kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
however the valued principle of more for more' squares badly with conditionality and coherence once we observe that some of our neighbours happen to backtrack on development towards democracy.
what are the options that we are left with if one of the neighbouring countries happens to imprison some political opponents or threaten them with the death penalty?
this is very important because our neighbourhood policies as the report itself shows have produced mixed results at best in the last couple of years.
the failed state of libya and the less than half success of the eastern partnership show that the new challenges in our immediate environment need new responses.
all those measures and cooperation should change the quality of life of many people.
setting this policy right is currently one of the greatest challenges in the eu's external relations.
we are facing new challenges in our neighbourhood the crisis in ukraine developments in the southern and eastern neighbourhood migration terrorism energy security.
in a situation like that the eu needs to be able to react promptly to changing realities.
more than ever we need a politically driven neighbourhood policy.
we need to be aware of the diversity of our neighbourhood but at the same time keep the single policy framework.
it is understandable that countries in our neighbourhood have different ambitions and expectations.
we should be able to mobilise sufficient resources through our financing instruments.
we need to look at the possibility of using it more efficiently in processes of state building transformation democratisation or conflict resolution. support for democracy human rights and the rule of law needs to stay at the heart of the reviewed policy.
we need to strengthen partnership with the societies in neighbourhood countries and promote the values which are at the core of the union.
we also need to strengthen our partners economically.
the eu is the model for economic development but also provides the opportunities for neighbouring countries to broaden their markets.
therefore we have to be open to closer economic integration with our neighbourhood partners.
the eu is a successful project of regional integration and as such should be at the forefront of supporting regional cooperation.
we have a great deal of experience which can help our neighbours to work and come closer together.
i really enjoyed working as co shadow from the alde group.
the european union's neighbourhood today is more complex challenging and fragmented than ever.
it would not be fair to blame the neighbourhood policy for all this.
the european neighbourhood policy enp was the right and timely response after the eu enlargement and accomplished a lot in eastern europe in particular. equally we need a right and solid response at this stage.
with all the positive things that i have to say regarding our joint work on the report i must say however that i had wished for a more clear conceptual split into two dimensions of the european neighbourhood policy the eastern partnership and the southern neighbourhood.
i remain convinced that these two dimensions should be separated and allowed to develop in their own distinct direction and with no rivalry whatsoever.
this split is dictated by reality on the ground and the processes that take place.
nevertheless when it comes to the main principles of our new neighbourhood policy and our report i believe that the enp has to be ambitious proactive and policy driven in the first place.
as we all agree the differentiation principle is becoming key in the enp.
for countries in conflict the eu should focus on conflict resolution humanitarian work migration and refugee challenges.
the second group of our neighbours is those which currently have less interest in closer relations or in making long term reforms.
here i believe the eu should place greater emphasis on better governance and building sustainable democratic and stable countries.
the third group of our partners are those seeking an advanced level of engagement with the eu.
these are georgia moldova and ukraine our associated members.
it is clear that they are far from ready for membership today and that they need to focus very seriously on implementation of the association agreements.
we cannot deny their membership perspective in the long term.
the association agreements are clearly not the final step in relations between the eu and these advanced neighbours.
i agree with what vice president timmermans said here today this is a defining moment in european history.
i have received many emails from irish people offering rooms in their homes offering houses offering help in different guises and it makes me proud to be irish and to be european when i see the welcoming committees right across the continent. finally i commend the proposal from the pope that every parish should take in
it is a temporary derogation from existing rules and only asylum seekers in clear need of international protection will be eligible.
and i like him am pleased to see the huge response from ordinary people who want to help in whatever way they can.
that is why i voted for the keller report because it is clear that we need to address the refugee crisis as the european union as a whole and we need to do it now.
what is being done to ensure that they are permanently relocated and given positive protection and support?
i do not mind doing my bit but there are six rich gulf states which have taken zero syrian refugees.
then we encourage these dangerous boat journeys made often by those rich enough to pay traffickers and able bodied enough to travel in such ways forgetting the plight of those who live in those countries?
we need to encourage them to do their part as well.
can we not think before we act remember that the humanitarian crisis does not end at europe's borders and stop sleepwalking into causing the very deaths that we are supposed to be trying to prevent?
that is why i supported kerstin westphal's report and why i am urging the commission to ensure that towns and cities are much more closely associated with the entire european policymaking cycle and that the urban agenda is fully geared towards the objectives of eu.
the eu has already done great work on urban and regional development especially in my region of the west midlands.
however as drivers of economic activity and innovation cities are also where the solutions to these challenges can be found.
mister president once again today the european union has taken a further step in crushing the nation state and the ability of its people to vote for governments who make their own independent decisions on issues as important as immigration migration and asylum.
the proposals put before this house do not only deal with european union issues but they have the arrogance of saying that we the european union can also change international law.
we will extend the definition of asylum and refugee to include anyone who is poor from any country.
in doing so you have said to the world that we will open the door to everybody in africa the middle east and asia who is not a genuine refugee but simply wants to come here and work.
the people who will see their wages reduced their jobs displaced the poor the homeless and the people who have no voice in europe will be the ones who suffer because of the arrogance of people in this chamber.
mr president eu urban policies are an attempt to bypass the nation state to put eu policies directly into city regions.
this is all part of the priorities imposed by the eu in order to put our money back into our cities.
we must stand together as the people of the west midlands to fight against this west midlands combined authority idea. it is counterdemocratic it is against what we believe in and it takes democracy further from the people. please join me and let us fight this combined authority idea and stop it dead.
madam president i have just voted against measures which would have effectively thrown open the doors of europe to migrants coming here regardless of who they are.
it would have become an effective common asylum policy taking away sovereignty from the nation states allowing people to come here with no regard as to whether they are genuinely seeking asylum because they are in danger or whether they have just turned up on the shores.
i suggest that all the people who so passionately here today have argued in favour of opening the doors to everyone follow the example that sir bob geldof has put forward maybe they could offer to house many of these refugees regardless of any checks on them in their own homes and then once they have led by example the rest of us could take them more seriously.
first there is a clear message on the importance of making sure that competition policy furthers the interests of consumers and new entrants rather than companies that are already established enterprises.
when consumers can benefit from competition in one sector of our economy they can also do so in another sector.
this is crucial because if we want to make these services more efficient and consumer oriented we must secure the plurality and ever ongoing development of these services.
consumers. i also agree fully with you that consumers are the final beneficiaries of our competition enforcement action. so i think that on all these areas we probably share the same objectives the same priorities and i hope very much that we will continue to work
prices. the report published by the european competition network last year shows that the food sector has been a priority for competition authorities which have been very active in enforcing competition law and monitoring market developments. between two thousand and one and two thousand and eleven the national competition authorities investigated more than one hundred and eighty antitrust cases in this area took close to one three hundred merger decisions and monitored around one
and i welcome very much your support for the work of the commission on competition enforcement.
if consumers have been the victims of overcharging they do need to see redress because consumers are paying a high price for oil and gas.
it affects people when they put petrol in the car and it is not right fundamentally that people are paying more while companies are booking high profits on the basis of potentially manipulated prices.
i think this is the way forward and as you know i take a very big interest in your investigations into the energy sector. that is why i am very pleased that you are continuing to look at the allegations of price fixing of oil and gas markets.
potentially this can have a knock on effect for households for business bills.
i believe that the eu and you personally play a vital role in investigating anti trust violations.
so i suggest the commission should address this specific chapter in its next.
to create the best conditions to preserve and protect competition in the banking sector.
some of you mentioned some sectors of strategic importance from the competition policy enforcement viewpoint.
one of the things i have been pleased to hear here in parliament in particular over the last couple of years is a new focus on competitiveness generally in europe. there is no doubt about it we have lost competitiveness. even in my own country it was unbelievable in many respects how over a short period of time
we are regaining that.
competition is vital. it is the lifeblood of trade as they say and it is good for businesses themselves because it helps them to focus on their core activity and to reach the highest possible standards. it is also very good for citizens because there is more choice and keener pricing.
i welcome in particular the efforts made to make the banks more sustainable and more vibrant and indeed more accountable which is absolutely vital because without working banks you cannot have a working economy.
that is very important.
one was to ensure that the conditions exist to open up the sector to free and fair competition. the other one was really to make sure that we are doing what we set out to do in the first place such as implementation of the recast of the first railway package;
making sure that there is more liberalisation and more competition but at the same time making sure that consumers gain rather than lose out in any changes;
also when it came to the aviation sector and the eu us air agreements making sure that they were compatible regulatory approaches making sure this happened.
the migration crisis and transnational security threats render people more vulnerable to criminal networks and exploitation.
to further strengthen coordination at eu level and to ensure more coherence in the external and internal dimensions of our anti trafficking policy.
these differences bear significant implications for the rights of the victims of trafficking and the respective obligations of member states. i would like to assure you that the respective eu legislative frameworks on smuggling and trafficking will remain clear and constant in any future policy initiative.
we cannot accept that irrespective of origin there are still and unfortunately more children women vulnerable people trafficked abused and exploited. these are victims of the immoral and inhuman profit making face of our societies.
it is also of major importance to increase our cooperation with third countries and further streamline our anti trafficking priorities in the external dimension of our policies.
it is also about ensuring a victim centred and human rights based approach.
now that the two thousand and twelve two thousand and sixteen strategy has come to an end the time has come to step up our efforts and continue delivering more intensively and in a more focused way. to this end the support and contribution
our aim is to address the challenges created by the changing socio political context.
the most widespread form of exploitation is sexual exploitation with mainly women and young girls as victims. that is why the anti trafficking directive has a strong gender specific dimension and that is why we have also commissioned a study on the gender dimensions of trafficking in human beings.
the exploitation of the vulnerable victim for profit making is an essential element in trafficking.
allow me to clarify here that smuggling is a cross border activity while trafficking can also take place within the borders of a state.
it is a crime that takes advantage of the vulnerability and exploits the desperation of people in need of protection and support.
as we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the treaty of rome the treaty that set up our union and has led to peace across the entire european union for sixty years which is good now we have to look at more details. not just in terms of stopping war and bringing peace
to our union but for individuals to be treated properly with respect and dignity.
high on the political agenda.
it is not something new. but there is evidence that the current challenges have exacerbated vulnerabilities and i agree about the attention that has to be given to children.
mrs wikstrm trafficking existed prior to the migration crisis.
as a founder of the children's rights intergroup i will never stop fighting for a compassionate effective legal rights based response.
in my own country the uk hundreds of unaccompanied refugee children were discovered to be not given any safe haven and it is one of the reasons why the dubs amendment to welcome refugee children in the uk was so important.
these unaccompanied minors especially women and girls are often trafficked and taken into an underworld of sexual exploitation and abuse.
shame on the conservative government for going back on its word and ending the scheme when only three hundred and fifty children had benefited instead of the three zero who were promised a safe haven.
this is a europe wide problem and it requires continuous eu wide work commitment investment in resources and prosecution of criminal traffickers.
these reports are no longer headline news but the problem has not been addressed.
madam president commissioner the european union has built a tremendously respected process of fighting human trafficking and protecting its victims.
it is held up globally as the gold standard for its gender specific and victim centred approach.
but new challenges are emerging and the number of trafficked people continues to rise.
the nature of this crime makes it hard but not impossible for authorities to obtain data and identify victims.
it is therefore absolutely essential that we allocate eu funding in an effective evidence based system to address sexual exploitation and invest in prevention.
we need to know who buys and who profits.
commissioner this house demands that we continue our efforts to stop impunity and make prosecution of traffickers and their users our biggest priority.
although most victims or are of european origin the refugee crisis is feeding the supply especially the thousands of unaccompanied vulnerable minors. we have made progress in the eu but we need to plan the next stage.
without action and funding we will slip backwards and that is why we ask the commission to publish its new strategy now.
we but more importantly the victims cannot wait.
human trafficking is happening now in europe where we all live and we must open our eyes and continue the commission's work on addressing human trafficking.
new evidence from the uk national crime agency shows that criminals from former overseas territories of member states are taking advantage of gaining eu citizenship and creating child trafficking routes between those territories to the uk or the eu.
an example of this is non eu nationals who become naturalised as portuguese citizens and are using portuguese identity documents to set up bank accounts.
most victims are women and girls exploited for prostitution in europe and more and more are migrants and more and more are abused online.
trafficking is serious organised crime and should be prosecuted as such.
it is a huge business industry with high profit and low risk.
it is time to stop impunity and to ensure convictions. there should be no hiding places for traffickers in europe and neighbouring countries.
we should step up our european response on all fronts.
more police and judicial cooperation including with europol and eurojust better sharing of information an operational role for the asylum support office and frontex tracking the money confiscating the assets of both traffickers and agents through the legal chain such as transport and accommodation providers. member states should also reduce demand
and criminalise the users of sex services.
i welcome that member states have finally transposed the directive but as colleagues have said much more needs to be done to implement it properly in particular training of officials access to health care and sexual productive rights. victims should receive unconditional assistance and psychological support.
madam president many unaccompanied minors that disappear in europe are exposed to trafficking and abuse.
members have to do more for missing children and ensure that they enter the protection system.
i do fully support the anti trafficking coordinator and in particular her call to focus more on child victims.
if grants from the eu raised a country's economic standard then greece would be the wealthiest country in europe having been the biggest per capita recipient of funds since.
in fact the best way for us to raise the standards of living of any country is simply to allow them to engage in global markets and that means looking beyond europe and raising our eyes to more distant horizons.
i do not think we can make a moral case for it there are many more deserving parts of our planet than eu member states.
madam president i wonder what the case is for these countries to be making payments to less developed parts of the eu.
perhaps the case is supposed to be economic but if it is then i submit it is not working terribly well.
if you have extra money to give away you should surely be giving it to the places where it will be most put to use.
they demonstrate her technical competence her professional commitment and her full independence.
we share a cultural heritage we share the same interests at present and we share some of the challenges at present and we will share a common future inside our european union.
it's about guaranteeing opportunities and european standards in different fields from the economy to fundamental rights and freedoms just to mention a couple of them.
of course at the core of all of this process is the need for reforms;
us. we have come somehow to the moment of truth two thousand and eighteen can be the year when this process becomes not only more credible but also irreversible.
we were on the same side of the problem and of the solution.
it has not always been easy.
once someone from the region told me my citizens couldn't care less about how many chapters we open or we close. they don't get' what it means by opening or closing chapters'.
a couple of years ago when we called on them to manage together the refugee flows that were crossing the balkans we realised that we were one.
as i mentioned the people and the leaders of the western balkans have made a clear choice the choice of bringing their countries inside the european union and today we are telling them that we have made the same choice.
the message is let's make it happen'.
they want to clearly invest in the future membership of their countries in the european union.
as i said this is a challenge and this is a process not for one or two countries but for the entire region.
the point is sustaining the sense of direction bringing results and walking this path together.
this means that the european union is imagining and considering its future not with twenty seven member states but potentially with more and we say this clearly in the strategy and are starting to get ready for
the process is meritbased and it depends on the pace and the success of negotiations and reforms and let me stress this very clearly that this is a realistic perspective which is true for the countries that are currently negotiating but also for the countries that will start negotiations in the coming months and i believe and hope that there will be others starting negotiations soon
all of the six have always kept moving forward towards the european union integration path.
all. our message is let's make it happen'. we are not passing a message saying that you need to be patient.
it has its own pace with its own specificities and different conditions but the direction is clear and it is one direction. i would like to stress this because the strategy addressing the entire region and each of the six individual is an important element if we want to understand the sense of direction of the region.
the whole process might sound technical but it is indeed not abstract at all. it has concrete impact it is real and it is already taking place.
this is also a challenge for the european parliament and i believe that we need to be in this together.
over the last three years we have achieved already incredible results.
this strategy today gives a shared unequivocal concrete perspective for european union integration for each and every one of the six partners.
we will have the eu western balkans summit in sofia the first one for fifteen years thessaloniki was the last on and ultimately possible council decisions in
this is a fundamental pillar i would say of the work that commissioner hahn and i together with the president and all of our colleagues have done in these months and years to reconfirm recommit and give strong credibility to the european union perspective of the entire region of the western balkans.
the region will succeed together or fail together.
the process itself is leading to transformation that is positive both for the economies and for the societies and for the governance.
the role that the european parliament has played in our relations with the western balkans has been critical.