kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
however looking at the budget allocated for the preparation and implementation of this european year eur one million the smallest ever budget envisaged for such a year i can only imagine that it will allow for top down communication measures and not for the tangible actions boosted so often by the commission.
large scale migration from lower wage countries in the east to higher wage countries in the west has deprived the east of key workers and has deprived workers in the west of accommodation and employment.
this has got nothing to do with freedoms enjoyed by individuals and everything to do with human beings being treated as though they were depersonalised facts of production that can be moved around to reduce wage rates to a common low level.
mrs vlean this is a brilliant report in which you highlight exactly what the european union is doing wrong and what is that?
i also want to address the crucial issue of the fundamental freedom of movement for same sex couples.
there is no decent honourable reason to deny these people their freedom of movement and the right to be with their families.
so i say this if we do not defend the rights of others how on earth can we expect our own rights to be defended?
however we have to take an aggressive position when it comes to large corporates which are using all of the facilities to evade taxation.
i believe european citizens stand united in opposing aggressive tax planning and on making sure that corporates and large businesses pay their fair share.
so i am pleased to welcome the many strong statements focused on addressing the issue of tax competition and tax avoidance included in this year's annual tax report especially the repeated call for a compulsory common consolidated tax base.
if it had been applied it would have ensured that scandalous tax rulings' could not have been kept concealed.
we have reached the stage where it is vital for the protection of our civilised societies that we address the issue of tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning.
in november last year after the emergence into the public domain of the scandalous deals that had been agreed by president juncker while he was prime minister of luxembourg there was a motion for the removal of the whole commission.
transnational corporations are able to cut sweetheart deals with governments and to organise transfer pricing deals that could never be possible for the small businesses that are the backbone of our local communities across the european union.
in our role as the voice of small business and strong local economies greens demand that completing the single market should include the requirement of fair taxation across the union to ensure fair competition between small businesses and multinationals.
tax avoidance is also undermining the single market as the commissioner pointed out.
madam president to the surprise of many tax has become an issue of great interest during the past year. as corporations and wealthy individuals have found ever more intricate ways to avoid paying their fair share taxation has become divorced from economic activity and as a result public coffers have been starved of revenue and governments have been unable to invest in necessary infrastructure or provide support for their needy citizens.
last week we saw the commission's proposed action and it will not surprise you to know that we were deeply disappointed.
however this is only one of a number of measures that could and should be introduced to improve transparency on taxation.
i also welcome the establishment of the special committee to investigate tax affairs across the union. however as a green i was deeply disappointed that in this year that will culminate in the paris negotiations on climate change our most important amendments calling for ecological taxation the ending of tax advantages and exemptions granted to the aviation industry and the phasing out of other fossil fuel subsidies were rejected.
i note that quite a number of small countries have difficulty with this and we think it discriminates against them.
so i am delighted that finally we have a first response from the commission.
i strongly welcome the measures that the commission has recommended on tax rulings but frankly we need far more action if we are truly going to meet the expectations of our citizens.
i have to say i was very concerned that the commission's communication was lukewarm in relation to country by country reporting of profits by multinationals.
the parliament has long supported this measure and i hope that the commission will let us continue with our internal work promoting it.
we already have evidence that there is no negative impact from country by country reporting in relation to extracting industries and banking.
we also know it would have a positive impact on smes who at the moment are not competing on a level playing field with those firms who can shift their profits and hide where economy activity is truly occurring.
we welcome the commission's prompt proposal on tax transparency to fight tax evasion and avoidance which stresses that the provision of information can no longer be refused on the grounds of inappropriate disclosure of information and of commercial industrial or professional secrecy. however we must be very sceptical so long
we also took the view that there was no easy divide between civil and military waste given that civilians may well handle military waste these days.
we also underlined the importance of providing information and genuine consultation with workers concerning the safety case and safety assessments not only of sites dealing with spent fuel and radioactive waste but also as regards how these should be transported and the need for a rigorous and effective inspection regime with sanctions that are effective dissuasive
and proportionate. we also want to see that all licence holders ensure thorough and ongoing training of all involved in dealing with these substances including subcontractors potentially a weak link in the safety chain casual workers and all others working on site whatever their job.
madam president the recent events in japan certainly reminded us of the potential problems associated with harnessing nuclear energy and disposing of spent fuel.
when dealing with nuclear energy safety and the transparency of procedures are two important issues which need to be constantly attended to.
the answer is not necessarily to shut down plants as germany is planning to do but rather to ensure that we are following the strictest safety programmes when it comes to dealing with this form of energy and the waste it produces.
even if all nuclear reactors were shut down tomorrow there would still be a legacy of waste from half a century of nuclear generation and from a variety of other activities.
that means making sure that radioactive waste remains under eu control and scrutiny.
once nuclear waste is outside european borders we cannot guarantee how it is managed.
for that reason the alde group strongly supports the commissioner's position and insists on maintaining the status quo.
the export of radioactive waste to third countries must be banned.
ten thousand years ago we were living in caves.
how can we possibly know what human society and planet earth will look like ten thousand years from now?
for that reason we have to future proof the decisions that we take today.
at the moment the geological storage of nuclear waste may very generally seem to be the least worst option but advances in science could potentially turn that conclusion on its head.
finally i have to point out as a number of colleagues before me have done just how absurd it is that the european parliament is merely consulted and has no real say on this directive upon which the safety of so many future generations depends.
especially in the context of the present financial and economic crisis this important sector deserves to be promoted more.
more specifically the commission's policy aims to guarantee that social economy enterprises can grow and prosper alongside other forms of company.
into account the specific needs particular goals efforts and working style of this kind of enterprise.
to this end the commission pays particular attention to ensuring that all other community policies in areas such as competition accounting company law public procurement health social affairs agriculture fisheries banking insurance public and private partnerships and regional development do take
to conclude the commission services are currently working on a document which will take stock of the progress made since two thousand and four on the promotion of cooperatives.
social economy enterprises have a unique way of doing business since they combine economic performance mutually between members and often also the achievement of social and societal objectives as a business purpose.
the commission adopted the proposal for a new regulation on technical conservation measures for the atlantic on four june of last year.
for that reason the commission cannot accept amendments four five twenty one twenty three and.
the other aspects of the commission's proposal are very technical with many details related to the construction and use of fishing gears in the atlantic.
the commission can partially accept amendments two and three relating to additional illustrations of fishing gears if needed and to certain specific market provisions particularly on the minimum size of species with the aim of harmonising measures.
the commission cannot accept amendments eighteen and nineteen since the provisions proposed are already in force subsequent to a political agreement in council on a proposal from the commission based on scientific advice and no new information is available to justify any modification.
both measures are considered to be efficient tools and in order to reduce discards are important in order to allow for a switch from rules dealing with landings to provisions on real catches.
however i must express my reservations regarding amendments eight nine ten twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen and.
in addition we can positively consider the second part of the amendment regarding the derogations on distance. the parameters of such a derogation however would have to be studied in some detail and will be laid out in the implementing regulation.
mr president i welcome these measures to encourage selective fishing practices which minimise harm to the complex ecosystem in which the resources are found while enabling responsible fishing to continue and to maximise returns while minimising by catches and subsequent discards.
we must get to the point of banning discards as soon as possible commissioner.
the variety of the fishing grounds found in the eu is part of our strength but consequently an additional complication when producing legislation that is adequate responsive and coherent.
each of the seas in europe has its own specificity and it is important to recognise the level of knowledge and expertise that can be provided by the stakeholders on the ground and to resist the temptation to micro manage on an eu level.
as this is our last debate on fisheries in this political mandate i would like to thank you commissioner and all your staff for your huge commitment and thorough knowledge of your brief and for the time and attention you always gave to the pech committee.
at the same time i would like to point out that while the eu speaks out against discrimination and violation of human rights in cases like tibet it is clear to all of us that even within the european union there are ethnic and linguistic minorities which are very often targets of cultural and linguistic assimilation.
in some parts of europe the twentieth century was hallmarked by such totalitarian regimes. it is our moral obligation today to make sure that every citizen of the european union enjoys the same rights.
it is highly important that the eu should also support the rights of minorities especially since many countries all around the world do not respect very basic rights in this sense.
it was a turning point for us and for europe.
i am pleased that this initiative has given rise to considerable interest among member states many of whom have underlined the importance of focusing on democratic values and respect for fundamental rights as key principles underpinning the european union.
i am grateful to this parliament for its support for the czech presidency and its willingness to participate in a number of events linked to this theme.
it is something we should value.
the seeds of human rights violations lie in history sometimes in distant history.
speaking for the czech presidency i can assure this parliament that we are willing to give our support to such an initiative.
it is something to be valued and never taken lightly. a collective conscience and memory of the past is a way of reinforcing the value of the present.
to all of us.
it is for individual member states to decide whether and how they might wish to associate themselves with such an event.
it is about how we organise our societies in a way which ensures that everyone has a voice and an opportunity to express their views.
the czech presidency is particularly pleased that this has been included as one of the communication priorities agreed between the institutions for. two thousand and nine in fact it was our proposal.
it is not just cynicism and manipulation which have to be avoided apathy and insensitivity have also to be overcome.
the member states have been encouraged and have agreed to include this theme as appropriate within their communication activities for the year.
secondly it is only by appreciating fully the suffering brought about by such regimes that we can fully understand the present.
twenty years ago much of central and eastern europe including my own country succeeded in throwing off the shackles of communist rule.
perhaps most important of these is the need for respect for human rights and fundamental values. human rights and freedom cannot be taught in a vacuum.
it opened the way for the rediscovery of individual freedom freedom of speech and freedom of action and also freedom to improve the quality of our lives.
he tried desperately to demonstrate the limits to which he would go to show that the regime under which he lived was unacceptable.
don't forget us' is what your brave countrymen said.
i believe commissioner that if we are to stand by our beliefs we should honour the victims of communism and fascism. we should make no distinction between these twin criminals that is what they were.
we should have the courage to name those who were responsible but we should look to the future to ensure that never again this continent suffers from hitlerism or stalinism.
countries persecuting those who dared to speak against them and are responsible for crimes?
this evening commissioner we do not forget those who suffered.
the only difference is that hitler lost the war and stalin won the war.
the study will be completed by the end of this year.
this report will provide the opportunity for further political debate on the need for new eu initiatives.
the hearing of eight april two thousand and eight showed that the member states in western europe need to be more aware of the tragic history of the member states in the east which is also part of our shared common european history.
but of course also has cultural and historical ramifications.
the prague declaration of three june two thousand and eight on european conscience and communism contains a number of ideas and propositions that will also be taken on board when preparing this report.
the hearing organised jointly by the commission and the slovene presidency marked the start of a process and the commission is determined to pursue this process step by step.
the commission hopes that the parliaments of the member states to which this declaration is addressed will implement this declaration in the manner most appropriate in the light of their own history and sensibilities.
the commission is willing to examine what scope it has to contribute to projects such as a european memory and conscience platform which was just mentioned by deputy prime minister vondra which is designed to promote information exchanges and networking between national organisations active in this field.
this is a difficult but necessary process as it is not just an important issue which will help us to understand the european union's common history the past better but also one which affects the future of european integration a process which is not just economic
the commission is now focussing its attention on the report which it will submit in two thousand and ten next year as the council has requested.
we must respond to this lack of sensitivity if we are to avoid the union being divided on a serious issue which should instead unite us.
we are also drawing on the contributions made at the hearing and published by the slovene presidency.
to prepare the ground for this report a study has been launched with the aim of providing a factual overview of the various legal instruments methods and practices used in the member states to safeguard the memory of totalitarian crime.
it is not only a united europe that needs urgently to look at the entirety of the past but the same is particularly true of the european left.
without a thorough scrutiny of its past the left in some of the former communist states is obliged compels itself to live with a false past a past from which all sorts of painful events are screened out.
this further forces the left to protect this false past and thereby its democratic credibility is eroded.
this autonomous working group submitted a series of recommendations which are included in a report that will be finalised around the end of the year and which is built around five thematic blocks.
in this context a working group bolstering the business of the liberal professions' was set up to assess their specific needs as entrepreneurs and businesspeople such as acquiring knowhow and skills access to markets or access to finance.
finally the working group expressed its wish to strengthen the representation and participation of the liberal professions at european level.
this is why article fifty nine of the revised directive is so important.
the commission must be extremely strict when deciding what is an acceptable reason and call out those member states that are not honouring the spirit and principles of the law.
not only are these professionals losing out so too are all germans and all eu citizens who have missed a chance for better service and more choice in their daily lives.
by the start of next year member states will have to justify why some professions have national requirements that any normal person would say are simply not needed or are designed to be discriminatory against those not born or educated in that member state.
it also reaffirms the commission's deep conviction that the european union cannot tolerate any form of racism xenophobia discrimination or social exclusion of roma.
both documents make significant contributions to the wider debate on roma and will feed into the conclusions to be adopted at the next council meeting of employment and social affairs ministers on nineteen may which will be exclusively devoted to the integration of roma.
i would like to make three key points here.
access to education all roma children should have access to quality education and not face discrimination or segregation.
in short there is no excuse for roma exclusion to continue in the europe we want to live in.
member states should provide access to quality healthcare under the same conditions as for the rest of the population.
this applies to the policy areas for which i am responsible in general employment and social inclusion and it certainly applies to the socio economic integration of roma. making our financial instruments more effective is a key objective for me.
the lack of an integrated approach has a negative impact on the overall integration of roma people in society and leaves them in poverty.
the commission is currently drawing up a proposal for the multi annual financial framework which will be followed by specific proposals on the structural funds.
access to employment the big gap between roma and non roma employment rates has to be addressed.
the commission's communication on roma identifies four areas that are of strategic importance to overcome roma exclusion.
the key message is that excluding millions of eu citizens from economic and social life is not smart is not sustainable and is certainly not inclusive.
those documents articulate the eu's political determination to address the situation of millions of roma who are suffering from economic and social exclusion.
firstly the commission has set out an eu framework for national roma integration strategies. it acknowledges the member states' prime responsibility for designing and implementing roma integration strategies.
the union has a moral and political obligation to support the member states in their efforts with all the policies and instruments at its disposal.
so the measures in place so far are not adequate.
we all know that the primary responsibility for the integration of roma lies with the member states.
and to concentrate on the common goals in those four areas with targeted actions and sufficient funds to deliver them.
in our framework we concentrate on four main issues education employment health and housing. we want the eu and the twenty seven member states to commit themselves to closing the gaps
and the roma population in particular in order to put an end to the exclusion of more than ten million european citizens which we can no longer afford for the future.
the eu framework comes at a moment when the situation of roma has become a real focus of attention in europe.
determined action is needed both at national and at european level.
the eu has made available to the member states a range of legal policy and financial instruments to address the situation of the roma.
and this is neither acceptable nor sustainable in the european union of the twenty first century.
we need to join forces and step up our efforts to end discrimination against roma and make sure they enjoy the same rights as any other european citizens because that is what they are.
therefore the eu framework lays the foundations for a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure concrete results for the roma.
we want all member states to build these goals into their existing roma strategy if they have one or to develop a roma strategy if they do not have one for the period up to.
it is now time to ensure that national regional and local policies focus on roma needs in a clear and specific way.
we all agree that there is a need for effective policy planning and implementation as well as for a strategic common approach.
the main aim of the programme should be to achieve basic universal rights for all those people.
i fear however that once again this heavily burdened and complicated agenda like previous programmes may have to be cut back. the competences of member states in the areas of education health and housing must be respected and from what i have read so far i fear the commission may be acting ultra vires in a manner that is detrimental to the rights of member states to determine their own policies in these areas.
however i hope that this new strategy marks a new era in the way the eu addresses the issue by firstly listening to the roma people. for too long programmes have been too complicated and have simply not reached the people who need help most.
in nearly ten years little of substance has been achieved on the ground.
i hope the commission will now focus on how best to simplify the procedures for accessing eu funds and how to better monitor assess and implement its programmes.
if the eu is spending money in this area then it needs to be spent now in a better way.
however the six year phase in period is a lost opportunity considering the speed of digitalisation in many areas of life.
it also makes it easier for us the commission and the european maritime safety agency to support member states in implementation and enforcement.