kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
it is an unpalatable choice and whichever way the government goes on this has huge implications for britain and europe but it will also see people who voted leave' complain rightly that this is not what they were told and not what they voted for.
the british government has not triggered article fifty because it still has no clue on what it wants to do about most of these issues.
it will be the mother of all divorce cases and if done too hastily will be a disaster for both sides.
madam president there are multiple problems facing europe and brexit is of course one of them.
the big one of course is whether it wants to try to secure a place remaining in the single european market but then of course it has to accept all the common rules for the common market or whether it wants to leave entirely and face a tariff barrier and a regulatory barrier to our main export market.
the list of issues that need to be addressed and solved is huge and every day we discover new ones that were never mentioned by the leave campaign in the national referendum in britain.
i always enjoy listening to you because you are always logical you are always consistent about what you believe in and you described how europe should forge ahead with all of the things that we were told during the referendum campaign were not going to happen anyway. you know they are we know they are and that is what you believe in.
i have written a little book on how it can be done quickly and i will give you a copy after the session.
would you agree with me that britain should leave the european union as quickly as possible that article fifty is just a very long drawn out unnecessary process and we should go speedily so that you can get on with what you want to do and we can get on with what we want to do? i will assist you in any way i can to make that possible.
but for hundreds of thousands of german car workers and french wine producers it is potentially very bad news because we are their biggest market;
in fact there is only one real nationalist in the room and it is you mr verhofstadt because you want flags anthems and armies. you are an eu nationalist and i frankly think that this appointment amounts to pretty much a declaration of war on any sensible negotiating process.
i would argue that what we really need is to have a sensible common sense approach and for this parliament to recognise that it has made a mistake and to find somebody who actually likes the united kingdom to lead these talks.
but is pretty clear that the eu is getting on with it and you have already appointed your divorce lawyers.
it is not going to change the rapid growth in opposition parties across the whole of europe.
indeed it was the usual recipe more europe and in this particular case more military europe a european army common defence and already in this house people are saying well the americans will not be here anymore and we will have to stand alone with our own military structures.
having listened to what you have said this morning all i can say is that i am pleased we voted to leave.
so instead of more rules that are broken how about fewer rules;
we need to see an end to the so called grand coalition where decisions are taken by only five men from only four countries in only two political groups.
this debate should be about delivering security delivering jobs and delivering opportunities for our constituents.
the ecr group that i lead has meps from eighteen member states who want an eu that works better for their voters and for their countries.
we see mrs merkel's germany breaking every immigration rule in the book.
today was billed as a relaunch but sadly it is fundamentally the same mantra we have heard year after year more military integration more requests for money from member states more debt for tomorrow's children to keep today's socialists happy.
we believe the eu can do less but do it better.
but the more europe you build the more detached our citizens feel.
yet diversity and mutual recognition are being challenged by the mantra of harmonisation a common eurozone budget euwide unemployment insurance and tax harmonisation.
reform which unleashes the spirit of enterprise which once made europe great. and reform that helps us compete and provide opportunities for our citizens in a globalised world.
i know that scares most of us but dismissing people's legitimate concerns will simply drive voters into their arms.
my group and the people who elected them in eighteen countries want the eu to respond to the warning signals to go in a new direction and to deliver meaningful reform.
reform that does not think that the eu has all the answers.
this debate does not have to be about left versus right or about eurosceptics versus integrationists.
so let me remind these five gentlemen that the european parliament has seven hundred and fifty one meps from eight political groups and it is time you started to respect every one of them.
but the voices of discontent reach far beyond the english channel. in many other eu countries the warning signals are there and if they continue to be ignored do not be surprised if others ask to follow.
the next eu treaty needs to strip back and simplify what the eu does an eu which gives the flexibility of a network rather than rigidity of a bloc because diversity is one of the european union's greatest strengths.
the more you propagate eu supranationalism the more nationalism has arisen in our member states. the more you condemn or ignore scepticism the more likely the prospect of a president le pen or a prime minister wilders.
diversity should also mean treating all countries equally but today some countries are being treated as a more equal than others. we see france getting away with flouting eu budget rules and i quote because it's france'.
the ecr group believes that we can have greater cooperation where it counts without greater centralisation.
our fear is that project europe' has been set to cruise control and its drivers are unwilling to apply the brakes whilst they ignore the warning signals.
we see old europe getting away with it while countries in central and eastern europe are actively targeted by the commission.
more more more.
rules that everyone signs up to in good faith?
we also need democracy and openness to be reinvigorated within this chamber and within our institutions.
i had not been there for some considerable time but when i went through the streets of paris changing trains i was shocked by the number of people sleeping in major boulevards in paris.
if you do not think that is a problem i do not know what is.
madam president mr juncker mentioned the terrible murder of arkadiusz jozwik. hate crime is despicable. six people have been arrested for this murder. but mr juncker you did not mention the hundreds and hundreds of local people from harlow in essex who stand united to condemn this crime.
the vast majority of british people want a calm and peaceful negotiation for their future relationship with europe.
there are deep trade links between the uk and the rest of the eu;
if we are forced to rip the uk out of the single market without a long term plan there will be economic consequences across all of europe.
negotiators on both sides of the english channel need to take time to get this right.
madam president the state of the union is analogue the state of the union is corporate. two years ago mr juncker i actually voted for you because you promised us as your top priority a copyright reform that would tear down national borders that would mobilise the european digital potential and that would make everything clearer and easier to understand.
today the commission is presenting the exact opposite.
you are barely touching the national differences in copyright laws.
instead you are standing here today and telling us that publishers need to be paid for linking to their articles.
all that this will do is make it more difficult for european tech companies to actually compete on a global level.
it will stifle freedom of expression online and it will lead to fewer links to european publications and less media diversity.
president juncker also said that the eu should empower citizens and embrace solidarity. well the people of scotland voted in june to remain in the european union to constructively continue to work on collective challenges.
cross party efforts are being made right now in scotland to identify all possible means of protecting scotland's position particularly with access to the single market.
the scottish government is working hard to persuade the uk government to recognise the democratic will of the people of scotland in formulating its negotiating position if it ever gets round to that.
i hope that the commission and the council and this parliament will be open to imaginatively finding a way to reflect the democratic will of people in scotland.
you cannot run these two structures in parallel with each other without one competing against the other.
and once you have got an independent military force then the argument becomes stronger to start using it. i remember mr verhofstadt back at the time of libya and elsewhere you were itching for the eu to militarily start getting involved and for a project that prides itself on being about peace and reconciliation i think what is being proposed today is potentially very dangerous and i wonder if you put it to referendums around the european union whether people would endorse
we would now like the european council to deliver at the upcoming bratislava summit but let me tell you that at the heart of this roadmap we should have a strong social pillar making sure that all european citizens can count on a common set of social standards
on working conditions and social protection.
you said that europe should have social triplea standards but this is not a reality yet.
what the socialist family is expecting from you and from the commission is for you to have a clear road map which will balance the freedom of economy and initiative with clear social standards across the european union.
our family proposed a clear plan a european youth plan with four clear pillars employment with much more money for that for the youth guarantee and i did not hear your commitment culture education and child protection.
however if you continue to ignore the concerns of citizens if you continue to focus on eu integration rather than on creating jobs if you continue to press on regardless you will drive voters into the arms of those whom you call populists.
we need each other to be prosperous and the uk and the eu will continue to cooperate. the eu and the uk both need policies to provide security to deliver jobs and to offer opportunities for citizens in all the countries represented here today.
i very much join his condemnation of a deeply dishonest leave campaign that made a number of promises that now simply cannot be fulfilled and will unravel over the years.
but would he agree with me that we really must ensure a common uk approach within this which must respect and represent the interests of london gibraltar scotland and northern ireland and also that the timescale on this must give us the flexibility to work out the plurality of views within the uk in order to reach some sort of common position to present to our european friends?
yes i agree entirely that this situation has thrown up a multitude of problems that were never properly explored before the decision took place and certainly never pointed to by those who wished to drag britain out of the european union.
the united kingdom as a whole voted to leave the european union and i respect and admire the decision of the rest of my fellow country people.
in northern ireland we have a situation where northern ireland will be the only part of the united kingdom that does have a land border with another european member state and that in itself will pose a challenge.
in the justice and energy sectors in the fight against corruption as well as the public administration reforms some legislative and regulatory steps have been already taken.
let me recall that in the very first lines of our association agreement the european union and moldova commit to some common principles.
as far as the macrofinancial assistance is concerned the adoption of the decision does not mean its immediate implementation. each disbursement including the first one is conditional on the implementation of policy measures set out in the related memorandum of understanding.
some efforts have been made in the banking sector and have contributed to restoring macrofinancial stability and donors' assistance.
these two proposals have now been merged.
a new draft was produced on the basis of president dodon's proposals for review by the venice commission.
let us be very clear on this proposed reform.
it is not up to the european union to decide upon an independent country's voting system.
i want to acknowledge the reform efforts and ambitions of the moldovan people and the authorities and to convey a strong signal of support and encouragement at this important time especially in relation to the positive impact of the current process of political association and economic integration.
it is clear that although some areas require additional efforts overall there has been substantial progress since the start of the executive mandate.
this week this house will approve its mandate for the start of negotiations with the council and the commission for eu macro financial assistance to the republic of moldova. this assistance will be a sign of recognition of the renewed commitment to moving forward with necessary reforms and to addressing the country's challenges by the current executive.
the divisions and tensions amongst political parties in chiinau are more and more reflected within the european parliament and its political groups.
i want to be very clear. i want to be crystal clear.
this is not a positive development.
as the european parliament we can only be effective if we are united and not politicised if we have a strong objective and institutional line instead of expressing our positions through the prism of our respective political partners in chiinau.
mr president media and political pluralism quality journalism combating corruption and russian propaganda are the best ways to ensure the european direction of moldova.
a clear signal should be sent by us to chiinau and as soon as possible that urgent action in all these areas is needed and is a prerequisite for our further financial support to that country. unfortunately
the situation is very grave and there is much disinformation in that country taking into account the fatigue of society and its disbelief in the authorities.
i do so as i feel very high responsibility for where moldova is heading to as it soon might become crucial and hardly reversible.
today it is time to pronounce quo vadis moldova? being a rapporteur i must admit i am lately not that sure of how seriously a status of eu associated partner is perceived by the moldovan authorities.
this partnership is not at all abstract.
it means certain obligations and deliverables not only yet another credit line being opened.
by partnership we expect first and foremost that a certain european style political culture is to prevail in moldova.
in europe free and independent media is in the interest of everyone as openness and difference of opinions is a catalyst of change and public discourse.
in europe the election laws are designed to ensure fair competition of people's minds and not to create privileges for some and eliminate others.
in europe justice is what everyone has the right to;
there must be no place for selective trials behind the closed doors.
instead of calling yourself a european coalition name come up with the real deeds real change handled in a european way.
it would also help to respond adequately and timely to current challenges such as the ongoing democratisation processes in the region fighting terrorism and extremism as well as environmental issues. in general over the past years the geo political environment has changed significantly in the region.
the silk road is not only a literary memory of the past but one of the most important global infrastructure projects.
they see us the european union as a reliable predictable cooperative power with no hidden geopolitical agenda. and they see us as an indispensable partner for sustainable development and for modernisation.
this new strategy will aim to give our partners including central asian countries more than one choice.
news. still when i travel to a region like central asia i see more opportunities to take than threats to tackle opportunities for change for democratic perspectives for economic growth and for cooperation on the different sectors i have mentioned
central asia faces many challenges that no single country can address alone from water scarcity to the fight against international trafficking from trade to the issue of foreign terrorist fighters and the radicalisation of especially the younger generations.
so let us invest together in this partnership because security and development in central asia is also our own security and development.
their security is clearly also our security.
these agreements are also an incentive for domestic reforms in line with international values norms and standards so i hope that the european parliament will soon give its consent to the ratification of our partnership and cooperation agreement with turkmenistan.
it is first and foremost about expanding rights all around the region for the sake of the people of central asia.
also to this end we have launched a new generation of enhanced partnership and cooperation agreements.
european companies are keen to invest in the region to the benefit of both the european union and central asia and improving the business environment is an interest we share.
i believe this is more important now than before.
first we are partners for change.
this is what i discussed during my visit last december if i am not mistaken to both countries and we want to work for that example to be followed by others in the region.
central asia has become more independent and stronger a partner for the east and for the west not the chessboard for some great game among empires.
they hope that these big infrastructure projects will bring sustainable development to their countries and support trade within the region not only through the region.
this is essential for our own security and i will be there personally with the afghan government with our central asian partners and with all our international interlocutors.
their neighbourhood is our neighbourhood.
i would like to focus on three aspects of our relationship where we have already achieved a lot and where i see a lot of potential for greater progress.
second we are partners for regional cooperation.
central asia is often perceived as a remote part of the world but in fact europe and the five central asian countries are now closer than ever.
free elections and peaceful transitions of power are becoming a more regular feature.
when it comes to intercontinental trade routes central asian countries want to be more than just transit countries.
uzbekistan will co host a regional conference on afghanistan at the end of march in a few weeks from now.
we signed one with kazakhstan we are negotiating one with kyrgyzstan and we look forward to opening negotiations soon with uzbekistan.
we want to accompany them on this path.
it should help them avoid the debt trap and the trap of poor quality projects.
we see clearly that as the world is changing this region is changing too.
when we talk about change it is not just about business. i want to be very clear on this.
with independent media and an open space for civil society institutions in central asia will be more credible states will be more resilient in times of crisis and economists would be more solid and attractive.
central asia is even more than in the past a crossroads between europe and the far east between russia and south east asia. events in afghanistan or in the middle east are as important for us as for our partners in central asia.
it will highlight the key principles which we believe should guide international work to promote connectivity.
may. it is quite clear also from the debates we have had previously that we live in a world that is moving fast but not always in the right direction which is quite dangerous and challenging. we are probably living in the most delicate moment since the end of the cold war and there is very little space for positive
today central asian countries are seeking a closer partnership with the european union.
central asia remains one of the least integrated regions in the world. in samarkand i saw great interest in our european experience on how to solve common problems through regional cooperation.
as rapporteur for turkmenistan i can only express my concerns on the situation in this country lack of respect for human rights corruption and low democratic standards. such topics are indeed sensitive and difficult to approach through direct talks producing little or no result through the classic diplomatic tools.
most of my colleagues share this position and this is why the european parliament has already requested a fully fledged delegation in ashgabat.
a constant new presence in turkmenistan would be constructive and efficient more than isolation if we want to achieve our goals and not just talk about them.
the security challenges in this region are also our security challenges and we need to work collectively against islamic radicalisation.
among the five countries only kazakhstan has an enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement which includes strong provisions on security. i hope that in the near future we will be able to develop similar agreements with the remaining four countries.
this is documented not only by the frequency of high level meetings but also by the amount of upgraded agreements that this house has passed.
the eu should continue in this trend of active engagement with the region.
it has a unique balancing position in central asia and is perceived as a positive force.
i think it is an encouraging development notably in regard to the new eu central asia strategy anticipated next year.
what i have seen what they expect us to offer is the european way is the standards is the quality.
i will only say that i count on your support to continue doing this.
i am determined to continue to do so.
the feeling i have is that they would like to take the european union as a model for their societies for their economies for their regional relations for their security models.
it's european standards and the european way on the way in which institutions work.
i think this is the thing we can offer which is sometimes complicated but always worthwhile trying.
it's true that from other places money could come more easily but i think countries around the world and in central asia included are starting to realise that it is not necessarily the money that comes easily which is the best investment long term.
it's european standards on economic investments and business climate and rules of the game for the economic environment.
they know it's a long way but this is the direction i feel they intend to follow without necessarily being trapped into the geopolitical spheres of influence competition but being able to move towards that kind of european way that we could offer.
there is one question i would like to answer what can we offer?
they know i believe that this comes in a package.
women and young girls.
those include sexual health and reproductive rights the right of a woman to decide what to do with her own body.
think of that one hundred and eighty zero at risk.
female genital mutilation is an internationally recognised abuse of human rights child rights and women's rights but it can only be addressed if we recognise the holistic rights of women.
women and girls have a right to independence.
it touches also girls underage girls and children.
they belong to all women every woman and every child.
they have a right to their own opinions. they have a right to decide over their own bodies and over their own minds and over their choices of life whatever their preferences and whatever they might be.