GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
Mr President, our parliamentary group is totally in favour of a Members’ Statute. We have always been convinced that we need to establish a Statute that guarantees equal political and financial dignity for the representatives of Europe’s citizens. To this end, we have consistently followed and actively supported all the steps that have led to the current proposal now under discussion in the Council. I would also like to say, quite clearly, that we are opposed to any delaying tactics. The Confederal Group of the calls for this Statute to be approved as soon as possible. We feel that the principle of equality between MEPs is a necessary element of justice and transparency for our citizens. Obviously, as is the case for all compromise proposals, we are not entirely satisfied with the one under examination, but we will not fail to make a constructive contribution, which will be open to dialogue between all the Parliamentary groups. The issue that is still a matter of disagreement is the age of retirement. The current proposal is to give MEPs a pension at the age of 63, while the Confederal Group of the believes that the age should be lowered to 60. This proposal does not aim to protect the privileges of MEPs; we are putting forward the proposal because we are convinced that all European citizens should retire at the age of 60, at the very latest. My colleagues and I have always opposed reform of pension schemes based on an increase in the contributions period, which I consider to be unfair. We are convinced that there are sufficient financial resources to enable all European citizens, including MEPs, who are citizens like everyone else, to retire at the age of 60. As regards the principle of the single salary, we are convinced that it represents a principle of democracy and equal treatment. Why should an MEP from Estonia be paid far less than a German? At the same time, however, we realise that, in certain Member States of the European Union, this could give rise to untenable situations, where an MEP receives a salary several times greater than that of their President. This is why we have to be politically flexible. Perhaps we could close the gap between differing remuneration of MEPs by basing it on the monthly salaries of senior State offices in that particular country; but, for us, the principle of the single across-the-board salary is an irrevocable one. Finally, as regards the payment of the travelling expenses of MEPs, we would like to remind you that the Bureau of the European Parliament has drawn up a proposal that a majority in my group has asked to see put into practice when the Statute comes into force

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, the commitment of the European Union, repeated in the Schwaiger report, to the creation of a permanent labour forum between the International Labour Organisation and the World Trade Organisation on issues related to trade, globalisation and labour is the only way to accompany the liberalisation of commerce and trade in general with respect for fundamental labour rights, without slipping into egotistical, hypocritical protectionism or unfair, self-destructive competition. In this respect, the bilateral agreement that the United States has signed with China to prepare the way for China to join the World Trade Organisation must be regarded by the European Union, aside from as an important contribution to the multilateral process, also, and above all, as a fundamental opportunity to monitor the substantial importance that human rights have and will have regarding the opportunities afforded by a market that enjoys such enormous potential as the Chinese market. Let us remember, in this regard, that the 174 member countries of the ILO which, with the solemn declaration of 1998, undertook to comply with the four categories of fundamental labour rights, even where they did not ratify the conventions, are, in the main, also members of the WTO. Now, since the international bodies are what the Member States want them to be, it is legitimate to ask these same States to behave in a consistent manner throughout the fora. The desirable entry of China, which the European Union is also actively negotiating for, will certainly make the WTO more representative and will extend the potential ability to realise global free trade that is also regulated. Nevertheless, that does not mean deluding ourselves that many of the problems regarding fundamental rights in China have now been resolved or are being resolved, nor ignoring the fact that, in the past, the United States itself has had double standards regarding the request for the social clause to be complied with. It is, however, better that it is possible for the attempt to affirm these rights to be made within the walls of the international institutions, rather than in bilateral fora, according to what is convenient at the time.

Political group: PPE-DE
The issue of the place of the Tamils in Sri Lanka is a long-standing problem dating back to at least the year of independence in 1948. We have had agreements since then to grant autonomy to the Northeast Tamil region, which have been abrogated by the government. In this conflict, far too many people have died. There has been a growing catalogue of violence and human rights abuses on both sides – by the Tamil Tigers and, sadly, the government security forces. These are well documented by organisations such as Amnesty and the US Department of State in its 1999 Country Report. Young Tamil men in particular can find themselves being a victim of violent coercion by the Tamil Tigers and violent interrogation by the security services. It is clear that thousands of people have been displaced within Sri Lanka. Thousands more have sought asylum and the whole population lives in fear of violence. We cannot say what the exact state of affairs is at the moment as there is a complete media blackout in force as part of a set of new restrictive laws introduced in May. The resolution is clear. Those laws must be lifted before the elections in August. Something has to change. We have to do what we can to work for a peaceful and lasting settlement. It is clear that the international community is no longer prepared to see internal armed struggle as only a problem for the state concerned and that long-term political investment and negotiations are necessary rather than arms sales. Northern Ireland is a clear example of the difficulties of such a process, but also the possibilities. This resolution is important in its call for immediate cessation of hostilities and the lack of preconditions is a welcome move. The situation would also be helped by agreement between the Sri Lankan political parties themselves and we welcome the efforts of the Norwegian and other governments and feel that the Commonwealth could have a very valuable role to play in this situation.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Commissioner, thank you for your explanations. You appear to believe, Commissioner, that designations of prestige are not simply arbitrary labels placed on bottles, but appellations of prestige matured by art, science and weather. You have just said, however, that these appellations can now be used by third countries provided that they fulfil a raft of criteria, a set of requirements that you have just listed for us. You even appear to believe that these requirements will protect us from adulteration, counterfeit and fraud. I, however, do not believe this, Commissioner! This will open the floodgates for serious damage in future to a very large demarcated region, the first in the world, the Port Wines region, which alone accounts for one-fifth of Portugal’s agricultural exports. I am sorry that I cannot agree with you, Commissioner, but I am not sure that the requirements and guarantees that you have given us by means of this regulation will really protect the quality of these traditional appellations.

Political group: PSE
Madam President. I wish to congratulate Mr Berlusconi on his splendid victory in the Italian elections. I hope that Mr Michel, the current Foreign Minister of Belgium, and his fellow travellers, the left-wing European press, will now shut up and respect the democratic choice of the Italian people with no more calls for Austria-style sanctions or interference by the EU. I should like to remind the new Italian government of the commitment made by the previous government of Mr Amato and supported by all the MEPs of the governing coalition here in this House to end the shameful perpetual exile of the Royal House of Savoy and allow them to return to their country of origin by amending the Italian Constitution as soon as possible. * * *

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Commissioner, I would like to start by congratulating Mr Varela on his far-sighted report, which was accepted by the entire committee, and Mr Cunha, who has also done an excellent job. However, it cannot be denied that, as has already been mentioned, the points and issues we are discussing today are the same as those dealt with by the Gallagher and Poignant reports. I will not go back over the technical reasons why these issues are sensitive: the 6/12 mile limits, protected areas, maintaining the principle of relative stability, regionalisation which can somehow be interpreted as renationalisation. I, too, see the nature of these issues as very specific and share the view stressed by my fellow Members that they are sensitive. With regard to this, I repeat that, for the very reason that we are going through a period of reform – and if we are carrying out reforms then it is because our current strategy is not working or the possibility of reform would not arise – we must be very aware that we cannot leave everything as it is, nor, moreover, can we continue to be inconsistent in our recommendations. In this regard, the Group of the European People’s Party has tabled amendments aimed precisely at achieving greater coherence between the positions. I would, however, make one entreaty to the Commissioner and to all of us: it is important that a balance is found, for a major political reason apart from anything else. At the last part-session in December, we all – Commission and Parliament – criticised Nice because the countries' desire to protect their own national interests took root once again and we condemned that Council for placing the Community method in crisis. Now we must work to ensure that a common policy is genuinely achieved in this typical sector, but in order to do so we must respond to those who are complaining – namely the operators – that there is insufficient participation or backing for the choices made, therefore that there is no cooperation in the decision-making process. If we do this, we will be able to prove – and I am convinced that we are capable of doing so – that it is possible to achieve a sound common policy, valuing differences rather than penalising them and involving the operators of all the Member States, particularly the fisheries operators in all their diversity.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, it is probably in order for myself, as draftsperson of the opinion of the Committee, to say that we have done our best to fulfil both the Council’s and the Commission’s desire to get this proposal through quickly. We have worked a little too quickly. In the course of yesterday’s debate, we did not, unfortunately, obtain clarity on those issues which really need to be clarified by the Council and the Commission. We therefore want the matter re-referred to ourselves. We are ready to ensure that it can be put to the vote during the November part-session so that it may, in that way, also be possible for it to be adopted during the French Presidency. I therefore support Mrs Eriksson’s proposal on behalf of the Committee. (Parliament decided to refer the matter back to the Committee responsible) * * * Report (A5-0277/2000) by Mrs Sartori, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the Commission report to the Council and to the European Parliament on the review of the single facility providing medium-term financial assistance for Member States’ balances of payments (Council Regulation (EEC) No 1969/88) [COM(1999) 628 – C5-0307/2000 – 2000/0807(CNS)] (Parliament adopted the resolution) * * * Report (A5-0195/2000) by Mr Klaß, on behalf of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 68/193/EEC on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine [COM(2000) 59 – C5-0090/2000 – 2000/0036(CNS)] (Parliament adopted the legislative resolution) * * * Report (A5-0290/2000) by Mr Riis-Jørgensen, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the Commission’s XXIXth report on Competition Policy – 1999 [SEC(2000) 720 – C5-0302/2000 – 2000/2153(COS)] (Parliament adopted the resolution) * * * Report (A5-0281/2000) by Mr Jonathan Evans, on behalf of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on the Commission’s eighth survey on state aid in the European Union [COM(2000) 205 – C5-0430/2000 – 2000/2211(COS)] Amendment No 3:

Political group: PSE
There is a desperate need for financial support for all eastern European countries, where, over the past decade, economies have collapsed and where no great improvements are expected in the foreseeable future. Bosnia-Herzegovina is a special case. Since 1992, when the separation of this former Turkish province from Yugoslavia gained international approval, attempts have been made continually from the outside to create one state and to gather support from that country’s inhabitants for this purpose. In actual fact, however, it is a state that does not belong to anyone. It is a country simply made up of ethnic minorities. Only the largest minority wanted this country and considers this as the country of the people who were Islamised under Turkish rule. The two other groups, who felt slighted in the Turkish era, now feel more in tune with the neighbouring states Serbia or Croatia. They experience the state borders that separate them from these countries these days as hindrances, and would like to see them removed as quickly as possible. The latest election result is still being counted, but it is expected that the electorate has once again voted for different, conflicting nationalist movements, and that, in other words, the three groups each want a separate future. How long do we intend to keep that country artificially alive with military power, leaders appointed from outside and external sources of funding? Our attempts will eventually result in failure once that country has survived the present difficult time. Heaton-Harris report (A5-284/2002)

Political group: GUE-NGL
Extradition procedures between Member States cannot, in practice, be extinguished without common minimal standards for procedural law in order to guarantee fundamental rights. The rejection of the amendment requiring that Member States reach such an agreement means that the report, which is serious and important, is fundamentally flawed. This is of such fundamental importance to European citizens that regrettably this has prevented me from voting in favour of this report.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to make a couple of short remarks about the proposals currently on the table. I think that there is more than one aim; emissions are not the only factor. Some facts have just been presented that show that the issue of emissions on the one hand, and the facts and the proposals to limit the European standards for heavy goods vehicles on the other, is somewhat problematic. Noise, too, constitutes a nuisance. For that reason, I do not think that it is a good idea, for example, to replace the clause relating to Austrian territory as a whole with the Austrian passes, as the Council is proposing. An arrangement should be put in place that applies to all Alpine regions, not just a couple of passes. In my opinion – and I hail from the Netherlands, one of the countries from which transit traffic originates – this will undoubtedly result in people looking for secret routes through the Alpine region, which may then be exempted. That will not help matters at all. Some people say that there is no place for the ecopoint system of exemptions within the framework of freedom of movement. I would point out that we should like to see a different system, which would apply across the board: that is to say, pricing. This was agreed on in the White Paper, but, having now participated in the debates in this House tens of times in my four years as a Member, I do not anticipate a conclusive approach just like that in the very short term or even the longer term, and, in that context, some caution is in order. I think that, all things considered, Parliament is going a long way in the right direction. It is very clear that we are anxious to find a solution. Let us then proceed to conciliation: the positions of the Council and the countries concerned still differ, as everyone is aware, and that means that we have to find a satisfactory solution in conciliation by the end of this year.

Political group: Verts-ALE
I would also like to welcome Mr Haarder in his new role. I was spurred into action by Mr Haarder saying that he did not wish to awaken hope in some countries like Georgia, to which Mr Dupuis referred. I know from my experience of Romania – which is 11th or 12th in the list of countries waiting to join the EU – that the one thing that holds that country together is the light at the end of the tunnel, the hope that it will be able to join the European Union, its rich neighbours, in a prosperous club. If you are saying to other countries – whether Georgia or some of the former Yugoslav Republics – that we will not awaken hope for them, is there not the danger that they will be pushed into unrest, internal strife, possibly violence, and the pressures for migration to the West will be increased? President-in-Office, would you clarify the position?

Political group: PSE
I abstained during the final vote on the two reports by Mr Zappalà. First of all, I would like to point out that I share Mr Watson’s view regarding the need to reform the European Parliament’s working practices. It is quite simply impossible to vote, with full knowledge of the facts, on hundreds of amendments in one hour of voting time. In fact, this is only a parody of democracy. As far as public procurement is concerned, Parliament’s amendments, even though I appreciate the reasons behind them, make the work of the contracting authorities unnecessarily complicated. Public tendering was devised to ensure optimum use of public monies. Yet, in trying to meet all kinds of political objectives through an award procedure that seeks to seek out the lowest bidder, Europe will end up with excessive bureaucracy, both for companies and for the public authorities.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, Tunisia has undertaken, within the framework of its association agreement with the European Union, to respect human rights and democratic principles. Following numerous violations of human rights in Tunisia, Parliament adopted a resolution on 15 June 2000. But the facts remain. Even if a few passports have been returned, even if President Ben Ali delivered a speech on the freedom of the press and improved prison conditions on the anniversary of his taking power, there has been a marked deterioration in the human rights situation in Tunisia. The human rights league has been suspended, its premises placed under seal and its president, Moktar Trifi, has been summoned to appear in court, as you have just heard, on 25 December. The Secretary-General of the league, Khemaïs Ksila, who has already spent two years in prison, has been sentenced to a heavy fine which he cannot afford to pay and therefore risks another spell in prison. The spokesman of the Tunisian National Council for Liberties, Professor Moncef Marzouki, is due to appear in court this week, on 16 December, and risks ten years in prison. The civil association RAID ATTAC Tunisia, the leaders of which were imprisoned at the beginning of the year, has still not been authorised. The Aloes publishing house, which has been closed down several times, is prevented from publishing freely. The lawyer acting for many political prisoners, Radhia Nasraoui, cannot visit her clients in prison. When militants and those in charge of these associations decide to meet in order to celebrate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, their houses are surrounded by police and anyone trying to enter is harassed in the street by men dressed in civilian clothes. These men and women are the Sakharovs, the Vaclav Havels, Abraham Serfatis and Nelson Mandelas of our times. We should be at their side because they are defending the values which we hold dear and which the Tunisian Government and authorities have promised to respect under the association agreement. We therefore call on the Commission to ensure that the terms agreed and undertakings made under this agreement are respected. We call on it to intervene as a matter of urgency in the cases which we have cited and which give us the greatest cause for concern. Finally, we call on the Commission to re-examine the conditions under which the MEDA Democracy programme is being applied because we find it incredible that the Tunisian authorities have retained a right of control. As with the countries of the former Yugoslavia, we think that the Union should be able to provide direct support to newspapers, publishing houses and independent democratic associations.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, I welcome the report on the Commission communication on the concrete objectives of education and training systems. I would like to thank the rapporteur for her conscientious work. In line with the goals of the Lisbon and Stockholm European Councils, it is vitally important that we enable the generation of young Europeans to choose European research careers and European scientific disciplines. I also agree that companies have to play a key role in training students and employees. However, before submitting the report we should pay attention to the following points. There seems to be a gap between the proposals in this report and the progress made by the Commission and its expert group so far. My understanding is that the Commission has already started its work on social inclusion and reset its goals on the Leonardo da Vinci programme by, for example, including older people and disabled people within its scope. This is welcome. We look forward to the European Year of Disability in 2003. In addition to that, one should not neglect the efforts made by the Commission on cooperation with the candidate countries at all levels. While not wanting to undermine the good work of the Commission, I must say that more can be done. We should also underline the importance of encouraging increased integration of European Union, Member States and regional initiatives in order to make efficient use of the relatively small budget for education and training systems. In this respect I would suggest better cooperation between the different kinds of funding and an exchange of best practice, together with better dialogue between the supranational, national and regional decision-makers within the Community. Finally, I would like to see more attention paid to the lack of equal opportunities for all individuals to experience better European integration throughout their professional lives. There are possibilities within the budget to facilitate exchanges of experience of vocational training systems in the different Member States. I encourage this. Europe can offer better education for everybody. Parliament's report should not forget to underline that.

Political group: Verts-ALE