kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
first the commission is determined to make the programmes as accessible as possible to smes by simplifying procedures as far as possible while of course ensuring sound financial management.
the commission will bring forward these measures as rapidly as possible and propose changes to the legal framework if necessary.
fourthly the enterprise europe network set up in two thousand and eight within the competitiveness and innovation programme provides services to smes encouraging their participation in fp.
the commission is committed to increasing the participation of small and medium sized enterprises in eu research programmes and to help them ultimately bring the fruits of their innovation to market.
through these measures and actions it is expected that around twenty zero smes will benefit directly from fp seven by the end of the programme.
thirdly another initiative that equally supports smes is eurostars a joint research and development programme with eureka involving twenty six member states and six associated countries. it targets rd performing smes in projects close to the market.
this is a priority for the commission and will remain so for the remainder of its mandate.
seven more precisely this network together and in full complementarity with the national contact points assists smes providing support for awareness raising capacity building for participation in fp seven engaging new smes and fp seven proposals partner search joint actions addressed to smes and conducting consultations for inclusion of sme related call topics in work programmes.
the commission has brought forward a communication on simplification that was formally transmitted to parliament and council on twenty nine april this year and in which several new short and longer term measures are suggested including the introduction of lump sum payments to cover the personnel costs of owner managers of smes.
finally an e learning platform specifically designed for smes is planned to go on line in.
in this regard several concrete steps have already been taken such as reducing the need for audit certificates fewer ex ante financial capacity checks and protective measures and streamlined project reporting.
one of the current ongoing studies is a feasibility study to assess the possibilities opportunities and needs for european level legislation against gender based violence and violence against children.
the commission has welcomed the adoption of parliament resolutions on violence against women and on equality between women and men including the parliament resolution on the elimination of violence against women.
violence against women cannot be justified on the grounds of customs tradition or religious considerations.
we are determined to strengthen our action with both legislative and soft measures to eradicate violence against women including female genital mutilation and to use all means within the eu's competence.
comprehensive action to combat violence against women is a key point in that strategy.
this is reflected in the commission's communication of april two thousand and ten on the stockholm programme which puts emphasis on the protection of victims of crime including female victims of violence and genital mutilation. respecting the commitments of our action plan implementing the stockholm programme the commission is currently working on its strategy to combat violence against women.
prevention and awareness raising activities will be a key point in the commission's strategy.
the commission confirms its strong commitment to combating violence against women.
last march the commission strengthened its commitment to promoting gender equality and fighting violence against women by presenting a women's charter. as discussed in the plenary of the european parliament on fifteen june the charter proposes to put in place a coordinated and effective policy framework to tackle violence against women.
the commission took note of parliament's proposal for a directive on combating and preventing violence against women.
the european research council has a part to play in delivering all three.
last but not least the erc has also been successful in serving as a benchmark for the competitiveness of national innovation systems.
this was acknowledged in the independent review carried out in july two thousand and nine by a panel of six eminent experts and although the first projects did not begin until the second half of two thousand and eight many are already showing highly promising and exploitable results.
they have created a start up company which is developing bioactive materials that can be used instead of bone grafts to treat bone diseases and difficult fractures.
this requires us to strengthen every link in the innovation chain from blue sky research to commercialisation.
a research team at frankfurt university published important results showing how to improve blood circulation by blocking certain genetic fragments. this has huge potential for new therapy for heart attacks and the researchers have applied for a patent on their method.
in order to achieve the creation of an innovation union the first condition to be fulfilled is reinforcing our knowledge base and promoting excellence and this is precisely what the erc is already doing.
most obviously smart growth means developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation.
so projects that are designed to answer fundamental research questions generate the radically new ideas that will drive new innovation and are also necessary to tackle society's grand challenges.
the key to europe's future prosperity rests on the quality of its ideas and the ability to turn them into products processes and services that people from all over the world will want to buy.
for example researchers at imperial college in london published groundbreaking results on the quality of bone like materials grown in laboratories that can be implanted with real bones to help repair them.
it has been instrumental in catalysing reforms of national funding systems in a number of countries such as france poland portugal and sweden.
in a remarkably short time the erc has gained world wide recognition as a world class research funding agency.
i think that one of the biggest difficulties being faced is the ongoing cost of the damage because there was a further series of floodings shortly after the november one was an issue and discussed.
so maybe we should look at long term management plans as well as just immediate funding.
but are there any checks in place to see what happens after funding has been given to ensure that the specific company does not make workers redundant in any of the other twenty six member states?
it is likely that we will be able to get to the question by mr iacolino but i am afraid that questions twenty eight twenty nine thirty and thirty one will be answered in writing.
the second reference is in article fifty seven which stipulates that managing authorities or member states must ensure that cofunded investments are maintained for at least five years after completion of the operation.
the commission and the member states must ensure that undertakings which are or have been the subject of a recovery procedure do not receive a contribution from the funds following the transfer of a productive activity between regions within the member state or to another member state.
managing authorities must inform the commission in their annual implementation reports of operations that have not met the requirements for the maintenance of investment provided for in that article and the commission is to inform the other member states.
lastly in accordance with the publicity requirements member states sharing management of european union funds have to publish a list of beneficiaries of operations and the corresponding amounts of public funding.
the first is in recital forty two which states that when appraising major productive investment projects the commission should have all necessary information to consider whether the financial contribution from the funds does not result in a substantial loss of jobs in existing locations within the european union
the managing authority designated by the member state is responsible for managing and implementing operational programmes.
laying down general provisions on the european regional development fund the european social fund and the cohesion fund.
the commission has set up a state aid web based search tool which provides information on state aid cases and on block exemption cases recorded.
information on esf beneficiaries can be found on the social fund's website.
the commission is assisted in the monitoring of restructuring activities by the european foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions with the european restructuring monitor.
where an operation fails to meet that requirement the eu contribution should be recovered.
in order to ensure that community funding does not support relocation within the european union.
so perhaps if the member will allow me i will respond to it at that stage.
it is important to emphasise the political point that we do need an interinstitutional agreement with regard to the operation of the eu research programmes.
the rules that will govern the workings of our eu research programmes have to be clearly defined and very importantly have to be consistent. applicants to the research programmes whether they are third level educational institutions research centres or private sector companies
must know exactly how our eu research funded initiatives are going to operate in a very practical sense for them.
simplifying those programmes is a key political priority for us for me and for the commission as a whole and we need to work in a very clear determined manner and in partnership with parliament to be able to achieve that further simplification.
it is an issue that needs a comprehensive response.
that proposal is under discussion and i am very much aware of the feeling in parliament regarding where the financing comes from in relation to iter but it is a project that is ground breaking and can bring incredible benefits not just to europe but to the world as a whole if it is successful.
so we are working very carefully strongly and coherently with our international partners to be able to move this project forward.
i have no doubt that we will be able to do that with your cooperation and your support.
unfortunately i do not have the specific information that the honourable member asked for in relation to the countries of the south.
however i should say that the european research council bases its response to applications purely on excellence.
that is i feel the reason why they have gained such an internationally known reputation very quickly because it is recognised that their decisions are based purely on excellence.
i should say that the european research council will launch next year a proof of concept funding option that has the objective of bridging the funding gap in the earliest stages of the innovation process where for example a potential commercial concept needs verification through testing or prototypes or indeed through the identification of an appropriate market or through the creation of a protectable intellectual property right.
it is also interesting to see that a number of member states including in the south are now looking at the concept of the european research council in deciding that perhaps they themselves should look at establishing a research council within their own territory.
i think it right to put that before you.
will you accept today in this chamber that the structural fund regulation's requirements both for additionality and for partnership are fundamental and that you will ensure without hesitation that they will be respected in any new structure?
firstly i think that the commissioner might have been able to come to my question but i have no problem because it is related to this.
to europe's south the picture is just as bad. west african fishermen whose lifestyle had been sustained for generations are being forced to switch to people trafficking because eu registered vessels have helped fish their waters to extinction.
it is time to restore control of the seas and fishing grounds to the sovereign nations whose track record has shown them fit to exercise such stewardship.
it is time for the eu to acknowledge that its record in maritime management is the worst in the entire world a typical example of what is known as the tragedy of the commons the phenomenon by which shared resources always get exploited ruthlessly because anyone who exercises restraint is disadvantaged by the unscrupulous.
we welcome the report's suggestions on maritime governance on sea basin initiatives and strategies on maritime spatial planning and surveillance a maritime research framework and observation and data network and a fund for maritime infrastructure.
when it comes to the votes later on today i would particularly like to ask members to support the rapporteur's amendment which seeks to include the option of including emission trading schemes in the eu and imo rules. this was an issue
that was the commission's intent back in two thousand and nine when it announced a more horizontal policy approach on areas such as maritime transport the marine environment and regional and fisheries policies. today we see the response of the committee on transport and tourism to this fresh direction in the shape of mrs meissner's report.
we will be supporting this report.
i am particularly pleased that the report now includes the integration of carbon emission reduction targets and support for renewable solar and wind energies on board vessels.
however we believe there is still much work to be done.
i would ask members to show some twenty twenty vision' and vote for the rapporteur's amendment which recognises that these measures sit squarely alongside our wider strategic objectives around co two reduction and the europe two thousand and twenty project.
i enquired in two thousand and seven of the uk marine and fisheries agency how many fish were being caught in british waters.
mr president it should not surprise anybody that the eu wants to integrate maritime policy just as it intends to integrate everything else across europe in every aspect of life and public policy.
so the uk no longer has its own territorial waters.
i think she should be very pleased that thirty seven speakers contributed to the debate. indeed we had a very lively debate which has thrown up fresh ideas to encourage us to aim even higher in terms of the maritime policies that we pursue.
i turn now to a number of specific questions raised.
furthermore maritime surveillance is an important new initiative which is set to engineer a huge change in all future actions by maritime authorities at sea and aims to install a common information sharing environment for the eu maritime domain.
the proposal will be accompanied by a detailed report that will also include the outcome of our ex post impact assessment relating to the imo decision as well as possible measures that the commission could take to mitigate undesired impacts on the sector.
i believe that we can now pursue the implementation of all future maritime initiatives with renewed vigour and confidence.
the eu is aware of different situations in sea basins and is developing appropriate strategies for each sea basin tailored to specific needs.
thank you and my apologies to the interpreters if i was speaking too quickly.
we must manage the finances of the eu concerning maritime issues in the context of the european commission's proposal for a regulation to finance the integrated maritime policy in two thousand. and eleven two thousand and twelve and two thousand and thirteen the purpose of the proposed funding namely of eur fifty million is to continue the work undertaken since two thousand and seven to remove policy barriers and to unleash synergies by bridging all policies that impact on the sea such as transport fisheries customs and marine
the commission looks forward to working with parliament on the timely entry into force of this regulation so that we can implement our future integrated maritime policy actions.
on sulphur emissions the commission is fully aware of the concerns expressed by industry groups about the impacts that may occur due to the new marine fuel quality standards adopted by the imo in.
the sector connects the irish economy with the rest of europe and the rest of the world.
i do not however support the resurrection of the concept of a european coastguard.
i believe it is far too expensive at a time of financial stringency.
can i also mention in this context the impact of offshore wind wave and tidal energy projects together with the designation of marine protected areas mpas on inshore and artisanal fisheries?
we cannot simply draw lines on maps designating vast areas of inshore waters as mpas or for renewable energy.
small scale fishermen cannot be arbitrarily displaced without full consultation.
the designation of such areas must be a bottom up and not a top down process and it must involve stakeholder consultation.
madam president last march the ecdpc and the who released data showing that new tb cases and deaths in the fifty three countries of the who european region declined each year by.
of greater concern is that this increase coincides with persistently high rates of drug resistant tb which threatens progress towards eliminating tb by.
in my opinion national governments should rapidly implement screening programmes in order to identify those people in need of treatment.
we have no chance to solve only through instruments of health ministers.
on development. this consensus commits us to invest in preventing and combatting communicable diseases and securing affordable medicines and
tb for example is one of the most seriously neglected and underestimated health human rights and poverty problems of our era.
we have the responsibility to do more and in particular we need to address the taboos that surround infectious diseases.
not to work together and not to consider everyone is not an option. we should not only consider curing people by treatment but also comprehensively implement preventive measures to ensure that fewer people become infected.
the impact of these diseases on overall health status and socioeconomic well being especially of the most vulnerable is vast.
inaction and inadequate action are no longer acceptable.
these infectious diseases are a major threat to the rights of the child adolescents women and their families and the social impacts are disproportionate while the stigma is devastating.
we have the opportunity to act but we need all together to act now.
must fulfil economic and financial policy conditions to be agreed between the eu and ukraine in a memorandum of understanding.
ukraine needs to go on with its reforms the most crucial ones being the fight against corruption reforming the security forces and the taxation system and making the business environment better.
therefore the sanctions against russia must be prolonged until the minsk agreements are fully implemented.
one eighty three billion a billion will go to the people of ukraine and eur.
that cannot be allowed to happen so the commission must monitor this money very closely.
however i think it is vital that we do not just give the money but that we insist as the commission has indicated it will that human rights reforms are genuine in ukraine that corruption is properly tackled in ukraine that democracy is properly embedded in ukraine and above all that the money does not end up in the pockets of oligarchs.
that was one reason why a colleague asked if the minister is sure that the people of ukraine will keep up with and support the pace of the reforms.
of course i have heard critics say that we are not sure whether the money will be used transparently or whether there are enough incentives for reform in the report.
ukraine needs our unity in order to sustain clear reasoning for their reforms. just yesterday we had an opportunity to talk to the ukrainian minister of the economy.
fighting the oligarchic structures battling corruption and addressing inefficiency in the public sector are just a few of the points that he raised.
our foes would rejoice if they saw us disunited and would use it for their propaganda.
it is chilling to imagine any of our countries going through those sorts of reforms actually changing dramatically many fields of life that people were accustomed to.
it seemed to me that even the critics should have been convinced that ukraine is doing its utmost to reform itself.
if we want the country which is still fighting for its territory to be able to stabilise its budget and economy we have to agree on providing the funds as soon as possible.
he gave us a cold but clear overview on the reforms that his ministry and the government are undertaking.
one eight billion of macro financial aid to ukraine which will be the biggest financial package given by the european union to any third country.
when the situation in ukraine stabilises and i want to believe that it will we will come back to the debate on how we can help ukraine on its path to reform.
it has to be noted that our friends as well as our adversaries are looking for cracks in our unity.
dear colleagues i call on you to support this report as presented without amendments and to demonstrate our resolution to stand by ukraine.
we were reassured that with a clear message from europe that europe is standing by them the people will support and understand the need for reform.
as you know amendments to the commission proposal could trigger a second reading and significantly delay the adoption process.
ukraine is facing massive liquidity problems. ukraine is on the verge of bankruptcy and i am absolutely certain that the bankruptcy of ukraine would be worse than a full scale invasion of ukraine.
when you are at war you do not reform the state and save up for winter at the same time.
first we should provide support to a neighbouring country which is struggling with a massive economic and humanitarian crisis and is the victim of outright military aggression from russia.
this is not only our moral obligation it is also a very sensible political decision because we are providing support to a pro european pro reform and democratic government and in this way we contribute to our own security.
it is also a sign of our sense of responsibility for stability in the region.
having said that i have to call on the commission to make sure that the money is spent on support for the reform process and on state building in ukraine because we have to make sure that this assistance benefits all the people of ukraine.
it is our responsibility as partners and allies of ukraine to provide financial support but it is also our responsibility to help ukraine with long term rather than short term solutions.
these solutions are reforms reforms to restore confidence by reinforcing the rule of law tackling corruption and taking measures to improve the business environment.
my country estonia went through these painful reforms for the long term benefits of a sustainable future.
the israeli government has a clear commitment to applying these standards.
we judged it on its own merits and approved it.
remember that we had an agreement and a debate on an agreement with palestine quite recently actually and at that time we had the courage not to do what we are doing here.
but sadly this house has managed to hijack this question and make it into another part of the israeli palestinian conflict to the detriment of patients throughout europe.
that is what it is all about.
it is important to mention today that there are instruments in place to detect cases of abuse.
we all know that this protocol has been under consideration in the european parliament for more than two years.
the alde group hopes the answer to this oral question will provide clarity so that we can put the protocol to a vote.
however with or without this protocol i once again urge the israeli government to stop the illegal settlements and to move closer to the eu and the international community.
if nothing else the procedural journey that this protocol has made through the eu makes us all less credible and that is not what we need.