unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Isabel Wiseler-Lima
Political group: PPE
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, la résolution sur les violations des libertés fondamentales à Hong Kong aujourd’hui présentée au Parlement européen fait suite à de nombreuses autres dénonçant la répression de l’opposition démocratique à Hong Kong, notamment par des emprisonnements. Elle s’inscrit également dans la suite des déclarations du haut représentant et de représentants du Service pour l’action extérieure de l’Union européenne, tout comme des présidents du Conseil et de la Commission, montrant ainsi la constance et l’unité de position de l’Union européenne en la matière. Nous avions promis à ceux qui, à Hong Kong, se sont levés pour défendre la liberté et la démocratie que nous ne les oublierions pas. Nous continuons à tenir cette promesse aujourd’hui en réaffirmant que la Chine est tenue de se conformer aux engagements et obligations qu’elle a, en vertu du droit international, entérinés dans la déclaration sino-britannique dans le cas de Hong Kong. Aussi, le Parlement européen dénonce-t-il dans cette résolution les modifications apportées au système électoral empêchant un vote démocratique, le continuel rétrécissement de l’espace de la société civile – entre autres, la dissolution de nombreuses ONG et de syndicats, notamment d’enseignants et d’avocats –, la disparition d’organes de presse, la tentative d’effacer de la mémoire les événements de la place Tiananmen en interdisant l’hommage aux manifestants abattus en 1989. Et je pourrais continuer cette liste. Je voudrais, pour conclure, affirmer que nous ne pourrons jamais accepter la remise en cause au niveau international de la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme, tout comme nous n’acceptons pas les tentatives de redéfinition de ces mêmes droits ou des principes de la démocratie par la Chine ou par tout autre pays ou instance. Enfin, l’actualité nous a imposé cette réflexion et je voudrais relever que, dans cette résolution du Parlement européen, nous invitons la Commission, le Conseil et les États membres à décliner les invitations aux représentants des gouvernements à se rendre aux Jeux olympiques d’hiver de 2022 à Pékin.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Thijs Reuten
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, China’s totalitarian regime has absolutely no love for media freedom, democracy or even for its own citizens, from Hong Kong to Xinjiang. I fully stand with Hong Kong’s brave citizens, activists and journalists still courageously fighting to uphold press freedom. Colleagues, the big picture is crystal clear, and I thank the colleagues who worked on this good resolution. The harsh reality is that China today is openly advocating against human rights and democratic values. In Hong Kong, China is illegally stamping out the remains of democracy. In Xinjiang, China is arguably committing the biggest human rights violation of our time. All over the world, the long arm of Beijing is pursuing dissidents like Uyghur activist Idris Hasan, detained abroad with abuse of Interpol. China even has the audacity to coerce our own Member States. None of this can be tolerated. I therefore call on you, Commissioner, all Member States and institutions to commit to the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. Today, we have nothing to celebrate with China.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Political group: Renew
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

Mr President, in recent years, the situation in Hong Kong went from complete neglect of the Joint Declaration as an international agreement to systematic dismantling of the well—functioning democratic system. Strong dominance of the Communist Party of China led to growing political persecution of opponents and systematic disablement of the democratic structures. China’s policy of unilaterally imposing, unscrupulously enforcing, and doctrinising the so—called ‘main principle’ is really disturbing. In this regard, the European Union must take immediate and firm actions to prevent ongoing China’s coercive policy against Lithuania and international companies. It’s time for the European Union to react and act in witness of the unprecedented coercive policies of communist China.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Markéta Gregorová
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, coercion, violence and force are methods we reserve for the most severe situations. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has chosen to deploy these methods against millions of its own citizens daily. Hong Kong is a stark reminder of how much prosperity, freedom and human dignity the Chinese regime is able to destroy. If we want to protect our friends in Hong Kong, or the brave Member State of Lithuania that finds itself under attack by the CCP, we Europeans must, more coherently and loudly, react to Chinese aggression. A symbolic start would be the boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics by all politicians. This symbol must be followed by a strong and enforceable law – the anti-coercion instrument. I hope that this is exactly what we, the European Parliament, will achieve in the upcoming months. Debates leading to action: that is our way, right?
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Gilles Lebreton
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, chers collègues, la Chine viole la loi fondamentale de Hong Kong. Elle s’était pourtant engagée, dans la déclaration commune sino-britannique de 1984, à respecter le principe «un pays, deux systèmes» qui constitue le cœur de cette loi fondamentale. Or, que constatons-nous? L’autonomie de Hong Kong est bafouée. Une loi de 2020 sur la sécurité nationale organise la répression. La liberté d’expression est suspendue, des dizaines d’opposants et de journalistes sont incarcérés et les élections au Conseil législatif du 19 décembre 2021 ont été une parodie de démocratie. La Chine ne respecte donc pas ses engagements. Elle ne respecte d’ailleurs pas davantage les États membres de l’Union européenne puisqu’elle traite de façon indigne la Lituanie, dont elle refuse l’entrée des produits sur le marché chinois au mépris des règles commerciales internationales. Elle lui reproche d’avoir ouvert une représentation diplomatique de Taïwan à Vilnius. Cette offensive n’est pas le fruit du hasard. Elle est destinée à éprouver la solidité de notre modèle démocratique. La Chine pense que sa dictature communiste relookée est un système supérieur à nos vieilles démocraties et elle nous met au défi de lui résister. Si le Parlement européen veut se montrer digne des valeurs qu’il prétend incarner, il doit relever le gant et riposter. Hong Kong et la Lituanie méritent que nous leur exprimions notre solidarité autrement que par des mots. Prenez votre courage à deux mains, Mesdames et Messieurs les députés, et votez la résolution qui exige de geler la ratification de l’accord global d’investissement signé par l’Union avec la Chine tant que ce pays ne sera pas revenu à la raison.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Jytte Guteland
Political group: S-D
Language: SV

Herr talman! Kina måste garantera att alla journalister i Hongkong får arbeta fritt utan att riskera repressalier. Press- och mediefriheten måste garanteras. Yttrandefriheten, föreningsfriheten och pressfriheten är nu lika begränsade i Hongkong som i Kina.  Den nationella säkerhetslagen måste genast upphävas, eftersom den strider mot Kinas åtaganden och skyldigheter enligt internationell rätt. Alla Hongkongs politiska fångar måste friges. Samtidigt ska Kina också självklart frige vår svenska bokhandlare Gui Minhai.  Jag uppmanar rådet att omedelbart införa riktade sanktioner mot tjänstepersoner i Hongkong och Kina som är ansvariga för de pågående kränkningar av de mänskliga rättigheterna som vi nu ser.  Kinas fasansfulla behandling av uigurerna kan klassas som ett brott mot mänskligheten, vilket Europaparlamentet tidigare har bekräftat. Europaparlamentet kommer överhuvudtaget inte att granska eller ratificera investeringsavtalet mellan EU och Kina så länge de här kränkningarna fortgår.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Karin Karlsbro
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: SV

Herr talman, kommissionär, ledamöter. ”Från folkmassan i tårgasmolnet hörs ljudet av skräck och slagord. Demonstranternas starka stämband skapar synkade ramsor. Det är ljudet av hängivenhet och ett envist bevis på att Hongkongborna är beredda att dö för sin frihet.” Så skriver den svenska liberalen och författaren Simona Mohamsson i sin bok Hongkong RIP. Kampen om Hongkong är större än en stads öde. Det är en uppgörelse om Kinas inflytande i världen. Inom kort invigs OS i Peking. EU:s medlemsländer borde tillsammans genomföra en diplomatisk bojkott av spelen.  Det är ett tillfälle för oss, för den fria världen, att unisont markera vårt helhjärtade stöd för ett fritt Hongkong. Ändå konstaterar jag att bland annat mitt eget hemland Sverige inte vågar fatta detta självklara beslut.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Stella Kyriakides
Language: EN

The Legislative Council election on 19 December was the first election since the national security law and the implementation of sweeping changes in the Hong Kong electoral system. Ahead of the elections, the package of changes introduced to the electoral system and the mass arrest of opposition figures undermined Hong Kong’s democratic principles and high degree of autonomy. Today, with Beijing loyalists taking 89 out of 90 seats in the Chamber, legislative proposals – however draconian – would meet minimum resistance, if any.  The elections were followed by the publication by the State Council in Beijing of a white paper on Hong Kong’s democratic progress. This narrative, where a successful democratic system would require the purging of the opposition camp and the vetting of candidates ahead of elections, should be strongly refuted. In parallel, the national security law has been used to stifle political pluralism and the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms that are protected under Hong Kong law and international law. Stand News closed in December after its former editors—in—chief were arrested for publicising seditious materials. A few days later, Citizen News announced the suspension of its operations for fear that journalists could be accused of violating laws. Prior to that, the closure of the Apple Daily gave the overall direction. China claims that what is happening in Hong Kong is an internal matter. We reject this. The EU has strong stakes and interests in Hong Kong. The upcoming EU annual report on Hong Kong will reflect the challenges facing the people of Hong Kong in exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms, as guaranteed by the Hong Kong Basic Law. What is happening constitutes a breach of China’s international commitments, in particular, of the Sino—British Joint Declaration, which was registered with the UN as an international treaty and which stated, 25 years ago, that the ‘one country, two systems’ should remain for a period of 50 years from 1997. These actions contradict China’s international commitments. The EU will continue to stand by the people of Hong Kong.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Sandra Pereira
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: PT

Reiteramos que a UE e os seus Estados-Membros se devem abster de promover ou de se associar a políticas que visam a confrontação, a ingerência, a desestabilização, a agressão contra países e povos, nomeadamente contra a República Popular da China e o povo chinês, e que as suas relações com este país se devem basear no respeito pelos princípios da Carta das Nações Unidas e do direito internacional, incluindo o respeito pela soberania, independência e integridade territorial da República Popular da China. Reafirmamos, ainda, a defesa da Constituição da República Portuguesa e a sua rejeição da ingerência nos assuntos internos dos Estados. Por isso, os deputados do PCP no PE votaram contra.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Andrius Kubilius
Country: France
Language: EN

We know what a tragedy had happened recently in Kazakhstan, when during the period of peaceful protests, brutal riots were artificially initiated as a pretext to seek the Russian—led military deployment. The outcome of this brutal action against those peaceful protests is very bloody: several hundred dead, many injured and nearly ten thousand detained. There is a need for objective international investigation of all the recent tragedies in Kazakhstan, of course. But even now, we can make three general conclusions. First, recent developments in Kazakhstan, in the same way as 2020 developments in Belarus, have shown that ordinary people and civil society in those countries are fed up with authoritarian regimes, corruption, lack of justice and lack of rule of law. And that is a reason why people are demanding essential change in their countries. Second, the Kremlin is becoming geopolitically weaker in the region, and the only way for the Kremlin to keep influence on authoritarian regimes in the post—Soviet area is to play the role of military gendarme against any democratic developments. And third, in the post—Soviet area, we see clear evidence that authoritarian regimes, with the assistance of the Kremlin, are bringing only persecution, torture and deaths of innocent people, and only those countries which, after the fall of Soviet Empire, managed to establish democracies and the rule of law are able to keep peace and protect basic human rights. History repeats itself. Soviets collapsed when militaries were started to be used against peaceful protesters. Now, the end of authoritarianism in the post—Soviet area is also coming closer and closer.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Nacho Sánchez Amor
Country: Poland
Language: ES

Y un mensaje, también, el del Parlamento de condena a la violencia: la perpetrada indiscriminadamente por las fuerzas de seguridad en la represión de las protestas, con una incalificable llamada del presidente Tokáyev a disparar sin aviso a las personas que estaban en la calle, la cual le acompañará, desgraciadamente, toda su vida política, y también la violencia de unos grupos armados de origen sospechoso que se sirvieron de las manifestaciones para sembrar el caos y que fueron la excusa precisamente para esa brutal represión. Es difícil saber algunos detalles de lo que ha pasado y por eso es importante que haya una investigación internacional; yo creo que seguramente la OSCE, al ser Kazajistán miembro de esa organización, sería el agente internacional más capacitado. Si es cierto que esto ha sido una lucha de clanes, aparentemente el presidente Tokáyev ha salido reforzado, librándose de la sombra de su antecesor, Nazarbáyev: ese sería el momento de demostrar esa supuesta voluntad reformista implantando un programa de reformas económicas y políticas democráticas rápido y profundo. Y la Unión Europea tiene que ser muy exigente: 225 muertos, 10 000 detenidos y, además, la represión contra los activistas de derechos humanos en una vuelta de tuerca a esa situación autoritaria. Y ello, con una enorme falta de coherencia: si las manifestaciones pacíficas fueron instrumentalizadas por grupos armados con alguna agenda política, por terroristas, ¿dónde están los terroristas?, ¿por qué se detiene a los dirigentes de derechos humanos que, teóricamente, se manifestaron pacíficamente? Es el momento de imponer sanciones a los responsables de estas graves violaciones y es el momento de que nuestra Delegación tenga una excelente comunicación con la sociedad civil y abandonemos esa idea de la diplomacia silenciosa que hasta ahora hemos seguido en Kazajistán.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Michal Šimečka
Country: Italy
Language: SK

Dôvodom je, že toto je úplne prvý raz historicky v dejinách Európskeho parlamentu, čo z tohto pódia zaznieva slovenčina, a myslím, že je to celkom významný moment. Ďakujem veľmi pekne.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Róża Thun und Hohenstein
Country: Lithuania
Language: PL

Mr President, maybe I will switch into English. This is not my lengthy speech. This is a list of political prisoners in Kazakhstan – of human rights defenders persecuted for political reasons. There are hundreds of names. This list is much longer today after the crackdown on the peaceful demonstrations that recently took place in Kazakhstan. People in over 60 cities went to the streets, first because of price increases, but it quickly developed into protests against the cruel regime in Kazakhstan. Hundreds were killed, thousands are in prisons, and many are being tortured. Why? Because they struggle for the same values and for the same freedoms which unite most of us in this House and in the European Union. How is it possible that we sign the enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement, but we hardly react when basic human rights are being trampled in the most brutal manner? Where is any activity from the European External Action Service? I see Commissioner that you are now taking over all functions in the European Commission.  Our mailboxes are flooded by fake news and propaganda coming from official Kazakh authorities, but we, in this House, get two hours to prepare a resolution on those horrible events, and this resolution should not exceed five pages. We wanted, in this resolution, to describe the horrible situation of the citizens in Kazakhstan and demand sanctions against the Kazakh authorities, despite the fact that the resolution is too short and doesn’t describe the situation thoroughly due to lack of time and space, which is a shame in fact.  I must ask you all to vote for this resolution; call out for personal sanctions against those who are responsible for the crimes committed against the people of Kazakhstan.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Let me quote one document that is available on the web page of CSTO, the organisation led by the Kremlin – by Vladimir Putin – from the meeting of leaders on 10 July, where he said that he was not willing to allow further ‘colour  revolutions’ in the region. That means that the so—called stabilising intervention that we had there by CSTO forces resembled the events that we know from Hungary and Czechoslovakia in communist times rather than current peaceful operations to stabilise the situation.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Commissioner, for decades, repression and persecution have been pervasive in Kazakhstan. It is therefore welcome that, since taking power, the Tokayev Government has promised and announced democratic reforms. Yet we need to see the implementation of these reforms. Now, the internal situation in Kazakhstan remains complex, and we need to understand what happened exactly when the peaceful demonstrations turned violent. What kind of elements were involved? Were they organised? Were they instigated by somewhere? So above all, we need an independent international investigation into those events. The truth about who caused the escalation and the ensuing violence and loss of life must be found out, and the perpetrators must be punished when they exceed normal dealing with demonstrations. The kleptocrats who by any means try to cling to power should face tough measures. Let us be firm in recovering the assets which have been stolen by the elites. Let’s ensure that we contribute to the fact that they face justice for crimes against their own people. Those who are on the side of the reforms in Kazakhstan need to be identified, and they critically deserve our support. Colleagues, there’s a lot that can be done by the EU to support democracy and the rule of law in Kazakhstan. Together with the OSCE and the UN Human Rights Council, the EU must ensure that these independent investigations will be carried out. All allegations of torture and ill treatment in detention must be thoroughly investigated, and civil society and free media must be supported in their work.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Miguel Urbán Crespo
Country: Belgium
Language: ES

Que en 24 horas y en pleno invierno el precio de los combustibles se duplicara, mientras el 70 % del petróleo kazajo se exporta a los mercados occidentales, es simplemente una vergüenza. Y esto fue la gota que colmó el vaso. Que 162 personas —lo que es lo mismo, el 0,001 % de la población kazaja— posean el 55 % de la riqueza del país es una muestra más de la desigualdad tan brutal que es capaz de generar el modelo capitalista extractivista implementado en el país. Esto también es violencia y no lo podemos olvidar.  No podemos olvidar tampoco que una cantidad significativa del expolio al pueblo kazajo se ha convertido en acciones y en propiedades en Europa occidental en medio de un silencio atroz. Exigir el fin de la corrupción en Kazajistán pasa por mirar también los intereses económicos occidentales y defender las demandas que han sacado a las calles al pueblo kazajo, como los que han realizado las y los trabajadores petroleros pidiendo la nacionalización de la riqueza petrolera del país. Mientras no se aborden y se solucionen las causas que están detrás de las protestas y se siga mirando hacia otro lado, el problema persistirá, porque la desigualdad y la corrupción se han convertido en un auténtico secuestro de la democracia. No olvidemos que sin reparto de la riqueza no hay democracia.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Traian Băsescu
Political group: PPE
Country: Romania
Language: RO

Inițial, manifestațiile au fost masive, dar pașnice, declanșatorul acestora fiind creșterea explozivă a prețurilor la combustibil, pe fondul nemulțumirii acumulate de populație, atât în privința nivelului de trai, cât și în privința respectării drepturilor fundamentale. Ulterior, clădiri administrative au fost atacate de grupuri violente, iar intervenția forțelor de ordine, lipsite de pregătirea necesară pentru a face față evenimentelor, a generat escaladarea violenței.  Lipsa de încredere în structurile de securitate conduse de fostul președinte Nazarbayev și camarila sa a fost de natură a genera neîncredere în voința acestor forțe de a restabili ordinea constituțională, ceea ce a determinat apelul la intervenția Organizației Tratatului de Securitate Colectivă.  Este prematur să tragem concluzii definitive asupra evenimentelor din Kazahstan. Președintele Tokaev a anunțat o listă a reformelor economice și sociale care vor fi implementate în perioada următoare de noul guvern.  Chiar dacă și-a retras trupele, Rusia va cere să tragă foloase maxime din faptul că a salvat regimul. Federația Rusă este în situația de a constata că după Belarus, în Kazahstan, o altă fostă componentă a U.R.S.S. de la frontiera sa, a fost necesară intervenția armatei pentru înăbușirea revoltei populației. Rusia riscă să plătească un preț greu al jocurilor pe care le face pe seama reducerii extracției și a creșterii prețurilor la combustibili fosili, iar prețul ar putea fi chiar propria-i stabilitate internă.  China are nevoie de un Kazahstan stabil, care să continue să furnizeze materii prime ieftine, iar Kazahstanul are nevoie acum de consolidarea relației economice și politice cu Uniunea Europeană.