kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
month after month the lorries and trains arrive with the personnel papers and equipment needed to sustain a duplicate parliament and then three days later they disappear leaving this building empty.
we have seen the negative effects of such policies in norway where there is a feeling that women have been appointed as acts of tokenism rather than on genuine merit.
this allows the right balance between ensuring that candidates are selected entirely on individual merit whilst working towards a wider aim of improving gender balance.
clearly with so few women participating on the boards of big companies not enough is being done at corporate level to encourage and actively pursue women's involvement.
this directive will require a genuine commitment by government and business groups alike to ensure its full implementation.
by adopting this directive parliament is sending a signal to governments and to listed companies that it is no longer acceptable to leave most corporate decision making in the hands of men.
madam president i welcome today's vote to make it mandatory for big companies to increase women's participation on their boards and i am calling on listed companies in dublin to step up to the plate now. in ireland women occupy less than eleven of the seats at the boardroom tables of big corporates.
we need to cut the budget even further.
we need to be cutting costs and staff not expanding at this time of austerity.
yet this agreement strengthens staffing levels and financial contributions to eu agencies.
i voted against this report because it was a bad deal.
madam president on securing the deal for two thousand and fourteen the budget commissioner said the beauty of a compromise is that no one is totally happy.
with regard to the ending of the beet sugar quotas in two thousand and seventeen the proposal fails to make any real concession to the cane sugar sector.
we should deregulate the cane sector as well as the beet sector.
we should do more to reduce tariff barriers and to make it easier to import cane sugar into the eu.
with limitless beet products from two thousand and seventeen the cane sugar sector will be exposed to greater competition and at the same time will be held back by the unchanged eu rules on the import of cane. we want a stable sugar market.
we have made an historic breakthrough and have paved the way for treaty change.
i am an active member of the single seat steering group because i am committed to a more effective parliament.
we stand ready to pursue a constructive dialogue with all those who want to find viable solutions for all european institution seats.
madam president today for the first time parliament has voted on its right to decide when and where to meet.
the single market is meant to make it easy to trade across twenty eight countries and it must be fit for purpose in the digital age.
consumers want to be able to trust that their purchases will arrive and that faulty goods can be returned replaced or refunded.
the digital economy must be fair transparent and open.
but enabling portability must not create a back door for piracy.
top down legislation heavy handed bans and centralised controls we know how these can put a handbrake on innovation and investment.
security is key especially for parents who want to know that their children are safe online.
we need to focus on practical solutions to break down barriers to trade to remove unnecessary red tape and to encourage investment.
building a fortress around europe will not work. we should listen to what users are asking for.
the commission strategy is good in parts but needs more work in others.
so let us make sure our actions are targeted and be wary of unintended consequences.
we must make it easier not harder for innovation to flourish and be mindful that the digital market is a global market.
in europe sometimes our grand plans do stall and many times small steps reach a destination faster.
creators do need to know that their work their copyright has value and can be enforced.
in all of this investors in enterprises want legal clarity and the certainty of a level playing field.
platforms in the shared economy are growing because businesses and consumers want to use them and people do want to be able to shop wherever they are and take their films books and music with them when they travel.
researchers want to unlock the benefits of big data huge benefits for medicine for the environment for the economy but individuals also want to know that their data is safe.
mr president unlocking the benefits of the digital economy is key to driving competitiveness jobs and growth.
businesses want it to be easy to set up and sell on line to five hundred million consumers with lower costs and simple secure systems so that they get paid.
i would like to state that very clearly.
a six year eu funded project is just coming to an end in cornwall.
in the neighbouring county they have had a very different experience as a consequence of not having that combined funding that cornwall has received.
mr president the digital single market only means something if people have access to the internet and there are two very distinct examples of people's experiences in my constituency.
and highquality infrastructure that works smoothly across europe.
if we only succeed in putting half of them into effect then we will not end up with a true digital single market.
for businesses the commission will focus on bringing opportunities for them to create new innovative products for a single market of five hundred million people not twenty eight splintered national markets. european
common standards and interoperability are essential to make the best of fast growing sectors such as cloud computing and the internet of things.
together these initiatives form a realistic roadmap for us to work together over the next four and a half years.
it will also tackle regulatory differences around eu national markets and create better incentives for investments in high speed broadband. the commission will also conduct a comprehensive analysis of the role of online platforms.
europe needs to take full advantage of the digital economy where data is becoming all important and where people have the skills needed to fill new jobs.
they will help people and companies to get the best from the online world.
the commission will propose an ambitious reform of eu telecoms rules.
out. we need equal conditions for all to compete openly and fairly in this digital market.
this will include more effective spectrum coordination.
however one thing i do want to say is that they must be taken together as a coordinated and balanced package.
one of our first initiatives will be to bring rules for online purchases more into line across the european union. people could save eur. eleven seven billion per year if they could choose from a full range of eu goods and services when they shop online.
every company large or small plays by the same rules no discrimination no favouritism.
i want europeans to have better protection when buying online lower cost for deliveries more choice and better access to content goods and services from other eu countries.
it will focus on transparency liability and equal conditions for competition.
lastly we will build a solid foundation for long term growth.
they must also have trust and confidence when they go online.
we also need them in the context of promoting egovernment services around europe and a more inclusive e society.
i look forward now to your comments and views.
we want to improve people's access to cultural content online while opening new opportunities for creators and the content industry. this will also promote cultural diversity.
companies and industries must be at the forefront of the digital revolution using the digital single market to scale up not to move
we also need to create the right and fair conditions in the underlying environment preparing for the future to maximise the growth potential of the digital economy.
an urgent first task is to secure and guarantee free movement of goods and services in a unified digital space and to improve online access generally.
better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across europe;
my group has a slogan think digital by default'.
it does include many items that are vital to us removing geoblocking reforming the parcel delivery system in europe and supporting twenty four hour egovernment.
especially smes which are limited by the amazons and ebays of the world and have to pay a lot to sell beyond our national borders.
speed is of the essence.
any delays will only further harm our attempts to build trust among businesses and consumers in the digital single market.
any delays will only give time for the member states to come up with excuses to block this strategy. any delays will only push us further behind the us and others.
that said the alde group welcomes it and also welcomes the action plan.
the action plan includes far more reviews and initiatives than new legislative proposals and new ideas such as making privacy by design into eu law or finally introducing a single eu telecoms operator. it should do even more to create a level playing field for all european businesses
mr president it is time for europe to grab the opportunity of the digital revolution to create jobs without spending taxpayers' money.
the digital single market strategy is really welcome and now we look forward very soon to a concrete proposal that must aim at boosting an open free and global internet.
we must compete with simple modern and clear rules providing legal certainty and protecting integrity not by raising walls to keep out the rest of the world.
people in europe should be able to enjoy digital products regardless of where they are physically.
fifteen years ago i started an e commerce company and i have suffered the fragmentation that thousands of other companies are also suffering in europe.
that is what we need to do and therefore the council which i cannot see here is an important partner to work with to create this digital single market.
what i can see at the moment is that on the telecoms single market on the network and information security directive and on the data protection regulation all three of which are fundaments for building the next step of the digital single market the council is not coming along with general approaches with positions which are negotiable for us as a parliament.
so i think that we need to insist first of all on the adoption of these legislative acts and then proceed with further measures.
i think that you have made some good points but there needs to be clear legislation concrete formulations about what you mean for example on platform neutrality and on geo blocking;
the uk is now the eu's second largest economy largely because of the growth of small businesses.
in the uk we have a vat threshold for small businesses including digital ones so that they are not suffocated by vat regulations.
the eu's obsession with harmonising tax has led it to force the uk to abandon vat thresholds for some online businesses.
not content with burdening business with complicated rules the online disclosure requirements are impossible for small businesses to comply with.
the eu has now given small businesses outside the eu a competitive advantage over uk businesses.
it is imperative that the uk regain that competitive edge.
digital is everywhere.
it affects every part of our society and economy. there is however a lot to be done to overcome the fears associated with digital life. people trust each other more than ever by sharing their cars by sharing their flats but also sharing content and accessing content online.
but they also need to know that their communication is secure.
this will greatly undermine the trust in ecommerce but also in the economy as a whole.
so my question is this how does that fit into the digital market strategy?
this certainly needs to be answered.
mr president the commissioner has very correctly identified some of the core issues that we must address better access across the european union and highquality infrastructure.
certainly in my constituency in the north west of england in cumbria we are seeing the benefits of broadband connectivity provided through the european union.
there is so much else that has been put forward here that must be delivered but from a citizens' viewpoint this is a crucial test for the european union.
as far as our citizens are concerned so many of them are already frustrated.
when they pass through actual borders they do it seamlessly but every time they do so we reinforce a virtual border for them in real terms.
when the law is an ass people will find a way around it.
that is what we must do ensure that they do not have to do that.
so many of our new start ups are crying out for their vision to be fulfilled through the digital single market.
the strategy is good in parts and we must unlock the benefits but as in all areas of european legislation it is pointless just passing laws in this house if they do not work on the ground and if they cannot be enforced back in the member states.
we need to focus on unlocking growth and that means also removing unnecessary legislation where we do not need it.
six i will read it and i hope it's selfexplanatory takes due note of the judgment t five hundred and forty fifteen de capitani v european parliament which reaffirms that the principles of publicity and transparency are inherent to the eu legislative process and that no general presumption of nondisclosure can be upheld as regards legislative documents including trilogue documents'.
mr president first let me congratulate you on your birthday. i would like to propose an oral amendment
zero seven of international aid is central to remaining credible on the global stage as we prepare for a series of major international summits on development in the coming months.
i would like to hear from the commission how it sees the debate on.
it is no secret that in recent years several member states have struggled to reach their target.
not because i see aid as the only source of financing for development not at all but when we go to the international conferences for financing for development like the one in addis ababa in july we need to start talking about releasing a whole new raft of funding
we need to recognise that accept that change and adapt accordingly.
your remarks have underlined to me even more strongly the importance of the eu maintaining bold leadership on official development assistance despite the budgetary challenges we face.
whilst i believe it is right that we also have expectations of others we must be ready to play our full part in presenting our clear political commitment to oda.
in these areas too the european union is investing a lot of effort and will continue to do so.
let me reiterate my commitment to making every effort to facilitate agreement on a recommitment to the oda targets amongst our member states.
but in closing i wish to underline that what beyond oda will really make the difference in terms of post two thousand and fifteen implementation are good policies domestic resource mobilisation channelling the potential of the private sector and trade and innovation policies.
mr president i think the discussion here today has been very useful and raised some important points. i would like to thank parliament for focusing on this important issue and i look forward to a future debate on this topic.
i would also like to note that oda remains an important element in the overall financing available for developing countries and in particular countries most in need.
a few days ago i was in washington to attend the spring meetings of the international monetary fund and the world bank group.
i was encouraged by the informal council meeting of the development ministers in march where the willingness of member states to reach a common position and to uphold the eu's place as world leader in development cooperation was very strong.
a series of meetings with member states are planned in order to facilitate agreement.
if we aspire to a truly ambitious outcome from addis ababa and new york i believe a commitment to reach the.
zero seven target should be made by all developed countries.
agreement was clear that we need a comprehensive financial package comprising aid investments and domestic resources especially effective taxation systems;
at the same time we must recognise that to finance such a far reaching global agenda the eu's efforts alone will not be enough.
to ensure the diversity and volume of resources that will be needed by the new sustainable development goals upper middle income countries and emerging economies should also commit themselves to increasing their financial contributions to the development of the poorest countries.
and that the key factor for achieving the sustainable development goals is not only money but also an enhancing framework of good policies and good governance.
i therefore hope that the council will be able to adopt clear and compelling conclusions on the global partnership next month including on the eu's recommitment to the oda targets.
however it is ultimately for member states to reach consensus on the issue and to put in place national plans for meeting these targets.
the commission will continue to call for a recommitment of these existing targets.
at the same time we have to envisage a more strategic and functional role for oda by using it in a catalytic manner to engage and leverage other financial and non financial means of implementation that would suffice to cover such a broad new sdg agenda.
the discussions revealed a growing shared understanding that official development assistance must be increasingly used so as to crowd in other funding sources.
considering the importance of official development assistance in assisting third world countries to achieve a level of stabilisation and prosperity i highly recommend that this chamber votes in favour of the continuance of the commitment that member states made in.
in fact when speaking about assistance for development we speak about the eus role we speak about about influence we speak about respect we speak about the importance of our organisation we speak about our values and promotion of our values we speak about stability and peace we speak about development.
so thirty years since willy brandt spoke about.
unfortunately we tend to look at it more like any other budget line which can be reduced in times of economic crisis and recession and i think this is ultimately wrong.
to conclude let me stress again the council's position on shared responsibility.
the third conference on financing for development to be held in addis ababa in july is a key trigger of this acceleration.
any recommitment on oda targets has important budgetary implications that require political buy in across institutions and constituencies are to be considered carefully by member states.
i want to thank ms mcavan for her question and for giving me the opportunity to intervene. to reiterate two thousand and fifteen is a unique opportunity to arrive at a truly universal and sustainable development agenda and we should use all avenues to communicate about the importance of the addis ababa new york and paris events.
we stand ready to play our part.
a first round of encouraging discussions was held at the informal meeting of ministers of development on twelve march.
let me now turn to the preparation of the addis ababa conference. the latest oecd figures on oda for two thousand and fourteen show that the eu and its member states have increased their aid substantially since the last period.
in its three dimensions economic social and environmental.
yet it is evident that oda is decreasing in relative importance to other potential resources for sustainable development.
issues such as trade remittances support for domestic resource mobilisation and science technology and innovation to name just a few can be much more interesting for a whole range of partner countries.
oda still remains important for those most in need and should be channelled accordingly.
we are not shying away from our commitments and are determined to fulfil them even if we have not yet been able to fully deliver due to an unexpected and major global financial and economic crisis.
at this stage the council is preparing the formal eu position for the conference in addis ababa where examining the conditions and the timing for the eu to recommit collectively on oda is a key element.
we will only be able to implement an ambitious post two thousand and fifteen agenda if all countries take the necessary steps in terms of political action and resource mobilisation and contribute meaningfully to achieving the agenda.
the discussion on mobilising all means of implementation both financial and non financial for the post two thousand and fifteen agenda is currently accelerating both in the eu and globally.
the council agrees that oda is important for the success of the addis ababa new york and paris conferences.
eu credibility will be at stake if we commit to something that we could fail to deliver by any specific date.
this invitation is being heard and taken very seriously.
the coming months will be crucial in this respect.
issues such as trade remittance support for domestic resources mobilisation and science technology and innovation can be much more interesting for a whole range of developing countries than oda which should be directed to those most in need.
many of you have called on the member states to make immediate commitments.
the council is in the process of discussing the issue both in terms of the conditions and the timing of recommitting. we want to take an informed decision. the development ministers are due to have a comprehensive discussion on twenty six may.
at the same time i hope you will agree that decisions on oda commitments and budget timetables are of high political sensitivity at national level.
that is endemic and indicative of exactly what is happening across lots of member states in the european union.
ms james perhaps you have not noticed that in the past few years there has been a huge emphasis on accountability and openness of aid and whether or not you would like to get to know some of those processes which certainly should calm your concerns it is true that in previous decades many mistakes were made but also many lessons were learned.
irrespective of this process the current handling of requests under this regulation is fully compatible with articles forty one and forty two of the charter of fundamental rights.
the commission looks forward to working with the european parliament the council the ombudsman the european data protection supervisor civil society organisations and all concerned stakeholders on shaping the future transparency regime.
as i explained the revision of regulation one thousand and forty nine two thousand and one is pending before the co legislators and the commission stands ready to help council and parliament find common ground.
at the same time the commission is bound to observe the case law of the eu courts with regard to documents relating to infringement investigations against member states.
the commission considers that in the areas where the eu is responsible for administration the latter is governed by an extensive framework of rules principles and practices.
the commission also strongly welcomes the new inter institutional agreement on better lawmaking.
the commission already applies high transparency standards but we are always open to examining our tools and practices and to adapting them further where necessary and appropriate. the commission welcomes that the resolution calls for members of the parliament and the council to follow the commission's practice regarding the publication of information on meetings held by top political leaders and decision makers.
similarly the creation of a joint the register of delegated acts by the end of two thousand and seventeen will further increase the transparency of acts impacting on citizens and businesses.
the commission has consistently supported and will continue supporting the co legislators in finding common ground on the two pending proposals updating and upgrading regulation.