GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I too would like to thank Mr Herzog for his cooperation. Although our different views on policy made working together difficult, we managed together to get the report underway. How did we first get on to this topic? The Commission alone possesses decision-making powers in respect of services of general interest – it has had in recent years an increasing tendency to take up these matters – and also as regards lawmaking in connection with competition law. Particularly with the constitutional treaty in mind, we were of the opinion that this was an area in which Parliament should gain greater competence. It was for that reason that we, too, originally favoured a framework directive. When debating the framework directive, though, we certainly have to ask ourselves questions about its substance too. Can we resolve the problems with competition law? The Group of the European People’s Party came to the conclusion that the framework directive was inherently unsuited to doing that. The fact is that those who advocate it must ask themselves, over and over again, what a framework directive of this sort is meant to contain. Underlying the debate on services of general interest is, on the one hand, European law on competition in the internal market, and, on the other, the way in which ‘services of general interest’ are defined, by way of subsidiarity, in the Member States or even at the regional and local level. Not under any circumstances do we want services of general interest defined at European level in the future, be it in a framework directive or in the constitutional treaty. We are in favour of competence and responsibility at the local level, where competition can be introduced through tendering, in cooperation with the private sector. The EU of the future, though, with its 25 Member States, will be too diverse for us to lay down at the European level what this expression means. That is why we say ‘no’ to a framework directive and ‘yes’ to local competence, particularly when it comes to the supply of water. This is where the Commission should start by putting before us evidence for competition being a good thing in postal services, public local passenger transport and in other areas such as energy. It is particularly with France in mind that much lost ground has to be made up, and you, Commissioner Lamy, should resolve these problems before tackling any new projects.

Political group: PPE-DE
We feel uneasy about the fact that the concepts ‘safe countries of origin’ and ‘safe third countries’ are on the way to being introduced at Community level. Any State can potentially infringe human rights, and no country can therefore automatically be regarded as safe. Asylum seekers must be entitled to have their cases examined on the same basis, irrespective of which country they come from. The report makes it possible for the Member States themselves to choose whether or not they wish to make use of lists of safe countries. There is nonetheless cause for concern about the development of the principle of safe countries at Community level. It is extremely important that we together affirm the principles under the Geneva Convention whereby everyone is entitled to have his case examined individually.

Political group: ELDR
Mr President, I think a mistake was made in the vote a moment ago. The second part of Amendment No 10 did not receive a majority, which means that there was no need to vote on the second part of Amendment No 13. As a result of this, the second part of the Council’s text remains unchanged.

Political group: PPE-DE
Once again, we are witnessing an attack by the Israeli army in Palestine. In Europe, we are stepping up the fight against terrorism, yet we are silent in the face of State terrorism which, on a daily basis, kills innocent people who are resisting colonisation and occupation. Explain to me why we are refusing to make sanctions against Israel the glue that binds association agreements. Why do we keep quiet as Mr Sharon violates human rights, while condemning those elsewhere who flout democratic freedoms? Why do we keep quiet when colonists are occupying a State and their government is ignoring United Nations resolutions? Why should international conventions apply to everyone except Israel, which is carrying out illegal arrests and torture? Why do we send intervention forces to combat ethnic cleansing for certain peoples and do nothing to protect the Palestinian people? We call for justice for some while practising impunity for others. Why do you not act now, before it is too late? This extermination is taking place to prevent people from demanding a fair peace, the right to their own country in which they can live in dignity? After this latest genocide, you will say 'never again'. Stop this massacre! You have the power to do so.

Political group: Verts-ALE
First of all, I would like to thank Mrs Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou for her excellent work. This report reminds us how important it is for the European Union to promote the role of women in economic and social life, both by means of Community policies and in the context of cooperation with third countries and the Mediterranean countries. I would simply like to add a few words on the current situation, which is impeccably described in this report. Although circumstances have improved for women in some Mediterranean countries, there is still a long way to go, in particular as regards access to education, vocational training and the labour market, but also in social matters, with regard to single and divorced women, single mothers and women in rural areas. The European Union should draw attention to any progress that is made and lend its support should the opportunity arise. The European Union must also ensure that the good intentions stated during discussions on partnership or association agreements are in fact followed by practical measures, with a view to increasing social cohesion. However, there is still much progress to be made. The promotion of gender equality in the Mediterranean countries is hindered by a number of obstacles such as the influence of cultural and religious traditions and the lack of social and legal structures. At a time when some of these countries are undergoing significant economic expansion, the integration of gender equality into all policies and, in particular, policies concerning access to training and the labour market, must be promoted, as women can only have access to positions of political, economic or social responsibility if specific measures are implemented with regard to training, backed up by appropriate social measures such as, for example, the establishment of childcare structures. The Spanish Presidency has reiterated its strong interest in developing programmes such as MEDA and in partnerships between these countries and the European Union. This is an ideal opportunity to encourage our current and future partners to promote women’s economic, social and civil rights in order to create an active society involving both men and women, which, I hope, will enable an area of peace, security and prosperity to be created in the medium term.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, I rise to speak in place of Ruth Hieronymi, who actually should have been speaking, but is unfortunately unwell. I am very glad to be able to do so, and congratulate the rapporteur. It is not that often that we have somebody speaking here who is as knowledgeable about his subject as is Mr Vander Taelen, who is a film-maker himself. So, well done, my dear Mr Vander Taelen. I think your report really does provide much needed impetus. As you said, the market share of European films in the cinemas of the European Union is at an historic low point of only 22.5%. The dominance of the American film industry is also reflected in the grossly excessive trade deficit of EUR 6.8 billion. The situation in the acceding countries is even more dramatic. There is another problem, apart from the clear dominance of films from the USA, which we must not draw a veil over. We often talk in this House of our desire to promote European films, but many are thinking only of their own national film industry and not of their neighbour's, whose films, European films, are not seen in neighbouring regions often enough. The Commission and the Council as well, must, as a matter of urgency, at last produce a plan to make the European film industry competitive. This is also a sector in which there is money to be made, as the Americans show us. Perhaps the powers-that-be will eventually wake up and do more here. The central deficits are in the distribution and marketing of our films and, of course, the industry is chronically undercapitalised. I am therefore very glad that we, Parliament, Commission and Council together, have, in the Media-Plus programme above all, got to grips with the twin areas of marketing and distribution and are endeavouring to give help. I am, of course, also glad that, at the Commissioner's suggestion, the European Investment Bank is also willing to do something about this by making risk capital available for the realisation of audiovisual projects. I believe, then, that we have given a lot of things a push in this area, but can do still more. I also find it a good thing that we are achieving tax breaks at the level of the Member States, and that we can do something to enable filmmakers from one country to get resources and help from another. That, then, is possible. I think this could also be used in the framework of the i2i initiative to promote investment in the infrastructure of independent cinemas, as we propose in this report. I believe that the extension of cinemas in economically weaker regions in the framework of the European Structural Fund can be helpful. There is a lot more that I could say. I am not entirely in agreement with item 7, in which the call is made for television broadcasters to be obliged to reserve a certain proportion of transmission time for foreign films. That, of course, meets with great resistance from the broadcasters. We will discuss that when examining the ‘Television without Frontiers’ directive and will perhaps find a way through. Again, congratulations!

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Commissioner Diamantopoulou, ladies and gentlemen, I should like to begin by thanking the Commissioner for her detailed and encouraging answer. There has been a substantial rise in awareness of demographic ageing and its impact on the jobs market and social policy in the EU. Europe faces an enormous challenge in this area. On the one hand, it is confronted with the possibility of failing to meet targets set at the Lisbon Council in the areas of employment, competitiveness and economic growth by 2010. At the same time, health care systems must achieve the three-pronged aim of health care access for all, higher levels of quality provided by these services and the financial viability of systems. There is, moreover, enormous pressure on Member States’ social security systems to meet and to guarantee, in the future, the provision of pensions to an increasingly aged population. The time has come, therefore, to take action. We are aware that the complex implications of the ageing of the population, along with low birth rates, cannot be solved on an exclusively national level. These problems affect different Community policies, so what is needed is to develop Europe-wide cooperation. The first issue that therefore arises is to know in what way the Commission will be able to support Member States to provide adequate responses to the ageing of the population, either at health systems level or at employment policy level. The conclusions of the task force chaired by Wim Kok suggest various measures that may be adopted to maintain economic growth and to promote active ageing. A legislative and financial framework must be drawn up that might include such key measures as encouraging employers to hire and retain older workers, discouraging people from leaving the labour market early and increasing participation in life-long training. In addition to the questions raised by Mr Bushill-Matthews, whom I congratulate for his question to the Commission, I should like to address the question of working women. The increase in the contribution of women to the labour market is a further response, but one which requires measures to be adopted that make it easier to reconcile working life and family life. I would ask the Commission, and especially Commissioner Diamantopoulou, whether it is in a position to develop the mechanisms required to draw up a framework directive establishing a lowest common denominator on reconciling working life and home life.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, I would simply like to say that, in the interests of consistency, the same wording should also be used in Paragraph 7. I therefore request that this should be used throughout the resolution, in the title and in Paragraph 7.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, Commissioner, we have before us Mr Mulder’s report on the reform of the procedure for the clearance of accounts. This reform seeks to prevent the long delays in clearance decisions, which have been criticised frequently by the Court of Auditors. The reform consists of two separate procedures. The first is an annual audit on the revenue and the expenditure of a single financial year. The second is a series of multiannual compliance audits intended to verify the substance of transactions and compliance with Community legislation. In addition, a conciliation procedure was introduced. Despite the difficulties entailed by this procedure, it has been shown to increase the responsibility of Member States, although it has not been as effective as was anticipated. The Conciliation Body has not been sufficiently effective either. It has however contributed to the overall improvement in the clearance of accounts. This report highlights how the procedure for clearance of EAGGF accounts requires further improvement. It puts forward a series of suggestions to this end. My group will therefore fully support the report. Finally, I would like to congratulate Mr Mulder on his report.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, it is actually tragic that it took an event like the dramatic terrorist attacks in New York and in Washington to rouse Europe, and the European Council in particular, from slumber, but I am glad that we have managed in such a very short time to put together a package – a counter-terrorism package. It extends from money laundering, by way of the freezing of accounts, to the measures we are discussing today. I am glad that, at last, terrorism is defined as an offence in all fifteen Member States and not just in six, as was formerly the case, and can therefore be proceeded against. I am glad that there is the hope of a European arrest warrant. I hope that national animosities do not again lead to the postponement of this European arrest warrant, which we so urgently need. Just go back to Parliament's proposal, when, I believe, the position we took up was a good one. I am glad that we will make Eurojust a reality and that the enlarged powers to combat terrorism take us another step forward in the right direction. I am glad that Europol will have joint investigative teams. All this is very positive in that we are showing the public just what added value the European Union can have. I demand, though, that currently unresolved points in certain areas be dealt with. The Member States must finally be required, and with consequences in the event of their non-compliance, to supply Europol with information and to ensure optimum coordination between Eurojust and Europol and appropriate parliamentary management and monitoring. Parliament has made some excellent proposals on this point, and I congratulate the rapporteur and the whole team of shadow rapporteurs. I hope that the excellent work they have done will meet with complete support tomorrow.

Political group: PPE-DE
The report on the follow-up to the Beijing Action Platform notes that the situation of women, although improved, still involves major inequalities. In terms of work, it would appear vital to do more than just evaluate ‘the impact of part-time and atypical forms of working on [...] the increase in poverty among women’. Women often actually do not have the option of choosing a properly paid full-time job, yet 85% would like one. Being forced into part-time work is clearly a source of poverty which is why we oppose this. The wage gap between men and women of around 30% still remains. On this issue, the report should have introduced coercive measures to eliminate this state of affairs. This would, of course, require a political will. Finally, over one thousand women’s associations in 140 countries are this year organising a world march to fight against continuing violence and to fight for equality. It is our duty to support them. We have therefore voted in favour of this report despite its limitations and we will demonstrate in Paris on 17 June together with all those who are fighting for equality and women’s rights.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, we all know that disposing of waste in an environmentally friendly manner and utilising its energy by means of the latest technology is a requirement of our time and wholly appropriate. The directive on the incineration of waste contains important starting points for introducing compulsory high environmental standards throughout the European Union which have already been in place in some Member States for a number of years. And this is important and necessary. The aim of the directive is to establish emission levels which ensure harmless and environmentally friendly incineration of both dangerous and non-dangerous waste in incineration and coincineration plants without presenting any risk to human health. People are sensitised today and have fears of a high level of air pollution and the illnesses which can result and so the policy must also create completely clear framework conditions to limit the risk. Nevertheless, I must say that Mr Blokland is proposing some regulations and stringent conditions for the directive which go way beyond the objective. The operating conditions for incineration plants, as proposed in Amendment No 11, are neither appropriate to the objective nor practicable but, quite simply, superfluous. Science and practice have shown for some time now that such a measure does not prevent high emissions of hydrogen chlorides and dioxins. In practice, Amendment No 11 would also mean that many halogenated substances, for example PVC, which frequently occurs in mixed domestic waste, would be excluded from incineration in waste incineration plants. A further point is to ensure that the directive does not give rise to any protected markets. Industries which use coincineration plants in their production process have, for many years, successfully concerned themselves with achieving high air purity standards in incineration. Many companies are also dependent on the use of waste to retain competitiveness and jobs. Millions have already been spent on measures to reduce energy consumption. In my opinion, we should not disregard these efforts .... (The President cut the speaker off)

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, if you compare the damaged area of Venezuela to Germany, then it is as if our entire coastal region had been destroyed and 200 000 people had lost their lives. That illustrates the huge scale of this disaster for a country like Venezuela. I am not being macabre when I say that the best thing which could happen to Venezuela right now would be soaring oil prices, so that it could finance as much as possible itself. Unpleasant because expensive for us, to be sure, but advantageous to Venezuela. In this respect, Venezuela is in a better position after all the damage which it has suffered than central America was after hurricane Mitch. But that is poor consolation in the face of the huge devastation. The demand for an international donor conference with the active participation of the Commission therefore makes sense. For the rest I, like the other Members, am waiting for the Commission to submit a plan to us as quickly as possible as to how it can help here, in agreement with the Venezuelan government. Venezuela can count on our sympathy, but it also needs money, imagination and help to rebuild. Allow me to add that globalisation does not just mean trade, it also means solidarity. However, it is also reasonable after such a devastating catastrophe to inquire into the causes. I fear that we will have to deal with more and more natural disasters in which people are partly to blame. Of course, people are powerless in the face of a natural change of climate, but then greenhouse gases are also part of the equation. That is where the problem lies. Unfortunately, Europe is not honouring its Kyoto commitments. I hope that this disaster and, unfortunately others, will give us cause to consider and to take measures so that we do not always have to talk of catastrophes every time there is an emergency and can perhaps also discuss what preventative action can be taken to avoid disasters on this scale. If that is nature’s way, at least we should not have a part in it. (Applause)

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Mr van Velzen, I am pleased to see that the demands for basic information society services and universal service feature in this report. After all, Parliament, the Council and the Commission have made the point often enough that everyone should have access to the new technologies. Unfortunately, neither basic provisions nor universal service are defined. And it is so very important to define these tasks to my mind, because otherwise the marginalised target groups will find themselves even further back in the queue, for example the elderly, the disabled or immigrants. All the report says is how the undefined basic services are to be achieved, i.e. more market freedom and less state intervention. You are right to note that the state is not providing, in an optimum manner, for fair access to information technologies. But companies are even less motivated in this respect. They are only interested in developing for the market, as was reconfirmed by the UNIC Summit at the weekend. It will only be possible to stop people from becoming digital illiterates if we afford them self-access to the new media in schools, universities and other public spheres. Only then will people become truly innovative in their dealings with these technologies, and will a discussion about opportunities and risks take place. Unfortunately, this is where the report is lacking in concrete proposals. For example, for there to be fair access, the state should not spend billions on Microsoft programmes when there are more democratic, innovative and secure software versions, namely Open Source, available for free on the Internet. The opportunities are there but they are not being used. The issue of data protection, as Mr Glante has just mentioned, may have been raised here on more than one occasion, but there are no ideas forthcoming as to how to give it concrete form. It is all very vague. There has been one concrete proposal to this effect, i.e. automatic caller location for purposes other than emergency calls, for commercial applications that is. Firstly, even if the consent of the user were to be required, this would start to chip away at fundamental rights, and secondly, the proposal is completely out of touch because it has long been possible to ascertain the location of callers using mobile phones without obtaining the user’s prior consent. The market is not a panacea, and secondly, the statements on data protection are still vague. As such, commercial interests are taking precedence over the protection of fundamental rights. Therefore I intend to vote against this report.

Political group: Verts-ALE