GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
The Turco report raises the issue of control of Europol. So too do the initiatives by the Danish and Greek Governments. The report argues for the latter to be rejected, however. It emerges from all this that there is no democratic control of Europol. This is not at all remarkable, as there is no democratic control over any national police force. In this respect as in many others, the European Union is a mere juxtaposition of states. The European institutions simply replicate the lack of democratic control of state institutions. Representatives are indeed elected, but I would challenge the House to name a Member State of the European Union in which elected institutions exercise real control over the police and the army hierarchy, or a State where the population as a whole exercises such control, which is far more important. There have been some attempts at proposals to change the situation, but these are doomed to failure. In such circumstances, the European Parliament is reduced to manifesting its impotence. We therefore abstained on this report.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, I suppose that the total absence of the Council must be a mark of respect so that we feel more comfortable during our own debates. Mr President, I will focus on the aspects relating to the financial perspectives. The 2002 budget has hardly begun to be implemented and we are already preparing for the launch of the 2003 budget and we can see that many of the problems of the last three financial years are reappearing, perhaps even in a more serious form. The financial perspectives are even less sufficient for the requirements. An exponential increase in activities is expected within a financial framework which has seen hardly any arithmetical growth. Ladies and gentlemen, on this issue, the great innovation of the 2003 procedure is that heading 5 – administrative expenses – is also bursting at the seams. In 1999, when we negotiated the current interinstitutional agreement, we managed to modify the figures in heading 5, but with perspectives which, as a result of shortsightedness, are now insufficient. The general forecasts, including those of the Council, exceed the ceiling of the financial perspectives by EUR 125 million, with the contribution of a growth of 9% for the budget of the Council, which will now ask for cuts, while criticising the bad execution of some policies. I would like to avoid cheap demagoguery, amongst other things, because there are no vast numbers of officials in Brussels, where the number of bureaucrats is less than those in the municipal authorities of Berlin, Stockholm or Madrid. Heading 4 – external policy – is still inevitably doomed to failure. Every year we have forced the flexibility instrument in order to implement external policy. Now we are attaching increasing importance to the fight against poverty, which is a great thing, but which is essentially, in the current context, a reflection of the bad conscience of the wealthy Europeans, but we are not implementing external policy. And that is an issue of enormous concern to me. Finally, ladies and gentlemen, heading 7 poses a serious problem which is very easy to understand. Heading 7 – pre-accession – since 2002 only had to assist the five countries which were not then Members. And now, Mr President, we have ten candidate countries which are sharing the money intended for five, without taking account of the fact that Malta and Cyprus, on a whim of the Council, come within heading 4. All of this should be reviewed, Mr President. IN THE CHAIR: GERHARD SCHMIDVice-President

Political group: PSE
Mr President, institutional reform is on the agenda for Nice. Do you think that the Austrian model, i.e. bilateral majority resolutions, will be used in future as a way of passing resolutions which bypass the European institutions and of forming a new institution or a new group in order to circumvent unanimity in the Council? I have a supplementary question: how do you behave towards extreme left-wing parties and what is your opinion of them?

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Commissioner Schreyer, ‘gender budgeting’ must become more than a mere linguistic monstrosity. I ask and urge you to ensure that the principle of gender equality permeates this budget. Gender mainstreaming must be put into practice and must be made quantifiable in terms of euros. In the European Community, more women are victims of violence within the family than are victims of terrorism. For this reason, we call for 2006 to be declared the European Year against Violence. We want the Beijing +10 review to be used as a means of fleshing out the Beijing Platform for Action, and we want the results of the World Conference on Women to be implemented by a European Conference, for example, which would develop additional strategies. We also call for a European Gender Institute, which would compile reliable data as a basis for our political decisions. We expect the Commission to apply gender mainstreaming in all areas of political activity, and the 2005 budget, the first in the greater European Union, should provide us with the main indicators of its application.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, it is approximately a hundred years since the labour movement in Europe demanded statutory working time. Eight hours’ work, eight hours’ leisure time and eight hours’ sleep were what were then demanded. Gradually, that programme was implemented. It was important in many ways, because it meant that companies stopped competing on the basis of working time. They had to compete in other areas instead. It also meant that workers were protected and that society was given a fixed framework for work, schooling, leisure and other activities. I am really shocked that the Group of the European People’s Party , together with several other political groups, seem to want to break with this tradition and, instead, go back to the situation that existed a hundred years ago when a voluntary ethos prevailed in the labour market. I note that there is no talk of voluntary agreements between trade unions and employers’ organisations. Instead, the talk is of voluntary agreements between individual employees and individual employers. That is a retrograde step that is incomprehensible. I do not understand how people can argue in that way or put forward a proposal along those lines. It is deeply irresponsible and will lead to strife and conflict in the labour markets. In a labour market so exposed to competition, it will lead to a situation in which people are forced to take jobs on the conditions that apply. Call it voluntary or involuntary, but the fact is that, in a labour market exposed to competition, people may expect to have a pre-determined market value. They have to take what is on offer. So much for matters being voluntary. As many have said, family life is also affected. Parents are forced to work hours that make it difficult to combine work and family life and take care of their children. I also want to add that all of us, as consumers, are affected. This has not been emphasised so much, but we are in danger, for example, of being injured when we are operated on by exhausted surgeons or of being run over when we encounter lorry drivers that are half asleep. We are all victims of stress and of pressure at work. It would be much better for all parties if we could agree to put an end to these opt-outs obtained by the United Kingdom at the time when the directive was adopted. In actual fact, they were contrary to the rule concerning competition under equal conditions. Now, employers in other countries are saying, ‘If the United Kingdom can have opt-outs, we too want opt-outs.’ This will lead to the exception becoming the rule. That is not something we can live with. We must therefore call a halt and instead go down the opposite route. We must remove the United Kingdom’s opt-out and find other ways of solving these flexibility problems, for we cannot cope successfully without labour legislation that is applicable across the board.

Political group: GUE-NGL
I should like to thank Commissioner Schreyer for her constructive answer to my question. In my capacity as rapporteur for the Budget, I was naturally able to discuss this with Mrs Schreyer in connection with the debate on the 2003 Budget, but I preferred to deal with the issue in the form of questions, for this is a much bigger problem and one that is much more a matter of principle. The budgetary authority makes decisions about regional and aid policy because we want to achieve something in terms of employment in poor regions and in terms of aid to the world’s poor countries. If we discover that a large part of what we have in fact made decisions about is not being implemented, then that is a major democratic problem which can lead to a decline in people’s confidence in the EU. I therefore believe that we must get the Member States, the Council, the Commission and Parliament to implement an action plan together in order for conditions really to be changed. I also have a final question for Mrs Schreyer. Does the Commission think that the Member States are sufficiently prepared to really do something about the problems? Sometimes, I get the feeling that the Finance Ministers of the Member States are enthusiastic mostly about the fact that they are getting money back. Is there a genuine desire to really do something about the problems together with the Commission and Parliament?

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, I should like to begin by congratulating Carlo Fatuzzo on his excellent work, and in particular on his efforts to introduce the many amendments suggested. In my view, the stereotype of old age has itself become old and outdated. It bears no relation to contemporary society. If asked to think of someone aged 60 or 65, one does not conjure up a picture of a decrepit individual whose physical and mental capacities are significantly impaired. That longer life span, extending well beyond the age of 65, represents a considerable achievement as regards culture, society, health and economics. Nonetheless, this achievement may become a problem if we fail to appreciate its deeper meaning and adapt accordingly. It is important to take advantage of its full potential. It has been said that ageing is the most far-reaching social phenomenon of the beginning of this century. As Mrs Hermange already stated, the ratio between the potentially active population and that over the age of 65, currently 4 to 1 in many Member States, will become 2 to 1 towards the year 2050. It is essential to adjust to such changes so as to minimise their negative aspects. Achievements in the areas of culture, society, health and economics mean senior citizens should be able to enjoy a good quality of life at that age too, and society should benefit from their experience and wisdom. It will therefore be necessary to provide for a combination of public pensions and offer older people the opportunity to work if they so wish. Flexible working patterns and equal opportunities are very important in this connection and need to be promoted. Women often work on a part-time basis, or may have done so in the past. Sometimes they join the labour force later in life, or return to it after perhaps bringing up a family. I believe the best approach is an open method of coordination. This makes it possible to approximate legislation on social matters between Member States. It also makes it possible to ensure that these people do not endure poverty at that stage of their lives. In addition, it facilitates mobility by recognising that pensions can be exported, as stated just recently at the Barcelona Council. Further, it also allows the skills of the so-called third age to be put to good use through social ventures and voluntary work, though not exclusively in these areas. Above all, it means senior citizens can be encouraged to be actively involved in the workplace, by promoting the policy of gender equality, as I said earlier.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, I am sorry, but I only joined yesterday, so I would ask your forgiveness and I hope I will be quicker next time. Commissioner, I am a new Aragonese Member, and therefore, as you can imagine, we are greatly affected by the NHP, amongst other things because the intention is to take water from our region. If I have understood you correctly, you have said that there is no data on how it is going to affect prices, but there are estimates. Is it possible to obtain these estimates?

Political group: Verts-ALE
Lifelong learning, work and the elderly are all highly important subjects that are highlighted in this report, and employment strategies are vital. We want more jobs, but also better-adapted jobs. The fight against poverty is key. We cannot accept that families should still be living below the poverty line today. It is a matter of solidarity. The objectives we set must be accessible. We need to invest in high-quality services so that women can reconcile employment with family obligations. We need a more effective partnership between the Member States. In order to foster the participation of women in social life and the labour market, we need to define a series of specific actions aiming to provide services that correspond to childcare needs, but which also enable us to provide assistance for families with other dependents. It is essential to invest in public services in order to respond to the needs of families and society as a whole and it is vital for all the actors concerned to be involved in implementing employment strategy. Furthermore, the existence of high-quality public services requires appropriate taxation.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, I believe that Commissioner Patten has focused the debate perfectly. We have the choice of either indulging in sterile argument, accusing each other of being irresponsible – which reminds me of the old medieval arguments about how many angels fit on the point of a needle – or of the international community, in general, and the European Union, in particular, mobilising the best of its efforts in order to restore security, stability and democracy in Iraq. And let there be no mistake, the democratisation of Iraq is not the exclusive competence of the United States: it is a responsibility which falls to the international community and as such is a worldwide need. I believe – like Mrs Bonino – that it is essential that we are very careful about what we say. The cowardly terrorist attack which killed the United Nations representative, Mr Vieira de Mello, the Spanish naval captain, Mr Martín Oar, and other people, can in no way be compared to an act of resistance. It is an act of terrorism pure and simple. Since when, Mr President, has radical Islamic terrorism required a pretext for committing its horrendous attacks? I believe that Mr Patten has made a statement loaded with pragmatism and good sense and I, if I had to consider any aspect as urgent – apart from security – would place the emphasis on infrastructures because, being an inert system, it makes accumulated backlogs irrecoverable. Water, electricity and telecommunications services and spare parts are a great challenge for the international community, and I am sure that what the European Union must do is demonstrate at the Madrid meeting the financial commitment which lives up to the ambitions, Mr President, which were expressed to us this morning in this House by Mr Giscard d'Estaing in a style befitting a world leader when he presented us with the draft European Constitution.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, this is a very timely report. We know the importance of the entry of third-country nationals for temporary periods of study, which brings enormous benefits and advantages for the host country and the student alike. The number of students undertaking such international exchanges is greater than ever and demand continues to grow. This must be welcomed by all sides, apart from the previous speaker. Indeed we need to put into place measures to ensure that the European Union continues to remain a centre of excellence in this field. I congratulate the rapporteur on this report. It sets a broad framework to encourage third-country nationals to enjoy the best educational facilities available in Member States without over-prescribing and over-regulating. Common practices to facilitate the movement of third-country nationals can only be a good thing. However, I am afraid certain elements of this proposal are problematic for my country, the United Kingdom. Colleagues will be aware that the United Kingdom and the English language have a magnetic appeal for huge numbers of students, not just from European Union countries, but from all over the world. Whilst this is welcomed and understandable, it creates special challenges, not least of which are the proposals here and how they affect the national minimum wage in the United Kingdom. The national minimum wage is one of the greatest steps forward in the United Kingdom since 1997. It requires employers not to take on third-country nationals unless they are paid at least the going rate for the job. Unfortunately aspects of this report, referring to volunteers, undermine the minimum wage in the United Kingdom, which seeks to protect the rights of both migrants and nationals, ensuring that those engaged on a voluntary basis, without adequate conditions of service, are not there in place of a full- or part-time worker. The concerns are specific to the United Kingdom. In general the report is balanced and sensible. I shall be voting for it in the hope that the UK will be joining later on, as in other cases.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, the ceasefire agreed on 29 January of this year in Nepal between the government and the Maoists lasted only seven months. As long ago as March, both sides were given a code of conduct, whereupon rebel leaders were released from prison. Three rounds of negotiations resulted in the Maoists abandoning their demand for the abolition of the monarchy. The government produced a framework for reform of the state; I have its road map and objectives in my hand as I speak. It provides for round table conferences involving all parties, as well as prompt elections to the national parliament, new structures featuring regional self-government, the introduction of the market economy and education and employment rights for ethnic groups and people with disabilities, all of which adds up to a substantial package. In August 2003, though, the Maoists ended the ceasefire, since which time three hundred people have been killed, twenty-five of them last weekend alone, and acts of intimidation, extortion, serious fighting and murders have become daily occurrences in Nepal. For the first time, foreigners have been abducted and shots fired at tourists. In this country, so heavily dependent on tourism, the situation is becoming more tragic. The Group of the European People’s Party calls on the Maoists to renew the ceasefire once and for all and to return to the negotiating table. Should the two sides need a mediator from outside, the EU is eminently capable of performing that role, we Europeans enjoying a high degree of acceptance throughout South-East Asia. We therefore call on the Council to appoint a special ambassador to Nepal, with which, Commissioner Lamy, the Commission must build up the EU’s relations. One first and important step would be for the staff complement in the new office in Katmandu to be increased. Although putting an end to the civil war is the first priority, at no time must respect for human rights be neglected. Democracy must be extended, reforms acceptable to people at the grass roots must be implemented, and minorities must be treated with respect, particularly the Bhutanese refugees in the camps that Parliament’s delegation to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) visited, the funding of which by the UNHCR is evidently no longer certain. The minorities also include refugees from Tibet, who have been obliged to leave their homeland in fear of their lives, and who pass through Nepal on their way to India. According to the information I have received, the handing over to the Chinese of eighteen Tibetans was an exceptional occurrence – let us hope that it remains one. The Nepalese government must guarantee that deportations will be prevented, and all refugees from Bhutan and Tibet must be guaranteed protection under international human rights agreements. (Applause)

Political group: PPE-DE
The Group supported the Lisi report. However, we maintain serious reservations with regard to the Commission's proposal on air passenger compensation for the following reasons: 1) The Commission's proposal has not undergone a proper economic impact assessment, to determine the potential effect on ticket prices and consumer choice. Such an assessment is fundamental to ensuring that the proposed system is sustainable in practice. 2) Both the proposal and Parliament's compromise fail to recognise the fundamental difference between the usual circumstances leading to denied boarding and those leading to cancellations. Whilst denied boarding usually results from deliberate overbooking, cancellation is very often due to circumstances beyond the airline's control – for example, air traffic control. Parliament's definition of ‘force majeure’ is an inadequate safeguard in this respect. Though one might argue that airlines should seek recourse against those actually responsible in such cases, this will be very complicated in practice. 3) Ultimately, particularly where budget carriers are concerned, it might be preferable to require airlines to offer consumers the option of paying a separate insurance premium, on top of the price of their ticket, thereby guaranteeing them compensation for cancellation and delay beyond the airline's control. - Beysen report (A5-0324/2002)

Political group: ELDR
Mr President, Commissioner Fischler, I hope that your proposal for reform of the common fisheries policy will be rejected by the Member States and by this House. I in fact hope that you will resign, because you are working in the interests of the northern countries, who regard themselves as the owners of the Community's waters, and because you are acting against the interests of the southern countries, such as Galicia for example, which are still considered to be intruders in their own European home. Your proposal should be rejected because it amounts to ignorant despotism, because it is not based on serious scientific studies about the preservation of resources, and because it enshrines a discriminatory principle of relative stability that runs counter to the treaties, granting 16% of normal Community catches to Member States like Denmark, whereas Spain has only 6%. No one would dare to propose what the Commissioner intends to do in the fisheries sector in any other sector of the economy. Commissioner, you should make way for another Commissioner who is less partisan, more open and aware of the needs of the fisheries sector, and who will bring forward measures that are compatible with genuine sustainable development.

Political group: Verts-ALE