GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
Mr President, I would like to make a few observations and raise questions regarding the Balkans in the light of task distribution within our Group. I am aware that we are saddling the High Representative with a huge number of questions on a huge number of topics. This indicates the enormity of the problem which Mr Solana is and will be tackling in future. We have talked extensively about the EU’s future security framework and about the need to organise a military force of 60 000. It is somewhat ironic to be contemplating these issues when we appear unable to locate a sufficiently large police force to deal with the situation in Kosovo. Accordingly, I would like to make a few observations, not about the security framework of tomorrow, but about security in the Balkan region today. Coordinator Hombach and Commissioner Patten are working hard to push through the Solidarity Pact. Last week, Mr Hombach stated in this Parliament that there are now plans and projects in the pipeline which are waiting for the Stability Pact and the Danube Conference later this month. Two weeks ago in Strasbourg, we also talked extensively to Commissioner Patten about relations with Macedonia. These are all positive developments from which the Balkans stand to benefit. What concrete role does the High Representative see carved out for himself? What will his contribution be towards a smooth transition from the Solidarity Pact to the Danube Conference, for that is where we need to concentrate our efforts? We are waiting for the European Union’s Balkan strategy, in other words for the Stability Pact to be given its political packaging. What other political initiatives does the High Representative anticipate on the part of the EU? Also, on a practical level: how does he think he can use the new political situation in Croatia to make political progress in the region? In particular I have in mind the further stabilisation of Bosnia. We really should be able to leave this region at some point in the future. In exchange, I think Croatia is entitled to know where it stands with the EU. I think that the new government can also be of help in the political relations with Belgrade. Finally, I would like to mention the countries which are more on the fringe of our policy: Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. What can the EU do to counter negative trends in these countries? We all know that we will not be able to retreat safely behind the borders of an enlarged European Union in the long run.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, we are deeply perturbed by the developments in North Korea – a country without democracy, a country which allows its people to starve, and a country which nonetheless feels compelled to defend itself with a ‘nuclear arsenal’. It is very difficult for us to find a line here which expresses this deep concern about the situation in North Korea, yet does not escalate the conflict. We do not want to create a similar situation to Iraq, but we do want to exert massive pressure on the North Korean government to focus on the needs of its people instead. After all, this is not the first time we have turned our attention to this issue. What is especially disappointing is that we have made numerous overtures to North Korea in a bid to work towards exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy, so that the country's few resources can genuinely flow into development. This is why we want to make it clear yet again that we want to work for dialogue, and that we urge North Korea also to engage in dialogue with us. We are pleased that the Americans too are prepared, in this instance at least, to engage in dialogue towards a peaceful solution and that talks are currently taking place. We call on the Commission to continue the provision of humanitarian aid, despite these unpleasant and unacceptable political conditions, and to help the country's starving population. With this in mind, Madam President, I think we are able to support the relevant resolution and express the hope that the United States and Europe will opt in this instance for a common approach in order to persuade North Korea to help its own people instead of posing a threat to the global community.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, this text is important insofar as the legislation concerned has significant consequences for the well-being of women and also children, that is, the future of our society. In this respect, we may well be surprised that the Commission has waited as long as it has to present us with its evaluation report on the implementation of this directive and proposals for improving conditions for maternity leave. It seems to me that, in this proposal for a revision of the directive that we are asking the Commission to present quickly, it is essential to preserve the reality of three fundamental principles for women and their well-being: the prohibition of dismissal for pregnant women or women on maternity leave, the right to a mandatory minimum leave and allowance during this leave to be taken into account for the purposes of acquiring pension entitlements. Furthermore, it seems to me that this new directive should comprise substantial improvements, in particular all women must be offered the opportunity to take 20 weeks’ maternity leave, without necessarily being obliged to take the entire period, but the employer shall be obliged to offer it, and a minimum of 8 weeks after the birth, in order to foster development of the bond between mother and child. With regard to high-risk pregnancies and the birth of disabled children, it is obvious that provision must be made for specially adapted proposals offering an extension of the length of maternity leave, taking account of the specifics of the case. As far as definition of the allowance is concerned, it seems that the figure to be considered must be at least 80% of the previous salary, and that includes for purposes of acquiring pension entitlements. Finally, it is recommended that this text should correlate and reinforce the formal prohibition of dismissal during pregnancy and maternity leave.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, I would like to begin by thanking you for having included this mini-debate on the agenda on International Women’s Day. It is traditional in all countries on this day to dedicate some kind of act or statement to the recognition of women’s work, equality between men and women and the fact that there is still much to be done in order to make this equality a reality. We are going to see this in the debates to follow. I would therefore simply like to appeal for Parliament’s approach to be maintained, as an example from an institution which is making progress on the road towards defending the rights of women. We will see in the debates on the reports to follow that there is still much to be done in order to achieve equality between men and women and in order to achieve equal recognition of work. Mrs Napoletano, we women do not always have to be demonstrating that we work better than men; we simply want men to recognise our work on an equal footing with that of their male colleagues.

Political group: PPE-DE
There is every reason to draw particular attention to the persecution, violence and terror to which Christians are being subjected in the Moluccas, particularly on the island of Ambo, by the criminal activists of the Jihad movement. Churches have been desecrated and burnt down, Christians have been forced to flee in droves and a large number of people have been killed. I have personally met the Catholic bishop Mondagi from Ambo, together with Protestant church leaders. The situation is alarming. The Indonesian government and the army have pledged to ensure the safety and to protect the lives of their citizens, irrespective of the religion they profess. - Theato report (A5-0376/2000)

Political group: PPE-DE
Considering the employment situation in the Community and the European Union’s declared ambition to steadfastly attack unemployment, the analysis of mergers carried out by the Commission should take elements other than competition into consideration. As an example I would give the restructuring of ABB Alsthom Power. A sizeable delegation of employees of this firm from throughout Europe is visiting Strasbourg today. The management of ABB Alsthom Power, following a merger carried out in June 1999, announced restructuring where there is already the prospect of layoffs in a number of countries. This damaging situation for employment raises many questions, particularly regarding the information given to the European Works Council, in existence since 1996. It suggests that the Community directive on European Works Councils must be updated and strengthened. It also requires the monitoring of mergers taking employment, the environment and consumers into consideration. Since the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs did not go far enough in this respect, I abstained.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, there are so many conflicts and trouble spots in the world at present – let us appeal to common sense and act instead to preserve life. This is the aim of the Olympic truce, an ancient and noble tradition dating back 3 000 years and which the International Olympic Committee has been trying to revive for the past decade. At a time of conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, the Pacific and the neighbouring regions, we need to send out a strong message supporting the truce and calling for dialogue and reconciliation both during and after the Olympic Games. In November 2003, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to build a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal. Thousands of public figures from all over the world and from many different fields – politics and art to name but a few – went on to sign the Olympic truce. This is the European Year of Education through Sport, and in this context we can, and should, convey the fact that sport has a key role to play in the process. We should use the widespread publicity that the Olympic Games and the European Year of Education through Sport are receiving to convey a message of peace, to discuss conflict resolution and to emphasise the invaluable role played by sport in society. Finally, too, we should ask ourselves why the security measures for the Olympic Games and many other international sporting events are becoming stricter and stricter. In Athens, 50 000 people will be deployed to protect visitors to the Games and the 10 500 athletes taking part from 201 nations – an operation costing EUR 650 million. How can this be called a cultural and peaceful event when it has to be guarded around the clock? What message are we sending out here? This is why we are appealing to EU Member States and international institutions and calling for common sense and understanding and also why we, in the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport, are putting this oral question to the Council. We want the EU and its Member States to shoulder this responsibility and take advantage of the common sense prevailing during, and hopefully after, the Olympic Games. It is my hope that the European Year of Education through Sport precedes a broader discussion in which we will think about how to resolve conflicts more peacefully while putting our weapons to one side and allowing the weapons of peace, represented by the Olympic ideal, to reign supreme. IN THE CHAIR: MR PUERTAVice-President

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Commissioner, the Committee on Fisheries has worked very hard indeed to produce a balanced report. Some people say in all seriousness that the decline in fishery stocks is caused solely by fishing. That is wrong of course and it also diverts attention from objective statements. I therefore call upon all parties involved to take account of the other factors causing reduced stocks as well, be they pollution, climate change, industrial activities, sea traffic etc. Once again there has been an environmental tragedy off the coast of Europe, namely the sinking of the Erika off Brittany. A combination of the aforementioned factors and inadequate supervisory measures at European level are the primary causes of a debilitated marine environment. Fishing is an economic activity. If we want a strong fisheries sector then we need to have stocks to catch and a perfect environment for fish to reproduce in. The EU must develop conditions that will create a balance between environmental considerations and all other interests. That is why we completely oppose one-sided measures that attack and weaken the fisheries sector. It is wrong to ignore the technical and environmental realities. Does it really make sense to equip boats less than twelve metres in length with a satellite control device? Does it make sense to bias our efforts in favour of promoting coastal fishing although it is neither particularly environmentally-friendly nor capable of being monitored to an adequate degree? These are just a few of the many questions raised by the Committee on Fisheries. These examples show that it is simple enough to talk about fishing and the environment from a theoretical standpoint. However, it is far less easy to come up with constructive measures based on the principle of sustainable stocks management. We need even more wind in our sails here!

Political group: PPE-DE
I would also like to join in congratulating the rapporteur on an excellent job well done and make two points which have been mentioned by others before. Firstly, the value of strong regulatory authorities. It is quite clear from the experience in the fifteen still separate markets that strong regulatory bodies help market access for smaller players, protect the interests of consumers and force the pace of large monopoly-providers which might otherwise feel free to take a more leisurely pace. Secondly, the value of a timetable. It was a pity that the Lisbon conclusions did not call for a timetable. Experience in other areas such as telecom shows that Member States respond better to this incentive and I hope that the Commission will elaborate a specific timetable for liberalization in the months to come.

Political group: ELDR
Mr President, often in this House, we adopt many resolutions and we say many fine words. Now is a unique opportunity to influence the rights of those in Egypt whose human rights are diminished. We need to influence and improve the way Egypt operates in this field. We need to defer to give Egypt, a friend of the EU, time for reflection. Resolutions and words, albeit well-intentioned, seem to achieve little. Here is an opportunity for action. September 11 should have taught us that we must apply the same principles to our friends, as to our enemies. Egypt is a friend. We must give Egypt the time to reflect, because if we diminish the rights of individuals living in those countries, ultimately, we diminish our own human rights. I urge the House to support the motion.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, I congratulate Mrs Almeida Garrett, whose report has, in my opinion, done a good job in providing a clear and concise analysis of the entire set of issues concerning the agencies, amongst which I would very briefly highlight the following, because of their relevance: - the urgent need for the Commission to clarify the appropriate legal instrument for defining the framework of general conditions governing the creation of these agencies, which would avoid the risks to which Mr Medina Ortega referred; - the need for Parliament to be fully and permanently involved in appointing the members of the administrative board and in monitoring the activity of these agencies; - the crucial need to monitor the legality of the actions undertaken by the regulatory agencies and by their administrative boards in line with the provisions of the draft Constitution drawn up by the European Convention. We hope that the Commission will take account of the proposals made in Mrs Almeida Garrett’s report, drawn up on behalf of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, and once again I offer my congratulations to the rapporteur on the excellent work she has presented to us.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, despite the accounts given in the media, the 'Latin American' question is not on the agenda and we cannot, therefore, analyse either the causes or the consequences of what is happening there. Europe has been irresponsibly negligent with regard to this matter, and we must drop this approach without further delay. I believe that we have serious moral responsibilities towards Latin America and that the North/South dialogue and cooperation and development are meaningless unless we translate our words into action. We must, therefore, give coherence to the entire range of means with which Europe can act, from overcoming the differences within the Council – we could begin there – to effective and personalised intervention in the name of Europe in the framework of the IMF, to the possibilities opened up by our preferential trade mechanisms, to financial aid and the accession agreements. Madam President, all of this will mean a very considerable effort by Europe to reaffirm, as the resolution quite rightly states, our commitment of solidarity towards Latin America, which is also a commitment to democracy in the world.

Political group: PSE
On behalf of the , I would also like to extend our thanks and congratulations to the Council and Commission, especially to Commissioner Lamy. In our view, without the effective work of the Commissioner and the Council, in cooperation with Parliament, the new round would never have been proposed, let alone launched, and for that we are grateful. It seems to us that the summit at Doha represented the coming together of two themes or two trends within the WTO. The first theme is the first concerted attempt to accommodate the needs and legitimate complaints of developing countries. We have referred already to the TRIPS Agreement, the text on implementation, US movement on anti-dumping, a chink of light in the European position on agriculture – these to us are very significant developments. The second theme or trend is that the talks extended well beyond traditional market access preoccupations and moved towards the development of new rules, competition, investment and, above all, the environment. That again seems to us to be a very welcome development and we are very pleased to see that a balance seems to have been struck – a sensible and workable balance between the needs of developing countries and the need to develop new rules within the World Trade Organisation. Some have suggested – I think my Green friends and other critics of the WTO – that somehow these two things are incompatible with each other and that developing new rules on the WTO is anathema to the interests of the developing countries. We found it particularly bizarre that Green Members of this House and Green campaigners rejected talks on the environment within the WTO, in the name of the developing countries. To us, there is no trade-off between sustainable multilateral environmental disciplines and multilateral attempts at poverty alleviation. Now is the time for delivery. Some of the news over the last few days is a little mixed, particularly from the United States, over the concessions which were extracted from the Administration in the fast-track debate and the debate on trade and steel in Washington. We must keep the pressure up to make sure that the momentum that was established in Doha is maintained in the years ahead and we will certainly strive to do so. (Applause)

Political group: ELDR
Mr Poettering, the law affecting any given issue is subject to interpretation. I believe that the position adopted by Mr Cox – who formed a strategic majority with you in order to have Mrs Fontaine elected – is a compromise that makes it possible for everyone here to vote for a report on racism with their head held high. Opinions may be divided about Austria, but when it comes to making it clear what our position is on racism in Europe, we should not get bogged down in a formal debate as we did just now, we should make it plain that we are clear-thinking people. So I appeal to you to accept Mr Cox’s compromise so we can proceed with the debate with our heads held high. Please, I beg you!

Political group: Verts-ALE
To what extent would the Commissioner agree with me that the origins of the current crisis in Macedonia actually lie purely and simply with the activities of criminal gangs looking to protect their smuggling rackets and taking advantage of the weak security of the border with FYROM, and that what we need to do is to tighten up on those criminals who have used the issue of minority rights as fuel to keep the fires of discontent going in order to cover up their activities? What is at stake here is that gangsters are seeking to undermine democracy and peace and stability to line their own pockets. Primarily we have to take tough action to prevent that illegal activity so that the political situation can be stabilised.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, it was with great enthusiasm that I voted for the entry into the European Union of the Republic of Cyprus. As the only representative of the Italian Pensioners’ Party elected to this House, I hope and pray that two representatives – in this case – of the Cypriot Pensioners’ Party will be elected from the Republic of Cyprus too: one to defend the interests of what I hope will soon be the former Greek Cypriot community and the other from what I hope will soon be the former Turkish Cypriot community. This will give us more power to defend the interests of the elderly throughout Europe.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, it concerns the speech by Mr Medina Ortega, referring to Rule 6(1) of the Rules of Procedure in connection with the Spanish Supreme Court's application for the removal of the immunity of Mr Berlusconi and Mr Dell'Utri.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, under item 8, this document states that the Western Balkans do not form part of Europe, which is quite nonsensical. I would ask the rapporteur to clarify this, as I will not, otherwise, be able to vote in favour of the report. (Laughter)

Political group: PPE-DE