GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
By a majority of 229 votes to 209, we have rejected the Jarzembowski report. Had we approved it, we should have run the risk of seeing disasters like those involving the Erika, the Tricolor or the Prestige, which have hitherto occurred exclusively in offshore waters, starting to happen within the confines of our European ports. I welcome the rejection of this directive. In practice, it would have achieved nothing more or less than a proliferation of ports of convenience and widespread social dumping, to the detriment of safety, the workforce and the environment. It would have authorised shippers to use inexperienced, untrained and temporary labour to handle their own cargo. It would have undermined the terms of employment of port employees, especially of dockers. The same applies to employees in other trades, such as pilots, tug masters and inshore pilots, the quality and independence of whose services were jeopardised by the draft directive. The dockers had put us on guard against the dangers of this directive with a wave of Europe-wide strikes. Within a single week, more than 20 000 signatures were collected on a European petition against the liberalisation of port services, reflecting the anxiety of everyone in the sector. It is up to us politicians to continue listening to these professionals and to develop public port services on a European scale, which are the only possible guarantor of safety, legality, continuity and quality, of the preservation of past achievements in the field of social welfare and of respect for the environment. Let us hope that this defeat for the advocates of liberalism will be decisive and not merely a temporary respite.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, what can we say in response to the tragedy that is unfolding in the Middle East as we speak, other than to state our belief that the escalation to the use of extreme violence can only lead to increased levels of already unbearable suffering for the people of all backgrounds. Under these circumstances, we can only, first of all, support the very firm positions adopted by the President of the United States of America, who, as we all know, is the only person who can now really influence the decisions taken by Ariel Sharon. Secondly, and in order to consolidate this support, we can only call on the Council and the Commission to use all the resources at their disposal to facilitate a return to peace, bearing in mind the possibility of suspending the Association Agreements. Third and finally, we must urge the governments of the European Union to organise immediately their participation in implementing a peacekeeping force should the United Nations Security Council decide to use this option. I recall that I once said, in this very Chamber, to our colleagues in the Knesset that this was the only way to restore peace. It is on this basis, Mr President, that a motion for a compromise resolution was negotiated. Like you, Mr President, I hope that it receives as much unanimous support as possible.

Political group: PPE-DE
Since time immemorial, people have been involved in theatre in one form or other, and each nationality has developed it own preferences and forms of expression. I would therefore like to thank Mrs Fraisse for her initiative to map out the state of affairs with regard to performing arts in the EU and the candidate countries. Given the wide area and the many variations in the different countries, it is a valiant and successful effort. Nevertheless, I should like to make a few observations. Firstly, theatre exists by the grace of its producers, directors and actors, and I should like to add the theatre-going public to this list, for without an audience, there is no theatre. Many theatres and theatre forms have followers who unite in one way or another in ‘friends of ...’, and I believe that they too deserve a mention when the topic of supporting the dramatic arts is mooted. They offer incentives, information and bring theatre to the attention of a wide public. This aspect is, sadly, missing from the report. Secondly, I should also like to expressly draw your attention to the role of information technologies in modern theatre. Modern theatre productions increasingly incorporate modern technology in their performances. This trend deserves our attention and must certainly be included in fresh theatre policy, for it indeed pertains to a typically European task in the field of innovation. Thirdly, my group has major objections to the appeal for more financial support. We believe that enough attention is being given to this aspect by ‘Culture 2000’, the structural funds and the Socrates and Leonardo programmes, upon which the Commissioner, in fact, enlarged. Finally, more tax allowances for the mobility of those who are culturally active is a taboo subject in my group. We agree that double taxation is naturally exaggerated, but the award of special tax allowances would be a reason for us to abstain from Mrs Fraisse's entire report during the final vote.

Political group: ELDR
Mr President, yesterday morning, during a television programme broadcast from Milan called ‘Telelombardia’, a pensioner, Lucia, telephoned me and told me that she had been robbed on her way back from withdrawing her pension, as she does at the end of every month, and that, because of what had happened to her, she did not know how she was going to survive the month. You may ask me what the connection is with Mrs Paciotti’s report on data protection. Well then, reflecting on this matter, I said to myself, ‘We must vote for the Paciotti report on data protection because data protection is extremely important, but when will we, at last, have protection of pensioners, especially poor pensioners who, when they go to withdraw their pensions, are the victims of delinquency and violence which, for them, are extremely harmful? I hope that Mrs Paciotti will soon concern herself with pensioner protection as well as data protection.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, it is always a great pleasure to follow one of the Commission's chief apologists. I wonder how the people in the public gallery feel about the 5% – 8% of European taxpayers' money from the GBP 98 billion 2001 budget that the Commission controlled going missing through fraud, mismanagement or waste; about the EUR 15 billion surplus, money that could not be spent because of inefficient programming; about the specific problems that we found when we debated these points – specifically Eurocost comes to mind; about the leaked e-mails and memos within the Commission that show how bad the accounts actually were in 2001. About the promises we received of how things were going to get better for 2005 – but of course some Members forget that we are actually dealing with the accounts for 2001 and exactly how they were reflected. About a 1960s-vintage public-sector accounting system that was in urgent need of reform, and yet the only action the Commission would take was to suspend one of the people who was brought in to carry out that reform. The only sensible recourse for us to take is to postpone discharge, and we need to have much deeper inquiries into the accounting systems reforms that have been put forward so far. Mrs Morgan said that she and her group are facing problems head-on. What they are actually doing is lifting up the carpet for the Commission to sweep its problems under. The Socialist Group should be ashamed of the position it has taken over the last few months, because it has known full well that it was going all along to grant discharge no matter how bad the accounts for 2001 proved to be. It will come to pay the price in the 2004 European elections.

Political group: PPE-DE
The report on progress with the CFSP is being debated to the sound of war drums beating on the other side of the Atlantic. The USA has stated that it is determined to proceed with its attack on Iraq, its aim being to control the oil supply in the area and impose its supremacy. The report points the way for ΕU action: closer collaboration with the USA and stronger trans-Atlantic relations. Greater militarisation of ΕU institutions, more military spending by Member States, military action to prevent and manage crises. Alliances under the umbrella of ΝΑΤΟ and the orders of the USA in order to silence the people and anyone who gets in the way of their imperialist interests. The EU's imperialist policy has already shown its face in Bosnia, Serbia, Afghanistan and elsewhere. The objections expressed so far to the EU's again becoming involved in an attack on Iraq are objections by imperialist interests and hence objections to the unilateral nature of the action by the USA rather than the war itself. We are worried that the ΕU is prepared to take part in this dirty imperialist war if it is promised a share of the spoils. We say no to war. We want peace, de-escalation and disarmament. We are fighting alongside the people of Europe to put a stop to more imperialist wars. The Communist Party of Greece will be voting against the Brok report.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, firstly I would like to say that, through political pragmatism and through loyalty to the work that we do with the other groups in this House, we will support a joint resolution which basically supports the decision of the Council of Europe and the sending of a joint delegation from the Duma and the European Parliament. We must also say that we do not share this kind of silence on the part of the European Parliament which is spreading to all these issues like a low mist which obscures everything. We have even noted that the Council of Europe itself is showing more courage than this Parliament. What has happened in Chechnya is shameful, the crushing of a whole people, and it is also shameful that this House has had to listen to ‘Mr CFSP’ talking about issues such as ‘the proportionate use of force’ or recommending that the Russian authorities lessen the intensity of the conflict. What is a proportionate use of force in a case such as Chechnya? What proportion are we talking about? This is unacceptable. What is meant by lessening the intensity of the conflict in Chechnya? Perhaps stopping the massacre of women and children? Perhaps stopping the bombing of hospitals? Please explain this to us. Of course, we still believe that there is sufficient reason to suspend the partnership and cooperation agreement on the basis of the human rights clause. I would like to end by saying that I fully agree with what Mr Cohn-Bendit said in this House: in this Europe and this World which we want to build, let us have no more masking of attacks on entire peoples on the grounds of their being internal matters. We have had enough of excuses of this type. There is no such thing as internal affairs in this world we want to build. Either we have human rights or we do not have human rights.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, Commissioner, on behalf of the Group of the , I too would like to express our solidarity with the people of Honduras, Nicaragua and Cuba, whose countries have been tragically devastated by the effects of hurricane Michelle. Along with Iris, on 8 October, and Mitch, which we have not forgotten, this hurricane is one of a long list of natural disasters which regularly affect areas which are already suffering, adding tragedy to poverty. These disasters, termed natural disasters, are a further reminder that climate change and non-sustainable development exacerbate the already substantial devastation and will continue to do so in the future. Although the European Union is to be congratulated on the aid it is sending to Honduras and Nicaragua, it must be noted that Cuba is totally excluded from this demonstration of solidarity. Cuba, which has suffered its worst disaster in 50 years, is unable to receive our help, for it is the only country in Latin and Central America which does not have a cooperation agreement with the European Union. This situation is no longer appropriate: it is our duty to restate the need for a cooperation agreement focusing on environmentally sustainable development to be signed with Cuba without delay, and to review the European Union’s position. We advocate equal treatment for all countries, and Cuba is certainly not benefiting from the same treatment as other countries. Moreover, the American embargo on relations with the island is preventing it from buying the food and medical supplies so desperately needed by the people of Cuba. The pharmacies are empty and there is a shortage of everything in the hospitals. We cannot tolerate a situation which deprives an entire people of the aid received by neighbouring countries which have suffered the same disasters. In order to change this, we must also support the call for the embargo against Cuba to be lifted.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, there is one problem whose urgency is clear for millions of workers in the European Union: attacks on pensions. This problem is not limited to the workers of France, who will be on strike and holding demonstrations tomorrow: it also concerns the workers of Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy and everywhere in Europe, where governments are trying to raise the retirement age while reducing pensions. Raising the retirement age means that people who have retained their jobs to the end will die in harness, and that people no longer wanted by their employers will finish their active lives on the dole. What can the reason be for this retrograde step on the part of society? Can the European Union have become such a poor and underdeveloped region that it cannot provide for the twilight years of those worn out by work? I maintain that it is possible to provide proper pensions for all, if more taxes are imposed on employers. I should like to pledge solidarity with all those, throughout the European Union, who refuse to favour capital and who do not agree that it should be possible to possess capital at the expense of salaried employees. (Applause)

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, I want first of all to say that I am here as a representative of the Group of the , which is meeting now. I want to say to Commissioner Nielson that his presentation was music to my ears. Three things, in particular, caught my attention. First of all, he promises openness and modernity; openness is incredibly important, since ECHO is among the highest-profile organisations of the European Union. Secondly, he also promises increased cooperation with the United Nations and the Red Cross; this is also important and has been needed for a long time. Thirdly, he anticipates too a more integrated view of humanitarian aid in foreign policy generally, designed to prevent conflict, which I believe is necessary. My question is this: is the Commissioner prepared, in anticipation of the report also promised for June 2000, continually to consult in one form or another with Parliament and with any non-governmental organisations concerned?

Political group: PSE
I just wanted to complain about the quality of sound reproduction. There is a bad echo in the Chamber, as a result of which we can hardly hear those speaking in their original languages. Can something be done about this?

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, press freedom is one of the keystones that underpins real democracy. This freedom is lacking in many dictatorships due to the fear on the part of those in power of informed citizens, debate, opposition and disclosure. Europe needs to take a stand in favour of press freedom and those who fight for this, in a consistent manner. Understandably, our attention turns to the developing countries and the former centrally governed countries which are now in transition. This is with good reason, for we can often lend these countries real support with our aid and resources to local NGOs, civil society and the different media involved. As Social-Democrats we consider this topic of press freedom to be a cornerstone of our belief. However, within Europe, we would draw your attention to a particularly disquieting phenomenon, namely the concentration of ownership and control of media in Europe in a limited number of countries. That affects diversity in a fundamental way. This becomes even more serious if economic power and political power are combined. That is when freedom is at risk. I do not need to name any names to make myself clear. The European Parliament’s group will take the initiative for proposals which resist this threat of press freedom. Unfortunately, the Group of the European People’s Party and has announced that, despite the fact that it has taken the initiative for this resolution, it refuses to back this resolution. In fact, it has threatened to vote against this resolution if this section were to be adopted. Does the power, or the fear, of the aforementioned person extend so far that he already has the People’s Party in his clutches? We would ask the People’s Party to consider urgently whether it would like to defend press freedom or the concentration of power. It will make for an interesting outcome of the vote.

Political group: PSE
This proposal argues for the expansion of the existing EURES network into a European employment service. The rapporteur rightly starts from the principle of voluntary mobility of people going to work in another Member State or in Switzerland. But what does voluntary mean? Did those who came en masse from the Mediterranean in the 1960s to work in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, come voluntarily, or were they forced by poverty, unemployment and dictatorship? There is still much more work migration in America than in Europe. Someone who loses his job there must take a job thousands of kilometres away, often an insecure job that pays worse than the previous one. Because it is not necessary there to regard it as emigration to another country, and people are also remaining in the same language area, the government considers it normal that people should be cut off from family and friends. Europeans are protected from such pressure as long as no one can force them to look for work abroad or in another language area. It is much better to bring work to people that to take people to work. But it is precisely on this count that a liberal economy falls down, which concentrates all activity in areas with a favourable location for traffic. It is precisely under those circumstances that a single European labour market does not work to the advantage of employees or of society as a whole.

Political group: GUE-NGL
The resolution emphasises a number of important areas for continued reinforced cooperation between the EU and the United States, but also areas about which there are different views. In my opinion, it is important for the EU not to give way, especially when it comes to the United States’s responsibility for climate policy. In particular, I appreciate the fact that, in paragraph 22, Parliament ‘[a]grees with the European Commission that the US complaint to the WTO about the EU’s authorisation procedures for GMOs is legally unwarranted, economically unfounded and politically unhelpful’. In spite of this, I have not been able to support the resolution since paragraph 5 requires qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers for foreign and security policy too. I neither share that view nor consider it to be realistic. European cooperation would be ineffective if a country’s population, government and parliament were forced to conduct a foreign and security policy they did not want. For this reason, I have chosen to vote against the report, which was however adopted (by 303 votes in favour, 109 against and 47 abstentions).

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, the Commissioner finished his speech by saying that not that many consequences can be drawn from this case. I agree, which precisely raises the question: 'Why bother?' I accept that, as a Commission, you have the right to do what you did. As Guardian of the Treaty, you have the duty to act, if you believe that is correct. I accept that Ecofin endorsed the judgment of the Commission. The Irish Government too has a right and duty to defend its policy preferences, where it feels it is right to do so. I do not question your right, Commissioner, to do what you did, but I question your judgment. I believe it was the wrong judgment in the context of such an important precedent-setting example. I believe the Irish response was the wrong response because it was too petulant. I believe both the Commission and the Irish response to the Commission's recommendation lacked proportionality. Two wrongs do not make a right. In the grey economic space, the budget was inflationary, but, on the supply side, the tax change will bring greater participation in a stretched labour force. The tax change will lower wage expectations and therefore inflationary expectations. The capital expenditure will get rid of infrastructural bottlenecks; the case is at best a grey case.

Political group: ELDR
Mr President, I asked for the floor to make the same comment as Mr Poos. Mr Cashman was right to say that it is not up to the Commission to tell the political groups how they should vote here in plenary. Yet, there are some Members, including myself, who, on occasion, also trust in the wisdom of the Commission. Sometimes I would indeed like to vote for the Commission’s proposals and that means that Members really do need a list of the amendments the Commission can in fact support and of the amendments it does not wish to support. It will be up to Members, who in any case vote according to their hearts and their conscience, to make up their mind on the basis of this Commission list.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, this resolution seeks to emphasise the essential point that the fight against terrorism, which will be long and hard, must be conducted as far as is possible in compliance with international law and the Rule of Law. This call comes both from United States society and this House itself, which I hope will adopt the resolution. With regard to the al-Qa’ida fighters held at Guantanamo Bay who were taken prisoner in Afghanistan, there are two problems. The first is that of their detention, in that there are disturbing International Red Cross reports on the conditions in which they are being held. The second is the legal status of the detainees: there is some uncertainty regarding this but the fact that John Walker, an American citizen, is being tried by a civil court while the other detainees are being tried by a secret military tribunal is there for all to see. This is unacceptable. General Morillon may well be right when he says that the Geneva treaties need to be updated, in that the Convention provides for the status of prisoner of war but, where such status is uncertain, provision needs to be made for the existence of prisoners of an undeclared war, for there is no reason why they should have fewer guarantees or receive less care in terms of respect for human rights as far as detention conditions are concerned. The resolution also makes the important request that the United Nations Security Council set up a court responsible for Afghanistan, so that both the issue of the legal status of the prisoners and that of the detention conditions can be addressed. In endorsing this request, we will be taking a very sensible step which will also help to advance the fight against terrorism.

Political group: PSE