unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Pedro Silva Pereira
Political group: S-D
Country: Bulgaria
Language: PT

Senhora Presidente, a política comercial é um dos instrumentos mais poderosos da União Europeia para a sua afirmação externa, para a defesa da sua autonomia e dos seus interesses geoestratégicos e económicos, mas também para a promoção do comércio justo e do desenvolvimento sustentável.  Para isso, é preciso que os acordos comerciais sejam, cada vez mais, acordos de nova geração, que não cuidem apenas da liberalização do comércio, mas tratem da defesa dos direitos humanos, dos direitos dos trabalhadores e dos consumidores, da proteção do ambiente e do combate às alterações climáticas e que contenham capítulos de desenvolvimento sustentável fortes e efetivos para levar a sério. O acordo comercial com a Nova Zelândia é um bom exemplo, com soluções progressistas como aquelas que os socialistas há muito tempo defenderam. Este constitui um novo padrão de acordos comerciais à altura dos nossos compromissos com a sustentabilidade. Os restantes acordos em negociação com a Austrália, o Chile, o México, o Mercosul e a Índia são outras excelentes oportunidades para a política comercial europeia. O comércio internacional é uma importante frente de combate para a autonomia estratégica da União Europeia, mas também para a defesa do desenvolvimento sustentável.
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Svenja Hahn
Political group: Renew
Country: Finland
Language: DE

Frau Präsidentin! Wer „strategische Unabhängigkeit“ sagt, meint oft Protektionismus. Dabei ist Handel mit mehr Partnern die strategische Unabhängigkeit, die wir brauchen, vor allem von autokratischen Regimen. Denn Wohlstand entsteht nicht durch Subventionen, Wohlstand entsteht durch Wettbewerb. Deshalb müssen wir jetzt auch auf die Bremse treten bei zusätzlicher Bürokratie. Die EU muss attraktiver werden für Investitionen in die Zukunft und Ideen, die groß werden können. Denn wir dürfen nicht vergessen: Die EU ist keine außenpolitische Macht. Die Stärke unseres Binnenmarktes bestimmt unsere Rolle in der Welt, und der Fokus der letzten Jahre im Handel auf Defensive statt Offensive hat viele unserer Partner vor den Kopf gestoßen. Ich will, dass die EU ein verlässlicher Partner ist. Deshalb müssen wir jetzt den Turbo für Wirtschaftswachstum zünden; deswegen erwarte ich auch von der Kommission Hochdruck bei laufenden Verhandlungen wie mit Indien oder Australien. Im Parlament müssen wir noch in dieser Wahlperiode die abgeschlossenen Handelsabkommen ratifizieren, insbesondere mit Neuseeland und dem Mercosur. Wir brauchen jetzt eine Offensive für mehr Handel, für strategische Unabhängigkeit der Europäischen Union.
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Benoît Lutgen
Political group: PPE
Country: Romania
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, chers collègues, les objectifs climatiques, environnementaux, sociaux, sanitaires que nous imposons à nos entreprises, à nos agriculteurs, nous nous devons de les imposer également à nos frontières. C’est une question démocratique, une question aussi d’acceptation par nos concitoyens de ce que nous leur demandons comme défis à relever. Défi climatique, bien sûr, mais aussi tous les autres que j’ai cités. Dans les accords commerciaux, ces clauses miroirs sont essentielles, essentielles à la compréhension et à l’acceptation par nos populations. Différents groupes ont défendu ces clauses miroirs, notamment par rapport à un amendement que j’ai défendu dans le cadre de la restauration de la nature. On ne peut pas demander d’avoir des objectifs chez nous sans que nous ne puissions aussi les imposer à nos frontières. Oui, il faut aussi des accords commerciaux dans des secteurs qui nous permettent de renforcer notre stratégie et notre autonomie, des secteurs aussi importants que le numérique et la santé, on l’a vu durant la crise COVID, ou encore des secteurs aussi essentiels que la défense, la défense de façon très large. En ce qui concerne ces secteurs et ces stratégies d’autonomie, notamment le secteur de l’énergie – et on l’a vu au travers de la dépendance que l’Europe a créée au fil du temps à l’égard du gaz russe, notamment –, nous devons là aussi – et c’est peut-être le secteur le plus important, le secteur de l’énergie – avoir, grâce notamment aux matières premières, des accords commerciaux qui nous permettent de réindustrialiser et de faire en sorte qu’en Europe, nous puissions à la fois développer l’emploi, atteindre nos objectifs climatiques, mais aussi, et c’est très important dans ces accords commerciaux, faire respecter la voix de l’Europe qui doit être leader en matière notamment d’objectifs climatiques, et cela avec la compréhension de l’ensemble des concitoyens européens et de nos entreprises, de nos indépendants et de nos agriculteurs.
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Gabriel Mato
Political group: PPE
Country: Lithuania
Language: ES

Señora presidenta, la COVID-19 y la guerra de Ucrania nos han hecho ver que debemos ser autosuficientes y, a la vez, que debemos diversificar nuestras fuentes de suministros.  En este sentido, el acuerdo con Mercosur es clave para contribuir a la autonomía estratégica de ambas regiones y fortalecer nuestros lazos políticos, económicos y culturales, estableciendo un mercado de más de 780 millones de personas. Pero lo cierto es que la ratificación del acuerdo está siendo impedida por las reticencias de ciertos Estados miembros.  Hoy no deberíamos estar teniendo este debate si hubiéramos sido razonables y no hubiéramos añadido tantos escollos para su aprobación. Tratar de imponer el instrumento adicional dista mucho de esto: hemos planteado a Mercosur exigencias que resultan a todas luces excesivas, especialmente cuando el acuerdo estaba ya finalizado. Si no ratificamos el acuerdo, perderemos cualquier mejora, estaremos dificultando las relaciones que necesitamos para poder plantearlo en un futuro y nos estaremos privando de un socio estratégico. La flexibilidad a la hora de negociar este instrumento adicional es fundamental. Sin ella no tendremos acuerdo alguno.  Mercosur ha sido muy claro y yo creo que debemos responder. O firmamos el acuerdo ahora, o habremos perdido una oportunidad única de construir nuestra autonomía estratégica.
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Billy Kelleher
Political group: Renew
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Madam President, the European Union is a very sophisticated trading economy. It trades globally and is a powerhouse when it comes to economics around the world. Of course, there are changing patterns in global trade: there’s geopolitical changes with regard to the fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China becoming a global powerhouse, India, and many others. But I just want to reference the Mercosur agreement itself. As I stand here, we are trying to convince small farmers across the entirety of the European Union to reduce stock numbers. And at the same time, I hear some Members in this House encouraging us to go ahead with the Mercosur trade agreement, which effectively would incentivise the destruction of rainforests across the Amazonian basin and primarily benefit massive agri business in Brazil – to destroy rainforests, to plant soya, to produce beef to bring to the European Union. And at the same time, as a democratically elected Member, I have to convince farmers in Ireland and elsewhere that they must destock to save the planet. Fair trade should mean fair trade and the obligations should be on all parties involved in trade deals.
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Diana Riba i Giner
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: ES

Señora presidenta, demasiado a menudo vemos como muchos de los acuerdos comerciales de la Unión Europea con terceros países son la muestra de una gran hipocresía. Y lo son porque evidencian la gran distancia que existe entre los discursos grandilocuentes de defensa de los derechos humanos que escuchamos en las instituciones europeas y la poca efectividad de estos acuerdos a la hora de blindar dichos derechos de forma eficaz.  El caso del acuerdo con México, que está en proceso de modernización, es un claro ejemplo de lo que digo. Existe una cláusula de suspensión del acuerdo en caso de vulneración flagrante de los derechos humanos, pero nunca se ha activado. Y no se ha activado a pesar de la vulneración persistente de los derechos en este país latinoamericano, con miles de feminicidios cada año, la persecución de defensoras de los derechos humanos y el medio ambiente, el asesinato de periodistas o el hostigamiento de comunidades indígenas.  Las empresas europeas no son ajenas a esta realidad. Es más: a veces, lamentablemente, forman parte del problema. Señorías, el fin económico no justifica los medios.
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Manon Aubry
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues, je vous tire mon chapeau. Il faut une sacrée dose de culot pour placer côte à côte dans le titre du débat, les mots libre-échange, autonomie et durable. Les mots ont un sens quand même. Comment osez-vous qualifier ces accords de durables, quand on parle d'augmenter les importations de lait, de beurre, de fromage, de viande depuis, par exemple, la Nouvelle-Zélande, littéralement à l'autre bout du monde, à plus de 20 000 kilomètres d'ici?  Et c'est la différence entre vous et nous. Vous voulez faire votre beurre sur les agriculteurs européens. Nous, nous voulons faire notre beurre par les agriculteurs européens et pour cela, pas besoin de nourriture globe-trotteur qui a fait trois fois le tour de la planète avant d'arriver dans notre assiette.  Je veux ici formellement lancer l'alerte. Vous vous apprêtez manifestement sans beaucoup d'émotion, à signer plus de dix accords de libre-échange, la Nouvelle-Zélande, mais aussi derrière l'Australie, le Chili, le Mexique, le Mercosur, l'Inde. Ça ferait un chouette tour du monde si on excluait l'impact dramatique pour nos agriculteurs et pour la planète.  Au final, le choix est simple, c'est la Terre ou les porte-conteneurs. Et s'agissant de nous, le choix est déjà fait.
Debate: Need to complete new trade agreements for sustainable growth, competitiveness and the EU’s strategic autonomy
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Madam President, the Mercosur agreement prioritises profits for transnational companies and investors while lowering social and environmental standards for workers, farmers and citizens. The text of the Green Deal claims that European farmers are key to managing the green transition, that the farm to fork strategy will strengthen farmers efforts to tackle climate change and preserve biodiversity. It talks of ensuring a decent living for farmers and their families. Yet, the latest analysis by the United States Department of Agriculture forecasted more beef being produced in and exported from Mercosur countries, while the farm to fork strategy in the EU contributes to a sustained decline in EU beef output. The EU will have a deficit of supply relative to consumption, and that slack will be picked up by South American countries if the Mercosur deal goes through. The Mercosur deal is incompatible with the European Green Deal, and it will be a disaster for farmers right across Europe. And it’ll do bugger all for farmers on the Mercosur side as well.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Katarina Barley
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Erklärungen des Rates und der Kommision zu der Verbreitung von Gesetzesentwürfen „gegen LGBTIQ-Propaganda“ durch populistische Parteien und Regierungen in Europa (
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Maria Walsh
Political group: PPE
Country: Austria
Language: EN

And let me share some harrowing reports. In Belgium in August, a study outlined one in four LGBTI+ people have been subject to threats or physical assault in Slovakia. Last October, two young men were murdered by a gunman outside one of Bratislava’s queer bars. We debated it right here in this house. In Finland this past August, in two different towns, where pride parades were being celebrated, homemade bombs were detonated. In my own country of Ireland, last year, two men were brutally murdered in separate homophobic attacks in the town of Sligo. And these are just what made the headlines. Growing abuse, attacks on the streets, discrimination online, local and national governments reneging, rolling back financial support for organisations dedicated to our rainbow communities – hell, even here in this House, politicians use in rhetoric that gay people are paedophiles and groomers. We are witnessing this anti-LGBTI+ rhetoric and it’s destroying the freedom and equality of our citizens. We are witnessing it, but our rainbow community are feeling it and are living it. We’ve a responsibility to stand together as Member States united and determined to protect European citizens from discrimination, irrespective of their sexuality or gender identity. And I call on all Members of this Parliament, of the Commission and the Council to protect fundamental human rights, to support the community and to denounce the spread of any anti-LGBTI propaganda once and for all.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Marc Angel
Political group: S-D
Country: Luxembourg
Language: EN

Many reports reveal financial flows from Russia and from American evangelicals, which support the so-called anti—gender movement. Annual spending of this anti-gender movement in Europe has increased by a factor of four since 2009 and amounts to over USD 100 million. And it is a sad reality that many populist parties and far-right parties, including in this House, are part of this shameful movement. Let me be very clear: there is no gender ideology; there is no LGBTIQ agenda. These concepts are figments of their imagination, trying to divert from problems for which they have no answers. We who fight for a Union of equality are merely defending human rights and promoting anti—discrimination so that every European can live a life of their choice, free from fear and full of love. They call us ideologists, they accuse us of spreading propaganda – they should take a hard look into the mirror. They are the ideologists; they want to uphold a patriarchal society at all costs. And I wonder, why are they so afraid of equality? Let me also conclude, being an LGBTIQ person is not an ideology, but it is an identity and certainly not a choice. But being homo- and transphobic – that is a choice, and we have to condemn that.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Pierre Karleskind
Political group: Renew
Country: Ireland
Language: FR

Je vous avoue que je parlerais volontiers d'autre chose. Je parlerais volontiers d'autre chose. Mais la réalité, c'est que ce n'est pas moi qui suis obsédé par le sujet, ce sont celles et ceux qui, depuis des années, comme cela a été souligné par mes collègues, en font une véritable obsession, et notamment la droite la plus dure dans l'Union européenne. Je veux parler des zones sans LGBT en Europe, je veux parler des lois antipropagande LGBT en Hongrie mais aussi en Lituanie, de l'interdiction de drapeaux LGBT dans les communes espagnoles, certaines communes qui sont passées sous la coupe de Vox. Je veux parler aussi de la modification des actes de naissance d'enfants pour supprimer une mère dans les familles de même sexe en Italie. Et en fait, à chaque fois, la droite dure tente de camoufler ses échecs socio-économiques ou politiques en ressortant compulsivement son obsession LGBT. Mais je veux nous prévenir quand même d'une chose, chers collègues. Que ce soit sur les bancs de la droite, qui là fait alliance avec Vox en Espagne, qui ici fait alliance avec Fratelli d'Italia en Italie, mais je veux aussi prévenir la gauche qui, malheureusement, avec M. Fico qui cherche à faire une majorité avec l'extrême droite, essaie de tendre la main pour des raisons électorales à cette extrême droite qui fera toujours de toute façon de la communauté LGBT sa victime et son bouc émissaire. Voilà, ils veulent nous invisibiliser, ils nous veulent nous cacher, eh bien, nous ne retournerons pas au placard.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Kim Van Sparrentak
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Being represented in the media matters. But the far right now wants to take this away from all the young people that are trying to make sense of their identity and their place in the world. But when you ban LGBTIQ content, you are simply telling them that there are none. It’s a message plenty of people in our community already heard at home, at school, and – shamefully – in this Parliament. For a kid, seeing someone represent you on television offers validation. It shows you you are not alone. It can validate your struggle seeing Eric in  I don’t think anyone should have the right to take this away. I believe we need to protect this and we need to protect the rights to being represented in the media. Actually, we deserve more representation in the media.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Jorge Buxadé Villalba
Political group: ECR
Country: Spain
Language: ES

Lo propio de las democracias nacionales es la igualdad de todos ante la ley, sin privilegios ni discriminaciones. La política y el derecho público jamás se han metido en la cama de nadie, pero ustedes parece que se creen con derecho a hacerlo. Las identidades que disuelven la igualdad de los miembros de la nación socavan la democracia, porque imponen lo propio autopercibido a lo común compartido y alteran la relación entre lo público y lo privado. Toda minoría identitaria pasa de pedir derechos a exigir privilegios. Y ahora estamos en la última fase: la de imponer el privilegio como una forma de censura y adoctrinamiento en las escuelas, las universidades, los medios de comunicación y las redes sociales. Pero cancelar ideas, cancelar personas, es exactamente lo contrario de lo que es Europa.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Isabella Tovaglieri
Political group: ID
Country: Spain
Language: IT

Fortunatamente questo Parlamento rimane uno dei vostri ultimi fortini. Elezione dopo elezione, in tutta Europa i cittadini vi stanno sonoramente bocciando l'agenda politica basata su asterischi e sulla criminalizzazione della famiglia, come dimostra la surreale discussione portata avanti in Italia su un innocuo spot televisivo. I diritti delle minoranze sono un tema importante e delicato che non può e non deve essere strumentalizzato politicamente per attaccare pretestuosamente gli avversari, come state facendo oggi, nel tentativo disperato di distogliere l'attenzione dei cittadini europei dai fallimenti politici vostri sempre più evidenti.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Malin Björk
Political group: The Left
Country: Czechia
Language: EN

But what do these two have in common besides being great stories for kids? They are both banned by Orban’s authoritarian regime. In the name of protecting children, children are being denied characters that they can identify with. They are being denied comprehensive sexuality education. Kids are being denied. It happens in Hungary, it happens in Russia, it happens in Lithuania. Now it is apparently on its way in Italy, run by the far right. Scapegoating is your favourite sport. You scapegoat lesbians, gays, trans people, queer people overall. But it is not the only ones. When you have the possibility you scapegoat migrants, refugees, feminists.  You know what? It is because you don’t want to get to work with real things, with real injustices, with equality issues, with making this continent and your country liveable and a good place for everyone. It is pitiful. We are in 2023. You know, get to work, protect human rights. We are the LGBTQI community. We are not going anywhere. We will demand our rights to be respected and we will also stand up for everyone else being scapegoated by the far right.
Debate: The spread of ‘anti-LGBTIQ’ propaganda bills by populist parties and governments in Europe
Date: WEDNESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Tiziana Beghin
Political group: NI
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, dopo i negazionisti di tragedie come quella dell'Olocausto e i negazionisti climatici, ecco arrivare chi nega persino l'evidenza, e cioè le discriminazioni di genere in Europa. Faccio qualche esempio. Polonia 2020: oltre 100 comuni, amministrati tutti dalla destra, si sono dichiarati "zone libere da LGBT". Italia 2023: il governo Meloni blocca le registrazioni all'anagrafe dei figli di coppie gay e alcuni tribunali cancellano retroattivamente il rapporto di parentela. Sempre in Italia, il Parlamento vota una legge che manda in carcere i genitori dei bambini nati attraverso la gestazione per altri in forma altruistica. Presidente, chi oggi in Polonia e in Italia sostiene che la destra non tocca i diritti dei gay mente sapendo di mentire. E adesso basta, e lo dico da mamma eterosessuale di cinque figlie. Come insegna il filosofo Samuel Adams: "Non abbiamo bisogno di una maggioranza che prevalga, ma piuttosto di un'instancabile minoranza desiderosa di accendere focolai di libertà nelle menti degli uomini".