kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
this action must be taken sooner rather than later to alleviate the pressure that has been put on ordinary people. shelter for ordinary people can be constructed through a strong common agricultural policy which ensures high quality food at reasonable prices without negative impacts on the environment.
we have to learn how to do that.
we must learn how to cooperate with other countries such as thailand.
we must respond and we must continue responding until they stand on their own feet.
the purpose of this facility was to respond to those soaring prices the causes of which were mainly though not exclusively droughts in grain producing countries and rising oil prices.
we must ensure that aid is delivered to regions hit by unforeseen natural disasters such as haiti and pakistan and in this regard we must continue to mobilise the reserve for emergency aid allowing the eu to respond promptly to specific aid needs arising from such events.
in december two thousand and eight this parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of my report on the eur one billion food facility to provide financial aid to developing countries in light of soaring food prices at that time.
the situation remains extremely volatile affecting producers and consumers in both the eu and developing countries.
eighty this underlines the dreadful consequences for those suffering countries.
we must ensure a quick transition to stability in north africa.
in the short term the temptation will be to import cheaper food and to expect the food and farming industry to absorb the greater cost.
this will have two important consequences on european governments. first the rising cost of food and energy hits the very poorest families hardest.
technology will be the key and now is the right time to do this.
over reliance on imported food would dangerously expose consumers to price volatility and over pressuring the farming sector which already faces steep cost increases and depressed margins would endanger productive capacity.
madam president for the past thirty years food prices have been both low and stable.
we need to invest in the common agricultural policy.
now the united nations fao has warned that rising energy costs growing world population greater wealth and climate change are about to present huge challenges to the world food system and to the cost of food.
second at a time when europeans most need a period of price stability while the economy recovers rising food prices will fuel inflation.
we have made important progress towards a more coordinated and long term international response to world food security.
we need to get our internal policies right we need to improve global governance in this area and we need to make a real contribution to the most vulnerable.
the eu would give full backing to a deal which would make a significant contribution to providing stability by getting rid of export subsidies and prohibiting export restrictions.
this is a tangible sign of our determination to bring real assistance to the most vulnerable.
there are ongoing discussions in the council concerning the commission's communication of eighteen november two thousand and ten on the future of the cap and the hungarian presidency plans to adopt council conclusions at the council meeting of seventeen march. we hope that the discussions concerning the legislative proposals scheduled to come out in the second semester of two thousand and eleven
let me now come back to the issue of financial speculation.
given the rising food prices and rapid population growth enhancing developing countries' own food production capacities is of paramount importance.
done. the council remains fully committed to a collective and coherent response both at eu and international level.
recent council debates put food security at the centre of the discussion asking the question how best to ensure that agricultural production in the eu will be both economically viable and environmentally sustainable in the future.
year. the hungarian presidency of the eu is ready to work shoulder to shoulder with the french presidency of the g twenty to achieve concrete results.
and to improve the ability of the international community to deliver food assistance to the most vulnerable populations.
once again rising food prices are causing social unrest and political instability in several countries.
further strengthening eu leadership in the global food security agenda and improving the effectiveness of eu assistance.
this is the way forward in order to enhance global governance in this area. from a food security perspective i would like to remind you of the commission's communication on humanitarian food assistance adopted at the end of march two thousand and ten and the subsequent council conclusions in mid may two thousand and
the hungarian presidency is fully committed to working with you towards a first reading agreement on the commission proposal on over the counter derivatives.
now is not the time for complacency but we did make some important progress in all three aspects as a result of the last food prices crisis.
with the green paper process the commission takes the initiative of attributing priority to economic growth generation agriculture and food security in development cooperation in order to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in developing countries on the grounds of pro poor solutions.
the european union has been at the forefront in efforts to tackle the issue since the first crisis three years ago but more needs to be
the extent to which it contributes to price volatility is unclear but there is a good reason to enhance transparency on the commodity markets. the french presidency of the g twenty has identified this as a priority for the coming
decisions are about to commence on the future orientation of the eu development policy based on the green paper on eu development policy in support of inclusive growth and sustainable development.
let me also say that we have read with great interest parliament's resolution on the recognition of agriculture as a strategic sector in the context of food security based on the report by the honourable member daciana srbu.
the latter only serve to exacerbate price volatility and have exactly the opposite effect of the one desired.
the reasons for this latest rise in prices are complex and are a mixture of structural and temporary factors.
we are in the third year of operation of this instrument which helps farmers in the developing world to increase agricultural production capacity.
two thousand and fifteen hunger and food insecurity remain a reality for a billion people but one of the un's recent achievements following much work by the eu has been the creation of the global partnership for agriculture food security and nutrition. this is being implemented by the revitalised committee on world food security in the fao. the eu has also been spearheading the renewal and modernisation of the food aid convention in order to better contribute to world food security
british farmers producing beef sheep meat pig meat and eggs have actually seen a drop in the value of their produce over the last year; poultry meat is unchanged and milk only marginally higher;
these businesses are facing huge cost increases themselves and cannot sustain the status quo for more than a few months.
then they will either succeed in claiming higher prices from the retailers or they will cease production.
either way retail food prices can only go higher.
well it is making it unnecessarily expensive to import non gm soya beans.
it is charging farmers a global warming levy on their electricity bills whilst those same farmers have lost thousands of tons of sugar beet and potatoes in the ground due to very cold weather.
the eu wants to increase the public subsidy to organic farming rather than allowing this sector to be consumer led.
any switching of conventional production systems to organic will lead to a reduction in food supplies.
i am delighted that when agriculture suddenly becomes food we debate this very important issue in the middle of the day when people can hear.
i think we should remember this.
applause let me say very clearly that the disconnect between agriculture and food is part of the problem that we are debating here today.
the realities of agriculture and the low farm incomes in both europe and the developing world are central to this debate and lest we also forget one of the crucial problems and the commission identified it in its position paper is that rising commodity prices and rising food prices
the real problem is that the costs of producing food are rising faster and this is a treadmill on which farmers cannot continue.
we need to know where the stocks are and to realise that they will not come out of china or india.
let me finish by saying this we need to be cautious as to how we reform our agriculture policy. we must maintain and increase food production within the european union as part of our contribution to global food security.
and yes let me endorse your point about agriculture in the developing world it has been neglected for far too long.
it is now high time that our policies assisted that agriculture.
madam president feeding our population has to be the highest duty of government and indeed feeding our population is the primary objective of the common agricultural policy.
food security is our north star and this is an eu success story.
it is worth remembering there have been food riots on every continent but ours over the last year and we are seeing governments fall on a virtually daily basis it seems across the rest of the world while we have at least been able to provide a degree of a safe haven for our citizens so far.
so food security is our priority.
you would not think it listening to some of the ngos and lobbyists and indeed some of the politicians who have been involved in the debate about the reform of the common agricultural policy going forward.
i do not believe that free trade is the answer.
i do not believe that global food security is something that we can achieve or should strive for.
export bans caused by countries seeking to feed themselves are not in themselves unjustifiable and i would quote the english president of the national farmers union if you would forgive me briefly if we are talking about morality a country seeking to feed itself is nothing compared to rich countries allowing their agriculture to decline and then expecting the rest of the world to feed them.
it is however the agricultural industry which has been dealing with this for some time as well as rising feed prices and rising fertiliser prices.
profit margins have been reduced and many farmers especially those in the intensive sectors face financial ruin.
i would ask parliament today to consider the consequences if we did not have support for farmers from the common agricultural policy.
i would also urge parliament to consider very strong support for the common agricultural policy in the very important debates that are coming up.
it is important that we have a policy that will support farmers and ensure adequate food supply at a fair price.
i would also say that fairness is absolutely essential and in fairness we need transparency within the food supply chain. this will only come particularly in the united kingdom if we have a supermarket ombudsman.
i understand the current development in this country is a sign of hope.
i would like to acknowledge and also commend the efforts taken by the high representative in offering assistance with reform processes in zimbabwe.
the european parliament as has been pointed out is ready to start the preparation of an election observation as soon as we receive an invitation.
the rule of law was not only ignored but police brutality against critics of the regime was commonplace.
mr mugabe's decision to step down as president was the right choice and definitely overdue.
as previous speakers have pointed out the thirty seven years of mr mugabe's authoritarian regime caused zimbabwe's economy to plummet created social unrest and isolated the country internationally.
we should welcome the commitment of the authorities in harare to hold the elections in line with the constitution and underline the importance that the conditions are in place to allow those elections to be peaceful inclusive credible and transparent.
the zimbabwean people are now desperately seeking a government that is able to establish the necessary reforms but first and foremost to listen to what the people are saying.
i know that it has been longstanding constant and consistent work for which i thank you and also for keeping the country on our international agenda. i am looking forward to continuing our good cooperation across the institutions in the european union to make sure that the changes are not cosmetic and that progress is really made.
many of you made that point and this is also why i have insisted on the fact that we are ready and will continue to be ready to accompany zimbabwe with all our instruments and policies through this transition and after and especially with the hope that the new leadership will live up to the high expectations raised with the end of the mugabe era.
zimbabwe is the perfect example of how to destroy a country through well meaning socialist policies.
first repeal the law that requires fifty one of a business to be owned by local people.
second privatise the coal and steel industries to raise some immediate cash for the government and allow investment to create jobs and exports.
fifth offer the resultant vacant farmland on ninety nine year assignable leases to competent commercial farmers who can use these leases as security for borrowing. this borrowing will allow them to restart the farm creating jobs food and exports.
they will be needed to transport this new coal and steel.
so what needs to be done to get this show back on the road?
fourth use the revenue raised from privatisation to compensate displaced white farmers in exchange for the return of their title deeds.
ninety five per cent of the potential workforce are unemployed.
this is restricting investment.
what good are nationalised industries doing them?
the elections are crucial in this phase of political development in the country.
there is tangible hope on the streets of harare.
with great interest and i was deeply disappointed by his demise from a progressive leader to an authoritarian dictator in the last four decades.
why are we not having a discussion on the brutal attacks and the human rights abuses in south africa?
but human rights is still not on the agenda.
mr president zimbabwe has a unique opportunity for change.
for the first time since independence a transition of power has begun.
we want to sustain their hope that real change is possible and help them realise their aspiration to democracy and social justice.
this is our offer to the country we are ready to intensify our cooperation and be with you in this moment of your history.
it will be up to the people of zimbabwe to decide the new course of the country.
yet i believe it is already quite clear what kind of change the people of zimbabwe are asking for.
they are asking for an opportunity to prove their talents and put the country's economy back on track.
the country needs structural change that will require strong popular backing.
reconciliation and an inclusive dialogue are essential and they are possible.
they will require first and foremost respect for the constitutional order the rule of law and the fundamental rights of all citizens.
we then hope that the new authorities will organise inclusive transparent and credible elections later this year. a peaceful electoral campaign and credible elections can set the country on track towards positive change.
it is precisely for this reason that we have already started to assist the zimbabwe election commission in establishing a credible electoral role through biometric voter registration.
we are also supporting the local media with training on how to cover elections and also inter party dialogue and civic and voter education and this support could be enhanced.
i would also support the idea of an electoral observation mission by the european union provided that the required conditions are fulfilled and that we receive an invitation from the government of the country.
the economic situation also needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
we count on the government to reengage quickly and substantively with the international monetary fund and the world bank.
on our side we will continue to work very closely with international financial institutions towards a package of measures to stabilise the economy and guarantee basic social services.
the people of zimbabwe have the opportunity to close a difficult chapter in their history and start anew.
it is a delicate and decisive moment for the country.
all those who are working for progress in zimbabwe can count on us in strong cooperation with the united nations the african union and the southern african development community.
it is now up to the new authorities to make the first move.
our next steps will depend entirely on the new government's actions and its commitment to change.
we see an entire people hoping for progress and for true democracy.
the aspirations of the people of zimbabwe are our own aspirations and we want to make sure that this opportunity is not wasted and that the mistakes of the past do not happen again.
but if zimbabweans embraces the path of change they can count on the european union to be with them every step of the way.
already there are signals coming from the government for a fair resolution to the farming issue which i welcome. zimbabwe is a crucial cornerstone for the prosperity and security of eastern and southern africa.
the situation is however delicate and we must be sure not to rush ahead with unfairly high standards pressured onto zimbabwe as the eu usually likes to do.
the international community needs to help reinforce that hope.
i wrote to emerson mnangagwa immediately before he became president urging him to initiate the muchneeded political economic and social changes to set zimbabwe on a fresh course.
he must be assured that if he does the right thing then we will give zimbabwe every possible support but we need to know that the zimbabwean authorities are indeed committed to a new path.
just four days ago joice mujuru and her supporters were injured by such thugs on their way to a political meeting in the glen norah suburb of harare.
violence and intimidation has to stop.
but we need more.
we have to keep putting our money where our mouth is.
papering over the cracks without taking the tough decisions necessary to deal with the issue in the long term must no longer be an option.
significantly i welcome the focus on improving the conditions for migrants in libya.
at the same time within europe we must ensure that those who are not entitled to international protection are returned to their countries of origin.
we must think long term and we must ensure that traffickers are not allowed to fill the void and exploit the most vulnerable.
this is essential if we are to direct our resources to give protection to those who need it.
in conclusion the reality on the ground is that where there is no hope the people will continue to look for any avenue to flee irrespective of the risk to their lives.
the european union has a crucial role to play on the world stage and in giving the issue more traction. we need to continue to move from statements to tangible concrete results.
the horror stories we keep hearing make it impossible to ignore as we have just said.
it is not only about aid but it is now also becoming about encouraging our companies to invest in africa.
the joint statement touches on a number of important points and i welcome the renewed focus that it gives to the issue. this means that we have to work hand in hand with countries particularly in africa not only to help build up their law enforcement the judicial systems and border management but also to help with their education systems and entrepreneurship and ensure a future for people closer to their homes something this parliament has long called for.
we need to move the debate away from emergency solutions and emergency funds and start talking about longterm proposals and proper investment and economic cooperation strategies.
yes we should be investing in africa because there is an economic case but we should not be giving money to shady regimes in order to prevent people from leaving the country.
i think this money which is taxpayers' money ends up in the pockets of militias corrupt regimes terrorists rather than using that money for services for our own citizens and regulating managing migration.
it is as old as the world it is there and it will be there but we can manage it.
a solution for migration flows is certainly not dirty deals with shady regimes because we are talking about making a deal with libya.
however i would like to underline that external policies can only complement contribute to migration management and it cannot replace proper asylum and migration policies.
i was really wondering on whose behalf he was speaking.
i even heard the president or i read about the statement of the president of this house mr tajani suggesting that we should give eur six billion to libya in order to solve our migration issues.
we can handle it if we do it together and indeed i agree with gianni pittella.
the member states should stop propagating this myth of fortress europe and closing the borders migration will not stop.
and yes it is all very fine to train the libyan coast guard in human rights but forgive me for being a little bit cynical i really do not think that is going to make a massive change.
if we cannot do it then who can?
it is certainly not the position of this house as far as i am aware.
i'm pretty convinced that climate change too i mean just look at the images of the extreme conditions is going to push people to move.
so we should stop clinging to this myth of fortress europe' and start managing migration.
you will find members from each political group that come together and say that we need to do more to help the situation we have with missing children and the trafficking of minors and exposing the big problem we have with the exploitation of the most vulnerable and yes children are on top of that list.
the proposed changes comply with what is necessary and appropriate for the achievement of the basic objective of improving data quality access and availability in the fisheries sector.
quality data collection is essential for the proper implementation of the cfp.
all industry initiatives now have to comply fully with international oecd due diligence guidelines.
this sends out a clear message from the european union that we wish to eliminate the strong interrelationship between trade and conflict that has defined this industry for far too long now.
mr president as we near the anniversary of the horrific terror attacks in brussels my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims of such awful terror.
we in northern ireland are no strangers to the legacy of the pain and loss left by ruthless terrorist gangs.
our message to you is clear we must never allow those who perpetrated terror to rewrite the narrative of the past. it is wrong that those who now serve in this chamber should try to glorify their deadly deeds
and rewrite the narrative of the past yet not be held accountable.
this will not prevent new generations of young people from being radicalised a point that i stressed to commissioner king earlier this week.
i also made it clear that northern ireland and the united kingdom as a whole remains committed to working with the european union to secure a safe and prosperous future for all our people.
this should be a key priority in the brexit negotiations.
it is important to give particular importance to the collection and transmission of data so that fisheries management can be based on the best available scientific knowledge.
we have also responded to public and consumer pressure. consumers want to be sure that the everyday items they buy are not fuelling armed conflict and human rights abuses.
finally e democracy comes with the threat of hacking identity theft and data leaks.