unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Agnes Jongerius
Political group: S-D
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Mr President, colleagues. The title of the debate is ‘the social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine’ – and, of course, the consequences in Ukraine are huge.  But I think we should also be clear that the war in Ukraine plunges us also into a new social economic crisis, and with skyrocketing energy prices, with deep—diving purchasing power and increasing inflation, I fear that the most vulnerable will bear the burden. And the question should be then, I think, what route are we going to take? It’s our duty that the stronger shoulders bear the heaviest burden while standing up against Putin and standing in solidarity with the Ukraine. In this crisis, we need to address the root causes of long—term economic and social imbalances. I think it’s time to break the vicious circle of raging inequalities and privilege for the super rich. There are many things to fix, and those who are increasing their profits exponentially and indecently are the ones to pay the price first. Therefore we need more than just an extension of the escape clause. We need a European solution. We need money to accommodate refugees from Ukraine. We need support for the citizens and small businesses for rising energy prices. Madam Minister, I think we should not talk about energy poverty any more. We are talking about actual poverty, people who cannot pay their bills anymore.  Therefore my proposal is to organise a social summit with the social partners to tackle the challenges of increasing inflation, increasing inequalities and its social consequences, especially on living conditions and wages. We need to update the action plan of the social pillar. We need European action.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Valérie Hayer
Political group: Renew
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, Madame la Ministre, chers collègues, chaque jour qui passe, nous envoyons 800 millions d’euros à Poutine grâce à nos achats de pétrole, de gaz et de charbon. Ces 800 millions lui permettent de nourrir ses soldats et de recharger ses tanks. Tant que nous continuerons, les horreurs ne s’arrêteront pas. Alors oui, nous devons asphyxier cette économie de guerre et non pas l’alimenter. Mais Monsieur le Commissaire, il est illusoire de croire que les Européens sortiront indemnes de cette situation s’il n’y a aucune solidarité avec ceux qui seront les plus impactés. J’en suis même convaincue, c’est la condition pour aller plus loin. Nous devons donc mutualiser les coûts de cette guerre pour nos ménages et pour nos entreprises. Si nous imposons des sanctions en tant qu’Européens, nous devons en assumer aussi les conséquences, en tant qu’Européens. Mais ce n’est pas tout: panser les plaies est une chose, anticiper les problèmes pour qu’ils ne surgissent pas en est une autre. Alors, chers collègues, prenons du recul, serions-nous autant à la merci de Vladimir Poutine si nous avions entrepris les investissements nécessaires il y a huit ans, lorsque l’Ukraine a été amputée de la Crimée? Est-ce que l’histoire n’aurait pas été complètement différente, aujourd’hui, si nous étions sortis de notre dépendance aux hydrocarbures russes et même aux hydrocarbures tout court? Oui, il y a eu des erreurs stratégiques qui ont été commises ces dernières années. Incontestablement. Cette invasion et ses conséquences doivent donc sonner comme l’alerte ultime.  Alors, je rappelle ici ma et notre conviction: nous devons créer SAFE, un fonds pour notre autonomie stratégique en Europe, un fonds destiné à sortir de nos dépendances d’ici à la fin de la décennie: hydrocarbures, intrants agricoles, industries critiques, défense aussi, évidemment. Il est de notre responsabilité d’enfin nous affirmer, d’enfin prendre notre destin en main. Nous avons été élus, chers collègues, pour faire de l’Europe une Union qui protège: les temps présents nous obligent.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Ernest Urtasun
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Belgium
Language: EN

Mr President, let me first welcome President von der Leyen’s announcement on the ban for Russian oil to be included in the new sanctions package. The support of Ukraine needs to go hand—in—hand also in supporting our citizens most affected from the consequences of war. We are at the doors of possibly the third, once in a lifetime, deep crisis that generations of Europeans will suffer. The cumulative crises have led to devastating social consequences in our continent. 96 million people in the EU are already at risk of poverty. Increased inequalities, the return of war in Europe and the existential threat of climate change is a scary prospect. And once again, history knocks at the doors of the European project. During the pandemic, the EU learned how to respond to difficult economic and social situations after the disastrous years of austeritarian lunacy. Now, we need to show that this willingness to protect our citizens will be the norm and not the exception. Price inflation in the EU has reached levels not seen since the 70s, but half, we know, is directly due to fossil energy price rises. And it is why we need action on the energy sector. It is not time, in our opinion, to restrict our accommodative monetary policy, which would have disastrous economic consequences, but to accelerate our energy transition. I is not time either, I am sorry to say, to postpone our Green New Deal. I mean, climate change does not wait. We know that our Green Deal and energy transition is the best solution to the crisis that we are having, so I more than disagree with what the EPP has said this morning today in the plenary. We know that we need to accelerate that energy transition and, for that, we will probably need also no financial instruments to be put in place. That is why we want also to call for a new energy sovereignty facility to facilitate Member States to accelerate that transition. We know that politically this is difficult. Putting in place your effort was a difficult process, but we need to be ambitious and I am sure that we will be able to do that again.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Jaak Madison
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, first of all, yesterday morning, I checked the statistic of how much you have paid to Russia for gas, oil and coal. In the first two months after the war, the biggest buyer and payer for Russia is, of course, Germany. The second one is Italy, the third one is Turkey, and the fourth one is the Netherlands. If I compared the prices that we paid – I mean we as Europeans – to Russia for gas and oil, it was three times higher an amount of money than it was at exactly the same time last year. And of course the Germans and others who are buying gas from Russia are saying that it’s the market price. But the problem that we have now is that we, as Europeans, are paying three times more money to Russia. We are saying that ‘well it’s the market price’, but it’s not true. The Russians are saying ‘ you have to pay this sort of money for gas’, otherwise they will not sell it. We are not the smartest ones and we are paying this money. This means that every day we are paying hundreds of millions of euros to Russia to have the energy resources and they are using this money for the military and for the war machine against Ukraine, maybe tomorrow against Moldova, and maybe in few days against the Baltic states or Finland.  So what is my point? We now have a situation and the summer is coming so it’s a good time. But in September, October and November, when the winter is coming, we will again be in a situation where we are paying many, many times more money for the resources, the energy, from Russia to have a warm house, to have functioning technology, and to have functioning businesses. That’s why today the Germans and Austrians and also the Hungarians –I have to say, unfortunately – are saying that they can’t stop importing energy from Russia now. But we now have to think now how to survive next winter because otherwise we’ll be screwed and will still be paying more and more money – three times more than last year – to Russia. And this money will be used for their new occupations and their new expansions, and that’s the fault of the European energy policy. We have to learn from our mistakes, what we have done, and look for the next winter.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Beata Szydło
Political group: ECR
Country: Netherlands
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Nie da się ludzkiego życia przeliczyć na pieniądze. Nie da się przeliczyć na pieniądze życia ukraińskich dzieci, kobiet i mężczyzn, ale pieniądze są potrzebne po to, żeby móc ich ratować, żeby ich wspierać, żeby pomagać im bronić się i żeby pomagać im przetrwać ten tragiczny dla nich wszystkich czas. Dlatego nie bójmy się podejmować odważnych decyzji. Niech nie przemawia przez nas tylko i wyłącznie w tej chwili takie myślenie, że konsekwencje tej wojny odbiją się też na nas wszystkich. Tak, one się odbiją na nas wszystkich, ale im szybciej ta wojna się skończy, im szybciej powstrzymamy Putina, tym będzie po prostu możliwy szybszy pokój i wyjście z tej tragicznej sytuacji na Ukrainie.  Potrzebne są zdecydowane kroki, konsekwencja, stanowczość i solidarność. Dobrze, że jest szósty pakiet sankcji. Mogę powiedzieć: zbyt późno. I oby był skuteczny, i obyśmy mogli powiedzieć na następnej sesji, tutaj, na następnej naszej debacie, że ten pakiet działa, bo do tej pory można odnieść wrażenie, że decyzje były podejmowane, ale nie do końca realizowane. Żeby zatrzymać Putina, musimy być zdecydowani i musimy przede wszystkim być konsekwentni i odważni. Dzisiaj Unia Europejska bardzo potrzebuje tej odwagi. Nie bójmy się, nie bójmy się powstrzymywać Putina, nie bójmy się tego, żeby zdecydowanie powiedzieć: dość. Wyciągnijmy konsekwencje i wyciągnijmy przede wszystkim wnioski z tych zaniechań, które przez poprzednie lata tutaj w Unii były niestety podejmowane.  I jeszcze jedna rzecz. Ci ludzie, którzy trafiają do naszych krajów, potrzebują pomocy, a te państwa, które ich wspierają, potrzebują środków z Unii Europejskiej. Powiedziałam, że nie da się przeliczyć życia ludzkiego na pieniądze, ale żeby im pomóc, te pieniądze są potrzebne. Dlatego trzeba stworzyć fundusz na wzór tego funduszu, który był kiedyś w czasie kryzysu migracyjnego, kiedy przyjeżdżali do Europy imigranci ekonomiczni. Trzeba stworzyć specjalny fundusz, który pomoże państwom ratującym dzisiaj Ukrainę.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Nikolaj Villumsen
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: DA

Hr. formand! Krigen i Ukraine er dybt forfærdende. Vi skal gøre alt for at stoppe den. For at hjælpe ukrainerne. Det er vigtigt, at EU har indført sanktioner, men de er tydeligvis ikke hårde nok til at få Putin til at trække sine soldater tilbage. Derfor må vi øge presset. Vi skal stoppe import af russisk olie og gas. Det skal ramme Putin og oligarkerne, hvor det gør ondt. Krigen og solidariteten med Ukraine kan ikke undgå at ramme vores egen økonomi. Derfor er det helt afgørende, at vi skærmer de laveste indkomster. Også i indsatsen mod Putin skal de bredeste skuldre naturligvis bære de tungeste byrder. Det er tragisk, at mange familier kæmper for at få pengene til at række og må vælge mellem mad eller varme. Sådan skal det ikke være i EU i 2022! Ingen skal sulte eller tvinges fra hus og hjem. Vi skal holde hånden under de økonomisk svageste. Det er afgørende for at vi kan holde sammen mod Putin. Lad os beskatte de overnormale profitter. Lad os stoppe spekulationen i stigende fødevarer-, energi- og råstofpriser. Lad os hjælpe de ukrainske flygtninge. De ukrainske flygtninge er velkomne i EU, og de fortjener, som alle andre flygtninge, en god behandling, også på arbejdsmarkedet. Derfor må vi stille klare krav til arbejdsgiverne, så vores ukrainske venner ikke bliver underbetalt og udnyttet. Derfor skal der stilles klare sociale krav til udbetalingen af EU-midler. Derfor skal vores skattekroner ikke gå til virksomheder, der ikke overholder gældende overenskomst eller gemmer sig i lyssky skattely. Fællesskabets penge skal ikke gå til grådige arbejdsgivere eller rigmænd, der svigter fællesskabet. Kære kollegaer, lad os i stedet stå sammen mod Putin. Lad os holde hånden under de laveste indkomster og lad os gå solidarisk igennem denne forfærdelige krig.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Luděk Niedermayer
Political group: PPE
Country: Slovenia
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, dear guests, the cruel, illegal and irresponsible attack of Putin’s Russia on Ukraine has killed so far thousands of people, brought full—scale war to Europe and destroyed the remaining naive trust in a rule—based relationship with Russia. Economic and social implications are only part of this, as Esther de Lange mentioned in her speech. But this is the part that shouldn’t be neglected. We are dealing with a difficult combination of high inflation that will be boosted by the war. The implication for some Member States of high inflows of refugees, as well as disruption for businesses for firms that had ties with Russia or Ukraine. Lack of public confidence is only completing the picture.  Most of the economic forecasts are still assuming a very moderate impact on economic growth, in the magnitude just slightly above 1%. This is something that we can deal with, but these assumptions are based on the condition that there is no disruption of energy supply to Europe. We should also have in mind that the impact is not equally spread.  Anyway, we must take some policy action. This should be fact—based, but should be effective and quick. First, we must get ready for an interruption of the gas supply. Everyday Moscow can decide to cut the supply. Better preparation means that the damaging costs will be lower.  Secondly, I guess it’s economically rational to react with domestic, social and economic policy, especially on high energy prices. But at the same time, instead of building a permanent support mechanism, we should speed up the introduction of renewables and energy efficiency. We must make sure that we reduce the red tape and any other measures that are slowing down the economy. More economic growth means also lower unemployment and smaller problems of the fiscal policy.  Last not least, we must redirect EU funds to deal with the current challenges and use the resources that we have effectively.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Jonás Fernández
Political group: S-D
Country: Ireland
Language: ES

Señor presidente, Comisión, Consejo, me gustaría empezar este debate felicitando a la Comisión Europea por el nuevo paquete que ha presentado esta mañana y, sin duda, por el trabajo del liderazgo en la toma de decisiones para ayudar a Ucrania y bloquear las intenciones de Putin. Creo que este trabajo hay que reconocerlo y esperemos que el Consejo siga manteniendo la unidad que hemos visto en los últimos meses y que algunas desviaciones o algunas propuestas no encuentren apoyo y seamos capaces de minimizar esas probabilidades de desviación dentro del Consejo.  El debate sobre los efectos en la Unión Europea es un debate complejo, porque sin duda tiene aspectos sociales, como se han expuesto. Tenemos que acoger a esos millones de refugiados que han llegado a Europa. Además, también hay consecuencias económicas de no fácil tratamiento, con una inflación elevada y con unas previsiones de crecimiento difíciles.  En todo caso, este espíritu de consenso que veo en este Parlamento, teniendo en cuenta que la gran mayoría de las medidas hasta ahora están siendo tomadas por los Estados miembros, contrasta con algunos Congresos, con algunos Parlamentos nacionales, como el de mi país, donde la derecha parece no querer respaldar al Gobierno en estos momentos difíciles.  Necesitamos que la política monetaria no responda de manera acelerada a este crecimiento de la inflación. El grueso de la desviación de precios es alimentos y energía, a diferencia de lo que ocurre en Estados Unidos, por ejemplo. También sería bueno reconsiderar el papel del Mecanismo de Recuperación y Resiliencia, la posibilidad de ampliar o de generar nuevos instrumentos similares al Mecanismo para responder económicamente de manera solidaria, a la vez que las propias sanciones también las tomamos de manera conjunta.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Dragoş Pîslaru
Political group: Renew
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Mr President, we have spent the past two years talking about how we emerge, how to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis stronger. We have spent two months of war in Ukraine doing the same. A crisis has this grim gift of providing ample supplies of one of the most elusive and valuable resource Europe needs, the political will to embrace change and to do the things that need to be done.  I applaud the continuation of the sanctions, but we are still far away from the Parliament position. We still need ambitious tools and the instruments to move forward. In the pandemic we have created the RRF and other funds and measures that showed solidarity, that kept our businesses sometimes barely afloat and helped our citizens. Now, in two months we have moved defence supplies of an unprecedented scale and opened our countries to many more millions of Ukrainian refugees that we had seen during the 2015 refugee crisis.  We do have right now a momentum of political will to reinforce our capacity to act for all Europeans, Ukrainians included, as they firmly belong in Europe by culture, values, geography, and now by bravery and commitment. I think it is time indeed to use the RRF at its full potential, to use all the resources, to use all the lessons learned and the solutions for the Member States, and this is part of the response.  But at the same time, we should focus indeed, and I was really pleased to hear today that there is a discussion about the recovery plan from Ukraine. And for that, we need indeed to use the lessons learned from the RRF that are indeed valuable. The world will never be the same again, and Russia with Putin in charge will never again be a partner for Europe. So there is no more status quo return to, and we need to create a new normal one with reinforced financial tools that will ensure no European is left behind in the aftermath of Putin’s war, and Ukraine and Moldova as well get the welcome they need from the EU, that we emerge once again stronger together.
Debate: The social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine - reinforcing the EU’s capacity to act
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022
Speaker: Terry Reintke
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, dear Commissioner, dear Minister, the President is right – European history will be written in Ukraine. That is why our support for a free European democracy against brutal Russian aggression is paramount right now. It is our historic responsibility to do everything possible to show this solidarity, including hard and far—reaching sanctions, and I’m happy to hear that a deal has been reached on a ban on Russian oil. It is an important next step, but it is certainly not the last one that we will need. While this parliament strongly supports the sanctions, we also already see the negative consequences this war has for Europe. After years of pandemic, we see the economic struggle of many households in the European Union. And our reaction to the pandemic, despite some challenges in the beginning, was based on one of our strongest assets – solidarity. With the Next Generation EU fund we managed to show that we can stand together in times of crisis, and the same – and probably more – is needed now because we all know what Putin is trying to do. He’s trying to divide us, to play Member State against Member States and to count that the social hardship that we will face will dry out our firm support for Ukraine. Putin is trying to divide Europe, to divide our societies. He is counting on our inability to manage this great challenge together.  We cannot colleagues, and we will not, let him succeed in this. Let us show that we will face this challenge together, the east and the west of Europe, the north and the south. Let us show that all that he is succeeding in will be to revive the European social model, the promise of a European Union where nobody will be left behind. For that, we will need joint efforts, investments, a solidarity fund to balance out the social inequality. And we will have to proceed in creating a real social safety net on the European level by finally introducing a European minimum wage, closing the gender pay gap and, yes, also a European minimum income.  This continent is weakest when it is divided and strongest when it is united. Let us be united against Putin!