kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
the improvements and the reforms that need to take place.
the commission paper on the european information exchange model was published in december and is designed to take stock of how existing cross border information exchange works today.
and we are doing so.
i believe the process has been greatly improved by the use of the codecision procedure;
and to build on the momentum that we have managed to achieve through your cooperation here in parliament over the last number of months.
as many members have pointed out the stockholm programme and all the aspects and elements of it affect the lives of eu citizens in one way or another given that it helps to define work in all aspects of justice and home affairs.
as i mentioned in my introductory remarks the programme itself is extremely wide ranging and very comprehensive in scope and covers a range of areas justice asylum migration internal security and external relations.
ms wikstrm mentioned the importance of resettlement programmes and as you are probably aware a joint eu resettlement programme was adopted by both parliament and the council in march of last year in order to ensure that there is a coordinated response to those who require protection.
the area of freedom security and justice which we have helped define and which we have all worked so hard to achieve and indeed to protect has benefited greatly from the certainty of the issues that are contained within the
the commission's findings from that process are being examined carefully at the moment by council and we will revert.
the programme itself ensures that issues that are central to the further development and ongoing protection of the area of freedom and justice are constantly and consistently within our sphere of attention and i think that really is the benefit of the stockholm programme keeping it on the agenda and keeping us focussed on
other members asked about the information management strategy.
it has certainly ensured continuity through and across various presidencies of the european union.
mr kirkhope spoke about the challenge of unaccompanied minors and of course that is indeed a major cause for concern and demands attention.
i note that several members referred to the european arrest warrant in different ways of course some said that it is being applied unjustly against citizens others that it is not being applied enough.
point. even if there is a forced way of burden sharing it has to be agreed to by the member states themselves.
even though some would prefer to have an imposed system of burden sharing it is perhaps a contradiction in terms up to a certain
in occupying the office of a parliamentarian. but we face this in most directives.
of mr moraes saying that the commission is on the energetic side of things in the introduction of legislation. it is natural.
thank you my lord for that most interesting question.
the united kingdom will of course assess the position regarding all matters including the position of the european arrest warrant the benefits and the disadvantages of that warrant and the need for its reform.
i think there are many other people in this house who would also agree with us that reform is necessary but certainly without calculating the full effects on our people the citizens of britain and well as the citizens of the rest of europe it is impossible at this point to give a clear indication of what we may do in future on that matter.
and the willingness of parliament the people in this chamber and the commission to do things.
we see that repeatedly.
this is now the common denominator of so many of the essential files we have on the table and so many of the problems we have with implementation. that inertia was obvious yesterday when only seven member states were willing to deal with the emergencies we see with asylum problems.
if this is the common denominator then we have to unplug these difficulties.
that is the problem underlying so many of our issues here but that does not mean that we have not made progress.
through determination we have made progress on victims of crime and human trafficking in trying to complete the common asylum system.
this has all been done through determination and this mid term review should recognise all those advances.
but also in the stockholm programme we should realise that with the tools we have we should attack the difficult problems.
thank you very much for giving way.
mr kirkhope do you consider that the uk should opt out of the european arrest warrant when it has a chance to do so next year or not?
i will seek to ensure that we strike the right balance in this area in the context of the future report. finally there are four statements that have been requested by either the parliament or the council firstly a declaration by the commission on information on the method of slaughter of animals.
secondly mandatory nutrition information will help consumers identify the foods that meet their personal preferences or dietary requirements.
the parliament and the council have noted that european consumers show an interest in the implementation of the eu animal welfare rules at the time of slaughter including whether the animal was stunned before slaughter.
in the light of efsa's opinion the commission will consider whether there is a need to review existing legislation on aspartame and if necessary will undertake appropriate legal measures such as revising maximum permitted levels and or requiring the provision of relevant information to consumers.
i also regret to see that alcoholic beverages have been totally exempted from the ingredient and nutrition labelling requirements.
now we are reaching a conclusion on this important regulation.
i am pleased to see that the parliament shares the commission's vision to establish a general framework for the provision of food information which puts consumers first.
this reduces the benefits of including nutrition information for consumers.
to ensure that consumers are given meaningful information and that the new rules are enforceable commissioner ciolo my colleague responsible for agriculture and i will pay particular attention to the implementing rules. although the new legislation improves matters for consumers and food business operators alike
the status of food pre packed for direct sale in terms of hygiene requirements and the provision of food information in this respect will be considered in the context of the future revision of the food hygiene package.
two thousand and twelve the commission will ensure that efsa will also consider the effect of aspartame on pregnant women.
last but not least let me thank the hungarian presidency and the other presidencies which preceded it which were very active and did an excellent job in finding compromises that are acceptable for the council as a whole.
i regret to see that the front of pack' nutrition declaration an important part of the initial commission proposal has been deleted.
i am grateful in particular to the rapporteur dr sommer for her hard work and commitment towards finding a compromise with the council.
fourthly a statement by the commission on food pre packed for direct sale.
the framework for the voluntary inclusion of nutrition information on the front of packs including other forms of expression is however a step in the right direction. this provides the basis for further consideration of this issue in the future.
recourse to this provision must respond to a specific need to depart from the rule of principle which is that the commission may adopt a draft implementing act when no opinion is delivered.
with this text we ensure that our approach to food information is both forward looking and sufficiently flexible to respond to future developments.
third mandatory information on all food on substances causing food allergies or intolerances not only pre packed foods but also non pre packed foods and foods sold in restaurants will ensure better protection of consumer health.
of. two thousand and twelve the outcome of this technical work will provide the basis for refining the definition of food colouring and for enabling the provision of accurate information to consumers in relation to the use of food ingredients with colouring properties.
i believe that consumers are entitled to receive appropriate information when they consume alcoholic beverages.
let me highlight some of them firstly the introduction of a minimum font size for mandatory information will improve the legibility of food labels one of the main complaints in this area.
we are also aware of the sensitivity that this has with certain sectors of our society.
thirdly a declaration by the commission on food colouring. the commission is working with the member states on developing guidelines on the classification of food extracts with colouring properties.
this has been done for several years and has been welcomed by millions of european consumers.
it was significant that ninety eight of respondents felt that country of origin labelling was necessary but also over fifty of the respondents were not aware that country of origin labelling meant the country in which the product underwent the last significant change.
i am delighted to be able to support this package and take the opportunity to welcome greater honesty and transparency on food labels.
a lot of us argued for this and i think we have a good compromise here.
so i think this regulation will make a significant contribution to healthy eating in europe and as such it is very welcome.
we have a clear forward on country of origin labelling.
we had widely divergent positions but it would have been a shame to see these three years of work for which we have to congratulate renate sommer going down the drain the same way as the novel foods bill went down the drain. let me pick up on the point that commissioner dalli raised in his opening remarks about the
this as we all know has been widely abused.
the derogation has been abused so that many millions of animals are being slaughtered in this way now and the meat products from those animals are finding their way into the general food chain.
we felt very strongly that the consumers in europe have a right to know when they are buying those products.
consumers have the right to expect information given on food labels to be correct and not misleading. nutritional information is important to the consumer and the quality standard with which the food complies is important for consumer choice and for consumer safety.
all of these are good things to have emerged from the report.
however i want to highlight one particular area where i have concerns.
while having sympathy with the concept i have reservations as to the potential impact on trade.
in northern ireland local business has already seen how something like country of origin labelling could and can be used as a protectionist measure.
this has had a negative impact on trade in northern ireland and producers and processors have suffered as a result.
i would urge the commission to carry out an impact assessment to investigate any proposed labelling legislation particularly in relation to country of origin labelling.
madam president i am delighted that after years of work we are taking a big step in the right direction in informing consumers about what is in the food that they eat. unfortunately it seemed at times as though we forgot that this regulation is about food information to consumers.
the amount of lobbying from the food and drink industry has been unprecedented and clearly a lot of money has been spent trying to stop transparent labelling.
nevertheless we have gained many positive things in this compromise.
i fought hard for country of origin labelling and am pleased that the council has agreed to origin labelling for fresh lamb pork goat and poultry just as we have already for beef fish fruit and vegetables.
we have also convinced the council that the commission should produce a report and possible legislation on the origin of meat in processed food within two years.
why is this important?
we really do need more transparency about where our food comes from.
the issue of trans fats was also of great concern to the socialist group.
trans fats are often added unnecessarily to processed foods when we know that they can increase risks of a whole range of problems including heart disease infertility and alzheimer's disease.
this agreement ensures that the commission will investigate the problem and report back within three years.
i am also proud that we persuaded member states to agree to label all types of vegetable oil.
consumers will now be able to see when unsustainable palm oil is used in foods at the expense of precious rainforests and to put pressure on manufacturers to use oil from a sustainable source.
the huge disappointment for me is that mandatory front of pack labelling has not been adopted.
it seems to me that if we are serious about tackling some of our major health issues such as obesity heart disease and diabetes then we really should have given consumers the information they need to quickly identify healthier options.
however i am glad that existing systems can continue to be used on a voluntary basis including consumer friendly schemes such as the traffic light system.
i hope that more and more retailers and manufacturers will start to use them.
let us not forget that this is the first time that back of pack nutritional labelling will be mandatory under european law which means that now consumers will always have the opportunity to see how much salt sugar and fat and other key nutrients are in their food.
the vote tomorrow represents real progress for transparent food labelling.
we will continue to push for improvements that benefit consumers.
i also fear that it will come at a cost and that that cost will then be pushed onto the consumer which seems to me to be particularly dangerous at a time of an economic downturn.
we all know that the uk can pass laws itself indeed our parliament was known as the mother of parliaments for many years.
i have noted the insistence by some members on the issue of enforcement.
i am a firm believer that even before coming up with new rules new legislation and new regulation we have to really ensure that what we have today is being properly enforced.
on imitation we also have to be very creative and i agree here with ms de lange.
it is not a question of telling people what to eat.
on the language question here we also have to be very careful.
we have not changed the present regulation on language.
we have to be careful because if i understand correctly the amendment that is being proposed would enable any country or district or region to impose one exclusive language on the packaging.
the new legislation represents a milestone in the european consumer's right to information.
with the conclusion of the legislative procedure we can now move to the next step the implementation phase. a lot of work still remains to be done to ensure the full application of certain rules.
i count on fruitful interinstitutional cooperation to ensure the pragmatic implementation of this regulation.
this is a clash between civilisation and barbarians. this is a war.
this is to divide us and divide our societies.
we need to act and we need to be united in this respect.
i think that the joint resolution that we will be voting on tomorrow addresses many of these issues starting from broadening the definition of crimes.
these are meant to be destructive by imposing their way of life over ours.
as you know the european union is committed to the preservation of cultural heritage as an essential element to maintain the liveliness of national identities and to nurture the awareness of the role each community of people plays in the global society.
we are also appalled by the terrible images of destruction of cultural sites both in iraq and syria which we are debating today.
in the context of the european agenda on security that was adopted yesterday the commission is also exploring the need to take measures in the area of terrorism financing including measures relating to illicit trade in cultural goods.
for all these reasons the european union will do whatever is in its power to protect cultural heritage from pillage and destruction and to prosecute the perpetrators of such crimes.
we are also ready to explore with the european space agency the possibility to deploy satellite imagery acquisition over locations in conflict zones.
the eu itself is not actively contributing to the military campaign;
the framework decision on the fight against organised crime establishes the definitions of offences for participating in a criminal organisation and provides for corresponding penalties on natural or legal persons.
now we must ensure that they will be appropriately enforced by the member state authorities.
more generally the fight against the trafficking of cultural property is a part of the eu's fight against organised crime.
in that regard the european union is ready to upscale any form of cooperation with all international organisations engaged in the preservation of cultural heritage especially with un systems and agencies.
ultimately the best means of preventing further acts of this kind is the swift and comprehensive defeat of isil da'esh.
the remains of past civilisations remind us that cultures are the product of a never ending process of elaboration and transformation where there is no definite truth but just countless attempts to find a meaning to human life.
moreover the european union funds the international observatory on illicit traffic in cultural goods a collaborative platform designed by the international council of museums.
this is a horrible attack against not only the culture of those countries but also against the values and the memories of several centuries of history.
we therefore welcome this opportunity to speak here and join the european parliament in the condemnation of such barbaric behaviour.
during the next culture ministers' council meeting that will take place in just three weeks the commission will give an update on culture and cultural heritage aspects.
cooperation with interpol and europol is on going to strengthen the effectiveness of combating this type of crime.
i would like to conclude by saying that the world's cultural heritage is a source of inspiration and immense knowledge as well as a resource to facilitate peaceful co existence by promoting trust and mutual understanding with a view to the resolution and prevention of conflicts. this
the regulations prohibit the import export and transfer of cultural goods which have been illegally removed from these two countries.
as the honourable members certainly know the export of cultural goods to third countries is subject to uniform controls at eu external borders.
scientific and religious importance illegally removed from either country during periods of conflict.
illegally exported from third countries. the study is due to be completed by.
precious cultural heritage of ancient civilisations has irreversibly vanished and continues to be under threat of illicit trafficking.
the fight against terrorism is an issue of particular importance to the presidency.
this update will be an important contribution to the eu regional strategy for syria and iraq as well as the da'esh threat.
acts of destruction of the sculptures manuscripts and sites that isis da'esh have seized from the countries it occupies are not just a tragedy for the syrian and the iraqi people it is a loss for civilisations of the entire world.
therefore addressing the issue is also important in the wider context of countering terrorism.
cooperation with unesco is essential to strengthen the protection of global cultural heritage.
the council also called on member states to cooperate with unesco by taking common actions in order to prevent crimes against cultural goods.
the aim of these measures is precisely to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage and the use of it for the purposes of financing terrorist activities.
patrimony has a universal value and it belongs to all of humanity irrespective of ownership or territory.
however such uniform rules do not exist for import. with this concern in mind last year the council asked the commission to prepare a study on the issue of illicit trafficking of cultural objects including the import to the eu of cultural goods
the aim of this network is to strengthen coordination at national level to combat crime against cultural goods.
finally in two thousand and twelve the council set up an informal network of law enforcement authorities and expertise competent in the field of cultural goods called eu cultnet.
i would like to recall in this regard the two regulations the council adopted regarding restrictive measures against iraq in two thousand and three and syria in two thousand and thirteen.
particular attention is being paid to the swift implementation of the eu counter terrorism measures including on countering the financing of terrorism.
just as the heinous and horrific crimes isis commits against ordinary civilians are not only a matter for iraqis and syrians but are a matter for humanity at large so is the destruction of these ancient cultural sites a matter of common human heritage and identity.
the fertile crescent of mesopotamia is one of the birthplaces of human civilisation and the sharing of culture with others is a natural human mechanism for creating openness and understanding between diverse groups of people. it is that common humanity that co existence and understanding which isis seeks to destroy.
it is right that the international community moves to act against these crimes.
what happened in syria and iraq must also teach us a lesson on how we must use cultural heritage here in europe not as an exclusive and divisive tool but as an educational instrument to deal with societal issues and contemporary challenges to foster intercultural dialogue in order to bring people of europe closer together.
in my capacity as iraq delegation chairman i call on the iraqi and syrian authorities to improve their legal and administrative frameworks in order to prevent the illicit trafficking of stolen artefacts as has been mentioned here and cut off funds for terrorism. international partners also need to redouble their efforts to assist in documenting the historical treasures of this ancient civilisation.
it is imperative that a clear record of these artefacts be preserved.
finally the major damage already inflicted on iraqi and assyrian sites is one of the worst cultural heritage disasters of all time according to a yale professor.
the council fully supports the view that cooperation with unesco and other international organisations working on the preservation of the world's cultural heritage and on combating organised crime is of great importance and should be reinforced.
applications of earth observation such as the ones indicated by the parliamentary question within conflict zones are within the scope of the future copernicus security services in support of external actions.
however until today the location of cultural sites has not been part of current copernicus requirements but the programme could exploit this potential in the future. finally we also need to join forces and ensure that when the conflicts in syria iraq and other countries in the region are over
culture will be there to help people engage on the path towards peace.
it is a matter that has to do with the very notion of civilisation.
as i said in my remarks the european union is strongly committed to this principle.
moreover many european union legislative acts provide for the restitution of cultural artefacts unlawfully removed from their territory and ensure that exports of cultural goods are subject to uniform controls at the european union's external borders. the european union is also engaged in raising awareness of this issue with its partners providing recommendations and lines of action and is party to international conventions that aim at the protection and fostering of cultural diversity. i hope that the discussion we had today will help inspire our further action in this field and that the cultural heritage of syria and iraq will be spared