kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
the results of the gothenburg discussions were formalised in the conclusions of the european council meeting on fourteen december last year which emphasised that education and culture are key to building inclusive and cohesive societies.
in the meantime the commission has issued a package of three further proposals for council recommendations including a proposal on the mutual recognition of higher education and school leaving diplomas and the proposal on improving language learning.
the new europass framework agreed recently builds on the successful formula with easytouse tools to help people identify and communicate their skills and qualifications in all eu languages which is a major boost for the recognition of all eu languages.
they increase our productivity competitiveness and economic resilience.
at a time when europe is looking to the future and seeking to reengage especially with young people around an agenda of shared values we believe multilingual and multicultural competences are crucial to creating a sense of belonging among europeans.
the call for an inclusive erasmus programme providing more and new participants with mobility opportunities will increase the opportunities for young people both to learn more languages and to promote their own mother tongue with the european union and beyond.
therefore on the issue of language learning as well as mutual recognition of diplomas it is clear that the work is progressing quite quickly.
the two proposed recommendations are particularly relevant to today's discussion. the recommendation on improving language learning focuses on language teaching and learning in compulsory education covering both general and vocational schools as well as multilingual competences in a lifelong perspective.
the first is language learning where the heads of state and government called for action so that more young people will speak at least two european languages in addition to their mother tongue.
this process has only just begun and it is therefore too early at this point to comment on the substance. however there is already broad consensus that these are the key areas to be addressed in seeking to build a european education area and it is my understanding that the ambition of the forthcoming
but the european council didn't limit itself to such general statements it also set out a number of specific areas for work to be taken forward.
the council's recent extensive work on that matter including the provision of a quality framework for language learning and recognition started with the revision of the european qualifications framework. the revised european qualifications framework recommendation provided better understanding of qualifications and enabled better use of the skills available on the european labour market.
but it is also the economic aspects of the education of languages.
the more languages we know the more competitive we are and it can be one of the most important underpinning of the single market and the economic aspects of the european union and also the future competitiveness of the european union.
so thank you for this very fruitful debate.
being able to speak several languages improves one's employability and increases the likelihood of getting a qualified job.
it is also a way to internationalise one's career which is very useful in a globalised world.
learning another language is also an incredibly enriching cultural experience which provides learners with social skills in particular intercultural skills and the ability to adapt to different social and cultural environments.
when you learn a language you do not only learn about grammar and vocabulary you begin to understand someone else's vision of the world.
learning openness to other perspectives and being willing to learn a language yourself are amongst the most transferable skills that young people will need in a fast changing globalised and diverse world.
finally as a disability rights champion and as a qualified bsl signer i also want to mention the need to promote sign language learning for a true and inclusive language diversity.
despite the difficulties and despite having no illusions that we will achieve an agreement soon or that all the conditions that we put forward will be met we need to pursue that line.
we will follow them very closely and will be able to make recommendations at any time.
it is essential to prepare libya with regard to issues such as the protection system for asylum seekers the management of land borders the alignment of legislation with the african convention on refugees and the management of migratory flows. we know about the human rights situation the dependent judiciary the conditions of detention torture and capital punishment in libya.
however the readmission agreement is necessary.
yet even gaddafi's son suggested that there was a link between the two deals.
just like the libyan deal it seems the eu is so desperate now to save the euro that it is prepared to risk our collective security as only the chinese have enough money to rescue the euro.
in two thousand and four the eu removed the arms embargo against libya in exchange for migration controls.
now the london times reports that baroness ashton suddenly wants to drop the eu arms embargo against china which was imposed because of the massacre in tiananmen square saying it is a major impediment to developing stronger eu china cooperation'.
however china is also the country that bans the word democracy' from its search engines and executes thousands every year.
it was arms for prisoners.
that was arms for borders.
actually i believe it is a major impediment to saving the euro is it not?
this is arms for bonds.
experts from both sides meet very regularly to ensure that we can reach agreement on these two issues as soon as possible but of course there are difficult political issues.
this is a positive development because we need to work jointly with libya to tackle all the challenges that it faces in relation to migration.
in particular we have reached a provisional agreement on the title on political dialogue which contains important references to respect for human rights the fight against weapons of mass destruction the fight against terrorism etc.
on migration there are also difficulties notably because libya refuses to readmit third country nationals.
i know that our chief negotiator debriefs you after each negotiation session.
i would also like to stress that we are following closely negotiation between libya and the unhcr in the hope that a satisfactory solution will be found to ensure that the unhcr is able to discharge its mandate fully and in a legally secure environment.
respects its international commitments regarding the principle of non refoulement.
since the launch of negotiations more than two years ago we have made good progress.
in fact we are very satisfied with the outcome achieved in this title. as you might be aware there are some outstanding issues namely the questions of energy and trade.
as you know negotiating directives are a classified document of the council. this is why the council had to study your request in a horizontal manner.
the next one is scheduled for twenty four twenty six january in brussels.
libya has agreed to establish a regular dialogue on human rights and fundamental freedoms which was a key objective for us.
let me give you some information on the latest state of play.
this is an important point for the european union.
however it should be noted that libya has indicated that it does not intend to adhere to this convention.
i have taken note of the recommendation made by this house regarding this particular aspect of the negotiation and i will certainly discuss this with member states. also on migration i can reassure this house that we are committed to ensuring that libya
i am determined to ensure that the close cooperation between our institutions continues. in particular i am keen to inform the european parliament regularly about the latest developments regarding negotiations on the framework agreement.
one of them is the question of the rome statute.
more generally in october we reached an agreement with a view to developing cooperation with libya on all migration related issues including the issues of international protection improving the conditions of migrants in libya management of migration and border control.
we have a joint interest in ensuring the positive development of our relations with libya which is an important neighbour.
as for trade libya has limited experience negotiating complex trade agreements. this is why progress has been moderate in this field.
in fact we have provisionally agreed the preamble and six out of ten titles of the agreement.
i am glad to tell you that this debate has been concluded and as you are probably aware the council has granted access to the negotiating directives of the european union libya framework agreement in respect of the agreed procedures and of the council's security regulations.
we consider that this is positive and that the european union should continue to pursue the policy of engagement.
but i do fear that all we are really doing is consolidating gaddafi's power which in due course inevitably will pass to one of his sons in a dynastic succession akin to that of north korea.
this gives gaddafi leverage over the eu and in particular he has sought to divide the council by courting the leadership of certain member states.
mr president libya is a country where human rights are routinely abused and democracy is non existent. colonel gaddafi has never stood for election since coming to power forty one years ago.
we in my country the uk know him differently as a previous sponsor of terrorism in particular the lockerbie bombing of.
one thousand nine hundred and eighty eight to polish up his international image he has to his credit i suppose compensated grieving families but in truth the maverick gaddafi would be totally ostracised by the west were it not for libya's prodigious reserves of oil and gas.
he tries to portray himself as a benevolent father of his own people even claiming that he has no formal role in the state hierarchy.
nevertheless on pragmatic grounds i accept the need for cordial trading and diplomatic relations between the eu and libya under a framework agreement.
indeed political parties are banned.
regarding this report i would like to highlight the importance of addressing the situation of immigrants in libya trying to cross the mediterranean.
i can fully understand the concerns of the southern member states relating to the flow of illegal immigrants and the pressure it puts on their budgets as well as on society in general.
no agreement of the eu and its member states with libya should lead to the inhuman treatment torture or execution of anyone.
if the commission and the council do not change course it will continue to prop up yet another dictator in the region in the name of stability and border control and migration.
nevertheless the eu and several of its member states have increasingly close relations with libya and the eu is now even negotiating this framework agreement. i therefore urge the council and commission to notice the writing on the wall and ensure the following conditions are fully satisfied before we can conclude any agreement with libya first of all libya needs to ratify and implement the un refugee convention and grant the unchr full access to the country;
thirdly no readmission agreement with libya can be concluded until the high risk of inhuman and degrading treatment faced by migrants in libya has ceased to exist. and on that matter because i do not think this will come too soon i really wish the commission to fail in the negotiations on the readmission agreement.
the greens strongly object to any dirty deal with a dictator like gaddafi on the back of migrants and libyan citizens.
as we have so vividly seen now in tunisia only a democratic and free country will be truly stable and prosperous.
i hope that this time with the dispatch of mr mitchell to the area political progress will be made.
one of the impediments to this partnership so far has been visibility the capability of the populations of the partners to acknowledge the impact of the barcelona process and our union for the mediterranean.
we have done a lot on this issue.
it will also help promote the basic values which lie at the heart of the european union.
and the development of alternative energies through for example the mediterranean solar plan. there is also particular focus on higher education and research as well as on support for business through the mediterranean business development initiative. the technical aspects of project proposals put forward in this area will be handled by the secretariat to be established in barcelona as was agreed in marseilles last year.
even though the lisbon treaty has not yet come into force i can assure you that in the spirit of co ownership we are placing a particular focus on the development of this initiative and in particular the regional projects. these are important. they offer concrete signs to the citizens of the region
these approaches together encourage reform within individual countries and reinforce regional cooperation.
these include the search for peace and security in the region the social and geopolitical impact of the economic crisis environmental concerns the management of migratory flows and the role of women in our respective societies.
the first is interparliamentary cooperation through the creation of the euro mediterranean parliamentary assembly and its committees.
that the partnership works in their interest.
end. we are only too aware of the difficulties faced by the populations in the region as a result of the crisis
it will as is pointed out in your resolution serve to reinforce its democratic legitimacy.
there are two particular areas of cooperation which i know are important to this parliament and which we also fully support.
in addition to these specific project areas the ministerial conferences of the union for the mediterranean will address a number of global challenges that affect us all.
the union for the mediterranean offers us the potential for developing better relations among its members. recent events have shown that this is not an easy enterprise but they have also underlined the importance of our continuing
mr president water is a key issue of cooperation across the mediterranean.
it is of critical importance to mainstream the use of renewable energy including wind hydro various solar technologies and others.
being able to rely on it at peak demand depends entirely on spreading the input into our grids from as many sources as possible so that the output can always respond to demand.
this scenario is a win win for the mediterranean region for energy security for energy politics and above all for a serious regional decrease in our carbon dioxide emissions from our current dependence on fossil fuels for industries transport and heating and cooling.
the subject matter of the report is extremely important as it deals with the prospect of having a euro mediterranean union of states bound together through friendship and cooperation and aiming at the common goal of achieving peace stability and prosperity for their citizens.
nevertheless hope must never be given up and the union for the mediterranean can only be of help in keeping such hope alive.
perhaps it would help to turn hope into reality in the form of long term stability and lasting solutions to regional problems.
we should make sure that the turkish people know and understand that there is no such hidden aim or trickery.
the additional five amendments submitted by the gue ngl group are not thought to be very helpful and will not be supported by my group.
i think it is very important that she also considers two other eu seas the black sea and its synergy and the baltic sea and its strategy.
my country has an interest in the mediterranean.
we cannot exaggerate the importance of this measure.
going to india and speaking to them about how they should beef up their intellectual property protection and provisions.
i recall clearly as the rapporteur dealing with the eu india free trade agreement negotiations.
this is really a perfect example of what is so wrong with europe.
the need is real and urgent.
they have issued three times more patents than us and china twice as many.
what is the situation in the united states of america?
so many of my chronologically wiser colleagues tell me of the screaming demand there was many years ago for such measures.
in committee when i said that we should possibly put forward a compromise by having a german speaking court in london a french speaking court in munich and an english speaking one in paris with spanish as a default position it seems the council thought that this was a serious proposal and solution.
our innovators need this measure and they need us to act fast on this and so many other issues.
it is vital and we have to respond to the situation.
today i look at what they have and compare it to what we have and i am seriously envious.
two thousand and eleven so unlike you i am not a devotee of this place who wants more and more eu legislation but in this case i have referred to the opinions of an expert who knows what he is talking about.
adequate patent protection is only the first step towards more innovation and new products on the market.
harmonised litigation and legal decisions will provide more legal certainty and enforceability which is particularly welcome for small and medium sized enterprises.
patent specialists in the uk strongly contend that there is no demand in the uk for this change.
as with so much legislation from this place this is being done in favour of very large companies at the expense of small and medium sized businesses. smes and individuals will be seriously disadvantaged in protecting their innovations by reason of cost and inconvenience bearing in mind that they will have to go to france and germany to protect their work rather than to local courts.
one estimate is that litigation costs will increase by a factor of three.
we are told that there will be cost savings but that is not the opinion of experts.
there is a highly respected patent court in the uk which is currently worth something like gbp seven hundred and fifty million per annum and this is now in danger.
many of the smaller countries have tiny patent jurisdictions few patent judges and few legal practitioners in this field from whom to choose judges.
there are serious concerns about judicial appointments to the new court and therefore about the quality of the decisions that will be made.
i will support this european patent because by enhancing the single market we enhance our chances of future prosperity.
can you give me an indication of when you have come to a single committee meeting and raised any of these objections?
mr president the green group including the pirate party would have wanted a unitary patent and we still want a unitary patent if by this we mean a proper unitary patent integrated into the legal and political structures of the eu.
we can see what this has led to.
we know that the european patent office does not care about this.
this is obviously a rubbish argument but that is how they work.
this would have been an opportunity to bring the patent system into line to get it under judicial and political control but we have missed that opportunity by simply abdicating and giving more power to this organisation outside the law.
since we agree on this it makes no sense at all to abdicate power over this and to give away one of the few things that we as politicians can actually do through legislation.
that is why europe should fund ngos that increase citizen participation support the inclusion of marginalised groups provide training for legal professionals promote freedom of expression and of association and strengthen political parties in parliament.
i have to say that i condemn the european conservative and reform group when they oppose paragraph ten in our text and seem to suggest that europe can say one thing about democracy and do another about undemocratic countries when it suits us.
our eastern neighbours closer to the eu. however in many respects the eastern partnership stops short of providing really significant incentives for these countries to embark on painful and lengthy reforms.
i welcome natalya sokolova's release from prison but all charges against her must be dropped and there must be no restrictions on her trade union activity.
an independent international inquiry is still desperately needed.
for example february's amendments to the labour code allow the dismissal of workers involved in strike action makes it easier to dismiss trade union representatives during strike negotiations and legalises lock outs.
here we have an example of fine words about human rights not matched by actions particularly when it comes to vested economic interests.
the kazakh government is suggesting that they have learnt lessons but actions speak much louder than words and their actions suggest that the crackdown on workers' rights and democratic rights is continuing and going even further.
the report of the general prosecutor's office has insufficiently accounted for the role of the state forces in the events in zhanaozen and the number of people who died according to that report is massively disputed by eyewitnesses.
it is those who gave the order to shoot down peaceful protestors who should be in the dock not these opposition activists.
so let us have some action here and ask the vice president high representative's representative to give a clear commitment that the negotiations on the new partnership and cooperation agreement will be suspended until there is meaningful change and until all political prisoners including vladimir kozlov and human rights defender vadim kuramshin have been unconditionally released and all trumped up charges and investigations against the
we restate that pressure today and i call on the eu's delegation to attend and observe all the related cases in the court.
this week i met the wife of kazakh journalist igor vinyavski who is charged with seeking to overturn the constitution for simply organising a press conference.
we are watching and if those who speak to us are targeted we will speak out.
civil society representatives at the same meetings tell me that police claim they opened fire in self defence at zhanaozen yet the videos show that the protestors were running away.
not less worrying is the fact that right after the parliamentary elections in january won by the ruling nur otan party with eighty of the votes opposition leaders and journalists were detained.
i welcome the readiness of the authorities to continue the dialogue with the eu on these issues but we also have to be very clear.
their legitimate demands for social justice and better lives were met with bullets.
we expect much more from a country which made strong commitments before it took the chairmanship of the osce did not implement many of those commitments during its term and forgot about them afterwards.
i recognise the important role of kazakhstan as a partner of the eu in central asia and for this reason i insist that the country should show more progress in reforming its political system and respecting human rights and media freedom.
law. kazakhstan's commitments to these fundamental principles will be a strong and clear expression of its will to step up political and economic reforms.
therefore we maintain our position that the success of negotiations on the new agreement will be influenced by the advancement of political reforms and fulfilment of kazakhstan's international commitments.
in this context we are concerned about the recent developments and the overall slow progress of political reform in kazakhstan including the limited implementation of international commitments.