unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Engin Eroglu
Political group: Renew
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Ich erwarte von der Kommission: In Hongkong leben über 7,7 Millionen Menschen, die seit 2019 jegliche Art der Freiheit verloren haben. Egal, was sie sagen, sobald die chinesische Regierung die Entscheidung trifft, es passt ihr nicht, geht es ins Gefängnis oder es passiert noch Schlimmeres. Wir haben diese Menschlichkeit und die Kraft und den Mut, Europa selbstständig zu erhalten und souverän zu gestalten. Ich bitte die Kommission, sich mit aller Kraft für die Menschen in Hongkong einzusetzen und das nicht wieder erneut hier nur mitzunehmen und zu sagen: Ja, das Parlament setzt sich für Menschenrechte ein. Wir müssen das. Wir sind die letzte Bastion für Menschenrechte, und ich erwarte das von der Kommission.
Debate: The new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: Renew
Country: France
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, evidentemente per le autorità di Hong Kong la repressione raggiunta dalla National Security Law del 2020 non era ancora sufficiente. Non bastava aver arrestato arbitrariamente migliaia di attivisti, non bastava aver riservato trattamenti disumani a molti di loro, tra cui Jeremy Lai e Andy Li. Non bastava aver costretto a cessare le proprie attività dozzine di media, giornali e siti di informazione. Non bastava nulla di tutto ciò, poiché i sogni e le idee di libertà del popolo di Hong Kong non si sono mai spezzati. Per stessa ammissione del governatore di Hong Kong, John Lee, la nuova legge sulla sicurezza nazionale è necessaria per garantire la stabilità della città ed eliminare le idee di indipendenza. Questo è il loro obiettivo finale. Questo è il risultato richiesto dalle autorità di Pechino.  E io penso che la nostra Europa non debba mai permettere che si soccomba alla logica del più forte, del più repressivo. Io faccio appello a tutti i governi degli Stati membri perché cancellino i trattati di estradizione ancora esistenti, perché facciano quelle pressioni che servono a far capire che noi non accettiamo il  Questo è il mio ultimo discorso in questa plenaria e vi dico che per essere rimasto al fianco del popolo di Hong Kong per denunciare la Cina, io ho anche cambiato partito e ne sono fiero e orgoglioso. Non smettiamo mai di lottare per la libertà in questo Parlamento.
Debate: The new security law in Hong Kong and the cases of Andy Li and Joseph John
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

President, honourable Members, the EU has repeatedly expressed its grave concerns about the national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in June 2020. Since then, hundreds of opposition politicians, journalists, civil society activists have been arrested. Independent media outlets were forced to close, many civil society organisations disbanded. This has seriously undermined the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. The new national security legislation that was adopted on 19 March threatens to further accelerate the erosion of fundamental freedoms and political pluralism in Hong Kong. The definition of state secrets found in the new legislation is exceedingly broad, and imports the definitions prevailing in mainland China to Hong Kong. The law features sweeping stipulations on external interference that are likely to affect engagement with international organisations. Other troubling aspects are significantly increased penalties and expanded powers for the police and Chief Executive. A bill including such far-reaching changes would have required ample time to allow for thorough scrutiny. However, the law was adopted hastily, only 20 days after the end of a one-month public consultation process. The High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the European Union on the new legislation on 19 March. All EU Member States supported the statement. This underlines the EU’s serious concerns about this law. The EU will closely monitor the application of national security legislation and the impact on the exercise of rights and freedoms by the people of Hong Kong. The EU office in Hong Kong is closely following the trial against Jimmy Lai and regularly attending court hearings. Andy Li is a key prosecution witness in this case. The EU shares concerns highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture that evidence against Jimmy Lai may have been obtained by torture. These allegations should be investigated thoroughly and transparently. The EU office in Hong Kong also regularly attended the trial against Joseph John, including the sentencing two weeks ago. Joseph John is a holder of a Portuguese passport and Hong Kong identity documents. He was arrested by the Hong Kong National Security Police on 1 November 2022 and sentenced to five years under the national security law for incitement to secession on 11 April. This case is another example of the harsh restrictions of freedom of expression in Hong Kong.
Debate: The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Roberts Zīle
Language: LV

Nākamais darba kārtības punkts ir debates par Padomes un Komisijas paziņojumiem par Ganas parlamenta pieņemto likumu, ar ko vēršas pret LGBTIQ, un ietekmi uz cilvēktiesībām, vārda brīvību un demokrātijas principiem (
Debate: The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

However, challenges remain, notably in the area of the protection of sexual minorities. The recent passing in parliament of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act, more commonly referred to as the anti LGBTIQ Bill, is an issue of concern in Ghana, as is the case in any other country on the continent and in the world. In its current form, the bill requires close review in light of Ghana’s international and constitutional human-rights commitments. The constitutionality of the bill has been challenged and it is currently scrutinised by the Supreme Court. It is also to be noted that the bill also still requires presidential assent to enter into force. The president has publicly reiterated his commitment on the respect of human rights, and has expressed his concern to seeing a backsliding on human rights in the event of adoption of the bill. Senior members of the Ghanaian Government have also highlighted the bill’s potential financial consequences and losses for the 2024 budget. We are therefore confident that Ghana will stand firm in the commitments it has made on national and international human rights.  The EU, together with Member States, have followed the matter closely since its introduction in 2021. Our position and concerns on the matter are well known and regularly communicated. Ghana has a pivotal role in ensuring regional stability and an increasingly volatile region, marked by spill-over of insecurity from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea countries. The European Union has succeeded in further deepening its partnership with Ghana, as it evolved from a strictly developmental partnership to a more political one that is fit to face regional political and security challenges.  It is therefore of utmost importance that we remain close and build upon Ghana and use already strong partnership to defend our common values.
Debate: The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Hannes Heide
Political group: S-D
Country: Slovakia
Language: EN

Regrettably, Ghana’s parliament passed a draconian bill in February that carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison for anyone who identifies with LGBTI+ and up to five years in prison for funding LGBTI+ groups. One year after the European Parliament adopted a resolution on global discrimination of homosexuality, this bill in Ghana risks the creation of one of the most restrictive LGBTI+ laws in Africa.  I call on the Commission and Member States to immediately engage in a dialogue with the Ghanaian Government and civil society organisations to tackle the growing culture of discrimination and intolerance.  I appeal to President Nana Akufo-Addo – whose speech here in the House we have fond memories of – not to sign the law, a law that is in stark contradiction to universal human rights, would undo all the efforts of recent years and jeopardise the stable partnership with Europe.
Debate: The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Michael Kauch
Political group: Renew
Language: EN

So I would like to see a clear response and not only monitoring by the Commission and the Member States. There have to be consequences in the cooperation with Ghana if this law is finally enforced.
Debate: The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Kim Van Sparrentak
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

We have to acknowledge that criminalisation started under colonial rule, and therefore we have a historic responsibility to speak up, to stand in solidarity with the community whose activism is ever-inspiring. And we have to call on President Nana Akufo-Addo to exercise his right of rejection on the basis of constitutionality. President: kill the bill. And Commissioner, thank you for coming, but I must admit I’m rather disappointed that the High Representative cancelled again on this topic. I know the world is a busy place, but this issue, these people, deserve to be a priority. So please convey this message to Mr Borrell: we need action from the Commission to protect our LGBTIQ family around the world. I count on you.
Debate: The anti-LGBTIQ bill passed by the Ghanaian parliament with implications for human rights, freedom of expression and democratic principles
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: François Thiollet
Political group: Verts/ALE
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, mes chers collègues, trois ans d’emprisonnement pour homosexualité, dix ans pour tout acte de sa promotion. La loi anti-LGBTQIA+ votée par le parlement ghanéen est aujourd’hui l’une des plus répressives d’Afrique. Elle suit celle adoptée en Ouganda, et d’autres pays s’engagent malheureusement sur la même voie funeste, comme la Tanzanie ou le Kenya. Ces lois sont un blanc-seing donné à tous les auteurs de violences envers la communauté LGBTQIA+. Les agressions homophobes ont d’ailleurs progressé au Ghana avant même l’adoption de cette loi, encouragées par des discours politiques ou religieux haineux. Au prétexte de valeurs, qu’elles soient nationales ou religieuses, ces lois bafouent une valeur universelle: le droit de chacun et chacune à la non-discrimination. Ce recul des droits n’est pas la seule affaire de l’Afrique. Au sein même de l’Union européenne, l’homophobie est régulièrement dénoncée dans la plupart des pays d’Europe. Les droits y sont même menacés par certains gouvernements, à commencer par celui de la Hongrie. Au sein même de notre assemblée, quand on défend les droits des LGBTQIA+, les groupes d’extrême droite se distinguent par leur silence, voire leurs outrances homophobes ou transphobes, notamment le groupe ID et son vice-président Jordan Bardella, comme le souligne le rapport de Forbidden Colours publié avant-hier. Ce mouvement de recul des droits est alarmant pour le Ghana, pour l’Afrique, pour l’Europe et pour la planète. La liberté de conscience, d’orientation sexuelle et d’identité de genre ainsi que la non-discrimination sont des droits universels.
Debate: Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Roberts Zīle
Language: LV

Nākamais darba kārtības punkts ir kopīgās debates par: - Jan-Christoph Oetjen ziņojumu Pilsoņu brīvību, tieslietu un iekšlietu komitejas vārdā par priekšlikumu Eiropas Parlamenta un Padomes regulai par iepriekšējas pasažieru informācijas (IPI) vākšanu un nosūtīšanu ārējo robežu kontroles uzlabošanai un atvieglošanai, ar ko groza Regulu (ES) 2019/817 un Regulu (ES) 2018/1726 un atceļ Padomes Direktīvu 2004/82/EK ( - Assita Kanko ziņojumu Pilsoņu brīvību, tieslietu un iekšlietu komitejas vārdā par priekšlikumu Eiropas Parlamenta un Padomes regulai par iepriekšējas pasažieru informācijas vākšanu un nosūtīšanu teroristu nodarījumu un smagu noziegumu novēršanai, atklāšanai, izmeklēšanai un saukšanai pie atbildības par tiem un ar ko groza Regulu (ES) 2019/818 (
Debate: Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Jan-Christoph Oetjen
Country: France
Language: DE

Das, was wir hier gerade im Europäischen Parlament diskutieren, ist: Welche Regeln geben wir uns denn eigentlich für diese Verarbeitung dieser Daten? Denn, verehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen, für Datenverarbeitung brauchen wir natürlich Regeln, denn ohne Regeln gibt es keinen ordentlichen Datenschutz. Das, was die Kommission hier vorgelegt hat, ist eine Standardisierung dieser Datensätze über die Frage: Welche Daten können eigentlich weitergegeben werden, wie werden sie weitergegeben, wo werden sie  Es geht aber auch um die Frage, wie andere Daten, das sind die sogenannten PNR-Daten, wie diese Daten, die zum Teil die gleichen sind wie die API-Daten, wie diese Datenflows gleichzeitig auf den Weg gebracht werden können. Uns als Parlament war es besonders wichtig, dass die Passagiere, die innerhalb der Europäischen Union reisen, dies ohne Probleme weiter machen können. Denn es stand zu befürchten, oder zumindest hatten wir die Befürchtung, dass bei der Aufnahme dieser Daten, was automatisiert stattfinden soll, in der Zukunft Schlangen an den Flughäfen vorgesehen werden müssen oder sogar Prozesse, die dazu führen, dass man eben nicht mehr einfach so online eincheckt, dann zum Boarding geht, in ein anderes Land fliegt und im Prinzip das grenzenlose Europa so erleben kann, wie wir es gerne erleben, sondern dass man Prozesse hat, wie wenn man in ein Land reist, das eben nicht Teil des Schengen-Raumes ist, und das wollten wir verhindern. Das ist uns so auch gelungen in dieser Debatte, denn wir haben am Ende jetzt einen guten Kompromiss vorliegen, der eben auch sicherstellt, dass dieses Online-Boarding auch weiterhin möglich ist, und das war uns als Parlament ganz besonders wichtig. Ich möchte an dieser Stelle sagen, dass wir einen guten Kompromiss gefunden haben, der beispielsweise auch biometrische Daten ausschließt, der einen hohen Datenschutzstandard gewährleistet. Und ich möchte mich an dieser Stelle bei meiner Ko-Berichterstatterin Assita Kanko – denn es sind zwei Berichte, über die wir hier an dieser Stelle diskutieren, für einen war ich verantwortlich und für den anderen war die Kollegin Kanko verantwortlich –, und bei allen Schattenberichterstattern ganz herzlich bedanken. Denn das war eine gute, produktive Arbeit, immer an der Sache orientiert. Vor allen Dingen ist es uns gelungen, sowohl aus Sicht des Ausschusses für bürgerliche Freiheiten, Justiz und Inneres hier im Hause als auch aus Sicht des Ausschusses für Verkehr und Tourismus die Ideen sozusagen zusammenzuführen und damit ein gutes Ergebnis zu bringen. Deswegen bin ich froh, dass wir das in dieser Wahlperiode noch abschließen können, und würde Sie alle dann auch um Unterstützung für diesen Bericht bitten.
Debate: Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

These new measures will make our Union safer and our borders smarter – objectives that most of us share with conviction. Air carriers will have to collect and transfer API data in a uniform way to all Member States of departure and destination of a flight. Member States will receive consistent API data, ensuring better border management in line with the Schengen Borders Code. When receiving API data before the arrival of air passengers, border guards will be able to pre-check this information against the Schengen Information System and other relevant databases. Pre-checks will allow border authorities to identify passengers not allowed to enter the EU, or passengers using false travel documents. Border guards will be able to focus on those passengers that require further attention, while facilitating the travel flow for the others. Therefore, border guards will be better prepared for the high-risk cases and travellers will save time. This is a clear win-win solution. By adopting the new regulations, we will be upgrading the 20-year-old API Directive, one of the priorities of the 2020 Security Union strategy. This upgrade has an important security dimension: it will allow border guards and police officers to close any loopholes that criminals exploit to date. The combined use of advanced passenger information data and passenger name record data will step up the fight against serious crime and terrorism. By analysing these two sets of data together, so-called false positives are usually reduced by half, which allows the police to better target their investigations on persons causing concern. At the same time, the work of air carriers will be facilitated by means of creating a single window – the router that EU agency eu-LISA will provide, to which all API and PNR data will have to be sent. Indeed, the establishment of a central router managed at the Union level is a major game-changer. It will replace the multiple connections between air carriers and the national authorities. It will bring significant efficiencies for air carriers on transfer cost and compliance with reporting obligations. Improved security for everyone, facilitated reporting obligations for air carriers: another win-win situation. In conclusion. I very much welcome the political agreement reached by the Parliament and Council because it is a very good one. It further reinforces the Commission’s initial proposals. It is a good example of productive and effective interinstitutional discussion. You have extended the router to passenger name record data in full compliance with data protection requirements set by the Court of Justice, and enhanced security in full compliance with fundamental rights. I call on you to support this political agreement for a safer Union and for smarter borders. Thank you for your attention.
Debate: Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Jeroen Lenaers
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: EN

Now, every year, over a billion passengers travel to, from or within the EU. And of course, this is good news because it means that Europe is and remains a very attractive place to be. But it obviously also comes with certain security implications. And we have a duty, all of us together, to make sure that Europe is as safe and secure as possible. We owe this to our citizens. And passenger information, especially when it’s combined with passenger name records, can really be useful to improve border controls, to reduce irregular migration, and to enhance our fight against serious crime and terrorism. And the existing API Directive has already really proven its value in this regard. But there were some elements that needed fixing. The uneven implementation in the Member States, and the fact that there was no mandatory collection of such data, meant that only 65% of incoming flights were actually checked in this way, making it fairly easy for those who wanted to avoid these checks to actually do so. This will no longer be possible. Everybody travelling to the EU will be subject to the same checks, and this is very important, just as it is important that we now can also use API data on intra-EU flights where this is relevant, in order to help our law enforcement authorities to do their job and keep us safe, and fully in line with the way we use PNR for the same data and in line with the Court of Justice ruling. Now, this is really an important element of the EU’s security strategy. It will close the loopholes that we see today and it will have a direct impact on the safety of us all. So I really look forward to its rapid implementation. And once again, thanks to the co-rapporteurs, to the Commission for the excellent proposal, which I agree, we actually managed to strengthen and improve in our negotiations and to all those involved, thank you very much.
Debate: Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Tineke Strik
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

So although API data collection is now mandatory, which we regret, there are also much clearer limits and safeguards. So I would like to thank both rapporteurs, Ms Kanko and Mr Oetjen, for this result and for the good cooperation also with the Commission. And we can conclude this cooperation in the very last voting session of this term, so congratulations for that.
Debate: Advance passenger information: enhancing and facilitating external border controls - Advance passenger information: prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime
Date: WEDNESDAY, 24 APRIL 2024
Speaker: Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: ES

Señor presidente, mil millones de personas entran y salen de la UE o viajan dentro de ella cada año y esta Directiva supone un avance en la transmisión de esa información anticipada sobre los pasajeros, que puede ser relevante para asegurar a los europeos la conjugación de su libertad y su seguridad y, por tanto, servir a favor de la lucha contra la criminalidad grave transnacional y contra el terrorismo. La preocupación de la Comisión de Libertades Civiles, Justicia y Asuntos de Interior en la participación en este procedimiento legislativo ha sido, como siempre, mantener el estándar europeo de protección de datos, que es el más alto del mundo, de modo que los datos cumplan los principios de proporcionalidad y necesidad y su transmisión esté asegurada por una agencia centralizada, eu-LISA, que es la que garantiza el cumplimiento del derecho en un ámbito tan sensible. El Parlamento Europeo, que hoy celebra su último pleno en esta legislatura 2019-2024, no ha dejado de crecer a lo largo de todo el proceso de integración supranacional y, por tanto, solo cabe concluir que el Parlamento Europeo continúa creciendo. El mensaje es claro para los que van a las urnas el próximo 9 de junio:  The Parliament is still growing. You ain’t seen nothing yet and the best is yet to come.