kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
we need all the information we can get to deliver on key european transport policy goals for instance in terms of reducing the environmental impact and increasing safety and security as well as enhancing the competitiveness of the european transport sector for the benefit of jobs and growth.
achieving all these goals has to be made compatible with the evolving mobility needs of society notably urban mobility.
the expected social benefits of more comprehensive multimodal travel information services are manifold and include better modal integration and more flexibility in case of disruptions.
ultimately this information service contributes to efficiency gains in overall transport system management and in transport operations for both passengers and freight.
for these services the quality of the underlying data layer is a key aspect because it allows the provision of accurate and complete information to the end user.
with the objective of setting a framework facilitating marketdriven developments notably in the field of ticketing the commission has already taken a number of these initiatives.
the market shaped by people for people should offer travellers complete and reliable information on various travel options which is displayed in a neutral way not biased by any communication or commercial interest or restricted according to the traveller's geographical location.
particular attention should be given to symptoms of unfairness and disloyal competition. in the case of data related to road traffic and road infrastructure mechanisms for sharing that data amongst public and private shareholders are being implemented in the member states.
however the same cannot be said for travel information as has already been pointed out.
accessible and available goodquality multimodal travel data that this interoperable and high quality is lacking so far.
timetables across the modes as identified by parliament are one of the key data elements. in this context the implementation of the its directive provides the opportunity for the commission to promote fair and equal access to data an aim which also underpins different existing initiatives.
by definition this is a cornerstone for creating a sound framework for better services and an essential element for a level playing field among service providers.
the commission welcomes action by the member states targeted at improving the interoperability of ticketing systems including across borders as well as public sector initiatives enabling stakeholders to share market opportunities and improve service management like the smart ticketing alliance for public transport and the full service model in the rail sector.
let me stress that the commission fully agrees with parliament's assessment that the provision of information should be tailored to the needs of all travellers including persons with reduced mobility.
another important point concerns transparent market conditions and fair and non discriminatory access to the market as well as a clear definition of the rights of the end users consumer protection data protection and privacy.
this would greatly benefit the provision of more and better services.
this resolution condemns such intimidation and underlines the need to abandon the interoceanic dam project in order to prevent the irreversible damage it will cause.
this mega dam project would destroy the homes and livelihoods of thousands of indigenous people and small farmers devastate fragile ecosystems across approximately four hundred zero hectares of nicaraguan land and further increase the country's debt.
mr president francesca ramirez leads the council for the defence of the land the lake and sovereignty a peaceful resistance movement against the interoceanic mega dam project which is going ahead unlawfully and without prior consultation with the local community.
we are only sorry that we were not able to support the joint resolution because it was turned into a vehicle for general political criticism of the nicaraguan government. while we agree with many of the criticisms we believe that this is a misuse of the human rights urgencies process of this house.
the seizure and damage of ms ramirez's vehicles by the state authorities signals the government's determination to go ahead with this damaging mega project and its willingness to intimidate those who oppose it.
and of course the work and personal safety of human rights defenders in nicaragua is threatened by state related retaliation to their activism.
international media attention probably played a role in the rapid return of her property.
this is of course a satisfactory outcome for an unfortunate situation that could have been avoided in the first place.
the eu however remains vigilant.
the authorities of nicaragua must ensure that all human rights defenders can express their legitimate opinions without fear of retaliation.
through continuing contacts and monitoring the european union draws attention whenever it is necessary to human rights issues and specific situations.
increased visibility as has been the case with ms ramirez may help to resolve or minimise human rights organisations' and defenders' difficulties.
like any other civil society organisation francesca ramirez's organisation can apply to benefit from eu development cooperation funds and information sessions are regularly held at local level in order to explain the process to all the interested organisations.
among the human right priorities the delegation and member states' embassies present in nicaragua have decided to focus on improving the rule of law promoting gender and lgbti rights as well as social education health rights and encouraging civil society to participate actively in the national development agenda and in the defence of fundamental rights.
it is also an important destination for european investments and it also invests massively in the eu creating jobs and wealth.
same time a few very sensitive agricultural products will remain protected. the outcome concerning services and investment market access puts us on an even better footing than the us under nafta.
because legal verification and official translations take so long i would expect signature and formal transmission of the text to parliament to take place well into.
further to this both sides will submit this text to their respective legislators for verification and ratification.
politically canada is an important ally.
the agreement is crucial for the credibility of our trade agenda because it confirms that we can do deals even very good deals in this case with a developed economy with its own established approach and regulatory framework.
it creates opportunities for our business.
this is an important achievement sustaining our quest for more jobs and growth in europe when you consider the uncertain economic backdrop on our continent.
canada offers a sizeable market for european products and services.
on investment the agreement establishes a system that sets a new standard for investor to state dispute settlement procedures.
this agreement directly addresses all the concerns that have emerged so far. also i want to highlight the result on geographical indications.
two thousand and fifteen coming this far at a pace which has been punishing for those involved is an important achievement which the commission is proud of and i look forward to this legislator's support for ceta's contribution to the creation of more jobs and growth in europe.
this is one of the parts which most visibly show how ceta can also benefit small and medium sized operators across europe. the eu canada trade and investment relationship will not come at the expense of environmental or social and labour standards.
concluding an agreement with canada makes ample sense because canada of all non european countries is probably closest to us in terms of culture language law and politics and while this agreement took five long years i think we have reached a reasonable agreement at the end of the day.
nevertheless i am prepared to vote in favour of this agreement because of one redeeming factor the review clause.
court. in a commercial court the only thing that is open
predictability. there are many other improvements in the ceta and it is not excluded that further improvements of the eu's approach in other negotiations
legal system per se. we need to make sure that eu investors can enforce their rights because the ceta would not be enforceable in canadian
the system. let me cite a few of the novelties and unique improvements achieved
future negotiations. several members put the question why do we need isds in a ceta between countries with solid mature
of the european union. thirdly there are several imbalances on the policy side that we need to address currently eight member states have bilateral investment treaties with canada and this means that only investors from those member states are protected in canada
system. that is the starting point of my reasoning. the same goes for the mandate we received from the council of
protection. it demonstrates beyond any doubt that the commission is generally committed to reforming
wto appellate body practice and this is the most effective way to create consistency in arbitration decisions make arbitrators accountable and ensure
to the isds system. it could pave the way for a new era of investment agreements and serve as a model for the rest of the world and that is a
lines. we will come next week or in a couple of weeks with the first analysis of the public consultation
i look forward to learning more about the results of the public consultation to which an unprecedented number of citizens and stakeholders replied.
our goals are clear we seek economic growth and the creation of jobs for europeans especially as russia has reacted to the much needed eu sanctions for its aggression in our eastern neighbourhood.
eu member states have no less than one thousand four hundred bilateral agreements that include isds and while the mechanism was sought after by europeans investing in countries where the rule of law does not exist it is now leading to controversy.
in all the complexities and controversies we should not forget why we engage in trade negotiations at all.
in ceta is still going ahead without any heed for public opinion and concerns. if isds remains in ceta it is a step closer to corporations writing our laws instead of governments and the uk government to its shame
over one hundred and fifty zero citizens responded to your consultation because they like me are concerned among other things about the fact that an arbitration panel which will make final decisions will not be subject to the ecj for example.
commissioner my bottom line question is this why is it necessary in countries that have highly developed and well understood legal systems to include extra mechanisms for resolving disputes?
do not be responsible for losing it.
but as you know i am not the only one who has this concern.
firstly it is strongly rumoured that the council is not going to initial this text.
i may be wrong but i think this is the first time that the council has not initialled a text at the end of the negotiations.
as you know commissioner my group would find it much easier to put its weight behind ceta if isds was removed from the text.
we also have concerns in my group about generic medicines.
we did hear from the chief negotiator in the committee on international trade who gave me some reassurances but i would like to hear from you tonight commissioner that the ceta agreement will do nothing to limit canadian production of generic medicines for the developing world.
we also believe that the sustainable development chapter in ceta could be improved.
again although they are separate from the trade deal we would like to hear the commission say that it is still working on solving these issues outside of the ceta negotiations.
just to be absolutely clear though just like the commissioner just as was outlined on the list i see many positives in ceta not least the issue of gis not least the opportunities for small and medium sized industries not least the access that dairy products are being given to the market and the beneficial access that spirits will be given to this market.
as to what may or may not happen.
mr president we in ukip believe in free trade; we seek engagement with the rest of the world;
we are neither isolationist nor protectionist.
the eu however is corporatist and a protectionist customs union;
the eu is an administrative and regulatory single market;
the eu is inefficient and costly.
we support the principles and ideas behind a free trade arrangement which removes tariff barriers between countries.
but we recognise that so long as it is debated and controlled in private in secret by administrators who do not have our interests at heart this arrangement will create problems.
my constituents are concerned that our great national health service could come under threat from corporations who would seek to challenge the government if we change the policies.
we do not believe this is correct or right.
we believe that the only way a proper arrangement and negotiations can be achieved is by the nation state looking after the interests of its own people.
we do not believe in paying lip service to free trade as the eu does.
it is therefore incredible that ceta was concluded only two weeks after the close of the public consultation on isds which used the ceta text as its basis.
concerns about the treatment of public services have been similarly dismissed despite the scale of ambiguity surrounding what is actually included in this agreement. there has been no public debate about what our governments have included in the negative list and there is no public support for the locking in of the privatisation of public services both through the inclusion of isds and ratchet clauses.
transparency is needed on what is included for each member state and therefore we would request that you publish exactly what is included in this trade agreement for each member state.
as you know the european union has been a strong and consistent partner to the democratic republic of congo over the last fifteen years.
this includes two military operations and a sustained effort to support security sector reform with two csdp missions as well as more traditional areas of cooperation such as health roads and natural resources management.
the fdlr movement has been given plenty of time by countries in the region to surrender peacefully.
i wish to confirm to you that the european union is following with great vigilance the situation concerning his physical security as a human rights defender.
together with the commission as you might very well know my predecessor issued a joint communication on responsible sourcing of conflict minerals.
let me also stress that i know and i share your desire to curb the links between conflict and exploitation of natural resources in the great lakes region.
finally i would like to mention the european union's long term commitment in the drc to supporting the preservation of congolese national parks.
these critical elements will be part of our dialogue with the congolese government with the objective of reducing tensions in the political climate.
let me reiterate our support for the un involvement in promoting peace and stability.
let me ensure you that we will continue to keep a close eye on national decisions that might impact on the sustainability of this park.
nevertheless important challenges remain for example regarding the ex m twenty three movement.
this includes the sustained efforts of monusco and troop contributing countries as well as the personal efforts of the un special envoy for the great lakes region.
freedoms of speech and of the media the right of peaceful assembly respect for the rights of the opposition are all essential components of a democracy.
as part of its comprehensive approach the european union has started to address the situation.
with the support of the united nations there is now a unique opportunity to address one of the root causes of conflicts in the kivus.
today i think that many of you are especially concerned about the delays and uncertainties surrounding the electoral process which includes the holding of local elections in two thousand and fifteen and the legislative and presidential elections in two thousand and sixteen at the latest.
in two thousand and six it provided the bulk of financing for the organisation of the first democratic elections in the history of congo and the drc has been one of our top priorities in africa over the past decades.
this opens the door to organising the elections within the constitutional timeframe.
should still be a senior officer in a congolese un joint military operation against the fdlr.
can someone under such scrutiny really be allowed to remain in a position of authority as we endeavour to enter a fresh chapter of hope in this troubled region?
ago. this implied that our support is not only to the person but also to the work mainly to the work of this
it. let me also say that i fully support the desire to curb the links between conflict and exploitation of natural resources. i know that the council is examining the draft resolution that was presented with the communication by the commission and you have my personal commitment
on that. i cannot guarantee that it will be enough but i can guarantee that you have my personal commitment
parliament's vote tomorrow would confirm its contribution to achieving this goal. i have neither the intention nor the right to comment on any of the tabled amendments in parliament but i would like to point out some of the commission's positions that were part of today's debate in plenary. first on the minimum number of services that member states should include in the national list of the payment services.
i very much appreciate that also in the council the lithuanian presidency is equally committed to reaching a general approach this month and that the greek presidency is committed to starting interinstituonal negotiations immediately in.
i reiterate my personal commitment to bringing this important proposal to a successful conclusion.
i would say that the commission has proposed to include at least twenty of these services but we are open to discussing this minimum number.
i am convinced however that it is possible to find a solution to all the issues that need to be resolved so that we can deliver on the key objective.
on access to basic bank accounts we are convinced in the commission that access to basic bank accounts can only be refused in two cases if the citizen does not comply with anti money laundering requirements or if
i would like to thank once again the rapporteur not least for his drive and determination in the handling of this file over the last six months.
the commission will enter the trialogue with its original proposal since the free movement of services also implies the freedom to true service providers in other member states.
it will open up the single market for financial services for both consumers and businesses thereby increasing competition allowing consumers greater choice and driving down prices.
it will also allow for better integration of all eu citizens in the economy by improving their access to financial services.
let me address three key elements which have been subject to particularly intensive discussions over the last couple of months including in this parliament.
first on the transparency and comparability of payment account fees it is essential that fee information provided to consumers before they open a payment account is both well targeted and relevant so that consumers find the information useful and easy to understand.
it is an important tool for increasing consumer mobility in the eu and will bolster the single market for financial services.
we are ready to consider options that would help us reach this result within a reasonable time.
third it is imperative that consumers are able to freely and without restriction choose payment accounts most suited to their needs wherever the provider is located in the european union. the principle of having a single market would be undermined if limitations were placed on consumers ability to purchase goods and services cross border.
i must add that the commission is fully aware that all eu consumers must follow certain requirements including identity checks before they are able to open a payment account. the proposed directive does not derogate from full compliance with the anti money laundering provisions set in the anti money laundering directive.
however beyond these basics there should not be any other criteria to be met.
easier access to financial services will enhance customer mobility in the european union and will foster competition between providers encouraging them to offer better and cheaper products and services.
i will now be very interested to hear your views on these as well as other issues on which you think the commission proposal could be improved. i will carefully analyse all your comments and suggestions.
ironically it also means that the label has increasingly become a victim of its own success.
per year energy labelling and eco design policies taken together represent a savings potential for consumers of up to eur four hundred and sixty five million and can bring around eur fifty five billion in extra revenue for business which goes to show that this is as much about energy security as it is about sustainability or competitiveness.
following extensive consultation and responding to consumer requests the commission therefore proposed returning to the original a to g energy label scale and periodically rescaling it. ultimately this is about providing clear information for consumers to ensure that they are equipped to make the most informed and efficient choices.
one of the underpinning principles of the european union is to empower consumers and citizens and allow them to drive the clean energy transition that europe needs. it was in that spirit that in july two thousand and fifteen the commission made a proposal to update the legal framework for the energy efficiency labelling of products and since its introduction twenty years ago energy labelling has ensured that consumers are able to make more informed choices that will help them to save energy and money.
there are lots of interesting ideas in the report including on rescaling.
the provision to allow manufacturers to keep compliance information on their own service while being centrally accessible for market surveillance authorities will be technically very challenging and costly and we have profound concerns over its workability.
today consumers want to know about the energy efficiency of appliances as much as they want to know about the calories in food and we need to make it as simple as that.
this timing is not realistic.
so i look forward to working with this house and with the council to ensure that rescaling and the product database can be implemented in practice without a high administrative burden.
ultimately the new label has to work for consumers.
that is why we very much welcome the support of the rapporteur and the european parliament which has allowed us to make significant progress on this important proposal.
rushing the establishment of the database could lead to a bad quality database and we do not want that.
however there are two changes suggested in the report that i must flag because in our view they are likely to undermine the success of the planned product database and we must make sure that we know the impact of these changes.
the report also suggests giving less time to the commission to establish the database one year instead of two.
today's energy labelling needs updating many models are in the highest classes and thereby no longer provide differentiation for consumers.
so these pluses have actually become minuses for consumers.
the good news is that the labelling has accelerated the development of ever more efficient products and that should be applauded.
more than eighty five of us actually check the energy label before buying a new fridge or a new washing machine.