misclassified/meps_speeches_with_translation.csv huggingface dataset:
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2023-04-17
Debate: Order of business

  Manfred Weber,  im Namen der PPE-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Die Migrationszahlen in Italien sind im Vergleich zum letzten Jahr um 300 Prozent gestiegen. Das zeigt, wir haben eine Sondersituation. Italien hat einen Notstand ausgerufen, und das gibt keinen guten Ausblick auf das, was uns dieses Jahr im Sommer erwarten wird. Deswegen glauben wir, dass es jetzt wichtig ist, über die Situation dort zu diskutieren. Andere Länder der Europäischen Union haben angeboten, Italien zu helfen und zu unterstützen.
Bisher ist das aber nicht materialisiert worden, es ist nicht konkret geworden. Bisher liegen keine konkreten Vorschläge vor. Dieser Mangel an Solidarität, den wollen wir als EVP-Fraktion im Parlament diskutieren. Italien hilft – ich möchte ausdrücklich Danke sagen an die Menschen in Italien, dass sie helfen, dass es keine Blockade von Häfen gibt –, die Italiener wollen unterstützen, und deshalb ist Solidarität jetzt notwendig. Eine Debatte ist überfällig.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2023-04-17
Debate: Order of business

  Manfred Weber,  im Namen der PPE-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin! Ich möchte nur zu Protokoll geben, dass wir die Diskussionen zur Legislativgestaltung voll unterstützen. Wir freuen uns, dass es freigegeben worden ist – Stéphane, da haben wir überhaupt keinen Dissens. Aber wir haben jetzt eine Dringlichkeit. Wir haben jetzt eine Notsituation in Italien, und Frankreich hilft nicht, Deutschland hilft nicht, Österreich, andere, viele Staaten helfen derzeit Italien nicht. Deswegen haben wir eine Notsituation. Wir haben jetzt aktuell eine Notsituation. Die kann die Renew-Fraktion nicht wegdiskutieren, sondern sie ist da. Deswegen brauchen wir diese Woche eine Diskussion, und ich würde deswegen auf unserem Dringlichkeitsantrag beharren.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2023-03-29
Debate: Order of business

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, dear colleagues, I think the last half an hour gave us a clear idea and a proof that obviously the European Parliament, in these kind of agenda debates, is becoming more and more a platform for national debates. I think that’s obvious. We feel it all in this room and I want to wish all the best to all contributors to the debate for good headlines for tomorrow in Spain, in France, wherever you want to see these debates.
I think, as the European Parliament, we cannot continue like this. That is my feeling. We have to focus on European issues. And I want to underline, like Jeroen already did and last time Iratxe, who is today not with us, did the same, saying we have to focus on European issues when we spoke about Spain.
I quote now Stéphane, when he was last time saying on behalf of Renew, ‘But, dear colleagues, in view of the challenges facing in the coming months in front of us, let’s avoid these changes to the agenda. My group will systematically vote against requests to modify the agenda on purely national issues.’ That’s what Stéphane said last time.
I really ask us all now, having in mind that we only have one request for rule of law, and that is about Greece, and having in mind that in six weeks in Greece there will be elections, if it’s even worth only having a national debate about this and in having in April a resolution. Dear friends, it’s purely driven by national interests to have a campaign here. That’s why, let’s refuse and let’s vote against.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2023-03-15
Debate: European Semester for economic policy coordination: Employment and social priorities for 2023 (A9-0051/2023 - Estrella Durá Ferrandis)  (vote)

  Manfred Weber (PPE).   – Herr Präsident! Ich wollte, lieber Stéphane, die Abstimmung, die wir jetzt haben, nicht politisieren. Ich möchte nur klarstellen: Die EVP wird jedes Ergebnis hier in diesem Raum akzeptieren. Das Problem ist aber, dass Deine Fraktion offensichtlich keine gemeinsame Position vertritt. Das ist das Problem.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-12-13
Debate: The recent JHA Council decision on Schengen accession (debate)

  Manfred Weber,  im Namen der PPE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, Herr Ratsvertreter, sehr geehrte Frau Kommissarin! Das Veto von letzter Woche war ein Fehler. Und wir alle spüren die Frustration, wenn wir diesen Fehler heute in der Diskussion analysieren. Ich möchte mich ausdrücklich für die starken Worte unserer Kommissarin bedanken, die die Richtung der Diskussion heute vorgegeben hat.
Der erste Punkt, den ich ausdrücken möchte, ist Respekt. Respekt gegenüber den drei Staaten, dass sie viel erreicht haben. Gerade Rumänien und Bulgarien haben in den letzten Jahren gezeigt, was richtige Grenzkontrolle ausmacht, was Umsetzung von Schengen-Recht bedeutet. Die Rumänen beispielsweise haben gegenüber den ukrainischen Flüchtlingen Enormes geleistet, und das gilt es anzuerkennen.
Das Zweite, was zu sagen ist: Schengen ist Teil der Identität Europas. Gerade in Kriegszeiten müssen wir Einheit zeigen, müssen wir Gemeinsamkeit zeigen. Die Schengen-Erweiterung hätte bedeutet: Wir glauben an uns, wir glauben an das, wovon wir als Europäer gemeinsam profitieren.
Das Dritte: Ja, es gibt ein Problem mit illegaler Migration. Ja, die Aufnahmezentren in Österreich, in Deutschland, in Belgien, in den Niederlanden sind voll. Wir müssen illegale Migration bekämpfen, keine Frage. Aber wir werden es besser machen, wenn wir es miteinander machen, wenn wir Grenzen schützen, die Rückführung verbessern und Schlepperbanden besiegen. Ich möchte ausdrücklich sagen, dass Bulgarien und Rumänien an diesen hohen illegalen Migrationszahlen nicht schuld sind. Es sind die Frontex-Zahlen, die belegen, dass die beiden Staaten nicht die Westbalkanroute darstellen. Es ist vielmehr Ungarn, über das wir reden sollten. Weil Viktor Orbán leider Gottes seine Grenzen mittlerweile geöffnet hat. Dort liegen die eigentlichen Probleme, wenn es um illegale Migration geht.
Das Vierte, was ich ausdrücken möchte, ist: Die Entscheidungen der Niederlande und Österreichs waren ein Fehler. Bulgarien und Rumänien haben das gleiche Recht, in einem geeinten Europa so zu leben, wie wir leben dürfen. Jetzt geht es darum, nach dieser Enttäuschung von letzter Woche den nächsten konkreten Schritt zu gehen: dass wir mit Österreich, mit den Niederlanden daran arbeiten: Bitte, sagt uns konkret, was besser gemacht werden soll. Nur dann können die Punkte umgesetzt werden. Die Europäische Volkspartei als größte Fraktion und größte Partei Europas unterstützt Bulgarien und Rumänien auf den Weg in die europäische Schengen-Zone. Das Veto war falsch, und die rumänischen Bürgerinnen und Bürger können sich auf unsere Unterstützung verlassen.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-12-12
Debate: Statement by the President

  Manfred Weber,  Chair of the PPE Group. – Madam President, dear colleagues, we as the EPP Group are shocked. The corruption charges against one of our highest representatives of this European Parliament has significantly damaged our institution and affected the trust of people in the European Union as a whole. The damage to European democracy is too big to be now used for party political battles. Let us be clear about this.
We are, as the EPP Group, extremely worried because we feel the credibility of the only directly elected institution in Europe is put in danger by the actions of the people concerned. It will take more than this debate to restore some of the trust that has been lost. As they say, trust comes on foot but leaves on a horse. On the one side, no rule can stop criminals, but on the other side, we as the EPP Group are ready to improve our rules to make them better for the future.
Every one of us is sitting here with the feeling of responsibility. And to fight corruption is one of it. Corruption is the biggest enemy of democracy. It undermines the freedom of speech. It breaks the trust people have in their institutions of state. To be crystal clear: there is not any room for corruption in the Parliament or in other institutions of the European Union. The laws must be applied strictly and the prosecution has to be followed consequently.
And we express as EPP our gratitude to the Belgian police and the public prosecutor for their investigation and their actions. There is not any question that this House will cooperate fully with the rest of these investigations. I want to thank you, Madam President, Roberta Metsola, for your clear and important cooperation at the beginning of this difficult development. Fight against corruption is key. That is the only way to regain the trust of the European people in the institution, in the European Parliament, in the heart of democracy in Europe.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-12-12
Debate: Order of business

  Manfred Weber (PPE).   – Frau Präsidentin! Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die Präsidentin hat uns eingeladen, morgen in die Konferenz der Präsidenten zu kommen, um bereits erste Maßnahmen zu ergreifen und darauf zu reagieren.
Ich glaube, was jetzt wichtig ist, sind schnelle, klare Entscheidungen, Reaktionen des Parlaments. Und da wollen wir versuchen, bei dieser Vorgehensweise einen breiten proeuropäischen, demokratischen Konsens zu erzielen. Das heißt, morgen wird die Konferenz der Präsidenten bereits klare Entscheidungen fällen. Wir werden Diskussionen haben auf Vorschlag der Fraktion The Left, dass wir diese Woche genug Möglichkeit zur Aussprache haben. Deshalb möchte ich, wenn man die zwei Sachen im Hinterkopf behält, den Vorschlag von Stephane Séjourné unterstreichen und unterstützen, dass wir die Entschließung dann eben in Ruhe, wenn wir die Fakten der Ermittlungsbehörden vorliegen haben, im Januar durchführen. Diese Woche muss schnell entschieden werden, und das sollte die Konferenz der Präsidenten machen.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-10-17
Debate: The Rule of Law in Malta, five years after the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia (debate)

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, the brutal assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta five years ago yesterday took away the life of a brave woman and mother. But at the same time, it was also a massive attack against freedom of media and against democracy in Malta. It shocked Europe and the world to the core.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat promised to leave no stone unturned to get to the truth. But his words were empty, and his government obstructed justice and showed a shameful contempt for Daphne. A public inquiry was only established after Muscat was pushed from the Council of Europe. And the result? They found, and I quote: ‘The State of Malta should bear responsibility for the assassination by creating a climate of impunity generated from the highest level, which led to the collapse of rule of law.’ Quote end.
It is totally unacceptable that a government of an EU Member State is partly responsible for the assassination of a journalist. If this is not a serious breach of rule of law, then what is ? The European Commission has to step up its efforts to ensure that the rule of law in Malta is fully restored, and I thank the Commissioner for his statement today. I turn also to our S&D Members in this House. Please stop turning a blind eye to the shameful behaviour of party members in Malta.
Last Friday, the court in Malta convicted two men to 40 years’ imprisonment for Daphne’s murder. But for us, this is only the first step towards justice. We also want justice to be served against the big fish who ordered the killing and not just who for those who carried it out. We want justice served against those involved in the corruption scandals exposed by Daphne, for which she was killed, starting with Muscat and his friends.
The European Commission has to be very clear. The Government of Malta has to fully implement the public inquiry recommendations. And finally, we want the Government of Malta to shoulder its responsibility for the assassination and stop impunity once and for all by letting the institutions work freely to deliver justice. We stand to the people of Malta. We stand for rule of law.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-10-05
Debate: The accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen area (debate)

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, Schengen is a great success story for Europe. It has broken down barriers, brought European citizens closer together and strengthened our European economy.
With Bulgaria and Romania, we have two EU Member States who fulfil all conditions to join this area. They are ready for Schengen, but they are still waiting for the Council’s green light. Since 2011 – 11 years – there has been no progress. This is simply unacceptable.
We in the EPP, like all parties in this House, strongly support Romania and Bulgaria becoming members of the Schengen area, and we have always fought as the EPP for this endeavour. Romania and Bulgaria’s place is within Schengen, especially now when we face many humanitarian and security challenges at the EU borders. For us, there is no first and second-class European; there are no objective reasons to deny Bulgaria and Romania this success. They have made all the necessary steps. Let me assure our friends in Sofia and Bucharest that you have the full support of us in the EPP. Your place is within Schengen.
We call now on the Council to finally grant Bulgaria and Romania the access they deserve. The war, in particular, is again a test for us on whether we can reinforce the unity. This Schengen enlargement is a test case for this. The years of waiting must come to an end. We need no more excuses, but actions. With these two countries joining Schengen, we can better protect our external borders and strengthen the whole Schengen area. Let us continue the Schengen success story with Bulgaria and Romania on board, and let’s do it now.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-09-14
Debate: State of the Union (debate)

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, I also want to thank Ursula von der Leyen for the contribution, for the great speech and a great discussion today. There is a broad consensus about now activating going further social means, also creating jobs, that’s why I think we have a lot in common that we want to work on. 
But I want especially to thank Ska Keller because she was presenting to the EPP the flowers that we are the founding fathers of today’s European Union – you said it – with Adenauer, with De Gasperi, with Schuman; Christian Democrats together with Socialists, together with Liberals and then finally also Greens, when you grew up as a party, contributed to this. 
But I want to say one thing: when we speak about pro-Europeans and not pro-Europeans, we should not politicise this thing.
(Laughter)
Because, I tell you – please listen – in the Spanish Government, there is Podemos. Three Spanish Podemos ministers voted against NATO membership for Finland and Sweden – three of them in a government with Socialists.
We have the Five Star Movement in government with Lega in Italy. Nobody did a debate here. Nobody asked for a debate here. And this was taking place in Italy. I give you another argument: dear Ska, you had a coalition in France to do campaigning together with Mélenchon. Mélenchon publicly said that we do not respect European law any more if we come in office. That was the position of Mélenchon. And I give you another point: in the last COP, we had a debate about Bulgaria. We will have a debate on Bulgaria. 
(Heckling)
No, it’s really serious. Two independent judges in Bulgaria said over the summertime that detaining the opposition leader in Bulgaria was unlawful. And I was simply asking for a debate about the Bulgarian rule of law situation, but that was refused by the Greens. 
So don’t politicise things. When we talk about the rule of law, it is independent. It’s about being based on facts and not about party-political orientation.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-06-22
Debate: Voting time

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, dear colleagues, the substance of today’s vote – I think you all are aware – is to try to give an answer to the biggest challenge of our generation and not allow ourselves to play one crisis against the other, with the war, as the climate thing cannot wait. 
I thank everyone for their readiness for the compromise today, even if we had to tell Frans Timmermans that we changed a lot in his proposal to improve it. Now, I think it’s a good compromise and we all understood how difficult it is to bring interests together. On the one hand, Fridays for Future, on the other hand, the ‘Yellow Vest’ movement – the social dimension – and the fear of a lot of young people in Europe to be another lost generation in terms of jobs and competitiveness. So I think we achieved a lot, and that’s why the EPP Group will vote in favour. 
I want to use the opportunity, Madam President, to make a more general remark, because Philippe Lamberts, last time, when we had the vote and the defeat for the outcome, spoke about the pro—European majority. I thought a lot about this, also because of Assita, as she was also asking me about what I said, and I want to reflect a little bit also for our culture in the House, that, for example, the Czech colleagues from the ECR Group, having now the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic in their ranks, together with the Pirates from the Greens, are they allowed to vote? Are their rights populistic? For example, is our Belgian colleague, Mr Van Overtveldt, the Chair of the Committee on Budgets, a very respected colleague from the ECR family, allowed to vote? I would say ‘yes’. 
Is it for the colleagues, for example, even for Marco Zanni, governing in Italy with Mario Draghi currently in office as prime minister, is he allowed to vote? I would even ask the question, Philippe, is it for the French Greens to be allowed now and in the future to vote because they work together with the Left Populist, Mélenchon – a person who was really asking for a breach of EU law. 
So that’s why I am really ... 
(Boos and whistles from the floor)
(The President asked Members to respect the speaker and be quiet) 
I really take it seriously. But Philippe, you have to answer the question as to who decides finally about who has the right to vote and be part of a compromise with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’? That’s why my only appeal – and that’s why I am using this opportunity – is don’t continue this talk about who is allowed to vote and who not. We are all elected and we all have the same right to decide about the future of Europe.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-06-08
Debate: Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (A9-0162/2022 - Peter Liese)  (vote)

  Manfred Weber,  on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, Philippe, I really respect you very much, you know this. I respect everyone. But sorry, ‘pro—European majorities in this Chamber’ does not automatically mean the Green and Socialist majority in this Chamber. Let me be clear on this.
(Loud applause)
That’s why we voted today on content and there was a majority in this Chamber, clearly expressed by the Chamber. I tell you that at the end of the vote, when we had the chance to give the green light to the start of the trilogue, it is a reality in this House that the Socialists, Greens and Left voted together with the far right against the proposal of the majority of this Parliament. That’s a reality. Don’t change the history, that’s not fair.
(Loud applause)
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-04-04
Debate: Statements by the President

  Manfred Weber (PPE).   – Madam President, please allow me to speak on behalf of my Group, but I hope also on behalf of all the colleagues here, in this House, to express that we are very thankful for your trip to Ukraine, to Kyiv.
It was a big message of solidarity to the Ukrainian friends. It was a big message of strengthening democracy, rule of law. And you did this as the first President of an European institution, so you made the European Parliament colleagues proud about this. Thank you so much for this courageous trip.
Speaker: Manfred WEBER (Germany — Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V.)
Political group: Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats)
Date: 2022-03-23
Debate: Order of business

  Manfred Weber (PPE).   – Frau Präsidentin! Es ist zunächst toll, ein volles Plenum zu sehen, wenn ich das zum Ausdruck bringen darf. Dass wir heute wieder starten mit normalen Betrieb, ist eine tolle, schöne Erfahrung. 
Dieses Haus, sehr geehrte Frau Präsidentin, war über die letzten Jahre geeint im Kampf für den Rechtsstaat in der Europäischen Union. Das ist etwas, was uns wichtig ist, was uns alle eint in diesem Hause, über die Parteigrenzen hinweg. 
Letzte Woche wurde in einem Mitgliedstaat der Europäischen Union der Oppositionsführer für 24 Stunden ins Gefängnis gesteckt, und es lag keine formale Anklage vor. Es lag auch kein Richterbeschluss vor. Kein Richter wurde beteiligt. Es war nur eine Anweisung des Innenministers, eines Politikers, der den Oppositionsführer in die Haft gesteckt hat. Heute hat ein Gericht in Sofia entschieden, dass das Vorgehen des Innenministers nicht rechtskonform war, nicht mit der Rechtslage in Sofia, in Bulgarien in Einklang zu bringen ist. Wir haben es dort mit einem Bruch des Rechtsstaatsmechanismus zu tun. 
Ich möchte es ansprechen, ich möchte die Kommission und auch unsere internen Dienste bitten, sich das genau anzuschauen. Wir wollen einen Kampf gegen Korruption – da stehen wir alle dahinter, aber dieser Kampf gegen Korruption muss auf Rechtsstaatsprinzipien basieren, und die wurden in Bulgarien gebrochen. Das muss geklärt werden.