kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
ccs combined with renewable energy has the potential to deliver larger emissions reductions than renewable energy alone.
we share parliament's view that it is essential in parallel to develop and successfully operate a range of full chain demonstration projects that would help identify the most cost efficient technologies.
the commission attaches high importance to the proper and consistent implementation of the ccs regulatory framework across europe with a view to supporting the demonstration and subsequent deployment of ccs in an environmentally safe way and to enhancing public confidence in this technology.
funding under the european energy programme for recovery has already supported efforts in this direction.
we note parliament's insistence that it is no longer acceptable to invest in fossil fuel based power plants or industrial installations without proper regard for how this will be reduced in the future.
as we just heard from the rapporteur a combination of technologies is needed to decarbonise europe including renewable energy greater energy efficiency and ccs.
following the commission consultative communication on the future of ccs in europe the role of ccs for power generation and energy intensive industries will be addressed in the communication on the two thousand and thirty energy and climate policy framework that the commission intends to adopt next week.
europe's priority should be to get a range of flagship projects up and running.
it is clear from the geologists that europe has an abundance of potentially safe co two storage sites although they are not always in the most convenient places.
let us keep in mind the big picture.
i hope the ideas in this report will contribute to that.
two ccs is the only means of achieving large reductions in emissions from the steel cement and other major industrial installations.
europe has lost its leadership in the development of solar technology and with so many ccs projects underway elsewhere in the world it is at risk of losing out in the development of ccs technology.
madam president our aim should be not only to reduce europe's co emissions but also to do so at the least possible cost.
forty per cent of global electricity comes from coal and coal is expected to be the single largest source of electricity generation across the world even in thirty years' time.
for this reason it would be wrong to commit ourselves to the development of particular technologies to the exclusion of others and the commission would be right to propose a two thousand and thirty low carbon technology without specifying how it should be reached because the solution will vary from one country to another.
it is not surprising that the international energy agency stresses the importance of developing ccs and we should not lose sight of the fact that there are business opportunities here for european companies.
renewable energy would have gone the same way were it not receiving specific governmental support.
governments have thrown money at renewable energy projects but relied entirely on the co two price to promote business investment in ccs.
even in my own country the uk where there is cross party support for ccs we have yet to see construction cranes in action.
the collapse in that price has taken away the financial justification as well as slashing the value of the ner three hundred subsidies we could offer.
ccs technology can allow us to use fossil fuels to keep the lights on even when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining. just as we remove the so x and the no x from modern power stations we should get used just as automatically to removing the co.
across the world co two emissions are rising fast.
ccs can only happen when governments support it but some of them will only appreciate its value when they actually have to explain how they are going to achieve reductions of eighty and more. although i endorse the idea of creating a new european innovation fund i recognise that the majority of funding will have to come from member states. the commission must ensure that ccs is placed financially on a level playing field.
the central feature must be a requirement that governments prepare long term co two reduction plans.
ccs technology is proven but it is capable of great improvements and cost reductions.
there are jobs that can be created.
but even given our present knowledge the zero emissions platform and major engineering companies like alstom say that ccs will be cheaper per unit of low carbon electricity than offshore wind and in many cases much cheaper than solar.
we must learn by doing and we need the commission to come forward with a new strategy.
it had a consultation period last year if you remember but everything seems to have gone quiet since.
i think people will be pleased to hear that the review of the storage legislation is likely to be more thorough than some of us had anticipated.
we need to try and prevent that co two going up there as fast as we can. we need to develop every technological tool we can.
coal and gas are going to be with us for decades to come and time is precious.
i cannot see any of us wanting to take co two out and bury it as a long term measure but we just have to face the realities coal alone accounts for forty two of electricity across the globe.
the co two they emit stays in the atmosphere for hundreds and hundreds of years.
i look forward to seeing exactly what is in the climate strategy next week.
of course scientists tell us that co two is only a very minor greenhouse gas and that water vapour in the atmosphere is responsible for over eighty per cent of the greenhouse gas effect on the earth. even the greens will not want to get rid of water vapour.
it is good for me and it is good for all farmers.
two it is absolutely essential.
the eu loves its fuel duty its vat on gas and electricity and carbon allowances for big industry taxing our jobs away to other countries making our bills ever higher and blaming the power industry.
it grows my pasture for my sheep and of course it grows the wheat to feed my chickens.
so i like it.
as most people now know co two is also useful in keeping the planet warm by absorbing the sun's rays and preventing the whole planet from icing up just like north america at the moment with its polar vortex coming down from the arctic.
of course some scientists support carbon capture and storage but then they get subsidies and grants from the eu so they would wouldn't they? i am reminded of the anaerobic digester nonsense that is happening on farms at the moment where we pour energy into growing maize with fertiliser and horsepower saying how clever we are in reducing emissions only to go and take this
what is more the more co two there is in the atmosphere the faster our crops will grow. if you do not believe me try it in a greenhouse. suppose you were to succeed and actually remove huge quantities of co two from the atmosphere we could not grow our crops.
then there is the atmospheric greenhouse effect.
we must explore the realistic potential;
i also think it is wrong to blame member states for not taking anticipated action twelve months ago because twelve months ago there was a strong possibility that the lisbon treaty would not be ratified and certainly that was a position which many people felt in my own country and in other countries.
that is the origin of the three options to cover the realities of today's situation which of course will be regularised at the next elections.
the commission has agreed very clearly to the igc because of the scope and nature of the change which will be discussed.
seven hundred and fifty one to include the eighteen additional meps without losing the three german seats will require a revision of protocol thirty six of the lisbon treaty.
failure to do this would render unlawful any act this parliament takes on the basis of a seven hundred and fifty four strong chamber three over the limit of.
this should be achieved by a convention producing proposals for agreement by member states for incorporation into the treaty by way of amendment.
seven hundred and fifty one the proposal before this house is that this problem be dealt with by way of an intergovernmental conference but this is a significant revision and amendment to the lisbon treaty requiring ratification by all member states and providing the opportunity for individual national referenda.
a further complication is that the treaty stipulates the total number of meps shall not exceed.
at a time when large cuts in public expenditure are anticipated in almost every member state this parliament should set an example.
whilst i welcome the measures that enable the eighteen additional meps to take their seats i do not believe that they should enjoy observer status until the transitional provisions come into force.
indeed there is no appetite amongst my constituents for a convention which would no doubt discuss further political integration.
such a move would entitle them to claim their salaries and expenses before they are entitled to vote and i believe as a matter of principle that that is wrong.
indeed the balance of opinion in britain is that political union has already progressed too far.
we should be prudent with public money at all times.
in line with the spanish proposal the commission has also stressed in its opinion that the igc should be limited to dealing with the issue of the additional meps.
the european council had requested the opinion of the commission acting on the proposal from the spanish government and since the spanish government's proposal reflects the long standing political agreement to bring the additional eighteen meps into office without delay the commission has recommended opening an intergovernmental conference as soon as possible.
i am pleased that all our groups now agree that a substantial reform of the electoral procedure is now required and parliament will soon be bringing forward proposals which are going to require an igc which will be fully and properly prepared by a
we are accepting a transitional solution but the controversy has been quite successful in exposing the problems concerning parliament's composition and electoral procedure.
and that this house should have a balanced representation as quickly as possible.
obviously that does not set a precedent for the future because all the really important issues concerning the changes to the treaty such as for example the electoral procedure would require the convening of a convention. let me thank igo and the coordinators for taking the decision.
this house had to answer a question on whether or not we should convene a convention to decide that issue and we have taken a decision not to do so but we have done so out of respect for this instrument for this new instrument which actually increases the legitimacy of all the decisions which we make.
it was not easy. we had a problem with designating an additional eighteen members of this house because certain member states did not actually plan for a procedure but we decided that representativeness is the most important issue that this is the principle which we should be guided by
european citizens rightfully expect us to do our job efficiently and transparently.
i fully respect the balance and good cooperation among the european institutions even though i am convinced that the proposed compromise reflects a viable solution.
once more we have a budget for a big business and militarised europe with more money being spent on security than on education and incredibly a proposal to increase the amount of funding for the nuclear research programme despite the increased opposition to nuclear power across europe.
the same overpaid meps that are calling on underpaid working class people to tighten their belts further to accept more vicious austerity show no indication of being willing to tighten their own belts.
the right of the public to access documents in their own language must be defended.
the proposed cuts to translation and interpretation services represent an attack on the rights of speakers of minority languages and the principles of multilingualism.
as meps know but perhaps many members of the public do not that is only one of a whole series of large expenses that go on top of an already very fat salary.
i had hoped that my colleagues could today have sent a clearer and stronger signal to eu citizens telling them that we are in the same boat and committed to shouldering the burden of the crisis with them.
our voters are having to accept real austerity measures as my colleague ashley fox pointed out.
these are examples of things that do not impact on the quality of meps' work.
mr president whilst i can agree with our rapporteur and those parts of his report that say we should fight tax evasion i must fundamentally disagree with his whole approach to the common system of taxation.
this report was meant to be a simple recast of the original directive but as ever in the spirit of ever closer political union that so many in this chamber seem to want the left of this parliament have seen fit to add all sorts of substantive amendments which actually mean that this legislation goes much further than originally intended.
these amendments pave the way for a common consolidated corporate tax rate in the european union and in my view this is completely unacceptable. member states must retain tax sovereignty when defining their corporate tax rate because tax competitiveness is vital for the growth of our single market.
mr president today's vote on the budget represents another lost opportunity for this parliament to show it is in tune with the electorate.
all over europe member states are making painful but necessary cuts to their budgets;
the council position went some way to reflect this reality but as usual this parliament disregarded our taxpayers.
i fear that members in this chamber are not yet fully aware of the serious and precarious position that europe finds itself in.
we should lower the burden on taxations and where europe does spend money it should do so to increase competitiveness.
limiting digital avenues to expression information and the exchange of ideas is testimony to the venezuelan government's fear of its citizens and their call for an end to violence and oppression.
he soon mobilised twelve million people to protest on the streets all over the world calling for an end to farc's violence. this movement was fuelled by citizens using technology as a vehicle.
trying to limit this vehicle is not only unjust it will also prove ineffective.
the successful mobilisation of citizens can be seen in the example of oscar morales who set up a facebook group called a million voices against the farc' with the hope of collecting one million people online.
yet the fact that chvez considers twitter and text messaging as acts of terrorism shows us that he considers people and the free flow of their ideas and opposition as his enemy. i am a user of twitter and text messaging i have to confess but in europe thankfully we consider free expression a fundamental and universal right including on the internet.
the european union through the european instrument for democracy and human rights supports the activities of civil society organisations in this very specific area.
for example in november two thousand and nine the special rapporteur of the united nations human rights council argued that the proposed special law against media crimes in venezuela i quote would involve serious violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and would curtail press freedom in the country if it is adopted in its current form'.
in the name of the commission i would like to assure parliament that we will continue to follow developments in venezuela closely.
we share the assessment of the inter american commission on human rights which has expressed its deep concern over the serious violent incidents which occurred in the demonstrations both for and against the government of president chvez and which has urged the venezuelan government to control demonstrations i quote within the framework of respect for human rights according to inter american standards'.
you might also recall that in two thousand and nine the european union issued a declaration concerning those problems because for us freedom of expression and free access to information are issues that are part of the dialogue that we have with the venezuelan authorities.
you can be assured that the commission is following this situation very closely.
the rapporteur also called on venezuela to fully respect articles nineteen and twenty of the international covenant on civil and political rights to which venezuela is a party and which guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
this puts a specific emphasis on freedom of expression and respect for pluralism in the media in europe and also in our international relations.
mr president the commission takes note of the draft resolutions presented by parliament concerning the situation in venezuela.
we deeply deplore that two protesters died and several persons were injured including members of the security forces and protestors.
our commitment to supporting and strengthening democracy and the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms will be reflected in our cooperation policy and relations with venezuela in the future as in the past.
furthermore we have continuously supported all initiatives aimed at promoting tolerance spaces for dialogue and mutual understanding.
the september elections are widely seen as a milestone for the future of the country.
in this regard the eu has noted with concern the continued suspension of media including rctv international.
bringing the issue of rctv into the human rights emergency resolution today is a major abuse of that procedure.
the reality is that the epp in this parliament has the same agenda as the coup conspirators they want to overthrow hugo chvez's government because this government has not carried out the bold dictates of world capitalism implementing privatisation and deregulation across the board and they want no opposition to the neoliberal agenda.
these are the same groups that stand for a system in europe where the vast majority of the media is controlled by billionaires and major private corporations who use this control on the one hand to reap massive profits for themselves and on the other hand to spew out pro capitalist propaganda pro market and pro neoliberal propaganda; who in the context of the present economic crisis vilify and abuse
no i am not without some sharp criticisms of the venezuelan government.
mr president let me first emphasise the utter hypocrisy of the right wing groups in this parliament which condemned the venezuelan government for the temporary withdrawal of broadcasting facilities for radio caracas television and pretend to be champions of the freedom of the press.
yes the working class in latin america in general rise up in opposition.
despite massive support from the majority of the venezuelan people hugo chvez in fact has not decisively broken with capitalism and led a movement to genuine democratic socialism.
by the way most of the media outlets in venezuela are in private ownership actually including powerful media corporations which conspired to overthrow hugo chvez in two thousand and two who happens to have been elected and re elected many times by the people of venezuela.
it is lamentable that other political groups on the left refuse to join with us in the political mainstream of the house in condemning the increasingly arbitrary and serious affronts to basic freedoms perpetrated by the chvez regime.
his response to a tv station critical of his rule was simply to take it off the air. it reminds me of a similar situation in the prc china where the communist regime tried to stop a european company from broadcasting anti communist tv programmes.
chvez has therefore unashamedly identified himself alongside china's authoritarian and hard line rulers.
his closest friends internationally are dictators castro lukashenko and ahmadinejad which speaks volumes.
my group the ecr supports the venezuelan people in their efforts to bring genuine democracy to that country.
international observers on the ground are demanding more transparency and the publication of the results at local level and the high representative must insist on this if the eu is to unequivocally recognise the results.
the scale is so large that there are grounds to believe a bit like in ukraine in two thousand and five that the outcome of the election would have been completely different.
mr president i wish to express my concern about two important elections which took place this week.
in the democratic republic of congo there have been serious concerns about the activities of the ceni the electoral commission with accusations of widespread fraud in favour of the incumbent president joseph kabila and a lot of serious violence has broken out.
this is very important for citizens.
but most of our constituents do not require a scientific test.
now according to the nda there is no cause and effect between eating prunes and normal bowel function.
i have asked the commission if it is satisfied with the criteria and the methodology used for testing such claims because i know that prunes contain two substances sorbitol and dihydrophenylisatin which have laxative effects.
their nda panel which does this work has rejected however ninety five of claims for plant based foods maybe in many cases with good reason but among the claims rejected is the claim that prunes have a laxative effect.
so i would ask you mr vice president if you would on our behalf challenge commissioner dalli to a prune eating contest so that he can see for himself.
mr president the european food safety authority is investigating health claims on food products the so called article thirteen claims.
mr president tomorrow we will debate the outcome of the summit of thursday and friday but in advance of that could i suggest that we need to change the public narrative around solving our current difficulties because i believe that this will not happen in one step or one meeting which is what is portrayed in the general public debate but rather by incremental change which is what has been happening over time.
so let me say to the media commentators and the market analysts who in a headline or in five hundred words declare that this must be solved this week it will not happen.
i think we need to say that very openly to our citizens rather than believing that each meeting will be the final solution to a crisis which has taken ten years to make and therefore will take a lengthy time to actually be resolved.
there are reports which say that united russia received much less than.
international organisations of which russia is a member cannot approve that.
this is not surprising given the slow speed with which the right decisions are presented and the lack of political courage and vision of the european leaders.
it should be allowed to conclude agreements to finance the countries with balance of payments problems.
we believe that the best way to improve the security of this volatile and strategic region would be through a thorough reform of the security sector allowing the egyptian authorities to fight traffickers and to control the borders in a more efficient manner while fulfilling their international human rights commitments. the eu stands ready to support egypt in this endeavour but our egyptian
in seeking a better life many of these vulnerable persons are kidnapped by traffickers in human beings when crossing clandestinely the egyptian border or being smuggled directly from neighbouring countries. the egyptian authorities are facing enormous challenges to ensure the security of their borders
we will continue to urge the egyptian authorities to take the appropriate measures in order to address the problem of human trafficking in the sinai and to ensure that the human rights of migrants and refugees are respected.
as a matter of fact the sinai is at risk of becoming a safe haven for criminal gangs and terrorist movements;