misclassified/meps_speeches huggingface dataset:
The follow up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-05-03

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE),  blue-card reply. – Yes, thank you. I think it’s an excellent question but also leads to the question of what we do exactly at the convention. I believe the power of democracy lies in compromises, lies in the fact that we don’t have referenda where we just have yes or no. 
And the same thing is true also for this question as regards unanimity. Of course, I do see the point that smaller Member States need representation and that they need a certain amount of power through the use of unanimity. However, at a certain point it gets ad absurdum and we are at the point where Member States, and we have seen that multiple times, are trying to force their opinion upon everybody else as a minority, which is not what we want in a democracy and bundle up together decisions that have nothing to do with each other. 
So I think that we cannot continue with the prospect of unanimity, because it will not solve any problems, because every time your citizens say, for example, you say for your citizens, we want a stronger minimum wage. And then, I don’t know, maybe Malta says, no, this is okay for us, but we want fishing rights here and there, and therefore we block everything on the question of? This is unfair. 
So I think what we can come up with in the Convention is also a solution to that. So figure out what is the possible solution that gives the right to the smaller member states to be part of the discussion, but also that enables us to act. That is the strength that we need. Democracies can act, but we are just too slow because we are having too much unanimity.
Trans-European energy infrastructure (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-04-05

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Frau Präsidentin! Wir müssen unabhängig werden von russischem Gas und dafür natürlich unsere Importe diversifizieren. Aber wir müssen uns doch im gleichen Zuge nicht sofort wieder abhängig von den nächsten Diktaturen machen. Und das tun wir, wenn wir zu sehr in Infrastruktur investieren, mit der wir manifestieren, dass wir in Zukunft noch fossile Brennstoffe benötigen.
Stattdessen müssen wir unbedingt die Erneuerbaren ausbauen. Aber dafür brauchen wir Interkonnektoren, und wir brauchen einen europäischen Energiemarkt, vor allen Dingen für den Strombereich. Da muss man, finde ich, auch mal Ross und Reiter benennen. Frankreich blockiert in den Pyrenäen ganz vehement den Zugang für die Iberische Halbinsel auf den europäischen Energiemarkt. Und warum? Doch nur, um die eigene gescheiterte Atompolitik voranzutreiben.
Ich finde das extrem uneuropäisch von einem Präsidenten, der gerne das Geld seiner Bevölkerung in die Atommeiler versenken kann, aber doch nicht von ganz Europa verlangen kann, nun den Ausbau von Erneuerbaren zu blockieren. Stattdessen muss der Präsident von Frankreich und vor allem die Kommission darauf hinarbeiten, dass Frankreich endlich diese Interkonnektoren ermöglicht und wir einen wirklichen europäischen Energiemarkt bekommen und so Unabhängigkeit gewinnen und vor allen Dingen die Ukraine im Krieg unterstützen können.
Implementation of the 2021-2027 cohesion policy (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2022-03-07

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, Commissioner Ferreira, dear colleagues and most importantly, dear Europeans, currently we are facing two devastating crises: the climate crisis, but most importantly, of course, Russian war on European soil. These lead to great uncertainty, but not what is uncertain – that’s quite clear. We know what we want to do. We want to become independent from Russian fossil fuels by extending our energy efficiency and renewable energies like wind and solar. This will hurt Russia now and make Europe stronger in the long term. 
We know we want to help those who help refugees. Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and the whole European Union says refugees are welcome and we need to support those people. We know that we want to strengthen the EU’s unity through cohesion. Economic prosperity in all regions brings the European people together, and a united Europe will perceive any crisis. 
The uncertainty, though, is how we reach those goals. In this uncertainty, we need, on the one hand, strategic stoicism, on the other, localised expertise. The Commission needs to ensure that even under these time constraints and the Russian aggression, our strategic goals, and the means, will be kept, including the rule of law. 
Most importantly, though, the Commission must ensure that the partnership principle is valued and that local expertise is included. Partnership agreements that do not include those means must be rejected, even if we are facing time constraints. The solution to this less time is more efficient spending of money through local experts. LEADER has shown us that it can be spent very wisely and we should use CLLD and LEADER approaches in the partnership agreements. 
Lastly, let’s be honest, we also have to criticise ourselves (I’ll be finished in a second) that we have taken too long to finish this. It was a problem from the Member States also, to not have taken the time accordingly, but that should not end up hurting the regions, and we must ensure that this comes out in the end and that they get a little bit more time in the end to use the money accordingly.
The situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-10-18

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, the culture and creative sector is still in the biggest crisis in its existence. Thousands of European artists, creators and performers have lost their income. Those people across Europe have used up all their savings, they have sold their instruments and tools and they still are living from day to day without clarity what comes tomorrow, or if they can put food on the table for their families.
And yet the political response throughout Europe’s Member States has been inadequate to deal with this tremendous crisis that culture currently faces. The freedom of expression, the freedom of the arts, the freedom of speech, the freedom of culture is at stake. We can have very nice laws, like Article 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, that grant the freedom of arts and the expressions. But when artists, performers, authors, creatives are struggling to survive, those rules mean nothing.
And yes, we do have governments in the EU that use the pandemic to defund the sector, to destroy the opposition and to silence their critics. When this is happening in the Union, the EU must act to protect artists, performers and the whole sector. The EU must become the guardian of culture, of freedom.
In this light, we, the European Parliament, have worked collectively to present this report that draws the attention to the horrific situation of the cultural and creative sectors and industries CCS, as well as propose improvements. I am thankful for the cooperation that we have with the rapporteur, Ms Semedo, as well as the other colleagues and, of course, the CCFT. This cooperation shows that we have crossed paths and shared an understanding of the risks that we are facing when culture is under distress.
However, I believe we also need to go further and we need to go beyond what the treaty offers the EU to do. If we want the EU to be the guardian of culture, we need to extend the competences and weave a safety net that offers social security, health care and pensions to all creatives in the EU.
We need to see more investments from the Member States like the two per cent that we propose from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) money, and we need to get the possibility to support artists and performers with funding, even if they are in a position in their country. Only then, we will see a recovery from the situation, and only then, culture will truly be free again.
The Council's lack of will to move the European cross-border mechanism forward (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-10-06

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, I want to start with the words of the Council itself. To quote the Treaty, it says ‘determined to lay the foundation of an ever closer Union among the peoples of Europe, resolved to ensure the economic and social progress of their countries by common action to eliminate the barriers that divide Europe.’
Those barriers are still here in the form of useless regulation, unnecessary bureaucratic complication and common public frustration. The European Cross—Border Mechanism solves these issues. It brings peoples across Europe together and raises economic prosperity. Regions that now are peripheric in regard to their Member States can become a central part of Europe with enhanced cooperation, with new jobs, with prosperity and an improvement of livelihood.
For three years already, 15 Member States have been blocking the ECBM. For what? It is because they think that the slightest reduction of their own competences is too much. Because national politicians are afraid that they might lose power. The Council is not acting in the interest of the European people. The ECBM is justified by the treaty to which the Member States have committed. 
The ECBM is just because it is in line with the Commission’s mandate and does not infringe competences. The ECBM is needed because it improves the situation for border regions and betters the lives of the people in those regions. The ECBM is appropriate because the benefit overwhelms the loss of competences. When will the Council adopt a position and start negotiation with us? When will you finally take the treaty seriously and start working for the European people?
I believe I speak for all my colleagues in the Committee on Regional Development when I say that all our doors are open for you and for talks so that we can ease concerns, build trust and bring the European Cross-Border Mechanism to a conclusion, because we are ready to work for the European people.
Common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy 2021-2027 – European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund 2021-2027 – Specific provisions for the European territorial cooperation goal (Interreg) supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and external financing instruments 2021-2027 (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-06-23

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, the green vision for the European cohesion policy is to put the people at the centre of our policy. We see the economy, the social programmes and even climate protection as a means to do exactly that: to support and improve the life of Europeans, of all Europeans. And this life happens in the regions. It’s the regions that are the place for social security, for fair chances and for political and individual self-determination.
The cohesion policy that we discuss today is a big step towards this green vision. We made it possible to support climate neutrality and a sustainable economy. We made it almost impossible to waste European money, either by destroying nature or by feeding into corruption. And we brought people together. We said individual citizens should make the decisions in their regions. However, we are still not finished because a ‘do no significant harm’ rule is not a ‘do no harm’ rule. And not a decrease of funds is not an increase that we urgently need. And to almost make it impossible to spend money on corruption is not making it impossible, so we still have work to do.
Cohesion policy, though, has always brought people together, has made security and solidarity and equality in Europe possible. We want security, we want solidarity, and we want unity in Europe and so we want better cohesion policy. Today we will celebrate the cohesion policy proposal that we have today. But for tomorrow we will continue to work to improve the life of the European citizens.
Creative Europe programme (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-05-18

  Niklas Nienaß,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident! Creative Europe ist ein Erfolgsprogramm. Aber wir dürfen auch nicht vergessen, dass der Kultur— und Kreativsektor in der größten Krise aller Zeiten steckt. Millionen Beschäftigte stehen immer noch ohne Job und ohne zukünftige Perspektive da. Dieser Umstand ist nicht nur eine Katastrophe für Kunst und Kultur – nein, diese Situation zehrt auch an den Fundamenten unserer gesamten Gesellschaft.
Die Kunstfreiheit in Europa ist bedroht, auch weil Autokraten die Kunsthochschulen unter ihre Kontrolle bringen und weil Kulturschaffende keine soziale Absicherung haben. Europa ist eine Wertegemeinschaft. Dazu gehört eben auch der Schutz von Kunst und Kultur. Dafür muss die EU aber auch Einkommensmöglichkeiten für Künstlerinnen und Künstler schaffen, wenn diese in ihren Nationalstaaten aufgrund von Ideologie finanziell ausgetrocknet werden. Creative Europe tut das bereits an vielen Stellen, nur leider sind die Bewerbungen immer noch aufwendig, und Bewilligungen sind viel zu selten. Daher gehört Creative Europe deutlich aufgestockt.
Zusätzlich benötigen wir dabei aber auch noch einen Kultur— und Medienfonds ohne grenzüberschreitende Komponente. Und vor allen Dingen brauchen wir eine europaweite soziale Absicherung von Künstlerinnen und Künstlern, die Arbeitslosigkeits—, Gesundheits— und Rentenversicherung vereint. Wo die Mitgliedstaaten versagen, muss die EU mehr tun, um die Kultur, die Kulturen und die Kulturvielfalt in Europa zu sichern.
Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-05-18

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Herr Präsident! Europa kann man nicht lernen, man muss es erleben. Aus diesem Grund haben wir mittlerweile zwei Programme, die jungen Menschen ein europäisches Erlebnis ermöglichen: das European Solidarity Corps und Erasmus+. 
Erasmus ist das wohl berühmteste europäische Programm und auch das erfolgreichste, um Menschen zusammenzubringen. Eine ganze Generation Erasmus-Babys gibt es bereits. Trotz der Notwendigkeit für das europäische Projekt und obwohl wir ein 750 Mrd. EUR schweres Budget mit dem Namen NextGenerationEU verabschiedet haben, wird gerade hier noch ein bisschen gespart. Die Kommissionspräsidentin hat das erste Versprechen, was sie in ihrem neuen Amt gegeben hat, nicht gehalten: Erasmus wurde nicht verdreifacht – das ist einfach enttäuschend. Dafür bin ich aber extrem froh, dass wir als Parlament über die Fraktionsgrenzen hinweg für dieses Jugendprogramm gestritten haben. Wir haben es geschafft, die Programme so inklusiv und zugänglich wie noch nie zu gestalten, und immerhin eine Verdoppelung des Budgets erreicht. 
Mein ganz besonderer Dank gilt dabei auch der Ausschussvorsitzenden: Liebe Sabine, Deine Sturheit hat im Rat wirklich dafür gesorgt, dass wir bei den horizontalen Prinzipien bei allen drei Dossiers etwas erreicht haben. Wir müssen dieses Programm jedoch auch weiterentwickeln und ergänzen. Wir müssen Chancengleichheit in ganz Europa herstellen und Menschen jeden Alters eine europäische Erfahrung ermöglichen. Dabei benötigen wir neben Erasmus und ESC einen gemeinsamen Bildungsraum, und wir brauchen auch ein European Sabbatical, welches einen Austausch im Berufsleben ermöglicht.
European Solidarity Corps Programme (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-05-18

  Niklas Nienaß,  im Namen der Verts/ALE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, liebe Damen und Herren! Alle in Europa schauen gerade den ESC – aber natürlich den Eurovision Song Contest und gerade das erste Halbfinale da drin. Aber ich glaube, in Zukunft werden die Menschen mit ESC dann doch eher den European Solidarity Corps verbinden, denn der ist der europäische Freiwilligendienst, und er bietet die Möglichkeit, Solidarität mit Unternehmensdrang zu verbinden und Erlebnisse mit Lernerfahrung. Ein Abenteuer erleben, Gutes tun, eine neue Sprache lernen, eine neue Kultur erleben, vielleicht sogar die Liebe seines Lebens finden, auf jeden Fall mal raus von zu Hause – all das bietet der ESC. Unser Ziel ist es, dass jeder junge Mensch in Europa diese Möglichkeit wahrnehmen kann. Und dafür werden wir in Zukunft auch das Budget, glaube ich, nochmal ziemlich drastisch erhöhen müssen. Da werden wir noch hinkommen.
Wenn wir in die Zukunft blicken, dann wünsche ich mir, dass wir durch einen gemeinsamen Bildungsraum Chancengleichheit in Europa geschaffen haben und Verständnis für und Vertrauen ineinander ermöglicht haben. Untermauert und begleitet wird die Bildungserfahrung in Europa von ständigem Austausch dank Erasmus+. Und nach der Schule ist es für unsere jungen Europäerinnen und Europäer eine Selbstverständlichkeit, ein Jahr Freiwilligendienst im Ausland zu verbringen – dank ESC. 
In der Ausbildung und später im Job werden erneut Auslandserfahrungen gesammelt dank Erasmus und European Sabbatical. Und durch die gemeinsame Erfahrung, gelebte Solidarität und den kulturellen Austausch werden wir den kommenden Generationen ein Verständnis für Europa mit in die Wiege legen, das uns allen noch unbekannt ist. Die Beschlüsse von heute sind der Beginn eines Europas, das zuvorderst aus Menschen besteht, aus Menschen, die in Vertrauen miteinander leben.
Just Transition Fund (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-05-17

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, the JTF is the only social policy element in the Green Deal. The JTF is an insurance to all people that the transformation towards a climate-friendly economy will not only be compatible for everyone, but actually be beneficial for everyone. The JTF is the promise that no one will be left behind, and it’s the starting gun for the race towards climate justice. The JTF is therefore the most important component of the Green Deal and the best tool for piercing the thick board that is climate action.
Mr Schmit, dear colleagues, now in its final form the JTF will enable much-needed investments in a forward-looking economy and in social policies. Thanks to Green pressure in the Council and in Parliament, no money will be burned in gas investments. Instead, with the green rewarding mechanism we included an incentive to turbo-charge on climate protection. And the JTF is already having success before it has even been adopted: Poland has finally announced it would phase out gas by 2049 because it does not want to forego JTF payments. However, if we want to be in line with the Paris Agreement we need to include a 2030 target. The green proposal for this was sadly rejected. Well, at least the Federal Constitutional Court agrees with us here.
Overall, we are all satisfied to finally come to an end with such a convincing regulation and yet all of us here are also very immeasurably disappointed. Why? Because despite the need for climate-friendly social policy, despite the effectiveness of this very regulation, and despite the explosive nature of climate protection policy, the Council did not provide the JTF with the adequate resources to enable this tool’s piercing potential. EUR 17.5 billion is too little money to 100 regions all over Europe. The Commission asked for 40 billion in the first proposal for Next Generation EU, but the Council cut this more than in half knowing that this budget is not sufficient. It is simply a shame. The JTF is an efficient and sharp tool. Due to the Council, though, it’s just too small. So we Greens get the impression that the current EU climate policy is like drilling through the thickest board with the smallest drill.
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - The outcome of EU-UK negotiations (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-04-27

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, Robert Alan Arthur said intercultural dialogue is the best guarantee for a peaceful, just and sustainable world. This intercultural dialogue is the essence of our European Union. However, this intercultural dialogue, at least with the UK, is endangered and has been endangered more than it must. 
The UK leaves the Erasmus+, a programme that not just brings European students together, but ensures youth empowerment and education in every single Member State. The UK doesn’t have to leave Erasmus, other non-EU countries are also part of it. But it does so because Johnson wants to cut the intercultural dialogue of the next generation. One that, by the way, mostly voted to remain. 
The UK also leaves Creative Europe, a programme for cultural cooperation. It doesn’t have to leave cultural Europe because other non-EU countries are also part of it, but the UK does so because Mr Johnson wants to cut the intercultural dialogue. But Johnson’s Brexit deal doesn’t just hurt those who voted to remain but also the leavers. The ESF and the cohesion funds are missing and the people in remote and de-industrialised regions are hurt by it. Fishing doesn’t work as intended and the scientific exchanges are endangered as well. Brexit only has losers and that’s a shame, but we have to do the best we can with it for the future.
Space programme 2021-2027 and European Union Agency for the Space Programme (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-04-27

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, the stars on our flag are no coincidence. They are a constant reminder that we as Europeans should always strive for the stars – metaphorically, but sometimes even literally. Dear Commissioner Breton, dear colleagues, if we get to reach for the stars again, we have today taken the very first step.
The EU space programme can form the basis for a forward—looking, unambiguous European space policy. However, if we don’t just want to reach for the stars but actually seize them, then we must go even further. We are in the midst of a new space race, and if Europe continues to proceed as it has done so far, we will lose it.
Fifty-five years after the Outer Space Treaty, only a minority of the European Member States have enacted a national space law. They missed their chance. Now we have to decide: does it still make sense to have 27 individual national space laws, only to then harmonise them once again, in the midst of a worldwide space race?
No, it does not make sense. We need a uniform European space law as soon as possible, because we need safety and security and, for the private sector, we need clarity and planning security. And if we want a competitive European space economy, we must also ensure a stable income by issuing continuous public contracts. We need very close cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA) and to enable big projects like a European mega constellation. Only then will we stand a chance against SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Mr Breton, you are also in the very historic position of having to define what Europe’s global position will be. We have to ensure that we step forward onto the world stage to find the common ground on open regulation issues, such as space traffic management, space debris regulation and the registration of private space flights.
I personally am really proud of what we Europeans have achieved so far, in particular with world leading programmes like Copernicus, EGNOS and Galileo. However, let us not stop here. Let us accelerate and let us ensure that there are not only stars on our flag, but that there is our flag on the stars.
Respecting the partnership principle in the preparation and implementation of national recovery and resilience plans, and ensuring good governance of the spending (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-03-11

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, dear colleagues, Mr Dombrovskis for the Commission, by the way we are missing the Council. It’s very sad that when we talk about them that they’re not here.
When we talk about the partnership principle, we acknowledge that we politicians in Brussels, but also the politicians and the capitals, don’t know everything and they don’t know how to recover every aspect of the regional economy. Therefore, we involve the regions in the question of how to ensure that the recovery really belongs to the people, how we ensure that the recovery facilitates matters in every region of Europe. Then the question is, why aren’t we using it? Why isn’t it used for this recovery as well? 
This endangers the whole recovery project because it makes it possible that funding goes into fraud, but it also makes it possible that we lock in regions into useless investment programmes that the people on the ground don’t want. 
So please, to the Commission, you need to ensure that the that the partnership principle is valued, that the democratisation of this project, of this recovery programme is valued, and you need to ensure that no plan comes through that doesn’t value the partnership principle.
Long-term vision for rural areas (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-03-11

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Mr President, I say to Mr Wojciechowski: I want to let you in on a little secret. Come close, it is very simple. Not everyone living in rural areas are farmers. And I think it’s important to respect that and to understand that. Actually a majority of people in the villages don’t even work in agriculture. And still we combine agriculture and rural development. And this is one major conflict which often goes out in favour of big farmers and against a majority of people. 
The CAP is the main reason why the rural areas have seen the destruction at the moment. And your meetings show that as well. Sixty-seven meetings with agriculture organisations, none with representatives of rural policies. The long-term vision for the rural areas should rethink the structure as we make development of rural areas. And it should increase the funds for leader programmes and small farmers, as well as ensure that any development is sustainably ensured by democratic bottom-up processes so that the people, those people who actually improve their villages and make them a livelihood again, that they get the power back. 
(Applause)
Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-02-11

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, actually I wanted to respond to Mr Krah, who just left, which is great. But last year we were in Kazakhstan. Exactly one year ago the delegation for Central Asia went to Kazakhstan and we all looked at everything there and we met with officials there and we actually asked how the reforms were going. They were shown to us, and it’s great to see that there were reforms undergoing, and we support this. We want to see more of that, and we are thankful that the government is going in this direction.
But at the same time, we also really had to demand a meeting with human rights defenders and with civil society, and the only place where we could actually meet them was on neutral ground, which was the EU embassy there, and that was devastating for me. We talked to them, and on the day we left, one person died in prison and others that we just talked to were imprisoned the very day we sat on the flight back. And that is the instance where we criticise in the European Union the question of human rights. And, dear government of Kazakhstan, if you want us to not publish resolutions like these, it’s very easy: follow human rights.
One last thing I want to mention to Mr Mariani, Mr Krah, and especially Mr Martusciello, who is the Chair of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan. You are there to represent EU values, not your own personal profits.
Political situation in Uganda
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2021-02-11

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, I am 28 years old and, at that age, I’m one of the youngest Members of the European Parliament but, by Ugandan standards, I am quite old because Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world.
I want to take a stance for this generation, for the young people in Uganda. It’s this young generation that demands change, democracy, fairness and some fresh new ideas. It is this generation that was stripped of these ideals, that was stripped of justice, democracy and liberty. Therefore, we must stand up for this generation and help it conquer the rights that it has. I think it is important that we take a stance, as the European Union, to do so and to deliver, but I also have to give you a quote from a young man from Uganda. He said, ‘The situation in Uganda has reached the European Parliament plenty of times, but still there is no effect here.’
I say to the Commission, Mr Schmit and Mr Borrell, this is dramatic. This is something that we need to change. This is something that the Commission has to deliver on because we must stand, not just with words, but with action for what we demand, and that is freedom and democracy.
To the young Ugandans out there, one last word to you, to this generation that has fought so bravely and so hard and so peacefully. Stay strong, stay brave and continue this fight for democracy, for justice and a government that works for the people, and also for some new fresh ideas. This is not just a privilege, but this is your right.
Additional resources in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: REACT-EU (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-12-15

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, it is just and right that the EU is there to help in these times of crisis. The goals for the recovery funds are to help swiftly and unbureaucratically and to overcome the economic crisis, while at the same time fostering European cooperation. In this regard, it was a good idea to use the framework of already existing programmes like the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which we know work well in the regions.
REACT-EU follows the logic of swift, easy, productive and European. However the Recovery and Resilience Facility does not. It is shameful to see that the vast majority of the recovery money, EUR 670 billion, is being spent with little to no European agenda behind it.
I also have to say: that REACT-EU has no obligation for the usage of Interreg is a pity. How the fact that in the first draft of REACT-EU, Interreg wasn’t even mentioned, is shameful and unworthy of a European Commission.
After images of closed borders and failed European solidarity at the peak of this crisis, after months of isolation and for thousands of families, also months of loss and mourning, we need the European coronavirus aid to be used to bring Europeans back together. We need our funds to be spent in a European way, a way that increases European exchange, cooperation and solidarity, and that benefits our citizens. Here’s how to do it.
Instead of transferring EUR 670 billion to the Member States, use them to top up these tools that foster European cohesion – top up the ERDF, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the ESF, and then use the EUR 50 billion that are now planned for REACT-EU to top up the programmes that support European exchange, European culture and European education: to support Interreg, Erasmus and Creative Europe.
This is the way we should spend our European money. To enable Europeans to study, work, celebrate life, live and laugh together, until once again this crazy pandemic is finally over.
REACT-EU is not bad. It is one of the better programmes of the Next Generation EU funds, and probably the best that we can get from a Council like this, but for me as a member of the next generation of Europeans, one good programme is not enough. The overall spending is not climate-just enough, it is not social enough, and it’s definitely not European enough.
Cultural recovery of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-07-10

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, I am asking that this debate be extended because this is the first debate being held on the issue of culture. You are allocating 30 minutes for this, which is just a plain joke to have a decent debate. We’re not allowed to use blue cards and you’re just pulling us through here like a herd. This is just not efficient enough or sufficient enough for the very important issue that...
(The President cut off the speaker)
Cultural recovery of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-07-10

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Frau Präsidentin! Da die Europäische Union im Bereich der Kultur relativ begrenzt zuständig ist, möchte ich mich auf den Rat spezialisieren – der heute durch Abwesenheit glänzt. Als Bundeskanzlerin Merkel am Mittwoch ´hier das Programm der deutschen Ratspräsidentschaft vorgestellt hat, hat sie genau einen einzigen Satz gesagt, der irgendetwas mit Kultur zu tun hatte, nämlich den zweihundertfünfzigsten Geburtstag Ludwig von Beethovens erwähnt. 
Deswegen möchte ich mit einem Zitat von ihm starten: „Und die Welt muss ich verachten, die nicht ahnt, dass Musik höhere Offenbarung ist als alle Weisheit und Philosophie. Sie ist der Wein, der zur neuen Erzeugung begeistert.“ 
Wer Beethovens Vermächtnis feiert, aber nicht einmal über die Förderung von Kunst und Kultur in diesen Zeiten der Krise redet, wäre von dem alten Meister mit viel Verachtung gestraft worden. Weder die Kanzlerin noch die Kommissionspräsidentin haben durch Worte oder Taten erkennen lassen, dass sie verstehen, in welcher desaströsen Lage sich der europäische Kultur- und Kreativsektor befindet. „In Vielfalt geeint“ ist das europäische Motto, doch diese Vielfalt droht zu verschwinden, wenn dem gesamten Kultur- und Kreativsektor in ganz Europa nicht geholfen wird.
Um den Kulturministern und den Staats- und Regierungschefs auf die Sprünge zu helfen, was das bedeutet: Wir brauchen ein unbürokratisches Grundeinkommen für Künstlerinnen und Künstler. Wir brauchen lokale Kulturgutscheine, um den Konsum anzukurbeln, und eine europäische Sozialgarantie für Künstlerinnen und Künstler. 
Wer das Vermächtnis eines toten Künstlers bejubelt, aber den Lebenden in solch einer Krise nicht umfassend hilft, der hat die Verachtung aller Künstler verdient.
The role of cohesion policy in tackling the socio-economic fallout from COVID-19 (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-07-10

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, I would like to thank the Commissioner Ferreira for coming here to us today. I think we have all seen that we needed to take very swift measures in order to help the regions, and I think we did so very well by using three one and two, or three one and plus. But now I think we are in a different stage and we need to follow a good procedure in order to help the most. This procedure, as always, is to evaluate the previous measures, define what we want to achieve and then rethink how we achieve it the best. Therefore I have questions for you. For the evaluation, we know that 60 regions have already applied to change to amend the operative programme and therefore we want to see is there a correlation between those who are using the flexibility measures and those regions affected most by COVID. Are these measures that we have taken actually using them, helping them? 
My second question: when we want to achieve something for the future we need to take a strategic approach, and therefore I want to ask you, how can we define a strategic approach and how can we ensure it then in REACT-EU, to actually have the strategic approach where I think less flexibility and more – sorry I’m missing the words here – but you know what I mean, that this is needed, very much.
Gender Equality Strategy (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-02-12

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – Thank you for this statement. I have one personal question: what do you think men can do to encourage women, and do you think that there’s more action needed by men? Do you think that men should step down more, or do you think that woman should improve? What is your personal opinion on this issue? Since we are all politicians, what can you do to increase the number of women politicians in your party as well?
European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-15

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE),  blue-card question. – Mr Verhofstadt, you said that you want to enable a bottom—up approach. So, there are some rumours going on that certain parties already agreed on who should be leading the conference and your name was mentioned on that as well, so I wanted to know from you, presented right now here, that those rumours are not true and that the conference itself should decide on who leads the conference.
European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-15

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, sorry, but I have to challenge your decision on the blue cards, because we have one hour in between the end of this debate and the next debate. I see your point that you have to discuss in the Chamber, but you have enough presidents to do that without one, and I think that you can continue this debate. We have seen so far that this debate really lived through the usage of blue cards. Therefore, I want to challenge your decision on discarding the debate by taking a decision in this plenary to continue with the usage of the blue-card system. 
(Applause)
European Parliament's position on the Conference on the Future of Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-15

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, I think we have seen so far in this debate that we do face a crisis in Europe, and I think we have seen not just after the election, but already before, that there are two possibilities. Do we want less Europe or more? The Far Right have so far expressed their vision of this, but we, with a big majority of people who said we want more Europe, have won this election. So therefore, we now need to decide: how much more Europe do we want? And I think this question should be answered by the public, by everyone, by sitting together and answering this question.
And yes, the answer to this question can be that we want less, that the people want less Europe. But I say let us take the risk, because so far, I know that we have the better arguments. We know that Europe has brought unity of East and West, that it has brought freedom, that it has brought peace and prosperity. And so I see all the good arguments on our side, and I know that we will win this debate.
Talking of debate, let us continue to have a good debate in this plenary and make this the first European public sphere.
Sustainable investment plan, just transition fund and Roadmap on Social Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-14

  Niklas Nienaß,  on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, I wish to thank everyone in the Commission who contributed to this proposal for a Just Transition Fund (JTF), in particular Commissioner Ferreira and Mr Timmermans.
I do sense the underlying spirit of a social just transition. People take centre stage and not companies, also a clear ‘no’ for subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear power is just what the future needs.
This proposal for a JTF is a good starting point to help particular regions to cope with the transition. However, what I’m missing in the proposal is a clear commitment to European level climate targets. The people and the economy need a clear date when the last European coal plant will get off the grid. We need commitments by every single region to individual coal phase-out plans.
This must be a binding condition in order to receive support from the JTF, because funding a transition without the actual happening of a transition is pointless. And of course we have to talk about the money: EUR 7.5 billion, seven years, 108 coal regions. This roughly comes down to 10 million per region, per year. Is that enough to make the transition just for everyone?
And in your calculation you then add co-financing from other cohesion funds. But this can be very dangerous because we don’t want to shift money from one region in need to another one in need. You then multiply the JTF with potential private investments, but Mr Timmermans please: we both know that there is not 100 billion in that just transition mechanism, but 7.5 billion.
When street magicians try to trick their audience in such a way, we call that a sleight of hand. I’m sure the Commission doesn’t want to be seen a street magicians. So please come clear and let us fight together for a better consistent funding from own EU resources, so that coal workers are not at the mercy of MFF negotiations every seven years. We can support this proposal, though, if it stands for a clear and just transition with concrete phase-out plans for all coal regions.
Sustainable investment plan, just transition fund and Roadmap on Social Europe (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2020-01-14

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE),  Frage nach dem Verfahren der „blauen Karte“. – Vielen Dank für Ihr Auftreten heute. Ich kann ja verstehen, dass Sie nicht ganz zufrieden sind, weil Ihre eigene Regierung ihre eigenen Menschen im Stich lässt. Aber müssten Sie nicht eigentlich in Großbritannien sein? Wenn Sie erst einen Austritt hier durchjagen, warum kommen Sie dann noch hierher? Also ich meine: Bleiben Sie gerne, wo Sie sind.
EU response to extreme meteorological events and their impacts: how to protect European urban areas and their cultural heritage (debate)
Speaker: Niklas NIENASS (Germany, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance / Bündnis 90/Die Grünen)
Date: 2019-11-26

  Niklas Nienaß (Verts/ALE).   – Madam President, Article 167 of the Treaty states ‘action by the Union shall be aimed at the conservation and safeguarding the cultural heritage of European significance’. How to fulfill this duty? Well the last weeks have proven that once again one of the solutions is tackling climate change.
What we do not need now is this religious-like belief that future technology will save us, is this bullshitting around of denying climate change or this useless discussion about what to do. We know what to do: stop coal until 2030; implement an ETS that covers all sectors with a limited amount of certificates; introduce additional carbon taxes on transport and travel; establish a border adjustment and use all the revenues for climate research adaptation and mitigation. But what we also need is more money to save our European culture. I call for a fund for the salvation of heritage sites with special significance for our common European history. We must protect our background, but also invest in a common cultural future or, as Robert Schuman put it in 1951, ‘much more than an economic alliance, Europe has to become a cultural union’.
Sustainable use of plant protection products (debate)
Speaker: Rosanna CONTE (Italy, Identity and Democracy Group / Lega)
Date: 2023-11-21

  Rosanna Conte (ID).   – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, ecco l'ideologia, ecco ciò che ha mosso la maggioranza di questo Parlamento quando ha approvato riduzioni drastiche sull'uso dei fitosanitari, che sono addirittura più restrittive di quelle proposte dalla Commissione. 
La relatrice ha esultato e chissà se farà altrettanto quando comprenderà di aver messo a rischio l'intera filiera agricola: o forse era proprio questo l'obiettivo! Che lo dichiarasse chiaramente, perché queste norme così stringenti vanno nella sola direzione ambientale e non considerano le esigenze produttive, per non parlare dei seri rischi per la sicurezza alimentare a cui espongono tutta l'Europa. 
Siamo di fronte a norme fatte per distruggere l'agricoltura europea, perché, cari colleghi, i nostri agricoltori non hanno bisogno di consulenze gratuite sulle misure preventive ma hanno bisogno di poter usare gli strumenti necessari per lavorare, soprattutto in mancanza di alternative valide.
Packaging and packaging waste (debate)
Speaker: Rosanna CONTE (Italy, Identity and Democracy Group / Lega)
Date: 2023-11-21

  Rosanna Conte (ID).   – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, oltre 700 imprese a rischio, ripercussioni devastanti su migliaia di posti di lavoro e un impatto negativo su oltre il 30% del PIL italiano: ecco, sono solo alcuni degli effetti di questo assurdo regolamento per l'Italia che ha raggiunto un tasso di riciclo del 73,3%, ben nove anni prima dell'obiettivo definito dall'Unione europea. 
Eppure l'impegno profuso dalle aziende italiane non basterebbe per far fronte alle follie contenute in questa proposta che mira a sostituire il riciclo con il riuso. Il tutto senza considerare l'aumento dell'uso dell'acqua, dell'energia, dei prezzi per le aziende e i consumatori, oltre a possibili danni nel trasporto, nella conservazione e nella sicurezza di certi prodotti, soprattutto alimentari. 
Niente più vaschette per frutti rossi, buste di insalata, pellicole protettive, vasi di fiori, set di cortesia negli hotel, imballaggi per l'asporto. Per non parlare dell'impatto su vini e bevande. Il beneficio sarà davvero proporzionato all'impegno? 
No, questa è la via sbagliata e con il voto di domani abbiamo il dovere di stabilire un equilibrio tra la necessità di ridurre gli imballaggi e gli annessi rifiuti e le esigenze dei produttori.