GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
Mr President, Commissioner, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, as chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities of the European Parliament, I should like to say that I am delighted that, as far as enlargement of the Union and laying the foundations for a real united Europe based on our common values is concerned, we have at last turned into the home straight. As we do so, I feel that the women of Europe have a very serious role to play and that it is high time, in the run up to the new constitutional Treaty of the European Union, that we placed respect for women's human rights and the practical application of the recognised principle of gender equality in all sectors of economic, social and political life in Europe at the top of the political agenda. Unfortunately, we are still a long way from this vision, as was perfectly clear during this morning's debate in the Chamber, when the list of speakers looked more like the membership list of a gentlemen's club to which women guests are occasionally invited. I am acutely concerned about the position of women in many of the candidate countries; their situation has not improved with the changeover to a free economy. Unemployment has risen and wage differentials have increased. Infrastructures for caring for children and the elderly are deteriorating, while trafficking in human beings, trading in women and children by international organised crime gangs, has taken on explosive proportions. We in the Committee on Women's Rights have repeatedly emphasised that efficiently applied measures to combat the sexual exploitation of and violence against women must be at the heart of the enlargement process. We would again point out that parties and governments need to promote the equal participation of men and women in decision-making procedures. There is no such thing as a credible policy which does not promote gender equality in decision-making procedures and future planning. Parties and governments should field the same number of men and women candidates in the 2004 European elections. Enlargement gives us the opportunity to sink the foundations of democracy even deeper. I am also convinced that gender equality is not a superfluous luxury; it is a basic necessity if we are to improve the quality of our decisions, improve our understanding of contemporary problems and make our democracy function more efficiently.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful to my colleague Mrs Bastos, whose own-initiative report has focussed our attention, in this debate, on the reconciliation of work and family life. The family is the smallest unit in the state. In it, the foundations are laid for a functioning society, and it must take pride of place among society’s concerns. It is, however, an unfortunate fact that our families are in crisis. We are a long way from achieving our objective of reconciling work and family life. Earning a living must be organised around the family, rather than vice versa. Those who care for their own children or look after elderly family members need to have the framework conditions created for them so that the two can be interconnected. One key to better reconciliation of family and work lies of course in the partnership between husband and wife, both as regards the bringing up of children and housework as a whole. Even though we know that it cannot be enforced as a matter of policy, we have to keep coming back to it as a topic of discussion. Women still bear most of the burden bringing up a family, to which, along with domestic work, a higher value must be attached. It must be acknowledged as work of value to society and there must no longer be discrimination against it. It is vitally important that the members of a family should have more of a choice as to whether to do the household chores and look after children themselves or to delegate them to others. Families should have the option of bringing someone in to do some domestic work. That is why we need to recognise that private households, too, can create skilled employment for the labour market. If women choose to be home-makers, they must not be put at a disadvantage in terms of social security, that is, when it comes to a pension in later life. In order to make re-entry into the world of work easier after spending time on family responsibilities, vocational training opportunities must also be offered during parental leave. Those are just a few things that need adjusting, but many small cogs need to move if there is to be a successful balance and harmony between work and family life for both men and women.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, the paragraph 13 which emerged from the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market, states that the Legal Affairs Committee agreed to request biennial reporting, that is to say, reporting every two years. Whereas, perhaps owing to my curious accent, it was transcribed as “biannual”, which would require two reports a year and would be over-egging the pudding! I therefore request that this be orally amended to “biennial”. (Parliament accepted the oral amendment) (Parliament adopted the resolution) *** Report (A5-0125/2000) by Ms Smet and Ms Gröner, on behalf of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities, on the follow-up to the Beijing Action Platform (2000/2020(INI)) (Parliament adopted the resolution) *** President. – That concludes the vote. ***

Political group: Verts-ALE
I have today voted against Roberta Angelilli’s report on the communication from the Commission on an investigation concerning parental control of television broadcasting. If I do so, it is not because I am opposed to the report as such but because I should like to send a clear signal to the effect that the EU and the Commission should concentrate on their core tasks. It is not a task for the EU but for the Member States to take initiatives in this area. There are enough other pressing tasks for the Commission to expend its energies on.

Political group: PSE
Additionality is a major issue too in Wales, which I represent. Just last week it was one of the issues that brought about a vote of no-confidence and the resignation of the First Secretary of the National Assembly of Wales. As recently as 1991 and 1992 the Commission won a battle with the UK over additionality, at that time linked to the RECHAR funding. This led to an agreement being signed whereby the UK Government agreed to introduce procedures to ensure that EU spending reached the areas for which is was intended and was actually additional. And yet we still have these problems in Wales and in Scotland. Could the Commission look at this particular situation in relation to the agreement that was signed with the UK Government?

Political group: Verts-ALE
Madam President, I know you, like me, will share the concern that this week offers no opportunity to express our interest at what is occurring in Burma and, in particular, the sacrifice and suffering of Aung San Suu Kyi who is our Sakharov Prize winner. There has been a troika visit to Burma. I would urge you, President, as one of your first acts, to support the proposal that a political dialogue takes place urgently with Aung San Suu Kyi and her political party.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, I would like to thank the Commissioner for the assistance I have received from him and his staff. I would also like to thank the shadow rapporteurs, especially Mr Harbour, whom I again have had the privilege of working with; we work well together. As many Members will realise, this is the second phase in the reform of the Commission, a reform which this whole House has endorsed previously. If we believe in the reform process, we must endorse this second phase, which concerns the introduction, on a one-off basis, of the early retirement scheme for officials within the Commission. A proper retirement scheme will apply at a later date, but this particular one is on a one-off basis. If we believe in enlargement to accommodate the officials from accession countries, we must reduce the number of existing officials and do so within the existing budget. Also, if we believe in a modern, responsive, technically competent Commission, then we must look to bring in new blood to replace some of those officials who have not adapted or coped with the new technology. All this adds up to some people taking early retirement and to allowing new people and new blood in. But it also adds up to some of us within this House having to take decisions, which previously were not palatable. We have, however, to live in the real world and therefore we must take those decisions. Turning now to the amendments, that I will be supporting all the amendments except for two submitted by Mr Ferber. Initially I was reluctant to put my name to some of the amendments, as I was concerned that the inclusion of the other institutions might delay the implementation of the early retirement scheme. However, my fears have proved unfounded and I am hopeful that the scheme will be implemented in the second half of this year. It will also allow the other institutions to go ahead with implementing their own scheme. Turning to the two amendments submitted by Mr Ferber, first of all they have come in rather late in the day. Secondly, they were never raised or discussed within the committee. Apart from all that, I see these amendments as being submitted by a mean, narrow-minded individual who wants to put a spanner in the works. This is the only way I can really describe it. I cannot accept such a petty attempt to derail this whole process and I hope Parliament cannot accept such a petty attempt to derail the reform process of the Commission. Therefore I would ask the House to support this report as it stands.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, it is important for the European Parliament to obtain a Statute governing MEPs’ conditions. It is also important for us to obtain a system that is transparent and that our electorate can scrutinise. What, above all, have been stumbling blocks for us, as Swedish Social Democrats, are the cut-and-dried travel allowances, the salary level, the Community tax and the lack of transparency. We have set down a number of absolute requirements as conditions of our supporting a new Statute for Members: firstly, that we can continue to pay tax in Sweden; secondly, that there be reformed travel allowance systems based upon actual expenses; and, thirdly, that we obtain a system that is open, that can be monitored and that our electorate can scrutinise. The proposal now before us contains a great deal of what we wished for, but it departs from what we want on one crucial point, namely when it comes to the possibility of paying national tax. In the vote, we shall support an amendment aimed precisely at retaining the right to pay national tax. If this proposal is rejected, we shall unfortunately be forced to vote against the whole proposal.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner, first of all, I wish to emphasise the need for transparency, information and simplification in the field of Community grants. Secondly, I should like to highlight the importance of a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women, in activities as important as integrating the gender perspective into education, sport, health, social protection, cooperation with women’s associations in third countries, without detracting from the important work of the European Women’s Lobby. I would also emphasise the need for more actions to combat violence because this is an obstacle to equality and to the recognition of women’s dignity. Lastly, I regret that the funds for these actions are still so limited, which reveals an ongoing lack of respect for the work undertaken to promote equality of rights and women’s opportunities in a huge range of fields. I would like a guarantee to be given now that the programme will be extended to 2008, because we must commit to continuing this extremely important work of promoting equality of rights and opportunities between men and women.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, during the last plenary sitting, we voted in favour of one of the greatest ventures ever undertaken by the European Union – the accession of ten new Member States. The challenges are not over yet, however. Our horizons are widening, our borders are expanding and the arrival of new Member States will spur the Union on further to consolidate relations with its new neighbours, such that – as I see it – in the coming years, the Union’s ability to provide its citizens with security, stability and sustainable development will depend on its desire and ability to step up and develop cooperation and dialogue with the new neighbouring countries. In this regard, the Wider Europe initiative draws our attention to the European Union’s new proximity policy, seeking to define a strategic framework for relations with the new neighbouring countries during the coming decade. Poland is one of the countries which have now reached the eve of their de facto accession to the European Union, and I am the rapporteur for Poland. As such, I particularly welcome the important role that this major border country will be able to play in developing neighbourly relations with countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and, above all, Russia, as President Kwasniewski said only today. Lastly, I had to mention the southern Mediterranean, which is of particular interest to a country such as Italy, almost all of whose territory borders on the Mediterranean Sea and which is thus a natural bridge linking the European Union and the countries of the southern Mediterranean. In conclusion, I hope that the Council and the Commission, together with the European Parliament, especially given the impending start of the Italian Presidency, will create better geopolitical conditions for carrying through the project for a renewed Europe, a Europe which is not just politically wider but which has grown in economic and social terms too, so that countries which are different but which have common interests make up a healthy whole, despite the differences in their history and individual experiences.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, we have taken good note of this decision by the Commission. We would have liked to have had the opportunity to discuss this matter with the Commission before it took the decision. We were not able to do so, but in any event, I wish to say that we have no objection, in principle, to the idea of closer cooperation, which would lead to more effective and more appropriate action by the European Union. There is, however, one specific question that I wish to raise, which is both a question and a fear: to what extent will the identity and visibility of the European Union become subordinated as a result of this cooperation, particularly in terms of defining guidelines to follow and, specifically, with regard to the agencies that are really behind all decisions taken in this area, by which I mean the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank? To what extent are we maintaining our independence from these institutions, which, as we know, have become greatly discredited?

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I have two things to say. The first is that I should like to thank both rapporteurs for their reports, which were well worth reading. Secondly, I should like to say directly to the Commission: stick to your guns, stick to your guns with the Council! Because the real problem is that the Council, that the Member States, are forever wanting to have their say on a matter which the Treaty says is your responsibility. Just imagine that the Americans had implemented their aid under the Marshall Plan after the war in such a way that for each sub-programme they had asked the Member States of the USA whether they, for example, ought to fund a reforestation project in the south-western part of Bavaria or not! It would probably have taken until the end of the last century to disburse the Marshall Plan aid. This is not what I want to happen to you. Mr Patten, stick to your guns! Parliament ought to support you on this. The Council or the Member States have a right to be consulted, but they do not have a right to co-decision. I suspect that this will also be the decisive issue for the Commission when history judges it one day. You will be judged on enlargement towards the east, but also on whether you create your own room for manoeuvre in external policy. Now we are not demanding a voice for the Commission alongside the United Kingdom or France on nuclear capabilities for example. But where the budget is concerned, the European Union's own budget, you are the executive. We should secure this position and defend it! In Parliament you should have an ally here!

Political group: PSE
Mr President, the report works on the basic assumption that the easily-accessible fresh water reserves have been largely opened up, that long-term water use and savings can be achieved by using economic leverage, and that this would promote the responsible use of water. This requirement can only be met on a world-wide basis. I do not see implementation of the report's objectives on pricing as the high road that we should be taking. Affordable prices are often saddled with negative associations. The cost of clean water depends on the right investments, on technical skill and on better success than hitherto in allocating tasks in accordance with the 'polluter pays' principle. The Member States are free to come to their own decisions. It will be difficult to keep to the timetable.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, Commissioner, you said that in the future, the main focus of cohesion will lie in the East and that a cohesion policy of this kind will only be possible if there are sufficient means available. Would you agree that we also need to allow sufficient time for this, because we know from experience that it takes time to develop regions? How can we rely on the Commission having the commitment to allow both time and money, in order to pre-empt the effects of the cohesion policy? EUR 4 billion are available in Category VIII for the year 2002. Would it not make sense to deploy this with a view to achieving cohesion in the East, even before enlargement takes place? Where do you stand on this?

Political group: Verts-ALE
I have a supplementary question concerning the Commission’s Information Office in Stockholm and its former head, Linda Steneberg. As the Commissioner must know, a criminal investigation is under way concerning financial irregularities at the Commission’s Office in Stockholm. The Swedish police have begun questioning a number of the employees and wish to question Mrs Steneberg, who has now been promoted and works for the Commission in Brussels. Mrs Steneberg is refusing to cooperate with the Swedish police and to travel to Stockholm for questioning. Is it not reasonable for you, as the people with responsibility, to call upon your employees, or even order them, to appear for questioning so that financial crime that has taken place within the Commission’s area of responsibility might be investigated?

Political group: GUE-NGL
I wanted to suggest to Mr Roche – and it is a great pleasure to see him here after many exchanges at the Convention – that the issue Mr Ortuondo Larrea raised, and with which we are dealing here, is a profound one. It is about the role and place of countries within Member States. The Irish presidency, not least because of its interest in the problems of Northern Ireland, but for other reasons as well, ought to give its mind and invite its colleagues to give their minds to the issue of the adequate and improved representation of countries of that kind.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, I wanted to draw this House’s attention to an event that is stirring up feeling in the hearts and minds of Italians. There is a terrorist – called Cesare Battisti – condemned in Italy for four murders by a judgment that has the force of ‘res judicata’. On 7 April, the French judiciary will have to decide whether or not to grant extradition of this terrorist to Italy. I have a great deal of respect for the judiciary but I believe that it would be a serious error not to grant extradition. It would be an attack on Europe, it would show that Europe is not a reality. It has been proven that terrorism has links in France, Italy and Spain. Young terrorists in Italy have struck more than once in recent years and are trained by Italian terrorists that are in jail. Not granting extradition would mean giving a negative signal to these people. I hope that everyone in this Parliament supports this call – even the left, given that today an important representative from the Italian left has spoken in very strong terms to call for the extradition of this terrorist.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, the British Conservatives support the thrust of this directive. New engines with lean-burn or common-rail technology need low-sulphur fuels as a technology enabler to allow advanced catalytic converters to function. It is a mistake, however, to extend this to non-road mobile machinery, for example, tractors and construction equipment. These are not fitted with catalytic converters yet, and so do not need this type of fuel. In fact, more CO2 will be produced at the refinery by additional processing. Fuel costs will go up by at least 10% – another burden for hard-pressed farmers to carry at a time when they can least take it. We are very disappointed that Amendments 10 and 13 were passed by Parliament.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Turkey was granted candidate status at the Helsinki Summit, but accession negotiations must go on hold until the necessary internal reforms have been introduced and the human rights situation complies with European principles. During your recent visit to Ankara, Commissioner Verheugen, you too drew attention to the fact that continuing human rights abuses, the failure to establish rule of law and the fact that no solution had been found to the Kurdish question stood in the way of Turkey’s accession to the EU in the near future. The unequivocal shortcomings in this area contrast with statements by Prime Minister Ecevit to the effect that Turkey may be ready to start accession negotiations in 2004. A number of factors which have been listed here several times already make this sort of prognosis appear premature. Even the fact that the head of government, Mr Ecevit, described Kurdish as a dialect of Turkish, despite the fact that the two languages have fundamentally different roots, is an indication of the hardening of the political situation in Turkey. The fact that all this has been accompanied by a recent offensive against the PKK in northern Iraq only adds to this impression. There can be no question of the European Union having any interest in increasing Islamic fundamentalism in Turkey or of wanting to encourage the Trotskyist PKK, which is also guilty of massive human rights violations, to engage in new clashes. However, one has the impression that anti-European forces within the army and the administration are behind the recent arrests and the new offensive against the PKK in northern Iraq in order to prevent Turkey from moving closer to Europe. This demonstrates in retrospect that the concessions made to Turkey in Helsinki were perhaps premature and that the strategy towards this country, which is so important to western security, needs to be reviewed.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, I would like to thank you for your words of condemnation and condolence. Of course, we also very much welcome the fact that you are prepared to visit the Basque Country. Madam President, murder and shootings in the back provide no solution for the problems of the Basque Country. Nor does the failure to condemn those people who carry out the most vile acts in this Europe which we are trying to build day by day – the Europe of freedom, security and justice. I am talking about the attacks on life, which is the most horrendous of all attacks on human rights.

Political group: PPE-DE