kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
we should be defending the right of israel to defend its own citizens from rocket attack and i think that we should really examine the role of this house and these institutions. surely we have taken our eye off the ball in that we have allowed this situation
i think that this house should unite in welcoming this development that has been reported to us this afternoon.
earlier efforts to bring this about since the signing of the reconciliation agreement in may. two thousand and eleven a negotiated two state solution which we have always called for continues to be the only viable option open to both israel and the palestinian people.
it is important to bear in mind that the situation in gaza has also led to an increase in tensions in the west bank with two deaths confirmed after the use of live israeli ammunition in the west bank protests on eighteen and nineteen november.
with one hundred and thirty people killed in gaza and five in israel up to last night many of them women and children and more deaths in gaza today we owe it to the ordinary people caught up in this conflict to make
journalists have also been among the casualties and i repeat my call to israel to ensure the protection of civilians at all times.
it was announced by the foreign minister of egypt mohamed amr and the secretary of state of the united states hilary clinton at a presss conference just a few minutes ago.
i also deplore the summary executions of seven palestinians in the gaza strip over the last two days by armed groups there.
honourable members by holding a debate on developments in gaza the european parliament has shown once again its overriding concern for the civilian population in the region and its constant support for lasting pace in the middle east.
palestinian unity is an important element for a viable palestinian state and essential for ensuring lasting peace with israel. the european union has consistently called for a palestinian reconciliation under the authority of president abbas and has commended egypt's
how are they possibly surgical?
do you not see the connection between this onslaught and the elections in january in view of which the right wing government is now trying to whip up support?
but the objective is not to kill civilians; it is to eliminate the rocket launchers and the hamas terrorists behind them.
it is an attack on the military infrastructure of gaza.
it is not an attack on the people.
the ecr group of course supports a two state solution based on a viable palestinian state which includes both gaza and the west bank living in peace and security with israel.
of course we also wish to see negotiations for a palestinian state to restart and we support the moderate leadership of president abbas.
every state has the right to self defence under article fifty one of the un charter so israel is fully entitled to seek out all legitimate military targets including rocket launch sites and ammunition dumps which it has done on a surgical basis.
nor am i convinced by the desire to lift the blockade as i doubt very much mr zala that political guarantees or international mechanisms can ensure that there will be no maritime smuggling of arms to gaza particularly from iran by ship.
however i am not convinced by the calls within the resolution for un observer state status for the palestinians as this would undermine the restarting of the peace negotiations.
lastly my sympathies go out to the victims of today's bomb attack in tel aviv in which ten people were injured making the calls led by egypt for an immediate ceasefire extremely difficult but i do hope the announcement made by the foreign minister of cyprus will hold and there will be an immediate ceasefire.
hamas disgracefully sited its launchers in densely populated civilian areas which make it guilty of another war crime by putting its civilian population at risk of israeli bombardment.
however there can be no prospects of such when gaza is run by an eu banned terrorist organisation wishing to destroy the state of israel.
from the west bank.
has placed egypt at the heart of international efforts to bring about a solution to the crisis.
the united nations security council met last night to discuss developments and will resume discussions later today in new york if need be.
the diplomatic focus is now on a ceasefire as a stepping stone to a longer lasting solution.
the world food programme continues its food distribution activities.
one thousand eight hundred and sixty honourable members the recent upsurge of violence in gaza and israel against the background of a seismic shift in the political landscape of the middle east and north africa shows how fragile the region continues to
the humanitarian situation already precarious in gaza has inevitably taken a turn for the worse but humanitarian support is still available.
this has to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
the eu will continue to play a leading role on the humanitarian front and already dedicates a considerable proportion of its palestinian assistance programme to the gaza strip.
including against regional threats.
the eu is also providing support to sustain vital social services including in the health sector and is engaged in upgrading the palestinian side of the key gaza israel crossing at kerem shalom through which so much of the support on which gaza depends must pass.
the need to find a sustainable solution for gaza is more urgent than ever a long term solution which will not lead to yet another round of violence.
honourable members a ceasefire is in the interests of both sides and not least of the civilian population which has already taken a heavy toll over the past few days enduring both physical and psychological trauma.
the european union reiterates its strong and unequivocal condemnation of all forms and acts of terrorism irrespective of their origin cause or motive and its unwavering commitment to the fight against
the loss of civilian lives on both sides has been tragic.
i wish a speedy recovery to those injured.
by recalling the eu's overall position on the gaza blockade this text represents a balanced consensus but also reflects clear and strong eu positions on the current situation and demonstrates a unity of purpose in the present crisis. the situation in gaza
the european union calls for a ceasefire and an immediate de escalation given the continuing violence over the last few days and mounting civilian losses.
gaza's limited power supply has not been seriously affected but clean water and drugs are in short supply.
a ceasefire if properly implemented would help but would not be sufficient.
the eu reiterates its readiness to assist in the reconstruction and economic recovery of gaza in close partnership with the palestinian authority and the israeli government in line with un security council resolution.
to that end and as soon as is practicable the eu will intensify its contacts with its partners within the quartet and with other key players to explore all possibilities for creating a new dynamic in the peace process.
the eu now stands ready to do what it can to encourage all sides to ensure the implementation of a ceasefire.
at the same time it also continues to call for the immediate sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid commercial goods and persons to and from the gaza strip. gaza's position remains unsustainable for as long as it continues to be politically separated
can the security of israel and the defence of its citizens be ensured by postponing the recognition of a palestinian state by the un when we know what the demographics are in the region and that these demographics are against the security of israel
if things continue as they are?
i think i made that very clear in my intervention.
of course i support a two state solution based on israel and a palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with a viable palestinian state.
what we need now is a cessation of terrorist activities against the state of israel and confidence building measures which will enable the israelis to feel that they can come back to the negotiating table under the aegis of the quartet and negotiate for a palestinian state.
at the moment when rockets are raining down on their territory they are hardly likely to have much confidence in the idea of a two state solution.
i would like to thank my colleague for her question. i have much experience of peace processes in my own constituency.
i can honestly say that in order to build a long stable and lasting peace we have to build confidence.
i do not think we will build confidence by pursuing agendas other than building confidence between the two actors in this particular issue.
we need to look at what israel needs in order for it to get back to the negotiating table as much as we need to look at the palestinian issue as well.
so it is a matter of building confidence;
it is a matter of being an honest broker and of ensuring that we are even handed in what we do.
just six months ago we passed a resolution to express our serious concern at the violent crackdown by president duterte on the users and sellers of narcotics.
moreover i call on the government of the philippines to put an immediate end to the wave of extrajudicial executions taking place and to condemn and investigate the actions of vigilante groups carrying out these killings.
no matter how serious an issue may be no government can permit violations of human rights and the rule of law to achieve an outcome.
senator leila de lima has been a strong voice raising legitimate concerns over the legality humanity and actual effectiveness of such a brutal policy.
freedom of speech and political opposition are critical to the functioning of any democracy.
while condemning these actions the eu should also seek to assist the government to uphold its human rights obligations.
the illegal drug trade in the philippines is a serious problem that needs to be addressed but encouraging and condoning murder is not a solution.
this resolution focuses on the politically motivated arrest of an outspoken critic of the president but her situation is only a small part of the escalating instability and the climate of fear in the philippines motivated by the president's policies.
senator de lima's arrest signals that the president is willing to take personal political feuds to the highest level.
it also raises serious concerns for other opposition politicians and activists in the country.
let us be clear about this this is not a war on drugs.
this is a war on the urban poor; this is a war as my colleague said on democracy;
and this is a war on human rights.
drugs are being used as the justification but they are not the motivation.
we must work with all our partners and all those who support due process and democracy in the philippines to convince mr duterte's government to stop the re establishment of the death penalty to review the minimum age of criminal liability and to end these extrajudicial killings and political persecution. the philippines is an important player in the region.
it needs stability and democracy and we should be supporting it in that.
mr president drug related crimes are an evil scourge on society preying on the weak and causing untold misery and suffering. they should of course be treated with appropriate gravity; but there are legal legitimate means of fighting a war on drugs and there are illegal illegitimate ones.
what duterte is doing now through extrajudicial killings is absolutely wrong and we must surely all condemn it. how can the world trust that government to give a fair trial to senator de lima when it tramples upon due process and judicial proceedings?
in western societies we often take for granted fundamental freedoms like the presumption of innocence habeas corpus and the right to a fair trial.
mr president honourable members thank you for this resolution that draws attention to the arrest of senator de lima former secretary of justice former chair of the human rights commission to the philippines and as has been underlined one of the most outspoken critics of the so called war on drugs.
the eu has called on the philippines to respect its obligations under international and domestic law in particular to ensure the respect for the rule of law and human rights.
this includes the right to due process the independence of the judiciary and a fair trial for all citizens.
the proceedings in the case of senator de lima will be followed closely by the public both in the philippines and internationally.
the eu will continue to underline the importance of the freedom of expression and opinion.
we have underlined the need for effective investigations of all killings due process and access to remedies in this respect and our concerns on the proposal to reintroduce the death penalty and on the proposal to lower the minimum age for criminal responsibility.
we have called for the protection of human rights defenders and underlined the importance of the freedom of expression and the freedom of opinion.
the eu set out these concerns in its statement to the un human rights council earlier this week.
the eu and member states will remain engaged with the philippines on all of these issues.
at the same time as has been recognised we will also continue to assist the philippine government in their efforts on the peace process the economy and poverty reduction.
under the multiannual indicative programme the strengthening of the rule of law through legal and judicial reform is one of two key sectors.
in particular the eu governance in justice programme includes activities related to criminal justice and contributes to strengthening the capacity of the human rights commission of the philippines.
i really think that we have to continue this cooperation in the future.
it should continue to do so today especially because we see that many member states currently pursue policies in full contradiction of their pre accession promises.
adding to this the skills of the workforce have not kept up with the increasing sophistication of the economy and the switch in exports from labour intensive to high technology sectors.
i am hopeful that through pushes from the semester process and with instruments such as the esf and the srsp we will be able to move on together.
i fully agree with the report's recommendation for member states to ensure access to mother tongue education at all levels for pupils from autochthonous minorities.
in this drive it is essential that we insist on education systems that are truly inclusive and accessible to all people irrespective of their social ethnic or linguistic background.
to advance from situations such as this member states will need eu support to drive reforms in their social and education systems.
second the european student card will simplify learning mobility by reducing administrative burdens and costs for students and educational institutions.
evidence shows that if learning opportunities are missed at an early age it takes much greater efforts to make up the deficit later.
the commission proposal aims to create a quality framework for early childhood education and care with the aim of giving all children the best possible start in life. we have outlined some key initiatives in support of the european education area.
first a recommendation on the automatic mutual recognition of higher education and upper secondary education diplomas and the outcomes of learning periods abroad.
may. never before has the eu said so clearly how important it is to promote our common values to create a sense of belonging to teach about the functioning values and origins of the european union and most importantly to learn about the cultural and historical diversity of member states.
third with the graduate tracking initiative we have launched the first ever european survey of graduates in eight pilot countries with initial results expected by the end
eu. it is high time we stepped up our efforts to be a truly multilingual europe.
on thirty may we presented our proposals for the future erasmus programme which will continue to play a key role in delivering the objectives of the european education
let us remove the recognition obstacle at least inside the eu once and for all.
this promotes digitalisation and innovation driven approaches in education.
we also want to make it easier for smaller and grassroots organisations to take part in particular community based organisations that work with disadvantaged learners of all
our societies our economy and the european project itself depend on our citizens being able to communicate with each other.
i agree that we need to make the programme more inclusive and accessible.
higher education institutions which share the same vision and values will develop long term institutional strategies for top quality education research and innovation.
first the european universities.
in order to reach new groups of learners the commission proposes to increase support for school pupil mobility mobility of learners in vocational education and training and youth mobility.
firstly to promote cross border mobility and cooperation in education and training.
in november last year eu leaders debated education at the gothenburg social summit and adopted conclusions on the topic at the december european council. with this mandate the commission has recently outlined its vision for a european education area where people can move freely to study learn and train and where we can offer high quality and innovative education for all our citizens.
on twenty two may two thousand and eighteen we proposed a second set of concrete steps towards turning the vision of a european education area into reality following a first batch of proposals we tabled in january.
our aim is to make the free movement of learners possible and to create a genuine european learning space.
in fact over the last year or so the topic of education has visibly moved up on the eu's agenda.
secondly to remove unjustified obstacles that make it difficult to learn train or work abroad.
mr president honourable members madam ybacka i'm very pleased to have this debate with you today. you underline in your report the crucial role of education in shaping the future of europe. i couldn't agree more. the transformation of our societies and economies creates changing education realities that need urgent responses if we want to offer bright futures to all our young people.
thirdly to support member states in making their education and training systems more inclusive and innovative and to base them on the idea of lifelong learning.
i thank you for your explicit support for the european education area. this project is based on three objectives.
in march two thousand and seventeen the rome declaration called for a union where young people receive the best education and training and can study and find jobs across the continent.
the commission aims to launch pilot projects in two thousand and nineteen and two thousand and twenty under the erasmus programme.
these will boost cross border cooperation between higher education institutions.
our proposal will allow twelve million people more than ever before to participate in different types of exchanges while reaching out to more people of all social backgrounds.
i firmly believe that we can only succeed in building a strong european identity if young people are free to study and learn in another eu country unimpeded by administrative hurdles.
back then the commission had launched an ambitious digital education action plan.
furthermore the commission wants to provide more flexible formats for learning mobility such as short term and group activities and virtual mobility.
second we want a comprehensive approach to the teaching and learning of languages.
area. let me take this opportunity to warmly thank this house for your unwavering support for an ambitious erasmus programme post two thousand and twenty with an increased budget that is proportionate to the size of our ambition.
in may the commission presented three proposals for council recommendations.
a new european framework of key competences reminds us that we have to invest more in developing basic and digital skills civic competencies and entrepreneurial attitudes and we have to encourage more young people to study science technology engineering and mathematics. finally the council recommendation on promoting common values inclusive education and the european dimension of teaching was also tabled in january and adopted by ministers in
ages. i would like to thank you madam ybacka for your excellent cooperation in drawing up this report.
of. two thousand and nineteen all these initiatives build on the first proposals on the european education area we put forward in january.
alas multilingualism is far from being a reality in the
madam ybacka your excellent report and its constructive recommendations come at just the right moment.
the aim is to make it available to all erasmus students by two thousand and twenty one as a visible symbol of european student identity.
third high quality early childhood education and care systems.
let me mention just some them.
we also need to see a continued focus on apprenticeships and vocational learning.
let's not ever forget in this parliament our national parliaments or indeed in regional local government as well that every young person everywhere has the right regardless of their background to achieve their full potential and their aspirations.
the evidence is clear that access to highquality pre school and early years provision has a positive impact on educational progression and life chances and that is why it is such a scandal that in the uk the conservative government has cut the early years budget by gbp five hundred million meaning the door is closing to hundreds of sure start children's centres.
on friday i was at silverstone the iconic home of british motor sports but also the home of the silverstone university technical college equipping young people with the skills and ambition to graduate to high level apprenticeships at formula one racing teams.
de montfort university in my constituency is a trailblazer in this giving its students once in a lifetime opportunities to learn and engage with communities right across the world through its unique dmu global programme.
properly funded high quality early years provision should be the bedrock of our education systems.
as some speakers have said we have to start with the young but above all we must start with teachers.
one area where we need to put more emphasis is allowing teachers to have access to continuing professional development cpd.
there is not enough opportunity for them to do that on a professional basis as distinct from a voluntary basis and that will make a huge difference.
so education is the way to the future.
mr president a futureproofed education system should ensure the right of people of all ages and backgrounds including refugees and migrants to access quality education in a variety of indoor and outdoor learning environments in informal nonformal and lifelong learning and including subjects such as learning for sustainability social entrepreneurship and media literacy.
in a fast changing world we are asked to equip learners with skills which do not yet exist and that's why transferable and social skills are absolutely key in order to encourage and develop lifelong learning.
we also need a strong commitment to training the trainers.
the education agenda must not only look at training future workers but also future active responsible and open citizens.
i believe education must be part of a broader reflection on occupational literacy in the context of growing digitisation and robotisation of european societies.
we must focus not only on economic growth but on learners' personal development improved health and well being including sex and relationship education for healthy relationships.
mr president i would like to congratulate the rapporteur and express our support for this report. quality education creates active and engaged citizens and increases the employability and mobility of young people as well as contributing to building the economy as a whole.
the modernisation of education systems across europe is a pressing need and one that must address deep structural challenges.