kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
how social is it if the family is deprived of some of the nice things in life?
let individuals work out their own salvation.
many countries have a minimum wage structure and i support that.
we do not wish to see the social ills of people exploited but the eu has now destroyed even that with one of its own institutions the ecj where the rulings on laval and other cases ruined member states' minimum wage policies.
how social is it to overturn the way national parliaments have tried to protect workers?
mr president i want to pick up on certain of the aspects from the employment side of things and not least the context given that the spring summit was at one time supposed to be the sustainable development summit' and to link that with the commission document from late last year on new skills and new jobs.
what i would like to see coming out of much of the concern about employment at the moment is a very coherent package as regards new industries and new investment. we are not seeing this at the moment.
we have an excellent example downstairs at the moment of solar technology and how that is developing in a part of germany whereas at the same time we are seeing job losses in the solar sector in spain and in the wind turbine sector in the uk.
just at the point we are looking for new skills in new technologies we also run the risk of losing them through lack of a clear investment strategy and indeed a clear skills development strategy within that.
we need to develop the skills of those who still have problems with literacy and numeracy and indeed it but we are also looking for transversal skills which is something else out of the commission's document. we should also be considering what we do with sectors that have been orphan sectors in terms of skill developments not least the care sector at the moment and really look at how we can ensure equality there.
if europe's commitment to a social market economy is real we must integrate economic social and environmental policies as equal elements of the whole package.
the multiple crises we face right now will not be resolved simply by fixing up the banks with massive amounts of taxpayers' savings to the exclusion of our citizens' needs as social beings.
it must go beyond the open method of coordination to coordinate policies on pensions employment education health and indeed the caring services.
that must change urgently if we are to ensure progress towards our objective of a better society.
mr president i also have a couple of minutes later on to talk about some of the other issues on the floor this afternoon.
firstly i want to thank all the colleagues who have been involved in this and the very many civil society organisations that have also contributed.
we have been hearing this afternoon about a time of recession increasing risks of exclusion unless we are very careful the risks of people now losing their jobs and maybe not making it back to the labour market at some point in the near future;
those who are already in difficulty not even being able to access the labour market;
one of the things we agreed in the committee was that active inclusion should not be replacing social inclusion that wider field of feeling that you have a role to play in society.
we are generally in broad agreement with the council and commission in their recommendations on this in terms of adequate income support and this report uses that phrase.
we also talk about minimum income in places where we really mean that.
that people need that income to give them dignity to give them choice and the opportunity to actively participate in society.
it is important in terms of support for the more vulnerable for carers those needing care those needing support for independent living and indeed it is important for pension levels.
we have also talked in the report about difficulties with social security systems and their lack of responsiveness particularly when you are trying to keep people in touch with work and they might then be doing casual work temporary work fixed contract work.
social security systems do not always respond to that very well.
but we also sound a warning on activation measures particularly those that sometimes introduce penalties which can have an indirect effect for example on the families of those affected or indeed where you find people undergoing several training programmes for work that simply does not exist.
that is why we have singled out the issues of anti discrimination and that legislation being properly applied questions relating to training and education to keep people in school rather than leaving early and a more individualised approach that deals with an individual's needs.
we have also agreed concerning the issue of access to quality services because those are extremely important for vulnerable individuals in difficulty.
and we have highlighted the role that local authorities have to play within this and indeed the need for more of a framework around services of general interest so that we can ensure that people are getting the services that they need.
but equally important for us is i think the question of voice within this that those who find themselves excluded should also be included when we are looking at measures that are being put in place and considering whether they are really going to meet the needs of the long term unemployed of older people of
younger people trying to gain access to the labour market or whatever.
calling for additional financing in member states for a ten t is problematic at a time of economic crisis.
the truth is they probably could not afford to implement it properly.
even the uk state broadcaster the bbc seems to have fallen for this deception.
the first railway package of two thousand and one was such a failure that the commission had to take thirteen member states to the court of justice for failure to implement it properly.
in fact in my country the cost of a new high speed rail link hs two is causing such an outcry that the government is trying to portray the project as a domestic necessity rather than part of an eu wide project.
our constituents go through the motions out of atavism out of some half remembered civic duty from the time when it used to matter rather than in the expectation that casting their ballot will make any difference.
it is between the euro elites' and everybody else.
according to a study by the german federal justice ministry eighty four of the laws in the member states are there to give force to eu directives or regulations. the split is no longer between left and right between capitalists and socialists;
how sad that this continent which developed and exported the idea that laws ought not to be passed nor taxes raised except by our elected representatives should have turned its back on democracy itself.
now is definitely the time for us to be far more imaginative and more targeted but also let us not forget that if the governments withdraw from this role and we actually help entrepreneurs in the developing countries there is a role for finance. let us look at an example the kiva website which encourages people from all round the world to lend money directly to entrepreneurs in developing countries.
let us make sure that we are consistent on this and we really want to help finance development.
when that money comes back we lend again and we help take more people out of poverty than development aid often does.
we need socialist transformation of society.
then you look at the response of the capitalist establishment and the political leaders around the world and you have no new thinking no sense of urgency. the world's twenty one developed economies and the european commission publicly announced pledges of usd twenty eight billion in fast track money after copenhagen. only usd twelve billion have so far been budgeted for and as little as thirty has been delivered.
we need a massive increase in internationally coordinated patent free cooperative research and development into combating climate change.
fundamentally we need a new way of thinking about how we run our society and our economic system. capitalism is a system.
if we are serious about tackling climate change empty pledges are simply not good enough.
a so called green economy built on the same logic of profit and competition will not solve climate change.
once again we seem to have a scary one thousand nine hundred and eighty four style rewriting of history just like the wasteful museum of european history where no one can agree when this history is due to start and where of course no one can mention the war.
in brussels last week a french lady insulted my red remembrance day poppy as out of date'.
i find it disgusting that a symbol of the huge sacrifice that has guaranteed all our freedoms should be treated with such contempt.
mr president i am deeply unimpressed with this idea of a european heritage label to strengthen european citizens' sense of belonging to the eu'.
one of the proposals from me is that we have a big glass bowl on the table here and we fill it with coloured ping pong balls with numbers on and i merely select from the bowl.
we are considering alternatives to selecting the speakers.
i think no harm can come from it; the scheme which would be reviewed every two years is a good idea; thirteen people in the committee;
mr president whilst i can appreciate the vision of the rapporteur for a single european railway area when it concerns a single landmass i believe that the proposed measures would inevitably create unnecessary regulatory burden for the rail industry throughout europe including those that would not benefit at all from being part of that single landmass. this is why i voted against this report.
in addition to this it is envisaged that there would be a high level of involvement from the commission.
mr president i have abstained from voting on the european heritage label report as i still have a number of concerns that have not been addressed from the first reading.
indeed the difference between welsh heritage and the rest of the uk does not even support this integrated approach.
i do not agree with the potential increased bureaucratic burden which will be placed on member states as a result of processing these applications.
i also worry about the potential difficulties that could arise in relation to the financing of such a european heritage label.
mr president i voted against the recast of the railway directive because it is very clear that despite the promises of the neo liberal doctrinaires in this house and elsewhere the railway directive will remain the ugly duckling that it is and will never become a swan.
it continues on the course which is already failing across europe of chopping up our public transport systems into bite size pieces for the private sector to gobble up. the result is clear right across europe where you have services being cut back leaving communities completely isolated you have a lack of investment in maintenance that has caused an increase in delays an increase in down time and most worryingly an increase in accidents including fatal accidents.
you also have railway workers suffering under the burden of a massive increase of working pressure and of massive attacks on their working conditions and trade union rights.
developing our railway services means pushing back the private sector it means pushing the private sector out of our vital public transport services it means renationalisation of those parts that have been privatised so far.
mr president one of the issues that we often see here is this idea of building a european identity.
we have had the european prize for journalism and now we see the european label of heritage.
as mr kelly said the label is not about a site's beauty or its architectural quality but rather its symbolic value for european integration and the history of the union.
it is actually about propaganda and educating young people to believe more in european integration.
if we really want to focus upon heritage let us not forgot those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy our freedom today.
only in your twisted imaginations does such an identity exist an identity that my constituents want no part of nor the expense of paying for.
are you so insecure that you have to develop such a scheme?
be proud of your national heritages if you can.
mr president the markets have withdrawn their confidence in the eurozone the bond spreads are widening our economies are contracting the doom is almost upon us and here we are solemnly talking about these proposals massively to increase our debt and deficit and pour more money into this climate change project.
it would be disastrous if we actually meant it but of course what is really happening is an exercise in post modern legislation we are not using the law as an instrument of effecting real change;
we are using the law as a way of showing what terribly nice people we are. the rest of the world has made it clear that they have no intention of applying the targets being discussed at these un conferences but europe still has this pious requirement that we pretend to mean it even though we have no intention of implementing it.
just ponder though that that might be why we are in this mess in the first place.
constantly using our constituents' money because meps generally are exempt from national taxation to show what terribly concerned and decent human beings we are has landed our continent in this debt crisis in the first place.
the country specific recommendations submitted by the commission on twenty nine may reflect this priority.
next year in the context of the two thousand and fourteen european year for reconciling work and family life we shall have many opportunities to discuss and to consider initiatives supporting the participation of woman in the labour market. please let me comment on some particular aspects of the report as regards the regulatory framework on the gender pay
the eures reform aims to make it easier for jobseekers to contact employers who are looking for particular skills to focus on sectors and occupations with skills shortages and to support targeted mobility schemes for young people.
where there is a spike in the demand for sex workers there will also be a spike in the demand for the number of women trafficked. it is vital that uefa makes a strong stand to clamp down on the potential for trafficking at its big tournaments. this summer is a massive year for sport in europe and millions of people will enjoy the games.
we must all make sure that such great events are not tarnished by trafficking.
the commissioner has already told me she is concerned about trafficking for sexual exploitation at events such as football championships. uefa suggests large football events are irrelevant when it comes to trafficking but it wishes to remain vigilant.
mega brothels opened in host cities in the two thousand and six world cup in germany and already strip clubs are opening near the football stadiums in kiev.
it is unacceptable that today in two thousand and twelve this modern slavery still goes on.
it has a comprehensive and integrative approach.
in this context we welcome the joint united nations commentary on the directive and its strong focus on human rights.
this group brings together diverse policy areas such as migration asylum development cooperation trade employment and gender policy to name but a
it places eu policy in a global context and this is crucial for consistency as we are discussing a global phenomenon.
the commission will discuss within the informal network how best to implement this provision and this will also be a question to be discussed in the contact group.
a general overview of the data will be integrated into the strategy on which we are currently working and the commission will most likely be able to publish a separate analysis of this later this year.
additionally the member states should establish appropriate mechanisms to identify assist and support the victims in cooperation with different support organisations.
they will be responsible for the assessment of trends and measuring the result of the anti trafficking actions statistics reporting etc.
in order to evaluate this process as stated in your resolution on the prevention of trafficking in human beings there is a need for better information gathering.
we have an action oriented paper aimed at strengthening the commitment and the coordinated action of the eu and member states against trafficking in human beings.
it brings together experts on the transposition of the directive at national level.
the commission has established an inter service group on trafficking of human beings shared by the anti trafficking coordinator.
the commitment of the member states' governments to enacting national legislation that would give full effect to the provisions is fundamental and the member states have one year left fully to transpose the provisions.
during these meetings member states can discuss questions related to this process that they consider important and the european parliament is invited to participate in these informal meetings.
exercise her tasks and priorities.
this will be done in partnership with third countries regions and organisations at international level.
in order to assist them as has been mentioned there is an informal contact group on the directive.
the strategy will be presented later this spring or just before the summer.
the directive obliges member states to set up these mechanisms.
you asked about the national rapporteur or equivalent mechanism.
it is gender specific and does not only focus on repression but aims to prevent the crime and to ensure that the victims of trafficking are given the opportunity to recover and be reintegrated into society.
some member states already have this in place and others are now in the process of setting it up.
last year the commission sent out a questionnaire to the member states to collect data on the trafficking of human beings at eu level. we have received replies from everybody.
regarding prevention we fully share your concern on the need to put in place concrete preventive measures.
let me inform you that the third group of experts on the trafficking of human beings was appointed by the director general of dg home affairs mr manservisi.
as you know the commission funds many projects aimed at preventing trafficking both within and outside the
the commentary is a positive exercise by the united nations' agencies to combine the previously adopted un and council of europe legislation with the implementation of the eu directive.
however victims of trafficking are affected in different ways and to different degrees so directive two thousand and eleven thirty six eu and the strategy for equality between women and men should mainstream a gender specific approach in all areas of human trafficking policy and legislation reducing vulnerability to trafficking and responding to victims' needs. the directive is a great achievement and our focus now must be on transposition and implementation.
trafficking of human beings is a horrible crime. it goes on today it affects millions of people young children women men and it is a shame.
it is a priority for all of us and it is very important for me personally.
we need to examine the significance of that answer.
the grooming of under age girls for prostitution by asian men in the united kingdom was first brought to public attention by our chairman.
of course criminal sexual exploitation of girls does not always involve crossing international frontiers.
this is a modern form of slavery the incidence of which across europe continues to grow at an alarming pace.
criminal gangs use the province as a gateway to traffic people into the mainland united kingdom as well as retaining some victims for local illegal activities. the police service of northern ireland the psni is engaged in a comprehensive battle against human trafficking which focuses both on rescuing victims and catching perpetrators.
however the first person who was convicted on a charge of human trafficking in northern ireland was only sentenced a few weeks ago.
i welcome the commissioner's statements here today.
i have met small children very young children who are forced to beg on the streets of brussels paris stockholm and vienna.
all these people are examples of the modern slavery that exists today in europe a very profitable form of organised crime and unworthy of europe today.
the directive we have been referring to is a very good tool. the commission will make sure that it does everything to support the member states in fully transposing and implementing it.
you asked a question on the directive on residence permits. it is clear that not all member states are making full use of it. we are right now studying the causes of this before taking further action and the input and ideas of the european parliament here are most welcome.
the upcoming strategy intends to move on from where we are with the directive to take a broad consistent and coherent approach on prevention protection and prosecution.
we want to focus very much on the desperately needed coordination that so many of you mentioned.
this will be a strategy for the coming five years;
the aim is that it will be concrete practical and measurable.
it will be adopted later this spring or summer and presented to you as soon as possible.
but there is more to be done because the figures are stunning and the stories are heartbreaking.
they will not feel immune anywhere in any corner of europe.
we hope that the directive including its provisions concerning criminal offences will be implemented in a timely consistent and effective manner and will together with the eu strategy lead to improved cooperation cross the union.
the further legal framework would enable member states' actions to have a greater impact not only in terms of law enforcement but also for the protection and assistance provided to victims.
existing data show that women and girls represent the majority of trafficked people and we should take into account the root causes of such phenomena particularly when we speak about gender based discrimination and violence against women. in this respect transposing and implementing this directive with an open gender perspective is crucially needed.
further efforts in terms of ensuring the establishment of national rapporteurs responsible for gathering gender separated national statistics and data would be welcome.
finally as rapporteur for the european parliament on the victims' rights package i would like to stress the need to draw up a solid and ambitious legislative framework establishing minimum standards for victims of crimes and facilitating the recognition of protection measures civil or criminal across the eu.
it requires a proper debate and i believe that the suspension of blue cards and catch the eye for this debate means that this matter cannot truly be debated.
i think we should reject this rejection outright and see it for what it is populism anti corporatism and downright wrong.
that was saying commissioner that if you get a majority in this place regardless of any of the regulations in place and regardless of any of the opportunities that you may have had to change that regulation for example when you had the opportunity to reject gm feed on subsidiarity grounds you did not take it
it is not against the rules of the european union.
yes we know they do not like gm so don't eat it don't grow it don't buy it.
this house rejected it you now want it to come back in through the back door.
that is not democracy. members of this parliament are misusing the procedures to follow their own pet agendas.
but they do not have the right to prevent farmers from buying gm feed.
it is not against our current procedures.
please be reassured that your concerns are duly noted in this regard.
but by the regulation on pesticides and maximum residue levels.
by the eu decision making process.
allow me now to react to some of the comments made.
the commission therefore maintained this proposal which should be discussed in the council at the beginning of two thousand and sixteen as the next step in the ordinary legislative procedure.