GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
We are facing a terrifying danger, and that is forgetting. We need to remember the horrors of history if we do not want to relive them. The genocide in Armenia is one such horror and such suffering can only be alleviated if it is recognised. Recognition of the genocide in Armenia is a recognition of the dignity of the individual. We cannot forget the deportation of the entire Armenian population to the deserts of Mesopotamia, the deportation of the Armenians of eastern Anatolia in 24 hours, the shooting of able-bodied men, the persecution of women, children and old people, who covered hundreds of kilometres on foot, without medical care and without food, divested of their belongings, raped, their throats slit on the open road, the deportation in 1915 of the Armenians of Cilicia and eastern Anatolia, the assassination of 600 Armenian prominent citizens in Constantinople, the extermination of more than a million Armenians in just over a year – in other words, almost half the Ottoman Armenians. All the accounts bear witness to the same ordeal of the civil populations of Armenia. I remember the 1987 resolution which called on Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide as a precondition to its accession to the European Union. I voted today for the amendments calling for this acknowledgement in order to keep this testimony alive and to acknowledge a people’s suffering. Turkey will gain in stature among nations when it agrees to face up to its past.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, I would like to give an explanation of our vote on the Menrad report, especially as regards Amendment No 31, on which the French Members of the Socialist Group and I myself abstained when it was rejected. I would like to specify that it was chiefly the radical nature of the wording which was behind this. For, in fact, while we may share the idea that aid and incentives for employment cannot be totally subjected to conditions of rigid technocratic controls which are in danger of excluding one disadvantaged section of job seekers from this aid, our vision encourages us to propose positive and constructive support, rather than supervision, in the procedures which must be implemented, which are still, as we know, difficult ones. The practices which have already been implemented for this type of support, especially for the most disadvantaged, show that it is not sufficient to allocate financial aid which would excuse us from having to do anything more. This is related, in the final analysis, to the good conscience of someone who gives money to charity. But real social support for the objectives to be set with regard to disadvantaged individuals in the context of the contract-based procedures is the only way for support and incentives for job-seeking to be effective, not only for access to work itself but also for the issue intimately associated with this, to wit, the lasting reintegration of individuals who have been totally undermined by the destructive processes of unemployment. It was also in this spirit that we previously submitted an amendment on positive approaches which, unfortunately, was not adopted.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, as draftsman of the opinion of the Committee on Budgets on this report, I should like to begin by congratulating Mrs Miguélez Ramos on her excellent report, as is our custom in this House. I should also like to welcome the fact that the Committee on Fisheries has adopted the main amendments tabled by the Committee on Budgets. In this connection, it is worth emphasising that the fisheries agreement with Greenland comes second in order of importance for the Union in terms of what it costs the Community’s budget. Mrs Miguélez Ramos has already pointed this out. It represents an annual commitment of EUR 42.8 million. As was explained earlier, however, this sum does not accurately reflect genuine fishing opportunities for the Community fleet. This is because in the agreement itself, the fishing quota estimated by the Commission is valued at EUR 28 million. Indeed even that sum is too high if it is set against actual catch. The Committee on Budgets recognises the special relationship between Greenland and the European Union. The committee is also aware of the specific economic situation in that country. Fishing remains crucial to the economy of Greenland. Nonetheless, although the committee recognises the need to provide financial support for Greenland, it is opposed to the current approach of including such aid in the financial compensation that is part of the Fisheries Agreement. Consequently, the Committee on Budgets believes it is essential for the Commission to table a proposal for a new protocol before the present one expires in December 2006. The financial compensation in any new protocol should be in line with actual fishing opportunities. A different proposal on financial aid to Greenland should be tabled concurrently. Further, the committee is pleased to note that the Commission presented a mid-term review of the current protocol. This is in line with the European Parliament’s call for general assessment reports to be presented before the start of negotiations on renewal of protocols or agreements or indeed on new arrangements. These general reports should contain cost benefit analyses. I would therefore urge the Commission to present similar mid-term reviews for all agreements exceeding annual costs of EUR 3 million for the European Union’s budget.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, I would like to congratulate Mrs Gutiérrez-Cortines and focus on one aspect of her speech, namely the need to define a system of qualifications which makes them easy to understand and compare. I wish, in particular, to put forward once again the proposal, which I feel has a place in a debate such as this, that the legal validity of qualifications should be abolished. In my opinion, this is a measure which could serve to ensure that the confusion in the debate between public and private sectors – the guarantee of high quality education – is avoided. Indeed, as Professor Vattimo rightly said, there is a great deal of emphasis on providing a genuine guarantee of the educational experience. Well then, until evidence is provided to the contrary, the legal status of the administrator cannot be the guarantee of that experience. In the eighteenth century, the whole of Europe flocked to Prussia, not because Prussia had an efficient state capable of running universities but, above all, because there was a great teacher named Immanuel Kant. In fact, the validity of the learning adventure is guaranteed by the broad-mindedness of the teachers, and that is precisely the point I am trying to make. In all probability, abolishing the legal validity of educational qualifications is still one of the best ways of guaranteeing the full legitimacy of those establishments which know how to teach properly. This is so true that, although Professor Vattimo the MEP may not be able to acknowledge it for ideological reasons, Professor Vattimo the university lecturer is quite aware that studying for a degree under ‘the Prof’ is different from doing so under any other tutor, to the extent that the guarantee of the educational experience that he provides is not the fact that it is the state which runs the University of Turin but his love of the truth and his love of the adventure of learning.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, I think that Mrs Redondo expressed it very well in her speech and that, indeed, in this BSE crisis there are Member States who are advantaged pupils, who prepare for the examinations months in advance, and others, such as ours, the government of my country, who are at the bottom of the class, prepare for the examinations five minutes before and when they fail, blame the teacher. And this teacher is you, Commissioner. The Spanish Government became aware of the first case of BSE in October, although it kept it a secret until December. The lack of transparency and the improvisation with which my country’s government is acting with regard to the crisis are, in my opinion, the reason for the massive drop in consumption in Spain, for which the cattle farming sector is paying. This is especially the case for my region, Galicia, where cows are an element of social cohesion and, more importantly, are – as a well-known and admired writer says – a totem. I therefore ask you: can the Commissioner give assurances to consumers that in Spain the measures adopted by the European Union are now being fully complied with? Are there any future measures for which we should be preparing ourselves?

Political group: PSE
Mr President, our group, the Confederal Group of the , broadly supports Mr Galeote Quecedo’s report, although it is also the case that certain sections of the group disagree with important aspects of it, as we will see later. We feel that Mr Galeote Quecedo has carried out a profound, serious and ambitious piece of work, although it is also prudent with regard to current prospects. The joint effort in committee by the various political groups demonstrates that common diplomacy is a concern felt by all of us. In fact, our experience, acquired through visits to different parts of the world, highlights four worrying issues: First: the scant and insufficient coordination of the Member States with regard to issues that must be addressed jointly whenever the interests of the European Union are at stake, and the minimal cooperation between the delegations of the European Union. Also, we sometimes fail to exploit the rich diplomatic experience we possess in Europe and often there are worrying confrontations between these various diplomatic services. Second: the accidental occurrence of contradictions in interventions by different countries on issues affecting the interests of the European Union. Third: the insufficient coordination in the defence of points of view, interests and responsibilities of the European Union in international bodies of a political, economic, cultural nature etc., such as the UN, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organisation, the WHO etc. Fourth: we have also noted that the presence of the European Union is weak in relation to its economic importance and also in relation to the significant presence of the United States. We therefore believe it is important to proceed with the proposal presented in the report and, furthermore, to take more cohesive action, make a greater impact and make greater progress in that direction. Hence the usefulness of the proposal to create a Community diplomatic college and also the importance, which appears in Mr Galeote Quecedo’s report, of the European Parliament playing an important role as trustee of the sovereignty and will of the European citizens in order to give content to this Community diplomacy and also give content to this prospect of constructing a European Union which creates peace, respect for international law and solidarity in the world. Therefore, as I said at the beginning, our group will broadly support Mr Galeote Quecedo’s report.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, after spending the past year as an observer in the European Parliament it is indeed an honour that I can, for the first time, address this assembly following the formal accession of my country, Malta. Over the past year I have participated in a number of committees, primarily the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism. I have followed many debates and also contributed to various topics, including tabling an amendment that was formally introduced by a fellow MEP. This amendment to the third cohesion report was adopted in committee and then in plenary. It is a vibrant example of the opportunity that was given to the accession countries to participate in and influence decisions even prior to membership. This is also a clear instance of the welcoming attitude of Members of this House towards an observer. I mentioned earlier the cohesion report. What better way is there to highlight the economic and social model of Europe, the subject of this debate? The concept of providing a helping hand to regions and countries that are lagging behind other areas of the Union is an excellent example of solidarity in practice, which forms such an essential part of the European Union. If one were to ask what the essential characteristics of the European economic and social model are, one would definitely have to include this aspect of support for cohesion and sustainable development, with due consideration given to the quality of life of EU citizens. It is important to stimulate the economic growth of the EU so as to provide better jobs and a higher standard of living. However, it also important to focus on a distribution of income that is just and equitable. This is the first and probably last speech I will make in this Parliament, as I have been nominated to the European Court of Auditors. I will not vote on this item tomorrow as I believe that one should not participate in decisions when one is directly involved in that same decision. I will end with a few words in Maltese. (MT) Today we can really say that we have taken our place in Europe. Maltese citizens are now also part of this much wider project that will increase benefits for all of Europe.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Commissioner, had the Treaty of Amsterdam not included Article 299(2), we would not be here today, debating this excellent report by Mrs Sudre, whom I wish to congratulate on her outstanding work. This legislation really is of considerable importance. Under this article, the outermost regions obtained recognition by the European Union of a genuine right to be different, a right to be dealt with on a specific and special basis reflecting their unique situation, a situation that is completely different to that of the rest of the European Union. This is now recognised legally and constitutionally and no longer, as was the case until Amsterdam, simply through declarations annexed to the Treaties, which had merely political status. It should be noted that this right to be different is nothing more than a demonstration of the principle of equality, which also requires different treatment for anything that is different. I reject reactionary and populist interpretations of the principle of equality, which seek equal treatment for things that are not the same. Article 299(2) is therefore a crucial instrument in various way: firstly, in helping to promote equal opportunities for European citizens who are resident in the outermost regions. Secondly, it is crucial to promoting full and successful integration of the outermost regions into the European Union and into the dynamic of the single market. Thirdly, this article is crucial to enabling the outermost regions to respond better to the challenges posed by globalisation and by the enlargement of the European Union, to which they are particularly vulnerable. This is the only reason we want Article 299(2), not in order to secure any privileged status for ourselves. Mr President, Commissioner, the qualitative leap represented by Article 299(2) must be matched by an identical qualitative step forward in the special treatment that the European Union must give to the outermost regions. Furthermore, this must go beyond POSEI, the Programme of Options Specific to Remoteness and Insularity. This qualitative leap must be reflected in the definition and implementation of a global and coherent strategy by the European Union, which is what Mrs Sudre’s report has rightly proposed. The outermost regions and the citizens who live there have high hopes for the European institutions’ action in implementing Article 299(2).

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, this is all going more quickly than any of us thought. I would like to start by apologising on behalf of Mrs Villiers, who has just, at the end of a vote in our Group's Conservative delegation, been appointed deputy leader of the delegation, on which I warmly congratulate her. As a lot has already been said, I would like to enlarge on just a few things. Firstly, the speakers on this item and its predecessor have set themselves a great goal. We want to do our utmost to ensure that the action plan for financial services – of which this directive is a part – is of high quality and can be adopted and implemented swiftly and in accordance with the timetable. We hope that, unlike on other occasions, the Council will not delay in producing its own position in response to the preparatory work done at least on this issue by Parliament and the Commission. Mr Lehne, who spoke before me, has already pointed out that it was the 1998 directive on settlement finality that set up the first milestone for Europe-wide financial policy. This has to date been the only piece of European legislation governing cross-frontier securities in connection with financial transactions. We need standardised regulation in this area in order to make the internal market efficient. We need to do away with the uncertainty as regards the law applicable to transactions across borders in negotiable securities. We need to do away with the increased administrative costs that stand in the way of an integrated EU market which is more attractive in terms of cost. We need to do away with the legal uncertainty that comes with 15 different legal systems, because these differing legal systems lead to risks when securities are utilised abroad. We also need to do away with the differing legislation on insolvency. There is, then, a need for a standard minimum regulation. This directive is the only means by which these objectives can be achieved, and so we welcome it and support the rapporteur's report and that produced by Mr Lehne of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market. Many thanks! We hope that it will be possible swiftly to implement this report by Parliament, together with the Commission's proposals, and thus turn them into a reality.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Commissioner, speaking on behalf of the Home Affairs Committee, I note with satisfaction that the Court of Auditors has been able to establish with the proper certainty that the accounts for the financial year ending on 31 December 2002 are reliable, with the end result that it has been confirmed that our three agencies in this area have done their work properly and done an outstanding job for the European Union. As regards the criticisms levelled at the Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, I would like to announce that I will, at midnight tonight, again have the opportunity to respond to these. It is my hope that we will, tomorrow, be able to adopt a directive for the Monitoring Centre in order thereby, jointly with it, to prevent and avoid many things. I am therefore happy to be able to make this announcement on behalf of my committee.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Commissioner, one thing of which I am certain, having taken part in this delegation, is that, today, it is completely inappropriate to apply the word ‘peace’ to Chechnya. Three thousand were killed at the start of the year. Forty-nine communal graves have been found, a very small proportion of which can be ascribed to terrorism and a very large proportion of which can be attributed to the abuses perpetrated daily by an army which has established itself as an occupying force. The referendum was an illusion of normality. It is difficult to decree normality in a country by waving the barrel of a kalashnikov. In view of all this, we believe that the political solution must genuinely be a political solution, and for that to be so, Mr Frattini, I put it to you that all the parties need to be involved. The former President, Mr Maskhadov, must take part too, and he cannot be dismissed so hastily, Mr Frattini, as a rebel separatist. Former President, Mr Maskhadov, was elected democratically by the Chechen people at the end of the first war. Today, Mr Maskhadov is an essential point of reference if we want to achieve genuine peace, true peace. There is also a danger that Chechnya will become a permanent war zone where old grievances are superseded by new. One last recommendation to Mr Frattini and to the Commission. We must ensure that Russia is involved in this peace process and that it shoulders its responsibility. If we continue today to talk about the possibility of Russia acceding to the European Union, without considering this ongoing conflict as an element which is already causing difficulties in our relations with Russia, we will certainly not be facilitating the peace process. Apart from being extremely premature, talking about the accession of Russia could be extremely dangerous in terms of the fate of Chechnya.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, Commissioner, Mr Trakatellis and Mrs Scheele have submitted a detailed report which should clearly help to improve information and transparency and freedom of choice for European consumers. Priority is given to human and animal health. But the most important criterion must be that this framework legislation is practicable. More importantly, it must be in keeping with WTO rules and not hamper the development of biotechnology in Europe with excessive red tape. We need, first and foremost, a practicable regulation on the accidental and technically unavoidable presence of GMOs in products which are not genetically modified. The threshold value of 1% in the Commission proposal is reasonable and realistic and a useful guide for manufacturers and consumers. The threshold value is important if various forms of cultivation are to exist side by side because cross-pollination, for example, is technically impossible to preclude in nature. The second important point is that only products which are scientifically proven to contain GMOs should be labelled; it makes no sense to label ingredients extracted from genetically modified plants, such as oil, sugar or flavour enhancers, when there are no GMOs in the final product. Nor should we label meat, eggs or milk from animals fed with GM feed at any point, because this is misleading for consumers. I am in favour of product-based labelling and expressly opposed to process-based labelling because it is technically impossible to control. We should only label where we have proof and can therefore control labelling requirements.

Political group: PPE-DE