unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Reinhard Bütikofer
Country: Italy
Language: EN

China’s policy is once more on our agenda, and that will happen quite often in the time that we have ahead of us, because China is pursuing an increasingly aggressive, oppressive policy. I want to thank the democratic political groups in the European Parliament and all the colleagues that contributed to the drafting of this resolution for their efforts, because it is important for the European Parliament to remain a champion of the defence of human rights and the defence of democracy. And this is even more important since the Council has been hesitating, to say the least. When we look at the facts, it is clear that oppression in Hong Kong is not relenting. Just the opposite: 64 democratic and civic groups have been dissolved over the last year, more than 150 democrats, activists, journalists are languishing in jail, some of them more than a year without having seen a court yet. The last free media have been muzzled. This is a situation that bears out the worst nightmares that Hong Kong democrats had when they did courageously stand up for democracy. But they’re not shying back: democracy is not dead in Hong Kong. It merits our support, and I call upon the Member States and also our colleagues in the national parliaments to join forces with us in the European Parliament in that regard. We should not be delusional. If we forget about what China does, China doesn’t forget about us. We see that in the case of Lithuania. China is willing to break all international rules to pursue its hegemonic imperial goals. Let us carry the flag of the fight for democracy and the fight for human rights. If it’s not possible in Hong Kong to have Fourth of June vigils, let us organise the Fourth of June vigils this year. Let us organise Hong Kong Day on 1 July this year to commemorate our courageous colleagues in Hong Kong.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Certainly, after the adoption of the so—called national security law, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was even able to tighten its autocratic grip on the freedom—loving population of Hong Kong, in particular curbing all manifestations of free political will and freedom of speech, and intimidating large groups of people. We saw this in particular in the run up to the legislative elections on 19 December and immediately after, with the persecution of all those advocating the boycott of the election. In the last days of December, the raid on the Stand News building and premises was just one additional manifestation we used to defend Jimmy Lai and others. Let us remember the Hong Kong people and let us broaden support for them.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Manu Pineda
Country: Czechia
Language: ES

Continuar con la actual política de confrontación, provocaciones, condenas y sanciones sería perjudicial para los ciudadanos de nuestros Estados: tanto trabajadores como empresarios están pagando caro, están sufriendo en sus carnes y en sus bolsillos, este enfrentamiento con una potencia económica mundial que no va llenando el mundo de bases militares ni generando guerras, sino que entabla con los demás países relaciones comerciales de desarrollo de las que se benefician las dos partes. Esta política de subordinación a los intereses del Gobierno estadounidense está haciendo perder a nuestros pueblos importantes oportunidades económicas, dejándonos aislados de proyectos tan importantes e integradores como la Franja y la Ruta. Sinceramente, no espero nada de aquellos que ponen sus escaños al servicio de Washington, pero sí hago un llamamiento a la Comisión Europea, al Consejo Europeo y al vicepresidente de la Comisión Borrell para que recapaciten sobre qué papel debe desempeñar la Unión Europea en este escenario: si debe seguir subordinada a los dictados de la Casa Blanca o si, como les sugiero, apuesta por una política exterior propia que se base en la paz, la cooperación, la ganancia mutua, el multilateralismo, y el respeto de los derechos humanos y la soberanía de los pueblos.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Michaela Šojdrová
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: CS

Ta situace je skutečně velmi vážná. Čína porušuje svůj závazek z roku 1997 o zachování autonomie Hongkongu včetně nezávislého soudnictví. Tato naše zpráva uvádí konkrétní počty i některá jména perzekuovaných osob: 139 uvězněných, 60 zadržených ve vazbě, 94 obviněných. Pročínská justice zneužívá zákon o státní bezpečnosti a postupuje tvrdě proti obráncům lidských práv i proti nezávislým médiím. Svoji činnost musely ukončit deníky jako  Evropská unie dlouhodobě prosazuje stabilitu Hongkongu. Očekávala jsem dnes, a bohužel marně, že ve svém projevu Emmanuel Macron navrhne konkrétní kroky, které by měly Čínu donutit k propuštění politických vězňů a zastavení represí v Hongkongu a k zastavení vyhrožování Tchaj-wanu. V tomto je usnesení Evropského parlamentu mnohem jednoznačnější a konkrétnější. Navrhujeme sankce proti těm, kteří nesou odpovědnost. Ratifikace investiční dohody EU–Čína musí být podmíněna ochranou lidských práv v Číně i v Hongkongu a dodržováním principu „jedna země – dva systémy“. Za současné situace si neumím představit účast politické reprezentace Evropské unie a členských zemí na olympiádě v Pekingu. Čínský režim zneužívá právě olympijské hry k legitimizaci svého režimu, který vězní, mučí a pronásleduje své občany. Díky všem za odvážná gesta odporu včetně tohoto usnesení.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Maria Arena
Political group: S-D
Country: Belgium
Language: FR

On a effectivement un certain nombre de mouvements prodémocratie dont les membres, aujourd’hui, sont en prison. On a énormément de journalistes muselés, on a la plupart des médias libres qui aujourd’hui sont fermés – on a parlé de Apple Daily, de Stand News, de Citizen News. Aujourd’hui, tous ces médias sont fermés et les seuls médias encore présents à Hong Kong sont des médias internationaux. Jusqu’à quand aurons-nous encore la possibilité d’avoir une voix libre à Hong Kong? C'est vrai, l’Union européenne doit être aux côtés de la démocratie. L’Union européenne ne peut pas être à côté des dictateurs et à côté des oppresseurs. C’est la raison pour laquelle nous demandons que la diplomatie ne soit plus aveugle aux violations des droits de l’homme, qu’il n’y ait pas de représentation politique diplomatique aux Jeux olympiques de Pékin, c’est un message clair, mais aussi que nous n’ayons pas cet accord d’investissement. C’est aussi important de pouvoir taper là où cela fait mal. Enfin, il est aussi important d’avoir un message auprès de nos entreprises qui sont en Chine. Et ça, c’est ce que nous appelons la responsabilité des entreprises, et donc la
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Marie-Pierre Vedrenne
Political group: Renew
Country: Denmark
Language: FR

Malheureusement, et cela a été dit, Hong Kong n’est pas seul: Taïwan et même un État membre de l’Union européenne, la Lituanie, sont les victimes de la politique chinoise. L’instrument anticoercition est une clé de voûte de notre action pour défendre nos intérêts et faire prévaloir nos valeurs. Il nous faut renforcer notre crédibilité, travailler avec toutes nos armes de dissuasion pour avancer. Monsieur le Commissaire, nous vous attendons.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Salima Yenbou
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Spain
Language: FR

Aujourd’hui, à Hong Kong, ces personnes jugées trop critiques sont harcelées, intimidées et jetées en prison. Aujourd’hui, à Hong Kong, la commémoration du massacre de Tiananmen est interdite et réprimée jusqu’à l’emprisonnement à vie. Le musée sur le massacre a été fermé et la célèbre statue le «Pilier de la honte» détruite. Aujourd’hui à Hong Kong, le pouvoir en place s’attaque aussi à la culture, à la mémoire, à l’histoire, pour mieux contrôler les esprits et les pensées. Il s’agit de gommer le passé pour mieux contrôler l’avenir. Mais tout cela ne concerne pas seulement le peuple hongkongais. Quand la liberté est piétinée, quand la démocratie est attaquée, quand la presse est muselée, c’est l’ensemble du monde libre qui est concerné et les libertés qui sont visées jusque dans nos démocraties. Face à cela, l’Union européenne peut et doit réagir plus fermement: suspendre les extraditions vers Hong Kong partout en Europe; organiser un boycott européen, diplomatique et politique des Jeux olympiques à Pékin; condamner et mettre un terme à la complicité des banques dans le gel des avoirs et des comptes bancaires des pro-démocratie et des médias; empêcher les exportations de technologies utilisées pour violer les droits humains; empêcher les investissements européens dans les entreprises complices de violations flagrantes des droits humains.  C’est maintenant au SEAE, au Conseil et aux États membres de se retrousser les manches et d’agir. Notre résolution du Parlement contient pour cela de très nombreuses mesures concrètes.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Silvia Sardone
Political group: ID
Country: Austria
Language: IT

La Cina con il suo comportamento rappresenta sempre di più una minaccia globale per i diritti umani. Ciò che accade a Hong Kong è inaccettabile e l'atteggiamento dell'Unione europea è purtroppo succube nei confronti dei cinesi. La Cina sta utilizzando il suo crescente potere per silenziare i critici. Non vorremmo che l'Europa si piegasse perché si trova di fronte a un gigante economico mondiale. L'arresto continuo di giornalisti, definiti "mele marce", sta facendo sprofondare Hong Kong in uno stato costante di repressione delle opinioni. Hong Kong, un tempo baluardo della libertà in Asia e nel mondo, è crollata dal diciottesimo posto nel 2002 all'ottantesimo posto nel 2021 nell'indicatore della libertà di stampa nel mondo. L'obiettivo del regime comunista cinese è di accompagnare l'isola sugli standard cinesi. La Cina infatti è al terzultimo posto su 180 paesi, con più di 120 reporter e blogger attualmente detenuti. La repressione dei diritti a Hong Kong è un problema che vediamo anche a Taiwan, nel Tibet e verso altre minoranze. È del tutto evidente che non bastano più le dichiarazioni di condanna, ma è invece necessario imporre il rispetto dei diritti umani tra le condizioni di qualsiasi tipo di accordo commerciale o politico tra l'Unione europea e la Cina, anche attraverso delle sanzioni economiche.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Bert-Jan Ruissen
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: NL

Wat eens een van de meest vrije en democratische regio’s in Azië was, is nu verworden tot een weerloze prooi in de obsessieve klauwen van de Chinese communistische partij. Nu steeds meer onafhankelijke media en ngo’s monddood worden gemaakt, komt de vrije nieuwsvoorziening steeds verder in gevaar. Voorzitter, waar gaat dit eindigen? Gaat de nationale veiligheidswet straks ook misbruikt worden om de vrijheid van godsdienst in te perken, zoals nu al het geval is op het Chinese vasteland? Vier religieuze organisaties in Hongkong hebben hun deuren al moeten sluiten. Voorzitter, dringende actie is geboden, samen met gelijkgezinde landen in en buiten de regio. Europa moet daarnaast een veilige haven bieden voor Hongkongers wier vrijheid ernstig wordt bedreigd. Raad en Commissie, wat gaat u concreet doen?
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

You want to talk about violations of fundamental freedoms, yet the concentration camps on the US-Mexican border don’t seem to exist. The US has illegally placed sanctions against about 40 countries, many supported by the EU. They are a violation of fundamental freedoms and rights of entire populations. Who are China sanctioning? China has just sent 4 000 tons of wheat to Syria, while EU sanctions are killing Syrians.  Who is authoritarian? The countries that punish entire populations because their governments are independent of Western influence, or the countries that provide a lifeline for these beleaguered countries so that millions don’t starve, die from preventable diseases or end up forced to become refugees? Millions of people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Mali, Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua all see their lives destroyed. Many of them see their lives destroyed by sanctions and actions of the transatlantic alliance. And you simply ignore these debts and repeatedly talk about Hong Kong, where, despite foreign interference and provocation, not one protester has been killed by the Chinese authorities. What’s wrong with us? If the EU wants to be taken seriously, if they are to have any relevance on the international stage, we need to break the link with US imperialism and we need to start speaking the truth.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Den Reigen der Sprecher im Namen der Fraktionen schließt Herr Fabio Massimo Castaldo Herr Kollege, ich möchte Ihnen für die jahrelange exzellente Zusammenarbeit im Präsidium und für Ihre Tätigkeit recht, recht herzlich danken und Ihnen alles Gute wünschen.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signor Presidente Karas, onorevoli colleghi, grazie davvero di cuore a tutti quanti voi. È con forte angoscia che commentiamo quanto sta accadendo a Hong Kong, mentre la vediamo cedere sempre di più sotto i colpi decisi di Pechino, che incessantemente e con metodo quasi scientifico attacca e limita la libertà dei media, della società civile e delle organizzazioni internazionali, lasciando veramente pochi dubbi su quale sia il suo obiettivo finale. Abbiamo pochissimi strumenti per supportare Hong Kong in questa improba contesa ed è per questo che dobbiamo usarli al meglio. Dobbiamo sollevare la questione in tutti gli incontri diplomatici sia a livello bilaterale che multilaterale, senza esitare a usare anche la leva commerciale per ottenere risultati concreti.  Dobbiamo anche ottenere quanto prima, come richiesto dalla risoluzione in voto, forti sanzioni mirate e rendere inequivocabile che l'approvazione dell'accordo sugli investimenti non potrà mai avvenire fino a quando non ci saranno anche chiari segnali di miglioramento nella situazione di Hong Kong e dei diritti umani in generale. La pressione economica e politica cinese è tremenda, ma proprio per questo servono la nostra solidarietà e la nostra comunità d'intenti per proteggere chi oggi non ha più voce, perché l'Europa che vogliamo, l'Europa per cui ci battiamo non potrà mai essere un'Europa forte con i deboli e debole con i forti.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Peter van Dalen
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: NL

Voorzitter, deze week is het World Economic Forum begonnen en een van de hoofdsprekers daar – die ook de opening mocht doen – was de Chinese leider, mijnheer Xi. Ik moet u eerlijk zeggen, ik vond het onbegrijpelijk dat deze dictator als hoofdspreker bij dat World Economic Forum naar binnen is gehaald. Want, het China onder mijnheer Xi is een schurkenstaat, en ik hoop met name dat de heren Pineda en Wallace dat goed in hun oren knopen. Mijnheer Xi is voluit actief om de democratie in Hongkong te wurgen. Oeigoeren, Tibetanen, aanhangers van de Falun Gong, christenen: ze hebben geen leven meer in China. En de Chinese regering is bovendien op grote schaal bezig orgaanroof toe te passen. Heeft u al het rapport van het Chinatribunaal gelezen? Moet u vooral doen! Orgaanroof. Op grote schaal. Onder leiding van mijnheer Xi. En dan natuurlijk nog Taiwan. Elke dag wordt Taiwan bedreigd. Heeft u dat ook in de gaten? Door de lucht, over zee ... Ik hoop dat u er ook even aan denkt, mijnheer Pineda, als het gaat over China als schurkenstaat. Dus: geen podium geven, die mijnheer Xi, zeker niet op het World Economic Forum. Maar er is één maatregel nodig: een boycot, een diplomatieke boycot van de Olympische Winterspelen. Daar worden ze door geraakt. Dan verliezen ze hun prestige. Dus alstublieft, steun de resolutie, want daarin staat dit duidelijk. En dat gaat niet alleen over ondernemingen. Ik hoop dat u zelf ook als consument eens nadenkt over wat u koopt, want als er staat “made in China”, probeer ik dat niet te kopen. En denkt u daar als consument ook eens over na. Koop geen spullen uit China. Denk daar eens even over na!
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: ES

Señor presidente, la lucha por los derechos humanos y por la democracia en cualquier lugar del mundo está interconectada, y nunca como ahora en la globalización.  Por eso a la Unión Europea le importa el deterioro de la situación de derechos humanos y de libertades en Hong Kong; porque implica el respeto al acuerdo, en su momento, entre la República Popular China y quien entonces era Estado miembro de la Unión Europea, el Reino Unido, para que Hong Kong se integrase en la soberanía de una sola China, pero bajo el principio «un país, dos sistemas», que ha sido flagrantemente violado en los últimos tiempos con la detención arbitraria de más de 150 activistas de derechos humanos, la restricción del margen de la representación y la imposición abusiva de la Ley de Seguridad Nacional.  No está al alcance de este Parlamento Europeo revisar la situación en Hong Kong, pero sí apoyar, como quiere el grupo de parlamentarios que formamos parte de Hong Kong Watch en este Europarlamento, la acción de la autonomía estratégica que debe liderar el alto representante Borrel para que no pasemos de la Guerra Fría a la Guerra Caliente, ni en Hong Kong, ni en Taiwan, ni en Ucrania, ni en ninguna parte del mundo.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Svenja Hahn
Political group: Renew
Country: Finland
Language: DE

Herr Präsident! In Hongkong erleben wir in aller Öffentlichkeit, was die kommunistische Führung Chinas von Demokratie, Freiheitsrechten und internationalen Abkommen hält – nichts. Der Abbau von „Ein Land, zwei Systeme“, der Bruch von internationalen Verträgen, das Auslöschen von Geschichte, das Inhaftieren von Journalisten und Demokratieaktivisten, das Untergraben von Meinungs- und Pressefreiheit – das ist Realität in Hongkong, und auch international macht China Druck auf Länder, Institutionen oder Unternehmen, die nicht genehm handeln. Das jüngste Beispiel: Litauen arbeitet mit dem demokratischen Taiwan zusammen und wird dafür wirtschaftlich erpresst. Und die EU hat immer noch keine klare, gemeinsame Haltung zu China. Wir dürfen uns doch nicht spalten lassen! Wer es mit einem Mitgliedstaat aufnehmen will, muss wissen, er stellt sich gegen die gesamte EU. Der Wettbewerb von Autoritarismus versus Demokratie ist in vollem Gange. Unsere Werte verteidigen sich nicht von selbst, das müssen wir schon selber tun. Und es ist Zeit, dass wir damit anfangen.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Hannah Neumann
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Mr President, Chow Hang-tung was sentenced to 15 months’ prison in Hong Kong for organising an event to light candles on 4 June. Like her, so many activists and journalists fight to protect civil liberties in Hong Kong, but more and more of them end up in jail, they are being beaten up with no due process inside. So dear colleagues, what we have here – the freedom to raise our voice freely – is quite a privilege. I truly believe that this privilege comes with a responsibility: to use this voice to support and protect those who fight for democracy and freedom. Well, it’s not as easy as it is here. We need flexible visa schemes for these activists; we need to increase our pressure on China. But there’s one concrete thing we all need to do: as long as our democratic allies are in prison in Hong Kong, as long as Uyghurs keep disappearing in Xinjiang, and as long as people can’t even light candles in China, none of us should participate in a political show in which the Olympic flame is misused to cover up grave human rights abuses. Dear colleagues, I can’t go to China anyway, because I’m under sanctions. Others are as well. But it needs more; it needs a very clear political message: a joint European political boycott of these 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and, Mr Commissioner, we have two more weeks to work on that one.
Debate: Violations of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Marco Dreosto
Political group: ID
Country: Bulgaria
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, colgo davvero l'occasione per fare anche a Lei le congratulazioni per la rielezione e il mio augurio per la Presidenza e la Vicepresidenza di questa assemblea.  Per quanto riguarda invece Hong Kong, auspico davvero che quest'Aula si trovi unita nel condannare le violenze del Partito comunista cinese. L'Europa non può assistere inerme ai soprusi continui di Pechino, sia nella repressione dei diritti civili, ma soprattutto in quelle che sono le violenze che costantemente vengono fatte. Come Lega abbiamo una posizione molto chiara in merito e anche il nostro leader Matteo Salvini ha più volte ricordato l'importanza di difendere la libertà a Hong Kong, anche manifestando in prima persona davanti all'ambasciata cinese. Ora dobbiamo dimenticarci di quello che è accaduto? No, dobbiamo essere ancora più incisivi in quest'Aula e dobbiamo contrastare le attività del Partito comunista cinese, che sta minando anche la stabilità dell'Indo-Pacifico con continue minacce militari a Taiwan e perseguita, tra l'altro, anche gli uiguri dello Xinjiang e continua a interferire nei processi democratici dell'Unione. La mancanza di collaborazione con l'Occidente si è poi manifestata anche nella situazione del virus del Covid, dove evidentemente non abbiamo avuto nessun tipo di informazione, e si sono aggravati con questa situazione i rapporti tra Cina ed Europa. Anche questo non lo possiamo e non lo dobbiamo assolutamente tacere. Per queste ragioni dobbiamo agire sempre più con forza e assolutamente senza paura: