kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
having a well structured framework in place also makes the european market more secure and therefore attractive to serious investors.
the prospective directive has been fundamental in setting industry standards across the european union as has been the case with the ucits directive. technical legislation that regulates this dynamic industry should frequently be reviewed fine tuned and updated so as to ensure that it remains relevant and current.
i agree that certain provisions within the directive were unnecessary and a number of obligations to which organisations must comply should be removed. the benefits that they give to the investor are negligible while they place a significant burden on the business itself.
the streamlining of definitions to avoid problems of interpretation in different member states will also further streamline the sector.
i would also like to congratulate all the shadow rapporteurs.
we have seen some progress in this respect and it needs to be continued.
they need a humanitarian space in which to operate so we really need to counter these rumours and certainly welcome the recent efforts of the government of pakistan to ensure their safety during the medical campaigns.
on behalf of the liberals and democrats i strongly condemn these attacks.
i also strongly hope that a formal invitation letter for european election observers will be sent as soon as possible in order for the european union to send electoral observation support because a free and fair election which is just round the corner we only have a few weeks now before parliament dissolves is crucial for the stability and security of pakistan and the region as a whole.
this is really important because as other speakers have mentioned there are only three countries in the world where polio is still endemic and this is a major contribution to eradicating polio worldwide.
mr president considering that pakistan is one of the very last countries in the world in which polio is still endemic and considering that pakistan herself has declared polio a national emergency one cannot but wonder at the lacklustre effort
pakistan has shown here both in speeding up the vaccination campaign or in putting down the disgusting campaign by different taliban factions to kill medical aid workers who are risking their lives to help pakistani children.
zero three of its federal budget on healthcare. this does not reflect a serious effort to eradicate polio in that country.
the european commission will express its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.
pakistan faces enormous security challenges in its frontier areas with afghanistan as well as the need to re establish civil authority following insurgencies in the tribal areas.
although no group has claimed responsibility for the killings of the aid workers it is suspected that the pakistani taliban or allied extremist groups are behind the attacks.
it is expected that violence will increase with the upcoming elections in the country.
aid workers are at the forefront of working with the most vulnerable in society as we have heard today and their situation is of particular concern.
extra security and precautions will be needed to protect them.
foreign staff of aid agencies in pakistan report increased restrictions on their work.
nevertheless large numbers of pakistanis continue to rely on the help of aid workers in providing them with education health and nutrition following displacement owing to conflict and floods. it is in the interests of the european union as well as the stability of the wider region
to do as much as possible to support the vast majority of pakistanis who reject extremist violence and want to see more progress prosperity and democracy in their region.
following the adoption of the eu pakistan engagement plan it is expected that eu activities in support of security and counter terrorism in pakistan will be reinforced.
regular dialogues on counter terrorism are scheduled.
law enforcement and strengthening the criminal justice system including more effective prosecutions in terrorist trials as well as countering violent extremism are expected to be part of the dialogue.
the eu is already supporting projects intended to improve access to justice and law enforcement in pakistan.
the eu applauds the courage of health and humanitarian workers in pakistan.
the work to eradicate polio in the country is essential if the global goal is to be achieved.
we strongly condemn recent attacks against polio workers and would welcome all measures by the government of pakistan to ensure the safety of aid and humanitarian workers.
the eu encourages the government of pakistan to take steps to enhance acceptance by the local community of the vaccination programmes by providing comprehensive information on polio and vaccination.
here we have a country one of three in the world suffering from the infectious disease of polio a vaccine that has been proven to eliminate it around the world and workers for reputable ngos being shot wounded and killed as they go about the course of their work.
if they say no' suspend the vaccination.
in their quest to subjugate women and spread lies about vaccinations making muslim children infertile they have not only further poisoned the political outlook in pakistan but potentially put a generation of children at risk of disease for the sake of their vicious and distorted dogma.
as usual it is the poorest and most vulnerable members of society who suffer the consequences.
if children in europe no longer need to endure this dreadful illness pakistani children should not have to either.
we must therefore do all we can in the european union to assist pakistani civil society in its worthy aims and to prevent the wretched taliban claiming any more lives in their pursuit of a toxic doctrine.
please stand together with us in defending the increases.
the conclusion surely is that it is time for the eu to drop the brow beating and the bullying and come to a sensible deal.
the truth is that it cannot afford to do otherwise.
mr president for all the posturing that went on in the chamber this morning during the brexit debate one might suppose that the eu is in a position to send britain packing with no departure agreement. however this motion blows such an idea out of the water when it notes that the december deal to launch phase two of brexit talks included an undertaking that the uk will contribute to and participate in the implementation of annual budgets for two thousand and nineteen and two thousand and twenty as if it had remained in the union'.
i appreciate that the rapporteur has brought to the attention of the commission and council the need for a properly managed negotiation process and i hope this serves as a warning to encourage the full engagement of all parties. we need to do that.
europe if it wants to become a global actor needs stronger security and defence capabilities.
no one should have to turn off their heating during the depths of winter and no one should have to choose between heating and eating.
this report is an important step forward in our efforts to solve some of these issues and if implemented will provide a range of measures to tackle the root causes of energy poverty.
across our continent people are struggling with the cost of heating their homes and this is unacceptable.
mr president energy poverty is a blight on the lives of over fifty million europeans.
i welcome the empowerment of consumers providing opportunities for consumers to find the most appropriate deal for them and move away from unsuitable tariffs.
this is not the way to deal with energy poverty.
in my constituency this has an impact on one in ten households.
it would also be a welcome step towards its inclusion in the international community.
the european union is a community of values and a unique place in the world especially when it comes to the death penalty which we have abolished altogether.
in relations with other countries whether the united states china iran or iraq we appeal to them not to deny people the ultimate right the right to life as a form of punishment.
two thousand and four since then hundreds of people have been sentenced to death and many have been executed.
signing and ratifying the second optional protocol to the international covenant on civil and political rights as well as protocol thirteen to the convention on human rights and fundamental freedoms would help to solidify iraq's stance against human rights violations.
the death penalty has nothing to do with justice.
the european union is strongly committed to working towards the abolition of the death penalty everywhere and is striving to achieve universal acceptance of this principle. this resolution is an important reminder of the fact that we need to continue the fight against the death penalty.
say that people are executed in the name of justice.
nonetheless in two thousand and nine eighteen countries carried out death sentences.
humanitarian assistance also continues to reach the most vulnerable inside and outside iraq.
in its dialogue with iraq the european union frequently voices its human rights concerns including not only the freedom of religion or belief but also on the death penalty.
we do not underestimate the challenges facing the iraqi government.
security development and the preservation of human rights are closely linked.
our work has ranged from promoting awareness and enforcement of human rights among vulnerable groups to the rehabilitation of schools in areas already mentioned in the discussions such as nineveh which has a large christian population.
the foreign affairs council on monday expressed its outright condemnation of the recent terrorist attacks notably those which targeted places where civilians congregate including christian and muslim places of worship. the council adopting conclusions put forward by high representative vice president ashton also stressed that the new government in iraq will need to dedicate itself to the pursuit of national reconciliation.
eu aid cannot directly target specific ethnic or religious communities but it should and it can help the most vulnerable iraqis wherever they live.
the protection and promotion of human rights including those of persons belonging to minorities must be a top priority.
i can only stress that each and every elected member of the council is expected to display in practice the highest commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights.
the commission calls upon cuba to change its policy and to live up to its obligations under international law. we will continue to address the human rights issue in the dialogue with cuba with the authorities there and we will use this dialogue as a vehicle
mr president the countries of the european union
many european union members prosecute and imprison people for non violent freedom of speech.
in particular they seek to make any opposition to immigration a criminal offence.
book burning is alive and well. political parties are banned as in belgium or their ban is sought on invented evidence as in germany or a backdoor ban is sought as in the united kingdom where my own party has been banned by a court order sought by the government from accepting new members for an indefinite period. it is not enough for countries to call themselves democratic they must also respect freedom of speech they must respect freedom of association and they must respect freedom of elections.
this failure reminds us of the many obstacles that still remain when attempting to revitalise europe's rail sector and the rhetoric that often emanates from both inside and outside the rail industry.
we need a true european perspective for our railway network and this can only be achieved if all the different actors are fully committed to that goal.
the commissioner has given us some assurances tonight but it is action that we want to see.
today is mr cramer's birthday and i hope that we can deliver this package in his and all of our lifetimes!
we expect the council to deliver on their agreements and we expect the commission to ensure that they do.
this lack of progress is slowly strangling the ability of european railways to compete effectively and the long list of infringement proceedings taken out against member states simply serves to reinforce the urgency of taking action.
the first railways directive as mr fidanza said should have been transposed by member states in march. two thousand and three the fact that twenty two states have failed to do this shows a lamentable effort on the part of the member states and despite what the commission says a pretty poor and slow effort at protecting eu law by the commission.
indeed this very week we have seen one country and its major rail company lobbying hard against mr marinescu's report. thankfully they failed miserably but yet again it highlights to us that certain rail companies and certain member states are more concerned with self interest rather than european interests.
where the commission has found evidence that member states have not respected this provision infringement procedures have been opened.
i would like to thank parliament very much for its support for the efforts of the european commission to control the proper implementation of the first railway package by member states which is their responsibility. the commission for its part has complied with its obligations as guardian of the treaty by sending reasoned opinions to
while the specific legal details of the infringement procedures are a matter between the commission and the member states our services have already submitted to the committee on transport and tourism earlier this year a complete list of all infringements.
i note the wish that the revisions of the first railway package should address the question of lack of resources and powers of regulatory bodies as a priority.
the recast of the first package will also contribute to clarifying principles of infrastructure access charging in line with the request from parliament.
each member state has to comply with the european directives as they stand independently of what other member states do.
the resolution also calls for the application of a reciprocity principle.
based on the case law of the court of justice we have established clear criteria for assessing the independence of an infrastructure subsidiary from the holding company.
control and independence exclude each other you cannot have both at the same time.
the commission should not be left alone in pushing for rail market opening and ultimately for the revitalisation of rail as a sustainable and efficient mode of transport.
that being said the commission has on several occasions made a political appeal to member states because we recognise the importance of investment in rail infrastructure to promote a sustainable transport system in europe.
two thousand and six infrastructure managers must be independent from railway undertakings and railway holdings.
we count on your support to make european rail policy a full success and a contribution to getting europe out of the present economic crisis.
on the independence of essential functions the commission has already made its position very clear in its communication of may.
i reassure you again that the commission has done and intends to continue to do its job as guardian of the treaty.
i am therefore confident that the commission will win this argument in the forthcoming court procedures.
a holding should not have operational control over its infrastructure subsidiary.
otherwise implementation would always follow the path of the slowest member state.
however this is not a principle that we can accept in european legislation in general.
i can assure you that the forthcoming commission proposals will do just that.
we also share the regret expressed by the committee that the level of investment in rail infrastructure remains insufficient in many member states.
some interest groups want to go further and think that the commission could oblige member states to increase investment in the railway sector in general.
the directives of the first railway package only prescribe that member states have to ensure a balanced budget for the infrastructure managers over a reasonable period of time.
system is absolutely essential for the well being of europeans and also for the competitiveness of our region.
i do not think it is a paper tiger if we judge by the number of infringement procedures.
it has taken so long because there has been a process of engagement with member states.
there was also an enlargement that brought new elements into the system and there has been an attempt by the commission to make this engagement meaningful in other words to send serious questionnaires to analyse the responses carefully and then to follow up with member states.
with this in mind the recast of the first railway package will be designed to simplify and clarify the existing provisions with a view to facilitating their implementation but also to modernise them.
one is on the level of safety.
to increase this level of safety.
firstly improving market access conditions and making them more transparent and non discriminatory secondly establishing a regulatory framework fostering both public and private investments in the rail sector and thirdly something that many of you spoke about reinforcing the regulatory supervision of the rail market to ensure fair competition between the operators and ultimately lower costs for those who use the service.
that is not equal.
i say to all those who are opposed to the trade deals that have been negotiated at present those trade deals are focused on generating employment within the european union.
they are very important for small and medium enterprises especially those that want to trade internationally.
we need a fair distribution of income fostering of growth and of course a redistribution of our taxes.
two thousand and seventeen between now and the end of the year the commission is actively engaging with other institutions national authorities and all kinds of stakeholder at eu and national levels to discuss and get their opinion on the pillar.
in my book it is something which is capable of lasting therefore the issue of ecological transition that was raised by our committee president is extremely important in this;
i represent london not the city the financial part but london as a whole which is a city of massive inequality.
the oecd talks about wealth concentration as being a barrier to investment.
i think we also need to be questioning whether the goal is growth or whether growth is a mechanism for something else.
we heard from the commission that the investment plan is going to reach all walks of life.
one in five earns less than the necessary living wage to live in london fifty of the self employed are low paid we have an enormous wealth concentration at the top and the bottom ten are basically in a debt economy.
otherwise we basically use up what we need to sustain ourselves.
what we are really talking about here is decent life on a finite planet so we need to consider how we are going to do that.
how is this going to be measured?
i would like to ask how do we know that this is going to happen?
the current commission has made it important to see that it is the most political imperative to bring back more social fairness in europe and to reconnect with the social dimension of our union.
no one needs to be left behind when we formulate new policies and we need to invest more in our citizens.
this is particularly important because jobless households with children are facing a lot of difficulties. we need to create employment opportunities in order to avoid the inter generational transmission of poverty and social exclusion with particular emphasis on pre schoolers.
the commission welcomes this report on the european school system and is in full agreement with its main orientations. firstly let me mention the opening up of the system and the european baccalaureate. the commission fully supports the extension of the european curriculum in the member states via the pedagogical accreditation of national schools with a view to developing a european forum for schooling and improving professional mobility.
schools. in the current context i am very much in favour of the idea of an external evaluation of the schools' pedagogical performances.
closely. the report also mentions the importance of the support given to pupils with special educational needs the so called
time. we have to face several challenges in the near future concerning the governance of the system the infrastructure to be provided by the host member states the secondment of teachers by some member states the budgetary constraint of the eu budget contribution and
with the recent experience of the member states' reaction to the concept of reform of the governance aspects and in particular the intergovernmental structure the commission is hesitant to reopen a fundamental debate with the member states on this issue which could be very long and far from a guarantee for a constructive solution. the commission is convinced that the necessary adjustment notably giving the eu institutions a weight corresponding to their financial contribution can be made within the framework of the existing convention even though this depends on the member states' commitment and goodwill
control. these include adapting seconded teachers' salaries along the lines followed for the staff of the eu institutions in the two thousand and four reform and rationalising the practical organisation of studies within the schools which was decided by the board of governors in april of
answers. concerning the governance system the commission emphasises the need for a solution to the existing deficiencies but bears in mind that a change to the intergovernmental structure was proposed during the last reform process and was unanimously rejected by the member states during the negotiations.
country. the commission is following this process very
so on. these difficulties can pose serious problems to some schools and parents. i am fully aware of that but we together with the member states and you the members of the european parliament have to address those questions and find the best practical
this year. it remains the commission's clear priority that the core curriculum should not be affected by these rationalisation
sen pupils. indeed everything should be done to help sen children to follow the curriculum as far as they can be integrated in the european schools while bearing in mind that the european schools are ordinary schools and not specialised
in fact pupils who have spent all or part of their school lives in the multicultural and multilingual environment which the european schools provide begin their working life with an enormous advantage.
explored. the commission agrees that this is an option to take into
europe. their openness towards others and their ability to adapt to new environments single them out. this should also be the foundation stone of their future development as european citizens.
and as an essential part of this the independence of the judiciary is of extreme importance for respect for individual rights and also for the functioning of our form of market economy.
this is a dispute between a tribunal and a government nothing more and nothing less.
it is because we have learned through history through a very painful history in europe that in order to have a democratic pluriform society functioning and the rights of everyone respected we need the virtuous tripod of democracy rule of law and full respect for human rights.
if any information pertaining to this issue is brought to our attention we will carefully study it and reflect on it and take a position on it.
so then this brings me to a number of very precise questions that mr legutko clearly does not want to go into.
the polish people have achieved that.
my professional life from the very start as a student was focused on bringing an end to the divide in europe and bringing down communist dictatorship in half of europe.
it is one of the biggest victories in european history and i will not be accused of acting against the polish people.
let me end on one thing which is also a bit personal i have to say.