovation through European investment On Europe day, together with Adam Szłapka, Polish EU Affairs Minister, Commissioner Serafin visited the Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC) in Poznań. This city was selected as one of the six new sites across Europe to host additional AI Factories. The AI Factory project, a forward-looking initiative supported by EU funds, is designed to harness artificial intelligence for science, industry, and society. Commissioner Serafin explored key facilities of the PSNC including the Network Operations Center, the Optical Laboratory, and the state-of-the-art Data Center. These visits highlighted the critical role of EU investment in driving digital transformation and research excellence across our continent. © PSNC - 2025, source: https://www.psnc.pl/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DJcf8-yt2q7 Germany------------------ Commissioner Piotr Serafin visited Germany (12 May) for the second time since taking office. STOP 4: Meeting with Michael Clauss, designated Head of European Department Chancellery (12 May) Commissioner Serafin began his visit in Berlin with a meeting with Michael Clauss, the newly appointed EU adviser to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This meeting played a crucial role in understanding Germany’s perspective on the long-term EU budget. STOP 5: Exchange at the German Parliament (Bundestag) with the Members of the European and budget committees (12 May) Meetings such as the one with members of the Bundestag’s European and budget committees were essential in preparing the proposal of the 2028-2034 long-term EU Budget, as they helped clarify objectives and address parliamentary concerns. STOP 6: Meeting with the designated State Minister for European Affairs Commissioner Serafin’s final meeting in Berlin was with Gunther Krichbaum, the State Minister for European Affairs. This meeting aimed to ensure mutual understanding and trust at the political level, as well as clear communication of national viewpoints in the negotiation process of the next long-term EU budget. Austria------------------ Next on the Commissioner’s agenda is Austria (15-16 May). STOP 7: Meeting with Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family in the Federal Chancellery (15 May) For the last stop of this Tour d’Europe branch, Commissioner Serafin travelled to Vienna, where he first met with Claudia Plakolm, the Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family at the Federal Chancellery. © PID - Schaub-Walzer, source: https://www.wien.gv.at/english/administration/cityhall/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DJr0WDKNx2I STOP 8: Meeting with the Mayor of Vienna (16 May) The next day, the Commissioner met with the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig. Thanks to such meetings, Commissioner Serafin gains a local perspective to better understand the day-to-day reality of cities. Local and regional partners play a key role in implementing EU policies at the local level and having an open dialogue with them is crucial in the discussion for the next MFF.© Parliament Austria, source: https://www.parlament.gv.at/en STOP 9: Meeting with the Federal Minister for Finance (16 May) As the Finance Ministry plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s contribution to the EU budget, meeting with the Minister of Finance, Markus Marterbauer, is important for the Commissioner to understand and ensure that Austria’s fiscal priorities and expectations are considered in the planning of the new EU budget. This exchange also allowed the Commissioner to address Austria’s concerns and questions for a more efficient cooperation towards a solid and fair European budget. Topics discussed included the next MFF, the Austrian rebate, budget modernisation and simplification, flexibility, anti-fraud measures, repayment of NextGenerationEU debt, new own resources (digital taxation, customs duties, parcel fee, ETS-based resource), and the implementation of the new customs code.© deeep/Johannes Zinner, source: https://www.klimafonds.gv.at/projekt/hydros-seestadt/ STOP 10: Meeting with the Members of Parliament (16 May) Meeting with national parliaments is always crucial for Commissioner Serafin. He also held a discussion with the Austrian Parliament to emphasise the importance of democratic legitimacy and transparency in the budgetary process, as well as to ensure that budget proposals are aligned with the citizens’ interest. The discussion covered Austria’s EU contribution for the next long-term EU budget, the new own resources, the enlargement of the EU, and the Common Agricultural Policy in the EU. They also called for more cooperation and protection of innovative industrial sectors. STOP 11: Project visit at Hydros Seestadt (16 May) The project visit at Hydros Seestadt, a geothermal energy plant supported by EU funding, highlights the importance of EU investments for sustainable energy and innovation at the local level. Engaging directly with the project leaders allows Commissioner Serafin to assess first-hand how EU funds are used to promote green transition, reduce carbon emissions and drive energy independence. It also offers a chance to evaluate whether investments translate into progress on the ground, delivering real benefits to local communities and helping to build citizens' trust in the EU and its initiatives. Project managers noted that obtaining funding from the EU’s Innovation Fund was a long and complex process, but met their expectations. They strongly called for continued support for geothermal projects in the next long-term EU budget (MFF).
In May 2025, Commissioner Serafin visited Poland (9-10 May), Germany (12 May), and Austria (15-16 May), where he met with government officials and beneficiaries of EU funding. Agriculture, farmers, innovation and technology was the focus of the 6th leg of his Tour d'Europe.
Commissioner Piotr Serafin spent Europe Day in Poland as part of his Tour d'Europe, to discover how the European Union’s budget has a tangible impact in everyday life. His visit began in the village of Łagwy, where he visited a local farm to discuss how EU funds support Europe’s food safety and rural development. He also discussed how the application for EU funds, including the direct payments works in practice.
Together with Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen, and Czesław Siekierski, Polish Minister for Agriculture, Commissioner Serafin visited the family-owned cheese factory “Frąckowiak”, a leading manufacturer and distributor of a local fried cheese in Poland, established in 1992. Visits such as this one are crucial for Commissioner Serafin to see first-hand how cohesion and agricultural funds contribute to the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of the agricultural sector in the EU.
On Europe day, together with Adam Szłapka, Polish EU Affairs Minister, Commissioner Serafin visited the Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC) in Poznań. This city was selected as one of the six new sites across Europe to host additional AI Factories. The AI Factory project, a forward-looking initiative supported by EU funds, is designed to harness artificial intelligence for science, industry, and society. Commissioner Serafin explored key facilities of the PSNC including the Network Operations Center, the Optical Laboratory, and the state-of-the-art Data Center. These visits highlighted the critical role of EU investment in driving digital transformation and research excellence across our continent. © PSNC - 2025, source: https://www.psnc.pl/
Commissioner Serafin began his visit in Berlin with a meeting with Michael Clauss, the newly appointed EU adviser to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This meeting played a crucial role in understanding Germany’s perspective on the long-term EU budget.
Meetings such as the one with members of the Bundestag’s European and budget committees were essential in preparing the proposal of the 2028-2034 long-term EU Budget, as they helped clarify objectives and address parliamentary concerns.
Commissioner Serafin’s final meeting in Berlin was with Gunther Krichbaum, the State Minister for European Affairs. This meeting aimed to ensure mutual understanding and trust at the political level, as well as clear communication of national viewpoints in the negotiation process of the next long-term EU budget.
For the last stop of this Tour d’Europe branch, Commissioner Serafin travelled to Vienna, where he first met with Claudia Plakolm, the Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Family at the Federal Chancellery. © PID - Schaub-Walzer, source: https://www.wien.gv.at/english/administration/cityhall/
The next day, the Commissioner met with the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig. Thanks to such meetings, Commissioner Serafin gains a local perspective to better understand the day-to-day reality of cities. Local and regional partners play a key role in implementing EU policies at the local level and having an open dialogue with them is crucial in the discussion for the next MFF.© Parliament Austria, source: https://www.parlament.gv.at/en
As the Finance Ministry plays a crucial role in shaping the country’s contribution to the EU budget, meeting with the Minister of Finance, Markus Marterbauer, is important for the Commissioner to understand and ensure that Austria’s fiscal priorities and expectations are considered in the planning of the new EU budget. This exchange also allowed the Commissioner to address Austria’s concerns and questions for a more efficient cooperation towards a solid and fair European budget. Topics discussed included the next MFF, the Austrian rebate, budget modernisation and simplification, flexibility, anti-fraud measures, repayment of NextGenerationEU debt, new own resources (digital taxation, customs duties, parcel fee, ETS-based resource), and the implementation of the new customs code.© deeep/Johannes Zinner, source: https://www.klimafonds.gv.at/projekt/hydros-seestadt/
Meeting with national parliaments is always crucial for Commissioner Serafin. He also held a discussion with the Austrian Parliament to emphasise the importance of democratic legitimacy and transparency in the budgetary process, as well as to ensure that budget proposals are aligned with the citizens’ interest. The discussion covered Austria’s EU contribution for the next long-term EU budget, the new own resources, the enlargement of the EU, and the Common Agricultural Policy in the EU. They also called for more cooperation and protection of innovative industrial sectors.
The project visit at Hydros Seestadt, a geothermal energy plant supported by EU funding, highlights the importance of EU investments for sustainable energy and innovation at the local level. Engaging directly with the project leaders allows Commissioner Serafin to assess first-hand how EU funds are used to promote green transition, reduce carbon emissions and drive energy independence. It also offers a chance to evaluate whether investments translate into progress on the ground, delivering real benefits to local communities and helping to build citizens' trust in the EU and its initiatives. Project managers noted that obtaining funding from the EU’s Innovation Fund was a long and complex process, but met their expectations. They strongly called for continued support for geothermal projects in the next long-term EU budget (MFF).
