misclassified/meps_speeches huggingface dataset:
Exercise of the Union's rights for the application and enforcement of international trade rules (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-01-18

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, werte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Lassen Sie mich zunächst der Berichterstatterin Marie-Pierre Vedrenne danken und gratulieren für intensive Arbeit und gute Kooperation. Wir brauchen als EU dieses neue Instrument, weil wir in der Lage sein müssen, uns zu wehren, wenn sich andere Partner nicht an die internationalen Regeln halten und dabei dann auch noch die Kooperation bei Streitbeilegung verweigern. Die Fraktion Grüne/EFA wird deswegen diesem Ergebnis zustimmen. Sie wissen, dass wir gegen die ursprünglich in diesem Haus beschlossene Position erhebliche Vorbehalte hatten, doch im Trilog konnte ein guter Kompromiss gefunden werden.
Die Arbeit an besseren Instrumenten für die Verteidigung europäischer Werte und Interessen gegen unfaire Handelspraktiken hört damit nicht auf. Ich freue mich auf die Arbeit daran, Nachhaltigkeitskapitel in unseren Handelsverträgen effektiv durchsetzbar zu machen, oder auf die Kommissionsvorschläge gegen WTO-widrige Subventionen. Im Übrigen bin ich guter Dinge, dass mit der neuen Biden-Administration eine Lösung gefunden werden kann für die Revitalisierung der Berufungsinstanz bei Streitbeilegungsverfahren im Rahmen der Welthandelsorganisation WTO.
Forced labour and the situation of the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-12-17

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  Verfasser. – Frau Präsidentin, sehr geehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Die Entschließung zur Lage in Xinjiang, über die wir heute debattieren, zeigt die große Übereinstimmung der demokratischen Fraktionen, und das ist gut so.
Wo Menschenrechte mit Füßen getreten werden, zeigen wir gemeinsam Solidarität. Dass einige linksradikale Mitglieder dieses Hauses im Namen der GUE-Fraktion Anträge eingereicht haben, in denen sie sich statt mit den Opfern der Menschenrechtsverletzungen mit der autoritären KP-Propaganda aus Beijing solidarisieren, halte ich allerdings für einen Skandal. Die GUE sollte sich überlegen, wo sie eigentlich steht.
Wir wollen die Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit in Xinjiang, die gegen die Uiguren dort begangen werden, nicht nur verbal kritisieren. Wir wollen auch, dass Taten folgen. Diese Forderungen gehen vor allem an die Politik und die Wirtschaft. Um es klar zu sagen: Es muss Sanktionen geben gegen die Verantwortlichen in Xinjiang und gegen Firmen wie XPCC, die Zwangsarbeiter ausbeuten. Europas Firmen, die nicht sicherstellen können, dass sie zu Kollaborateuren des Unterdrückungsregimes werden, die nicht verhindern können, dass sie zu Kollaborateuren werden, sollen Xinjiang verlassen. 
Produkte aus uigurischer Zwangsarbeit dürfen nicht auf den EU-Markt gelangen. Beim Investitionsabkommen mit China muss die EU darauf bestehen, dass die Anti-Zwangsarbeit-Konventionen der Internationalen Arbeitsorganisation (ILO) ratifiziert werden. Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, dass dieses Haus zustimmt, wenn es beim Investitionsabkommen dazu keine klaren Verpflichtungen gibt.
The trade-related extraterritorial effects of third countries’ sanctions (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-12-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Extraterritoriale Sanktionen stehen im Widerspruch zu den Prinzipien multilateraler Kooperation. Extraterritoriale Wirkungen von Gesetzen aus Drittstaaten gibt es aber nicht nur aus einer bestimmten Hauptstadt. China bedroht etwa die freie Kritik an seiner Politik zur Unterdrückung der Demokratiebewegung in Hongkong – egal, wo sie auf der Welt geäußert wird – mit Strafandrohung. Das sollte man nicht vergessen, wenn hier über extraterritoriale Sanktionen im Falle der Iran-Politik oder zu Nord Stream 2 diskutiert wird. 
Bei Instex brauchen wir mehr Gemeinsamkeit und mehr europäische Handlungsfähigkeit. Es ist zwar richtig, dass einige zusätzliche Länder Instex beigetreten sind, aber die Geschlossenheit der europäischen Mitgliedstaaten ist in dieser Frage leider nicht zu vermelden. Ich glaube, deswegen müssen wir uns an die eigene Nase fassen. Was Nord Stream 2 betrifft, da gibt es ja nicht nur Streit zwischen den USA und der EU, sondern auch in den eigenen Reihen. Bei Meinungsverschiedenheiten zwischen Verbündeten kann es da keine Einbahnstraße geben. 
Wir brauchen zu dieser Frage, glaube ich, eine politische Lösung, etwa zur besonderen Stabilisierung der Ukraine und zur Unterstützung der Drei-Meere-Initiative. In dem Zusammenhang kann man vielleicht eine Lösung finden.
Elimination of customs duties on certain products (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-11-26

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, with the so—called ‘lobster’ trade deal between the EU and the United States that reduces some tariffs on either side, we open a door to shared efforts to overcome the trade war mentality which has poisoned transatlantic relations over the last four years. 
The deal is a fair and a balanced one. We’re not naive. That’s why we have also put two guardians at the door. One is the trade enforcement mechanism that we have put in place, the other is the retaliating tariffs, which we have legally imposed on the WTO rules to signal to the US that there is a need for an agreement in the age-old Boeing-Airbus battles. As we do open a door, we also emphasise that our efforts cannot be successful if this were to be a one-way traffic. Both sides have to be willing to go through this door. We expect the new Biden Administration to understand this. 
Low-hanging fruits will be an agreement on the new WTO Director-General, new efforts – shared efforts – to reform the WTO appellate body and overcoming the Boeing-Airbus mess. We’re willing to engage in broader shared efforts: WTO reform in general, lifting unfair sanctions on EU steel and aluminium, developing effective ways of greening trade rules in order to live up to the challenge of climate change. Let us revive trade multilateralism and modernise it at the same time. 
By the way, as Mr Lange said, this deal is also an opportunity for other countries because it’s organised under the MFN (most-favoured-nation) rule. It’s a multilateral solution, it doesn’t only help Maine’s lobster industry, that is suffering under the consequences of Trump’s trade war, but it can also help Australian producers that suffer under Chinese coercive measures. We support this deal and we hope for more to come.
The geopolitical implications of the Abraham Accords in the Middle East region (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-11-24

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Frau Präsidentin, Herr Borrell! Auch ich begrüße die Abraham-Abkommen Israels mit einigen arabischen Ländern, denn sie konsolidieren die Sicherheit Israels.
Auf arabischer Seite handelt es sich bei diesen Abkommen um einen Kurswechsel. Früher hieß es gegenüber Israel: „Einigt euch mit den Palästinensern, dann finden auch wir zusammen“. Diese Verbindung zwischen den zwei Elementen wurde nun gekappt, aber damit verschwindet nicht die palästinensische Realität.
Israel, das nun gestärkt ist, hat jetzt zwei Möglichkeiten: entweder triumphieren und die Siedlungspolitik vorantreiben oder auf Annexion verbindlich verzichten und doch den Ausgleich suchen.
Wir Europäer werden weiter für die Zweistaatenlösung investieren. Wichtig wird dabei auch sein, die Palästinenser zu der nötigen demokratischen Erneuerung zu bewegen.
Order of business
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-11-23

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, I would like to raise a point of order under Rule 39. In Hong Kong, four members of the Legislative Council have been disqualified from serving in their democratically elected positions by an order from Beijing, which violates Hong Kong’s Basic Law. As a consequence, the remaining 15 legislators from the democratic camp have also resigned. 
The European Parliament, in keeping with our resolutions on Hong Kong, should raise these issues with the Chinese authorities. I call on you, Mr President, to take this up. I believe sanctions are needed to respond.
Let me close by also highlighting the fate of the 12 Hong Kong youths that are languishing in detention in Shenzhen and must be returned to Hong Kong, and by expressing solidarity with the opposition trio of Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam, who are threatened with jail for organising a peaceful protest last year.
The resumption of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan in relation to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-10-07

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, there is obviously a sweeping consensus in this House that the fighting should be stopped without preconditions. But what then? And just pretending that sending the parties back to the negotiating table would bring them anywhere closer to a solution would be foolhardy because it hasn’t happened in 30 years. So what are we doing to show our own responsibility?
It’s not just tensions as usual in the South Caucasus. There are two factors that are changing. First, the United States are dialling down their engagement in the region, even though they are one of the three co-chairs, and, second, Turkey is not de—escalating – on the contrary.
We are presently in a situation where two European neighbours – Russia and Turkey – are squaring off against each other in three distinct arenas. Both neighbours have withdrawn from the international rule of law as a principle they adhere to. 
The EU does not have a formal role in this conflict, but if the EU doesn’t take more responsibility on itself, who will help in solving the issue? That’s why I subscribe to the term that Mr Kubilius has used, the strategic responsibility of the EU.
Situation in Iran (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-10-07

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – (referring to Mr Canas’s remarks off mic) Madam President, I’m asking him to try to insult me in a language that I understand.
Situation in Iran (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-10-07

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, Mr Borrell, the aggressive oppression of the people of Iran by the regime is presently the worst it’s been in over 30 years, and, as Ms Beer said, the regime is waging war on its people and we have to stand steadfastly on their side to protect them, to help them and to make the world know, and make the European public know, what is going on.
At the same time, we’re talking about the JCPOA, and we try to hold on to that – and we should. But we are holding on to a political ruin. Even if President Biden were to be elected in November, there is scarcely a chance that the US would return to the JCPOA, if we are honest with ourselves. The JCPOA was a European initiative. We are proud of that, but that pride should be translated into a new European initiative. I think there is a new dynamic in the region, particularly with some of the deals that have already been mentioned today. The European Union should start – you should start, Mr Borrell – an initiative for a regional conference for stability and peace, and of course we need the US on board, we need the Russians on board and the Chinese and all the powers in the region. But we should not just look back, deploring what went wrong, but look forward, finding new initiatives.
Situation in Belarus - Situation in Lebanon - Situation in Russia, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-09-15

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Herr Präsident, Herr Borrell, werte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Die Europäische Union hat von Anfang an in diesem Konflikt die Aspirationen der Menschen in Belarus für Demokratie und Freiheit unterstützt, aber keine eigenen geopolitischen Ziele verfolgt. 
Ich glaube, das war richtig. Das heißt aber nicht, dass andere das nicht tun. Wer das Video gesehen hat, bei dem der ehemalige Diktator, diese lächerliche Figur Lukaschenko, Putin anflehte, ihm doch zu Hilfe zu kommen, der hat erkennen können, wie dort gerade die Gewichte verschoben werden. Russland hat längst angefangen, die Gewichte zu verschieben. 
Es gibt für Belarus zwei mögliche Zukünfte: eine weißrussische und eine russische. Wir haben kein Interesse daran, dass das zweite der Fall ist. Deswegen bin ich zwar einverstanden damit, dass man sagt: Wir wollen nicht antirussisch sein. Aber gegen Putin zu sein, ist nicht antirussisch, das würde ich gerne festhalten. 
Wir müssen aber meines Erachtens darauf Wert legen, dass Lukaschenko in Zukunft nur noch eine Funktion haben kann: Weißrussland Putin zu überliefern. Deswegen müssen wir klar sagen: Eine Zukunft, einen Ausweg für Weißrussland, kann es nur ohne Lukaschenko geben.
Foreign policy consequences of the COVID-19 crisis - The PRC national security law for Hong Kong and the need for the EU to defend Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy - The EU's response to the possible Israeli annexation in the West Bank (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-06-18

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Mr Borrell, colleagues, the fundamental crisis, which has captivated the globe is driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. But it’s also characterised by two novel features. 
It’s the first international crisis, since decades, in which the United States withdraws from any possible international leadership role, while China has been at the centre of this crisis, more than ever before, and this is not for the better. 
This situation reflects the ongoing continental drift in international relations. On the one hand, we have a hegemonic battle between two superpowers, on the other, international institutions are being weakened - in particular multilateral institutions - and undermined. Through the impact of the crisis, these tendencies are being accelerated.
For our EU this constitutes an imperative to step up to the plate and to shoulder our own international obligations more confidently. 
We have a mixed record. We failed when we imposed import-export bans for PPEs. We did well when the Commission organised a donors’ conference for financing vaccine research and we will lead a coalition at the WHO to require an inquiry into the origin and the spread of the pandemic.
But the challenges are many and they are huge. Battling for our values and our interests means finding allies and showing our opponents that we mean business. 
And let me end by making a remark regarding Hong Kong. I welcome the recent statement by the G7. 
Through our resolution, this EP will say that the EU will not just criticise. We want China to understand that reneging on international obligations doesn’t come free of cost. This message should be shared with Chinese leaders at the EU summit on Monday.
Protecting European strategic sectors from foreign takeovers in a post-COVID world (continuation of debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-06-17

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, in protecting Europe’s strategic sectors there is no single silver bullet – we need the whole toolbox. That’s why I welcome the White Paper that looks at ways of reining in foreign subsidies, but we also will need to strengthen our investment screening approach vis-à-vis predatory takeovers. Even though the volume of capital invested has decreased recently, the number of investments has grown, which means that investment from China is going after smaller companies that still might have a strategic role. So I think we should try to start amending our investment screening mechanism once it comes into force in October and we could learn a lesson from this.
In addition, I think in order to protect our strategic sectors we must also protect their supply chains, and there it would be interesting to learn from Japan where they’re investing into relocating in order to protect supply chains, and they do that together with ASEAN countries. We could think of doing that with Western Balkan countries and other partners too.
Coronavirus: ensuring fundamental rights and a coordinated European response (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-02-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, in this crisis we express our solidarity with the Chinese people and, in particular, with the people of Wuhan. We mourn all the victims and we send our condolences to the families of the deceased.
We declare our high esteem for the service of the Chinese frontline medical workers under the very difficult circumstances and high risks, and I want to hail, in particular, the courage and the sacrifice of Dr Li Wenliang and others.
We welcome the fact that the EU and the Member States have shown first responses in offering support to China. We must continue to provide assistance and cooperation wherever possible. This health crisis is not over. That is why we have to make sure that there is a strong and coordinated effort within the EU and, in particular, between the Member States, and in that regard, I fully support what has been said previously by colleagues.
International cooperation more generally is of paramount importance. This is why I want to explicitly emphasise that Taiwan must be fully included in the WHO—led international efforts.
Lastly, there is a deep concern – and I am grateful to the Commissioner that she mentioned it – about the increasing number of reports of anti—Chinese or anti—Asian xenophobia in some countries, including in the EU, in the context of this crisis. This is completely unacceptable. We want to show solidarity, not allow xenophobia and racism. And in that context, we also have to battle against fake news and fearmongering.
US Middle East plan: EU response in line with international law (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-02-11

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, a great number of victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have long been languishing for a peace plan. Such a peace plan must, of course, include painful concessions, but concessions from both sides. It must include security for Israel, but it must also include a viable sovereign, contiguous state for the Palestinians living side by side with the Israelis. 
This is not what Trump is presenting to us. It’s not a fresh start, it’s a dead end. The so—called peace plan is neither about peace, because it doesn’t overcome it prolongs the conflict, nor is it a plan as a point of departure for negotiations. It’s rather a dictate. When they talk about a peace plan they are effectively pushing for annexation – and a two-state solution is different from one state plus one canton. We cannot … 
(The President cut off the speaker)
Distortion of European history and remembrance of the Second World War (topical debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-15

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, I want to thank Commissioner Jourová for having Poland’s back in this public discussion. Recently, we have been having an increasing number of historical debates, and it’s not easy dealing with these topics. It’s not our role and it’s not our responsibility to exonerate anybody from their historical record.
Historical truth is not at the disposal of the powerful, nor at the disposal even of parliamentary majorities, but we must defend the facts as we best know them. That also applies to Soviet aggression, to Soviet suffering and to the role of appeasement in the run—up to the Second World War. But when a victim is being turned into the perpetrator of a crime, we have to speak up, and if a wolf cries wolf, we should call it out. 
I believe that these kinds of conversations are rarely just about the past. Shifting historical blame can easily be a first step in the direction of identifying a target for more than just rhetorical aggression. Europe should beware.
Distortion of European history and remembrance of the Second World War (topical debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-15

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Frau Präsidentin! Ich habe eine Frage zur Geschäftsordnung: Wäre es parlamentarisch zulässig, einen Redner, der sagt, es habe sich zwischen dem Zweiten Weltkrieg und heute nichts geändert, einen Spinner zu nennen?
Situation in Iran and Iraq following recent escalations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, I say to the High Representative: let me start with a note of realism: our European hand is weak in this conflict, our role is small. But if we want to take our responsibility seriously we have to stick together, and we have to coordinate well. And the coordination should be in the hands of the Vice—President / High Representative as it is his responsibility.
We want to defend the JCPOA but at the same time, we also must push back very clearly against Iranian aggression in other dimensions of its foreign policy. How can we keep the JCPOA alive? Not if we don’t insist on building the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) and making it functional. And the Commission should join INSTEX and put capital into INSTEX and become a partner.
And the last note that I want to strike here is this: there are many dark clouds, there is one signal of hope and that’s the engagement of Iranian citizens, and just recently also Iraqi citizens. And I think it is our duty as the EU to show effective solidarity with them.
Situation in Iran and Iraq following recent escalations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE),  Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Herr Mayer! Sie haben gerade im Zusammenhang mit dem Abschuss des ukrainischen Flugzeugs von „Pech“ gesprochen. Sind Sie bereit, sich bei den zivilen Opfern und diesem Haus für diesen Wortgebrauch zu entschuldigen? Man kann einen solchen Akt nicht als Pech bezeichnen, das ist extrem zynisch.
Annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy - Annual report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin, werte Kollegen! Die Gewinnung von Weltpolitikfähigkeit, wie Jean-Claude Juncker das genannt hat, ist das Zentrale an unserer Gemeinsamen Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik. Und ich stimme Ihnen zu, Herr Borrell, das heißt: Wir dürfen uns nicht im Status Quo ausruhen, wir müssen bereit sein, auch neue Verantwortung zu übernehmen.
Allerdings müssen wir die Richtung klar haben, eigene Werte und Interessen zu vertreten, ohne in die Falle einer eigenen Großmachtpolitik zu gehen, nicht dritte Supermacht werden zu wollen, aber auch zu verhindern, dass wir zwischen den beiden existierenden zerrieben werden. Dazu muss die EU Pfeiler einer multilateralen Ordnung sein und einer Entwicklung Widerstand leisten, wodurch die internationale Herrschaft des Rechts nur zu einer nostalgischen Erinnerung würde.
Der Bericht von Herrn McAllister ist ein guter Bericht. Vielen Dank dafür. Ich würde hoffen, dass wir uns in dieser Richtung auch mit den Kollegen aus den nationalen Parlamenten noch viel besser verständigen könnten.
Annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy - Annual report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – Mr Van Orden, you have not always been with the majority on these issues and we have not shared many points of view, maybe with the exception of our view on NATO and the need to strengthen transatlantic cooperation. Will you still allow me to hope, as this is your last plenary session in this Parliament, that you will be at least a little bit nostalgic when you think back on the work that we’ve been doing together?
Situation of the Uyghur in China (China-cables) (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-12-18

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, I want to thank Mr Borrell for some clear words on behalf of the EU. The policy of the Chinese Communist Party towards the Uyghurs has never been liberal, but in 2014 a totalitarian turn was taken in Xinjiang that has created the worst police state that we have on the globe today. This extreme policy is even encountering some internal opposition, as we learn from the China cables, and I think that for a nation of such great cultural tradition as China, it is shameful to implement such policies.
Fighting terrorism is necessary, but it’s not an excuse for fighting people who want to think as they want, who want to speak as they want, who want to worship as they want. We strongly believe that it’s time to end the lies, to end the excuses and to end the distractions, and to close the camps. We, as Europeans, must also be active beyond just voicing critical words. That’s why this Parliament calls for the halt of exports and the tech transfer of products and services that are used to enhance cyber surveillance. This is why this Parliament asks that forced labour from internment camps must not be allowed to enter into EU-based companies’ value chains, and as has been said before, the products of forced labour must be banned from the European markets. We call on all EU-based companies to draw clear red lines. They are running a high reputational risks if they don’t implement a robust human rights due diligence system that makes sure that they’re not implicated in acts of repression.
We also need a human rights sanctions mechanism, as you have discussed with the foreign ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council, and we need that expeditiously.
Let me make a last sentence that alludes to Ilham Tohti, our Sakharov laureate. He is not allowed to see his family. He hasn’t seen his family for two years, even though Chinese law guarantees that. I think we should all insist that his family should be allowed to know where he lives and to see him.
Commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Romanian revolution of December 1989 (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-12-16

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin, sehr geehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Vor denjenigen, die in der rumänischen Revolution ihr Leben geopfert haben oder verwundet wurden, vor den Familien, die Opfer zu beklagen haben, können wir uns nur verneigen. Ich glaube, es gehört mit zu dem wertvollsten Erbe, das wir in Europa teilen, dass wir so viele Beispiele dafür haben, wie in unseren Ländern engagierte, mutige, tapfere Männer und Frauen sich immer wieder für die Freiheit und für die Demokratie engagiert haben, auch um einen hohen persönlichen Preis. Ich glaube, dieses Parlament hat an diesem Punkt einen großen Konsens.
Keinen Konsens haben wir allerdings von meiner Fraktion mit dem Bemühen, jetzt im Europäischen Parlament eine neue Praxis einzuführen, dass Stück für Stück Entschließungen zur Geschichte Europas verfasst werden und dann jeweils festgelegt wird, was „die Wahrheit“ über Europas Geschichte ist. Wer die Wahrheit sucht, muss die Vielfalt suchen, wer die Wahrheit sucht, muss sich in die Auseinandersetzung begeben, wer die Wahrheit sucht, soll ins Haus der Geschichte gehen, aber es ist nicht die Aufgabe eines Parlaments, per Mehrheit zu beschließen, was jeweils die Wahrheit über historische Ereignisse ist.
Ich glaube, das ist nicht hilfreich, egal, von welcher Seite es kommt – aus der Mitte, von links oder von rechts. Ich glaube, es ist ein Holzweg, auf den wir uns begeben würden, und deswegen bittet unsere Fraktion alle anderen, noch einmal zu überlegen, ob wir wirklich auf diesem Weg weitergehen sollen. Es gibt Formen, den Respekt zu äußern, ohne in diese Sackgasse zu laufen.
Crisis of the WTO Appellate Body (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-11-26

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, we in the EU are trade multilateralists. That’s in the EU’s DNA. The crisis of the WTO Appellate Body is a central part of a wider crisis of the rule of law paradigm in international trade relations.
Is it a dispute between the EU and the US? Well, unquestionably, the Trump administration has certainly caused the present impasse. But, at the origin of this escalation, I think, sits the fact that major players have been flouting WTO rules – for instance, anti—subsidy rules – with impunity and mistakes have also been made in the practice of the Appellate Body. That’s why, without reforms, the WTO is not going to be fit for purpose in the future.
The Walker proposals regarding the Appellate Body are good proposals, and they should be integrated with a wider reform of the WTO. We need not just some multilateralism, we need effective trade multilateralism.
Unfortunately, we have seen the development of a huge deal of mutual mistrust across the Atlantic in this regard. This is why I think we should send two very clear messages today from this debate: yes, we want to – and we have to – save the Appellate Body and its function, but we are also serious about reforming it. And on that basis, we call on all our partners to think again.
Search and rescue in the Mediterranean (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-10-23

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – I have two questions for my colleague. Number one: are you sure you belong to EPP and not, rather, to ID? And number two: is what you have said in any way close to Christianity?
Opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-10-23

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin! Ein berühmter Franzose hat einmal über eine bestimmte Art von politischen Entscheidungen gesagt: Das ist schlimmer als ein Verbrechen, das ist ein Fehler. Die Entscheidung des Rates, Nordmazedonien und Albanien die Aufnahme von Beitrittsverhandlungen zu verweigern, ist ein Fehler von historischer Dimension. Ich danke Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker, Herrn Hahn oder Frau Tuppurainen und all denen von Ihnen, werte Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die klare kritische Worte dazu gefunden haben.
Trotz allem Zorn darüber, wie die EU hier zum wiederholten Mal ihr Wort gebrochen hat, trotz aller Enttäuschung über die strategische Kurzsichtigkeit, trotz aller Scham gegenüber den Menschen in Nordmazedonien und Albanien, denen der Rat die Hoffnung zunichtemacht, will ich hier nicht kritisieren. Ich will nach vorne schauen und mich direkt an Präsident Macron wenden: Herr Präsident, Sie haben sich in dieser Frage sehr isoliert, aber das Europäische Parlament ist bereit, Ihnen eine Brücke zu bauen. Wenn Sie unsere Entschließung genau lesen, stellen Sie fest, dass wir willens sind, an der von Ihnen gewünschten Reform des Beitrittsprozesses mitzuwirken. Lassen Sie uns das gemeinsam tun, aber bitte korrigieren Sie umgehend den Fehler, dass Nordmazedonien und Albanien draußen vor der Tür bleiben müssen, nur weil wir zu Hause noch nicht vollständig aufgeräumt haben.
US tariffs on European goods following WTO's decision on the Airbus dispute (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-10-09

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, to say that we regret the decision of the US administration without saying first that we regret the mistakes that we made years ago is hypocritical. I believe we should not get all worked up. As the Boeing case has not been adjudicated fully, it will not be possible at this moment to square it off against the Airbus case.
But let’s not get distracted from the real issue. The real issue is that we have a basic conflict between this House and the European Union on one hand and the US administration on the other and, hopefully, some of our American colleagues would be on our side of this conflict over multilateralism in the global trade order. And I believe we can use this particular experience to argue very simply: ‘the WTO works, let’s not destroy it’.
Importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe (RC-B9-0097/2019, B9-0097/2019, B9-0098/2019, B9-0099/2019, B9-0100/2019)  (vote)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-09-19

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Herr Präsident! Zu dem Änderungsantrag der S&D-Fraktion stelle ich einen mündlichen Änderungsantrag und lese Ihnen das in der englischen Fassung vor.
Der Antrag der S&D-Fraktion fügt folgende Worte ein, und ich zitiere:
And to effectively ban neo—fascist and neo—Nazi groups and any other foundation or association that exalts or glorifies Nazism and fascism.’ I propose the addition of ‘or any other form of totalitarianism.’
Und an der Stelle beantrage ich mündlich einzufügen:
‘or any other form of totalitarianism’.
Foreign electoral interference and disinformation in national and European democratic processes (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-09-17

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, verehrte Ratspräsidentschaft, Herr Kommissar, werte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Ich möchte mich bei der finnischen Ratspräsidentschaft ausdrücklich dafür bedanken, dass Sie dieses Thema so ernst nehmen. Ich möchte mich auch bei der Kommission dafür bedanken, dass Sie sich diesem Thema so intensiv widmen. Das Europa, das schützt, muss in allererster Linie seine eigenen Werte und das heißt auch, seine Demokratie, schützen und die europäische Souveränität. Darum geht es in dieser Auseinandersetzung.
Wir müssen nicht nur in eine Richtung umsichtig und vorsichtig sein. Es gibt nicht nur aus Russland nachgewiesenermaßen Einmischungsversuche, es gibt solche auch von Herrn Erdoğan aus der Türkei. Die totalitäre Führung Chinas möchte gerne ökonomische Abhängigkeiten ausnutzen, und auch reaktionäre Kreise aus den USA haben schon versucht, sich in die europäische Demokratie zu unserem Nachteil einzumischen. Ich glaube, es ist ein Teil einer großen Auseinandersetzung zwischen einer sich entwickelnden autoritären Internationalen und dem internationalen Eintreten für Demokratie.
Damit wir das nicht verlieren, dürfen wir aber nicht nur darauf sehen, welche anderen sich bei uns einmischen wollen, sondern wir müssen selber dafür sorgen, dass in Europa keine Spaltungslinien entstehen, die durch andere ausgenützt werden können – das gehört auch zu dieser Verteidigung unserer Demokratie und Souveränität.
Foreign electoral interference and disinformation in national and European democratic processes (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-09-17

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Herr Präsident! Zur Geschäftsordnung: Frau Anderson hat gerade dieses Haus „ein bürokratisches Irrenhaus“ genannt. Das ist eine Beleidigung des Europäischen Parlaments. Ich bitte Sie, das Protokoll zu studieren und entsprechend zu reagieren.
Situation in Hong Kong (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-09-16

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, two weeks ago I visited Hong Kong and I talked to actors from different walks of life. I came back even more convinced than before that this Parliament did the right thing when, before the summer, we declared that we stand with the people of Hong Kong.
The movement for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong is still going on, and it still deserves our continuing solidarity. ‘One country, two systems’ must not be undermined by intervention from Beijing or by imposing emergency regulations. It is not enough to withdraw the rendition bill. The people want more change. Primarily, they want an independent inquiry into the violence – in particular, police violence – and they want universal suffrage. Universal suffrage was promised to them 22 years ago in the Basic Law. The promise has not yet been kept.
Beijing must keep this promise. We, as Greens, support the fight for universal suffrage in Hong Kong. Democracy must win!
Situation in Hong Kong
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-07-18

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  author. – Madam President, the Groups of this Parliament have come together to move a joint resolution on human rights breaches in Hong Kong. I think this is a symbolically highly relevant action by this new Parliament because we have always held that EU foreign policy would be based on the fundamental values that our Union stands for: human rights, the rule of law and democracy. When we see people rising in defence of their civic and human rights, we as Europeans must express our solidarity and this is what we do with the people of Hong Kong through this resolution. 
(Applause)
Implementation of the EU Global Strategy (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-07-16

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, I personally think there is a huge difference between a European army and more cooperation on defence, but that’s just a side remark.
It has symbolic value that one of the first debates in this new Parliament is about the EU’s global strategy because that’s going to be at the centre of a lot of our work over the next couple of years. I look forward to a more proactive and cooperative approach not only between all the political groups in this Parliament but also between the Parliament and Member States. 
Ms Mogherini, you have given lavish praise to the EU Global Strategy so you will forgive me for adding a few criticisms. The EU Global Strategy – we read on the website of the European External Action Service – should be ‘a compass for our action in difficult times’. Well, I have a few question marks there. It’s a global strategy without geography. How can you have a global strategy without geography?
It does not really answer the question of which policies are more promising than others and should take priority. In that regard, the strategy is not strategic. It also emphasises the need for prevention, resolution and stabilisation but, when we look at the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), it’s just the opposite. The MFF proposes to slash most of the spending for these purposes and reduce it to a mere 40% of what we had before. So I think, if we take the strategy seriously, we should put our money where our mouth has been. I also believe that we should put more emphasis on climate urgency, which is completely underrated so far.
So there’s a lot that should be improved.
The 10-year commemoration since the tragedy in Lampedusa(statement by the President)
Speaker: Annalisa TARDINO (Italy, Identity and Democracy Group / Lega)
Date: 2023-10-03

  Annalisa Tardino,  a nome del gruppo ID. – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, qualcuno qui in quest'Aula ha il coraggio di strumentalizzare la strage di Lampedusa, in cui dieci anni fa annegarono 368 migranti, ed è un atto vile.
Quella tragedia è servita in questi dieci anni per costruire un castello mediatico di buonismo, di perbenismo e di belle parole dietro le quali si nascondono, nemmeno tanto velatamente, grandi business internazionali e affari criminali, con i quali l'Europa molto spesso è connivente.
Dopo dieci anni nulla si è fatto per evitare altre morti, ma anzi, con il concorso omissivo di molti di voi, avete reso il nostro mare il più grande cimitero d'Europa.
Aiutiamo veramente chi sogna una vita migliore a casa propria, mettiamoli nelle condizioni di non scappare da nessuna guerra, di venire in Europa legalmente. Bloccate i flussi irregolari e quelle ONG che agevolano il traffico di esseri umani.
Fermare le partenze significa fermare le morti in mare. Se avete a cuore le istituzioni europee, aiutiamo Lampedusa a essere parte dell'Europa a pieno titolo, e non solo il confine più lontano in cui relegare ciò che qui, nel vostro cuore europeo, non volete.
EU-Tunisia Agreement - aspects related to external migration policy (debate)
Speaker: Annalisa TARDINO (Italy, Identity and Democracy Group / Lega)
Date: 2023-09-12

  Annalisa Tardino,  a nome del gruppo ID. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, in questi quattro anni di legislatura l'Unione europea è riuscita a non dare risposte definitive all'emergenza immigrazione: tante strette di mano, tante passerelle, tante belle parole; risultati, ad oggi: zero.
Sono quasi dieci anni che Bruxelles lavora a riforme su cui non si trovano maggioranze e, nel frattempo, si continua a scaricare peso e responsabilità esclusivamente sull'Italia e sulla Sicilia. Oggi ci illudiamo che il memorandum d'intesa siglato con la Tunisia sia un'azione degna di nota; aspettiamo però che diventi operativo perché, nel frattempo, complice il vostro ricatto al governo italiano, dalla Tunisia arriva l'invasione, senza nessuno che si preoccupi di fermare le partenze; anzi, con qualcuno che, come il PD, fa la colletta per finanziare la nave dell'ONG Open Arms e rispedirla in mare. Ci chiediamo se il PD abbia mai fatto una colletta per gli italiani disperati: crediamo di no.
Noi lavoreremo perché quest'Europa a traino socialista sia solo un brutto ricordo e perché un'altra maggioranza al prossimo mandato possa avere il coraggio di affrontare seriamente il problema e difendere finalmente i confini europei.
The need for EU action on search and rescue in the Mediterranean (debate)
Speaker: Annalisa TARDINO (Italy, Identity and Democracy Group / Lega)
Date: 2023-07-12

  Annalisa Tardino,  a nome del gruppo ID. – Signora Presidente, signora Commissaria, onorevoli colleghi, soltanto tre settimane fa ero a Lampedusa in missione con la commissione LIBE.
Tutti i colleghi presenti hanno toccato con mano il lavoro, l'abnegazione e i sacrifici di una popolazione che ha donato in questi anni assistenza e ospitalità, "offrendo a chi è arrivato il volto migliore dell'Europa", come ha ricordato il sindaco Mannino in occasione del nostro recente incontro.
Dinanzi a questo le chiacchiere contano poco.
È facile parlare da questi banchi per chi non è in prima linea, o per chi, come le ONG, è accogliente con i porti degli altri e, pur di sbandierare accoglienza, è connivente con chi determina le morti in mare.
Non ci stanchiamo di ripeterlo, ma l'unica soluzione è agire sulla dimensione esterna, rafforzando la cooperazione con i paesi terzi per fermare le partenze. Che finalmente Bruxelles lo stia capendo, soprattutto grazie al lavoro del governo italiano, lo speriamo. Perciò lavoreremo alacremente per una maggioranza di centrodestra, per abbandonare definitivamente le ideologie, passare al buonsenso e risolvere, piuttosto che crearli, i problemi dei cittadini europei.
Il nostro leader Matteo Salvini è sotto processo per aver difeso i confini europei, bloccato le partenze e ridotto le morti nel Mediterraneo. La Lega continua questa battaglia: salvare vite e garantire la sicurezza lottando contro il business dei trafficanti. Questa è stata ed è la nostra priorità.
Electronic evidence in criminal proceedings: legal representatives directive - Electronic evidence regulation: European production and preservation orders for electronic evidence in criminal matters (debate)
Speaker: Annalisa TARDINO (Italy, Identity and Democracy Group / Lega)
Date: 2023-06-12

  Annalisa Tardino,  a nome del gruppo ID. – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, signor Commissario, oggi finalmente discutiamo di un accordo importante per la sicurezza dei nostri cittadini, il cosiddetto pacchetto e-Evidence, che riguarda lo scambio delle prove elettroniche, e-mail, messaggi via app e qualsiasi dato digitale necessario per perseguire ogni tipo di reato. 
Gli organi inquirenti ci dicono che l'85 % delle indagini penali utilizza dati digitali, spesso conservati in uno Stato diverso rispetto al luogo del delitto, con grande difficoltà di reperimento e lungaggini burocratiche. Da qui la necessità di dare seguito alla richiesta di dotare le autorità giudiziarie di strumenti utili per rintracciare rapidamente i criminali che ricorrono alla tecnologia per pianificare e commettere reati. 
Una battaglia concreta che è rimasta imbrigliata come tante nelle ideologie della sinistra, che alla sicurezza dei cittadini europei ha cercato di anteporre il presunto diritto alla privacy di chi usa la rete per delinquere. 
Un testo presentato dalla Commissione addirittura nel 2018, che giunge solo oggi in discussione e che, anche grazie alla nostra fermezza e determinazione di questi anni, diventerà legge, consentendo l'accesso rapido alle prove digitali prima della loro scomparsa, indipendentemente dal luogo in cui sono create e conservate, per punire chi commette ogni tipo di crimine, dal terrorismo allo stalking, reati che riempiono le pagine di cronaca nera dei nostri Stati. 
Abbiamo partecipato attivamente ai negoziati e preteso che ci fossero anche solide garanzie e requisiti in materia di protezione dei dati personali, escludendo l'intercettazione in tempo reale delle telecomunicazioni, ma evitando di cedere a chi tentava di apportare inutili rallentamenti nelle procedure. 
Domani daremo convintamente via libera a questo importante strumento di contrasto al crimine e lo faremo in nome delle tante vittime e dei loro cari. Nell'Europa che vogliamo e per la quale costantemente lavoriamo la lotta ai criminali è una priorità.