GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
As parliamentarians we have a duty to uphold the democratic will of the citizens we represent, in keeping with the laws and constitutions of our sovereign Member States. We must also ensure that in the European Union human dignity is protected and the weakest and most vulnerable are defended. It is unacceptable for human life, whatever its age, to be treated as a commercial product, without regard to that life or the price paid by women in supplying the embryos. It is deeply disturbing that the European Commission, supported by Members of this Parliament and certain Member State governments, including Ireland, have succeeded in imposing public funding of controversial and unethical research without proper public debate and without the opportunity for national parliaments to respond. There has certainly been no debate in Dáil Éireann. This proposal is against not only laws and constitutions, but also the conscience of millions of citizens. It also pressures applicant and Third World countries to become part of an EU market-place for human embryo research. This controversial research has no scientifically positive results and, as our rapporteur has pointed out, is high-risk. (Abbreviated in accordance with Rule 137(1) of the Rules of Procedure) – Gutiérrez-Cortines report (A5-0354/2003)

Political group: PPE-DE
My party, the Socialist Party in the Netherlands, has never been in favour of rushing through a common currency within the EU. The euro is preventing us from regulating the economy by adjusting interest rates and exchange rates. Furthermore, the so-called stability of the euro is financed by large cuts in unemployment benefits and in provisions for education, health care, housing and public transport. I am therefore of the opinion that the euro is only convenient for businesspeople, lavish holidaymakers and MEPs, but not for the majority of people. Insofar as there was ever faith in the euro, this faith has been eroded extensively since the euro has dropped in value compared to the Danish Kroner, the Swedish Kronor, the British Pound and the currency of many countries outside the European Union. I can therefore imagine that those pro-euro now feel the need for a propaganda campaign. The Karas report mainly intends to instil more confidence in the euro among the public at large by, inter alia, involving sports associations and education. In addition, it intends to denounce the practices of swindlers and those increasing prices who are cashing in on the introduction of the euro. I wholeheartedly endorse this part of the report, but I was unable to assent to the proposal as a whole.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Madam President, there is a mistake in the Spanish text, paragraph 6, with reference to the word 'parents', which should come before primary and secondary schoolteachers. I hope that translation will be corrected in the Spanish text. Although there is widespread support for some other oral amendments which I was going to make, I understand there is opposition from the so the only oral amendment that I wish to make now concerns paragraph 14. There is a genuine error and it should be amended to read, 'Calls on all developing countries to abolish tariffs and taxes on import of essential drugs and equipment in order to make healthcare more affordable.' There is no tax when we export medicines from Europe or the United States, so the current paragraph is factually incorrect. I hope Members will support this. (Parliament indicated its agreement with the tabling of the oral amendment) (Parliament adopted the resolution) * * *

Political group: PPE-DE
While adding my thanks to the Council for the earlier answer, I would like to press the Council on a related matter. The BBC recently produced evidence that ‘wombs’, as they described it, were for sale in Romania – that women were being paid to have children for export to Member States of the European Union. Furthermore, the BBC alleged that this was being done with the tacit approval of the Romanian authorities because it was bringing hard currency into Romania. Will the Council raise this in their dialogue with Romania in relation to Romania's application for membership of the Community?

Political group: PSE
Mr President, the Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy has on several occasions made considerable contributions to the debate on the European Union’s Mediterranean policy and on reinvigorating the 1995 Barcelona Process. We played a major part in the discussion on the MEDA activity report that I presented on 5 September 2000, which was adopted almost unanimously by Parliament, as was, moreover, the amendment of the MEDA Regulation (MEDA II). We would have liked the meeting at Feira to refer to the MEDA programme, since it is the main instrument for implementing this policy and will be allocated a financial package of EUR 5.37 billion for the period 2000-2006, excluding funds from the European Investment Bank. Furthermore, we hope that this budget will be increased, as European Union Mediterranean policy should not have to suffer because of the appropriations that have been legitimately allocated to the Balkans. All the debates, regardless of the committee in which they are held, whether it be Foreign Affairs, Industry, Agriculture or Culture, or in Parliament, are unanimous in constantly reiterating the same recommendations. As far as we are concerned, we would like to stress, first of all, the need to define a Mediterranean strategy, in conjunction with third countries. Secondly, the need to develop decentralised cooperation that aims to enable contracts with local authorities and civil society, particularly NGOs, for both cross-border regions and in the South-South context, as well as for regional integration. Thirdly, we should like to highlight the decision of Parliament and the Commission to carry out an annual assessment of the human rights situation in signatory countries. My fourth point is to stress the urgent need to adopt the Charter for Security and Stability so that we can play a more active role, particularly in restoring peace in the Middle East. We consider it particularly important to encourage local measures and sustainable development, although this was omitted from the Feira Council conclusions, and to carry out progressive evaluation in this area, to implement major programmes on the environment and water, to reinvigorate the Start programme, and for third countries of the Mediterranean region to take part in the Sixth Research Framework Programme of research and technological development. The Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy gave its unanimous opinion on this range of questions.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Fiori’s report is ambitious and balanced. It is ambitious because it does not only deal with genome research, which is perhaps a fashionable topic, but it also discusses all the issues arising from and relating to that research: the uses of genetic information, the patentability of products and procedures derived from living matter, the conditions for genetic tests, cloning, research into mother cells and the research framework programme. And it is balanced because it presents balanced solutions which are far-removed from any particular fundamentalist position. Therefore, with regard to mother cells, a distinction is made between embryonic mother cells and so-called adult cells, priority is given to research into the latter – which is very promising – and it is considered that the conditions for producing and obtaining mother cells endanger the integrity of the woman’s body in the case of therapeutic cloning, and this is therefore rejected, or surplus embryos, a practice which is also therefore rejected. Some argue, in the name of freedom of research, that it should be possible to carry out unrestricted experiments as long as the final objective is therapeutic. Ladies and gentlemen, research is essential and it must be a special priority, but, like all rights, it has its limits, and human dignity, in particular, provides us with an unassailable limit. Those of us who believe in this dignity and who try to protect all living beings, cannot sacrifice our values on the altar of freedom of research as the supreme and unrestricted ethical standard, especially when that freedom actually becomes the freedom to carry out the research which is the most profitable for the big pharmaceutical groups. Today they are presenting us with visions of the future as if they were already realities, when really they are still only promises. Mr President, the rapporteur has had sufficient courage to avoid simplifications and to deal thoroughly with the issue in a serious and balanced way. His report is based on an ethical position which is acceptable to everybody, rather than certain religious positions, which are worthy of respect but which are widely rejected, nor that lay ethic which has been referred to today as a supposed supreme standard, which is equally rejected. I therefore believe that the report deserves our full support.

Political group: PPE-DE
For centuries, many people considered animals to be objects that existed for their benefit, which they were allowed to hurt or abuse, there to provide for our comfort, to pull our carriages and ploughs, to supply our food and for us to experiment on. We have now become slightly more civilised and animal-friendly, except if there is money to be made. In Europe, 38 000 animals are used annually for testing new substances and end products of the cosmetics industry, after which they are systematically slaughtered. As long ago as 1993, this Parliament decided to institute a sales ban on cosmetics tested on animals, but the introduction of this ban has been continually postponed under pressure from the industry. The European Commission now wishes to tone down this sales ban and establish a ban on tests within the EU countries, as a result of which products will continue to be allowed on the market here which have been tested on animals elsewhere. If that is the case, the tests will be transferred to other countries. This begs the question whether there are really no standards other than the lowest possible production costs, free trade and WTO rules? The downside of these are bad working conditions, low salaries, further destruction of the environment and an increase in animal suffering. It is high time that the European market closed its doors to the import of all products obtained in an unacceptable manner. I have based my vote on the recommendations of the “Eurogroup for Animal Welfare”. - Haug report (A5-0101/2001):

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, since November, after a relatively peaceful period in Indonesia, we have again been alarmed by serious outbreaks of violence in, for example, Sulawesi and Celebes and by the murder of Theys Hiyo Eluay, the leader of the Papuas in Irian Jaya. I should like first to say a few words about the murder of Theys Hiyo Eluay, which took place on 10 November after he had had discussions on behalf of the Papuan community with the senior command of the Indonesian military forces in West Papua. Theys Hiyo Eluay was not only a charismatic leader of the Papuas, but was also a moderate man, who did not seek complete independence for his province, but whose aim was autonomy within the Indonesian state and who had succeeded in achieving this autonomy via the Indonesian parliament. In October autonomy was ratified in the Indonesian parliament and after a dinner with the regional military staff he was murdered on the evening of 10 November. It is typical of relations in Indonesia that military units are able to frustrate a constructive process of peace and reconciliation in this way and that this kind of murder can take place. Many people believe that it was an act of revenge, because an autonomous Irian Jaya would never have given the military the power and financial rewards that they had previously enjoyed. My request to the Commission and the Council is that they should ask the Indonesian Government to investigate the murder thoroughly and punish the culprit, so that justice is done in a country where injustice prevails. In addition I should like to request help for the regional government of Irian Jaya, for example for the setting up of a civil service academy, so that people have a real chance of administering the region. And then there is the situation in Sulawesi and Celebes. These are the same Laskar Jihad groups that previously caused such misery in the Moluccas and were responsible for thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of refugees. In this case too we would request that the Commission and the Council ask the Indonesian government to protect the Christian community in Indonesia and keep better control of the fundamentalist Muslim groups. If Indonesia wishes to retain its respectable and important position, the present government really must call a halt to this violence and the European Union must make it clear to Indonesia that political murders and violence are not acceptable; otherwise the relationship between the European Union and Indonesia will in my view be put under strain.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, this debate covers ten special reports by the Court of Auditors on subjects of such varied kinds and importance that they range from a study of the principal of additionality in structural actions to a specific and thorough analysis of the Community cereals policy. I would therefore like to limit myself to the latter issue and to begin by congratulating Mr McCartin and the Court of Auditors on their excellent work and by highlighting the final points of the Court’s analysis. Between 1993 and 1997, overcompensation in the cereals sector amounted to over EUR 13 billion. Every European citizen contributed more than EUR 37 to the cereals budget in 1997. Arable crops represented 43% of agricultural expenditure but only 10.7% of final production. Almost 40% of subsidies went to 3% of farmers, and 57% of the beneficiaries received 4.5% of subsidies. The Court of Auditors concluded from this analysis that the current system of support for farmers’ incomes, which is based on factors such as price, yield or area farmed, needs to be replaced by a system based on a standard net income per farm household or working unit, with farm support only being triggered to make good any fall in that income. The COM in arable crops provides the greatest argument for the need to reform the CAP. The thorough political remodelling that has been applied to the structure of Germany’s federal government is a clear sign that, even at the heart of Europe, where this CAP was conceived and where it has always found its greatest support, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain an agricultural policy model that was designed to protect an industrial approach, based on large-scale farming. We must come up with a rural policy geared towards regional needs and fairness between farmers if we are to preserve Europe's cultural heritage and the environment. This will require reform of the current CAP.

Political group: PSE
There is an enormous gap between the declarations of good intent proclaimed in the Social Agenda and the way in which these are put into practice, as proved in the report itself, despite some weaknesses and some specific negative points with which we disagree and hence our abstention in the final vote. We welcome the report’s criticism of the Commission, however, both with regard to issues of form and for the lack of information given to the European Parliament and the social partners, and for the delays in meeting commitments it has given, in particular concerning the following aspects: - amending Directive 92/85/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, on the basis of the proposals tabled in the motion for a resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 6 July 2000; - the establishment of criteria for the recognition of disabilities and the submission of an effective action plan to prevent musculoskeletal damage occurring in the workplace; - and paying greater attention to the quality of work, to developing the social economy, to illiteracy, to combating illegal labour and discrimination against people with disabilities in terms of access to employment, to education and to vocational training. - Beysen report (A5-0253/2002)

Political group: GUE-NGL
Madam President, I would like to ask Mr Poettering a simple question. (DE) Madam President, a brief question for Mr Poettering. Mr Poettering, what is the difference between a Christian Democrat and a European Democrat? (Laughter) ***

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, I congratulate Mrs Stihler on her report which deals with the Commission proposal to regulate the recovery of cod and hake stocks. This includes the areas of TACs, managing effort through days at sea – based on stocks size consistent with the precautionary principle – and of course Chapter 4, which most importantly deals with measures to police, monitor, inspect and survey the effort management system. All stakeholders must be intimately involved in a bottom-up approach if stock recovery is to be achieved. Always presuming in the first place that the scientists have been looking for the stock in the right areas. The whole area must be managed by the stakeholders through the regional advisory councils, if not, we will never bridge the deep divide that exists between fishermen and scientists at the moment. The proposed action plan, the joint inspection structure and any new fisheries control agency must involve all the stakeholders in introducing a harmonised code of conduct for inspections. This must include the fishermen, national authorities and scientists, and the Figueiredo report later today will deal with that. As for last week's Fishery Council outcome on the Irish Box. Could you Commissioner, indicate clearly, on the record, how you will ensure there will be no increase in effort in the most sensitive southeast area of what was the Irish Box. This has now been excluded as a conservation area, with a serious reduction in the Irish Box which now is only to cover the southwest area. The ultimate goal has to be sustainable fisheries through regional management, by opening up the governance of the common fisheries policy and helping to overcome mistrust and scepticism. We urgently need integrated regional management of the Irish Sea fishery. The status quo is no longer an option. I commend the establishment of the Pan-Irish Sea Alliance and wish them every success in delivering results to their vulnerable coastal communities. I agree that we do not need, as other colleagues have said, first- and second-class fishermen. But unfortunately, with the quota management system under the common fisheries policy, it is exactly what we have: first- and second-class fishermen. Some will have to stay with their boats tied up watching fishermen from other nationalities fish their very shores. That is the prospect facing fishermen in the south and east of Ireland at the moment.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, I would point out that, yesterday, 17 June, was the twentieth anniversary of the arrest of Enzo Tortora. I expect that this name will not mean much to many of the Members, but it will certainly have great significance for the Italians. He was a very famous television personality, elected as a Member of the European Parliament to the ranks of the Radicals of Mr Pannella. He was fully acquitted, after many years of legal proceedings: he was the victim of judicial error and media persecution, of an abuse of media power. This is something which, I regret to say, still happens today in many countries. I would just like to pay tribute here to his civil campaigns and to Mr Tortora himself, so that his memory is not lost in this House too. (Applause)

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, I think that this joint debate, which is really a topical and urgent debate because we are talking about something that is taking place now, firstly requires a strong declaration with which the three institutions can identify. We have to face up to and shoulder our responsibilities as the European Union, not only regarding the problems that we are dealing with, but also regarding the major issues of world peace. We can discuss how we organise ourselves, because we are creating something new, but there is a common affirmation, which is precisely that we need a real Common Foreign and Security Policy. At the moment, we have the Belgrade Parliament in flames – we know what setting a Parliament on fire means in the context of European history, and we know the responsibility held by leaders that lead their people to disaster. I think that, in this sense – not that Milosevic is going to listen – we have to reiterate that we are not against the Serbian people. We are against the leaders who have surely led them to the greatest disaster in their history. (Applause) And we have to offer them our hand in a very symbolic way – as Mr Solana said – with this meeting in Zagreb. There we can really see the change that takes place when a country’s democracy is consolidated. With regard to the Middle East, as Europeans we have made an effort – Venice, Madrid, Oslo, Stockholm – and we have given real support to the promotion and progress of this process. We should not allow the leaders who wish to radicalise the process and the extremist forces to drive it towards disaster, particularly based on a symbolic provocation in one of the most sacred places in the world, an issue we discussed last month in the debate on the future of Jerusalem. We also need to reiterate, however, that as Europeans we are not only prepared to provide economic aid. We want to fully shoulder our responsibilities and, above all, to do so at a time when what is needed is to reduce the tension, to bring both sides back to the table in order to find a balanced solution. I think that this is a commitment that we need to reiterate today, unanimously, and I urge the Secretary of the Council, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Commission not to give up on their efforts and to express this unanimous will of all the peoples and all the representatives of the European Union. (Applause)

Political group: PSE
Mr President, it is really impressive that it has been ascertained yet again that the problem of marine pollution is caused mostly, not by shipwrecks per se, but by illegal dumping by ships, be it of petroleum products or waste in general, and this problem has not, so far, been duly addressed. There is the MARPOL convention, which is applied differently in the Member States as far as the sanctions imposed are concerned, which is why the initiative by the European Commission is useful, so that there is a uniform approach to the matter from the point of view of sanctions. Similarly, there is already a directive on the matter, Directive 2059 on facilities for receiving waste from ships, which is not applied fully by the Member States. This directive must be applied. It is not, of course, an excuse for those ships that discharge oil into the sea but, on the other hand, nor should the Member States only champion environmental protection on paper; they must also apply in practice the provisions which they themselves voted through on this particular issue. Consequently, we are taking a positive step here and what I want to emphasise with regret is that the Council, having asked the European Commission to submit this regulation on sanctions in cases of illegal discharges of waste by ships, does not now appear to be prepared to proceed quickly, does not appear to be prepared to accept the Commission's and Parliament's proposals and appears to be delaying the whole procedure. On our behalf, on behalf of the Group of the , I want to emphasise this and highlight the negative stance by the Council, stating that we shall fight to the end so that the Pex report becomes reality.

Political group: PPE-DE