misclassified/meps_speeches huggingface dataset:
Natural disasters during the summer 2021 - Impacts of natural disasters in Europe due to climate change (debate)
Speaker: Ralf SEEKATZ (Germany, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) / Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands)
Date: 2021-09-14

  Ralf Seekatz (PPE).   – Herr Präsident, verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! In meiner Heimatstadt, in meinem Heimatbundesland Rheinland-Pfalz in Deutschland wütete das Unwetter im Juli in der Eifel, an der Mosel, und am schlimmsten betroffen war das Ahrtal. Wir haben 133 Tote zu beklagen. Drei Menschen werden immer noch vermisst. Im Ahrtal wurden 62 Brücken, 40 Schulen, 55 Kindergärten und fünf Krankenhäuser zerstört. Über 3 000 Unternehmen sind von der Katastrophe betroffen. 
Das Ausmaß kann man nur beurteilen, wenn man es sich vor Ort angesehen hat. Ich bin vor Ort gewesen. Die Fernsehbilder waren bedrückend, aber ich sage es Ihnen: Vor Ort macht es noch einmal einen ganz anderen, tiefergehenden Eindruck. 14 Tage nach der Katastrophe habe ich dort meinen Freund besucht, und obwohl schon viele Schäden beseitigt waren, sah es immer noch so aus wie nach einem Bombenangriff. Mein Freund und andere Betroffene schilderten mir die Flutnacht und sprachen auch über die Todesängste, die die Menschen dort ausgestanden haben.
Aus Respekt gegenüber diesen Menschen und den vielen Toten verbietet es sich daher, die Flutkatastrophe politisch zu missbrauchen. Dies wäre schäbig und würde der Sache nicht gerecht. Vielmehr ist es unsere Aufgabe, den Menschen beim Aufbau zu helfen. Daher ist es wichtig, dass die Hilfsgelder aus dem EU-Solidaritätsfonds rasch freigegeben werden, sobald die Anträge vorliegen. 
Sollte der Topf leer sein, wie man es heute aus verschiedenen Medien erfahren hat, muss im Haushalt umgeschichtet werden. Die Kommission muss hier flexibler reagieren und auch reagieren können, meine Damen und Herren, das sind wir den betroffenen Menschen vor Ort schuldig. Der Aufbau wird viele Jahre dauern. Die Aufarbeitung und die Ursachenforschung müssen dabei in Europa ebenfalls rasch und auch zentral erfolgen.
Financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2020 - Control of the financial activities of the European Investment Bank - annual report 2019 (debate)
Speaker: Ralf SEEKATZ (Germany, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) / Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands)
Date: 2021-07-05

  Ralf Seekatz (PPE).   – Herr Präsident, verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Die EIB hat mit ihrem Förderprogramm für 2020 wesentlich zur Stabilisierung beigetragen. 
420 000 kleine und mittelständische Unternehmen wurden unterstützt. Dadurch wurden vier Millionen Jobs – auch im KMU Bereich – unterstützt und gesichert. Arbeitsplätze konnten gesichert werden, krisengebeutelte Branchen wurden entsprechend gefördert, und die schwersten wirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen wurden abgefedert. Auch die langfristigen Ziele hat die EIB nicht vergessen. Gerade in wirtschaftlichen Zeiten ist es besonders wichtig, Wirtschaft auch nachhaltig vernünftig zu fördern und entsprechend zu unterstützen.
Von besonderer Bedeutung ist die Förderung unserer kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen. Diese dürfen wir nicht vergessen, sehr geehrter Herr Präsident. Das ist besonders wichtig aus unserer Sicht. Sie sind das Rückgrat unserer Wirtschaft, und ohne die KMU werden wir die Klimaziele nicht erreichen. Und diese KMU brauchen Übergangstechnologien, ob es den Grünen nun einmal passt oder nicht, und darüber müssen wir uns im Klaren sein.
Bitte unterstützen Sie weiter unsere mittelständische Industrie und auch die Übergangstechnologien.
The Rule of Law in Malta, after the recent revelations around the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia (debate)
Speaker: Ralf SEEKATZ (Germany, Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) / Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands)
Date: 2019-12-17

  Ralf Seekatz (PPE).   – Frau Präsidentin! Verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! „Mordkomplott im Vorzimmer des Regierungschefs“ titelte die Neue Züricher Zeitung am 8.12. Wir wissen, was damit gemeint ist, und es hat eine ganz andere Qualität, wie mein Vorredner aus Ungarn es schon gesagt hat. Die Freiheit der europäischen Bürgerinnen und Bürger zu verteidigen ist die vornehmste Pflicht dieses Hauses, und zwar unabhängig von der Frage, welcher Couleur die Regierung gerade angehört. Dieses Zitat stammt vom damaligen Fraktionsvorsitzenden der S&D-Fraktion, Bullmann, im September 2018. Da hat die S&D sich noch eingeklinkt in die Diskussion, jetzt klinken sie sich aus.
Die Ereignisse in Malta sind erschütternd. Wir sollen und wir müssen jetzt alles dafür tun, damit endlich eine ordentliche Rechtsstaatlichkeit vorgesehen wird. Ich sage bewusst nicht, dass wir zu Rechtsstaatlichkeit zurückkehren, weil da sind wir in Malta noch lange nicht, da gibt es noch einiges zu tun. Jetzt muss es eine rigorose Aufklärung geben. Um eine vollständige Aufklärung zu ermöglichen, muss aber natürlich Muscat direkt zurücktreten, damit nicht noch weitere Beweismittel und andere Dinge verschwinden. Aber eins schockiert mich hier ganz besonders, und das ist die Verhaltensweise der S&D. Es ist sehr, sehr bedenklich. Außer allgemeinen Phrasen und Floskeln haben wir hier von Ihnen in der Diskussion nichts gehört, aber auch wirklich überhaupt nichts, und das ist beschämend für so eine große Volkspartei, wie jene, der die S&D angehört, meine Damen und Herren. Ich rufe die Sozialdemokraten auf: Distanzieren Sie sich endlich und eindeutig von ihrem Parteifreund Muscat!
EU-Japan relations (A9-0373/2023 - Reinhard Bütikofer)  (vote)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-13

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  rapporteur. – Madam President, colleagues, it’s been at least 10 years since we have not looked at the wider relationship between the EU and Japan, even though Japan obviously is one of our best and most important likeminded partners globally. 
The economic relations have thrived, but as regards other dimensions, including security, research and development, global high-quality infrastructure development, the dual digital and green transformation, upholding the multinational international order, working with developing nations or enhancing people to people contacts, there is much we can do beyond what we have. 
This report describes where we are and where we want to go. Next year, we will have an anniversary in that relationship, and I hope that this report can contribute to taking it to new heights. Thank you to all the shadows and all the staff.
The abduction of Tibetan children and forced assimilation practices through Chinese boarding schools in Tibet
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-13

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  author. – Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, we’re discussing here a Chinese policy that is of the making of the Communist Party, Emperor Xi Jinping himself. It’s a policy directed against 1 million Tibetan children and against the whole Tibetan nations. A diligently planned policy organised with the utmost brutally bureaucratic efficiency, a comprehensive and unrelenting push for the forced assimilation of the Tibetan young generation, pursued with the goal of depriving them of their cultural heritage, of cynically transforming them into willing colonial subjects of Great Han nationalism. This policy is a radical remake of oppressive so-called development policies, under the excuse of cultural enhancement that had been pursued by US, Canadian and Australian authorities against indigenous ethnic groups in their countries. The goal is the destruction of Tibetan culture. Even the name Tibet is attacked. They tried to annihilate the name. China has made a lot of hay with criticising the history of European colonialism, but Xi’s regime itself is a colonial regime, and that’s why we should stand in solidarity with the Tibetan people against them.
Framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – Colleague, you have explained how much Polish coal stands at the centre of our future. My question is: for how long do you think should we stick to the coal approach that you are advocating? 10 years? 20 years? 50 years?
EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Executive Vice-President, colleagues, first of all, I want to thank colleague Iuliu Winkler for his work. I also want to state that I’m proud that this Parliament, over the last almost five years, has done quite a lot to consequently work on enhancing the relationship between the EU and Taiwan. The debate today is another step in that direction, and I think that is very important.
I do recognise, Vice-President, that the Commission also has stepped up its efforts, as you explained, and I do also support your expectation towards Taiwan that there is homework to be done on their side also, in particular with regard to the issues that you mentioned, offshore wind and agricultural food products. But I also want to point out that when we look at what the US does or what Japan just did, in agreeing on memorandums of understanding or in trade facilitation deals with Taiwan, there’s room to improve our work.
Here I want to voice a warning. As colleague Winzig said, we have to combine trade and political stability and the effort to reap the fruits of trade without actively contributing to political stability will be futile.
We cannot just dodge the question, Vice-President, of whether we’re willing to sign an agreement with Taiwan. We need a resilient supply chain agreement, not just because of the beneficial trade results, but also because of the beneficial stability results, and the Commission should not dodge that necessity.
Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, HR/VP, colleagues, I will try to follow your advice, Josep Borrell, and talk without emotions.
There’s a lot that I would criticise or do criticise about the way in which the Netanyahu government conducts this self-defence against Hamas, but I think it is not right to put so much of the blame just one-sidedly on Israel.
You said, and I quote you, ‘Israel refuses a political solution’. Now, I have two questions there. Number one: do you have an idea of how to solve the issue of Hamas terror politically? Second: has Hamas offered a political solution? Why just put the blame on Israel?
Then people have said here Israel is sowing the seed of hate. Somebody else said terror is now spreading in Gaza. Has that terror not come from Gaza? Let’s not talk as if all the blame could put on Israel. I think that will not make us a partner in solutions.
Need to release all hostages, to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire and prospect of the two-state solution (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – Mrs Villanueva Ruiz, in the English translation that I followed, you said that Gaza is being turned into an extermination area by Israel. Can you please explain that sentence?
European Economic Security Strategy (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Vice-President, colleagues, without an effective economic security strategy, ten years down the line European industry will not have a seat at the table but be on the menu. That’s why I’m grateful to President von der Leyen and also executive Vice-President Dombrovskis for taking the lead in this conversation. And I do agree with what you said, Mr Borrell, that we look to need to look into the governance issues and maybe also learn from Japan in that context. We need a full picture of our strategic dependencies and risks, and we should encourage the Member States to play along well in that regard. We should not think that we have seen all the dangers over the horizon yet. I believe that there is a real risk that there will be waves of dumping exports from China over the next couple of years. We must not fall into the trap of having a struggle between the Member States and Brussels. We must not fall into the trap of protectionism, and we must not fall into the trap of forgetting the strength of the single market. There, I agree with Mr Ferber, but there is more that we have to do long term. We need a strategy to internalise the external cost of security in our economies. And finally, if we want to play offence, we also need to team up with partners globally, including in countries of the Global South.
European Economic Security Strategy (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, I wanted to propose that we buy a ‘Wallace and Daly’ record and play it at the end of every debate.
Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – Thank you for taking my question. There are actors that aid and abet Russia’s war of aggression. What is your opinion on the question of whether we should also make those countries that aid and abet Russia’s war of aggression responsible and also try to make them pay the cost?
EU-US relations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, HR/VP, colleagues, the bottom line of our relationship with the United States can be captured in one sentence: ‘we should be partners in leadership and responsibility’, as you have quoted from the text. DC has often asked us to shoulder more responsibility, and that’s justified. But they do not always listen when we ask for more partnership in leadership.
However, the United States is not anymore the shining city on the hill that we can just always follow. Still, there’s a necessity to build on the partnership, to strengthen the partnership. But we almost also must address issues where we are not seeing eye to eye. And with regard to multilateralism, that pertains in particular to the trade realm, where the US often talk about rules-based order, but whenever it comes to WTO, they forget it. We need to be cooperating also with other like-minded partners in order to impress on our US partners that we want to shape the future.
And the last point is the most urgent one: that is Ukraine. What the US Congress is deliberating at the moment can be captured with the English saying ‘penny wise, pound foolish’: to not spend the money on supporting Ukraine would be suicidal in the strategic long term.
EU-China relations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-12-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Vice-President / High Representative, colleagues, the recent EU China summit demonstrated that we’re far from out of the woods in our relations with Beijing, and we won’t be anytime soon. Of course, we can hope that at some point in the future, China may again try to become a responsible stakeholder, but presently, let’s not fool ourselves. China is a dictatorial and totalitarian regime with global hegemonic ambitions. 
I want to make just a few remarks on China’s foreign policy and our interests in that regard. Look at what happens in the Philippines neighbourhood. We have to push back hard against China’s efforts to change the facts in the sea. Maybe having multilateral patrols would be a good idea. Look at Taiwan, in January, there will be presidential election. China already threatens to coerce the new newly elected president. We should prepare for pushing back. Look at Hamas. China has not even called them a terrorist organisation. Look at the wave of dumping exports that is coming our way. Josep Borrell spoke a little bit about that. Look about Ukraine, where China supports Russia materially and politically. We have to call a spade a spade. And even as regards climate, you love saying, Vice-President Borrell, that China is a necessary partner. I would say they are necessary alright, but not yet a partner in that regard. So let’s do realistic policy and not pursue pipe dreams.
This is Europe - Debate with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Nikolay Denkov (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-11-22

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, Prime Minister, Commission, colleagues, I want to thank you, Prime Minister Denkov, for talking to us and with us. You dwelt quite extensively on historic issues and you spoke about the European spirit of Bulgaria that your national hero emphasised, and I’m sure all of us loved it. You quoted JFK, and I like that too. So let me ask you this question: what will Bulgaria do for the EU with regard to EU enlargement?
You didn’t mention the name of your neighbouring country, North Macedonia, whose access so far has been blocked by Bulgaria. In vague terms only you seemed to question the real will of candidate countries. Can anybody question the real European will of North Macedonia, a country that even went as far as changing its name in order to open the door to Europe?
After Mr Dzhambazki spewed hate against North Macedonia here, I would like to ask you, Prime Minister, to be more specific. What will you do to help open the door for North Macedonia? I believe Bulgaria must avoid hampering the accession process with overhyped national blockades.
Destruction of judicial independence and the persecution of democrats in Hong Kong (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-11-22

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – President, Commissioner, colleagues, the 25th annual report on recent developments in Hong Kong is a dire, dark, dystopian report. Step by step, all the freedoms guaranteed under the Hong Kong Basic Law are being suffocated in violation of international law, and I join the criticism of colleague Lexmann that the Council has been dodging these developments. We demand on you to speak up.
The freedom of press is denied. The freedom of association, the freedom of speech, and the freedom of the vote. Not a single opposition candidate has been allowed to run for the district elections, because if just one opposition person would be elected, everybody would be able to see through the ruse of the totalitarian measures.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has urged Hong Kong to repeal the national security law, but instead hundreds have been arrested – some in custody since 2021, without trial, even in solitary confinement.
I would say we should focus on five demands in dealing with Hong Kong. First of all, don’t forget the fate of the democratic fighters like courageous Chow Hang-tung, who gave a very good speech in defence of democracy at her trial. So continue and guarantee trial observation.
Second, sanction John Lee. John Lee is one of the main culprits of these measures. Do not normalise the relationship with his regime. Make sure, through a business advisory, that European companies will not inadvertently become complicit and raise these issues and tell the public how you do that at the upcoming China EU summit.
Destruction of judicial independence and the persecution of democrats in Hong Kong (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-11-22

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – Mr Wallace, just hypothetically assuming that you were right and we were all illegitimate in raising human rights issues, why do you, as the self-declared human rights defender, not take up the cause? Why do you keep silent about the crimes that the CCP commits in China?
EU enlargement policy 2023 (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-11-08

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues. It is indeed a historic date. And there are four clear winners on this historic date. There’s Ukraine and Moldova, where the leadership and the people together are moving in our direction. And there are two nations, the people of Georgia and the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have upheld the flame of going into the direction of a European orientation. We can congratulate them.
But there’s also a new tone. And I want to highlight that. I share the criticism that my colleagues Picula and Moretti have said about the Serbian case. I think this is also an hour where the whitewashing of Serbia, where the appeasement against Serbia, will begin to end. And I read this in the sentence from the President of the Commission when she said that all countries have to take a choice between going the European direction or going the authoritarian direction. And you, Commissioner, will not hold us back with your appeasement policies.
The despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-10-18

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Herr Präsident, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Seit dem Ende der Shoah, die immer mit dem Namen meines Landes verbunden bleiben wird, sind an keinem einzigen Tag mehr Menschen jüdischen Glaubens ermordet worden als am 7.  Oktober bei dem heimtückischen, barbarischen Massaker der Hamas. In ihrem grenzenlosen Vernichtungswillen knüpfen diese Terroristen unmittelbar bei den Nazis an. Gegen diesen Vernichtungswillen verdient Israel unsere unumschränkte Solidarität. Israel verteidigt sich, Israel muss sich verteidigen, und Europa muss das wenigstens verstehen.
Viele weltweit sind vor allem bewegt vom Leid der Palästinenser in Gaza. Ihnen sage ich: Ja! Ja, wir brauchen die Einhaltung des humanitären Völkerrechts, wir brauchen humanitäre Korridore und humanitäre Hilfe. Aber vergessen wir nicht: Es braucht auch den Schritt, der am meisten dazu beitragen könnte, dass diese Eskalation nicht weitergeht, nämlich die Freilassung, die bedingungslose Freilassung der Geiseln, die die Hamas hält.
Und wir sollten eine Warnung aussprechen an Hisbollah und Iran: Die Weltgemeinschaft wird es nicht vergessen, wenn sie jetzt weiter Öl ins Feuer gießen! Der Weg zum Frieden ist lang, aber er ist möglich.
The despicable terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-10-18

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, I have a point of order. The speaker Vilimsky just said that my group sympathises with Hamas. All speakers of our group have said exactly the opposite. It cannot be allowed that such lies are spread in the European Parliament.
India, the situation in Manipur
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-07-12

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, this human rights emergency should not be used as an occasion to insult India or to voice threats with regard to the trade negotiations that were trying to bring to a successful end as soon as possible.
This is about specific human rights issues. And I think it is right to say that we have common ground with India in that regard and that we should reinforce, as the resolution says, the EU—India human rights dialogue. And, in particular, I would underscore the sentence that says there should be regular dialogue organised between the European Parliament and the Parliament of India.
My colleague Simon has said he doesn’t want to wag his finger at India. He couldn’t do without wagging though, so he wagged his finger at the Greens. I will not retaliate, I will just say we will defend religious freedom wherever it is endangered, be it Christians or otherwise.
Relations with the Palestinian Authority (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-07-11

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, colleagues, Israel is not an apartheid state and it is not like Russia. But some of those that cannot find enough hyperbole in criticising Israel turn quite gingerly when it comes to calling a spade a spade on the Palestinian side. Let me direct your attention to three amendments, namely amendments 45, 47 and 48 that try to deal with the issue of Palestinian terrorism. Several groups in this House seem to be determined to vote them down. I say that would be a very bad mistake.
2022 Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-07-11

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, Commissioner, colleagues, earlier today this House came together in an act of commemoration for the more than 8 000 Muslim men and boys that were killed in the Srebrenica massacre 28 years ago. But in this debate, a Member of Parliament from the ID Group thinks it’s adequate to spew anti-Muslim hatred. What a shame!
But the question also goes to ourselves. Do we draw the necessary conclusions? Are we living up to our duty? Dodik is pursuing a blatant secessionist policy. I challenge you, Commissioner, to say it here: ‘blatant secessionist policy’. Call a spade a spade, and then let’s sanction him.
The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-04-18

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, President von der Leyen, HR/VP Borrell, for an organisation that cherishes unity in diversity as we do in the EU, it’s never easy to talk with one voice. All the more grateful we can be that we have heard strong and clear voices recently regarding the EU’s China policy. I want to start by congratulating President von der Leyen for her China speech and for how she conducted her visit in China. That showed leadership.
There are of course, as you have said, Josep Borrell, different interests, but that cannot be an excuse for divergence on the fundamentals. The focus on human rights is not an accessoire for our foreign policy; it’s at the centre and we’re not selling it for a lentil stew.
We’re willing to cooperate with our systemic rival, China. But cooperation cannot be a one-way street. We have to be clear-eyed. China is a revisionist power with hegemonic ambition, aiming at building a Beijing-centric global order. If they would respect the principles of the United Nations, they would have called for Russia to leave Ukraine alone.
We must work together with like-minded partners in our China policy, in particular in cooperation with the US. Whoever splits that front is not serving our own values and interests. Strategic autonomy à la française would be risky for Europe. Mutual solidarity with democracies is basic, and that includes Taiwan’s democracy. In our relations with countries of the Global South, we must strive to be a better partner for them than China. And we must, as has been laid out by the President, de-risk in our economic relations in order to secure our economies. There is no way back, therefore, to the win-win illusion that shaped CAI. At the end, let me say we should never confuse the Chinese people and the great Chinese culture and their successes with the dictatorship of the totalitarian Xi Jinping regime.
Strengthening the EU Defence in the context of the war in Ukraine: speeding up production and deliveries to Ukraine of weapons and ammunitions (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-03-15

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Frau Präsidentin, verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Es ist in der Tat schlimm, dass wir die Kapazität unserer Rüstungsindustrie hochfahren müssen. Aber wir tun das nicht, weil die EU plötzlich kriegsgeil geworden wäre, sondern wir müssen das tun, weil Russland zum Aggressor geworden ist, der nicht nur die Ukraine von der Landkarte löschen will, sondern die ganze europäische Friedens- und Sicherheitsarchitektur zerstören will. Deswegen müssen wir das tun.
Ich frage mich, wieso Sie eigentlich ihre Forderungen nicht an das faschistische Regime in Moskau richten, wieso Sie die ganze Zeit so tun, als läge es in der Macht der EU, den Krieg zu beenden! Haben Sie schon einmal zur Kenntnis genommen, dass die Ukraine das Recht auf Selbstverteidigung hat, dass die UNO-Charta verlangt, dass Russland sich zurückziehen muss, die nationale Souveränität und die territoriale Integrität der Ukraine akzeptieren muss? Wenn Sie so hochtrabende Worte im Mund führen, warum sagen Sie das nicht ein einziges Mal?
Nach der Logik, die Sie vertreten, hätte man die Anti-Hitler-Koalition verurteilen müssen, weil sie den Aggressor mit Waffen bekämpft? Das hat nichts mit Friedenspolitik zu tun, Frau Demirel; die Lügen, die Sie hier verbreiten, sind die Lügen der fünften Kolonne Moskaus.
Question Time (VPC/HR) - Strengthening the Trans-Atlantic ties in an ever challenging multilateral world
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-03-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr Borrell, the cooperation on China is a core issue in transatlantic relations. Recent media excitement has focused on some lack of clarity as to where the EU stands. President von der Leyen has been accused of being overly hawkish. Some people even felt the need to say we should not be a vassal of the United States, while President Michel has been dubbed as the person who tries to avoid confrontation. 
Now, where should the EU stand with regard to transatlantic relations on China? And I have three specific questions. President Biden has said yes to all three. What are you saying? Should there be outbound investment screening? Should there be sanctions if China delivers arms to Russia? And should there be a deterrence policy to avoid an attack on Taiwan?
Deterioration of democracy in Israel and consequences on the occupied territories (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-03-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Herr Präsident! In der vorausgegangenen Debatte ist Israel zweimal des Faschismus bezichtigt worden. Ich finde, solche Worte sollten im Europäischen Parlament nicht fallen, und wenn sie fallen, sollten sie gerügt werden.
Situation in Georgia (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-03-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, Commissioner, ironically speaking, I must say, I admire Mick Wallace because he again demonstrated that he will sure as hell always position himself on the side of reactionaries, authoritarians and oppressors. But the Georgian citizens have opted for another choice because they know that the so-called Georgian dream has turned into a Georgian nightmare. The Georgian government is paying lip service at best to European values and the European path. We should not let Georgian citizens alone in their fight for the European perspective. That is why we should consider measures beyond what’s been on the table. Will we continue unabated with the development cooperation without conditionality? Will we refuse to consider sanctions? We shouldn’t. And we should fight for the freedom of Saakashvili.
Access to strategic critical raw materials (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-02-15

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, Minister, Commissioner, it has been said several times that the EU’s supply with critical raw materials is not secure. That’s true. But that’s not news. That was true also ten years ago when we experienced the Senkaku crisis. 
But what did we do since? We refused to learn our lessons! Today, we’re more dependent on China than we were at that time. That’s not because China controls all the raw materials, all the rare earths, as rare earths are not really rare, but the processing capacity that China controls, that’s rare and concentrated, and that creates a dependency. 
Even with the greatest realism regarding a max of green mining inside Europe and a max of circularity in the use of raw materials, we will remain a continent depending on critical raw materials imported from other corners of the globe. 
That’s why we must invest in partnerships with other countries, and I’m grateful, Commissioner, that you mentioned the Global Gateway Initiative. That should be the tool that we employ to create the win—win partnerships that help us in overcoming these dependencies.
The Global Gateway Initiative (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-01-19

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Commissioner, dear colleagues, when President von der Leyen, almost a year and a half ago, announced the Global Gateway Initiative, it was welcomed by this House. Because she proposed a plan to revive, to reorient and to enlarge in scope an initiative that had originally been promoted by her predecessor, Juncker, in the waning days of his own presidency. 
The principles of Global Gateway are good. Global Gateway is designed to combine three major thrusts: to invest into international infrastructure development; to promote the green and digital transformation; and to combine that with the geopolitical goals of the European Union. 
But a year and a half later, I’m sometimes tempted to say Global Gateway would be a good idea. Indeed, I agree with the colleagues who have said that it is now time to deliver. When DG INTPA, for instance, last year organised its traditional development days and put the label Global Gateway everywhere but didn’t change a thing on substance, that was not what we expect. That was old wine in new wineskins. Instead of creative geopolitical action, bureaucratic laziness. When one Commissioner says he has 84 lighthouse projects under the label of Global Gateway, he hasn’t understood the idea, obviously. 
The world is waiting for us to put our money where our mouth has been. And Udo Bullmann is right that this is a great opportunity. But Mr Tobé is also right when he says this has to be developed in a mutually beneficial way and we have to develop a real partnership. But that is not going to be successful if we pursue Global Gateway as a kind of Christmas tree project. 
We have to have clear priorities and we have to have the governance right. And what we are still missing is this. We are still missing the Business Advisory Council. We are still missing the civil society dialogue as a permanent exercise. We are still missing the Global Gateway Forum that was proposed in the strategy and that should be organised this autumn. And we will also need – and I think Mrs von der Leyen would be well advised to do that – the nomination of a high-level special envoy to represent Global Gateway for the European Union.
Implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy - annual report 2022 (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2023-01-17

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, Vice-President, HR/VP, David, colleagues, we do live in a new era. For the EU the next seven years will decide whether we will sit at the table or be on the menu. We have to start with realism, though. Overblown dreams of strategic autonomy can be and must be discarded because we learn in the present situation that without the United States’ support, we would not have been able to hold our own together to support Ukraine. That means we must continue to invest in transatlantic relations, but at the same time, we have to up our own game. We have to increase our capabilities: being an ally is not enough; we must be strong allies.
Second, we must not allow ourselves to be captured by delusions about the nature of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. And that in particular means de-risk our relationship with China. Systemic rivalry is not just between Washington and Beijing. Nostra res agitur.
Third, cooperation with countries of the Global South to promote mutual benefit is not an option anymore, it’s a must – a geopolitical must, and that implies that we have to invest in the Global Gateway initiative.
And finally, the climate crisis has long been a threat—multiplier. This multiplication is getting more dangerous by the year. Fighting climate crisis is not everything, but without effectively fighting climate crisis, everything will come to nought.
Resumption of the sitting
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-12-15

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, colleagues, the EPP published a press release yesterday that has now been read to the Parliament twice, once by Ms Zovko last night, and just now. In this statement, and I quote, they question ‘the integrity of the foreign policy positions of the EP, as expressed in the urgency resolutions’. This casts a very dark shadow of suspicion and insinuation over the complete human rights work of this Parliament. And unfortunately they do so without the slightest indication that there is any reason to do it. They just take the corruption scandal that we have to fight against as an excuse for trying to kill the urgencies that they wanted to kill anyway.
Rule 144(2) of our Rules of Procedure states, and I quote, ‘[t]he Conference of Presidents shall draw up a list of subjects to be included in the final draft agenda for the next debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the basis of the request referred to in paragraph 1 and in accordance with the provisions of Annex IV. The total number of subjects included in the agenda shall not exceed three, including sub—chapters.’
On this basis, I request that the President ensures that the work of this Parliament on human rights that is founded in this paragraph of Rule 144 shall not be obstructed by the EPP, who call for a stop of all the work.
EU response to the US Inflation Reduction Act (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-12-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, Executive Vice-President, Minister, the protectionist way in which the United States is pushing the dearly-needed green transition of their own economy hurts our interests. Our friends and partners in the United States are deviating important investment from the European to the US markets, thus effectively promoting European deindustrialisation somewhat, even if unintended. That runs counter to our shared interest, also to their own. And it has effects beyond just the economic dimension because it contributes to a creeping crisis of trust. 
Of course, I wish you well, Executive Vice-President, with the talks that you have ahead of you, but I will still reserve judgment as to what can effectively be done in the negotiations. So we have to focus on what we can do ourselves. I certainly support the reform of state aid rules. I think we should invest together, as Ernest Urtasun has emphasised, in a smart, fair and WTO-compatible way. And we should also go back to looking at the fragmentation that still exists in the single market and try to overcome that. One thing we should not do: we should not retaliate against protectionism with our own protectionism.
Chinese government crackdown on the peaceful protests across the People's Republic of China
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-12-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  Verfasser. – Frau Präsidentin, Frau Kommissarin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Gestern noch hat der Kollege David Leger von der EVP die Verhandlungen, die sehr harmonischen und konsensualen Verhandlungen über die Entschließung, über die wir morgen abstimmen werden, geleitet. Ich bedaure, dass er heute nicht als Koautor hier reden kann.
Zur Sache. Ich glaube, dass die landesweiten Proteste in China gegen die sogenannte Zero-Covid Policy der chinesischen Führung ein Ereignis von historischer Bedeutung darstellen. Da hat sich im Verhältnis zwischen dem Unterdrückerregime und dem unterdrückten Volk etwas geändert. Jahrzehntelang hatte es das nicht gegeben, dass sich landesweit Protest erhebt. Jahrzehntelang hatte es das nicht gegeben, dass Menschen aus den verschiedensten sozialen Gruppen gemeinsam protestieren. Und jahrzehntelang hatte es nicht gegeben, dass solche Forderungen direkt an die zentralen Verantwortlichen in Peking gerichtet werden. Die Pekinger Führung hat selber dafür gesorgt, dass dieser große Protest zustande gekommen ist. Und die Perspektive der chinesischen Freiheit, die im Moment so weit entfernt zu sein scheint, ist durch diese Proteste stärker geworden und näher gerückt.
Chinese government crackdown on the peaceful protests across the People's Republic of China
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-12-14

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, I would like to raise a point of order. My point of order is the request that Ms Zovko should be sanctioned because first, she misused a China debate to enact a hypocritical theatre, charging everybody else as culprits in a criminal gang system. And I also want to have her criticised for not even having the respect for her colleagues to wait until the question to her has been asked. I think that is completely objectionable behaviour. She should be sanctioned.
Question Time (Commission) - “Protection of strategic infrastructure from China's influence”
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-12-13

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Thank you, Executive Vice-President, for tackling this important issue here. I believe the protection of strategic infrastructure cannot just be expected from the executive branch of government. We need an all-of-society effort to deal with the integrated multi-actor activities from the Chinese side. 
In that regard, I think it’s important to raise the awareness of the public. I think the Commission should look into opportunities for supporting, for instance, mapping efforts by academia or think tanks that would help to raise awareness. Also, I believe that often on the local level there is a lack of China competency. In twinning relationships, small towns of below 100 000 inhabitants are twinned with several million inhabitants in a big Chinese metropolis. They could be overwhelmed. So there should be efforts to enhance their China competency to deal with these issues. 
And finally, the EU cannot impose a European port strategy, but the European Union can support efforts by national actors, by regional actors to coordinate. And there we have not been doing what we should be doing.
Question Time (Commission) - “Protection of strategic infrastructure from China's influence”
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-12-13

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Just one short additional remark. Some Member States, like the Dutch or the Swedish, have invested into creating national China competency centres or different institutions that help creating that competency that we need on all societal levels. And I think it would be helpful if the Commission could put some effort into propagating those shining examples.
ASEAN relations ahead of the EU-ASEAN summit in December 2022 (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-12-13

  Reinhard Bütikofer (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, dear colleagues, the commemorative summit that Brussels is preparing for, with the ASEAN Community, offers an opportunity for reflection of how serious we really are with our strategic partnership. That sounds nice, but how strategic is it really? 
We learned today from the media that the two sides have not been able to agree on common language about Taiwan or issues around Taiwan. 
So I think we should not fool ourselves. That strategic partnership is still much more of a promise and an aspiration than it is a reality. And I think we should clearly identify priority projects to make it a real strategic partnership. I think one of them would be, as Mr McAllister said, a region-to-region FTA. One of them would be cooperating on trusted connectivity projects and one would be systematic cooperation in international organisations.
EU-China relations (debate)
Speaker: Reinhard BÜTIKOFER (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-11-22

  Reinhard Bütikofer,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Mr Borrell. To say it simply, Mr Borrell, I’m disappointed. I heard from you a lot of generalities, but very little indeed about the reality of EU-China relations.
Maybe there isn’t so much to report. What kind of a relationship do we have after all? The April summit, as you said, was a dialogue of the deaf. At the G20, Xi didn’t want to meet with the representatives of the EU. And at the COP 27, China stood squarely in the way of what we fought for.
There is no point in putting lipstick on a pig: EU China relations are at a very low ebb. China’s attitude is characterised by arrogance, divisiveness and hegemonic ambition. Unfortunately, many of our Member States are not yet prepared to learn the Russian lesson fully and to apply the Russian lesson to China: that we should not allow ourselves to become dependent on an authoritarian regime.
Scholz, Macron, Meloni or Sánchez, they all prefer to put their narrow self-interest in the first place. I would have thought that the English proverb ‘once bitten, twice shy’ might apply. But some people may want to be bitten more often, and they will if their self-centred actions, instead of developing common European China policies, will continue. We have a lot of common talk, but very little common walk.
In this context, I would expect of you, Mr Borrell, to take the lead and lead towards unitary European action. What about taking the lead with regard to getting rid of the extradition agreements that we have, of trying to use the EEAS services to counter Chinese representatives spreading the Russian lies in the Global South?
There is so much you could do, but you don’t take the lead.