unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: José Manuel Fernandes
Political group: PPE
Country: Ireland
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, um cumprimento ao Senhor Comissário pela sua disponibilidade permanente para aqui estar. Nós temos um défice em termos de balança comercial que se tem agravado. São já mais de 400 mil milhões de euros.  A União Europeia reage lentamente quando deveria ser proativa e os governantes têm muita responsabilidade. A pergunta é: não considera que deveríamos ter investimentos em projetos estruturantes comuns para reforçar a autonomia estratégica da União Europeia?  Acha que o STEP vai ser aprovado e tem a garantia de que os Estados-Membros que tanto defendem a autonomia estratégica da União Europeia a vão reforçar? É que isto também ajuda a diminuir este défice da balança comercial.  Por fim, o acordo Mercosul não seria extremamente importante para reduzirmos as nossas dependências face à China? E os acordos, por exemplo, com África? Não nos estamos a esquecer destes dois continentes, a África e a América Latina?
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Valdis Dombrovskis
Language: EN

So we need to seek more reciprocity by addressing market barriers, which we do in a targeted way, as I was describing, but indeed also by developing strategically our own industry, our own production capacities, and indeed the STEP initiative will help us in this regard. So we need to work, I would say, on both strands seeking more reciprocity from China, but also strengthening our own industrial and production base.  I will not now go into the specifics of our trade relations with Mercosur and Africa as indeed it’s outside of today's topic of discussion, but it’s true that we need to seek diversification of our trade and investment relations around the world, strengthening our trade relations with Africa and the EU’s neighbourhood countries. It’s something which is outlined also as a priority in our trade policy strategy.  Our stronger engagement with Latin America, including Mercosur, is also of major importance in this regard, both economically and geopolitically. Because it’s true that if we will be absent from those regions, China will be there to fill the void – so it’s better we act proactively and engage productively with those regions.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Bart Groothuis
Political group: Renew
Country: Portugal
Language: EN

I was glad that you raised the issue of espionage and also cyber security in China and Beijing. Well, last week an EU institution, ETSI, which sets technological standards here in Europe, here in France, said very quietly, very silently, it was hacked. It didn’t say anything about criminal intent, ransomware intent. It was very quiet on that. Together with the cyber security agency of France, ANSEE, it made public that it was hacked.  Of all states, of all adversarial states, only China has a clear strategy to influence sector tech standards, to influence it, and to become less free and to introduce censorship in our technology.  What I would like to hear from you and my question to you, therefore, is do you have any technical artefacts from that hack, that point towards China? Is there any indication that China was involved in this cyber operation? Because if it was, it is unfair, like you said. It is unfair trade and competition. It is espionage, and it is another example on how the European Union and Commission should act towards China to reverse the low cost, low risk, high reward for China and actually do something about it.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Valdis Dombrovskis
Language: EN

But in any case, the angle of engagement with China on this was through their data-flow laws, which are intertwined with cybersecurity laws, with their anti-espionage laws, which present systemic barriers for making business for European businesses in China and which creates substantial difficulties in cross-border data flow. So that was the angle through which I was addressing this issue with China. But as you know, those broader cyber-resilience, cybersecurity issues feature prominently in the EU agenda. And clearly it’s something where we need to be on alert, where we need to strengthen our cyber resilience, our cybersecurity, because it is true that in a more digitalised world, in a more digitalised economy, this will become more and more important, both from security and from economical point of view. And we know that there are malign actors of different character in the world which are willing to undermine our cybersecurity, cyber resilience, and therefore we need to be ready and protected.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Susanna Ceccardi
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: IT

Signor Commissario, l'Unione europea è un grande partner commerciale della Cina: il terzo per le esportazioni e il primo per le importazioni. Quindi capiamo, è evidente, che la Cina ha intenzione di vendere, ma meno di comprare, chiede le frontiere aperte ma tiene chiuse le proprie frontiere. È una globalizzazione a senso unico e questo deve cambiare. Per esempio, l'Italia, con il governo del Movimento 5 Stelle, firmò il memorandum della  Quindi, il dumping commerciale che tutta l'Unione europea ha subito in questi anni, a danno delle imprese e a danno dei lavoratori, con la nuova strategia per la transizione  Poi, ha già parlato, giustamente, dell'indagine che ha annunciato anche Ursula von der Leyen, ma non ce ne potevamo accorgere prima? Perché così tardi?...
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Valdis Dombrovskis
Language: EN

Indeed, I would say in a generally more conflictual geopolitical situation, we need to be able to defend ourselves, defend our companies, when other countries are not playing by the rules. That’s why we have been developing in recent years our autonomous toolbox to deal with situations like this. That’s also why, when you look at the European trade strategy, it has three key words open, sustainable and assertive. So in this case, I would emphasise this word ‘assertive’ – that will be pursuing a more assertive trade policy in defending our interests and rights. On the anti-subsidy investigation on battery electric vehicles, there are two elements which are important for launching the investigation. One element is the presence of trade-distorting production-side subsidies, and the second element which is important is threat of injury for EU industry. Maybe a few years ago, as I was mentioning before, the market share of Chinese brand electrical battery electric vehicles in the EU was below 1%. So it was not a threat of injury for EU industry. But now it has raised rapidly already to 8%. So the threat of injury for the EU industry is there and we are immediately reacting.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Miriam Lexmann
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Thank you, Commissioner, for being with us. I have two questions. The first question is, after our ban of combustion engines by 2035, Chinese electric vehicles have flooded our markets and you have already answered to a couple of colleagues what measures the EU is taking in order to protect our interests. But my question is, is the Commission ready to review this ban? Should this be the only way how to protect our economic interests? Second, Beijing has quashed Hong Kong’s freedoms and autonomy, which also has a major impact on its standing as a financial and trade hub. There is even strong evidence that Hong Kong is being used by Russia to circumvent our sanctions. Isn’t it time to finally review Hong Kong’s autonomy, as was requested by this House on multiple occasions, including the agreement on customs matters, the status of Hong Kong’s office in Brussels or its membership in the World Trade Organisation.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Valdis Dombrovskis
Language: EN

As regards the 2035 deadline for combustion engine vehicles, it’s something which has been decided by co-legislators. So at this stage, I would not focus on reopening those discussions and reopening those deadlines, but rather focus on ensuring fair competition in the EU market, in which European companies are not at the risk of injury due to unfair practices by other countries. That would be my focus in this specific regard. On the question of sanctions circumvention, indeed, that is something that we were also raising with our Chinese counterparts during my recent visit. In the 11th sanctions package, we had three companies based in China and Hong Kong, owned by Russian nationals, which will be identified as special vehicles for the circumvention of our sanctions. Those companies are now subject to more stringent export restrictions on dual—use and advanced technologies. We are also working with Member States’ customs authorities to identify other entities that have been circumventing our sanctions through China or Hong Kong.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Seán Kelly
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: GA

Valdis, míle buíochas as ucht teacht chun ár gceisteanna a fhreagairt. It was said during the recession that some banks were too big to fail. I suppose paraphrasing that we could say some countries are too big to ignore, and China is obviously number one. For that reason, I welcome the EU-China High-Level Economic Dialogue. Now for my country, the Irish dairy industry is hugely important and it has been exporting infant formula to China for some time. But I think that is somewhat under threat now. So in your discussions with the Chinese, how did the discussions on the infant formula market go and what is the likely direction of travel in the near future? Because I saw an interview yesterday with the Ambassador to Ireland from China, Mr He, saying we should concentrate more on an ageing population rather than infants.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Mauri Pekkarinen
Political group: Renew
Country: Denmark
Language: FI

Arvoisa puhemies, komissaari Dombrovskis oli hyvä, että kävitte Kiinassa. Teidän asenteenne matkallanne oli mielestäni oikea. Täystörmäys Euroopan unionin ja Kiinan kesken ei ole hyvästä. Olen samaa mieltä kuin Yhdysvaltain valtiovarainministeri Janet Yellen, hän sanoi tämän saman. Täystörmäys Kiinan kanssa ei ole hyväksi Amerikalle, ei liioin Euroopan unionille.  Kun von der Leyen käytti puheen täällä EU:n tilasta, hän samalla kertoi, että ryhdytään toimiin, joissa katsotaan, miten Kiina tukee omia yrityksiään. Kiina oli jo reagoinut vähän aikaisemmin siinä, että germaniumin tuonti Eurooppaan, siihen Kiina pani esteitä.  Kiina suunnittelee myös kestomagneetteja, jotka ovat muun muassa tuulivoiman ja sähkömoottoreiden kannalta ihan avainasemassa olevia raaka-aineita ja tuotteita, myöskin niiden rajoitteita. Saitteko minkälaisen vaikutelman? Onko odotettavissa, että Kiina käyttää uusia tällaisia rajoitteita? Ja kun puhuitte yritystuista, niin muistitteko sitä, että Euroopan komissio on myöntänyt 4 tuhannen miljardin edestä jo poikkeuksia valtion tukiin Euroopassa?
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Valdis Dombrovskis
Language: EN

You mentioned the US administration. It must be said that also from the US side, maybe some time ago there was lots of talk about decoupling, but actually following the EU statements that we are not seeking decoupling, we are seeking de-risking, we see that the US is also now talking about de-risking their relations with China and there has been also some high-level US-China engagement in recent weeks and months.  On the specific question on germanium and gallium, as I already was mentioning before, we have indications that EU companies have requested licenses to export germanium and gallium. Those licenses are currently being processed and we are monitoring this development closely to see whether it actually ends up as an export restriction from the Chinese side.  When I was raising this topic with Chinese counterparts, all in all, they were making reassuring noises that companies need to apply and that companies will be getting those export licenses. So now we need to see whether this is indeed the case. But also it is important that we look at the broader diversification of our supply chains.
Debate: Question Time with Commissioners – EU-China trade relations
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Barry Andrews
Political group: Renew
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Commissioner, I have a question that relates to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. As you know, European companies are preparing for this directive, especially companies with supply chains in China. Many of these European companies rely on ethical trading audits. These audits are carried out by third-party companies, and many of these companies hire Chinese nationals to carry out on-site visits at factories that are within their supply chains. As you can imagine, it is very difficult for Chinese nationals to call out human rights abuses that they may identify in these on-site visits. It therefore underlines the deficits associated with these ethical trading audits. As we transition from the soft guidelines in this area to the statutory obligations in the Directive, I wonder if the Commission is aware of these deficits in ethical trading audits and what supports you can give, and reassurance, to European companies that rely on these audits.
Debate: Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Pascual Navarro Ríos
Language: ES

Nuestra principal preocupación desde el inicio de la crisis es la situación de la población civil en Nagorno Karabaj y la asistencia que puede prestarles la comunidad internacional. Como bien saben, más de 100 000 personas han llegado a Armenia desde Nagorno Karabaj a lo largo de los últimos días. Tanto estas personas como otros grupos vulnerables que permanecen en Nagorno Karabaj necesitan ayuda urgente, así como una garantía de que se respetarán sus derechos y su seguridad. Por eso, la Unión Europea ha pedido a Azerbaiyán que permita el pleno acceso de la ayuda humanitaria a la población civil necesitada y que reabra plenamente el corredor de Lachín. La Unión Europea ha incrementado su ayuda humanitaria en cinco millones de euros en respuesta a la situación actual.  La Unión Europea también ha pedido a Azerbaiyán que entable un diálogo amplio y transparente con la población armenia del Karabaj. Ya se han celebrado reuniones y esperamos que estas culminen pronto en resultados concretos y compromisos por ambas partes. Aunque la prioridad es resolver la actual situación humanitaria y de seguridad, también hemos pedido que se reanuden las negociaciones entre Armenia y Azerbaiyán en relación con todas las cuestiones pendientes, con el objeto de celebrar un tratado de paz. El respeto de la soberanía y la integridad territoriales, tanto de Azerbaiyán como de Armenia, es una cuestión fundamental para alcanzar una solución duradera, y la Unión Europea espera de todas las partes implicadas que respeten estos principios.  La Unión Europea considera que tanto Ereván como Bakú deben aprovechar la posible reunión en Granada, en el marco de la cumbre de la Comunidad Política Europea, para reiterar públicamente su compromiso mutuo con la integridad territorial y la soberanía de la otra parte, en consonancia con los acuerdos alcanzados anteriormente en Praga y Bruselas. Seguimos decididos a facilitar el diálogo entre todas las partes con el fin de garantizar una paz global y duradera que redunde en beneficio del conjunto de la población de la región.
Debate: Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Stella Kyriakides
Language: EN

The European Union is closely following the worrying developments in Karabakh and remains engaged at the highest level to help alleviate the humanitarian impact on civilians. The EU has condemned Azerbaijan’s use of force in Nagorno-Karabakh against its earlier assurances and commitment to seek a diplomatic solution. The use of force over diplomacy is never justified. As of this weekend, more than 100 000 Karabakh Armenians have left their homes and sought refuge in Armenia. It remains unclear how many will remain in Nagorno-Karabakh. The EU expects Azerbaijan to address the needs of Karabakh Armenians that remain on the territory of Azerbaijan and provide them with the necessary humanitarian assistance and security. Those who fled to Armenia need to be able to return to their homes in safety. The cultural heritage and property rights also need to be insured and protected by Azerbaijan. The EU has stressed that there is a pressing need for transparency and access for international humanitarian and human rights actors. We support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and we are awaiting the findings of a UN mission visiting Karabakh. It is urgent to ensure continuous, unimpeded humanitarian support both to those who are still in Karabakh and to those who have left for Armenia. The European Commission has announced additional funding of EUR 5 million to those in need. We are working closely with the government agencies of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as with our local partners, so that the basic needs of Karabakh Armenians in both countries are covered, including food, hygiene items and shorter-term shelter. Thereafter, the financial assistance, housing and socio economic assistance has to be provided. We welcome that Armenia has activated the Union civil protection mechanism. The EU and its Member States stand ready to provide humanitarian assistance in line with identified needs. Honourable Members, as expressed by the Council rotating presidency, it remains crucial that Armenia and Azerbaijan return to dialogue and show positive steps towards border delimitation, security, connectivity, humanitarian issues and the broader peace treaty. Concrete action and decisive compromise solutions are needed on all tracks of this normalisation process, coupled with genuine efforts from all those involved. The EU stands ready to support this process.
Debate: Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Željana Zovko
Political group: PPE
Language: EN

Azerbaijan remains fully responsible for ensuring the rights and security of the remaining Karabakh Armenians, including the fundamental right for those displaced to return to their homes. We need tangible international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh to monitor the situation on the ground and the independent investigation into alleged crimes committed against the ethnic Armenian community.  Furthermore, I strongly urge Azeri authorities to grant an unrestricted access to the UNESCO mission to the heritage site to establish the current state of the heritage that we have of ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh.  We remain committed to supporting the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and welcome the next high-level meeting scheduled for 5 October in Granada within the framework of the European Political Community. However, any attempts by Azerbaijan to exploit this situation to destabilise Armenia or engage in military actions on its territory will be deemed unacceptable. In the event of such actions, we will conduct a true re-evaluation of our relationship with Azerbaijan, and I call then to impose restrictive measures.
Debate: Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Marina Kaljurand
Political group: S-D
Country: Poland
Language: EN

First, the EU should reconsider its relations with Azerbaijan and make them conditional. We have to stop with appeasement. There must be immediate consequences for the Aliyev regime. A year ago, Commission President von der Leyen was in Baku, standing next to President Aliyev and praising Azerbaijan for being EU’s reliable economic partner. Today, the Commission must make it crystal clear that Azerbaijan’s actions – starting from military actions and concluding with forced displacement of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh that de facto constitutes ethnic cleansing – are not acceptable. The EU should stand behind its core values, international law, and rules-based international order. The High Representative promised a strong response. And colleagues, we have leverage. The response should include sanctioning of responsible Azerbaijani authorities, halting negotiations on a new EU-Azerbaijan agreement, halting the Visa Facilitation Agreement, and termination of the gas deal. Second, Armenia needs today the EU’s substantial political and financial support more than ever before. The EEAS should increase the capacity of the EU monitoring mission in Armenia and convince Azerbaijan to expand it to Azerbaijan’s territory. This can be crucial for preventing a new escalation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. It is time to upgrade SEPA and start discussing a visa facilitation regime with Armenia. And yes, Armenia should be given a clear European perspective in a longer run. I know it’s not easy, and Armenia has to face some challenging questions from Customs Union to the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. And finally, I hope that the human suffering we all have witnessed will have an impact on the coming meetings in Granada and in particular on the political will of President Aliyev to conclude a peace agreement that will bring peace and stability to the region, as well as protect the human rights of Armenians residing in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Debate: Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack and the continuing threats against Armenia
Date: TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Nathalie Loiseau
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: FR

Bien sûr, Bakou est le premier responsable du nettoyage ethnique qui vient d’être commis. Il devra en être comptable et nous demanderons que le régime d’Ilham Aliyev soit sanctionné. Bien sûr aussi, la médiation européenne a échoué parce qu’elle a voulu, de manière obsessionnelle, rester neutre. Desmond Tutu nous avait pourtant prévenus: si vous êtes neutres dans les situations d’injustice, vous avez choisi le camp de l’agresseur. Notre Parlement avait aussi alerté à plusieurs reprises sur la tragédie qui couvait, sans être entendu. Alors je vous ai écoutés, Madame la Commissaire, et vous aussi, Monsieur le Secrétaire d’État. Vous observez, vous espérez, vous vous réjouissez, vous restez prêts. Mais enfin, dans quel monde vivez-vous? Aujourd’hui, je vous demande de nous écouter, Madame la Commissaire. Une autre catastrophe menace. L’Azerbaïdjan et la Turquie n’ont pas renoncé à rogner la souveraineté de l’Arménie. Vladimir Poutine n’a pas renoncé à abattre le gouvernement démocratique de Nikol Pachinian. Jusqu’à aujourd’hui, l’Europe est restée passive pour le plus mauvais des calculs. Tarder à défendre une démocratie attaquée au prétexte que nous avons besoin de gaz, cela vous rappelle quelque chose? Vous avez raison, cela ressemble à l’Ukraine. Ne reproduisons pas nos erreurs. Sauvons notre honneur! Sauvons l’Arménie!