kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
but nothing can repeat itself in the same way. i believe that we all learned our lessons and if this is the case the eu has to act quickly and decisively and in close cooperation with the united states.
in mid november during the successful eu egypt task force we showed an example of what our relations will be if democracies respect it and political reforms continue.
now we have to show an example of what our response will be if democracy is under threat and the rights of the people are violated now that pro democratic forces need adequate support in their fight.
this is a crucial moment when our credibility is again being tested.
therefore i do not completely understand the fact that the foreign affairs council just i quote took stock of the latest developments in egypt without any meaningful conclusion or statement'.
the presidency is confident that the last outstanding issue can be resolved in the coming days so that the negotiations with the acp side can be opened shortly.
the situation on the ground differs between the regions and countries and regional and local players are gaining more and more importance.
on the eu side we are convinced that we can do it and are putting all our energy into achieving this.
we need to act at the most appropriate level in line with the principle of subsidiarity and to enhance the efficiency of the acp eu partnership. our ambition is to agree on a more political framework with the acp side.
there was also a convergence of views from early on with the acp side that the new framework needs to be adapted to the new reality so that we can address global challenges more efficiently.
development while an important part of our relations should become one of the many areas of the complex more political architecture.
it includes a strong commitment to the principle of leaving no one behind which is not at all in contradiction with the objective of a modernised political partnership that goes beyond the traditional development aid approach.
the cotonou agreement set a clear deadline for the start of the negotiations between the two parties and the presidency spared no efforts to finalise the eu preparation process so that negotiations can open before the summer break.
the two thousand and thirty sustainable development agenda will be the backbone of the new acp eu relationship.
the council took the upcoming negotiations with the acp as a clear opportunity to strive for a new framework that responds most effectively to these new challenges.
we want to bring about a major change.
the new framework is intended to encompass all relevant matters of joint interest such as human rights fundamental freedoms democracy the rule of law and good governance human development sustainable and inclusive growth peace security and justice as well as mobility and migration.
our aim is to leave behind the limitations of the donor recipient relationship for good and to open a new chapter with a bond between equal partners.
the eu intends to respond to this by shifting the centre of gravity and proposing tailor made action orientated regional partnerships.
the acp group has great aspirations and we are convinced that the two parties together can become a driving force on important global issues.
only a comprehensive political partnership will put us in a position to build peaceful well governed and prosperous states and societies by accelerating progress towards the attainment of the sustainable development goals and thus to eradicate poverty and tackle discrimination and inequality.
the world the european union and the acp themselves are no longer the same.
the vision of the european union member states is clear.
the joint parliamentary assembly should work closely with the acp council of ministers according to those same principles.
i also agree with your insistence that a core principle of the new partnership agreement should be a multi stakeholder approach to dialogue and cooperation.
it is ultimately up to council itself to decide what it considers the most appropriate course to follow.
our counterparts in the acp group adopted their negotiating mandate a few days ago at the acp ministerial council in lom.
regional parliaments in particular should be stronger matching the increased prominence of eu africa eu caribbean and eu pacific regional councils in the future acp eu agreement.
i welcome your resolution and the question on the upcoming negotiations of the partnership agreement between the european union and the countries of the african caribbean and pacific group of states.
keeping the framework with seventy nine countries is fully compatible with having a tailored and strengthened approach to cooperation with the main regions.
the future eu africa pillar should build on the existing joint africa european strategy and use its institutional set
the institutional and political architecture of the new eu acp partnership agreement will be key to this.
up. at the same time the importance of our caribbean and pacific partners will also be confirmed.
your position on the way forward and that of the commission are broadly aligned. we share the conviction that we need a legally binding agreement that is based on the essential elements of our existing partnership namely respect for human rights democratic principles the rule of law and good governance. they are all part of the acquis and must be strengthened in the new agreement. i also agree with your call to preserve a strong acp identity. together the european union and acp countries represent more than half of the un membership. such an alliance should be further exploited.
as regards the rhythm of meetings the commission has proposed that the acp eu council should be convened on an ad hoc basis.
political dialogue must be an integral part of the new partnership at all levels including the acp wide level the continental regional and national levels through the format most appropriate to the issues discussed.
for post cotonou i trust the council will negotiate an eu acp relationship anchored in upholding the values of democracy human rights gender equality and the rule of law;
one which will enable a vibrant and active civil society including the work of human rights defenders.
the focus of our work with our partners at governmental and parliamentary level should be to ensure human dignity is respected everywhere.
a strong focus on culture and education is also crucial.
we need to make sure that intercultural dialogue becomes a key component of the acp framework in order to use people to people contact as a means of achieving peace and prosperity.
i also believe it is crucial to include a strong parliamentary dimension in order to strengthen the democratic foundation of our unique partnership.
substitute catalonia for any other independence movement and suddenly the eu's hypocrisy becomes embarrassingly obvious.
while we need to build on the achievements of the cotonou framework it is imperative that the future framework take better account of the interests needs and challenges of the different regions on the acp side.
the council will make its decision on publication of the negotiating directives after we have agreed on the final text.
the negotiation process will be crucial.
time has come for parliament to stand up and do the right thing.
we need to urgently review the relevancy of eu agencies.
the amendment was voted down but worse still the committee approved a.
instead the commission has given the agency new work in the field of biocides.
this jobs for the boys' approach is weakening the value of agencies.
my point is that agencies are created to deal with a specific area and when they have completed their task more work is created.
because this institute could easily be merged with the eu fundamental rights agency.
mr president i recently visited the european chemicals agency in helsinki. i was shocked to discover that an agency set up to manage the administration of the reach directive will not be wound down at the end of its registration period.
many are inefficient and unnecessary. we can no longer afford institutions that have no added value.
due sensitivity and respect for the bereaved families were severely lacking.
a short time later her newly wed husband john found her murdered body in the bath.
it is therefore imperative that the eyes of the international community remain on the mauritian authorities.
the subsequent trial which ended with two hotel workers being acquitted of her murder was a horrific experience for both the harte and the mcareavey families in terms of the investigation and the court proceedings.
their recessions require reflationary measures devaluations and withdrawal from the euro zone where applicable. unfortunately keynesian reflation whether by bank created credit or quantitative easing money creation tends to be inflationary because the expansion of the money supply precedes sometimes by years in the case of huge infrastructure projects the increase in the quantity of goods and services. furthermore credit creation leads to an increase in sovereign debt.
these incidents unfortunately demonstrate that the peace process and the establishment of power sharing institutions have failed to end sectarian division on the ground.
in fact there are now more so called peace lines dividing communities than there were before the paramilitary ceasefires.
instead of eradicating division the northern ireland assembly has actually institutionalised it. the main parties cannot eradicate the poison of sectarianism because they rely on that division to maintain their power. one thing that unites the assembly parties is their support for austerity.
they are embarking on a vicious campaign of cuts to public services which are already leading to rising unemployment and poverty conditions which precisely provide the breeding ground for the rise and growth of sectarianism.
there is an urgent need for the building of a new mass working class party based on the trade union movement and genuine community groups and young people to unite working class people against sectarian division against the right wing policies of the assembly executive and for socialist change.
these assumptions are at the core of the new programme.
as this programme is already the smallest instrument of the two thousand and fourteen two thousand and twenty generation i share your disappointment regarding the reduction of its budget.
last but not least let me once again recall the importance of having this programme adopted in time.
under the still existing english constitution the head of state cannot be subject to a higher political authority. the english monarch is the physical embodiment of the sovereignty of the nation and that is the fundamental problem at the heart of british membership of the european union.
the issue can only be resolved by them by a democratic decision accepting their new status as a region of the european union or by leaving and re establishing our national democratic independence.
the british people still imagine that they are a free and sovereign people and yet they are not.
european commission be strict and at the same time open to dialogue.
romanian citizens please be brave be vigilant don't give up.
it is not sufficient.
romanian politicians be open to your society be honest.
i know some people claim and will claim that the european parliament and the commission should not get involved or try to spin the idea that this is somehow politically motivated.
they just want a country and a union where justice is blind where everyone is treated equally before the law where corruption is eradicated and where winning an election does not mean you are entitled to divide up the country like your personal spoils of war.
we are distinct as nations but we are intertwined all the same and if the rule of law is at stake in any one state then every single other state is endangered and that is why the commission is right to act as it must do everywhere there is a threat. i met with some of the people who are out on the streets in romania they are teachers and poets and students and pensioners.
they flew european union flags because they believed in europe a europe that is not only an economic bloc but also a guarantee of common values and shared promises.
they deserve as we all do a country where the rule of law is respected where corruption is fought where the courts are protected and where laws are not changed on a whim to suit only those in power.
we have seen attempts by the government there to suppress the judiciary to water down anticorruption legislation and to use its electoral majority as an excuse to do as it pleases.
romanians have been on the street for more than a year as temperatures plummeted and the snow fell they stood up.
i will finish by saying thank you for standing up.
they are not politicians.
every member state must understand that what happens in bucharest affects people in paris just as what happens in valetta affects people in stockholm.
it is a justification that we are seeing used by unscrupulous politicians across the european union who try to excuse the inexcusable.
the eu cannot look away and for sure the european people's party will not do so because romanians are not any less european than the rest of us.
i met with romanian ngos and journalists and was impressed with their high quality and commitment and it pains me to hear that a draft law that was endorsed by the romanian senate in the meantime is actually closing the space for civil society.
let me assure you that the rule of law and the separation of powers have always been at the heart of the council's attention.
the council addressed the situation in romania in its conclusions on the cooperation and verification mechanism adopted on twelve december.
mr president honourable members madam commissioner you have invited the presidency to intervene in this debate. first let me say that common values such as democracy equality the rule of law and human rights are the cornerstone of the european union.
the council reiterated the importance for romania to focus on further consolidating progress and to fully address the concerns and all the recommendations set out by the commission in its report on progress achieved under the cooperation and verification mechanism.
we believe that dialogue and cooperation are necessary to ensure the best standards and conditions for our citizens in all our member states.
two thousand and seventeen the council welcomed the fact that romania has taken a number of positive steps and encouraged the country to renew momentum on the reforms in particular those related to the independence of the judiciary and to the fight against corruption at all levels.
consequently the anticorruption struggle was easily abused being transformed into an instrument directed against political adversaries and economic competitors transferring power from those elected to those appointed.
as a result in the last two years the media is full of the abuses committed in the anticorruption struggle and the courts have declared inadmissible an increasing number of cases submitted by anticorruption prosecutors. and now when the romanian parliament is obliged to correct a number of articles declared unconstitutional by the constitutional court eliminating their subjectivity the sovereignty of the romanian people is being questioned.
services which were ousted from the judiciary process immediately after the revolution.
romanian citizens have taken to the streets to state their opposition to the proposed changes to romanian law.
therefore i reiterate the call made by president juncker and first vicepresident timmermans to the romanian parliament to rethink the course of actions proposed to open up debate in line with the commission's recommendations
therefore the question we put to the romanian authorities in the november report remains valid namely whether the process would take into account the legitimate interests of the judiciary and respect judicial independence.
the finish line is in sight.
one of the recommendations called on the romanian leadership to ensure a consensual legislative process to finalise reforms of the justice laws and the criminal codes and also to respect judicial independence and court decisions. on fifteen november two thousand and seventeen in our latest cooperation and verification mechanism report the commission voiced concerns
events since have done nothing to address these concerns.
we will look thoroughly at the final amendments to the justice law the criminal codes and laws on conflicts of interest and corruption.
as the debate on justice laws was evolving in the course of two thousand and seventeen the superior council of the magistracy the constitutional guarantor of the independence of the judiciary continued to voice concerns and issued a negative opinion citing detrimental impacts on judicial independence and on the effective functioning of the judicial system.
the constitutional court proceedings are ongoing but in its first hearings it declared the unconstitutionality of some of the provisions.
the president of romania also has a key role in the process and from his meeting with the college last week i know he takes that very seriously.
the commission has made no secret of the fact that it shares these concerns.
this common sense advice underpins the commission's recommendation to the romanian authorities that they consult the venice commission before the justice laws are promulgated.
the council of europe's principle is that you cannot reform the judicial system against the judiciary.
the independence of the romanian judiciary and its capacity to fight corruption are directly relevant to the progress made under the cooperation and verification mechanism which as you know was set up in two thousand and seven to assist romania and bulgaria in the fields of judicial reform and corruption
the commission stands ready to continue its ongoing dialogue with the romanian authorities and will contribute as best it can to help ensure that this process is taken forward constructively and in a way that builds trust.
they are concerned that this may undermine the longstanding efforts in the fight against corruption and the independence of the judiciary.
the commission considers that it is still possible for the justice laws to be improved and become good laws which will strengthen the independence and professionalisation of the romanian judicial system to serve all romanian citizens.
these are issues to be looked at carefully in relation to judicial independence and on which there are european standards.
so too does the council of europe's anticorruption watchdog the group of states against corruption which for the first time has decided to launch its own inquiry with a report due in march.
as always when dealing with these and similar matters the commission will remain objective factsbased and lawbased politically colourblind and clinical in our approach.
on the process and the content of the draft justice laws.
to step backwards now would be a major disappointment to romania's many friends but most of all to romanian citizens.
these concerns need to be taken seriously in the legislative process.
back in january two thousand and seventeen the commission proposed a limited set of remaining recommendations which if implemented fully and provided that there is no backtracking would bring romania out of the cooperation and verification mechanism.
unfortunately we have continued to see open criticism of the judiciary and defiance of judicial decisions or integrity rules which do not inspire a feeling of confidence in the process.
mr president the discussion in romania over the last year about its justice laws has led to concerns being expressed by a wide range of stakeholders both inside and outside the country across the eu and beyond.
to build consensus on the way forward to safeguard the independence of the judicial system and further step up the fight against corruption.
the debate on how to address the concerns expressed by the constitutional court should be used as an opportunity to have a good frank dialogue and build a better shared understanding and trust among all parties concerned.
but i don't think that we should change the rules or indeed the traditions on the spot.
i can also remember the first time that we welcomed colleagues from bulgaria and romania in this chamber and i was very very moved.
i don't cry very often i can tell you but there were tears running down my cheeks.
i know that romania has a long and proud tradition of liberal democracy and civic engagement and i hope that that is the past that romania will choose because unlike the previous speaker i do think that values are a matter for the european union.
i would really encourage the romanian government to follow the recommendations of the european commission and to invite the venice commission to judge the reform package not just refer loosely to some recommendations but invite the venice commission.
finally i would like to refer briefly to the new legislation on civil society.
this is happening not just in romania or hungary and poland but also in some other eu countries and tonight we will be talking about the shrinking space for civil society.
civil society may be a pain in the neck but it is essential for a robust and healthy democracy.
mr president corruption is an evil that unfortunately still we have not overcome and i think every single member state does have corruption.
but the important thing is to recognise that and to work against it tirelessly and relentlessly because corruption actually undermines the very fabric of society.
it also leads to big losses of public money money that is urgently needed elsewhere.
and in romania tens of thousands of people are on the streets against a corrupt political elite an elite which sees itself as running a state as a sort of self service system and which misuses its power to protect itself from justice.
and after significant progress that had been made by romania leading up to eu accession and in the years afterwards now what we actually see is steps backwards.
the progress is being reversed and this is bad for the romanian government for the romanian citizens but also for the whole of the european union and romanian citizens are eu citizens.
the new laws clearly have one objective to weaken the legal system and to make it harder to prosecute high level corruption.
we expect the romanian government and the romanian parliament to follow the court ruling and to make the laws compatible with eu standards and eu rules.
we see this in the bad condition in many schools.
we see this in hospitals where you risk actually getting more infections.
we see coal power plants that run without a permit for years and with the full knowledge of the authorities.
we came to speak with the citizens on the street;
i want to stress what i said before romanian citizens are european citizens.
they have the same rights as every other european citizen.
that's why we as greens cannot accept that romanians are still being deprived of one of the most basic and fundamental freedoms of europeans that is to be a member of the schengen zone and to travel freely within the union.
romanians have the right to be free of corruption to have a government that cares about public interest and to enjoy their european freedoms.
we should be critical when criticism is needed but we firmly reject the politicisation of facts without objective consideration of reality.
my understanding is that romania has been working to achieve the process of judicial reform since the accession treaty and that the institutions have been continually involved.
we should acknowledge that this is not a black and white debate and we should acknowledge of course that are now clear and pending issues and criticisms.
but there should be room now for dialogue and i think most sensible people in this debate would understand that.
there are still the pending issues but self criticism has been made and with an independent constitutional mechanism in place romania can display and has displayed a willingness to have viable institutional dialogue.
let me reiterate that the role of the commission is to fulfil the obligation of the guardian of the treaty.