GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
As stated in the plan of implementation from the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, ‘oceans, seas, islands and coastal areas form an integrated and essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical for global food security.’ Protection of the marine environment, particularly the conservation of its biodiversity, must be considered a priority, and further action in the field of marine protection, a true coastal policy and promotion of sustainable use of the seas are all needed. We therefore agree with the rapporteur that a strategy in this field must integrate the following: the precautionary principle; the development of protection and conservation measures; an integrated approach to all human activities impacting on the marine environment; an integrated approach in the management of fishing effort; and a regional approach, taking into account regional diversities and respect for their ‘ecological characteristics and socio-economic aspects’, without forgetting that there are other causes of marine pollution. Hence we consider that the recent Commission proposal for the management of fishing effort in the Atlantic calls into question the objectives of conservation and the ability of Portugal, in particular, to carry out conservation measures in its exclusive economic zone.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, in negotiations, we accepted the text in its original version. We recognised the undoubted error of not calling a state by its name, and so the correction was made to its present form, ‘The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’, which is the state's official name. We think Parliament would only be making itself ridiculous if it were, on the grounds of particular sentiments or political tendencies, to call a state by a name other than that which belongs to it. (Applause)

Political group: PSE
Mr President, it is intolerable that people should embark on another debate when the speaking time has expired and the Commissioner has spoken. I would ask you to prevent this in future, otherwise I too would like to speak for another two minutes. As it is, I can only say that the Commissioner has replied very well to all our questions and that we are very grateful to him.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, you claim to be achieving what you call the single European sky, but even the small amount of progress made to overcome the divisions and rivalries between states, which are particularly absurd in the field of aviation, are more than offset by the increased competition between private airlines, and even air traffic control is handed over to the race for private profit. Behind the term ‘single sky’ is the race to privatise the old national carriers. This policy has already resulted in thousands of redundancies in the aeronautical sector. At this very moment, massive redundancies have been announced or are under way at Alitalia, at KLM, which is controlled by Air France, and in other large airlines. It is obvious what the privatised airlines’ shareholders have to gain from the reduction in personnel, not only flight staff, but also those involved in maintenance and safety checks. But this profit-driven approach means that passengers are running growing risks. To continue with this policy after the Lake Constance disaster 18 months ago, which was a direct consequence of the privatisation of air traffic control in Switzerland, is criminal. As for the Sharm el-Sheikh disaster, even if the precise technical cause is not yet known, everyone knows that the airlines, including the one that owned that aircraft, make their profits by turning their aircraft round more quickly, extending their flying time, taking on staff who are less well paid and often not trained well enough or by cutting maintenance and technical inspections to the mandatory minimum. Even the major airlines are doing the same, hounded by the competition. The quest for profit is not compatible with the quest for safety. We will vote for the amendments aimed at improving safety, but we are against every aspect of a policy that is based on competition, whether or not regulated at European level, because it will create an enormous mess and can only end in disaster. (Applause)

Political group: GUE-NGL
We Swedish Social Democrats present the following explanation of vote. We support the resolution but wish to point out that it makes no mention of women or their human rights. Nor does it mention women’s priorities, supported by Parliament in December 2001, but, rather, those of the Afghan Government. We believe there needs to be a requirement for all aid projects to be informed by the dimension of equality and for women to be represented in the government. Women were victims under both the Northern Alliance and the Taliban. Women are the most important actors in the cause of peace. A policy for Afghanistan must be a policy also aimed at the majority of the Afghan people, namely women and children.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, I, like a previous speaker, wish to refer to the case of Mr Abrahim Khodabandeh and Mr Jamil Bassam, both of whom are residents of Barnet, in my constituency. Mr Khodabandeh – who has been resident in the UK for many years and was granted refugee status – was travelling recently in Syria to assist humanitarian efforts to deal with the consequences of the war in Iraq. He was forcibly removed from Syria and taken to Iran where he and his colleague, Mr Bassam, remain in custody. Mr Khodabandeh's family and friends are deeply concerned about his fate. I ask the House to urge the Iranian authorities to release Mr Khodabandeh, since his deportation contravened the ordinary principles of international law. We are very concerned about the circumstances of the deportation. I urge the House to add its efforts to the campaign to free these two people.

Political group: PPE-DE
It was important that the tobacco industry was not able to prevent the vote taking place in Parliament today. More than half a million people died as a result of tobacco addiction in the EU in 1990. Despite huge lobbying by the tobacco industry, including an attempt to say the process is illegal, the European Parliament will stand firm on public health. I welcome the commitment to increase information in cigarette labelling. Health warnings will take up 40% of the front of the packet and 50% of the back. The industry must be made to give details of the ingredients of the cigarettes, including the tobacco, and just as importantly the filters and additives used to make them. Each individual brand should list all additives, not just the prohibited ingredients. This must be made public knowledge and not hidden behind a shroud of ‘trade secrecy’. People have a right to accurate information on the health risks of tobacco. The want to ban many of the more than 600 additives in cigarettes. We need to know what these substances are and make sure that they are properly tested. Smokers have a right to know exactly what a cigarette contains.

Political group: Verts-ALE
In the weeks leading up to the agreement of this resolution, many MEPs have sought to ensure Europe's stance is one which genuinely makes this a 'Development Round' in the WTO, that developing countries are enabled to be full partners in the negotiating process, and to underline that the benefits of trade must be focused to combat increasing poverty in our world. The European Commission and Council should heed our clear intentions in this respect. On the extension of the WTO too include investment, I welcome the fact that the European Parliament has reiterated it strongly held position that the mistakes of the MAI must not be repeated, that investor responsibilities according to ILO and OECD guidelines must be dealt with alongside investor rights, and – by a clear majority – a European Code of Conduct for multinationals (amendment 15) be established. I condemn the Conservative group in this Parliament who sought to remove development considerations from the proposed Standing Forum with the ILO, and incredibly sought to remove from our objectives, achieving 'fair and socially balanced' as well as free trade. I am glad they were defeated. But the fact that they were prepared to vote for protection of 'strict legal requirements' met by European farmers, but against the destructive dumping of agricultural goods by us in Europe against peasant farmers in developing countries is scandalous. I call on European negotiators to respect our resolution in favour of the principle of food security and for no adverse effect for developing countries in the agricultural negotiations. Protectionism by the European Union against the developing world is morally unacceptable and economically short-sighted. It is time for it to end.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, we have waited a long time for this debate, and I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mrs Jöns, for all her work on this issue. It often takes one person to drive an issue forward and to obtain a result and if it were not for Mrs Jöns and all her hard work, we would probably not be sitting here today debating this issue. Breast cancer is one of the greatest health problems facing Scotland and the EU as a whole. It is the most common form of cancer amongst women in Scotland and the second leading cause of death in all women. The disease affects one in nine women and claims 13 000 lives in the UK every year. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women aged 35 to 55. These are quite chilling statistics, so what can we do to help prevent breast cancer in the first place? And if diagnosed, how can we ensure that women get the best possible treatment? Firstly, as the rapporteur recognises, screening has to be a priority. Although treatment in Scotland and the UK is better than in most Member States, with specialist nurses and the promotion of breast care centres, it is still the case that, unlike with smear testing, women only start being screened automatically at the age of 50. The Scottish breast-screening programme currently invites eligible women aged 50-64 every three years. This is a good start, but we know there is always more that can be done. I would like to see more women screened at an early age across the EU and in the applicant states, and although women who have a history of breast cancer in their family are more aware of the risks, and start screening earlier, there is more we can do to push Member States to promote earlier and better diagnosis. Recent studies show that, with improved screening of young and middle-aged women, mortality rates could be reduced by about one quarter. Secondly, on prevention: interestingly the report mentions that the increase in breast cancer has been worldwide since the end of the Second World War. Part of the reason is better diagnosis and also people understanding about genetics and family history, but our environment, lifestyle, habits and general quality of life may be related. That is why research is so important, as are other directives promoted by the EU: for example, the new chemicals directive which is about to work its way through the parliamentary process and may be another way to try and minimise the risks that we as EU citizens face in our daily lives; the same applies to our work in dioxins and the eHealth communication. Thirdly, we need to make sure that organisations like Europa Donna which have done so much work across Europe on the issue of breast cancer awareness are given the support they deserve. Women in the EU diagnosed with breast cancer need to understand the treatment options available to them. It is important that patients have access to useful information about breast cancer and support systems. Finally, the importance of information and awareness runs through this report; this is our goal and we should all be aiming for this.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, allow me to congratulate you on your excellent French just now, which I heard you speak in such ringing tones that I very nearly thought you were a Frenchman who sometimes speaks Spanish. Instead, now I have seen, as I had first thought, that you are a Spaniard who speaks very good French. I voted for the EURES report, which says that it is necessary to inform citizens about their pension rights. Mr President, every week I am a guest on private television channels and inform Italian citizens about the rules on pensions. Therefore, I too am a EURES-or a Fatuzzo-EURES, and so I am in favour of this report. As I said, I voted for it and I hope that more and more will be done to keep all citizens, particularly pensioners, informed.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, with regret I would like to raise the issue of whistle-blowing. I am referring to the case of a constituent of mine, Mr Robert Dougal Watt, who formerly worked for the Court of Auditors and who over a year ago communicated to many MEPs a deep concern about certain aspects of the conduct of business in the Court of Auditors. Subsequently he went on sick leave and following that he became subject to disciplinary proceedings. As his representative, I contacted the Secretary General of the Court of Auditors, not to express an opinion on the correctness or incorrectness of the points which Mr Watt had raised, but simply to draw to the attention of the Court that in my opinion, Mr Watt was, whether correct or incorrect, a public-spirited person acting for what he understood to be the public interest. He ought to be treated with the respect that is due to those who do so. I understand that subsequently the disciplinary board recommended that he be demoted, but, on 13th July 2003, I learned that he had just been dismissed. This is the first opportunity I have to mention to colleagues my profound distress at the matter. I believe that this House should look into the question of whether we have adequate protection for whistle-blowers in the European Union. The rules have been changed and tightened but I am not satisfied that the situation works satisfactorily and I say this with great regret. Those of us who believe most profoundly in the virtues of European integration have the greatest interest in ensuring that it is carried forward with unimpeachable integrity, taking into account the protection of individuals. (Applause)

Political group: Verts-ALE
Madam President, what you have just said demonstrates that we must now be especially careful about the public statements we make and it is significant that you have spoken about four disasters: two of which have taken place in or around parliaments – in Switzerland and in Kashmir. I want to say this because I wish to express my solidarity and that of my group with the statements by the President of the Commission, Mr Prodi, the Vice-President of the Commission, Mr Patten, the President-in-Office of the Council, Mr Michel, the President of the French Republic, Mr Chirac, and in this case I regret that we have not heard him speak – since he always does so authoritatively, bravely and appropriately – in relation to the unfortunate public remarks of the President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy, Mr Berlusconi, on the supposed superiority of Western civilisation over other civilisations. I believe it is especially important now for the European Parliament to state strongly once again, that this is not a clash of civilisations, but, rather, that we have to defend values that are shared by all humanity. I therefore believe it is important that we, in the European Parliament, clearly express and demonstrate an approach, which is not just the approach of my group, and in this case I would like to address Mr Poettering to say that I was the first to applaud when, at the special sitting we held on the attacks of 11 September, he expressly cited the speech of Anwar al-Sadat in this Parliament. I believe that remarks such as those by Mr Berlusconi must be criticised by all of us and I hope, because it is not the first time, that they will not be repeated, since they damage the European cause throughout the world. (Applause from the left)

Political group: PSE
Mr President, you will understand that I would like the quorum to be checked, but I think that there are clearly not enough people present. I would therefore suggest moving all planned votes to the next sitting and proceeding with the discussion with the Council.

Political group: PSE
The United Nations Conference on Racism is of particular relevance in these turbulent times, when there is bloodthirsty talk and behaviour in the name of a confrontation between civilisations. We are witnessing armed conflicts which originate in and are sustained by racial or ethnic conflicts and we are astonished to hear statements whose content and origin are unacceptable, on the superiority of certain civilisations over others. I would therefore like to congratulate the President-in-Office of the Council of Ministers, Mr Louis Michel, in particular, on his efforts which led to the final success of the Durban Conference, in which I participated on behalf of this Parliament. His actions clearly demonstrated the European Union’s firm position in relation to racism and xenophobic attitudes. Without ignoring the social, political and economic problems which lead to racial discrimination in Europe, I would like to focus on one aspect – the development perspective – which has been somewhat forgotten in the stagnation of recent events and also during the Conference, in relation to the Middle East conflict and the seriousness of the events taking place there, and to the recognition of the suffering caused by Europe’s history and the perversity of slavery and slave trading, the practice of which we today see as a crime against humanity. The majority of ethnic conflicts which involve thousands of victims and regrettable human situations take place in developing countries, mainly in Africa. I therefore believe that the success of this Conference will depend on whether we are today capable of realising everything that was contained in its final declaration. In this resolution, we ask the Commission for financial support for the administrations of the developing countries for the implementation of national action plans to eliminate all kinds of discrimination, as was agreed at Durban. Forums and observatories must be created, observatories in Africa, provincial observatories, regional observatories. We also ask for support for the United Nations so that it can carry out the monitoring of the results of Durban, so that the fight against racism may remain on the international agenda until it is eradicated. I believe that we must continue working so that the contents of the declaration may be implemented. Of course, the United States should not have abandoned the Conference, but it was not the first time that they have abandoned it, since they had abandoned it on other occasions; this was therefore not important. The important thing is that we in the European Parliament are able to clearly repeat our message with one voice, to journalists, to the media, against racism and in favour of equality and integration.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Mrs Stihler is unwell and is unable to be attend. I hope you will forgive me for taking 30 seconds of her time. Mr Fischler said in his presentation that these reforms were based on the same principles as earlier reform. That is so, but they are considerably less ambitious in their scope, even in the Commission's proposals. He also said that the aims were identical, in that one of the aims was sustainability. He presumably means economic, environmental and social sustainability, competitiveness and compatibility with the WTO, since we must not look at agricultural issues in a vacuum. It is just one of the EU's policies and there are others – those concerned with world trade – that must influence our thinking, as must enlargement and its implications. We are talking about the poorest regions, in some cases, of some of the poorer countries in the EU. That is quite clear and presumably explains the less ambitious proposals. The budget may be neutral, but there are differential consequences for farm workers and farm owners, which is one of the problems the Group has with these suggestions. As a whole, we are strong supporters of reform. We are perfectly well aware that the old regime is untenable for very much longer and that decoupling will come, and we are aware of WTO obligations. However, we are also aware of the social consequences and have misgivings that the Commission has not sufficiently borne those consequences in mind. More consideration should be given to the fate of workers who are working for employers in the farming industry. There can be no doubt that Parliament's proposals will not help in the Doha development round. They will – mistakenly, perhaps, but certainly – be seen as non-reform and as a move away from what is expected by the poorest countries in the world. That is absolutely clear and as a member of the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy, it is something I have to emphasise while supporting the overall position.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, I would also like to join Members in recognising the considerable work that has been carried out by the rapporteur and the Committee on Regional Policy, Transport and Tourism, who have incorporated many amendments. I would, however, like to come back to some points I think worth emphasising to make the report as effective as possible. First of all, I feel it is imperative to point out that the main thing is to promote the sustainability of transport, which is a fundamental, long-term measure needed to protect our environment and avoid congestion. On this issue, I do not believe that it is possible to consider freight transport on the same level as private transport. The former is currently widely favoured as an economic activity, whereas the latter allows freedom of movement, a fundamental freedom. We must extend the quality choice range in the variety of transport available. That should then drive us to consider the need to improve services of general interest in these sectors that are so important to the people and to the economy. Secondly, I also believe that we need to pinpoint priority issues. We cannot consider rail users and road users on the same level either. This means that the cost of road use is added to the total of costs borne by society such as environmental costs and the costs of accidents. All studies have clearly shown this. We must give this factor priority in terms of Community action. To sum up, with regard to changes in charging, I believe that this type of charging should not further increase costs, particularly those paid by users. Any infrastructure charging system, like the one proposed in my group’s amendment, should improve the services of general interest, which some transport services provide, in order to offer all citizens equal access to high-quality, safe and affordable services.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Madam President, Amendments Nos 22 and 24 refer to the fact that the MEDA programme still applies to Cyprus and Malta. This is unquestionably the case. However, since we are concerned here with a regulation that is directly connected with the accession strategy, we ought not to get it mixed up with the MEDA programme in terms of the legal aspects. But, by way of a compromise, and so as to provide a safeguard, I would recommend that the following sentence in the two amendments: ‘knowing that Malta and Cyprus will participate in the MEDA-facility in the foreseen way’ be added as a recital. If the movers of the motion are in agreement with this, then I would recommend that the House votes on it and adopts it. This would provide an elegant solution to the problem. (Applause)

Political group: PPE-DE