GwendalTsang/DEFT09-parquet huggingface dataset:
Mr President, Commissioner, you have given us a most impressive overview of the measures adopted by the Commission. We have the impression that it comes rather too late. Perhaps these measures should have been adopted in 'peace-time', if I can call it that. But the Commission – and some Member States as well – showed a striking lack of concern about the danger posed by the disease, and it would also seem that no one took the precaution of developing a common strategy to combat it. We had the impression that the politicians were falling over themselves with radical demands and instructions, but none of them offered a particularly effective response to the outbreaks. But, of course, the key question now is: culling or vaccination? Let me make it clear to the House that it is not a matter of resuming a regular programme of preventive vaccinations. No, the question is whether the outbreak can now be contained through emergency 'ring' and suppressive vaccinations. And what happens to the animals after they have been vaccinated? That is another question. You have authorised the vaccinations, but only on condition that the animals are slaughtered afterwards. You were rather circumspect in your speech today, so let's be frank about it: this is an absolute scandal. Healthy vaccinated animals do not need to be slaughtered to curb the epidemic, they can be returned to the economy. There are a number of countries which have proved that it is possible to pursue an export policy even though they have cases of foot-and-mouth disease at home. Argentina is a case in point, with its trade with the EU and other countries. But they do not export the disease. What we expect from you – and I hope that tomorrow's resolution will bear this out – is that you will not present us with endless arguments about why the cull is necessary: I have heard quite enough of them from your subordinates. Endless imagination is used to justify the culling – yet in reality, very little imagination is needed to break away from this fixation with slaughter. I expect you to explain to us how you intend to negotiate at international level in order to enable us to achieve a sensible policy on how to combat the epidemic while continuing to trade with third countries. We must finally overcome this contradiction: the two things must be possible, trade and a sensible policy on the disease. Vaccination is not just an emotive issue .... (The President cut the speaker off) (Applause)

Political group: Verts-ALE
The result achieved by the Conciliation Delegation is very positive and represents a very significant achievement for the European Parliament. By adopting this directive on the organisation of the working time of persons whose occupation is the performance of mobile road-transport activities, we will eliminate distortions to competition within the sector and at the same time promote road safety. I welcome, in particular, the agreement achieved on the central issue of this directive: the inclusion of self-employed workers. Including these workers within the scope of the directive seven years after its entry into force and the possibility of the Commission undertaking a study of the consequences of the exclusion of self-employed drivers, to be carried out two years before the end of that seven-year period, have proven to be a useful and balanced formula for overcoming the resistance of some Member States and thereby obtaining the agreement that is crucial to the adoption of this new directive, which is of vital importance to the common transport policy. The definition of a self-employed driver put forward in the directive also makes a valuable contribution to preventing the creation of new forms of false self-employment during the period of temporary exclusion of self-employed drivers. With regard to the hours of night work, guarantees are provided for the competitiveness of the outermost countries, whose drivers have to travel long distances in order to reach the main centres of production and distribution, travelling at night when traffic is less heavy. The outcome of the agreement between Parliament and the Council, therefore, represents an appropriate balance between the economic aspects and road safety and the health of workers.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, I should like to say first of all that I share the hope that the Code of Conduct, when applied in the long term, will mean that fewer arms are manufactured, whereas Mr von Wogau gave the impression in his speech that the aim was for less money to be spent on manufacturing arms. Secondly, I have to say – and I would ask the President to send a note to this effect to the Council – that a discussion is being held here between the European Parliament and the Council, which means that the Council Presidency is actually who we should be talking to because it has 100% responsibility for implementing the Code, and I am disappointed that it is not represented here at all. Thirdly, given that the Council Presidency is not taking its responsibilities seriously, I actually think that it would be sensible for the Commission to share that responsibility, namely where integrated instruments apply, which would also give the European Parliament a better opportunity of contributing to improving the Code of Conduct. One of the key issues that we need to address is the Europe-wide registration of arms with the involvement of all Member States, and I think that entrusting the Commission with these tasks would be an important institutional step forward. The main problem – and this has already been mentioned – is that the Code is not binding and cannot therefore be applied effectively. This is therefore another central issue that urgently needs to be resolved. Nevertheless, we also still have the problem – and this too has already been mentioned – that this Code is insufficient to ensure proper surveillance of arms movements. That is why we urgently need registration, firstly of the product, secondly of its movements and thirdly of the end-user. It is also necessary to have a register of how the arms are intended to be used when they reach the end-user, and for this purpose we need a joint surveillance office in the European Union. Even better would be an arbitration service, an ombudsman, to deal with questions and criticism from the public, because arms can still end up in the wrong place and because arms from the European Union still lead to conflicts today. I think that it has become clear that the main problem with the Arms Code is implementation. In terms of implementation, we still fall far short of meeting our actual standards, and we also know that arms exports still lead to fresh violence in latent conflicts, to the violation of human rights and to situations of war, where we then have to invest more money and personnel to restore peace to the region. That is why one of the key tasks of a common foreign and security policy is to ensure that arms exports are tracked and restricted and that those who violate the Code are punished accordingly.

Political group: Verts-ALE
Mr President, the Århus Convention is very important. In practice, it reinforces the transparency of decisions in environmental matters directly affecting citizens and the latter’s chances of actually even influencing these decisions. I shall begin by commenting on the aspect of its implementation that concerns Mrs Schörling’s report on justice in environmental matters. A proposal to reject the report in its present form has been presented; Mrs Thors, among others, spoke of this just now. I myself have some difficulty in understanding the reason for rejecting this report. The fact is that the European Union has signed this Convention. It is reasonable, therefore, for it to have a duty to use its regulatory framework to ensure that this Convention is also implemented. Surely this is a reasonable consequence of signing it. I believe that this will gain particular importance when the Union is enlarged by ten new members. The aim is to involve the new Member States so that, together with us, they meet the stipulations of this Convention. Reading the report, it is also perfectly clear that it does not prevent any country from having more progressive legislation. Each country is free to go further, to increase the rights in other areas. The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Policy makes this clear in Amendments Nos 4 and 5. There is a reason for the report applying in the field of the environment, in particular. This is the part of EU law with perhaps the poorest levels of compliance, judging by the number of Court cases. In my opinion, the draft adopted by the Committee on the Environment could be improved in a couple of respects. Firstly, it should be extended to cover all decisions with an environmental impact, not just those decisions that are taken on the basis of Article 175 of the Treaty. Secondly, it is important not to stipulate a detailed definition of the term ‘environmental organisation’. It can hardly be the EU’s job to do this. It is also important not to prescribe a restriction on who is granted the opportunity of bringing legal proceedings. I shall devote the last seconds of my speaking time to Mrs Korhola’s report. It is important that this report cover as large a part of the legislation as possible. It is important that its scope also cover institutions such as the European Investment Bank, a major financial player, so that they have to comply with the obligations laid down in the report. I also think that it is very important that the public be given a partisan interest, so that it is covered by this regulatory framework.

Political group: GUE-NGL
The British Conservative Delegation do not see any cause to introduce pan-European judicial training. This is a matter for individual Member States and the present system of training the Judiciary is unique and particular to each of those States. It should remain this way. There are also implications for the budget of the European Union which are unacceptable and will be separately resisted in the budgetary process. The British Conservatives cannot support the measures in this report.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, I have a genuine point of order. (Applause) We have no urgent procedures this week, yet, Chechnya, Albania, Burma and Palestine have already been discussed. My question to you is this: can we not change the Rules of Procedure in such a way that we no longer have urgent procedures, but deal with these matters at the beginning of the sittings instead? (Applause)

Political group: PSE
Mr President, three preliminary matters. First of all, those of us who were there are aware of the positive role of the European Union, which, it is true, was the driving force behind what took place. Secondly, the negative role of the United States, which, for example, put pressure on the countries it could pressurise – and I am afraid the number of such countries will soon be excessive – to prevent an agreement on renewable energy from being concluded. Thirdly, our group – a delegation of eleven Members – attended the official summit, the alternative summit and visited two townships – called Soweto and Alexandra – and was able to see for itself what it means to be without water or sanitation, and with only very precarious housing. Commissioners, I have to admit that, having visited these two townships, the debates that took place at the official summit seemed to me to be a long way away from the reality that was so close to the official summit, so safe and so luxurious. This is a feeling I have to express and I therefore share the critical spirit of the resolution of the Committee on the Environment, which points out very clearly that, in matters such as the protection of biodiversity, in matters such as renewable energy, there are no clear, concrete objectives. And in those areas where there are more concrete objectives, such as the reduction of poverty, the economic objectives are still not clear. In other words, the summit did not discuss an objective which has been in the public domain for over thirty years: 0.7% aid to development. And aid to development is constantly decreasing instead of increasing. Other considerations are nothing but hollow words if this 0.7% aid to development is not implemented. Despite the fact that we criticise the result of the Johannesburg Summit, it is true – and in this I agree with the committee and the rest of my fellow Members – that we need to follow up the minimum agreements to ensure that they are fulfilled.

Political group: GUE-NGL
Madam President, the situation in Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan is the setting for the drama of the child-soldiers. The aim of my speech and of the resolution which has just been tabled is to prompt Parliament and the institutions to adopt ongoing initiatives which do more than just respond to moments of crisis. There has been continuous armed conflict in this region for the last 30 years; civil society has been completely destroyed and different groups of rebels have been massacring the peoples of Northern Uganda for over 12 years. Their favourite victims are children and adolescents because they are vulnerable and easily influenced. To date, approximately 60% of the soldiers in the Lord's Resistance Army are children under the age of 16. The strategy is precisely to manipulate the children and subject them to brutal force so that they will in turn be able to kill and torture others. Adolescent girls are given to the rebels as wives, but the most noticeable thing is that not even the Nairobi Agreements between Uganda and the Sudan last December have caused the LRA to change its attitude. During the last few days, I have had the opportunity to talk to one of the girls who has escaped from the fields of Southern Sudan, who confirmed that the LRA has no intention of changing its position. Further evidence of this is the funeral of John Baptista Ochaia, the representative of the Chairman of Kitgum district council, who died the day before yesterday from wounds received during an LRA ambush, which took place today in Uganda. It is therefore unacceptable that the European authorities and many commercial entities should maintain an attitude almost of tacit approval of this situation, without making any attempt to break the circle which is robbing a generation of its future.

Political group: PPE-DE
Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the European Union, despite all its successes, lives with the worry of creating new jobs, because this is one of the fundamental rights of European citizens and is also the best precondition for growth and social cohesion between us. The employment guidelines and the Luxembourg procedure in general are very important in achieving this objective, which is why the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs always examines them with close interest. Our rapporteur, Mrs Hermange, has taken the right approach, for which we thank and congratulate her. I could reiterate many of the positions formulated by my fellow Members; however, I shall comment for my part on certain points which I consider should be highlighted. First, increasing employment is a highly complex procedure and policy. It affects all sectors of economic policy, of social policy, of education policy, of vocational training, of transparency, of the fight against tax evasion and of undeclared work. Research and innovation have been particularly highlighted recently. This was, in fact, a decision by the recent spring Council and I thank the rapporteur for accepting my amendment on the subject, which calls for proper coordination of all these policies when designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the application of the guidelines. This coordination policy is very important to the new Member States, which are being called on to adopt European results in their internal policies. We also note that the countries in which there is no proper coordination have the worst performance records in the field of increasing employment. Coordination and complementarity are needed both between European policies and national policies at all levels – central, regional, local – and between all the agencies involved. I agree with the rapporteur's proposals about transparency and simpler procedures and about information on making the best possible use of the structural funds. Another issue on which I want to comment is the issue of structural reform, mainly in the fiscal sector and in the social security sector. It would appear that this issue, however necessary everyone considers it to be, is not easy. It demands a political price, it needs to be distilled by society and matured and this is not happening to the required extent. The assent which we set forth as policy, in order to have meaning and be successful, needs properly informed and prepared citizens, responsible social partners and serious effort if the results of our policies are to become visible and if we are to create trust in our chosen objectives and procedures.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, just for the record: it is my understanding that, after a careful process of negotiation between the and the , the will be withdrawing their resolution. If there is any change to that, this Parliament needs to be notified far in advance of tomorrow. Secondly, to be absolutely clear and not to extend the debate, at no point did I suggest Mr Salafranca accused President Pastrana of bad faith. But in his attempts to mute criticism of the Colombian Government, I think he thinks we think that President Pastrana has bad faith. We are not suggesting that. He has good faith, but his government has not delivered the goods.

Political group: PSE
Mr President, the forthcoming European Council in Feira will mark the end of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union. As a Portuguese national and a European, no one more than I hopes that this summit will achieve positive results which can take Europe forward and show the merit of the rotating presidency, whatever the demographic and economic weight of each country. This is the very spirit of the European Union and it is only with this spirit that Europe will remain united. There cannot be first or second rate countries or people. Everyone is equal in the Union, in both their rights and duties. Therefore, as a Portuguese national and a European, I am looking very expectantly to the Feira European Council to ensure that this summit is not just an obligation in the calendar or a transition point. I have two specific hopes, which are also requirements, obligations and duties, for the assessment to be made of the Portuguese Presidency. Firstly, we hope that the Feira European Council can definitively end the Austrian question otherwise this issue will remain a cloud over the Portuguese Presidency. We do not understand why the President-in-Office has allowed confusion to arise between his institutional position as President of the European Union and his role as spokesperson for the bilateral decisions of 14 Member States against one. If there is one person responsible for this issue it is the President of the European Union who must now correct his error. He must rectify what could have been avoided. The Portuguese Presidency assumed a special responsibility in this issue and we hope that it will solve the problem at the Feira European Council so that this does not become a sore point within the European Union. The longer it takes to resolve this issue, the more difficult it will become to resolve. Secondly, we hope that the Feira European Council can produce a plan, an idea or a project for Europe for the next Intergovernmental Conference. We also hope that the Portuguese Presidency will be seen to have made a significant mark in this respect. A report or document is not enough. It does not take ministers to produce reports and documents summarising positions. This only needs officials to attend the meetings. We know that the work of the IGC will be drawn to a close by the French Presidency at the end of this year but it would surely be justified for ideas and projects to already exist which had the mark of the current Presidency. The idea that everything will be decided at the last minute seems too much a justification of a fait accompli policy and must be rejected immediately. This is even more worrying when everything is being discussed in public, without it being apparent whether these discussions are forms of pressure or academic debate. We therefore hope that the Feira European Council will produce not just a statement of positions but also a plan, a project or an idea on the changes to the Intergovernmental Conference.

Political group: PPE-DE
Mr President, the Laeken declaration set the scene for a broad public discussion about the future of Europe. That is a good thing. What is not, however, good enough is that three men are being employed to head up this work. Experience all goes to show that the composition of the Convention will also be one-sided. The Laeken declaration states, moreover, that deputies may only be allowed to step in if the right member is absent. Yet deputising is one of the classic opportunities women have for obtaining any kind of representation when it comes to this type of work. I must therefore call upon the Belgian and Spanish Presidencies to arrange matters in such a way that it is permitted to call in deputies and – rather more ambitiously – call upon them to arrange for everyone to be represented by a deputy of the opposite sex.

Political group: ELDR
The British Conservative delegation strongly supports genuine human rights and the need for the UN Commission on Human Rights to take a robust position to overcome abuses in many parts of the world. We therefore welcomed many aspects of the resolution, not least the concern expressed at the lack of action over Zimbabwe. However, we do not support the one-sided statement regarding the situation in the Middle East which makes no mention of the appalling terrorism against Israelis; the unrealistic and broadly unsympathetic attitude to strong counter-terrorist measures; or indeed the unquestioning approval of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. We therefore abstained on this resolution. – Katiforis report (A5-0040/2004)

Political group: PPE-DE