unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Chinese police activity in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Margaritis Schinas
Language: EN

This bilateral relationship, of major importance in the current economic and geopolitical context, requires open and frank exchanges, including on a growing number of irritants that, as partners, we need to address – on human rights violations, trade imbalance, foreign interference.  On the latter, the Commission has repeatedly condemned any form of foreign interference on the sovereign territory of our Member States. This is why the EU has been following with concern reports about Chinese overseas police stations in a number of Member States, which allegedly carry out tasks involving extraterritorial action by branches of the Chinese state in the territory of our Member States.  The Commission had already expressed our strong concerns regarding such alleged practices in the fifth progress report on the implementation of the security union strategy back in December 2022. As the Vice-President in charge of our security union, I find these practices simply unacceptable. If true, such unlawful actions would constitute serious violations of human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law, on which our Union is founded.  EU Member States are the ones who are responsible for maintaining the law and order, and safeguarding internal security on their own soil. They are also responsible for investigating any alleged violation of the laws or transgression of their competences in internal security, whenever these occur on their territory. And they should do so with determination and commitment. Our EU agencies, law enforcement agencies such as Europol and Eurojust, stand ready to support our Member States in their investigations.  Beyond this, the EU must continue to step up our efforts against foreign interference. You just had a debate with my colleague, Věra Jourová, before this one. The EU has repeatedly made the case for the need to address information manipulation campaigns, including disinformation and foreign interference from a range of actors, including from China and other emerging actors, in a more systematic way. Work is ongoing to step up the work in this area, such as through the foreign information manipulation and interference toolbox.  Honourable Members, defending our societies against these threats means safeguarding the common public space in which ideas can be freely debated, formed, exchanged. This battle is a battle and a matter of European security, but it is also a battle about our democracy, about our model of society, our European way of life. And with the tools we are developing, and together with our Member States, we think that this is a battle that can be won.
Debate: Chinese police activity in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Tonino Picula
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

These precincts were allegedly established to help Chinese citizens with administrative procedures, such as renewing their passports or driver’s license. However, these unofficial police stations are used to hunt down not only Chinese criminal suspects but dissidents abroad. Human rights activists report a lot about this malign practice. The question is whether, when signing the agreement, EU Member States were aware of the fact that China would act like this on their territory. This is why we have to step up our work to tackle foreign interference. We must better prioritise our resilience with the new Parliament and Commission after the election too. While trading with China, we must not trade with our core values.
Debate: Chinese police activity in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Katalin Cseh
Political group: Renew
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

As a result of agreement on public security, Chinese police officers will soon begin patrolling in tourist locations in Hungary, just like they have done in Serbia. So if it isn't foreign meddling in EU affairs, then I really don't know what is. And this was willingly invited by the Orbán Government.  I have to add that it is quite ironic that the government that is constantly rambling about sovereignty, pledging to protect it from Brussels, then invites foreign police forces from a totalitarian dictatorship into its territory.  This problem reaches far beyond Hungary. It has serious implications on EU law enforcement and security collaboration, and also no Chinese dissident residing in the EU will ever feel safe again. Is this the Union we aspire to be? This cannot go unaddressed, so we need the Commission to put forward an EU-level strategy to counter foreign meddling, also the type that is originating within Member States.
Debate: Chinese police activity in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Reinhard Bütikofer
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

This debate about Chinese police activity in Europe is characterised by elements that we have seen in so many of our China-related debates over the last years. China is evermore more audacious and aggressive in pushing its totalitarian policies not only internally but also across their borders. Member States are not always united enough to answer to that with a single voice and to then walk the talk. This Parliament proudly – I think we can say this – has been at the forefront of pushing back against such Chinese practices. This Parliament has been a centre in the European fight for rule of law, human rights, freedom and democracy. And I hope that our successors in the next Parliament will follow the same trajectory. Let’s be practical. Let’s make sure that we will stop all the bilateral extradition agreements that still exist in 12 Member States. That we will create dedicated hotlines for the victims of Chinese policies, and that we will unwind the police cooperation that still exists in Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Switzerland.
Debate: Chinese police activity in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Anna Bonfrisco
Political group: ID
Country: Belgium
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, cari rappresentanti del Consiglio e della Commissione, la vastità della rete di stazioni di polizia cinese in Europa è segnalata da questo Parlamento almeno dal 2022. Risulta pertanto allarmante che solo adesso veniate a riferire su una minaccia che rappresenta una seria preoccupazione per i cittadini europei. L'Italia ha fatto la sua parte per smantellare gli accordi della sinistra e ancora lotta per combattere le conseguenze dannose di quegli accordi, ad esempio le connessioni tra associazioni cinesi, criminalità organizzata e i funzionari pubblici del Partito comunista. Infatti, è il Partito comunista cinese che usa l'Europa come terreno per lo spionaggio, le interferenze e la violazione dei diritti umani, perché per sua natura intende disporre di ogni aspetto della vita degli individui e della libertà di pensare, della libertà di agire e di decidere, che la Cina prova a eliminare. Agite subito, quindi, e sanzionate i funzionari cinesi che hanno un legame con le stazioni di polizia. Sospendete qualsiasi trattato di estradizione con Hong Kong e con la Cina. Mettete gli Stati europei in condizioni di difendersi. Opponete i valori liberali e la libertà all'ingerenza corruttrice cinese.
Debate: Chinese police activity in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Margaritis Schinas
Language: EN

China’s hybrid threats, including information manipulation, are a challenge to our security and we need to address them. The EU-China strategic outlook from March 2019 already reflected this, and we have raised this issues with China in bilateral meetings. We are, of course, following very closely the reports on China’s Public Security Bureau/overseas police stations allegedly established in several EU Member States. And we will continue to support these Member States to maintain law and order and safeguard internal security on their own soil.  We must never, ever let any third countries threats or intimidation go without a response. Especially now, two months ahead of the European elections, I would like to take this debate as an opportunity to condemn, in the strongest terms, any attempt of any third party, state or non-state, to infect our democracies with hate and disinformation. If we want to defend our democracy and our way of life, we have to defend it ourselves. We do not need to rely on shields or umbrellas held by others. This is for us to do and for us only, and we will do it.
Debate: Chinese police activity in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Mathieu Michel
Language: FR

Notre environnement stratégique est devenu de plus en plus menaçant. Nous devons gagner en efficacité afin de renforcer notre résilience face aux ingérences étrangères et lutter contre les menaces hybrides. Nous restons ouverts au dialogue, mais condamnons fermement toute forme d’ingérence dans l’Union et dans ses États membres. Nous n’avons pas la main qui tremble au moment d’utiliser les instruments que nous avons à notre disposition. La présidence continuera de faire tout son possible pour renforcer notre prise de conscience et notre préparation face aux différentes formes d’ingérence étrangère.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Erklärungen des Rates und der Kommission zu den laufenden Anhörungen gemäß Artikel 7 Absatz 1 EUV zu Ungarn zur Stärkung der Rechtsstaatlichkeit und ihren Auswirkungen auf den Haushalt
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Isabel Wiseler-Lima
Political group: PPE
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

Les mesures prises le sont manifestement simplement pour jeter de la poudre aux yeux, elles ne sont donc pas efficaces et ne produisent pas les effets attendus. Il en est ainsi pour l’Autorité d’intégrité mise en place par le gouvernement hongrois pour satisfaire les demandes de la Commission. Cette autorité n’a pas les pouvoirs de mener à bien ses missions anticorruption. La Commission doit donc faire très attention aux charges qu’elle impose à la Hongrie dans le domaine de l’état de droit. Il ne suffit absolument pas d’exiger que des moyens soient mis en place. Il ne suffit pas d’exiger des mesures, il faut exiger des résultats. Et c’est aux résultats que la Hongrie doit être mesurée, aussi dans le cas de l’Autorité d’intégrité. Aussi, mis à part tous les problèmes d’état de droit déjà existants, entre autres de corruption et d’indépendance de la justice, vient s’ajouter aujourd’hui la création d’une Autorité de défense de la souveraineté, qui permet à l’État hongrois d’utiliser une loi dite «anti-influence étrangère» pour bâillonner en fait toute opposition au gouvernement. C’est le cas typique de détournement d’une loi au départ d’inspiration européenne, mais utilisée à la mode «russe» qui, au lieu de protéger les citoyens et la démocratie, est transformée en une loi d’intimidation pour empêcher la société civile, les journalistes et les politiciens d’exprimer leur opposition au pouvoir. La Commission a d’ailleurs très justement lancé une procédure contre la Hongrie suite à la mise en place de cette loi. Enfin, je voudrais relever que le Conseil n’a pas joué son rôle dans ce qui regarde l’article sept et aussi soulever une nouvelle fois la situation difficile dans laquelle l’Union européenne sera au moment où la Hongrie assumera la présidence de l’Union le 1ᵉʳ juillet, à un moment crucial pour l’Union européenne, au lendemain des élections et au moment de la constitution d’une nouvelle Commission. Nous avions, dans ce Parlement, demandé au Conseil de prendre ses responsabilités et d’envisager de reporter cette présidence hongroise à un moment ultérieur. Cela n’a pas été fait. Il faut maintenant que les 26 soient particulièrement vigilants.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Thijs Reuten
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: NL

De lidstaten hadden één taak, die zij verzuimden: echt werk maken van de artikel 7—procedure die de democratie in Hongarije beschermt. Dat Viktor Orbán nog steeds stemt in de Europese Raad, is eigenlijk een schande, gelet op de democratische afbraak. Net als het feit dat de Europese Commissie besloot miljarden vrij te geven aan Boedapest zonder dat daar aanleiding toe was. Een fout waarvoor wij de Commissie voor de rechter slepen. Tegen alle Hongaren zeg ik: wij staan naast jullie en dat zullen we blijven doen.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Once again, civil society activists, journalists and political opponents are under threat and the president of the so-called Sovereignty Protection Office has already officially spoken of broadening the scope of this law, as well as the targets. What is the real state of democracy in Hungary? How can the next European, national and local elections be held safely in Hungary under these conditions?
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Harald Vilimsky
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Ja, er macht nicht mit bei dem linken Migrationswahnsinn. Ja, er ist auch einer, der sich für Frieden ausspricht wie der Papst, und kein Kriegstreiber wie eine Mehrheit hier im Haus. Das sind die Vergehen, sonst nichts. Man kann sich bei den Ungarn nur entschuldigen dafür, was eine Mehrheit dieses Hauses hier dem Volk der Ungarn antut, mit einer Art und Weise hier zu argumentieren, die nicht akzeptabel ist. Sie haben beispielsweise gegen Ungarn die Attacke geritten, dass hier Korruption herrscht – in derselben Atemsekunde, wie gegen die Kommissionspräsidentin hier wegen 35 Milliarden Euro die Europäische Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt. Wie absurd kann man sein, wie scheinheilig kann man sein? Ich kann nur an Sie appellieren, hier den Ungarn mit Respekt zu begegnen, und wenn die kommende Wahl ist, dass auch hier die Ungarn wieder mehr Freunde offiziell haben, als es der Fall ist.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Tamás Deutsch
Political group: NI
Country: Hungary
Language: HU

Tisztelt Elnök úr! Ez a mai ciklusvégi baloldali politikai autodafé lehetőséget teremt, hogy egyszer és mindenkorra bizonyos dolgokat tisztázzunk Önökkel. Mi, magyarok büszkék vagyunk a hazánkra, szeretjük Magyarországot. És ha Önök a fejük tetejére állnak, akkor sem fogunk engedni a politikai zsarolásaiknak. Bármennyire is csípi a brüsszeli bürokraták szemét, mi változatlanul békepárti álláspontot képviselünk. Azonnali fegyverszünetre és béketárgyalásokra van szükség, nem pedig az ukrajnai háború eszement finanszírozására. Bárhogyan is mesterkedjenek, kizárólag mi, magyarok döntünk arról, hogy kikkel akarunk együtt élni a saját hazánkban. Elutasítjuk az illegális migrációt, és meg fogjuk védeni a határainkat. Ha minden héten magyar vitát tartanak Brüsszelben, ha minden hónapban Magyarországot bántalmazó európai parlamenti határozatokat fogadnak is el, mi akkor is megvédjük a szabadságunkat, a nemzeti szuverenitásunkat. Remélem, világosan beszéltem.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Monika Hohlmeier
Political group: PPE
Country: Poland
Language: DE

Herr Präsident! Erneut haben wir hier eine Debatte über Ungarn und über die Frage der Rechtsstaatlichkeit. Ich habe mittlerweile viele Debatten nah verfolgt; was mich ein Stück weit erstaunt, liebe ungarische Kolleginnen und Kollegen – und es wird, glaube ich, Herrn Kommissar Reynders genauso erstaunen –, ist die Hartnäckigkeit, mit der man auf der einen Seite möglichst viel Geld von dieser Europäischen Union haben will und gleichzeitig fast autokratische und oligarchische Strukturen einführen möchte. Und ich muss ganz deutlich sagen, dass ich die Kommission dringlichst dabei unterstütze, dass sie die Defizite, die da sind, tatsächlich nachverfolgt. Ich habe erhebliche Bedenken, dass wir auf der einen Seite in der Kohäsion 11 Milliarden – oder 10 Komma noch was – freigeben und gleichzeitig feststellen müssen, dass die Probleme in der Justiz eigentlich fortbestehen; dass die Integritätsbehörde nach wie vor nicht die Informationen erhält, die sie eigentlich erhalten müsste. Und was mir ein großes Anliegen ist: Nachdem die oligarchischen Strukturen in Ungarn sich eine Branche nach der anderen vornehmen – und das mit ziemlich krassen und groben Methoden gegenüber den betroffenen Unternehmen, bei denen de facto enteignungsgleiche Vorgänge stattfinden –, wäre es mir ein großes Anliegen, Herr Kommissar, wenn in den Konditionalitätsmechanismus für die Rechtstaatlichkeit und in den Rechtsstaatlichkeitsmechanismus die Einhaltung der Binnenmarktregeln aufgenommen würde, denn das dürfte auch eine wesentliche Aufgabe sein, um die Europäische Union zu schützen.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Eider Gardiazabal Rubial
Political group: S-D
Country: Romania
Language: ES

Señor presidente, este es el enésimo debate de esta legislatura sobre la vulneración del Estado de Derecho en Hungría, un tema que ha estado en primera línea de nuestra lista de preocupaciones y también en primera línea de nuestras actuaciones durante estos cinco años, porque esta ha sido la legislatura en la que hemos aprobado el mecanismo de condicionalidad de los fondos al respeto al Estado de Derecho, sin duda, un instrumento clave en esta lucha. Esta también ha sido la legislatura en la que hemos visto cómo esa vulneración de derechos tiene consecuencias financieras graves para el Gobierno que la perpetra. El Gobierno húngaro, con sus actuaciones, ha impedido que el plan de recuperación y parte del presupuesto europeo haya podido invertirse en su país. La Comisión debe analizar con rigor y exigencia máxima la situación en Hungría y no descongelar fondos hasta que todas y cada una de las condiciones se hayan cumplido de manera efectiva y real. Y el Consejo tiene que avanzar en el artículo 7. Debemos utilizar todas las herramientas que tenemos a nuestra disposición, porque no podemos y no debemos flaquear en la defensa de nuestros valores.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Malin Björk
Political group: The Left
Country: Czechia
Language: EN

Mr President, I find it completely mad and even auto-destructive, the Council accepting the Fidesz government to hold the EU presidency. A country that has dismantled democracy since 2010, attacking media freedom, the independence of the judiciary, targeting NGOs, targeting academic freedoms. A government that has systematically attacked migrant rights, women’s rights, LGBTI rights. A country that is under Article 7 procedure for breaches of rule of law. However, to let them hold the presidency is also a sign. It is a sign giving in to the nationalist right. It is to give them legitimacy in their project – in their anti-democratic and very dangerous project. But I must also say it is never too late. Commission, don’t ever give more disbursement to an autocratic regime as Hungary – don’t do that. And the Council, you still have time to stop the presidency of Viktor Orbán. Why are you not acting? We still have a few months to go. It is never too late for democracy and fundamental rights.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: ES

Señor presidente, efectivamente enésimo debate —un clásico lamentablemente de cada Pleno del Parlamento Europeo— sobre el síndrome de Hungría, que es un síndrome general de incumplimiento y, aún más, de desprecio del Derecho europeo. Basta escuchar a quienes defienden a Viktor Orbán y su Gobierno. No lo hacen porque haya una discrepancia de interpretación respecto de lo que es cumplir el Derecho europeo, sino porque sencillamente reivindican que Hungría está exenta de cumplir el Derecho europeo, que Hungría desprecia el Derecho europeo.  Por tanto, invito a la Comisión a mantener muy alta la guardia y en acción todos los instrumentos disponibles. Por supuesto el mecanismo de condicionalidad del Estado de Derecho y su cumplimiento para el acceso a los fondos europeos y al Fondo de Cohesión. Porque suman la represión a los medios de comunicación, la represión a la libre formación de la opinión pública, la represión al pluralismo informativo, la persecución individualizada de periodistas independientes y de oponentes políticos: todo el acervo de incumplimientos masivos del Derecho europeo que ha caracterizado la actuación de Víctor Orbán. Por lo tanto, adelante, Comisión.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Hungary to strengthen Rule of Law and its budgetary implications
Date: WEDNESDAY, 10 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Mathieu Michel
Language: FR

Comme je l’ai indiqué, le respect de droit est non seulement vital pour le fonctionnement de notre Union, mais constitue également une condition préalable essentielle à l’exécution du budget de l’Union européenne et au respect du principe de bonne gestion financière. L’état de droit ayant toujours été une priorité pour nous, la présidence belge du Conseil est très consciente du cadre juridique des actions du Conseil et du Conseil européen prévu à l’article sept du traité sur l’Union européenne. En tant que Conseil, nous avons joué notre rôle dans le cadre de la procédure article sept. Je peux vous assurer que notre présidence poursuivra les discussions au sein du Conseil tout en maintenant un dialogue ouvert et constructif avec la Hongrie. Comme annoncé dans mon introduction, nous prévoyons une nouvelle audition de la Hongrie au conseil Affaires générales du 25 juin. Dans le contexte géopolitique actuel, la défense de nos valeurs communes et de l’état de droit va de pair avec la bonne gestion des fonds européens. Ceci est, et restera, primordial pour le Conseil, aujourd’hui et à l’avenir.