unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Tineke Strik
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Mr President, the Western Balkan countries must be able to rely on the EU as a partner, and in this case a partner in combating crime. If the judicial system is not resilient enough, organised crime affects all parts of society, including the state itself. This is also why we should be much tougher if it comes to corruption. Our EU agencies like CEPOL, GRECO and OLAF should give all possible support to strengthen the capacity to combat organised crime. But we must be cautious if it comes to close cooperation and data exchange on criminal and police matters, as this requires mutual trust in the judicial systems, which is at the moment still lacking. And this also applies to asylum. We must help and step up improving the asylum systems in the Western Balkan countries. But support in controlling borders right now may prevent refugees from leaving the country, even if there’s no asylum procedure for them available. That would be dangerous and seriously undermine the right to asylum. So we need to do things in the right order. Secure, effective judicial systems in the Western Balkan countries, including an asylum system, and only then can we start with mutual trust.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Dorien Rookmaker
Political group: ECR
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Mr President, before the EU imposes new requirements, it needs to deliver, too. That is how relations work. They require mutual understanding and respect.  Kosovo has been an independent country since 2008. It has since then been recognised by the United States. However, in the EU, certain Member States have still not recognised Kosovo for petty, nationalistic reasons. I fully agree with the rapporteur. Depriving Western Balkan countries of an EU perspective will worsen the situation concerning organised crime. It gives Russia and China the opportunity to further destabilise the region.  The situation in the Western Balkan poses a big and urgent threat to the stability of Europe. It can cause a new refugee crisis and even war. I therefore call on the European Commission and European Council to act responsibly and decisively, and take action now and start with the EU accession of Western Balkan states.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Sunčana Glavak
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, poštovani povjereniče, kolegice i kolege, Europska unija procjenjuje da su prihodi od kriminala na glavnim tržištima u 2019. godini iznosili 1 % posto BDP-a a u Europskoj uniji odnosno 139 milijardi eura.  Borba protiv organiziranog kriminala dio je procesa pristupanja Europskoj uniji zemalja zapadnog Balkana. Ono što bih istaknula kao veliki problem jest sprega političkih instanci krim miljea, dezinformacija na platformama i zato moramo pomoći neovisnim medijima i istraživačkim novinarima.  Želimo stvarnu i predanu operativnu suradnju s europskim agencijama koje mogu podržati njihova nastojanja u borbi protiv organiziranog kriminala. Sa strane Europske unije, važno je i financijski nastaviti poticati te države na njihovu europskom putu kako bi se suočile s problemom organiziranog kriminala. Ne zaboravimo, organizirani kriminal svoj profit ne pronalazi samo u putevima droge, oružja već trguje i ljudskim životima. To je činjenica koju uvijek moramo imati na umu.  Organizirani kriminal, s druge strane, opasan je i za demokratski napredak zemalja zapadnog Balkana. S druge strane, to je i prvorazredno sigurnosno pitanje. O njemu moramo posebno voditi računa. Što se tiče moje zemlje, Hrvatske, kao kontaktne zemlje s državama koje nisu članice Europske unije, mogućnost prekograničnog kriminala u posebnom je fokusu hrvatskih policijskih i pravosudnih institucija. Stoga moramo, kolegice i kolege, zemljama zapadnog Balkana osim onog financijskog, financijske potpore, financijskog smisla dati potporu u provođenju reformi.  Hrvatska je to učinila, međutim, moramo jasnije dati potporu građanima Europske unije od kojih su hrvatski građani konstitutivni narod u Bosni i Hercegovini, primjerice, i oni su građani Europske unije.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Thijs Reuten
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, organised crime and corruption are everywhere most harmful for the vast majority of ordinary citizens and most profitable for those elites who refuse to take action.  Projects like the recent Citizens’ Assembly on corruption in Montenegro, upon the initiative of this House, are good, but also the efforts of leaders who took responsibility instead of refusing to take action, like in Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, should be recognised with steps forward. Backsliding on media freedom and the rule of law, which are so crucial to fight organised crime and corruption, like in Serbia, raises concern. Organised crime does not know borders. Any delay or backsliding on necessary reforms is also our problem.  I welcome the work of the rapporteur, Mr Mandl, and the shadows. It should serve as a signal to our fellow Europeans to show where we stand: on their side. Impunity must end and citizens should be assured that they can trust their institutions.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Joachim Stanisław Brudziński
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! To jest sytuacja zerojedynkowa. Jeżeli chcemy, aby na Bałkanach Zachodnich – jak pisał jeden z polskich poetów – „byli czynni inni szatani”, jeżeli chcemy, aby Bałkany Zachodnie służyły takim satrapom jak Putin, jak niedemokratyczne Chiny, również niestety jak Turcja, do tego, aby destabilizować sytuację w naszych państwach, to zostawmy państwa Bałkanów Zachodnich samym sobie.  Taki proceder jak handel ludźmi, nielegalna migracja, handel bronią, handel organami, pranie brudnych pieniędzy, korupcja to nie jest problem tylko państw Bałkanów Zachodnich. My również dostajemy rykoszetem jako dzisiaj państwa członkowskie. Jeżeli zostawimy Bałkany Zachodnie samym sobie, to ci „inni szatani” będą wykorzystywali ten region naszego kontynentu, aby – tak jak swego czasu mawiał Churchill – dalej były „miękkim podbrzuszem Europy”, aby destabilizować sytuację w naszych państwach. Dlatego musimy uczynić wszystko, aby walka z przestępczością zorganizowaną na Bałkanach Zachodnich była walką również ze strony naszych demokracji, naszych państw i naszych służb. Jako były minister spraw wewnętrznych i administracji w rządzie Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej za dumę poczytuję sobie fakt, że to polska straż graniczna, polska policja wspierają dzisiaj walkę z przestępczością na Bałkanach Zachodnich.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Karlo Ressler
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, povjereniče, kolegice i kolege, organizirane kriminalne skupine tradicionalno su prisutne i na zapadnom Balkanu. Orijentirane na nezakonito stjecanje profita gdje zajedno s korupcijom predstavljaju jednu od najvećih prijetnji vladavini prava i prosperitetu za građane. Istodobno, organizirani kriminal u državama jugoistoka Europe često je i izvor ili barem tranzitna zona i za kriminal u Europskoj uniji. Budući da organizirani kriminal ne poznaje granice i ova je debata i rasprava o sigurnosti cijele Europske unije. Ilegalna tržišta, krijumčarenje droga i oružja, korupcija na svim nivoima i u svim sektorima kao i pranje novca glavne su manifestacije problema.  Međutim, ne smije se zaboraviti najciničniji i najcrnji oblik organiziranog kriminala koji proteklih godina cvate na jugoistoku Europe: krijumčarenje i trgovanje ljudima. To je nažalost postala jedna od najprofitabilnijih kriminalnih aktivnosti ali isto tako i sredstvo pritiska na europske granice. Povijesne veze između organiziranog kriminala i jugoslavenskog režima su također dobro poznate ali još uvijek je puno toga i skriveno. Zato pozdravljam poziv da se otvore svi arhivi bivše Jugoslavije a naročito da se omogući pristup dosjeima bivših jugoslavenskih tajnih službi.  U svim tim područjima države zapadnog Balkana moraju pokazati više, konkretne rezultate kako bi postigle napredak na putu prema Europskoj uniji. Treba nam bolja sigurnosna suradnja, razmjena sigurnosnih i obavještajnih podataka i snažnije uzimanje u obzir rezultata država u ovom području u kontekstu prioriteta politike proširenja. Ne smije se više događati da transnacionalne kriminalne organizacije surađuju bolje nego države članice.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Evin Incir
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: SV

Herr talman! Kolleger! Vi måste vända på varje sten för att komma åt den organiserade brottsligheten, som förpestar vanligt folks liv. Det inkluderar även på västra Balkan. Vi måste bekämpa brottens orsaker, likväl som roten till dem, för annars riskerar konsekvenserna att bli ännu värre. Människor betalar i dag med det yttersta priset – sitt liv – när den organiserade brottsligheten får verka.  Samarbete är grunden för utveckling. Det gäller likaledes i kampen mot den organiserade brottsligheten. I dag har EU, dess medlemsstater och länderna på västra Balkan samverkan inom områden för gemensamma intressen. Men detta samarbete kan och bör därför fördjupas i arbetet mot korruption och organiserad brottslighet.  Västra Balkan är en mycket viktig region för EU, och vårt gemensamma ansvar för säkerhet och trygghet måste fortsätta att förbättras. EU:s krav på reformer inom ramen för associationsavtalen är viktiga verktyg. Det är genom fortsatta kunskapsutbyten och dialog som en tryggare framtid säkras. Brottsligheten och dess orsaker måste bekämpas gemensamt och med full kraft.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Janez Lenarčič
Language: EN

All Western Balkan partners have shown commitment in this area, and this is fundamental on the EU path. It’s also important that they participate in the activities of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), and their participation should be further strengthened in the EMPACT cycle that is foreseen for 2022 to 2025.  The EU Justice and Home Affairs agencies as well are committed to work with the region. The new cycle of EMPACT will also facilitate joint operations with the Western Balkan partners.  So the elements are all there to improve our joint fight against organised crime in that region, and also it needs corresponding commitments from the region itself. We agree with the assessment that criminal justice systems need to be strengthened in the Western Balkans, that their independence and their professionalism should be enhanced, and we are working closely with all Western Balkan partners to ensure this.  I wish to conclude by thanking again the rapporteur for his report and all the Members for the discussion today.
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Marcel Kolaja
Country: Germany
Language: EN

The next item is the debate on the oral question to the Commission by Bernd Lange, on behalf of the Committee on International Trade, on implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme ( I should like to remind Members that for all debates of this part-session, there will be no catch-the-eye procedure and no blue cards will be accepted. Furthermore, remote interventions from Parliament’s Liaison Offices in the Member States are foreseen. I would also like to remind you that interventions in the Chamber will continue to be made from the central rostrum. I therefore kindly invite you to keep an eye on the speakers’ list and to approach the rostrum when your speaking time is imminent.
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Jutta Urpilainen
Language: EN

The EU has played a very active role in the past years to ensure the Kimberley process remains fit for purpose. We will, of course, continue to do so next year when Botswana will hold the chairmanship of the Kimberley Process. The EU’s persistent efforts aim to ensure that the Kimberley Process continues to play an important role in stemming the flow of conflict diamonds and in contributing positively to the lives of the communities that depend on the trade in diamonds.  The definition of conflict diamonds has been one of the most sensitive aspects of the reform cycle since 2017. The EU has led efforts in the past years to broaden the definition to ensure that the Kimberley Process remains relevant for the future. Despite the urgency to reform and the active engagement from many Kimberley Process participants, civil society and industry, unfortunately the necessary consensus on a new definition could not be found at the last plenary held on 8-12 November this year.  The Kimberley Process plenary, however, welcomed the extensive work undertaken and also led by the EU as regards the definition of conflict diamonds and invited the incoming and future Kimberley Process chairs, all Kimberley Process participants and observers, to take these efforts forward.  The Kimberley Process plenary also welcomed a non-binding declaration for a responsible diamond sourcing framework intended to promote key principles in the area of human rights, labour rights, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, countering the financing of terrorism and responsible diamond mining as best practices for the global diamond industry. Furthermore, the Commission may also explore complementary avenues to enhance responsible diamond sourcing in the context of its upcoming initiatives.  In support of its work in the Kimberley Process, the Commission has been funding, through the former instrument contributing to stability and peace, a number of projects aimed at ensuring better governance in the diamond sector, the development of alternative livelihoods and addressing unemployment and poverty. Building on this work, the Commission intends to explore under Global Europe, relevant thematic programme options to continue EU support to regional approaches through the Mano River Union and to the Central African Republic, and in parallel as indicated in the Commission Work Programme, the Commission has launched the preparation of an initiative on sustainable corporate governance to foster long-term, sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour.
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Iuliu Winkler
Political group: PPE
Country: Bulgaria
Language: EN

For the EPP Group, feasibility is key. We want to have a rules-based interaction at the global level with norms that are properly implementable and enforceable. Following the experience of the Conflict Minerals Due Diligence Regulation, we have to uphold and enhance the cross-stakeholder approach. Both industry and civil society need to be our allies in improving the effectiveness of the KPCS, effecting real positive change on the ground. And we, as the EPP Group, are of course particularly attentive to the specific needs of SMEs, because small and medium-sized enterprises are bearing the regulatory costs and burden of new regulations.  Finally, as rapporteur on the recast file concerning the Kimberley Process implementing regulation, I take this opportunity to call on the Commission to consider the European Parliament’s proposed solution to the legal deadlock of the dossier on the recast of the Kimberley Process.
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Kathleen Van Brempt
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: NL

Echter, de resolutie spreekt ook zeer terecht, zoals vermeld, over de tekortkomingen van het Kimberley-proces en de absolute verbeteringen die nodig zijn. Het probleem van de diamanten is dan wel sterk verminderd, het is zeker en vast nog helemaal niet opgelost. Eerst en vooral, en het is genoemd, moet het toepassingsgebied vergroot worden. De huidige definitie is te eng. Enkel ruwe diamanten die door rebellen gebruikt worden om hun strijd tegen legitieme overheden te financieren, worden beschouwd als conflictdiamant. Alle schendingen van mensenrechten, ongeacht of ze begaan zijn door rebellen, door het leger, door toezichthouders in de mijnen of door overheden, zouden gevat moeten worden. Dus ook dwangarbeid en kinderarbeid. Ten tweede, op het vlak van onafhankelijke monitoring en afdwingbaarheid zijn verbeteringen nodig. Inzetten op digitalisering kan en zal een oplossing bieden. En ngo’s zijn een essentiële partner in het Kimberleyproces. Ze moeten beter ondersteund worden. Verder is er een reëel gevaar van het verschuiven van de handel in diamanten naar een hub zoals Dubai, die het toch niet zo nauw neemt met de voorschriften. Dit zorgt voor een groot gat, een  Echter, en dat is natuurlijk het hele probleem in het multilaterale systeem, er moet bij consensus gewerkt worden en die 56 leden zien helemaal niet allemaal dezelfde noodzaak in van grondige hervormingen. De druk om te hervormen, ontbreekt vandaag de dag en daardoor ook het gebrek aan het grote succesverhaal dat het proces zou kunnen zijn. Hervormingen zijn dus niet eenvoudig en ik reken op de Commissie om zich te blijven inzetten om verbeteringen mogelijk te maken. Dit brengt me bij wat de EU zelf zou kunnen doen, want we mogen ons toch niet verschuilen achter die unanimiteit. Er zijn dingen die we zelf in gang kunnen zetten en dat is de essentie van het  Een zorgvuldigheidsplicht in die hele aanvoerketen moet ervoor zorgen dat schendingen van mensenrechten tot het verleden behoren. Ik kan niet genoeg benadrukken dat dus een breed voorstel van
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Svenja Hahn
Political group: Renew
Country: Finland
Language: DE

Der Kimberley-Prozess war zwar ein wichtiger Erfolg, um den Handel mit Blutdiamanten einzudämmen. Der Handel mit illegal geschürften Diamanten, die Konflikte oder Kriege finanziert haben, wurde signifikant eingeschränkt. Allerdings fallen auch nur eben diese Diamanten, diese Konfliktdiamanten unter die Definition des Kimberley-Prozesses. Gravierende Menschenrechtsverletzungen wie Gewalt, Vergewaltigung oder Kinderarbeit können immer noch in diesen Diamanten stecken, in diesen Diamanten, die wir an unseren Händen oder um unsere Hälse tragen.  Deshalb erwarten Verbraucherinnen und Verbraucher zu Recht, dass ihre Schmuckstücke frei von Kinderarbeit oder Ausbeutung sind. Dafür braucht es aber Transparenz in der Lieferkette und Nachvollziehbarkeit von der Mine bis in den Markt – vom einzelnen Rohdiamanten bis hin zum fertigen Schmuckstück. Dafür gibt es bereits wichtige Initiativen und Zertifikate von verantwortungsvollen Playern in der Branche.  Wir brauchen aber insgesamt einen klareren gesetzlichen Rahmen. Deshalb erwarte ich auch von der Kommission konkrete Vorschläge, wie sie den Kimberley-Prozess weiter entwickeln will und wie sie ihn konkret umsetzen will – gerade auch im Einklang mit dem geplanten Lieferkettengesetz. Wir müssen auch darüber diskutieren, Diamanten in die Regulierung zu Konfliktmineralien aufzunehmen. Die Überprüfung steht bereits 2023 an. Eine Aufnahme ist naheliegend.  Der Kimberley-Prozess war ein großer Erfolg. Es ist an der Zeit, ihn auszuweiten, damit wir sicher sein können, dass der Verlobungsring als Zeichen unserer Liebe oder die Ohrringe, die wir jeden Tag tragen und einmal an unsere Töchter weitergeben wollen, ein Zeichen von Verbundenheit ist und kein Mahnmal für Ausbeutung.
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Anna Cavazzini
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

The good news is, with the Kimberley Process, the international community has created a tool to fight blood diamonds. The bad news is that the system is far from perfect. First of all – and many colleagues have mentioned this today – it does not guarantee that the diamonds sold in the EU are fully ethical because they might still be linked to human rights violations or environmental damage. The diamond mining sector often displaces communities. It often pollutes the rivers people use for their livelihoods.  Secondly, the Kimberley Process only applies to rough diamonds, which leaves cut and polished diamonds completely unaddressed. We need to make sure that the Kimberley Process applies to all diamonds and that it acts against all human rights risks, not just those which are related to conflict and rebel movements.  As you said, the EU cannot of course change the Kimberley Process on its own. It requires consensus amongst all participating states. But what the EU can do is act alone whenever the Kimberley Process leaves gaps. As a major centre for diamond trade, we can introduce laws or amend existing laws such as the Kimberley Regulation or the Conflict Minerals Regulation, to make sure that diamond sourcing is in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This is exactly what this strong resolution is asking, and I sincerely hope that the Commission will listen to our demands and finally make diamonds ethical.
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Markus Buchheit
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Nun hatten wir ja bereits gerade andere Punkte, wie der entsprechende Prozess auch erweitert werden kann. Und ich möchte nur dafür plädieren, dass wir uns auch andere Produkte, andere Rohstoffe anschauen. Wenn das Forbes-Magazin 2018 über  Wir haben eine ähnliche Problematik, und wir haben einen eingrenzbaren Rohstoff. Insofern möchte ich schon dafür plädieren, dass wir, wenn wir uns jetzt um den Kimberley-Prozess kümmern und dafür sorgen, dass der Kimberley-Prozess auch wirklich funktionieren wird, dass wir dann auch schauen, wo wir dieses Erfolgsrezept auch auf andere Rohstoffe umsetzen können.
Debate: Implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification scheme
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Michiel Hoogeveen
Political group: ECR
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Since the beginning of the 2000s, an international cooperation of over 80 countries called the ‘Kimberley Process Certification Scheme’ has been in place to keep the global market free from these blood diamonds. However, we are not there yet. The Kimberley Process is narrow, with only one country under embargo. But even this embargo does not stop these blood diamonds from illegally crossing the borders and being sold in European stores.  Therefore, we support a revision of the current definition of conflict diamonds in order to include the social and environmental conflict-related dimensions of diamond production. We underline the positive role for the private sector in cooperation with the public one. Hence, we welcome the commitment by the World Diamond Council to the Kimberley Process. Job creation and income from mining communities is dependent on a stable, transparent and responsible supply chain.