unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Giorgos Georgiou
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EL

Κύριε Πρόεδρε, κύριοι, επικαλείστε τα πολιτικά αδιέξοδα της Ένωσης και τον φόβο της ακροδεξιάς για να αλλάξετε τις Συνθήκες και να καταργήσετε την ομοφωνία στη λήψη των αποφάσεων. Κάνετε ότι δεν βλέπετε τον ελέφαντα στο δωμάτιο. Είναι νεοφιλελεύθερος και τρέφεται με τις πολιτικές λιτότητας, τον αυταρχισμό στη λήψη των αποφάσεων, την κλιματική αλλαγή, τη φοροδιαφυγή, τις αυθαιρεσίες της λεγόμενης ελεύθερης αγοράς, την απάνθρωπη πολιτική της μετανάστευσης, τη βία κατά των γυναικών και τη μη υπεράσπιση της ειρήνης. Και διερωτώμαι αν τα βράδια μπορείτε και κοιμάστε. Ας είμαστε ειλικρινείς. Απλά, ο στόχος δεν είναι ούτε η αντιμετώπιση των πολιτικών αδιεξόδων της Ένωσης, ούτε της ακροδεξιάς. Την ακροδεξιά, εξάλλου, την χρειάζεστε κάποτε και την επικαλείστε και την εργαλειοποιείτε. Θέλετε απλά να σιγήσετε τη φωνή των μικρών κρατών, να δυναμώσετε πάρα πολύ τα ισχυρά κράτη. Έτσι, όμως, θα υποσκαφτεί πάρα πολύ η ίδια τούτη η δημοκρατία. Οι ωραίες διακηρύξεις σας δεν μας πείθουν. Αλλάξετε πολιτικές μαζί και τις Συνθήκες, αλλά προς την αντίθετη κατεύθυνση. Μάλλον, όμως, ούτε θέλετε ούτε και μπορείτε.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Ivan Vilibor Sinčić
Political group: NI
Country: Czechia
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, ovakvim izmjenama Ugovorâ pokušavate suptilno stvoriti od Europske unije supradržavu, neko birokratsko tijelo koje bi trebalo biti značajnije i moćnije od svake države članice. To vam neće proći.  Nikada vam manji narodi neće dozvoliti povratak u doba carstava, u srednji vijek ili doba Austro-Ugarske jer su krvavo platili svoju neovisnost koju im pokušavate podlim smicalicama i ovakvim podaništvom ukrasti. Da je velikim članicama poput Njemačke ili Francuske doista stalo do Hrvatske, onda bi se potrudili razvijati ekonomiju Hrvatske, a ne ju iskorištavati kao bazen besplatne školovane radne snage. Vi svjesno ekonomski i politički tlačite slabije od sebe, no niste svjesni da time i vi gubite.  Članice Europske unije su posljednjih desetljeća pod vašom čizmom i upravljanjem stagnirale. I ako usporedite Uniju s drugim svjetskim ekonomijama koje su nekad bile ispod, primijetit ćete da nas prestižu ili sustižu i brojem stanovnika, i dobrom strukturom stanovništva, i snagom ekonomije itd. Unija ima budućnost samo ako će se početi snažno razvijati ekonomski slabije države članice na periferiji i time ravnomjerno rasporediti svoje bogatstvo. U protivnom možete početi razvijati svoje izlazne strategije i plan demontiranja Unije.  Iako, smatram da se europski politički establišment odvojio od stvarnosti i ovaj paralelni svijet koji gledamo ovdje u Parlamentu me zapravo šokirao. Srećom, izbori stižu pa će se stvari redefinirati.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Francisco José Millán Mon
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: ES

Señor presidente, señora comisaria, presidente en ejercicio del Consejo, la reforma de los Tratados debe abordarse con prudencia y con el mayor consenso posible. En un mundo complejo, la Unión Europea tiene que ser un actor efectivo capaz de tomar decisiones. Pero debemos procurar que estas descansen sobre el consenso más amplio para contar así con mayor legitimidad y asegurarnos de su efectiva implementación.  Sé de las dificultades que puede plantear la unanimidad, pero creo que no debemos demonizarla en determinadas áreas de gran importancia y sensibilidad. Hasta ahora, ha permitido que la Unión siga funcionando y ha asegurado que las decisiones cuenten con el mayor respaldo sin crear divisiones. La regla de la unanimidad, por ejemplo, no ha impedido que se adopten ya once paquetes de sanciones contra Rusia en los últimos dieciocho meses.  Por otra parte, a mi juicio, los umbrales de la mayoría cualificada que se proponen en este informe que hoy debatimos son muy bajos en materia de población. Muchísimos ciudadanos podrán no estar representados en las decisiones, incluso para la mayoría cualificada reforzada de cuatro quintos de los Estados, solo se exige el 50 % de la población. Me parece un umbral muy insuficiente. El proceso de integración europeo está basado en una unión de ciudadanos y de Estados. Hay que asegurar una amplia representatividad de ambos.  En todo caso, celebro que haya este debate y que todos participemos desde distintos grupos y distintas nacionalidades, y podamos dar nuestra visión. Es decepcionante que recientemente se haya presentado en el Consejo un informe sobre la reforma de la Unión Europea elaborado solamente por expertos franceses y alemanes. No me parece razonable. Recuerdo el grupo de sabios presidido por Felipe González en 2009, con personalidades tan relevantes como Lech Wałęsa o Mario Monti, entre otros.  Yo defiendo un enfoque realista y gradual de la reforma, paso a paso. O, como decía Juncker en 2017, con paciencia, piso a piso. Debemos seguir añadiendo nuevos pisos a nuestra casa europea.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Cyrus Engerer
Political group: S-D
Country: Romania
Language: EN

Mr President, what is the current situation? A European Union that is paralysed. A Union that takes more than eight years to decide on simple migration policy, not to leave countries at the periphery alone and saving lives.  Let us look a bit at the current crisis. On the one hand, we have a Union that is absent on deciding and many times agrees only on the lowest common denominator, leaving a big vacuum. On the other hand, we have presidents of institutions acting sometimes unilaterally without having a mandate.  And let us be clear, tomorrow’s vote is not on a new treaty per se or with a vote on how it should be – different voting arrangements etc. – but tomorrow is a vote triggering the whole process. Do we agree that there needs to a treaty change? Should it at least be discussed? This is what we will be voting on tomorrow. And if there is the agreement that we should start discussing a change in the treaties, then yes, the whole process commences, we can discuss what we should change, what we want to see, what we would not want to see, and then allow the Member States, as well, by unanimity to decide on the treaty change.  But it is my belief as a socialist that the strength of any entity is the way it treats its smallest members. And in this regard, I believe that any future treaty change, for it to be successful, it should be measured also by the powers it safeguards to the smallest of its members.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Sophia in 't Veld
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Mr President, colleagues, parliamentary democracy is in steep decline. Checks and balances, accountability and the separation of powers have been all but eliminated, and nowhere more than at EU level. As the EU is growing more powerful, its democracy is limp. And it is not by accident.  The Lisbon Treaty ironically gave new powers to the Parliament, but it also made the European Union fundamentally more intergovernmental. The European Council is nothing less than a power grab in broad daylight. It has domesticated the European Commission and sidelined the European Parliament. Sadly, this House has meekly resigned to that.  We urgently need treaty change, but that alone will not fix democracy. This House has a duty to make full use of its current parliamentary powers and restore the power balance between the institutions. The  Finally, Mr President, to quote a famous Italian novel, ‘if we want everything to remain the same, everything will have to change.’
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Marcel Kolaja
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, we are standing at the doorstep of another historic landmark: the Union of more than 30 Member States. We want to welcome Ukraine, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro and other candidate countries soon. We want to welcome them to a strong, sovereign and a more democratic Union. To the Union that cannot be blackmailed by Viktor Orbán or some other Putin ally. To the Union where decisions are made by negotiating and finding compromises, not by blocking Europe’s activities and expecting bribes and gifts. It is absolutely clear that Europe is paralysed. For instance, in common security and foreign policies or tax policies. That is why we need to do reforms, to abandon unanimity voting in the Council in those areas where Europe is paralysed. Otherwise, Europe is not going to play a role in the world. It is rather going to be ridiculous. If you allow me a couple more seconds, I would like to answer Mr Madison’s question. We are elected representatives, elected to represent the European citizens. If you are unable to do this job properly, you should resign.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Robert Roos
Political group: ECR
Country: Spain
Language: NL

Voorzitter, Nederland is bezig met de Tweede Kamerverkiezingen, maar vandaag is de EU hier bezig de macht van die Tweede Kamer uit te hollen. Want de grote meerderheid in dit Parlement wil de Verdragen van de Europese Unie herzien. Op maar liefst 65 beleidsterreinen eist ze de afschaffing van het nationale vetorecht, niet alleen over buitenlands beleid, maar ook over belastingen en de EU-begrotingen. Funest voor Nederland: we zijn nu al de grootste nettobetaler per hoofd van de bevolking. Verder zou klimaatbeleid een exclusieve bevoegdheid van de Europese Unie worden. Nederland zou daar alle zeggenschap over verliezen. We raken verstrikt in een net van regels. We worden een provincie van een superstaat. Maar het is nog niet te laat. Nu hebben we nog ons vetorecht over belastingen, buitenlandbeleid en Verdragswijzigingen. Nu we dat veto nog hebben, moet het nieuwe kabinet er alles aan doen om een volgende brutale EU-machtsgreep te voorkomen. Stem dus op een partij die het Nederlandse veto verdedigt. Stem op een partij die zich tegen deze Verdragswijzigingen keert.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Jaak Madison
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, first of all, of course, I think you can propose any kind of resolution, whatever you want. But the good thing is that it does not matter we are going to vote tomorrow, it does not cost anything because it will change nothing. So it means that your job is useless and you are paid for useless work. Congratulations for your voters.  The second thing, the small, tiny thing that you are forgetting is the still 27 Member States with their national parliaments and constitutions.  Just to remind you, small, tiny facts, I do not know all the Member States, but at least I know very well my own country. Eleven years ago, in 2012, when we had a financial crisis and we proposed the financial stability mechanism, it was in the Supreme Court of Estonia, and the Supreme Court declared very clearly and strictly: if there will be one day the opening of the Treaties and a change of Treaties, the result will be more power to the European Union level. There is a new referendum needed because the mandate given by the people in 2003 is not sufficient, because the EU has changed in the last 20 years so much that the people have never, ever voted for this kind of EU what you would like to have because you are crazy federalists. You are living in a bubble here with a great money and salary, and you do not care about those 27 different Member States – the different climate situations that we have different migration problems, defence problems.  That is why you are absolutely crazy guys. And this paper tomorrow after voting, you can just go to the bathroom because it is useless. So congratulations – it does not matter how you are going to vote, we will never, ever change the Treaties because you do not fight. You do not want to fight with us on the referendum because this is the rule of law and democracy.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Jaak Madison
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: EN

So my work here is to block as much as possible, because the power has to stay in the national parliaments, because we know better than most of you here, because you have no clue how the world is turning around. So that was my promise, that is why I was voted here and that is why I will be re-elected with three times more votes – because I am just now leading in the polls in Estonia, so congratulations for me, not for you, unfortunately. But anyway, that is why I am here.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Sophia in 't Veld
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: EN

But you’ve just very eloquently explained that your presence here is absolutely useless, that your aim – your stated aim – is actually to be as useless as possible. And on top of that, you do not achieve anything. So do you not think you would serve your voters better by leaving?
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Jaak Madison
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: EN

I think we have a different understanding of ‘useless’. My work here is just – the main thing – to disturb you, because every day you will come here in this Parliament and you do not like me – and that is the greatest thing ever. Because you hate us. We will never, ever leave you here alone to occupy our Member States. And that is why I will stay here, not like you.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Die letzten drei Wortmeldungen, die ihren Ausgangspunkt in Ihrer Rede hatten, veranlassen mich, in diesem Hause einmal sehr klar dazu zu appellieren, mit mehr Respekt miteinander umzugehen. Und ich weise, auch vom Präsidium, Ihre Definition dieses Hauses und der Arbeit der Kolleginnen und Kollegen auf das Schärfste zurück. Wir sind die Repräsentanten der Bürgerinnen und Bürger, und ich mache keinen Unterschied zwischen irgendeiner Person. Wir nehmen unsere Verantwortung unterschiedlich wahr, und wir sind europäische Gesetzgeber, die die Bürgerinnen und Bürger vertreten. Diese Arbeit ist das Herzstück der europäischen Demokratie und sollte von niemandem unterbewertet und abfällig und missachtend bewertet werden.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Chris MacManus
Political group: The Left
Country: Austria
Language: EN

Mr President, and friends, this debate comes at a very crucial time. Therefore, it’s disappointing to me that the same old voices have decided to exploit it in order to advance their agenda of promoting qualified majority voting instead of unanimity in areas like taxation or foreign policy and defence. Make no mistake about it, we in Ireland are determined to keep our foreign and defence policy fully independent and neutral. President von der Leyen’s recent actions in offering full support for Israel launching an attack on the people of Gaza is a crucial reminder why unanimity must be retained on foreign, security, and defence policy. Friends, let us not use these debates and reports, such as the one before us, as power grabs in areas of national competence. Let us use them to bring the EU closer to citizens, in order to make this House and other institutions more reflective of our towns, villages, cities and countries.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Milan Uhrík
Political group: NI
Country: Austria
Language: SK

Vážený pán predsedajúci, prečítal som si váš návrh na zmenu Európskej únie a musím povedať: to je čisté šialenstvo. Vy tu píšete, že chcete zrušiť právo veta a jednomyseľnosť v hlasovaní o kľúčových otázkach zahraničnej politiky a daniach. To znamená, aby o všetkom rozhodovali vládne strany v najväčších európskych štátoch. Ďalej píšete, že chcete posilniť prisťahovaleckú politiku, aby ste vykorenili našu identitu. Píšete, že chcete ovládnuť vzdelávacie inštitúcie, aby ste mohli mladým ľuďom na školách a univerzitách vymývať mozgy dúhovou agendou. Chcete prevziať, vraj potrebujete prevziať kompetencie v oblasti zdravotníctva, aby ste mohli manipulovať a strašiť ľudí prostredníctvom strachu o ich život a ich zdravie. Viete čo, milí progresívni kolegovia, ďakujeme, ale takúto budúcnosť nechceme a pokiaľ ja budem europoslancom, tak nikdy nebudem hlasovať za obmedzenie právomocí a suverenity mojej vlasti a občanov Slovenskej republiky a vždy budeme stáť proti takým, akí ste vy, ktorí chcete obmedziť demokraciu a rozhodovanie jednotlivých členských štátov.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Loránt Vincze
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, this proposal not only revisits last year’s resolution calling for the revision of the Treaties that already included some specific areas to be amended, but is in fact a profound EU reform. While each of us can find in it an element that resonates with the priorities of our voters, looking at the text and its annexes, it would change the entire EU architecture.  One starting point was the need for a treaty change to be able to accommodate new Member States. Yet, instead of having precision surgery on specific points, this project is in fact an amputation of the consensus-based EU decision-making process in key areas.  The unanimity provided for in the Treaties has in no way prevented meaningful action when there was a political will. In fact, it is never efficient to have a broad legislation based on a single case, as the foreign affairs and the sanctions regime looks like. Political priorities come and go. Tomorrow, we might have other challenges. But we cannot change the Treaties every time we are confronted with a defiance.  A Union of diverse issues should not aim to eliminate the power of consensus, nor should it aim to impose majority decisions on a minority at all costs, including in the ratification process of the new treaty. Even if we accept that we would gain in efficiency in doing so, we would lose more in terms of democratic control.  The majority of the proposals reflect a centralist approach. Not even one strengthens national or regional competences – this being the opposite of federalism. Centralising power in the hands of the EU should never be an aim in itself. The aim should always be to deliver on the needs of our citizens.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Miapetra Kumpula-Natri
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, this proposal has required a lot of work by enthusiastic people of AFCO. And here we also hear the fierce, furious talks against any change. But what we really lack is the citizens’ interest on this. The Conference of Europe was a good try, but not everybody thinks that today launching a treaty process is the most urgent work for European politics to do. But we see that enlargement is taking place and it needs preparedness on both sides – among us as well. We need that the security can be enhanced. Also, every eastern border country of ours, also Estonia. Europe’s voice in the world needs to be heard. So, I am worried of the many political struggles that we are having now: populism raising, nationalism raising, racism raising. Debate is never bad, but what we need today is really a unity and not dividing us. I, coming from the small Nordic country, deeply believe in the European values and a strong Europe is needed. I work for it every day: for Europe and for my country. I see there is a huge gap of preparedness. Maybe also the lack of trust that possible treaty change is for better today in these conditions. So, I believe that we start also doing these step-by-step talks, sector by sector, how we will keep this Europe strong and united.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Beata Szydło
Political group: ECR
Country: Netherlands
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Szanowni Państwo! Europa to różne narody, różne kultury, różne tradycje i różne języki. W pewnym momencie państwa europejskie postanowiły ze sobą współpracować, żeby zapewnić swoim obywatelom większe bezpieczeństwo, współpracę i większy dobrobyt. Ale umówili się na to, że będą to robić z poszanowaniem własnej suwerenności i różnorodności. I tak narodziła się Unia Europejska.  Dzisiaj na tej sali była mowa o obywatelach europejskich, nie ma czegoś takiego jak europejskie państwo, mimo że w tej chwili większość liberalno-lewicowa próbuje wmówić Europejczykom, że z troską pochyla się nad ich sprawami. Nie. To Europejczycy mają prawo decydowania o tym, jak będą wychowywać swoje dzieci, czego te dzieci będą się uczyły w szkole, jak będą się bronić wtedy, kiedy za ich granicą będzie wróg. Natomiast naszym interesem jest budowanie takiej Unii Europejskiej, która będzie silniejsza poprzez właśnie to, że będzie szanowała państwa członkowskie, szanowała różnorodność i budowała jedność w tej różnorodności.
Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Gilles Lebreton
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, ce rapport propose de modifier les traités européens dans un sens fédéraliste. Il tire ainsi les conséquences logiques du principe de primauté dont je veux aujourd’hui dénoncer les prétentions. Le principe de primauté pourrait être acceptable s’il n’assurait la supériorité du droit européen que sur les lois nationales, mais il prétend aussi primer sur les constitutions nationales. C’est en tout cas ce que tente de faire croire la Cour de justice de l’Union depuis 1970, comme par hasard cinq semaines après le décès du général de Gaulle. Or, à mes yeux, c’est une trahison des principes démocratiques les plus fondamentaux. Dans une démocratie véritable, la Constitution nationale est l’expression de la souveraineté du peuple, rien ne peut donc lui être supérieur dans la hiérarchie des normes. Prétendre le contraire revient à remplacer la démocratie par un régime oligarchique. Personnellement, je ne veux pas de votre despotisme prétendument éclairé, et je vous rappelle solennellement que le peuple français n’en veut pas non plus. Il l’a prouvé en rejetant par référendum, en 2005, le projet de Constitution européenne qui tentait de justifier son coup de force par l’invocation du principe de primauté. Puisque vous persistez néanmoins dans votre projet de modifier les traités dans un sens ouvertement fédéraliste, je vous mets au défi d’organiser des référendums nationaux sur la question.