kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
building on the political guidelines of president elect von der leyen i will in the new commission lead on the work towards a european democracy action plan addressing the threat of interference in our european elections whilst being mindful of the need to protect the freedom of expression.
president elect von der leyen has proposed a new digital services act which will upgrade our liability and safety rules for digital platforms services and products.
and of course we will need citizens to work on strengthening their own resilience against these new threats.
in our actions we must never lose the balance. our goal is to protect our european democracy.
should the results under the code prove unsatisfactory the commission may propose further measures including of a regulatory nature. we also need to invest in strengthening media literacy which is key to resilient and democratic societies.
we need to get better when it comes to detecting analysing and exposing disinformation and other manipulations of european democratic processes whatever the tactics and actors employed.
to this end it is important to pursue our efforts aimed at facilitating the establishment of an independent community of fact checkers and academic researchers to detect and expose disinformation campaigns across social networks.
we will build on this work in the upcoming term.
she has also pledged to put forward a coordinated european approach on artificial intelligence.
to address the threats at stake a coordinated and comprehensive approach is necessary involving all actors across government including regulatory and enforcement authorities political parties journalists fact checkers researchers educators and society and civil society at large as well as industry and the online platforms.
indeed as we heard from the presidency it will be one of my biggest tasks in the new commission.
the conduct of free and fair elections is primarily the responsibility of member states.
just as with the rule of law what affects one member state can affect all and impact the union itself.
for instance external actors are more often using domestic proxies.
we also see new technological developments allowing for new forms and strategies of interference.
the commission has been deeply engaged in broad efforts to address the manifold risks stemming from lack of transparency disinformation and other manipulations of electoral and democratic processes and is committed to strengthening this path in the upcoming term.
nevertheless a european approach is necessary given the cross border dimension of efforts to manipulate democracy and the importance of joining efforts to address the threats.
we have worked to put a holistic and permanent framework in place with an aim to strengthen the resilience of our democracies and adapt to the evolving threats and coordinated and intentional manipulation.
these efforts will be vital if we are to ensure a prosperous safe and democratic digital future for europe.
some of them i mentioned but of course we need to invite more to work with us.
we can improve the effectiveness of communication through a coordinated response to disinformation incidents as well as raising public awareness more generally.
we also need to further enhance cooperation between eu institutions and eu member states via this network and the rapid alert system which will help us build a genuine community of practitioners.
this needs to go hand in hand with wider efforts on monitoring cybersecurity and resilience against hybrid threats.
in terms of cooperation we can be pleased with the european cooperation network on elections which meets today for the fifth time to discuss its future work on safeguarding elections.
i will look into possible legislative proposals to ensure clearer rules on the financing of european political parties and greater transparency on paid political advertising.
citizens must be empowered to have the adequate tools for a well informed participation in democratic processes.
i sometimes say that we have to work on increasing the demand for truth and this will be a very big task ahead of us.
russian abuses continue and i urge colleagues to join our mep friends of ukraine group because there's never been a more important time to reach out and embrace ukraine.
the illegal annexation of crimea is an affront to all of us who care about democracy.
i fell in love with the country and its people.
i'm proud that this parliament supports ukraine and its aspirations to move closer to our european family. in two thousand and eleven i was involved in a yearlong cultural exchange project with ukrainian partners.
i learned about the largely unknown holodomor or hunger a planned genocide which killed seven million ukrainians.
there's a war going on in our eastern neighbourhood and it's barely mentioned in the media yet the un human rights agency estimates that thirteen zero people or more have already lost their lives in the donbass area.
the main opposition has announced that the number of those killed during the iranian people's nationwide uprising is over four hundred and fifty but the number of deaths could be much higher.
the government is also refusing to hand over the bodies of those killed to their families or preventing funerals for them.
fact two a leaked early version of that report found that russia could indeed have influenced the outcome of the referendum and also raises questions about links between boris johnson our current prime minister the conservative party and russian donors.
fact three that same boris johnson has sat on that report and refused to publish it according to the normal timetable.
fact one on seventeen october the uk intelligence and security committee of our parliament finalised its report on allegations of russian interference in uk elections particularly the june two thousand and sixteen brexit referendum.
it should have been published within ten days according to the chairman of that committee.
therefore i am glad that the council has adopted a decision supporting the extension of the cotonou agreement until thirty one december.
we have put forward to our acp partners a proposal for comprehensive dialogue covering all objectives priorities and policy areas.
as chief negotiator i have to be realistic.
our comprehensive dialogue with the acp partners and a multiactor approach will be essential to put in place the conditions and instruments for regular monitoring and implementation of the sdgs.
the eu has a clear position we are seeking from all parties a commitment to facilitate the active engagement of a wide variety of actors in dialogue and cooperation processes.
on migration the commission appreciates the concern of parliament.
lastly honourable members your question on the sustainable development goals is welcome.
you have one key demand the strengthening of the parliamentary dimension including at the eu acp level.
concerning the economic partnership agreements i would like to recall that these are selfstanding international agreements.
nevertheless the commission takes note of the recommendation formulated by parliament on this heading.
eventually that proposal did not become part of the council's negotiation directives.
african caribbean and pacific group of states.
i would also like to recall that the recommendation by the commission to the council of december two thousand and seventeen included the proposal that the three regional parliamentary configurations could be brought into one on specific occasions.
honourable members i welcome your question on political dialogue.
however the postcotonou agreement will provide a coherent framework for cooperation with acp states linking all negotiated and future epas to respect for essential and fundamental elements.
the european union and the acp are currently negotiating a balanced text seeking a substantial compromise between the negotiation interests of both parties.
concerning your call for reinforcing provisions to fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and for upholding sexual and reproductive health and rights i can say that we are aligned on this but i note that our proposals to the acp side have not received a positive feedback and further negotiation is required.
however in line with the negotiation directives from the council i also believe that this can best take place at the level of the regional protocols and less so at the level of the euacp.
when the cotonou agreement expires on twenty nine february next year the negotiations will not have sufficiently advanced and there will be a need to have transitional measures in place.
the negotiations are progressing i would say at moderate pace.
another important question is about civil society.
the cotonou agreement covers cooperation with nearly eighty countries worldwide and it covers a wide set of policy areas.
these are key values of the european union and we need to make sure that this will also be within the agreement.
we now count on the commission and the council to be champions of our demands in the coming weeks and the coming months and to provide answers also today;
attached to the foundation agreement three regional partnership protocols will detail cooperation priorities tailored to the regions' specificities.
we don't want to lose the benefits of peer to peer discussions at acp level.
the latter was not a given when the first discussions with eu member states started but it was one of parliament's key demands.
i would like to make clear that the european parliament cannot accept that the executive level of government might have no parliamentary counterpart that there will be a joint council of ministers a joint committee but no parliamentary meetings.
we believe that these questions will provide guidance to the incoming commissioner.
these are all core values of our european union. the cotonou agreement expires in february next year. negotiations for the next agreement have already started.
in these times times of increasing global uncertainty we the european union must defend and promote multilateralism global cooperation and a rule based world order.
the first question is where do we actually stand on the key demand of parliament that the new agreement should reinforce the parliamentary dimension at acp level?
we would like to hear clear answers to them today.
we agree with a reinforcement of parliamentary cooperation at the level of the three regional pillars but this is not sufficient.
it is agreed that the foundation and the regional partnerships will be one legally binding instrument.
but in today's debate we need more clarity and we also need the new resolution because some of parliament's key concerns have not been addressed.
we know that in some countries this is of very serious concern and we want to see an increased role for civil society.
another important issue and also on behalf of the committee on development where do the council and the commission and the acp stand when it comes to reinforcing provisions to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights are integrated and supported through the new agreement?
so far the acp and the eu have agreed that the foundation of the future partnership shall focus on key values and principles and on overarching priorities.
building a green new deal a just transition to a low carbon economy workers' rights equality the horizontal discrimination directive many of these have been characterised by delay but delay because they were challenges challenges that had to be overcome.
this is a challenge because we have not got it right and this is an extraordinary challenge for this new commission because it is feeling the bad politics of the european union.
this commission was part of a process in its building.
that is why we are here and that is the spirit in which we should have continued.
for the challenges of the future the president designate mentioned ai and having responsible data in the future.
that is why i'm proud of the progressive commissioners and what they can achieve but it was part of a process.
we don't want china and the united states still doesn't have gdpr so it is up to the european union.
so you're not legally complete and that is a fact.
so i wish you all the very best with this but it must be in line with our fundamental eu values of human rights and dignity.
one was the thirty nine people in the lorry the thousands of people who have lost their lives in the mediterranean.
so the process in building you was part of our groups' wish to create a more progressive commission.
there will be a pact on migration within days of this commission taking office.
those with deep pockets have always tried to influence elections but the scale and the technology is new.
years of relative peace and security after the end of the cold war have allowed us here in europe to grow relaxed about the dangers of foreign propaganda.
the conservative party in the uk has transformed beyond recognition over the last three years and there are many in the uk who have huge concerns about the influence from both russia and the usa in that massive change.
that means publishing the russia files in the uk and getting tough with all forms of media about their responsibilities to validate the truth of what they publish.
we need to wake up to the serious threats facing our democracies.
at the most basic level the scale of donations from russian oligarchs or their wives is extraordinary gbp two hundred zero from one individual in the first week of this election campaign alone.
the impact of misinformation has been recognised by serious research which has shown that those who have been fed false information are significantly harder to persuade of the true facts than people with no prior knowledge.
colleagues i have to say frankly to you that the world looks different when you face the prospect of your country being removed against your democratic will from this family of nations.
but dr von der leyen we do need a new dynamism in europe. for too long it's been too easy to present the european commission as stale out of touch uncaring.
remember this you are a blessed generation. cherish europe. it is an amazing achievement. with all its faults never forget what an amazing project you are part of.
scotland's problems are not coming from this place they're coming from westminster and if i win i must leave this place.
it's not perfect but never take it for granted. learn from our experience reversal is also possible.
i truly do hope that you and your new college do bring a new energy to the european union.
i would like to urge all georgian political parties to come together and to find a solution that will not jeopardise the hopes of people and the democratic future of georgia.
it was disappointing and as the chair of the delegation for relations with the south caucasus i would like to reassure all our eastern partners of the full support of the european parliament to the democratic reforms and european aspirations of these nations.
it was unexpected as there was a clear and multi partisan consensus over these changes. it caused turbulence in society and it brought people to the streets.
justice in words requires justice in action so let us remember and repeat and honour the great words of nelson mandela when he said our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the palestinians'.
mr president my message to the heroic palestinian people who have resisted the extermination of their culture their nationhood and their right to exist for seventy years is this there are millions and millions of europeans who grew up under occupation behind the iron curtain
these europeans and their allies some are right wing and some are left wing they know the horrors of occupation too well to allow or dismiss your struggle.
if the settlements are illegal then the products are illegal and those who profit from them are criminals.
the support and the engagement of parliament all along this process are so important.
leading the negotiations for the eu has been an honour and a challenge for me. i believe we have made sufficient progress in a relatively short time.
let's start now to deliver our promises.
identity is needed so much.
i like being a european and the next five years will decide whether europe keeps its heart and soul or whether it will be pushed aside in a more and more brutal world.
what makes europe unique is at stake.
i'm fascinated by the chinese culture but i don't want to live the chinese way of life and the americans will always be europe's closest partner but i don't want to live the american way of life. i prefer the european way of life.
but in the coming years there is even more at stake.
as the biggest party in europe in the european parliament in the group we want to deliver now.
but we as europeans can we describe our way of living our european way of life?
we feel our societies are falling apart.
democracy rule of law equal treatment of men and women;
turkey is a strong partner but turkey cannot become a member of the european union.
us. let's start now to deliver.
that is what we have in mind when we speak about delivering.
not everybody was ready for the job but finally we now have commissioners in front of us who the responsible committee gave the green light to. the epp was always insisting during the whole period on a transparent and fair procedure.
together we delivered and today hopefully with the full support of this house we can also give the new commission a strong democratic legitimacy.
we have more female commissioners than ever before and i'm proud to say as an epp responsible politician that from the epp part of the college we have fifty women so we achieved our goal to get a fifty balance.
others still have to work on this and we brought as the epp the first female commission president in office so for us it's not only about sunday speeches;
one of the key achievements of your team is the better gender balance the improvement of gender balance.
in two thousand and twenty four we will have implemented an ambitious and smart climate policy based on innovation without attacking farmers and without doing politics against the industry.
even in the poorest countries in europe we have a health system based on solidarity;
my group the european people's party got in the last elections forty million votes and we have now the responsibility to deliver what our people our voters ask us to do.
our european common feeling is more and more under attack because of the split between people who feel threatened by globalisation and those who enjoy the new opportunities.
and as the headline for the european way of life thirty years after the fall of the berlin wall freedom freedom of speech of religion of the press.
we will have achieved in two thousand and twenty four to build up five million new jobs.
all of us know how to describe our national identity by our history by our achievements our culture.
the epp is ready to work together with all democratic groups in this house for a better europe.
we will always protect promote and guarantee the european way of life.
ambitious projects are important no doubt about this.
when trump is building up trade walls we as europeans have to build up trade bridges.
that's why the european people's party will today vote in favour of the commission.
it is time to get rid of johnson his brexit and his lies and to give the british people the brighter future they deserve.
previous uk governments have outlined plans to improve transparency and clamp down on digital election interference but nothing has happened.
experts including the commons digital committee have warned that the uk is vulnerable to foreign meddling notably by vladimir putin and donald trump who both have a keen interest in fostering brexit and weakening the eu.
is this the reason johnson refuses to disclose the russian interference report?
it reads in fair and free elections the power of the people determines the people in power'.
she has the power to impose her agenda on millions of european citizens whether they like it or not.
this federalism steals power from the people and is a naked power grab from the demos to technocrats in the commission and we're expected to nod it through.
we are being used as a stage army marched out today to rubber stamp a thoroughly anti democratic imposition of a top down power at commission level.
we may salve our consciences by rejecting a few bad eggs at bogus committee hearings but the truth is all we can do is accept or reject from a bunch of pre selected candidates with no real choice.
this parliament is no more than a faux democratic charade used to give a veneer of legitimacy to an illegitimate decision making process.
the only power on display in her election was a behind the scenes cabal which pushed her forward as a last minute compromise candidate. and although she only scraped through she now has the power to dictate the priorities of europe.
from the commission's ambition for a green new deal for deeper monetary integration or austerity or appointing josep borrell who endorses qualified majority voting on foreign policy that strips nation states of the right to determine their own foreign policy.
that is true in national democracies but it is a flagrant lie fake news and disinformation in relation to the commission.
second we have a strong team of socialist commissioners who have the vision competence and energy to deliver and the commission cannot be seen anymore as the domain of the epp where one party dominates the policies.
the most progressive actually political agenda for the commission is at the table and we have to back it.
in the last european elections there was record participation but the patience of citizens is at its limits so please start acting and delivering from today.
first madam president you took strong pledges and made serious political commitments for a progressive change of the european union a change which is social environmental and economic.
i'm sure some of you have visited as well some of these projects we finance in the middle east.
she was inviting the european union to finance some concrete projects in the middle east and she mentioned in particular the case of iraq.
just as an example to name the numbers just for iraq specifically we have been financing concrete projects and that means demining that means job creation that means reconciliation projects that exist and that we visit constantly at my level at the level of our delegation on the ground.
let me just answer specifically one question that was asked even if i don't see the member of parliament present in the room but i am sure that she will be watching us carefully from her office.
so if i can invite you to document yourself at least on the projects you agree on financing in these areas i think this would be a service to the way in which you can represent your constituencies.
many of you have said it's real people it's real people with real needs.
it is obviously for them to shape it together with the council but let me say that i hope and i believe that the european union with your support will have to be even more so in the future a fundamental partner for the people of the region because sometimes we don't realise how important
some would say that the commission has been naive by helping broker a deal here which led to a doomed coalition with president dodon who then enabled a power grab.
and when we look at baku the opposition leader who was recently arrested during a rally says he was savagely tortured in police custody.
maybe our policy of softly softly in the region is not delivering the results we wanted.
we have a growing number of concerns in our neighbourhood. i think the signals coming from chiinu send a worrying message of regression away from reforms for democracy and the rule of law.
meanwhile we have already heard in georgia that people are calling for a more democratic and fair electoral system and they are facing riot police who are using rubber bullets and tear gas against them.
so what is happening in these countries is a growing trend in the world authoritarians trying to get a stranglehold on fragile democracy.
we have got to demand that the leaders of the regime face justice for their crimes.