kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
perhaps you can even save some public money by dissolving your national finance ministries because you will not need them anymore.
i cannot agree with this fiscal protectorate being spread over all twenty seven member states as mr schuble proposed only very recently. that is something which is unacceptable because one thing is clear from now on today there are two european unions within one.
if all of you in the eurozone want to keep the same currency you must be prepared for that;
this is the one which really decides.
this is not disintegration.
it will also assess the initial findings of the nuclear stress tests. there are in addition a number of other items to be addressed by the european council. the european council will take the required decisions on the possible next steps for accession countries. it may well also have to come back to the issue of schengen accession by romania and bulgaria. finally it may also need to address the situation in iran. i should also mention that the european council is expected to take note of the presidency report on the multiannual
the economy while preventing excessive risk taking. the priority must be to boost
framework. now if i may i shall say a few more words on economic policy and on enlargement. on the european economy it is clear that the economy has taken a turn for the worse. deteriorating confidence and intensified financial turmoil are affecting investment exports and consumption. it is important that the union's new economic governance be fully implemented with a view to building confidence in the strength of the european economy. the presidency fully agrees with the commission's assessment in its recent annual growth
furthermore heads of state and government will track progress on the implementation at national level of the commitments under the euro plus pact with particular attention to jobs and tax issues. i also want to remind you that the president of the european council will inform heads of state and government of the reflections on the strengthening of economic convergence within the euro area on improving fiscal discipline and on deepening economic union including exploring the possibility of limited treaty change. as you know the presidency will also contribute with ideas on strengthening the unity and convergence of the european union and we will do this in the light of the forthcoming general affairs council on monday.
at national levels; they are expected
to focus on employment. let me just mention to close this part on economic policy three principles that the presidency would like to see guide
jobs and growth; this is why the european council is expected to support the principle of a fast track programme of measures as set out by the commission. this would mean the council and the european parliament working together to ensure the rapid adoption of a number of key legislative proposals something which i know is also dear to you mr president. the annual growth survey launches the next european semester which will be the first to be implemented as part of the recently strengthened economic governance including the new procedure for monitoring and correcting macroeconomic imbalances. this is really crucial. we strongly believe that those new mechanisms can make a real difference. the spring european council will review progress and adopt the required guidance. regarding the euro plus pact and its objectives the heads of state and government taking part in the pact will review progress made in implementing the commitments
within the twenty seven. secondly more europe so enhanced coordination and strengthened economic governance. and thirdly strengthened institutions so that whatever we do we do it within the institutional framework of the european union and we ensure that there is a proper legitimacy for the measures which we adopt if we decide to go forward with the treaty revision. there should be an appropriate enhancement of the role of the european commission but also there should be a place for the democratically elected institution of the european union obviously the european parliament. my final
on energy the european council will track progress on the implementation of guidelines set in february two thousand and eleven in particular as regards energy efficiency the internal energy market energy infrastructure development and external energy policy.
survey that now the stress must be on implementation. we have taken on many commitments. in some areas progress has been good but in others it has been more measured or basically in less diplomatic terms it has been quite weak. structural reforms and differentiated fiscal consolidation efforts must continue to lay the ground for a return to sustainable growth and thus help to improve confidence in the short term. measures are also required in order to help restore normal lending to
madam president there is no doubt that other things being equal the european council would indeed like to maximise economic growth throughout the union but decision taking involves not just what we would like but the priority we give to each desired end.
i am afraid the european council has greater priorities to preserve the eurozone and fiscal and political union as ends in themselves as well as to save the euro.
if greece and other ailing countries were allowed to withdraw from the zone and revert to their own currencies the value of those currencies would fall reducing the price of their exports visible and invisible such as tourism and bring about an export led boom.
i would just like to know whether this idea and his speech are supported by the members of the german liberals of whom i see no representatives here and whether he also has the support of the dutch liberals of the vvd.
it is a timely voice as we are confronted with the following situation. on the one hand nobody is denying that the knowledge based economy is the future of europe.
on the other hand we are confronted with a problem of structural unemployment especially when it comes to what is already called a lost generation.
they should see themselves as teachers.
i suppose the main challenge is to link with the labour market because that is going to be essential if we are going to be competitive on the world stage. it points out some things we need to do.
mr president in this house we have just had one of the most serious accusations that could be levelled at anyone;
who should do the investigating and the explaining?
not under this pretext not in the state the eu is in now and certainly not with the commission under your leadership.
there is such a thing as the juncker problem.
moreover i am not quite satisfied with what you said last time and i am not utterly convinced by what you said today.
no one is to be a judge in his own case.
we really need full information about the special tax agreements and all the possible ramifications.
so i believe that in reality and mr weber has already indicated that he has said really true things she and you mr farage are against europe and it is not in this way that we shall have more european cooperation. my conclusion is very simple let us get back to work and let us vote
you talked of changes of behaviour but the only behaviour that needs to change is yours.
some of these companies paid as little as one per cent and yet you stood through the elections and said you wanted to stand in solidarity with the people of europe. yes the people of europe are in austerity they have high rates of unemployment and there is poverty sweeping across europe like a plague.
yet whilst you were the leader of luxembourg you permitted two hundred and forty multinationals and corporations to enter into aggressive corporate tax avoidance.
where is solidarity when you stood in this chamber and said that these deals were done in the name of europe?
are you going to be seen as the members who vote for your own and keep your own in place or are you actually going to listen to the people and say that from time to time we must get rid of those who do not have the european ideal that you say that you believe in?
when i look at the people in this chamber you have to ask yourselves whether you are the moral guardians of the people who voted for you.
where is the solidarity when italy has fifty five unemployment and luxembourg does not?
if that is what not being a friend is i would love to see what being an enemy is.
yet i do not see germany or britain or france or italy having two hundred and forty companies with corporations earning one per cent.
the stain is deep because here in this chamber today you have said that you are not a friend of big business;
for this reason the commission considers that agreements like this interim epa also contribute to the improvement of human rights.
we look forward to this epa supporting that agenda as it should.
this is the first interim epa to be implemented on the african continent.
additionally the government has appointed constitutional commissions on human rights and the media which are expected to contribute to the improvement of the overall environment.
this important provision can be used to take trade measures to deal with the situation where the human rights record in a specific country deteriorates.
the commission believes that the agreement with the esa region will be as successful as the agreements with the caribbean and the pacific where investment has been triggered as a result.
however the eu has never used this tool with the acp countries. in practice the measures under article ninety six of the cotenou agreement target development cooperation funding which may not be channelled to the governments.
for open markets to work a set of institutions needs to be established which in turn have a positive impact on sustaining better governance and public accountability. those effects may be less visible in the short term than higher investment volumes and growth rates.
all four signatory states have clearly demonstrated their willingness to establish their relationship with the eu on a long term stable and predictable basis and establish a partnership that goes beyond purely commercial issues to achieve its overarching development objectives.
the eu continues to raise concerns over incidents relating to the intimidation and harassment of democratic forces and civil society organisations.
levels of harassment and abuse have generally been reduced since the government of national unity took office in february two thousand and nine especially over the past two years. licences have been awarded for several independent newspapers which are regularly published and are of good quality.
however the measures can be renewed if the situation of human rights in the country degenerates.
esa is unfortunately a region that is not geographically continuous but negotiations with the whole region have picked up momentum and i wish them much success.
in actual fact new economic benefits create new interests in sustainability based on a stable economic environment.
i would like to thank the rapporteur mr caspary for his constructive work in bringing to the vote the interim economic partnership agreement with eastern and southern africa.
i do not just accept and i do not think you would in relation to many countries around the world that what the government says necessarily represents the interests of the peoples.
i think they are the people that we should be discussing with in these countries.
that is why we talk about the need for discussions with civil society discussions with trade unions etc.
obviously i defend every country's sovereign rights to conclude whatever deals it wants with whatever other countries or bloc of countries it wants but i also defend my right as a representative of working people in europe but also around the world to put forward what i consider to be in the interests of ordinary people.
instead it should be brought under democratic control of the people and run and managed in the interests of the countries' social and economic development in an environmentally sustainable way.
reports from human rights organisations express serious concerns about a possible further deterioration of the situation in the period leading up to the constitutional referendum and general elections announced for.
on the one hand we have the european commission here at least in spirit the council and the grand coalition of the epp the majority of the social democrats and the liberals who want to convince critics like me that this interim agreement is the beginning of a success story that will lead to the conclusion of a full economic partnership agreement in the future and will be the recipe for improved regional integration.
this is very far from applying policy coherence for development and respect for human rights in the external policies of the eu.
in essence these epas are free trade agreements which completely disregard the economic and social development needs of african caribbean and pacific countries.
the approach by the commission is a very rigid and inflexible one in relation to the tariff elimination schemes and other items.
i have to say that you do not succeed in convincing me that an interim agreement with only four out of the sixteen eastern and southern african countries that were originally involved in negotiations for an epa represents a meaningful step towards regional integration.
two thousand and thirteen i am particularly worried about the human and workers' rights situation in the extractive sector and in the marange diamond fields which are estimated to hold one fifth of the world's diamond reserves.
instead in reality it reflects a neo colonial attitude. in relation to zimbabwe the situation for trade unionists the political opposition and human rights defenders remains repressive.
mr president it is clear that we are dealing with two very different approaches in this debate.
this enormous wealth present in zimbabwe and in so many other african countries that is now enriching the capitalist class and the political elite needs to be taken out of their hands.
of the four countries which have signed two countries are under sanctions and only one is an ldc.
there is no chapter on sustainable development social standards or human rights.
let me remind parliament and in particular the commission that in parliament's resolution of five february two thousand and nine on the development impact of epas the parliament stated that it warns against the risk of undermining regional integration when concluding epas with individual acp countries or with a group of countries within one region.
if the model that is presented here and it has been referred to is the sadc epa that is having an agreement with some parts of the region and not others encouraging some to join well i have to say as chair of the delegation for relations with south africa that it does not work.
we should never be flexible on the important issue of human rights. finally the accompanying resolution does not address the omissions that we have referred to.
may i associate with mr murphy in saying that we need to look at the interests of the entire region and not pit some countries against the rest.
it also called upon the commission to recalibrate its approach taking into account this risk and ensuring that the conclusion of epas does not endanger regional integration.
it has been suggested that we should be flexible until later on human rights.
an interim agreement signed by only four out of the eleven countries hardly sustains or encourages regional integration which is one of the approaches of an epa.
most of the ldcs in the grouping have refused to sign as they believe their interest is not as important as in cotonou provisions.
i think that is the case largely around the world.
i do accept the right of elected governments to make whatever decisions on their behalf but we have to defend people's right to criticise that.
i am not opposing in any sense the right of these countries to include these agreements but i am certainly expressing my belief and it is the belief of many civil society organisations in those countries that it is not in the interests of their people.
i think the other factor here is the bullying role that was played by the commission in the course of these negotiations which left many of the governments with the sense that they had no choice but to conclude these agreements.
madam president i am glad to welcome this european fund for strategic investments that may help to kick start investment and hopefully produce growth within the eu over the coming years.
a project involving fourteen primary care centres has already been submitted as one of the first projects with the potential to be supported by this fund.
the fund was launched last november and parliament has played its role today in moving the process forward and in supporting the start up of this fund.
madam president i voted for this report because i support the idea that the flexibility contained within the stability and growth pact should be used by the commission.
i and some of my irish colleagues were the only members of this parliament to actively work and canvas the irish people to actually vote for the fiscal compact in our last eu referendum.
therefore the rules we voted for should be enforced and the flexibility they contain should be honoured.
in fact stop what you are doing now. roll it back. let our nation states do what they think is best for their peoples.
all your big plans do is give influence to the tens of thousands of lobbyists and their paymasters in tax eating mega businesses and ngos which infest your corridors of power and restrict innovation.
let them do what they think best. let national governments and their peoples again have the freedom they need to innovate and to create employment.
forcing people into your perception of what they should do is not only morally wrong it is counterproductive.
stop piling administrative burdens onto businesses and governments and let people work in their own enlightened economic self interest.
that is the only path to prosperity.
let small businesses breathe.
take your fingers off your legislative trigger and burn some of the red tape you have already created.
this constant desire to do something anything merely brings into existence a boa constrictor that chokes life and spirit from free peoples.
resist the prescriptive urge.
this incessant desire to do something is actually a drag on innovation and employment.
innovation happens only when people have the freedom to innovate.
you cannot legislate yourselves into prosperity. step back.
every nation is different every nation has different strengths circumstances and psyches.
we are deploying all means across the policy agenda.
last year we took a radically new approach in our new skills agenda for europe.
we need to take concrete actions to modernise the economy at the eu's different levels eu national and regional.
our approach is result oriented.
similarly we are very clear about the fact that the future is digital.
on. we are also focusing on skills.
but what i cannot agree with is that we have in a way of course nobody has said it that we have wasted these two and a half years.
i also want to assure you and especially mr martin i am happy that i made you happy that i have not disappeared.
sometimes this does not make sense and i think we have to look at it especially if we want to grow industry in europe to do what is practical and not to be overburdening them with all sorts of regulations etc.
certainly the safer internet centres play an important role in also being a point of contact for children who cannot or will not report things to parents or teachers.
it is very disturbing for us to hear just how many member states have still apparently not fully transposed its provisions.
we need to close the gap in our asylum system where at present there is no duty for anyone to follow up on children who go missing.
i also think that there are issues here about good sex and personal relationship education so that children understand what is really happening.
obviously as people have said the removal of existing content on websites is an important issue and the directive makes it very clear that action to take down sites is compulsory and that even if member states choose to block we need to be clear in the law about where responsibility lies.
i would also welcome it if the commission could say a little more about the difficulties it is having in getting agreement with third countries where sites are hosted and how that can be followed up because we are all aware that child abuse images should not be acceptable in any country in the world.
we have to give them the tools to do so.
what safer internet day has taught us this year is that three in four young people themselves believe they have the power to create a kinder online community.
it is therefore an area where we are right to work together to seek solutions and fight against such abuse.
this found that in one instance a school reported it had identified six cases of online grooming in the last four years.
mr president while the internet has been one of europe's most transformative assets in terms of expanding opportunities for businesses and consumers we must accept that it has also aided the faceless criminals who prey on children online.
we should look at solutions which while protecting children also protect a free internet and we should open up the discussion and raise awareness.
obviously this is a big issue but it is an area that needs to be looked at from a grassroots perspective that is the only way to ensure children are protected.
we need to explore the use and danger of new media so that children take precautions and we need to ensure that parents and educators have the skills to inform.
recently in my own constituency in the north of ireland relatively innocent photographs of schoolgirls were obtained and used online seven hundred and thirty two photographs of schoolchildren from nineteen post primary schools were on a pornographic website used by paedophiles.
must ensure in order to respect their obligations to protect the fundamental rights of victims.
but the global alliance still needs to address a number of issues.
under the internal security fund the commission will support the establishment of public private partnerships between key players from the private sector and law enforcement agencies.
i will now turn to the global alliance against child sexual abuse online.
these challenges will be considered as part of the reflections for the upcoming digital single market package.
finally the commission will continue to support law enforcement in more efficient identification of victims and perpetrators by co funding the development of shared databases currently hosted in interpol giving law enforcement better access to data and evidence available worldwide.
the global alliance is a set of political commitments by ministers from fifty four countries to take action to improve victim identification and assistance improve investigation and prosecution raise awareness and reduce the amount of child sexual abuse material
so the commission does not intend to propose any amendment in the near future but to focus on its implementation.
just one point.
but i would like to repeat that this is far from complete this very painful issue and i am sure that we will continue our cooperation
mr president the measure of any society is how we protect those who cannot protect themselves.
there are very few situations where there is an absolute right and an absolute wrong but where the exploitation and abuse of children is concerned there is no confusion.
arguments on freedom of expression and the right to privacy cease to be relevant in this context and when we ask ourselves what needs to be done to stop the abuse it is quite simple everything humanly possible.
we need to work with internet companies and providers social media schools parents communities and police authorities.
we need to block search results that lead to child abuse.
we need to identify illegal images and take them down.
we need to capture and prosecute perpetrators and provide justice for victims and to give ourselves the tools to do so.
then we need to offer victims the necessary help and assistance to feel safe again.