kfajdsl/voxpopuli huggingface dataset:
right now we have established an e health network within the commission where governments meet with stakeholders and with the commission itself not to reduce the level of healthcare in europe but to use the money which we have in a better way.
sadly this has been forgotten in some member states including my own as public healthcare systems are slowly being dismantled.
at least we have restored that principle of putting health first here in this programme.
whilst the modest budget will not be able to address all of the public health challenges we face it can go a long way.
hospitals charities patient groups and universities can use this funding to collaborate on a wide range of projects.
we need to work together across europe to tackle the problems that affect us all whether it is finding the best way to screen for cervical cancer providing the right care for patients with neurodegenerative diseases in the face of an ageing population or preventing childhood obesity. i would like to see a special emphasis on prevention.
so many chronic diseases including heart disease cancer respiratory diseases and diabetes can be caused by tobacco alcohol and unhealthy food.
we need to seriously look at how these products are marketed sold and consumed across europe if we are to have any hope of tackling the huge and rising burden of chronic disease across europe.
i therefore very much welcome projects under this programme that focus on these risk factors. i also hope we will have more of an emphasis on mental health which is so inextricably linked with physical health and too often ignored.
finally it is very helpful that we have managed to reach an agreement on extra funding for large projects involving member states with low average incomes.
we know the majority of the current funding is used by the bigger wealthier member states.
the fundamental rights agency talks about the stigmatization of human rights defenders.
we'd like to say that we promote democracy rule of law human rights on the international stage.
so the european values instrument i think is an important proposal designed to support organisations who uphold and promote the values on which the eu claims it is founded and these are universal values.
this was the choice made by those who have joined the european union and i think that that direct support is crucial and will only strengthen the way in which the european union can say that it is acting without double standards but applies the same standards internally as we do externally.
i chair one of parliament's delegations and i know that the support that we give for human rights organisations in countries where those rights are under attack and where defending them can lead to torture imprisonment impunity for those who attack such defenders and repressive laws designed to stop such bodies being effective
politicians who want to withdraw from the european convention on human rights and we see journalists who put their lives on the line by investigating corruption.
madam president this year is marking the seventieth anniversary of the adoption of the universal declaration on human rights by the united nations in paris at the time and therefore i think it is a good opportunity for us to consider what is actually happening on those issues within the european union.
he talked about european values.
ngos are diminishing so this work by mr boni supported by all the major political groups is essential to ensure that that important part of democracy is supported and supported independently.
these are the core values that are shared by all eu member states but we have a duty to support grassroots organisations that are defending human rights independently.
it is that the european union is not just an economic entity a single market it is that values go along with that and they are not exclusive because we also observe universal human rights.
the point is that with that a strong independent civil society is essential.
that's why it is essential that here in the parliament we support a european values instrument which supports the work of local ngos and national ngos that are doing such important work on the ground.
i myself was a chair and a director of an ngo.
without active and critical civil society we would not be a union based on democracy rule of law and fundamental rights.
it is not that european values are exclusive to the european union;
this flexible instrument is important and supported because it provides that distance between the ngos and the european union but allows them to be active and vibrant.
the fundamental rights agency recently said that ngos within the european union are facing overall budget cuts and economic crisis.
i think that is a very dangerous development and it should be condemned by this house.
but i am also a little bit worried to hear that the commission explicitly excludes the instrument of litigation or litigation costs as eligible activities like under the recent call for proposals for the eu programme for employment and social innovation.
in this context i would also like to strongly condemn the recent targeting of ngos and people working for ngos in hungary.
it is also in line with the position adopted by the european parliament in october two thousand and sixteen in the report on the drf pact so i very much welcome this.
it is very funny that the european union has instruments to support ngos and civil society outside the european union but not inside.
it is to challenge governments. it is called checks and balances it is the very core of democracy and yes that means that civil society could for example challenge your government or the hungarian government.
i think that would be extremely healthy for democracy in those countries and other countries.
because one of the tasks of civil society is to actually challenge people who are in power.
therefore i very much welcome the initiative by micha boni.
madam president i would like to pick up where mr jurek left off. first of all a little correction it is not a union of member states it is a union of citizens and citizens may actually have very different views. what will happen when this instrument is adopted is that we are actually going to strengthen democracy.
i think the report by the fundamental rights agency about the state of civil society also highlights the urgent need for such an instrument.
litigation is a very important instrument allowing citizens and ngos to create this sphere of fundamental rights and the rule of law so please give your support to litigation as well.
finally madam commissioner i have just one question because i think the commission should also seriously implement other instruments aiming for accountability like the preparatory action on the litigation fund and we have just met with your people this week.
they are also key players when it comes to ensuring the effective enjoyment by everyone of rights under eu law and under the charter of fundamental rights of the eu.
we are aware and concerned about alarming reports and studies including from the eu fundamental rights agency and the council of europe which point to a pattern of pressures civil society is facing in many parts of the european union. policymakers in every democracy should engage in a regular and transparent dialogue with civil society
working together with national budgets and complementing other efforts at european and national level the union has been providing concrete support to civil society and independent human rights actors in many key areas. with a view to the post two thousand and twenty eu budget we are exploring ways to create a values framework in the eu budget with broader funding programmes in a scope aimed at promoting and protecting eu values.
madam president the commission considers the strong free and vibrant civil society in the eu and in all our member states as very important.
as reflected in the draft resolution you are going to vote on today this also entails a positive obligation at all levels to provide these actors with adequate financial support.
maintaining our civil society strong independent and pluralistic requires our joint efforts and we welcome the continued engagement of the european parliament on this matter.
we want to reach a critical mass of funding to have an impact on citizens' daily lives.
in this context we are determined to make the best of this opportunity to strengthen the added value that the eu finances can provide to support empower and build the capacity of civil society and other independent actors whose activities promote safeguard and raise awareness of common values at national and local level and help the strategic enforcement of rights under eu law and the charter.
civil society organisations and independent human rights bodies play an essential role in promoting safeguarding and raising awareness of eu common values.
the eu budget can provide value added in upholding common european values such as democracy freedom the rule of law fundamental rights cultural diversity equality solidarity sustainability and peace.
we want to further enhance synergies between the current different funding programmes to give eu value an ever more prominent and visible place in our funding priorities.
the importance of preserving and protecting the civil society space is particularly clear in times when fundamental rights and values are under pressure.
and independent human rights actors both as allies and as critical minds and support the development of a sustainable environment for these actors to strengthen their role and perform their functions independently and effectively.
madam president fundamental rights are under attack in the european union. some rights that we have actually taken for granted in the past are suddenly in question again and it is not the first time because despite the fact that we call them european values they have been undermined also in europe in the past and this has always ended in catastrophe.
but this continent is stronger.
our citizens are stronger and that is why it is so important that we support the brave people who are defending fundamental rights in the european union right now because they are not only defending their own rights they are defending all our freedom and all our democracies at the same time and in these difficult moments we have to stand together as europeans and stand up for what this union is founded on. for these people it is important to have our solidarity.
but at the same time i really think it's about time that we also pay them credit for what they have been doing in the past and that we support them with a fundamental values instrument.
thank you for reminding us that we are not talking really about european values but about universal values we have freedom of the press we have the respect of human rights and we have democracies also in other parts of the world take japan
as the commissioner has said a lot of preparatory work was done and i do believe there are many challenges in those member states but i think that because of that work and indeed we are meeting with civil society following this debate we will provide a mechanism that is more flexible than now to ensure that support happens.
but you're right to say that it will be a challenge because independence with eu funding is not an easy equation but it's critical.
it promotes the rule of law and accountability.
but the shrinking space for these organisations is in fact a reality.
on my latest mission to hungary i met with civil society organisations promoting human rights and women's rights.
i witnessed their struggles which are much related to a lack of adequate funding a tactic by the hungarian government to prevent these organisations from functioning.
i think the member has a point and i think that at times it's very well worth our while reminding ourselves that these are universal values.
but nevertheless in terms of the european treaties in terms of the charter of fundamental rights we have also given ourselves a really high standard to live up to and therefore i think if we are not seen to be doing that ourselves we also give other countries an opportunity to say that we speak as it were with two different voices.
so this is why i think that the instrument is important in helping us maintain our own standards where we're also talking to others about universal rights.
we have a long tradition in the european union of giving financial support to civil society does that make them less independent?
there are rules on transparency which incidentally are being abused by some governments in the european union so no i think it is a good thing.
it strengthens democracy and i wholeheartedly support this initiative.
ms in 't veld do you not think that financially supporting these social actors means that they will be beholden to governments and to the european union and therefore will actually act in their interests rather than independently and in the interests of people as a whole?
however the performance of these tasks needs access to funding.
this is why it is vital that we invest our resources in a strong civil society for the sake of our fundamental values and the future of the european project.
this is what the proposed european values instrument is all about.
its focus is on grassroots civil society actors who operate at local and national level where european values are confronted with significant challenges across europe.
so far the eu has not developed adequate instruments to this end.
we are upholding the values enshrined in the treaty and in the charter of fundamental rights.
many times i have received advice from many politicians saying that if the people want to have a say if they want to be heard let them join political parties' or let them come once in four times to elections' and the advice continues be silent in the meantime'.
that's not my way of thinking because i think that the purpose of such advice is that a silent crowd is so easy to handle and the eu doesn't want to handle a silent crowd we want active people.
sexual violence and many other things which we frequently discuss here in this house.
that's why it is so important that the eu will not be and cannot be the only source of financial support.
so again my declaration today is that we are supporting it.
a civil society that is active and working effectively is a help and strength to democracy.
this instrument is about making sure that ngos can be organised and transparent in their work with the use of public funds that is something that we should support.
i think it is also really important to talk in this chamber about values because it seems to me that there are many many different layers of values but the european union stands for very important ones democracy the rule of law and freedoms.
the ngos working in it work to those freedoms.
of course they irritate governments and political parties but that is their job and that is their function.
they are also effective in making us do our job more effectively.
so i welcome this initiative commissioner and i am looking forward to your response.
yes prevention is our priority as it should be in order to minimise problems in all member states.
we need to do it equally when there are disasters which this report deals with.
the national farmers union in the united kingdom has indicated that the united kingdom will be less than fifty self sufficient in staple food types by two thousand and twenty six unless production is increased.
i urge the commission and parliament to look at these issues but i am not hopeful.
the recent leak from the commission in relation to a seven regulation for set aside in the new cap proposals will only restrict food production further.
we in this house talk endlessly about the increase in world population the effects of climate change increase in biofuel demand and the increasing demand for western eating habits yet we have decreased agricultural output and due to decoupling provide no incentive to produce food.
it is important that we assist in food security in developing countries but it is also important that we actually provide food security for the people that we represent.
our colossal wastage of food represents an inefficient use and management of our food resources.
meanwhile in europe about eighty nine million tonnes of food is wasted every year. that is one hundred and seventy nine kg per person.
successful commitments to fight poverty and hunger worldwide must begin by addressing our terrible wastage of food.
without any prevention measures it is expected that the total amount of wasted food will reach one hundred and twenty six million tonnes by the end of this decade.
while this represents a reduction of one twenty three million on the two thousand and nine figure there is strong evidence that food price increases during the last few months have already augmented that number for this year.
it is common knowledge that israel is one of the most advanced countries in the fields of medicine and technology.
however i do believe that this house should have the issue of balance fairness and equality uppermost in its mind.
in postponing approval for this agreement we are denying european consumers access to a wider range of high quality medication and blocking the possibility of lower prices for these products as well as the introduction of innovative technology into the european market.
at present the acca agreement between the european union and israel signed in may two thousand and ten has come to a standstill as a result of this institution's reluctance to approve it.
let us involve those that we are trying to legislate for.
it is interesting that we are debating it following the protests over the weekend by european union motorcyclists.
i think we should try to work better with stakeholders so that we do not have protests over something which we believe is important for overall road safety.
it is interesting to note that in ireland a motorcyclist is twelve times more likely to be killed than any other road user.
it must end its complicity with the israeli occupation.
i welcome this agreement which if implemented could provide a level of assistance for the palestinian people.
the collective punishment of the blockade of gaza has inflicted a humanitarian catastrophe on the people of gaza.
before the blockade over seven hundred trucks used to leave gaza with exports on a daily basis today less than two of the pre blockade level of exports exist and simply tons and tons of fruit and flour are rotting and so if the eu is serious about assisting the palestinian people gestures like this are simply not enough.
however we have to recognise reality here and the reality is that its impact will be extremely limited because the problem is not simply goods entering the european markets but goods exiting the occupied territories in the first place.
in the toughest scenario the eu's beef sector could see production levels drop by over one hundred and fifty zero tons with the producer price for beef falling by over.
mr president over the past number of months the commission has been negotiating with the mercosur bloc to agree a trade policy which would apparently benefit both regions.
i have voiced this opinion since the very beginning of this process along with other meps and farming organisations.
now that the commission has carried out this impact assessment it is important that this is taken on board during the negotiations.
however my fear is that the commission will look at other possible gains.
i have spoken to the commission and highlighted the impact that these decisions would have on northern ireland.
there is unfortunately no good news story from these impact assessments.
i strongly support the revision of the eu palestine association agreement regarding agricultural and fisheries products.
the liberalisation of trade is extremely welcome bringing opportunities and wealth to both the eu and the palestinian territories on the west bank and gaza strip.
palestine is one of our smallest trading partners and granting them duty free and mostly quota free access will go some way to improving the lives of their citizens whilst having little or no impact on our own agricultural market.
i believe this agreement is a good example of how the eu can do a little bit of good in the world and make a small difference to the condition of the palestinian people.
i would urge the israeli government to do rather more to improve the condition of the palestinian people as well and encourage them to allow freer trade with the territories.
mr president cohesion and structural funds are very much a sign of european solidarity so it is important that this funding is properly used and used in the best possible way.
but as this report points out there are huge problems in relation to member states accessing this funding and coming up with the necessary cofinancing that is required.
when we hear announcements of major funding being made available from the european union budget and the public read these stories later to read that some of this funding has not been accessed there is a delay in getting access to it or they themselves have problems in trying to access funding that creates a negative attitude towards the european union.
we do need to make these funds work for the betterment of citizens and therefore the recommendations of this report should be implemented.
mr president it may well be a coincidence that we are speaking on our trade policy following our explanation of vote on the zimmer report on food security but there is a link and those of us who have concerns about agriculture and food security would equally be concerned about the direction of europe's trade policy.
the inclusion of agriculture in the wto is of concern and some of us are battling to have that looked at again in the light of our concerns over how the world will provide security of food supply to its citizens.
they are second best to a global trade agreement and we must in each and every one of the bilateral trade agreements look beforehand at the likely impacts it will have particularly on europe's food security concerns.
that is why while we do look to the future and the issues around this report i want to stress in particular my concerns around food security and trade.
mr president as someone who has authored a report on food security and the common agricultural policy and worked hard on this issue for seven years i very much welcome the renewed emphasis on food security.
of course we are targeting those parts of the world where there is real hunger but there is also hunger within the european union.
we have to tackle it at every significant level.
i want to repeat a point i made in another explanation of vote.
we are in a very serious situation where agricultural productivity is declining because of a lack of focus on research and innovation and on transferring the knowledge gained to farmers on the ground.
this is a problem within europe but it is a particular problem for the developing world.
we need to target research there and we need to make sure that people get the knowledge gained by research and put it into practice in food production.
therefore there is need for a change of tactics and hopefully with this programme which will be coming before the commission in due course research and innovation will produce a different approach where we can deal with the patient as the virtual patient with specific diagnosis and specific remedies as opposed to the generic which we have at present.
i think it is very important to remember that as technology and innovation leap forward we sometimes lose sight of the basics.
of course one of the basics that we need to remember is our need for food or food security not just in developing countries but in the eu as well.
one of the issues that we face at a global level is the financial speculation and trade in agricultural commodities.
this simply worsens volatility; it means at the end of the day that many people go hungry.
we also need to ensure greater transparency in the food chain to ensure a fair revenue for farmers.
the primary producers are being squeezed;
their share of the cake is getting smaller and that cannot continue.