kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
we are not only setting out regulations and rules and procedures we are actually setting out very clear binding rules for an effective and proper functioning of frontex coordinated sea operations.
what is new and this is very important is that the draft regulation we are discussing now and that you will hopefully vote for with a strong majority tomorrow sets out specific procedures which need to be followed to ensure the correct application of the non refoulement principle before any disembarkation in a third country takes place.
this compromise because it is a compromise is a clear improvement on what we had today.
indeed i think we have achieved quite a lot with this regulation.
we have finally put in place a binding rescue at sea regulation and this is really an achievement when i recall how much the council has been opposed to that.
we have put into place a definition of what constitutes a situation of rescue at sea so that member states finally cannot turn a blind eye any more to people who are in need.
we have managed to put in place quite a number of safeguard mechanisms for refugees and we have also prevented push backs on the high seas.
the court has been setting out very concrete criteria for when putting people back into third countries pushing them back or disembarking them in third countries is allowed and when it is not allowed.
because the question here the core question is how can we identify people in need?
the european court of human rights has put the personal circumstances of each person at the core of this question.
it has said that each person has to be assessed individually and this is not now the case in each and every circumstance.
the court has also said that people have to be able to explain their reasons why they should not be sent back to third countries and why they are in need of protection.
we cannot simply overrule a court decision and then say maybe we can find another refugee who has survived this journey and is able to lodge an appeal at the court.
the court has been putting in place what should be the absolute minimum for how we make regulations and we should not go below that but that is absolutely what is happening now with this regulation.
human rights have to be valued everywhere.
also thanks to the presidency for its work and the presidencies before it so that today we stand here with hopefully a strong agreement on this compromise. i think we can be very satisfied with the compromise.
it achieves the objective of our proposal to ensure the effective and proper functioning of frontex coordinated sea operations and to guarantee proper fundamental rights protection during these operations.
clear and binding rules should also encourage more member states to participate in these operations.
this legislation as has been said is a response to a judgment by the court of justice which annulled the current rules and guidelines but all three institutions have worked very hard to make sure that today before parliament closes we have an agreement.
it includes arrangements to address situations such as search and rescue that may arise during those operations and arrangements for disembarkation.
the provisions on interception search and rescue and disembarkation must form part of the operation plan drawn up for each operation.
this is an entirely binding instrument and this is one of the key points for us in the commission.
it was possible to achieve this thanks to your support.
according to the principle of non refoulement no nbsp one should be removed or returned to a country where directly or indirectly there is a serious risk that he or she would be subject to inhumane or degrading treatment where his or her life or freedom would be threatened on grounds of for instance race or religion.
the intercepted or rescued persons need to be informed of the place of disembarkation and they must be given an opportunity to express any reason for believing that disembarkation in a particular third country would be in violation of the principle of non refoulement.
one of the most distressing and challenging issues that we face today and we can read about it every day in the papers is the loss of life at sea.
we have seen terrible examples lately.
every effort must be made to assist people in distress and the fact that this draft regulation contains legally binding provisions on search and rescue applicable to sea operations coordinated at eu level is an important achievement.
negotiations were not easy but we are here and i want to thank everybody involved.
the role of frontex in coordinating the operational cooperation between member states in the mediterranean is a key element to ensure effective border control in the region and at the same time provide assistance to persons in distress.
this is one way as also identified and as mentioned by the minister in the work of the task force on the mediterranean of trying to prevent similar tragedies to those we have witnessed lately.
this brings me to the last point which concerns the issue of disembarkation after interception or rescue.
disembarkation after interception is based on objective criteria to ensure the subsequent adoption of the enforcement measures needed.
rescued people must be taken to a safe place and this must not only be a place where safety of life is not threatened but also a place where they would not be at risk of being subjected to any treatment in violation of the principle of non refoulement.
finally i very much value and appreciate the provisions on solidarity introduced by parliament.
the issues that we have discussed in this plenary so many times concerning refugees and migrants coming to europe are a challenge for all of us not just for the member states immediately affected on the southern borders.
this currently accounts for more than eur two eight hundred billion in value and one seven hundred million tons in volume.
the transport sector is particularly sensitive to these measures.
or guaranteed.
therefore closing borders between member states should be only a temporary measure and controls should be lifted as soon as possible.
the road freight sector would be particularly exposed as prompt delivery is one of the important parameters for competitive advantage and small and medium sized enterprises the backbone of the road transport industry would be the most affected.
in the long run reduced traffic and trade volumes would severely affect the economy.
the commission has analysed the consequences of a systematic reintroduction of border controls at internal borders. first results show that in the short term increased waiting times at borders and terminals would affect passengers and trade.
longterm and indirect effects are more difficult to quantify but available evidence suggests that reestablishing internal border controls would have substantial negative effects on the whole european economy.
two thousand and sixteen the longer internal border controls remain in place the more difficult and costly it will be to restore the favourable business environment which the schengen area aims to provide. as economic actors adapt to the new reality a return to the previous situation will not be immediate
which is an essential element for economic growth in the european union and in particular for the performance of the transport sector.
so we have to move to try and deal with that situation in the interests of our own citizens who are delivering their goods right across the european union.
to do that i think the commission is in fairness trying to legalise the migration.
i am extremely grateful for the question because this means that the translation was probably improper so i am telling it now in english.
the answer should be to stop mass migration but this is not what you are going to do.
when we see anybody who comes from elsewhere as a threat to our culture;
that is a testimony of weakness of a lack of self confidence of a lack of trust in the strength of our european culture and our history.
' here again i want to come back to the rule of law.
europe is nothing if we close our doors to people who flee persecution and war elsewhere.
the rule of law deserves respect.
he had enough self confidence to say we are good enough to accept that oversight.
all. europe is nothing if it does not protect its minorities.
socrates when he was convicted on dubious grounds was approached by friends who said we will help you flee' and he said i will not' because if you accept the premise of the rule of law in a consensual society you do not get to pick and choose which laws are applied to you and which are not. that would be my first point. if you accept the premise of the rule of law you cannot here in parliament debate by saying well i want this to be applied to me but not to them' and we have more rights than others' etcetera.
but those who claim asylum without having the right to asylum should be refused asylum and should be returned to where they come from.
we are strong when we are welcoming to those who seek protection because they flee persecution and war.
law. i strongly believe this is the basis upon which we should discuss fundamental rights.
europe is by nature a diverse community a diverse continent.
and we are weak when we try and confine ourselves to our own culture;
that is also the rule of
our societies are by nature diverse and throughout our history we have been strong when we celebrate our diversity we are strong when we are welcoming to minorities;
he had such high regard for the british system and so much self confidence that he did not mind a court in strasbourg having oversight over what the british system produced.
the rule of law applies to every single individual citizen in europe regardless of their citizenship when they live in your country some people are applauding i think they misunderstood me but we will see in a moment so why would you then accept the premise that you could have
' and this is the basis upon which we work.
those who have the right to asylum should get it. those are our values. those are our international treaties. those are our national obligations.
i strongly believe that if we claim diversity when we are elsewhere and if we claim respect for our rights when we are elsewhere we should also be able to give the same rights to those who come to us.
on nation states if they did not observe the rights enshrined in the rule of law and that european nations would subscribe to that principle willingly and democratically by signing conventions. now some of you will be surprised that the politician who thought up this idea was winston churchill
i celebrate the fact that so many hundreds of millions of europeans today are saying to those genuinely fleeing from persecution you are welcome in my country you will find protection on these shores we will not send you back.
' of course that is impossible.
' and that is the basis upon which our rule of law system in the european union and in the council of europe was constructed by member states saying we will be tied to the mast so that we do not make mistakes and if we make mistakes our peers will check and correct us.
it works both ways.
when we believe that we can be overrun five hundred million of us by a few hundred thousand.
my point is this any nation with enough self confidence will accept its peers' checking on its observance of human rights and the rule of law.
all of these are fundamental breaches of the bill of rights. if the british want to protect their own fundamental rights then they need to leave the european union.
under a european arrest warrant for example any british citizen can now be arrested and imprisoned on the basis of vague accusations with no prima facie evidence against them and a british court is powerless to prevent this happening.
the eu is creating its own system of criminal law a process which it euphemistically and laughably calls creating an area of freedom security and justice.
mr president this place talks a lot about fundamental rights. the idea might be novel to some of the countries represented here given their recent histories but we have fundamental rights in england established over centuries.
it is about a common understanding and a common awareness.
with that i also have to say that the institutional structures need to change.
this is not about controlling everyone it is about safeguarding our common values to make sure that in no country of this european union are fundamental rights violated.
we need to address this and that is what this report is about.
that is what this report is about.
i can also assure you that the commission's approach will remain objective and impartial and based on the law and the facts on the ground and not on political speeches.
democracy fundamental rights and the rule of law must be and continue to be a reality for every single citizen and anybody else who is in europe.
i fully agree that ensuring full respect for the rule of law is crucial to the protection of fundamental rights throughout the union.
i fully agree that our reaction to this crisis must also be about protecting fundamental rights the fundamental right to asylum for those in need of refuge;
at the same time our priority has to be the correct and full application of eu asylum and migration law in accordance with the twin principles of responsibility and solidarity.
allow me to start by addressing some of the substantive questions raised in your report before turning to more institutional aspects pertaining to the mechanisms at our disposal for the protection of fundamental rights.
i am pleased to note that we are on the point of finalising negotiations for an umbrella agreement with the united states setting out ambitious and comprehensive standards for the protection of personal data when such data are exchanged between law enforcement authorities in the united states and in the european union.
it must also be about processing asylum applications faster and effectively in full accordance with fundamental rights.
yet discrimination all too often continues to occur in every single member state.
that is why the commission two years ago adopted a rule of law framework setting out a structured process according to which the commission will react when there are specific indications that there is a systemic threat to the rule of law.
and also their right to be treated with dignity wherever they are and under whatever conditions they have to live.
only if we ensure correct application of the system will we be able to offer protection and humane reception to all those who deserve it and we will reduce incentives for those who have no right to stay to undertake the perilous journey.
the european parliament's call to all eu institutions and all member states to protect and promote fundamental rights is loud and clear.
both the data protection regulation and the proposed directive for criminal law enforcement authorities are crucial pieces of legislation to ensure that citizens across the eu continue to benefit from solid up to date rules safeguarding their right to the protection of personal data.
i am confident that we will succeed in adopting a meaningful and strong reform package by the end of this year and i count on your continued support in this respect.
this is why we have put respect for and the promotion of the eu values of human dignity the rule of law human rights solidarity and equality at the centre of the eu agenda on migration.
i am glad that the european court of justice clarified that such practices are not acceptable under eu law.
another issue that worries me is the rise of intolerance and hatred in our societies you can see it on a day to day basis now certainly linked with the refugee crisis.
we have the existing two thousand and ten strategy on the application of the charter of fundamental rights and before considering new mechanisms we should continue to implement it.
another important set of challenges raised in your report concerns the protection of personal data the right to privacy and the maintenance of security.
the main areas of concern are asylum and immigration in conjunction with the lack of free legal assistance the right to an effective remedy detention conditions and the situation of children.
i strongly believe that the european union should accede to the convention and i am confident that we will find solutions to the legal issues raised by the european court of justice in its opinion of december last year.
i therefore welcome the call in your report for the rapid adoption of the equal treatment directive which remains a priority for this commission.
therefore as outlined in the commission's proposal for an interinstitutional agreement on better law making a similar assessment should also occur when significant amendments are made to commission proposals during the legislative process.
let me also stress that the commission remains fully committed to eu accession to the european convention on human rights.
this means a systematic screening of all relevant legislative and policy measures to ensure their compatibility with the eu charter of fundamental rights.
this is also the reason why the commission will devote its first annual fundamental rights colloquium at the start of october to issues related to hate crime and discrimination and in particular the fight against anti semitism and islamophobia which are distinct but related phenomena.
in two thousand and fourteen the commission launched eleven infringement procedures against member states specifically to ensure that charter rights are respected.
it will improve the effectiveness of eu law and the coherence of fundamental rights protection across europe.
much remains to be done to secure equal treatment everywhere regardless of religion or belief race or ethnic origin gender age disability or sexual orientation and eu law has a crucial role to play in this respect.
mainstreaming the charter of fundamental rights should be a reflex for all eu institutions throughout the policy cycle.
in this respect let me first of all stress that getting the data protection reform agreed by the end of the year remains a top priority for the commission.
we will also continue to insist on the full observance of data protection standards in our relations with third countries including the united states of america.
our reaction to the current crisis must be about saving lives.
take the recent case concerning a town district inhabited primarily by roma citizens in which the electricity meters were placed on poles six metres high whereas in all other parts of town they were placed at a height where they could easily be monitored.
let me now turn to the more institutional questions in your report in particular the question of whether we need new mechanisms for the protection of fundamental rights including a new strategy for fundamental rights.
equality is a central issue in your report and indeed this principle is at the heart of the european project.
their right to be protected from risking their lives in the hands of ruthless traffickers;
we are going through a period of crisis right now which is not just social and economic.
i can assure you that we remain vigilant as regards any threats to the rule of law wherever they may occur and that we will not hesitate to activate the framework when necessary.
let me conclude by stressing that it is a joint responsibility of the european parliament the commission and other institutions to ensure respect for and the promotion of our common values.
in times such as these we see again the old tendencies of trying to identify scapegoats of always looking for somebody else to blame and minorities are always at the receiving end of the blame.
your report also calls for a strengthening of the framework for the protection of the rule of law in the european union.
let me conclude as you did ms ferrara in your opening statement with a few words about migration.
anyone whose fundamental rights have been denied deserves our support whether they are taking to the streets of barcelona in defiance of national gag laws whether they are rallying across the continent in support of the citizens' initiative or indeed demanding access to documents from ongoing ttip negotiations without ninety five of their contents being redacted.
safeguarding the rights to be informed about government actions to have one's privacy respected to speak out against injustice and to participate in the political process are all fundamental rights vital to democracy.
the report also takes a decisive stance against fundamental rights violations in the self proclaimed war on terror and it does not buy into the myth purported for example by the epp shadow that blanket surveillance could guarantee our safety.
it is this parliament's duty to safeguard these rights and i count upon my colleagues to adopt the ferrara report and to ensure that comprehensive monitoring of the member states' fundamental rights obligations is ensured.
it highlights the discrepancies between freedoms promised in law and the freedoms denied when people put them to the test.
i wonder if madam winberg would agree with me that saudi arabia and the gulf states should be doing more to set up camps in turkey rather than displace large numbers of people and that they should be helping their fellow muslims.
mr president the situation of fundamental rights in the eu is wholly unacceptable. compassionate protection and the promotion of rights to life dignity and freedoms such as asylum are being undermined if not ignored in the current context of the ongoing humanitarian refugee crisis.
rather than approaching this crisis with humanity a fortress europe is heavily financed and indecent and dehumanising language border fences tear gas religious discrimination and the shirking of responsibility are comfortably adopted.
only the solemn protection of fundamental rights can resolve this crisis.
that can be accomplished by providing safe and legal access scrapping the dublin regulations and empowering and encouraging member states to take a progressive and humane approach to the most pressing humanitarian crisis the world faces.
clearly we will not uphold fundamental human rights or resolve the refugee crisis by dropping more bombs on syria.
sir many refugees and the definition of a refugee is someone coming from a warring area do not even have passports or documents with them because they had to leave everything behind because everything was destroyed so we really have to take care of them.
things like that should not happen in our common europe.
as commissioner for research science and innovation i have followed very closely the work of this house and it culminated with the adoption of the report in front of us today.
from the beginning that the contribution of this parliament would be a valuable support for our strategy for an open and trusted cloud based data environment geared to the scientific community.
this includes a pooling of the necessary investments at all levels to create a world class pan european high performance computing and big data ecosystem by.
we will fund a pilot project on the european science cloud to ensure that the governance in the european open science cloud is truly representative of european science that it create synergies amongst existing and future initiatives of this kind.
that means a billion operations per second which is basically one thousand times faster than today's supercomputers.
we are now discussing sustainable funding and implementation instruments with the member states research infrastructures scientific communities and other key players.
it advocates reducing barriers to the free flow of data.
first on the european open science cloud the commission is preparing a roadmap for governance and financing to be presented to and discussed with the member states in the course of.
the commission agrees that the take up of high performance computing services by businesses consumers public administrations and scientific sectors requires seamless user friendly access with appropriate levels of data protection security and services to ensure trust and confidence in their use.
one three billion per year of value just by having made one very simple choice scientific information freely available to the global science community.