GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
Mr President, needless to say, airline companies, the aviation industry and tourism are the primary and most visible victims of 11 September, but let us not forget that outside tourism, many small- and medium-sized enterprises and their workers in the supply industry and in the geographical vicinity of airports, will also be directly affected by the tragedy. In Belgium, the small- and medium-sized enterprises expect one redundancy per job lost at Sabena. In our view, it should be ensured that government aid, in whatever form, benefits all industries affected. We are also relying on the fact that the measures which the Commission can take are carried out promptly and on a large scale. The following measures spring to mind in the first instance: the creating of scope for government investments in the safety of air transport, the prompt handling of specific financial aid dossiers and extended flexibility, albeit limited in time, in slot management. The extremely difficult situation should also prompt the Commission to clamp down on competition-distorting practices in transatlantic relations. In this day and age, we are dependent on many factors. If they all go wrong at the same time, we will end up with a right mess, and Sabena is a tragic case in point. As a Belgian MP, I would urge that DAT be treated like any other airline company that is being affected by the effects of 11 September. DAT should also be seen as a company that is being restructured, and must have access to the same facilities which other companies would have at their disposal in the same situation. Finally, I wish the workers and independent businesses that are the victims of this situation a great deal of strength, and I hope that we can offer them better prospects in the short term.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, five people, namely Thongpaseuth Keuakoun, Kamphouvieng Sisaath, Seng-Aloun Phenphanh, Bouavanh Chanhmanivong and Keochay, disappeared on 26 October 1999 and were probably imprisoned for holding a peaceful protest in Vientiane and calling for political changes in their country. They are all members of the Lao student movement for democracy. Their safety is feared for because of the torture and poor treatment in the prisons. The government of Laos should see the contribution of this kind of motivated person precisely as an impulse towards improvement. They must be able to contribute freely. Freedom of expression, the right of association and assembly are greatly restricted in Laos. Inflation is currently running at over 30%. The mysterious bomb explosions are damaging the largest economic factor in the country, tourism. If the government does not act soon to implement political and economic reforms then this country faces an unstable future. - Guinea-Conakry

Political group: ELDR
Madam President, we are in the process of providing ourselves with an excellent public health programme by 2006, and I want especially to thank Mr Trakatellis for that. I want to mention a few points I think need to be part of this programme. The first is what is absolutely the most important objective of a health programme, namely to ensure that diseases do not occur at all. Preventative measures cannot be emphasised enough, and consideration must be given to these in all policies and all activities. That applies above all to environmental pollution which, as we know, damages public health when, for example, food is contaminated or poisonous chemicals that are dangerous to health are used in consumer products. I therefore really want to urge everyone to vote in favour of Amendment Nos 24, 40, 49 and 54. My second point relates to complementary medicine. It is important for this to be recognised in the action programme and for research, evaluation and the provision of information to be encouraged in the area of complementary methods of treatment. That is what Amendment Nos 25 and 44 are about. Thirdly, I want to draw your attention to Amendment No 60, tabled by my own political group. This says that we need to develop strategies for reducing resistance to antibiotics. This is a major public health issue and a major public health problem, as the World Health Organisation has also pointed out by way of a warning. My fourth and last point concerns the importance of the efforts in support of the activities of the not-for-profit and non-governmental organisations that operate in the public health field. They do sterling work in the field and need all the support they can get.

Political group: Verts-ALE
In 2003, the Commission was forced, for the third year in succession, to revise its economic forecasts downwards. The European economy is in poor shape, and three countries, including France and Germany which together account for half the eurozone’s GDP, had budget deficits in excess of the limit of three per cent of GDP defined in the Stability and Growth Pact. The rapporteur emphasises the importance of not bringing the Stability and Growth Pact into question at a time when the European economy is only just ticking over. The report expresses support for complying to the letter with the conditions of the Stability and Growth Pact. It is absolutely crucial to people’s confidence in the regulations that the criteria should be clear, measurable and objective. I could not, however, support paragraph 19, which ‘requires an increase in budgetary allocations at European and national level’, that is to say further increased taxes. That is hardly the right medicine in a situation of economic stagnation. - Report: Kuckelkorn (A5-0062/2004)

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, Commissioner, I would like to describe a case for which I can find no solution: let us imagine a network, a link between two countries, backed up by all studies which tell us that in 2010 we are going to be faced with gridlock in the traffic in goods and passengers between those countries. We are faced with the problem that one of the two countries does not support the implementation of that project. We cannot find a solution. Something is failing, because the result will be that in 2010 the gridlock will take place and that network will not be created. I, as an Aragonese Member, and you, as a Spaniard like myself, know that I am talking about Vignemal. We are dealing with a project which is absolutely essential to the interrelationship between the north and south of Europe and with a country, in this case France, which seems to be withholding its interest in implementing the project. Frankly, Commissioner, I cannot find any solution to this problem in the Commission's documents. I hope that you, who I know offer enormous support to the project, can resolve this problem I am faced with.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, on behalf of this Parliament, I would like to ask you to speak to the Moroccan Government, and in particular the King of Morocco, to call for the release of a Moroccan journalist, Mr Lmrabet, who yesterday was sentenced to three years in prison, simply for having written articles criticising the situation in Morocco. Mr Lmrabet is on hunger strike; he therefore risks dying if there is no outside intervention. I would therefore ask the President – and we are ready to forward the file to him – to speak to the Moroccan Government in order to try to save this journalist’s life.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Roy . – Mr President, I regret that the Group made no attempt to contact me or my office about this proposal they were going to make. The Committee on Petitions would very keenly wish to respect and observe the Rules of the House and that is why our Chairman, Mr Gemelli, took careful legal advice. The legal advice we have received from the Parliament's Legal Service is that we can most certainly proceed with the report on Thursday. I myself have submitted an amendment which I will commend to the House on Thursday. It simply says that this House reserves its right, if it does not receive information from the Commission, to carry out further parliamentary inquiries. I regret that Mr Cashman is seeking to make this so contentious. The first petition came to us in 1997. There is no good reason why this House should delay debating that report. (Applause)

Political group: PSE
We have chosen to abstain from voting in the final vote on the aforementioned report. Our position relates to the report and not to the outcome of the Convention in its entirety. Certain parts of the report depart from the outcome of the Convention. We support the work on designing a Constitution for Europe. We have supported the Convention method which, in a unique way, has changed the method of drafting the EU’s treaties. We are in favour of a consolidated Treaty with a clearer distribution of competences. It is good that decision-making is being improved and simplified and that people are being given greater opportunities to demand accountability. We support the Convention’s compromise despite the fact that, on a number of points, it departs from our own positions. The EU must be limited and effective. A Constitution should clearly mark the boundary between the public and the private, as well as the EU’s decision-making competence in relation to the Member States. It is the Member States that own the Treaty. It is therefore obvious that Treaty changes must be approved unanimously and ratified by national parliaments. That also means that we are doubtful about Article I-24.4 of the draft Constitution. Like the Swedish Parliament, the Moderate Party opposes a permanent Presidency of the Council. Nor can we support a development towards parliamentarianism at EU level. We maintain that the EU should not be given any decision-making competence for social policy and taxes. We are seeking a lively dialogue and see no intrinsic value in the Intergovernmental Conference’s being concluded during the autumn.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, today the House has shown itself unworthy of an excellent report by a committee on human genetics. A majority of this House, duped by an unholy alliance of s and liberals, has distorted a report, so that nearly all of us ended up having to vote against it in order to leave that outstanding product of the Committee on Human Genetics, the original text of the Fiori Report, standing as a beacon of Europe's protection of life. I am proud that this Committee, in one year, drafted this magnificent report, which will stand as the product of a committee of real experts. This House has yet to learn how to handle this report in a manner worthy of it. I appeal to the citizens of the European Union and to the organisations in it defending human life, which are at last becoming as active as the animal protection organisations, to take a close look at how Members here voted and to enter into dialogue with us, so that this House may keep to the course it has taken since the Gergo report at the beginning of the 1980s, that is, to stand up for life – human life for human beings. From conception to natural death, human beings deserve all the protection we can give, and without equivocation.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, there are certain quaint eccentricities in the operation of the building and in its catering, for instance, coffee not being served during sessions, no white wine available by the glass, the fact that the pizzas taste like cardboard and the fact that the newspaper shop is about as far away from the entrance where Members come in as it is possible to be. Nevertheless those are things we can deal with. The design of the building is not entirely to my taste. The designer clearly must have had Breughel’s Tower of Babel in mind. But I accept that you, Mr Priestley and the people of Strasbourg have made enormous efforts to try and cope with these. I agree with Mr Andrews that inevitably there were some teething problems. The biggest remaining problem is the lifts, which seem to have a mind of their own. If you run very fast – which does not help the handicapped – you might get in before someone inside it closes the door in your face because they are fed up with stopping on every floor. Nevertheless, the building is a comparatively good one. It is cheap compared to the House of Commons in London, where nearly FRF 1 million has been spent on a desk. My main complaint is not about the treatment of Members but about the treatment of staff. It seems to me that whoever has been making these decisions has treated the staff, in some cases, rather shabbily. Certainly the committee staff who work with me now have to fit three people, three desks and chairs, three telephones and three sets of papers into a room that used to be used by one Member in IPE I or IPE II. This is not an effective way of making sure that this institution works properly and effectively. The last point I would make is that in many cases we have been blaming the building when it is the politicians we should be blaming. The building is here because of decisions made at the Edinburgh Council by Mr Major, who institutionalised our constant peregrinations between Brussels and Strasbourg – beautiful as this city is – to the detriment of our efficiency as an institution that is meant to be working on behalf of the people of the European Union. (Applause)

Political group: PSE
Mr President, last Monday and Tuesday, 3 and 4 June, I was pleased to take part in the work of the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee. I would like to express my concern here at the situation in the energy sector in Bulgaria. Before the end of the year, Bulgaria and the European Union have to decide on the definitive date for closing units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power station. All the representatives of the Bulgarian Parliament – both the party in power and the opposition – and of the government were unanimous in stressing that the closure of these units will, or would be extremely harmful to the Bulgarian economy. I feel – and this is why I have taken the floor – that we must ensure that Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people do not see these negotiations as a threat to themselves or to their desire to accede to the European Union as soon as possible.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, I speak for the Socialists from the point of view of Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. The Barcelona Summit will be a major milestone during the Spanish Presidency and it is essential that we reply to the downward global economic trend by further deepening and strengthening the process laid down at Lisbon and further developed at Stockholm and Göteborg. The Lisbon policy mix of mutually supportive economic reform, full employment, social cohesion and sustainable development needs to be reinforced through concrete measures that increase the potential for growth and job creation. It would be a grave mistake to concentrate – as some have done in the debate today – on only one aspect of the Lisbon process, that of structural reform. At this time, we need to further develop the coherence of the Lisbon process and reinforce it. In concrete terms, we want a number of priorities developed at Barcelona, some of which are reflected in the Commission's synthesis report adopted this week. The following are purely illustrative in the limited time available. We want a strengthening of resolve to achieve the goal of a 70% employment rate by 2010, recognising the good progress we have seen and increasing the participation of unemployed people in active labour measures to at least 20% in nearly all Member States; we want to go further and set a new target of 44%, the level in the three best-performing Member States, to be achieved within a five-year timeframe. Within this timeframe we need, among other things, further action for women and older workers able and willing to stay in the labour market; action to improve the availability of affordable and good-quality child care; goals for reductions in youth unemployment and renewed emphasis upon life-long learning, training and improved mobility. We also need further action to address demographic change through an integrated approach to safeguard sustainable and universal pensions.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, Commissioner, the most important step with regard to the future of the euro is the moment European citizens start handling euros physically. We will try to facilitate the switch to the new currency in terms of cash by allowing the euro and national currencies to exist side by side for a few months. Parliament also supports frontloading and would, in this way, like to remove the barriers to the swift introduction of the currency. It now appears that the European Central Bank is also gradually beginning to endorse this aim. We cannot, however, underestimate how important it is for the citizens of Europe to be prepared for the change. When Germany reunited, the West German mark was introduced into the former East Germany immediately with no major catastrophe occurring, such as those the big bang sceptics are currently describing with regard to the introduction of the euro. In many countries, the euro, with few exceptions, could be adopted within a short period of time. For example, in my country, Finland, the number of coins and notes in relation to GNP is the smallest in Europe. In addition, the ever-growing number of credit cards in relation to the population is by far the greatest. For example, I would support the big bang model for Finland. The big bang would actually only cause problems for cash dispensing machines. It will not be possible to change all the machines in one night, so the old currency should continue to be used as legal tender at least for some period of time, in cash dispensers at least. Our citizens must have the real feeling that the euro is of benefit to them, and not something that is going to make life difficult. At present, there is a dearth of direct practical benefits, since, for example, developments in the euro zone as far as cross-border purchases and currency exchange services are concerned have not been to the satisfaction of the public. The introduction of the euro must be made easy for the public and consumers. Problems for special groups must be minimised. Everything possible must be done in remote areas to ease the introduction of the euro. Supplies of the new currency delivered early on would support these aims. What is essential for the public is not how long dual circulation lasts, but how long the banks will exchange former currencies for euros without charge. The banks should offer a free currency exchange service for at least six months, even though dual circulation might have ceased.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is deeply troubling and I would refer in that context to the shooting and subsequent death of my constituent Tom Hurndall. But the security threat to Israel is also very serious. It is fair to ask why, if the only point of the barrier is to stop suicide bombers, the barrier is not on the 'green line'? Why does it make such incursions into Palestinian territory and create such hardship? I do at least welcome the announcement two days ago that the barrier will be moved closer to the green line. I also welcome Prime Minister Sharon's intention to withdraw from the Gaza settlements. A senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, Henry Siegman, wrote recently that support for the cause of Palestinian nationhood does not require denial of Jews to live in their own state. That is precisely my position: two states side by side, with the right of return of Palestinians largely to a state in the West Bank and Gaza. But it must be a viable state. Of course the achievement of this does not rest just on Israeli shoulders. Palestinians have to want peace and avoid terrorism. It is very difficult to contest Israel's right to make itself secure, when Palestinian leaders seem unable to stop suicide bombers. There are desperate people, but I am not convinced that desperation is the only basis for suicide bombers – they are also recruited and exploited. The Palestinian Authority is in crisis, not only because of Israeli hostility – although that is a strong factor – but also because of corruption and criminal lawlessness. I note that 350 activists resigned in protest last weekend from Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement. Perhaps this parallels the case taken by Israeli NGOs to the Israeli Supreme Court in protest against the barrier. The crucial priority is to get back to political negotiations. I am not convinced that the International Court of Justice case helps, because it diverts from that. What would help is grassroots democratic pressure, both in Israel and in Palestine.

Political group: ELDR
I would thank the Belgian Presidency most sincerely for that answer. It was characterised by commitment and a genuine desire to do its best for these people. Kabul has fallen. The Taliban regime is fleeing. Afghanistan faces a new future. In that scenario, I really want you in the Belgian Presidency to do everything you can to obtain information about these 16 Afghans who are threatened by the death penalty. Are they still there in Kabul? Have they been taken to Kandahar? Can we rescue them? What has happened to the eight aid workers from Shelter Now International? I should be extremely glad if the Belgian Presidency were able to report here in Parliament that all 24 of these people had been found and were free and alive. It is my wish that you in the Belgian Presidency should do everything you can. There are new opportunities now that Kabul has been opened up. I would ask you if you believe you can obtain some information before the end of the year.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, with regard to the telecommunications package which we are going to vote on – tomorrow, in principle – I would like to ask that the vote be delayed until Wednesday. We have just held a meeting with the Council and the Commission and they advise us that, so that the various groups may have time to examine the compromise proposals, that vote should be held a day later. (Parliament gave its assent) Regarding Wednesday

Political group: PSE
Honoured President, ladies and gentlemen, and Members of the European Commission, this is not the first time since the elections that we have spoken about the situation in Kosovo. As recently as the last part-session, we talked about reconstruction and we also discussed the situation facing Albanian Kosovars in Serbian jails in the debate on urgent subjects. I would like to point again to the fact that this situation gives a great deal of cause for concern. We did adopt this resolution last time but reports have reached me in the meantime to the effect that there has been no improvement whatsoever in the situation. We really are going to have to keep an eye on this. It is right and proper that we should be discussing the situation facing the Gypsies in Kosovo today. I think it is completely unacceptable for any section of the population whatsoever to be disadvantaged and persecuted. We must take very decisive action against this and I believe that the compromise resolution articulates this in a very balanced and effective manner and also places responsibility where it needs to be placed. There is no need for me to read it out. Everyone can read it for themselves and we will see that it is indeed worded very effectively. Indeed, I have visited Kosovo myself and have spoken to most of the Albanian political leaders there from across the political spectrum including Rugova, Bukoshi and Thaçi. These people are well aware that they do not always have control of the situation. I believe this resolution shows our support for them; it is a recommendation and we must help them to put it into practice.

Political group: Verts-ALE