kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
we need solid foundations which help young people to be resilient against extremist ideologies and violence and have a common sense of belonging.
education both inside and outside the classroom and youth activities in general are crucial for this comprehensive approach.
we have put forward an ambitious set of initiatives ranging from research and evidence building to countering terrorist propaganda and hate speech online addressing prison radicalistion promoting inclusive education and reaching out to young people in general.
we agreed on two key objectives that we must reduce accessibility to terrorist content online;
on that basis we proposed a series of concrete measures to reach out to teachers educators youth workers and most importantly young people on the ground.
we will also set up a network to encourage direct contact between young people and positive role models for instance entrepreneurs artists sports persons and even formerly radicalised people.
our response needs to be holistic. this is the approach you expressed in the reports prepared by your colleagues julia ward and rachida dati and we have taken in our most recent communication on supporting the prevention of radicalisation leading to violent extremism.
we have several operational as well as security tools at hand.
then there is the internet which certainly appears to be accelerating the radicalisation process and where our young people are exposed to the poisonous and barbaric rhetoric of violent extremists.
education plays a vital role in the socialisation of children in developing social and emotional skills.
educated in our schools now radicalised and inspired by an ideology of destruction given into propaganda of hate and turning against their own fellow citizens and our common values.
this is precisely why we launched the eu internet forum in december.
it will offer policymakers and practitioners concrete policy guidance and facilitate mutual learning building on research evidence of what works.
we need to enhance our capability to disrupt terrorist activity stem the flow of finance prevent access to weapons and disrupt terrorist travel.
but they are also brought together at the european level through the radicalisation awareness network centre of excellence.
projects aiming at inclusion and fundamental values will be given priority.
the commission is determined to help and support in every way we can in order to find a holistic solution to this urgent challenge we are all faced with.
while prevention has to be our first priority our security approach needs to be reinforced at the same time.
together with all my fellow commissioners i stand ready to work with you in the european parliament with member states and civil society to implement these measures.
and since violent extremism has no borders and several third countries face very similar challenges we also foresaw measures to support third countries in their endeavour.
fundamental values can be best internalised from an early age.
teachers and trainers are key and we will step up our efforts to support them.
two thousand and fifteen we brought together ministers europol and high level representatives of major internet companies.
our aim is to bring two hundred zero of them together through structured and moderated online discussions by two thousand and twenty to raise empathy and promote intercultural dialogue. honourable members resilience against violent radicalisation will come through a combination of these actions and partners.
that is why we will propose a review of the schengen information system and why we have proposed systematic checks at the external borders for everyone entering and exiting the eu whether they are eu or non eu citizens.
we will extend e twinning further to selected neighbourhood countries so that pupils and classrooms can better know and understand each other from an early age.
it is part of our larger commission effort to implement the european agenda on security and it builds on existing capabilities and efforts.
and that we must empower civil society partners to increase the volume of positive alternative narratives online.
we are working towards a comprehensive policy framework in the form of a council recommendation to promote inclusion and fundamental values in education.
they will be selected at local level and invited to visit schools youth clubs sports clubs and prisons to share their experiences.
the fact that these europeans were radicalised into violent extremism on our soil says something about the social fabric of our societies and the need to strengthen its resilience.
through this network of networks more than two four hundred local practitioners from all over europe are working together.
in addition to providing substantive operational support to member states in just under a year it has referred over eight zero pieces of terrorist content to the companies.
in the vast majority of cases the material has been swiftly removed.
but i would like to emphasise now my particular happiness about your support for prevention because education is the most efficient area and platform in prevention. we can educate good practices good examples for peaceful coexistence just as mr jakovi mentioned.
we can show our power and the communities' power and we can concentrate on the local specialties in education as well because i think the local level is decisive in prevention. that is why we support role models.
we have very good plans for developing new programmes in education in vocational education in prisons and outside the prisons in local communities in schools and beyond schools in sports clubs youth centres and all other
platforms where young people live and where they socialise.
i think we share the same objectives in our common fight against radicalisation and violent extremism. we must live up to the expectations of our citizens to improve their safety.
fighting terrorism preventing radicalisation and increasing the resilience of our societies requires a long term approach strong commitment and a sustained effort from the european union and its member states.
so it is something that we have to do every day.
it is work in progress but we have no time to lose because our enemies are very quickly if we do not watch out in front of us.
that means we have to be innovative.
i have heard many contributions on the different levels of the debate both in the analysis and in the prescriptions.
in the analysis most of you have mentioned both social as well as religious and criminal sources for this process of a radicalisation and i think you are right.
it is a multi faceted problem of which you have different characteristics and we have to make sure that we have tailor made prevention and repressive measures to deal with this very complex issue.
we simply cannot allow those who want to hurt our system or our way of living to win.
it is in the end believing in your values and defending them.
what terrorists want is in the end to instil fear by violence and our vulnerability to that fear is the determining factor and i think that is something that we have to realise every day we are dealing with this issue.
with every step we take every measure we adopt it is important that we strike the right balance between security on the one hand and protecting our freedoms and the rule of law on the other.
we must be strong and continue to repeat that same message over and over again.
our basic freedoms will not be compromised by terrorism nor by individuals with guns.
i know all of us here would want to ensure that her legacy in fighting hate is preserved.
we must do what we can to find the right balance between allowing our freedoms and ensuring citizens' safety.
one of the hardest lessons learned from the attacks in europe was that our information sharing capabilities are still not being fully utilised.
radicalisation whether online or on land is one of the toughest challenges our enforcement agencies face.
we need europol to have the resources it needs and we need to come down harder on those who preach hate and use religion as a disguise for their message of evil.
it is not only law enforcement.
we also need a new approach to integration in our societies where we see this as a two way process of respect for people's rights but also respect for european values.
work to overcome obstacles to revoking passports of so called foreign fighters' particularly dual nationals who travel to conflict zones before coming back to europe to radicalise and recruit must continue.
if the horrific attack in orlando showed anything it is that terrorism knows no borders no nations.
it is a global struggle that requires a global partnership for its defeat.
notwithstanding the horror of the crime in florida the worst of times brought out the best in people who stood up scared but undeterred and shouted that while today we mourn in the end love always wins over hate and those voices echoed around the world.
it will not however define us.
the clear messages in your draft resolution are well appreciated.
two thousand and seventeen will be an important year for montenegro's euro atlantic integration and we encourage the country to build on the progress already made and to take the reform process forward.
as the report rightly points out the legal framework and institutional set up in this area are largely complete.
advances on the rule of law can make a significant contribution in this regard.
in this respect one cannot over emphasise the importance of taking ownership of these reforms which first and foremost are in the interest of and to the montenegrin people.
they spell out important challenges for montenegro to ensure freedom of expression and media freedom to pursue public administration reform and to strengthen the independence of institutions.
it remains important for the government to maintain political commitment to the reform process and for all political parties to re engage in a constructive dialogue notably within the parliament.
as you know the western balkans featured on the agenda of the foreign affairs council and the european council last week and on both occasions member states reconfirmed the european union's engagement with the region including through deepening political and the economic ties.
the council also closely followed montenegro's parliamentary elections in october and took good note of the overall positive assessment by the osce.
good neighbourly relations.
we are well aware that montenegro is currently facing a difficult political situation.
last week the european council conclusions clearly reaffirmed the unequivocal support for the european perspective of the western balkans. in this spirit the presidency is committed to advancing the enlargement process in full respect of the basic principles of conditionality
alleged irregularities in the elections need to be investigated along with follow up to the recommendations by international election observers.
montenegro remains the frontrunner in the accession process and it made further progress last year.
in light of the overall situation in the western balkans we should continue to highlight this point as it actively contributes to the stabilisation of the very same region.
the need for a continued focus on fundamental reforms is also something clearly expressed in your draft resolution and in the commission's report.
looking ahead we hope to move the accession negotiations forward under our presidency by opening and provisionally closing those negotiating chapters which are technically ready with montenegro.
whilst progress has been made there are still a number of reforms which montenegro needs to carry out.
progress has been registered but further implementation remains key building on the results achieved so far and also leading to a strengthened and sustainable track record in particular in the fight against corruption and organised crime.
on the economic side montenegro needs to take measures to ensure fiscal sustainability to control public and to improve the trade balance and the business environment.
i would also like to highlight two points regarding montenegro's external relations.
with a view to advancing negotiations the council continues to pay close attention to montenegro's progress in the rule of law which as per the negotiating framework determines the overall pace of montenegro's negotiation process.
let me use this opportunity to strongly commend montenegro for its consistent cooperation in this regard and in particular for its full alignment with the eu common foreign and security policy. montenegro also continues to play a positive role in further developing regional cooperation and in advancing
furthermore we expect the relevant domestic authorities swiftly and transparently to conclude the investigation of the election day events in accordance with domestic laws and international standards.
we share the concerns already expressed over this and the commission's repeated message to all the political parties has been to work out a compromise and to return the political debate to parliament where it belongs. a boycott is not a sustainable solution
last week's european council unequivocally reaffirmed the european perspective of the western balkans so this is a good moment to build momentum.
fiscal imbalances should also be addressed in a determined way by implementing the approved budget and adopting a fiscal consolidation plan.
the eu is assisting with technical advice and financial investment so that the journey towards eu membership can already bring benefits to montenegrin citizens ranging from students to entrepreneurs from farmers to consumers.
we now expect all political groups to return to constructive engagement and to work together to implement the odihr recommendations on further election reforms.
as montenegro stands at the doorstep of nato the external pressure on it is mounting but we trust that the montenegrin leaders in government and in opposition will be wise enough to put their differences aside and to work together to preserve the progress made in euro atlantic integration over the years
with as we have heard twenty six chapters open for negotiation two of which are provisionally closed.
this evening in a parliamentary setting.
rule of law is the fundamental element that will continue to determine the pace of the accession negotiations.
the revised legal and institutional framework is largely in place and now needs to deliver further results.
opinion polls show overwhelming support for eu membership so in many ways montenegro is indeed the good news story in the region if the rapporteur will forgive me for pinching his expression. there are of course certain challenges and it is fitting to discuss these with you here
in the western balkan context that is no minor achievement. let me also reiterate our praise for montenegro's complete alignment with the eu's common foreign and security policy as mr borg said. montenegro is a country with a clear eu perspective and undoubtedly the front runner in the eu integration process
even less for a negotiating country.
a balanced economic environment and strong sense of rule of law will bring the necessary business opportunities and investment to montenegro.
we all i am sure look forward to the easing of political tensions and the continuation of the eu integration process most notably the creation of a sustainable track record in the fight against corruption and organised crime.
inclusive dialogue is crucial for elections and eu related reforms as well as the overall modernisation of the country.
unfortunately in montenegro parliament is half empty as the opposition is boycotting the work of this key institution.
the issue of election day has already been raised.
i have to say that as greens although we have no doubt about russian influence not just in montenegro but also in other parts of the region we would have liked to separate the language on russian influence and on the coup attempt on election day because this is still under investigation.
the continued boycott of the parliament by the opposition is therefore very disappointing to friends of montenegro and extremely damaging to the long term credibility of montenegro's democratic processes and institutions.
i am increasingly concerned by the motives of some regarding the parliamentary boycott and i now call from this house on all of those taking part in the boycott to consider the effects of their actions and the forces that they are helping to legitimise by their continued participation in not going to parliament.
international observers of the elections reported them to be free and fair with fundamental freedoms generally respected by all.
it is clear that there is an attempt now to prevent montenegrin accession to nato in may and also to disrupt its eu trajectory.
indeed the closures in question were implemented by the agency for electronic communication and lasted for a mere hour and a half.
i remain deeply concerned about the situation and i believe that it is illustrative of the growing presence that russia is seeking on the ground to exert on montenegro and other countries for that matter in the western balkans region.
at the moment however we are hearing less and less good news stories from other countries in the region.
nato and the eu are of course two very separate institutions but from the perspective of montenegro the two together represent a euro atlanticist pivot.
a government of electoral trust was formed in the few months preceding the election which saw opposition parties in charge of over a dozen state organisations and several ministries to ensure a level playing field before the election.
there has been a change of prime minister i was delighted to meet the new prime minister markovi earlier this year in brussels and the accession protocol to join nato was signed.
last year was an important one for montenegro.
in the key areas of chapters twenty three and twenty four concerning justice and home affairs genuine reform by the government of montenegro in these areas is evident. of course tackling organised crime and corruption remains a priority but it is important we recognise that at the political level reforms have been implemented and
parliamentary elections took place in october.
the elections were held under a new regulatory framework with individual voter registration and an electronic identification system in place.
having now opened twenty six of the thirty three chapters with two of these provisionally closed already the country's strong progress as an eu candidate is clear to all.
this followed concerns from some members of the opposition parties about the possibility of undue influence from the governing parties who could abuse or use administrative resources of the state.
i therefore welcome the recent visit of the high representative federica mogherini to the region and wholeheartedly support her message that the door remains open to all countries of the western balkans towards eu membership. it is vital that we ensure this message gets across.
for reasons discussed earlier in my speech it is an important time now to support that agenda and i hope that when we all vote tomorrow we will all feel minded to support the text as it is currently present in the resolution. i have always described montenegro for the last seven years as the standing rapporteur as a good news story of the western balkans and i believe that this is still the case today.
i am aware that there were some concerns about the closure of certain social media platforms on the day of the election but this must be seen in the wider context of the allegations of a coup and assassination attempt against the then prime minister ukanovi and a backdrop of attempts to influence events by external parties.
with regard to the planned coup and assassination judicial investigations continue but there is a growing consensus amongst both the montenegrin authorities and eu governments that the planned attack on the then prime minister was a real and credible threat.
i believe that the solution was a pragmatic one a fair one and welcomed by all and i was particularly pleased to see this resolved internally within montenegro.
intelligence linking eduard shishmakov a russian national and a known gru agent to the plot supports claims of russian participation.
it is for this reason that it is more important than ever for all the political parties to engage fully and properly in the parliamentary democratic process.
as montenegro now seeks to join nato later this year i think it is key that we in this house demonstrate our support for that decision.
if the two front runners in the western balkans serbia and montenegro stay on their respective european paths we will be able to ensure longterm stability in the region.
as the standing rapporteur for serbia and to close on a positive note i would like to commend the state of montenegrinserbian relations which continue to be a source of stability for the region.
i remain deeply concerned about alleged russian attempts to influence development in this country which could potentially destabilise the whole region.
i particularly welcome the ongoing progress in judicial reform and the fight against corruption in this country.
as nato remains an important factor for peace and stability in the western balkans this decision deserves our strong support.
notwithstanding the important progress there also remain significant challenges ahead as my colleague mr preda has just pointed out.
these include the deeply polarised political climate the politicisation of the public administration undue external influence on the judiciary corruption and the freedom of the media.
therefore i would like to join the call of high representative federica mogherini to follow ongoing investigations into the alleged coup d'tat attempt on sixteen october last year including notably the purported involvement of russian intelligence.
i would like to thank my distinguished colleague charles tannock for his good work.
reform the fight against corruption and organised crime and improving the media environment.
the debate has highlighted the continued interest that our parliament has towards montenegro and the wider western balkan region. our parliament remains engaged in the enlargement process generally and by an overwhelming majority supports the aims of the countries in the western balkans to all join the european union.
as a member coming from a country the united kingdom that has now chosen regrettably to leave the european union i am particularly keen to note that i believe that this was the wrong choice for britain and that montenegro should by no means see this as a reason to give up its bid for membership.
as i noted earlier eu membership can act as a vehicle for peace security and prosperity in the balkans and these are values that encapsulate the entire purposes of eu membership.
while the eu is not alone in recognising the importance of the region we are in a unique position to help address the challenges and the european perspective is our best instrument for bringing stability and reform regionally as well as in each of the countries. montenegro has achieved a lot and now needs to find the political maturity to sustain the gains made and advance on the path towards accession.
the latest opinion polls show as a number of you have said an overwhelming support for eu membership across party lines.
montenegro is firmly committed to its eu path and the eu remains equally dedicated to montenegro's future in the eu. however as has been pointed out in the discussion and as is pointed out in the report there is still more work ahead.
montenegro needs to stay focused on among other things rule of law the fight against corruption and organised crime freedom of the media and public administration reform.
we support the calls for immediate follow up to the osce odihr recommendations and hope that all political actors can take part in this process.
calming down the political tensions preserving the reform path and the creation of a tangible track record of rule of law will move montenegro closer to the eu.
to a considerable extent the pace of progress is in montenegro's own hands but we should continue to support and encourage them.