kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
the new social clauses do not relate solely to services of general interest as implied by the epp intervention earlier this afternoon and as regards social services of general interest we need to come to conclusions on these matters which have been heavily debated over many years rather than rehashing old arguments. as rapporteur on the future of social services of general interest i look forward to working with all the groups which recognise the need for a strong social market economy and i hope to bring forward concrete proposals to resolve the dilemmas faced by providers of ssgi. as you are no doubt aware europe's citizens have high hopes regarding the development of a more coherent and dynamic social dimension to european policies and legislation following the adoption of the lisbon treaty.
it would be deeply destabilising for the european union if the college of commissioners and the european council were to take the view that these new treaty articles change nothing and continue treating social objectives as secondary to market objectives.
they are telling me there are administrative problems and there are legal problems and that they need to be addressed urgently.
the stakeholders are not telling me that.
however there is an urgent need for a mechanism a high level mechanism which will include the stakeholders and ensure that the decisions that need to be made are made and followed through.
we need a mechanism which will drive the change which everybody recognises.
it is doubly important at this time of economic and social crisis for many millions of our citizens who have already lost and many more who will lose their jobs their homes their savings their pensions their public health services and indeed educational opportunities for their children because of the crisis and the remedies being applied.
if we fail in our responsibilities there are waiting in the wings extreme xenophobic and intolerant political parties willing to capitalise on the anger and the discontent that is out there.
i regret the statement today by the commissioner.
we have to improve our instruments.
ssgi is treated very seriously in the upcoming european platform against poverty which will be published at the end of the year.
i can say for me personally and for my portfolio that in this expression the social' is more important than the market'. of course at the end of the day the commission has to put forward represent and implement a very balanced approach. however i have always represented the social objectives and we have taken this very seriously.
of course nobody believes that this can be delivered overnight.
these are predominantly member state competences.
we did not support derogations from vaccination but we can support the compromise which includes limited derogations for very young animals for reasons which the rapporteur put forward very clearly.
however we will support the compromise in the interests of achieving a good agreement.
the green efa group can agree with the main points of the report the maximum number of animals;
we also supported an eu wide database for pet movements which would have given us more traceability in the event of disease outbreak and would have helped in reducing illegal trade.
the very important clear and easily accessible information for pet owners professionals authorities and all concerned.
the success of schemes like this which are so important depends on effective security measures but also on retaining confidence and i believe we have achieved this.
the misery for pets of quarantine has gone rabies has been kept at bay and we have taken steps here to promote the principle of free movement in ways which no one country could do alone.
but the pets passport law has opened up new opportunities.
he had a microchip which demonstrated that he had been vaccinated against rabies and a microchip is ideal for a ferret because it is very hard to get a ferret to stay still long enough to have its photograph taken. for ten years we have allowed ferrets to have passports and dogs to have passports and cats i suppose have pussports
pets now routinely travel across europe for work reasons for holiday reasons and even for sexual liaisons to keep up the quality of the breed of course.
this was good legislation when we agreed it a decade ago and i know that our rapporteur has spent time ferreting around to try and improve it.
if british pets could have a vote i doubt very much whether they would be giving it to nigel farage and the insular views of the uk independence party.
at the committee stage i put forward amendments which would make microchips mandatory for pets travelling abroad.
before two thousand and one travelling abroad for pets used to be a dog's life.
identification and traceability is an important issue and i am pleased that the uk government has recently introduced measures which mean that all dogs will need to be microchipped by.
it is important that member states conduct compliance checks on animals entering their territory from another member state.
now it is much easier for our pets to travel alongside their families and i support the rapporteur's goals of making it even simpler.
however this report is also about protecting animal health and human health and i am pleased the report has introduced measures which also increase vigilance.
animals travelling to the uk for example spent up to six months in quarantine.
i regret that the current report allows the continuation of tattoos which can easily be forged.
so i congratulate the rapporteur on behalf of my furry friends such as bruno and huggy huggy and i look forward to supporting this report.
mr president ninety of pet owners consider their pets to be members of the family. it stands to reason therefore that owners should be able to take their furry friends safely and easily to a third country when moving or travelling abroad.
one of our most important tasks on this dossier has to be to find a clear and workable definition of package' and linked travel arrangements' and while there is still room for improvement here we have clarified the payment processes and defined the data transferred in each type of contract.
but on the whole i think we have made a lot of improvements.
in this regard i have tabled an amendment which i hope my colleagues will support in the vote tomorrow to make sure that consumers are advised about this deadline so that they can make an informed decision about whether they wish to be covered by this legislation or not.
i am also sceptical about the insolvency protection provisions.
i was pleased that my request for a twenty four hour time limit for booking both linked and package travel was adopted as this deadline provides legal certainty for all consumers and businesses alike.
mr president with package holidays being increasingly booked online this report updates the current legislation and hopes to create a more level playing field for all market players while importantly maintaining consumer choice as well as giving clarity to consumers on their protection.
i had also hoped to see a higher percentage than twenty five for a tourist service to be considered as a significant ancillary service but i am sure these issues will be improved later in negotiations.
many member states including the uk already have in place consumer protection bodies such as abta and atol and it is important that they can still continue to work for the benefit of the consumer.
while there is still room for improvement i believe that this legislation is heading in the right direction.
but as with any revision to existing legislation it is important that we avoid impinging on national responsibilities.
mr president the travel and tourism industry has evolved and developed significantly since the package travel directive was first introduced more than twenty years ago so it was clearly time for an update.
this category would have virtually no practical relevance and it therefore requires further examination. overall though i would like to say to the rapporteur and to his collaborators that the report he is putting to the vote tomorrow is well balanced and will bolster protection for consumers.
in accordance with national traditions.
at the same time we propose introducing a minimum level of protection in the form of compulsory insolvency protection for linked travel arrangements which are looser combinations of travel services.
this will lead to more transparency and more legal certainty while closing legal loopholes and removing outdated rules.
however with online bookings of customised combinations more and more travellers are not protected by the directive and their protection might be uncertain even if they are.
the new directive will also facilitate cross border transactions through increased harmonisation and mutual recognition of national insolvency protection schemes.
regarding the level of harmonisation the commission recognises that parliament has found a very balanced solution. while reducing legal fragmentation the compromise solution you propose would give member states the possibility in exceptional cases to extend the organiser's liability for the proper performance of a package and the organiser's obligations to obtain insolvency protection
it is important to maintain a careful balance between the interests of consumers and the interests of the industry and between the different types of travel businesses.
these changes will increase protection for almost one hundred and twenty million trips in the eu per year.
while this deviates from the commission proposal we nonetheless consider that it constitutes a reasonable basis for further negotiations. the commission believes however that the proposed definition of linked travel arrangements is too narrow.
therefore with this new reality in mind i welcome this report and the reforms proposed by parliament as they will ensure not only greater protection for consumers but also a higher degree of certainty for travel businesses regarding the extent of their potential liabilities.
it is essential to update the current rules to reflect the modern reality market and methods of trading.
these reforms ensure increased clarity and flexibility for consumers which in turn will also increase consumer confidence.
it is vital that we close loopholes and make clear to travel companies their duty of care to holidaymakers and their own liability.
i would like to thank him not only for this report but for all the work he has done in this parliament and because this is probably the last report he will present i wish to give my speaking time to him.
we are now developing a post two thousand and sixteen policy and elements raised in this report will be considered very carefully.
we must ensure that the victims are not treated like the criminals.
with this report we identify areas of progress and achievement but also expose gaps and efforts that are still to be made.
our message should be clear we cannot allow people human beings to be treated like commodities.
the report on the extent to which the member states comply with the directive is foreseen to be presented by the commission in the fourth quarter of.
the one remaining germany has informed us about a political agreement reached and we are expecting information on the transposition soon.
i am committed to ensure that we will continue to stress the gender dimension of trafficking and ensure a victim centred approach.
the commission will soon present the first report assessing the progress made in fighting trafficking in human beings.
this demonstrates the commitment of the commission not to hesitate in taking actions for ensuring implementation of eu law.
two thousand and sixteen the commission has been particularly pro active in monitoring the transposition only one month after the transposition deadline in may two thousand and thirteen the commission had opened thirteen infringements based on non communication.
our services are currently in the process of analysing the information officially notified by the member states with the help of a compliance study.
with the same proactive manner we will continue to ensure that european union law and standards related to anti trafficking efforts are properly transposed. out of the twenty seven concerned member states twenty six have communicated to the commission full transposition of the anti trafficking directive.
at the same time we must ensure that we also crack down on the demand for services and cheap labour that fosters all forms of exploitation.
we must work together to ensure we prevent the crime from happening because then it is too late.
we must ensure we do not foster a culture of impunity for those who exploit and use the victims.
clearly the eu has delivered but still a lot remains to be done.
this year is a turning point and there is only one way the way forward.
to do this we must do it together and i count on this parliament to continue working in this direction.
this legal support should include claiming compensation which victims are entitled to but very rarely get.
victims experience terrible brutality and suffer many longterm physical mental and emotional effects.
where else is it acceptable for someone to knowingly engage in an illegal act but not be prosecuted for it?
the eu trafficking legislation is now five years old.
the effects of this form of trafficking demand specialist support over a very long period.
in the uk we have forty five days but even this is a short time for survivors who have been repeatedly raped over many months.
we must also step up awareness campaigns for groups vulnerable to the traffickers as well as the wider public to help them spot the signs of trafficking. trafficking in human beings is happening where you all live. open your eyes to the signs of trafficking.
she is too brutalised to make any decision about escape or where to seek for help.
it's in the porn movies and the brothels where the girls can't speak the local language and never leave to go to the shops.
her passport and personal possessions are taken she is pushed into a bedroom with no sheets on the bed and she is beaten if she refuses any client that is brought to her.
imagine a young eastern european woman smart and ambitious seeking a good life with opportunities she meets a young man and falls in love with him and his promises of a good life together.
it is an excellent framework for the protection of victims and is a great example of how eu countries can come together to address issues that can't be tackled alone.
i am pleased that i have been able to work on this report and to play my part in stamping out this vile crime.
the directive asked member states to consider criminalising the knowing use of services of trafficked people.
i'm also calling for an extension of the thirty day minimum recovery and reflection period particularly for victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation.
we should suspect trafficking when we spot sleeping bags in restaurant kitchens or factory workers working long hours in poor conditions.
the men who come to the brothel don't ask questions not concerned about the bruises or the fact that she can't speak the language.
sadly we will never know how many victims are not found.
i'm confirming the need that victims are properly provided for with healthcare accommodation material assistance and legal support.
mr president this debate must focus on the victims people taken from their homes forced or deceived into exploitative demeaning and often dangerous situations at risk of violence abused and too often arrested for crimes that they have been coerced into committing.
the eu has created the perfect environment for trafficking to flourish.
opening the door to a country like turkey giving seventy million people access to the uk and europe will without doubt increase trafficking.
if you want to deal a blow to trafficking if you want to protect innocent victims if you want to save lives and to gain a sensible ethical control of the united kingdom borders then the only way i am afraid is to vote to leave the european union on twenty three rd june.
by encouraging millions of people to come to europe you are playing into the hands of the traffickers both within and outside europe.
it is to end the free movement of people close down the schengen area and stop open door immigration.
but not satisfied with that you want turkey to join the eu and to liberalise visas.
whether it is individuals paying criminals to get them into europe or families sending off their children for the hope of a better life the eu has put hundreds of thousands at risk of exploitation and endangered lives by encouraging an exodus across the dangerous mediterranean sea.
i am sure business for criminals could not be better with the open door european leaders gave in response to the migrant crisis once in europe and the free movement of people.
it is for member states to take back sensible control of their national borders and to conduct criminal background checks.
so even the eu's agencies and cheerleaders say that free movement is the big problem.
there is a simple way to deal a blow to traffickers.
the figures are stunning and the stories are heartbreaking behind every story there is a human tragedy.
there should be no hiding place in europe for traffickers. the majority of victims are women and girls to be exploited for prostitution in europe.
more and more are migrants.
trafficking is a serious organised crime and should be prosecuted as such.
it is a huge business with high profits and too low a risk.
the networks are sophisticated and cross border.
we should step up our common european response on all fronts police and judicial cooperation better sharing of information strengthening europol eurojust frontex and the hot spots and tracking the money and confiscating the assets of the traffickers.
it is also very important to reduce demand and to criminalise the users of sex services.
just a few points.
prostitution not all those in prostitution have been trafficked and controlling prostitution is not an eu competence.
it has been a very fine line to talk about this in the report but it is part of the market demand and so that is how it has been addressed.
forced surrogacy is a crime in anybody's language and also needs to be tackled.
migrants migrants are not always victims of trafficking but their vulnerability and the lack of care that we are affording them make them very easy prey for the traffickers.
organised crime yes this is the fourth largest organised crime.
first of all zero tolerance we will not tolerate human trafficking in any form at all whether it is women and girls who are by far the majority of victims or other human beings who are trafficked for labour exploitation and other forms of exploitation.
most of the victims as has already been said are vulnerable women who have been trafficked away from where they came from and who face appalling abuse.
but we need to make sure that we and the member states provide adequate services for them so that they can come forward.
we should do this because we should do it but we should also do it because victims can play a key role in identifying traffickers and making sure that those traffickers the majority of whom interestingly are men can be prosecuted and convicted because unless we address this we will not wipe out trafficking.
we also need to make it a criminal offence across all eu countries to employ the sexual services of and to use somebody who has been trafficked.
a text of the joint statement has been made available to the services of this house and will i understand be included in the minutes of today's meeting.
i would like to take this opportunity to confirm that the council will endorse this statement at its meeting on monday twenty january.
with this joint statement support is given for the introduction of separate discharge in the basic acts of the joint undertakings while maintaining a reference to article two hundred and nine of the financial regulation in order to ensure that the joint undertakings enjoy the benefits of simplified financial rules.
perhaps the recent establishment of a conservative liberal coalition in the uk last week offers us now a chance to reassess britain's relationship with the icc and at kampala to amend some of the disputed areas like command responsibility.
the aggressive pursuit of politically motivated cases has thankfully failed to materialise which was one of the big worries of our american allies.
however the tenth anniversary of the statute's entry into force does offer us now an opportunity to make a clear assessment of the role of the icc and in my view the court has to its credit stuck rigidly to its brief eschewing mischievous prosecutions and seeking to arraign only the most serious tyrants.
and propose possible changes or directions for reform. i would like to mention several issues that eu member states as well as the ep delegation should have on the agenda. one of the issues is certainly the position of our transatlantic partners on the icc.
it would therefore be very useful if our american partners could express more clearly their current position and commitment to the icc.
i would like to point out that the lack of participation of the united states in the icc is the single most important factor reducing the relevance and authority of the icc.
last but not least i would like to point out that the eu should strive for the widest ratification and implementation of the rome statute in relations with those countries that have not yet done so.
in calling for better access to justice for victims we should acknowledge that fifteen of the twenty four countries worldwide who have contributed to the trust fund for victims are our own eu member states but we should also note with humility that that means twelve eu members have not given such funding and that fourteen of our countries have neither designated national contact points nor responded to the annual survey as required by the charter.
universal jurisdiction abroad starts with universal implementation here at home and madam president i have to regret that one of the first decisions of the uk's new coalition government is to go to the review conference to oppose jurisdiction for the crime of aggression and to resist belgium's proposal to include the use of prohibited weapons in internal conflict as a war crime.
before the strasbourg court looks into the matter. i mainly refer to the cases where member states apply eu law and member states are sued by individual applicants following the application of that eu law.
i would like to draw attention to the role of the court of justice in the construction of the european union's accession to the european convention.
in particular the requirement in the european convention on human rights that the applicant must exhaust domestic remedies before applying to the european court of human rights must be transposed into a procedure which would give the court of justice in every case the opportunity to decide as the last domestic remedy
two thousand and five i quote the protection of fundamental rights by community law can be considered to be equivalent to that of the convention system'.
in relation to this i would like to recall the european court of human rights' finding in the case of bosphorus airlines vs.
the writing is on the wall and as we know some people are more equal than others when it comes to human rights. earlier this month my constituents in meriden and hatton suffered invasions by so called travellers' who have broken the peace and who are building unauthorised and possibly illegal developments on what little remains of our precious green belt land.
i say that the convention on human rights has done enough damage already.
perhaps he would like to speak to the hardworking villagers who have seen the value of their homes plummet.
of course these are but small tragedies and are nothing when compared to the important political project that is the european union but let us consider that when we propose special rights on one group of citizens we automatically degrade the rights of others.
he could even enjoy the spectacle of ninety lorries laden with gravel churning up the country lanes where parents walk with their children.