GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
Mr President, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, Mr President of the Commission, ladies and gentlemen. Mr President-in-Office of the Council, when your Presidency of the Council began, you said that what concerned you was the football in Tokyo and we should point out that the Milan team reached the penalty stage. You did not even play in the second half. We can see the results. This is despite the serious and professional work of the Italian Presidency – and I would like to publicly thank Mr Frattini, Mr Antonione for their efforts. My group profoundly regrets the outcome of the Intergovernmental Conference and the fact that it was not possible to approve a Magna Carta, which may cause us an existential crisis if we do not provide a serious political response. We believe that we must recover the Community spirit, which is to take decisions together, combining our interests, acting in solidarity and not trying to block decisions. I say this with particular feeling, because my country was always in the vanguard of European integration and now it is in the rearguard. (Applause) I must also say, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, that you have said – and I believe this must be recorded in the Minutes – that 95% of the Constitution is not subject to debate, but is part of our acquis. I believe this is an important fact. Now, in order to resolve the other 5%, there is something that was demonstrated in Nice and which has now been ratified: that methods involving all-night negotiations, haggling, do not resolve the problem. And therefore, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, I would put a question to you: the Convention was not the outcome of Nice; we achieved it at Laeken. The Convention has produced this text. Are you in favour of returning to an open and democratic method – the Convention method – or do you think we can resolve the matter by staying up for another night like tonight? I believe we have to be very clear in this approach, and it is also important, therefore, that the Irish Presidency takes up this baton. I have been particularly struck by the fact that you have been especially critical of the current situation in the economic field and this is understandable. What you have said would justify reconsidering the issue of economic governance. You mentioned Gulliver and I am a great admirer of Jonathan Swift, but I do not believe this is the appropriate example. We are not like Gulliver, but like Italo Calvino’s Visconte dimezzato [The Cloven Viscount], we have one half, the European Central Bank, but we do not have a figure in charge of the economy. Are you prepared to propose an amendment to the Constitution and a reform of the Stability Pact aimed at giving us Europeans strength? I believe this is an important issue to which we have to respond. I must also say to you, on behalf of my group – and of the European Parliament I believe – that we are prepared to continue working to achieve the Constitution. We have 95%. The important thing now is to complete a Magna Carta, which is absolutely essential for our future and also for enlargement. (Applause)

Political group: PSE
Mr President, I would first like to say that I agree with the political priorities expounded by Mrs Haug. Nevertheless, we are still lacking explicit support for such relevant fields as scientific research, technological innovation and development. Failure to take these into account in the Union’s budget is equivalent to going out on a rainy day without an umbrella. Without a constant and intense effort in these fields there will be no competitiveness and a lack of competitiveness means no new jobs will be created. We have therefore introduced an amendment to cover this. Another amendment that we have suggested, in accordance with what was agreed at the European Council in Lisbon, refers to the fact that employment is one of the Union’s great political priorities for the coming years and that objective is unfailingly expressed, as Mrs Haug correctly points out, through policies which favour small and medium-sized businesses. However, it is not enough simply to give them access to new communication and information technologies. The Internet is a tool, not a magic wand. Without a decisive programme for basic structural reforms, which improve the ability of European business to compete, the digital era will be a time of frustration for Europe, hence our amendment designed to remind us of this fact which is so obvious and yet so worrying. Lastly, with regard to what Mrs Haug describes as the “cultural economy”, we have pointed out that she mentions it amongst the political priorities, and then it fails to appear elsewhere in the text. In order to deal with this methodological inconsistency, we have proposed an amendment which expands on this thought-provoking concept. In any event, the rapporteur has, in our judgement, correctly established the bases which will set the course for Section III of the Union’s budget for 2001 and we are happy to offer her our sincere congratulations on her work.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Commissioner Byrne, Mrs Oomen-Ruijten mentioned before me that one in four Europeans die every year of cancer, that is almost one million people: alarming figures that mean that we have to be ambitious regarding prevention. What we have before us today is a recommendation. Of course, we know its limits, but this cannot stop us from being ambitious, I have said it and clearly too. This, I believe, is what we are endeavouring to do in the committee and I would like to stress briefly the main points that were improved on the original text. First of all, lowering the recommended age for mammography screening for breast cancer from 50 to 40, was, I would say, obvious in light of the statistics on prevalence and current practice in several Member States. Then, combining the cervical smear (pap test) with the HPV test to detect cervical cancer. This is a crucial addition since human papilloma virus kills 12 800 women every year in Europe. Figures published by experts show that the introduction of the HPV test would help to reduce this number of deaths by at least a third. Allow me, in passing, to commend the Czech Republic because this accession State is the only State in Europe that currently reimburses for this test. Thirdly, and we are now moving on to the male population, the introduction of screening for prostate cancer with the PSA test. This is also a matter of urgency: prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and the second cause of death after lung cancer. It can be permanently cured if it remains localised in the prostate. This blood test is very simple, routine and should be recommended from the age of 50 years in our text. I would also just like to say how important it is that everyone, including the less well informed, has access to screening, which is why I wanted to recommend mobile screening campaigns here. It is also in this same general mindset of informing the public that I would like to conclude by stressing, over and above the precise recommendation and before screening, the importance of primary prevention when talking about cancer. Health education, diet, the fight against smoking, sport, moderate exposure to the sun, like many measures at national level and behaviour at an individual level, will enable us to prevent these avoidable cancers from developing.

Political group: ELDR
Any people that has suffered war and destruction is entitled to appeal for help with reconstruction to the relatively wealthy Europe. The decision to wage war on Iraq was not, fortunately, the EU’s, but that should not prevent us from making a solidarity contribution in the wake of that war. The problem is that this war is not yet, by any means, over; there are still foreign troops on Iraqi territory, there is no legitimate Iraqi government and every day, attacks from the Iraqi opposition on the occupiers claim victims. Iraq is, in fact, an American protectorate, and it appears that it will remain that way for the foreseeable future. Much as the capture of Saddam Hussein is to be welcomed, it does not mean that peace is on its way. As long as this occupation continues, responsibility for recovery and reconstruction lies with the Americans. Europe should not yield to the demand that it should foot the bill in order for European industry to be allowed to get involved in recovery. I am therefore not advocating that this EUR 200 million should be paid now, but I am in favour of a larger amount at a later stage. This should, moreover, not be at the expense of development aid for poorer countries, as is the case in the current proposal. For those two reasons, I am voting against.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Mr President, the Italians have an expression which I have always loved tutto il mondo e i paesi and today we are talking about a variety of legislation relating to what is clearly one of the most passionately debated and in many cases inadequately legislated for issue in our Community. The tragedy of people cut up in civil wars, which is the main focus obviously of Mr ­­­Wiebenga's report, is only one of the issues we are facing. Many colleagues today have spoken on the basis of experience in their own countries of how these issues are handled. For far too long the Commission or the Council, holding its meetings in secret and expressing solidarity very often between themselves about these issues, have covered up what we really need to know about future policy on immigration, asylum, refugees, etc., within the Community. Coming as I do from a small country on the periphery where very often the difficulties of getting there have prevented us from being a focal point for those seeking asylum or refugee status, I sometimes feel uncomfortable when having to debate these issues with colleagues who have much greater experience and whose countries are called upon very often to share a huge amount of the responsibility for people tragically displaced by civil war, as has recently happened. Of course we share our responsibility. We have to. It is our duty as one human being to another, but what we must absolutely insist on in all our immigration policies, not just in the context of mass displacements of people in the event of civil war, is that we must have a much better thought-out, much more humane and generous, and, above all, merciful policy towards those who come to us for help in these tragic situations. IN THE CHAIR: MR IMBENIVice-President

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, as Vice-Chairman of the Delegation for relations with Israel, I feel vicarious shame for the unilateral policy of Prime Minister Sharon, who is adding more and more fuel to the fire in the Middle East; indeed, throughout the world, as this is not a case of an isolated conflict; quite the reverse. The illegal executions of Hamas leaders will have a boomerang effect, and new leaders are always waiting in the wings. Sharon is only able to do this because of the unconditional support he obtains from President Bush. Things agreed in Washington are an affront to its partners in the Quartet, and the EU in particular. To my knowledge, the European Union has not been consulted once. We, the European Parliament, must demand that Javier Solana puts his foot down in his dealings with the Quartet. If the USA now wants support for Iraq, it must in turn come up with support for an international force in the Gaza Strip following an Israeli withdrawal, and in the West Bank as the following step. Solana could also put the Geneva Accord on the table. After all, Colin Powell has approved this, and it has his support. This must also be clarified. Avraham Burg, who was present in this House yesterday, once said that the roadmap had to be produced in Geneva. I think that, as a signal to the Palestinian people, we can demand an increase in the humanitarian aid we give to this impoverished people.

Political group: PSE
My understanding is that the services were told two days ago that I would be taking over the question for Mrs McKenna because we knew then that she would have to go back to Dublin on urgent business.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, it is only right and proper that the European Parliament puts on record its concerns with respect to the human rights situation in China. There have been far too many cases for us to ignore with respect to religious intolerance, discrimination against ethnic minority groups and continued use of the death penalty. We also have concerns about the political freedoms in Hong Kong and in the future in Macao. It is right that we put pressure on China to improve its record. In the EU it is important that we continue that pressure. However, I have two concerns. Firstly, we must be careful not to unnecessarily endanger China's accession to the WTO because WTO membership in the medium term would do more to transform China's economy and China's human rights situation than anything else. Opening up China and bringing it into the global economy must have positive consequences with respect to human rights. Many in China's ruling circles know and welcome this. We must be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water, in acting to try to get the best and end up siding with the interests of the worst. Secondly, we must continue to criticise China. I will continue to do so where necessary, but I hope we will not see an over-emphasis on China at the expense of other regimes in the world, whose records are as bad, if not worse. This only gives China an excuse to ignore our demands.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Commissioner, the question of fixed book prices is primarily a question of cultural policy. The fact, Mr President, Commissioner, that I am addressing you here and now in German demonstrates that fixed book prices are not just a national problem; they are a cross-border issue which also affects a series of linguistic enclaves outside Germany and Austria. Books are cultural assets, writing is the first recorded form of the language, of linguistic identity, and I think that, however important it is to comply with competition standards, the cultural aspect must be considered equally important and given equal status. Even if current legislation within the framework of the European Union does not yet allow for cross-border regulations in this area, I hope that we shall arrive at this form of regulation in the future, especially since the German and Austrian Ministers for Culture defined and documented this issue as such for cross-border action in February last year. I think that a regulation needs to be found to protect authors and to protect publishers, if not in the form of current cross-border measures, then in the form of national regulations. The problem of imports, be they of a contractual or legislative nature, is a crucial element in this respect. I hope that the rapprochement to date between the Commission and the European Parliament, which has already taken up this matter several times during the last parliamentary term, be it in the Committee on Culture or in plenary, will continue. And as Mr Rothley has already said: it will not do to have a patchwork quilt in Europe in the future; on the contrary, we need a sensible regulation, which may not be optimal but which meets the demands of the professional organisations in question. The French model could offer a workable, viable solution for the immediate future. In this sense we hope, Commissioner, that you and the Commission will be able to grant Parliament’s wish, the wish which it has expressed here and in the documents of this legislation. (Applause)

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, cooperation between the Europe of 25 with the neighbouring countries to the east, such as the Ukraine, and to the south, such as North Africa, should not in the first place be about EU membership, but about stability and security pacts, whereby the control of borders and border regions should be central. At the same time, it is necessary for the enlarged Europe to put its own house in order. In this Europe, there is too much neo-liberalism and too little in the way of social dialogue, social security and employment. In this Europe, there is too much backroom politics and too little public-political debate. In this Europe, there is too much red tape and too little discretion shown in working practices. A more social, more democratic and more selective Europe means a strong Europe with a Constitution. Consequently, that Europe, with the self-assurance of the citizens behind it, could give its backing to stability and security pacts with the new neighbours. If we focus only on further cooperation with our new neighbours without completing the work we have to do on ourselves, we will disrupt society and democracy within the Europe of 25 and make of it a project lacking electoral support. Only if the citizens of the 25 feel stronger and more secure in themselves, will we, the Europe of 25, be able to be good neighbours. Stability and security pacts entail not only fair trade zones, human rights programmes and knowledge exchange programmes, but also cooperation agreements in order to closely monitor our external borders and regions with regard to terrorism, the trafficking in women and crime. Such stability and security pacts should not, however, be at the expense of Europe's worldwide contribution to the fight against poverty and to ending conflicts. Quite the reverse: we, including the new Members, should contribute more. That is also in keeping with Europe's social model – both internal and external. Incidentally, I take the view that Europe should withdraw from Iraq until such time as the UN has actually taken over the mandate.

Political group: PSE
Honourable Members, Commissioner, it is often said that Europe has succeeded in stabilising the economic sector, but this is only true if we confine ourselves purely to the public sector. If we look at the private sector, however, we will find not only that this fabled ‘financial stability’ has been unsuccessful but that we are most probably sitting on a volcano ready to erupt at any moment. The debt burdens of the private sector and the corresponding excessive inflation of Stock Exchange securities, the two main market stability indicators, have, for some time, been at danger levels, as the Commission report on the economic situation in Europe clearly illustrates. The fact that the public accepts such rates and does not just abandon all financial activities in a panic can be explained by overambitious expectations over future gains. Speculative activities are growing beyond measure and are, in turn, generating profits which will eventually prove to be merely fictitious. Over-optimism will give way to disappointment and fear, which, in turn, will result in a stock market and economic crisis. The danger is too great for us to ignore. We ought to face it regardless of how difficult it may seem. Modern economic science has provided an exceptional instrument with the Tobin proposal and others, which we will be able to use if we have the political will to make a start. That is what we are lacking, Commissioner: the political will to make a start in tackling speculation. No longer should there be a place in democracy for the worship of, or for this fatalist approach towards, market forces as adopted by the liberals – and I am sorry that Mr Gasòliba I Böhm has left – as this will only lead to its ruin.

Political group: PSE
Madam President, Commissioner, I would firstly like to congratulate the rapporteur on his report, because I believe this is an important opportunity to establish common control of the European Union's external borders. Let us not forget that these borders, as Robert Schuman said, were Europe's historical scars. At the moment they are external borders and we do not know whether in a few year’s time they will be internal borders, as in the case of other borders. However, in any event, it is necessary to establish protection and this must be established at Community level as far as possible. It is true that the Member States have been carrying out these duties, but I believe that the European Union, also in order to present an image of unity to the outside, must have a common policy for the protection of borders and I therefore believe the proposal made to be extremely positive: that it be a genuine Community agency. In this regard, in relation to the duties of this agency – such as the expulsion of third-country nationals – I believe this is an issue which must be developed later on and that it is premature to deal with it at the moment.

Political group: ELDR
Mr President, this summer, as I was on my way along the Rome-Naples motorway to Rome airport, I stopped in Cassino. Near Cassino, there is a small hamlet with 2000 residents, San Pietro in Fine, which was razed to the ground at the famous Battle of Cassino during the Second World War. Not one stone of this hamlet, San Pietro in Fine, remained standing, and the few surviving inhabitants rebuilt the village a little way further up the valley. It is my belief that young people should know what happened. To this end, San Pietro in Fine should be made a memorial which is a reminder of the horrors of war and commemorates the major role played by the European Union in the past 50 years in preventing war in Europe.

Political group: PPE-DE
I welcome the move to shake up Europe's energy markets: this will make markets more open and accessible to all. If the final directive contains many of the useful amendments proposed by the Industry Committee, European energy consumers will operate in a considerably more favourable climate than they do at present. Bills will contain more basic information and consumers will be better informed of exactly what they are paying for. Even more significant for European consumers will be the proposed non-discriminatory access to networks for different competitors. Basic economics tells us that more competition for networks should result in an eventual decrease in prices: good news for some consumers who, in the present system, end up paying over the odds. This is equally goods news for small energy companies who are sometimes deterred from further expansion owing to high market entry costs. Gas and electricity are basic necessities, not luxury goods, and this directive will be a triumph for most European consumers and some producers of energy.

Political group: PSE
I fully support this report to enhance present legislation to protect minors. It is recognised that a child's welfare is the responsibility of their legal guardians, but children are exposed to all manner of potential malevolent influences in the media, and especially from the Internet. Whilst the EU has been active in protecting children from harmful media influences, such as the 1999 action plan and the Council recommendation, it is high time that a more concrete action plan was developed which involves not only policy-makers, but also NGOs, consumer groups and voluntary associations. Controlling the media is a mammoth task and Europe needs to draw on as many expert sources as possible in order to harness what is increasingly a harmful influence on children. We should never forget that the so-called new media, the Information Society, is a double-edged sword where children are concerned: it is a valuable information and learning resource but can also expose them to detrimental information. - Report De Sarnez (A5-0035/2002)

Political group: PSE