kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
the commission should focus on the implementation of the existing legislation and a simplification in the area when we are speaking about the common agricultural or cohesion policy. there are two priorities in this area which the epp found very important firstly the mobility and the flexibility of the labour market has to be improved and
mr president the motto of our work programme this year is no time for business as usual' and anybody in this room or around europe who has followed this morning's debate will agree with me that this is no time for business as usual.
we now will focus on improving the investment environment and deepening the single market so that it delivers better outcomes fewer barriers and the right environment for innovation especially among smes and startups.
we will present a range of concrete proposals to implement the digital single market strategy.
in preparing our work programme we have taken account of the views you have expressed including in your resolution and i think there is a very broad degree of convergence.
we will present a new skills agenda aimed at helping people get quality jobs in particular in the digital era.
secondly we have to keep our sights firmly on creating jobs growth and investment.
i wanted to stress these five points to you today as i cannot list everything here.
the list is considerably shorter than last year which was a moment of political discontinuity.
still this year we will complete the picture with our plans for a sustainable circular economy labour mobility and better management of our external borders.
we will present a set of measures to enhance transparency of the corporate tax system and fight tax avoidance.
our work programme includes our plans to review key areas of existing legislation such as health and safety at the workplace to ensure that they are fit for purpose and continue to deliver on our ambitious policy objectives.
the labour mobility proposals we will present still this year will help people use the opportunities of free movement whilst addressing abuses in the benefits system and social dumping.
we now propose new measures to improve migration management both to overhaul the dublin system for asylum and to set out a new approach to legal migration.
again here it takes strangely enough three to tango.
first we will continue to prioritise the refugee and migration challenge. the european agenda on migration provides a comprehensive response.
this will be complemented by the development of a european pillar of social rights which will modernise and address the gaps in existing social protection legislation and identify social benchmarks built on national best practices with a view to upwards convergence in particular of course in the euro area.
all the actions we propose are underpinned by our new better regulation agenda.
thirdly the eu being a lead player in the paris climate talks we will follow up with three important packages under the energy union.
i want to thank all the group leaders for their leadership in this.
president juncker's ten priorities which are both our mission statement and the basis on which we were appointed to office by you remain the right ones.
today more than ever before you can no longer distinguish between internal and external i just want to point to the sustainable development goals they can no longer distinguish between the two elements. the commission will make a substantive contribution to the new global strategy on foreign and security policy also here internal and external go hand in hand. two final points.
but for the eu to be strong it needs to be able to demonstrate that all our institutions are ready to set europe's agenda together and can work together swiftly and in agreement to reach our goals.
we will set out a new approach to ensure europe's economic social and environmental sustainability taking into account the europe two thousand and twenty review and the united nation's sustainable development goals.
we are concentrating on the big things.
we will deliver a circular economy package to maximise resource efficiency throughout the whole value chain.
i want to thank president schulz for having taken this so seriously and helped us to organise the work better.
last year we said we would do different things and do things differently.
the challenges such as migration access to energy and other resources and climate change also show the need for an effective external dimension to deliver on major internal policy objectives.
the commission's work programme reflects the commission's right of initiative and we take full responsibility for the choices we make.
ccc. i hope this will help us reach a common understanding of the pending and future proposals on which we hope the co legislators will commit to proceed quickly.
we have set out our vision and the concrete measures necessary in various areas investment plan digital single market energy union european agenda on security european agenda on migration capital markets union action plan for fair and efficient corporate taxation new trade strategy
immediate actions have been taken and i am very grateful to this house and its president for the speed with which you have acted and for the leadership you have consistently shown.
the commission will of course also continue to implement the european security agenda to tackle terrorism and organised crime and follow up on the trade and investment strategy as well as the five presidents' report for a more resilient and prosperous economic and monetary union. given all these challenges it is essential to make the best use of all our resources.
in line with our commitment under the framework agreement we will only enact the withdrawals once we have heard your views. my second concluding point is that the work programme cannot deliver results without sufficient ownership of the co legislators.
that is why i would like to point to five important issues which i would like to stress in particular.
the two thousand and sixteen european semester will put a stronger focus on the economic and fiscal situation in the euro area as a whole and on member states' employment and social performance.
one this commission also said we would do things differently.
this will complement the strengthened border management proposals we will table by the end of the year including a european border and coastguard.
we will also present an action plan for a more efficient and fraud proof vat regime.
we also propose a number of withdrawals of initiatives which have become obsolete or watered down and have no chance to be adopted.
the work programme the commission adopted today and its twenty three key initiatives is focused on implementing these strategies.
it represents a substantive legislative agenda. there will be a lot of work on the table for this parliament.
fifthly the commission will also press for further progress towards fair efficient and growth friendly corporate taxation based on the principle that companies should pay taxes in the country where profits are generated.
we remain committed to making sure that when the eu intervenes it does so in a way that will deliver results and make a positive difference on the ground.
free movement should not be a threat to social protection.
that is why the commission today commits to making bold focused and pragmatic proposals to allow us to overcome our common challenges and emerge stronger in the spirit of european solidarity and responsibility.
the investment fund is now operational thanks again to the commitments of this house and the speed with which it has worked and is delivering high quality investments to further boost the european economy including in research.
we will also present sectoral strategies on space and defence.
tomorrow we will present the single market strategy.
we will set out legislative and non legislative action to give a new start to work life balance for parents including to support women in the workplace.
and let me also address the importance of bringing about a real partnership with africa as our neighbour continent.
but then we say that none of these ambitions are effective if we are not supported by a more ambitious external action.
we need to make the best of our investment plan and of the revision of the budgetary instrument to deliver much better on this strategy. but at the same time we are concerned with something which is happening now in europe namely a race to the bottom.
we can see that our most important challenge now is to address the refugee crisis and to prevent a humanitarian crisis on this front in such a way that we are also able to protect the schengen area.
so these are our expectations for the year to come.
that is why we believe that this is the time for a strong pillar of social rights this is the time for a mobility package to come but this is also the time to tackle tax evasion in such a way that taxes are paid where profits are made.
secondly perhaps i should explain very briefly this is just a presentation of the commission work programme; nothing more nothing less.
that is why we want structural reform that is why we have the efsi that is why we want to create opportunities in the digital single market and in the internal market.
i count on parliament not to make statements about something else or to make big grandstanding gestures on certain political issues but to take us to the task of looking precisely at the precise proposals the commission makes and come to common conclusions on that.
i hope we can come to a conclusion between the three institutions that shows clearly that we have understood the message from our constituents and our citizens.
but in the process let me end on this.
this modest commission work programme is part of a bigger answer we need to give to this challenge.
everything has come together like a perfect storm the economic crisis the financial crisis the refugee crisis international threats the climate crisis the environmental crisis and the sustainability crisis. everything has come together and threatens the very livelihood of europeans.
this is what should be driving our work.
but without this commission work programme the way we do business between the three institutions would not be as efficient.
the european project should be an answer to that.
this is what we should be doing in concrete measures.
this is something i will cherish and take back to the commission.
yes there are always elements where we could do better that is why we are here to listen to you so that we can do better.
do you know how much unemployment there is among young people in so many of our member states?
the message is that we need to do better in the way we prepare legislation so as to avoid making mistakes and to avoid what ms in 't veld was pointing to that we sometimes adopt decisions knowing full well that they are good because they represent a compromise but are not good because once you apply them in the member states businesses suffer and citizens suffer and the court will have to correct them. let us try and prevent this from happening by having full
i think this is one of the few moments in our common history that the project itself is being challenged in an existential way.
i have said that every eu initiative should face that simple test will it make it easier or harder for businesses to thrive?
mr president we need to focus on the economy boosting competitiveness innovation and trade both across the single market and beyond in traditional sectors and in the digital age.
i disagree these are matters that are better left to our national governments and i know that many colleagues across this parliament felt the same. the single market is meant to help economic opportunity that delivers growth and jobs.
however parliament's resolution on the work programme called for a deeper political union including european standards on welfare health care and education.
the commission has cut back on new legislation;
there are also a couple of things missing and a couple of question marks.
then there is something that this house has been calling for and i will have the honour and pleasure to elaborate on this a mechanism for the enforcement of fundamental rights the rule of law and democratic governance.
one final remark because we are talking a lot about political topics here better lawmaking is not about the outcome of political debates it is about the process itself.
we also need to look at the quality of legislation and look at ourselves in a more critical manner because i am sick and tired of passing legislation that we know is legally unsound and will end up before the european court of justice sooner or later. there is a whole lot more that can be said about the process but i would like to see more emphasis on the process because the final outcome is a matter of political choice political preference.
the lifting of sanctions was an essential starting point for the improvement of the iranian economy but it is not sufficient;
last week's meeting was also an opportunity to discuss other issues which we are concerned about but are not related to the nuclear deal.
this would lead to a more balanced distribution of wealth within iranian society which was one of the basic demands coming from the streets in recent weeks.
most observers believe that the economic situation has been the main driver behind the protests and the economic engagement between the european union its member states and iran that was consequent to the entry into force and continued full implementation of the nuclear agreement is also aimed at improving the economic situation of all iranian citizens.
for that reason we have established technical cooperation with iran and stand ready to help with the necessary reforms.
our engagement with iran as i mentioned has also focused on improving the economic situation of iranian citizens following the lifting of all nuclear related sanctions.
two years ago precisely on sixteen january two thousand and sixteen the international atomic energy agency verified that iran had implemented its nuclearrelated commitments. as a consequence the united nations the european union and the united states lifted their nuclear related economic and financial sanctions.
the european union has a clear and consolidated position on the joint comprehensive plan of action which was reiterated by all twenty eight foreign ministers on sixteen october last year.
none of them would be easier to address if the jcpoa was not in place quite the contrary.
some challenges are also structural and need reforms.
this was an important milestone to guarantee that iran's nuclear programme can only have a peaceful nature.
we are and stay committed to the continued full and effective implementation of all parts of the jcpoa.
so turning to the main topic of this debate.
these include addressing barriers to investment and weaknesses in the areas of transparency the rule of law and banking but also a stronger fight against money laundering in line with the standards of the financial action task force.
but we shouldn't forget that the restrictions on civil and social freedoms in iran have also been one of the top concerns of the iranian people and of course for us.
for instance human rights were the first item on the agenda at the last high level dialogue last november and we will continue to discuss these issues in the framework of our bilateral relations.
we have encouraged trade and economic engagement with the constant goal of benefiting the people of iran.
there is no shortage of experience within our member states which can be shared.
members will have seen that last friday the united states extended the sanction waivers and we are now together with the e three and the other eu member states carefully assessing the statement and its implications.
instead the ayatollahs and the guards are filling their own pockets and spending huge amounts on supporting terrorist organisations such as hezbollah and hamas.
all concerned to refrain from violence.
they are also opposing the brutal iranian warfare in arab countries and indeed the iranian dictatorship as such.
this should be compared with the united nations human rights expert who clearly condemned the iranian regime for instructing the revolutionary guard to hit hard against the protesters.
the brave men and women who have taken to the streets in more than one hundred iranian cities have done so to demand freedom and to put an end to the endemic corruption of the elite.
it is important to understand that the rise in living standards that the iranian people were promised as a result of the international nuclear deal has not been realised.
european silence european efforts to treat the mullahs as if they were snowflakes will not change the nature of the morally corrupt iranian machine.
years of political economic and social grievances sent iranians into the streets in the largest protests since.
the riots took place because iranian people were expecting life to get better when sanctions were lifted after the deal in two thousand and fifteen over iran's nuclear programme and were expecting to get more political rights and freedoms.
two thousand and nine instead of channelling this money from the lifting of sanctions into the economy and the social system and improving the lives of the iranian people iranian leaders have opted for spending the money elsewhere mainly developing iran's political and military ambitions in nearby countries such as syria lebanon iraq yemen and others.
i urge european leaders to withstand the pressures to sweep one issue under the rug to the benefit of the other.
many fear a repeat of two thousand and nine when scores of demonstrators faced torture in unofficial detention centres.
the alleged suicides of three jailed protesters underscore the importance of standing by the iranian people in defending their fundamental right to peaceful protest and protecting them against disappearances and execution.
we need to use our leadership in the nuclear file to support the iranian people and those who are open to reform.
all that is contrary to our own european interests.
so iran is now in a very explosive situation and unfortunately the european union is still following a failed policy of engagement.
that must stop. the european union has to speak up and we have to admit that the people of iran unfortunately are hurt by the current policies of the european union.
we are dealing with a religious fundamentalist regime or rather a dictatorship.
we are dealing with a country which has very dangerous nuclear ambitions and with a country that is trying to become a regional power which would shake the power balance in the region.
now we can see that the people of iran want a regime change and that in all thirty one provinces in iran people simply went out into the streets and called for that. the revolutionary guards subsequently killed dozens of people in the streets.
so instead of having friendly relationships with iranian officials the eu should clearly take the side of the people of iran who want change including engagement with the best organised exile opposition organisation the pmoi rather than cutting ties with them.
iranians need most of all economic and social reforms and democratic conditions.
considering all of this i strongly support the call to end the violent conflict in respect of human rights and peaceful protests.
judging by reports on the ground and seeing the release in the last two days of large numbers of those detained it does now seem as though the situation may be calming.
it is however vital that the nuclear deal is seen as being totally separate from our general relations with iran and stand alone. the p fifty one jcpoa in geneva in two thousand and fifteen was not aimed at improving the governance situation in iran but at preventing the state from acquiring nuclear weapons.
it is clear that the protests emanated from a mixture of economic social and political concerns from the population at large an analysis which even president rouhani himself has conceded.
on the nuclear deal i am conscious that for many western politicians who oppose it these protests are seen as a further justification of their position.
clearly there have been horrendous breaches of human rights with as many as twenty five protesters reported dead abuses which we must all condemn in the strongest terms but which are tragically characteristic of that brutal theocratic regime.
it would appear that the eu is more interested in protecting its deeply flawed nuclear deal and the trade opportunities now that iran is going for the wto than to tackle iran's extreme human rights abuses.
madam president the courageous protests that have occurred across iran over the past week should be welcomed as a manifestation of a people finally rejecting the suppression of this evil autocratic mullah regime.
as i wrote for the times red box iran is not our friend.
it has to be a benchmark for the judicial reform that is much needed in iran which needs to be further pressed by the eu to abolish the death penalty and to stop and address glaring human rights violations.
two thousand and sixteen at the same time the eu must call on the international community to reject all unilateral dangerous moves by president trump israel saudi arabia or any others to undermine the nuclear deal.
fighting money laundering and corruption is in iran's and the eu's interests.
iran's law against drug trafficking was amended in a way which we hope will spare thousands of citizens from execution.
reforms for accountability to attract investments and create jobs are needed. the eu should continue to work with iran to make it comply with the criteria of the financial action task force.
the eu must be prepared with contingency measures to counter any attempts to block the jcpoa.
i believe that the debate we have just had also shows that the european union is united on the need to uphold the jcpoa.
the nuclear deal with iran has allowed us to have a frank dialogue on issues of concern which are outside the scope of the agreement. in fact these issues of concern in particular ballistic missiles and increasing tensions in the region are constantly raised in the relevant fora including in the high level dialogue.
as i said before we will coordinate with the eu member states to jointly assess the us statement and its implementation.
yet at the same time we receive the foreign minister of iran in brussels pretending that the jcpoa is the most important topic.
however rights are always balanced with responsibilities and all sides must refrain from violence and damage to public and private property.
these protests have once again shown the power of social media as a catalyst for protest and initiating change.
the desire for change by the iranian people has been clearly expressed and the government would be wise to take heed.
however experience has shown it would also be wise to be cautious in offering unconditional support for mass rallies as who knows what will be waiting in the wings in iran as everywhere.
while it is understandable that we had been building a relationship with iran for a long time we should not be at all shy to react when people are protesting for dignity freedom and especially for their economic survival.
despite the complexities of the situation we should focus on measures that can assist the processes of democratisation in iran.
they deserve the eu's unequivocal support and should know that the eu has their rights and their freedoms at heart and at the top of our political agenda.
i do worry that the messages from the eu are not clear enough. yes we should stick to our word on the nuclear deal and keep iran to its commitments but this should not prevent us from engaging the islamic republic's leaders on human rights and foreign policy.
in syria yemen iraq and lebanon iran plays a toxic role.
just because we are both against isis or daesh it does not mean we share objectives or interests otherwise.
of course the iranian people are well aware that the billions worth of support for hezbollah and assad's murder machine are not spent on healthcare infrastructure or education in iran itself.