kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
the core responsibility of the european union is to be the firm and strong defender of human rights democracy open borders and a free society. that is why we need to understand the differences because if we do not we lose some part of our freedom.
freedom is lost and individuals suffer.
the democratic west must resolutely stand up for freedom for selfdetermination and for democracy and not allow the artificial imposition of borders imposed by any small unelected ruling elite.
as president reagan famously said in words that were unattributed a few minutes ago freedom is never more the one generation away from extinction'. he went on to say we didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.
mr president the legacy hundreds of millions of people dead and democracy crushed across half of europe for generations.
even the modern day journal observed striking similarities between the lisbon treaty and its communist predecessors.
thankfully the biggest difference between the eu and the ussr is a constitutional pathway out of the union.
the european parliament he added is a mere rubberstamp institution like the supreme soviet of the old ussr.
former soviet dissident vladimir bukovsky warned of disturbing similarities between the ussr and blueprints for the eu superstate.
mr president president gorbachev famously proclaimed that the eu was the old soviet union dressed in western clothing. the erosion of democracy and sovereignty has been incremental. nothing has been done by force but allegedly in the public's best interests with power grabs from crisis or through mass migration.
from day one of my life my parents had to check me in with the kgb every month. i had no rights at all. i was born with the label enemy of the people'.
our own euro atlantic family of nations with shared values has not been immune to very obvious populist and authoritarian trends.
for those crimes not to be repeated we need remembrance and education to build immunity for our societies against every temptation of totalitarian solutions.
as we are facing the rise of autocratic global powers we in europe should find ways to revitalise our core values within our own family of nations.
populism is a form of authoritarianism that distorts democracy without destroying it but under populist rule democracies become illiberal with populists defining themselves as the entire people and all those who disagree as enemies of the people.
against the backdrop of such events it makes us understand better than ever the real significance of the european union the most successful european project.
a hundred years ago all hell broke loose taking more than one hundred million human lives among the russian people and other innocent nations across the globe.
those who are wary of anyone concentrating power in one place should always be on their guard. look at those with power.
and that misery was famine suffering repression and political suppression.
ask those with power what they are going to do with it and if necessary ask them how we can take it away from them. the price of freedom is always eternal vigilance.
it is interesting that the communists in this place delight in freedom of speech by extolling a regime and political idea that took that away from millions of people over seventy years.
you had the opportunity to speak.
this debate reminds us how the ideology of extreme socialism leads to poverty violence and indeed to the loss of that freedom.
this debate also reminds us how dangerous a political ideology is when as mr timmermans says the only things that matter are the goals dictated by the state.
and yet this debate is being turned into an anti populist debate rather than concerning itself with the evil of communism.
we hear today that populists are the dangers the dangerous people yet we are not the ones who are trying to forge a new eu extreme ideology of a flag a council a parliament and its own anthem on people who do not want it.
i need to underline that we have a very extensive list of speakers and i will be very strict in terms of respecting the speaking time.
mr president comrades socialism has been the most catastrophic political experiment in history responsible for the deaths of millions. socialism is completely unnatural to mankind.
socialism can only achieve equality through authoritarian bureaucratic police states.
capitalism and its concomitant economic and political liberty provides the greatest material wealth for the greatest number of people.
furthermore capitalism fits well with the rule of law and democracy.
as well as of course chapter thirty one regarding foreign policy. in this context montenegro very much to its credit has aligned its foreign policy position with other eu member states in applying sectoral economic sanctions against russia in response to russian aggression against ukraine.
the commission's progress report highlights a number of other areas where montenegro has also made progress and the joint resolution that i drafted echoes much of this for instance the election of stankovic last year as a state prosecutor is very welcome.
as one example for instance incidents of violence against journalists and media premises has continued this year but has actually decreased in the terms of total numbers of incidents.
ensuring a free press is not only of value in its own right in terms of human rights and democracy but it is also vital in exposing public corruption an area where we need to see more progress in montenegro.
montenegro's commitment to the eu accession process is a strong one and it will be important politically to retain widespread domestic crossparty support in its endeavours. the eu acquis communautaire sets very tough benchmarks for the membership of all future member states but in my view for now montenegro definitely remains on the right track.
overall i am pleased as rapporteur that the resolution reflects a very fair picture of the current state of play for montenegro; praising its progress where illustrated and offering advice constructively where improvement is still needed.
these chapters include the allimportant chapters twenty three and twenty four key to the accession as they deal with the justice and home affairs rule of law areas of fighting organised crime for instance and fighting corruption and upholding generally the rule of law including the issue of the judiciary;
similarly montenegro is supporting the coalition against isis in syria and iraq in proposing a law now to criminalise those of its citizens who join foreign terrorist groups.
nevertheless i would like to state here as well what is in this report because it says that the fight against corruption and organised crime is and will be the litmus test for an independent efficient and professional judiciary in the country.
so i really would appreciate it if the government of montenegro would stop reconsidering plans to build hydropower plants affecting wild rivers without having first implemented the sustainable hydropower guiding principles of the danube river protection convention.
i would nevertheless like to say that i appreciate that the government of montenegro has made very clear statements and also taken action in the fight against hatred against lgbti people and will be hosting a high level ministerial meeting in budva at the beginning of may on the fight against homophobia with european union and enlargement countries.
it is time to shift the focus from processes and procedures to ensuring results on the ground.
to give you an example let me mention the protection of persons with disabilities.
legal identity a functioning independent judicial system and fundamental rights like property rights are necessary and not only for meeting the rule of law criteria they are pre conditions for attracting investment improving competitiveness and stimulating growth and jobs. we are also strengthening our economic dialogue with montenegro.
we will work closely with the countries of the region to prepare them for their accession to the european union. montenegro was one of the first countries i visited after the start of my mandate and this was the message i delivered to the country's political leadership.
we have made it clear to montenegro that the focus now has to be on implementing this legislation.
by montenegro through intense work in the weeks following its publication and by the adoption of important legislation on the prevention of corruption.
such changes should also be felt by individuals in their daily lives.
finally i want to underline that through the accession negotiations and through ipa assistance the commission is committed to helping montenegro reach new standards and meet the various criteria that will make the country ready politically as well as economically to join the union.
i think this resolution does send the right signals and i would like to thank the rapporteur for his work on it and his inclusive and thorough approach. there are of course many areas of concern that remain as are remarked on within the report.
currently within montenegro that is above nineteen and it is particularly a problem for young people as is the incidence of inwork poverty as well.
colleagues i think montenegro is leading the way amongst eu candidate countries and with this resolution we send a strong message to montenegro that we will continue to support it provided that progress continues and we will be watching it closely in the months and years to come.
mr president as has already been remarked montenegro is a comparatively small country but it has a very big commitment to becoming the next member of the european union and you can feel that very strongly when you talk with montenegrin civil society with montenegrin politicians from both the government and the opposition and with the public in general.
finally we do need to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities in montenegro.
as chair of parliament's delegation to montenegro i believe we as the european parliament also have to show a clear commitment to montenegro's future in the eu provided it continues to undertake reforms both on paper and importantly in practice.
i was very pleased to hear the commissioner single out this group in his comments.
some of these have already been mentioned by the council around the issue of corruption and particularly high level corruption but i would like also to focus on the issue of unemployment.
just to finish we also have to place the promotion of human rights and equality at the heart of the accession process so i was very pleased that some amendments i submitted along with colleagues have made it into this report firstly calling for the strengthening of institutions in charge of promoting human rights and anti discrimination like the ombudsman while also saying we need to have a greater focus on gender and lgbti equality when we assess progress towards accession.
as a presidency we are continuing the work on accession negotiations with montenegro and are looking forward to opening new chapters during our presidency.
we seem to agree on the point that the work with potential accession countries should continue towards democratic reforms and closer european integration.
the council also attaches particular importance to the area of the rule of law and fundamental rights and has urged montenegro to tackle the issues of concern identified by the commission especially the independence of the judiciary the fight against corruption and organised crime.
the council as already mentioned now expects montenegro to keep up the momentum and intensify its efforts to move forward with the reforms and their effective implementation.
it is essential that all attacks on media representatives be properly investigated in order to ensure freedom of expression and citizens' trust in public institutions.
challenges and assets of each country.
the values upon which the european union is founded freedom democracy the rule of law and respect for human rights are linked to the economic and social progress the european union has achieved since its creation.
i would also like to underline that the ultimate wish to move forward on crucial reform issues cannot come from the european union but from the governments of the western balkan countries themselves.
particular importance should be given to making up for delays and to further developing a solid track record in the area of the rule of law including with respect to the fight against corruption notably at high level.
further efforts are also needed to implement constitutional amendments strengthen political inclusiveness and guarantee citizens' trust in public institutions.
montenegro will require strong political commitment in order to deliver further tangible and lasting results.
twenty four in this light let me take note of the recent adoption by the government of montenegro of the revised action plan for both chapters.
in its conclusions in december last year the council welcomed the progress montenegro had made in the past year including the completion of the extensive screening phase.
two thousand and fourteen overall out of a total of thirty five chapters sixteen have now been opened for negotiations of which two chapters have already been provisionally closed. we plan for the next accession conferences at deputy and ministerial
the council notes that montenegro has continued to implement its obligations under the stabilisation and association agreement and to play an active role in the region.
however much along the same lines as the parliament the council also stressed that a number of shortcomings identified by the commission need to be addressed in a decisive and effective way.
but it also directly impacts on a government's ability to provide public services and to foster competitiveness and growth.
it should prove to be a valuable support to the efforts towards meeting the copenhagen criteria.
in this regard the council welcomes the approach of the commission to focus on strengthening economic governance and competitiveness.
as you have highlighted in your draft resolution further efforts are also needed to guarantee freedom of expression and of the media including properly investigating and prosecuting threats and violence against journalists.
we welcome the recent adoption of certain measures in particular in the area of the fight against corruption.
in line with the new approach the focus has been on the chapters dedicated to the fundamental rights and rule of law chapter twenty three judiciary and fundamental rights and chapter twenty four justice freedom and security as they are rightly at the heart of the enlargement process. montenegro has demonstrated strong commitment to the reform process
in this regard the council welcomes the active participation of montenegro in numerous regional initiatives in southeastern europe and the good neighbourly and bilateral relations it entertains with other enlargement countries and eu member states. i would also like to stress that the council welcomes montenegro's full alignment with the union's common foreign
montenegro needs to further intensify its efforts with regard to legislative reforms and their effective implementation in particular in relation to chapters twenty three and.
level in march and june respectively where we expect to be able to open further chapters depending on montenegro's continuous progress in meeting the requirements for accession.
i would particularly like to underline some points which we consider very important.
the council commends montenegro for its strong commitment to regional cooperation and its constructive role in maintaining regional stability.
the interim benchmark for the rule of law chapters should continue to provide clear guidance for future reforms.
furthermore montenegro needs to implement the public administration reform strategy and strengthen administrative capacity tackle politicisation increase transparency and improve the business environment. a well functioning public administration is not only necessary for democratic governance
the council will continue to closely monitor the progress in the chapters on fundamental rights and justice and security which will determine the overall pace of negotiations.
in this respect we recognise that the preparation of economic reform programmes will support the efforts of candidate and aspirant states of the western balkans towards meeting the copenhagen economic criteria.
cooperation is the common link that binds the eu and what strengthens our ability to deliver security and prosperity. it provides strength in unity and builds consensus and mutual trust while taking into account the needs
this is why the council underlines the importance of regional economic cooperation sharing the best practice on economic governance and connectivity and inclusiveness within the region and with the eu.
it is clear that the council broadly shares many of the views expressed in your draft resolution.
at the same time we expect montenegro to continue working on meeting the opening benchmarks set in challenging areas such as competition the environment climate change and food safety.
the opening benchmarks provide clear guidance on what needs to be done. for the chapters that have already been opened we will work with montenegro in helping the country meet the closing benchmarks.
we have a challenging programme ahead of us and the support of this house will be instrumental in completing it.
the commission can offer and does offer its technical knowhow its expertise and of course financial assistance in meeting the challenges of the accession process.
become members of the european union.
so thanks very much to everybody.
as many of you have said this is crucially important for the operation of the single market and it is also really important for consumers and citizens.
on customs from now on we have to keep the implementation of the new customs code and of what we put in this new directive firmly in the political domain and in the eye of this parliament.
i want to thank you commissioner and your team led by miroslaw zielinski for working with us.
i believe that this new union customs code will indeed allow customs to improve the services it provides to reliable traders and its protection of our citizens against all kinds of dangers and threats.
the commission expects that harmonised implementation will save considerable time for trade.
finally we should remember that the ucc still needs to move from basic act to implementation.
so my group's position is and will remain that the legal basis is correct and that we support the commission's proposal as put forward.
among the shadows during the discussions i heard nothing to convince me that the safety of citizens would be improved by the involvement of parliament in detailed scrutiny substance by substance.
indeed during much of the debate and particularly in the detail of many of the recitals which were decided upon it became absolutely clear to me that many of my colleagues were motivated by a philosophical belief in the danger of nuclear energy as opposed to any particular regard to this proposal.
my group believes in better regulation and that means we do not believe in overregulation.
secondly being better informed consumers will then be free to decide what to purchase according to their preferences.
two thousand and five the purpose of our proposal is to introduce a compulsory marking of origin on imports of certain products and to establish clear rules on how origin shall be established. the objectives of our proposal are clear to enable consumers to know the origin of the goods and to ensure transparency according to a single standard by which origin is determined.
i would like to thank the rapporteur mrs muscardini for her dedication in support of our proposal and for her hard work. i wish her much success in carrying it further through the legislative process.
despite our consistent efforts there has been no progress towards adoption in council.
it is limited in scope applying to goods such as leather textiles footwear and glassware and it would not apply to sectors like electronics ict equipment chemicals machinery cars etc.
of course we will need to ensure consistency between this principle namely goods for final consumers' and the actual products that will ultimately be covered by the regulation as detailed in its annex.
the commission would be in charge of drafting the rules regarding the modalities of the marking and will pay the utmost attention to minimising costs by relying on international practices consulting with member states and all the industries and traders involved. setting this proposal in a wider context other large trading partners like the us canada japan and china have long had such schemes in place.
we are therefore able to draw useful lessons from the experience of others.
of course information on origin does not cover everything the consumer may want to know about a specific product but has the benefit of being useful and clear.
the cost will notably depend on the production processes and technical marking rules.
there can be no misunderstanding about that.
mr president i would like to say to my colleague mrs muscardini that in the words of shakespeare you have done the state some service because for too long we have been like a fairy godmother to the world spreading our generosity far and wide and being treated like a fairy in return. we have seen that in copenhagen and we see it in the united nations but thankfully tonight we will begin to fight back and establish a level playing field for our consumers and for our manufacturers.
it actually makes no sense whatsoever that goods can come into the european union from third countries without some indication of where they came from.
i would like to see this going much further.
we need to help our consumers to make choices to know that the choices they are making are correct ones that there is no counterfeiting and there is fair play for everybody.
i believe that first and foremost this house and the commission should be looking at ways to alleviate the financial burden of the red tape that we insist upon here.
in respect of this proposal we need to strike a balance between the opening up of markets for european products and ensuring the quality and safety of imported products.
i must say however that i do see merit in third country labelling when it comes to food products. i know they are not covered by the scope of this proposal but many of northern ireland's farmers feel let down when they work hard to meet the requirements laid down by europe and then have to compete with those who do not have to meet the same standards.
this place has a habit of taking legislation too far and i fear that this is what is happening in this particular case.
nature is dying all around us and as we bury our heads in the ever less fertile soil it will continue.
as with any other crisis it is our job as legislators to stop the problems causing this silent massacre.
when the rivers run dry the forests are too small to clean the air and the ecosystem supporting our agriculture collapses we will wonder how we did not see it happening.
we call on you to take action to protect our generation and the generations to come.
we must not end up having to face our grandchildren and admit that we stood by and did nothing as the wonderful diversity of nature on this planet ours and theirs silently died around us.
right now too many people are choosing not to listen and not to see.
to that effect the prioritised action frameworks to be developed by the member states will allow a strategic planning approach for the next programming period.
madam president diversity is an emotively favourable word and of course we are all in favour of it but unfortunately we mean different things by it.
i have some good news for the writer of the book and for the grey squirrel it is to be found everywhere in britain now.
when it comes to the short term they would immediately disagree.
we recognise that.
of how to deal with the questions which we humans are struggling with and we are stupid enough to destroy it and stupid enough not to use it'.
working together that is how we understand the mainstreaming or integration of policies.