lmms-lab-audio/europal-asr huggingface dataset:
Date: 2019-03-27
Madam President, I said at the beginning of this that it would go down to the wire and beyond. I have not been disappointed. I also said at the very beginning that the people that I represent would never accept a border in the Irish Sea, and that still stands, Mr Barnier I hope you're listening to that. And I also have to say that the backstop would unravel the fabric of the Belfast Agreement, an international agreement which many in this place champion, but they wilfully forget the principle of consent within that agreement. There's a need to listen to everyone in Northern Ireland, not just those who shout the loudest. There's a very quiet majority of people in Northern Ireland who also want a good way forward for Northern Ireland, for the United Kingdom, and indeed for the European Union. I think we've got to move away from positions of the past and find a better future to which we can all work within. I am still concerned, Madam President, that we are still in danger of crashing out. Nobody's fault not Mr Tusk's fault, not Mr Barnier's fault, not anybody's fault but there's a danger of a crashing-out, and I hope Mr Tusk will ensure that that does not happen. I listened to him with interest, and I say to him: he needs a firm hand. Can I indulge once more, Madam President, for this could well be like my colleagues from Scotland my last speech after 30 years in this Parliament. It's been quite a long time; I've enjoyed it and all the people I have worked with through that time. I sincerely hope that I have represented the people that I represent in Northern Ireland with distinction.
Date: 2019-03-27
Madam President, this debate should be absolutely none of my beeswax because of Brexit, but sadly it is. It is likely, one way or the other, that the UK will end up contributing to a budget for the European Parliament alone of over EUR 2 billion. It's great to see paragraph 25 calling for the end of the travelling circus between Brussels and Strasbourg, but, like the film 'Groundhog Day', this Parliament votes to end the travelling circus in different reports from different committees, month in, month out, year in, year out. Time and time again, it doesn't get the change enacted because this place doesn't actually have the power to decide where it sits. That's the difference between this place and, say, the House of Representatives, which was mentioned earlier in this debate. At least this report does question the latest EU expansionism. It questions suggestions for bigger offices in Indonesia, Ethiopia and New York, which, last time I consulted a map, weren't in Europe. But what I can't support in this report is millions more being spent on propaganda by setting up Europe experience centres and mobile installations across Europe and hiring an army of 50 new press officers and media managers. I can't support even more money being spent refurbishing MEP's offices, which, last time I checked, were perfectly serviceable. Then we come to Brexit, and this report contemplates various options. Why wouldn't it? Even as I'm speaking here, politicians in Westminster are still unable to decide whether or not they're going to implement the referendum result. British MEPs were elected on a Brexit mandate in 2014, the general election in 2015 mandated a referendum, and the 2016 referendum mandated leave. Then 85% of votes at the general election in 2017 went to parties pledging leave. I'm going to blame the European Union for a lot of things, but I'll tell you what, I'm not going to blame the European Union for politicians in Westminster ignoring the mandates and being unable to decide what to do. That much is certainly their fault, not yours.
Date: 2019-03-27
It's difficult to respond to a question that doesn't come with a question mark. Certainly I agree that there is chaos in Westminster at the moment, we expect our politicians in Westminster to actually take some decisions and to take a lead on the Brexit that people voted for. As far as the travelling circus between Brussels and Strasbourg is concerned, I suppose my point is simply to say that the system is broken when a parliament does not even have the basic democratic power to decide where it meets.
Date: 2019-03-28
Madam President, I would like to ask you, and to ask colleagues, to condemn in the strongest way possible the attack by air strikes yesterday in Sana'a, Yemen, against a hospital where children, aid workers and civilians died. It was a hospital supported by Save the Children. It is in total breach of humanitarian law, international law and human rights. I will ask you, Madam President, to condemn the attack and to ask the coalition partners led by Saudi Arabia to respect international law. We cannot continue to turn our back on the plight of the people of Yemen, which is undergoing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
Date: 2019-04-03
Mr President, first of all, I think it's quite obvious that the Russian energy policy is a part of its powerful reaction against Europe. We have disinformation, we have money laundering. We have laundering of money coming from the business of oil and natural gas in Russia and we have the disinformation and we have the warfare in Ukraine. Of course we need to face up to this challenge, but we don't even need to think about those challenges in order to see that it is quite natural that we shall have the same rules for the dominant actors on the internal market for energy as well as for the smaller actors. Gazprom will, with Nord Stream, be a main supplier with nearly 30% of their natural gas going to Europe. Why shouldn't we apply the same rules regarding competition? How to decouple production from distribution as for all other actors on the European energy market? I haven't heard anyone who sees any big problems with this. Why should we see it as some sort of diplomatic action? We apply the same rules to everyone to the big producers and the big distributors and the small producers and the small distributors. I can't understand why there should be any problems but I hear from the GUE Group, the genetic defence of Moscow is always there, and the extreme right, which is not at all right. They're all extreme. They are against it all the time. What I would like to say to the Commissioner is: see to it that you use this legislation. See to it that Germany does the negotiations, as it shall, and see to it that we can get an outcome which makes the European gas market transparent and full of competition.
Date: 2019-04-04
Mr President, I rise on the same issue, but under Rule of Procedure 59 to ask this House to open up the report for amendments. I do not wish to postpone it. The justification is simple. This technical and very welcome report, which gives UK citizens the rights of visa entry to the EU after Brexit, has been hijacked by a politically-motivated intervention from Spain in the Council. The addition of the wording describing Gibraltar as a colony of the UK is not in the EP mandate and the rapporteur, Claude Moraes, has consistently upheld Parliament's position. He was then put under tremendous pressure, and was eventually removed by a Conference of Presidents' decision, rapidly followed by Parliament conceding to the Council's demands. In effect, Parliament has colluded at the highest level to replace a legitimately-agreed Parliament text with the self-interest of one Member State. Irrespective of politics, I believe that this process demonstrates a disregard for the prerogatives of this Parliament and should be resisted. I and 38 MEPs, including Clare Moody and Molly Scott Cato ....
Date: 2019-04-15
Mr President, on behalf of the S&D Group, we would like to propose that the Balas report should be discussed as the first item on Wednesday, because we consider that this concern is very important. It is to ensure access to social protection to all European citizens in a situation of mobility across European space. This is an area where European rules are outdated. The Balas report has undertaken a very important updating of these rules. This is very good progress from the European Parliament as a whole. It is true that the Council has not yet been able to reach a united position, but if we discuss and vote as first reading, this Parliament can secure the progress we got in this area. This is very important for European citizens. That's why we propose the item as the first one to be addressed on Wednesday.
Date: 2019-04-15
Mr President, I would like to raise the issue of the plight of the children born of terrorists from ISIS and Daesh. Some of them are in prison, detained in Syria and Iraq in terrible conditions, together with adults. I would like to call on you to call on the Member States to search actively for them, rescue and bring them to Europe for the care that they deserve as European citizens and for reintegration. No child is born a terrorist, and the best interest of the child has to be upheld. Member States have to respect the Convention for the Rights of the Child and the Charter of Human Rights of the European Union. These children cannot pay for the mistakes and the crimes committed by their parents. I hope you agree with me.
Date: 2019-04-15
Madam President, first of all to Madam Berès and to our French colleagues, sad news from Paris, sad news for us all, because Notre-Dame is Notre Dame in history and all the sagas, but also as a cultural landmark for Europe, and that remains very strong. Madam President, regarding the banking package. A lot of things have already been said here tonight, but I think it's fair to say that now the landscape is different. The European banking sector is today much more robust but also much more ready to act when there is a crisis. And there will come new crises. The question is just how we are able to deal with them, and I'm convinced that with the introduction of the BRRD, as we have decided here in Parliament, and the revision we are going to decide upon now, with a hierarchy and with the TLAC, and with its discretionary opportunities for competent authorities: things are better. That doesn't mean that all the problems ahead of us are solved, but I think we have created the mechanism for those who are responsible in each and every situation to do the best they can in order to solve those situations. I must also say that I'm happy to achieve this. This is, Madam President, the last report I'll be presenting to this plenary, and I feel proud that we have achieved this together, and I have a lot of admiration for all the colleagues here, from all sorts of tribes, all sorts of political colours and coming from all parts of Europe. It has for me been a fantastic 15 years in this Parliament, and I'm looking forward to following it from my sofa.
Date: 2019-04-16
. Madam President, would never be happening if the referendum decision of 2016 had been honoured, then Britain would have left long ago. Instead, the democratic decision of 17.4 million people is being deliberately and cynically betrayed. The European elections in May will inevitably be a re-run of the referendum question. Whatever the political parties say, the voters' choice will boil down to voting 'do we remain in the European Union' or 'do we leave the European Union'. The Remainers should vote for the Liberal Democrats. They are the true party of Remain. Leavers should vote for the UK Independence party; UKIP is the true party of Leave. Voting Conservative or Labour is truly a wasted vote because nobody, including them, actually knows where they stand on this issue. UKIP's policy is clear and straightforward. It is one of unilateral and unconditional withdrawal. But these elections will divide people into two distinct groups, not just in the UK but across Europe. One group will be those who consent to be governed by a foreign power: The European Union. The second group will be those who vote to rebel against further EU integration and in favour of returning democratic powers to the nation state. One group will be voting for freedom and independence. The other group will be voting for subservience and submission. One thing that we can be sure of is that Eurosceptic MEPs will return in big numbers and their voters will be voting for a return to democratic accountability, an end to austerity measures and for their economies to be run in their interests and for their benefit. They will be voting to end mass uncontrolled immigration. They will be voting for parties that want to preserve their cultures and their civilisation. There will be a great populist vote across Europe. In the United Kingdom we have the simplest choice: vote to remain or vote to leave. It was the electoral threat of the UK Independence Party that brought about the referendum in the first place, and UKIP will continue to fight to make Brexit happen. UKIP MEPs elected on the 23 May will continue the political struggle to set Britain free from the European Union, and a vote for UKIP on 23 May will send a clear message to Her Majesty's Government: leave on WTO terms immediately. UKIP does not just campaign for Brexit; we actually want to make it happen. A vote for UKIP is always a vote to leave the European Union and the British public should vote UKIP on 23 May.
Date: 2019-04-16
Madam President, can I also identify with the remarks to the French people here this morning and I think we all have a feeling for them at this moment. The latest development in kicking the can down the road as far as possible just happened last week. Yes, the extension gives the opportunity to really address the real problem and you'll not be surprised, Mr Barnier, I still consider that problem to be the backstop. I'll not change that. It has haunted these negotiations since the beginning and will continue to do so as long as you retain your position. I have to say, the extension to October, I can see no agreement at the end of that time. I really believe now it will take a new Commission. It will take a new Parliament. It will take new views to bring an answer to the end of this problem. My view has always been simply, if you're part of a club, you should be in the club. They cannot be half in the club or half out of it and that is the trouble where the UK found itself. If I may Mr Brok has gone this will be my last speech, not maybe, will be my last speech in this Parliament after 30 years and I want to take the opportunity to say that it has been a great pleasure and honour to represent the people of Northern Ireland in this House for 30 years. There have been some good times and some extremely sad times where we have been through some of the most terrible terrorism ever faced in any part of Europe, and I had to go through that. But it was this House, it was Jacques Delors who stood by the people of Northern Ireland when he brought about and when Ian Paisley and John Hume and I went to see him back in 1994 at the beginning of the peace process he asked us, how can Europe help you? And Europe did, with over 2 billion extra funds that touched many people up and down the length and breadth of Northern Ireland. So, as I say farewell to this Parliament today, I can say I have enjoyed myself. I hope I have given it something and I hope I have represented my people well during my time here because they are a proud people, they are a great people, the people of Northern Ireland.
Date: 2019-04-16
Mr President, ..do the same as Mr Klinz. Thank you all from me for a fantastic 15 years: fantastic friends all over the borders, from political borders and national borders. I would like to underline that here lies an opportunity to make Europe stronger: a free society open for all individuals, strong in a global environment that needs cooperation. The European Union is a fascinating thing. We might sometimes have different views, but the good thing is that we have a common task and a common aim. So thanks to all of you for a fantastic 15 years. Those are my last two reports, and I hope they will contribute to a more stable Europe.
Date: 2019-04-16
Mr President, the youth of Sudan is the population of Sudan, with an average age of 19 years old, and the youth raise their voices, with a clear role for female leaders like Alaa Salah, whose image you referenced. They managed what the international community did not see through: the ousting of Omar al-Bashir, a dictator sought by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity crimes against the Sudanese people. Let the events in Sudan be reminders of: one, the fact that repression cannot outlast calls for liberty and an end to corruption and injustice; two, that dealing with dictators in the EU's short-term self-interest for, for example, managing migration, is a bad gamble against the young people of North Africa and the African continent; and three, that transitions are both very hopeful but also very hard. With institutions, democratic movements, civil society and other efforts crushed, state resources systematically robbed at the cost of education to sustain the security apparatus. So to avoid a repetition of the so-called Libya scenario, we should invest in democracy and peace and prevent the militia but also the military from taking the space left open and recruiting desperate youngsters. As one of the demonstrators, Salma Ali, said to The New York Times: we've cut off the head but the body is still alive. As this is my last debate with you, Madam High Representative, I wanted to thank you for everything you've done. I think we need a stronger Europe in the world more today than we did five years ago, and I wish you all the best.
Date: 2019-04-16
Mr President, I will refrain from repeating what you have said, because I think that a lot of what has been said is a reality and is something that one can subscribe to. I think that it is correct to say that we have made progress. It is also correct to say, as the Commissioner has said, that there is still an effort to be done, by all means. But, in order not to be repetitive, let me say that while all that has been said with regard to the platforms is definitely relevant and there is still a lot of room to cover, there are also other aspects that we need to be aware of. I need to draw a parallel with the recent negotiations on the Cyberecurity Act, because, after all, elections and our sovereignty are key, but also the health and lives of our people, are equally key. The fact, Madam Minister, is that regarding what you have said just a few minutes ago as relevant as it is I don't see the backing in a number of Member States for that. I don't see the recognition on the side of a number of Member States on different levels that we are facing the threat that some of the colleagues have already spoken about, whether it is the question of European elections and the other elections, lives or safety. We even see Trojan horses in the European Union; that is a reality. So I think it is fair to say that, while we have managed to progress both on the legislation as well as what you have said with regard to our safety, but also with regard to the European elections, what we really need and the Commission knows my point of view on that, because we were in a debate just some weeks ago is a real mindset change, because this is a reality. We are confronting a war which is led against us not by means of arms, but something as dangerous as that and I think that unless we recognise it and unless we are consistent in our attention and our efforts and not just before European elections we will be hit, we will be vulnerable and we will be damaged.
Date: 2019-04-16
I would definitely agree with you on the question of freedom of expression, but I did not detect in your remarks any concern regarding, let's say, possible cyber-attacks from the east or elsewhere with interference in European any other elections. So my question is: do you share that concern, and if you do, how would you tackle it in terms of means to confront that risk and how would you minimise it?
Date: 2019-04-18
Mr President, I'm actually speaking today on behalf of Mr Gieseke, who is not able to be with us. But I would like, on behalf of the PPE Group, to broadly support the motion that Parliament is putting forward. We are in line with the objective of formulating a comprehensive EU framework on endocrine disruptors. The motion highlights a number of areas where work is required and I guess if this was a school report, it would have some phrases such as 'must work a little bit harder'. We certainly need the pace of investigation and validation of data to be speeded up and, whilst I appreciate the Commissioner's points about the fitness check and I wholeheartedly support them, we are concerned about speed and we are concerned about making sure that we don't let this particular issue slip. There needs to be investment in the whole issue of substances , substances used in mixtures and their joint and several effects. There is broad consensus on that. It's been customary this week for Members to use their last speech in this Chamber and we've heard an awful lot of 'this will be my last speech'. Well, I'd like to just go to that theme for a moment because for me, as a British MEP, I want to just mention one thing about Brexit and how it relates to this subject because Brexit has taught me a lot. It's taught me never to pursue with blinkers on anything that's ideological. Be very careful with decisions based on emotion, on gut feel, on belief. Be very careful about creating acts of faith, as opposed to action based on evidence. It can lead to disproportionate and damaging action that later causes regret and difficulties finding a way back. What's that got to do with endocrine disruptors? Well, I think rather a lot because we do hear quite a lot of what I would call ideological hysteria about endocrine disruptors. I'm thinking here about Amendment 1, which is a good example. We will not be supporting it in the PPE. It calls for the same actions for suspected endocrine disruptors as for proven endocrine disruptors. This goes too far, it goes too quickly and it's not based on scientific evidence. Secondly, on Brexit, we were told not to listen to experts. Well, on endocrine disruptors we must. We must look carefully at the scientific criteria and evaluate in a calm and systematic way. Broadly, we can support this statement. We do not support the amendments and we look forward in the next mandate to moving forward on this subject.
Date: 2019-04-18
Of course Friulano is not only your mother tongue but an excellent white wine from Friuli, which I enormously enjoy.
Date: 2019-04-18
Mr President, after the elections that have led to many questions in Cameroon, peaceful strikes and demonstrations escalated into violent clashes and security forces were involved in serious human rights violations. Hundreds of people have died, hundreds of thousands are displaced, and activists have been rounded up and jailed. Oftentimes, anti-terror laws and heavy security measures are abused to justify these crackdowns. There have been cases of torture, forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings. Freedom of expression is not respected, whether online or offline. So this is a very, very serious escalation. We urge the security forces in Cameroon to stop the use of this disproportionate violence and to respect the human rights of all its citizens. There need to be investigations into the allegations of excessive use of force and human rights violations, and it is very important that, under the leadership of the African Union, there will be peace talks that we, as the European Union and all of our leaders, need to support.