unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Natural disasters during the summer  - Impacts of natural disasters in Europe due to climate change
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Markus Buchheit
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, meine sehr verehrten Damen und Herren! Die Kommission hat vorhin gesagt: Aktive und praktische Solidarität sei kennzeichnend für Europa. Dieser Satz, der wird dann zum leeren Versprechen, wenn man hört, dass die finanziellen Mittel zur gegenseitigen Hilfe bereits jetzt aufgebraucht seien. Was nun für Forderungen kommen würden, das war schon beim Lesen der entsprechenden Artikel klar: den gesamten Haushalt der EU nun wiederum aufzublähen aufgrund des Klimawandels.  Meine Damen und Herren, diese Forderung ist falsch. Erstens ist für viele eingetretene Schäden eben nicht nur der anonyme Klimawandel verantwortlich, sondern sehr konkrete persönliche Ignoranz einzelner Entscheider. Zweitens sollten wir den bestehenden Solidaritätsfonds im Rahmen des bestehenden Haushalts weiter stärken, indem beispielsweise Gelder aus umweltschädlichen Programmen wie der Förderung der E—Mobilität dorthin umgeleitet werden, wo sie tatsächlich einen aktiven und praktischen Nutzen haben. Sollte uns das nicht gelingen, sollten wir keine ausreichenden Mittel zur Verfügung haben, um den Bürgern vor Ort zu helfen, dann riskiert die EU damit die vollständige Demaskierung. Dann heißt es nicht mehr nur
Debate: Natural disasters during the summer  - Impacts of natural disasters in Europe due to climate change
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Giorgos Georgiou
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EL

Κύριε Πρόεδρε, δυστυχώς και φέτος, μέσα στην πανδημία, ζήσαμε εικόνες βιβλικής καταστροφής σε όλη την Ευρώπη. Οι επικίνδυνες παρενέργειες της κλιματικής κρίσης αλλά και των πολιτικών της λιτότητας δεν μπορούν πια να αγνοηθούν. Αποδείχτηκε στην πράξη ότι ο μηχανισμός Rescue EU δεν μπορεί να ανταποκριθεί επαρκώς και ότι διαιωνίζει ελλείψεις ανάμεσα στα κράτη, ανακυκλώνοντας τα λειψά μέσα. Στην πατρίδα μου την Κύπρο, που επλήγη και αυτή από φονικές πυρκαγιές, δεν υπήρξε ταχεία ανταπόκριση. Δυστυχώς, τα ευρωπαϊκά αεροπλάνα έφτασαν όταν οι φωτιές είχαν σβήσει. Μπροστά λοιπόν στις μεγάλες φυσικές καταστροφές που αυξάνονται με δραματικό τρόπο, η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση οφείλει να ενισχύσει τις πολιτικές της αλληλεγγύης για την αντιμετώπιση αυτών των φαινομένων. Προς αυτή την κατεύθυνση, θέλουμε να τονίσουμε ότι ζητούμε να δημιουργηθεί στην Κύπρο Ευρωπαϊκή Βάση Αεροπυρόσβεσης. Η Επιτροπή πρέπει να στηρίξει αποτελεσματικά τους πληγέντες και πρέπει επιπλέον να διασφαλίσει επαρκείς όρους για τη βιωσιμότητα του Ταμείου Αλληλεγγύης. Κυρία Επίτροπε, οι φωτιές δεν καίνε μόνον τα δάση. Οι φωτιές απειλούν να κάψουν και την αξιοπιστία των πολιτικών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης.
Debate: Natural disasters during the summer  - Impacts of natural disasters in Europe due to climate change
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Lefteris Christoforou
Political group: PPE
Country: Romania
Language: EL

Κύριε Πρόεδρε, η κλιματική αλλαγή και η κλιματική κρίση είναι εδώ και πλήττουν ανεπανόρθωτα και ανελέητα ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη. Μετρούμε τις πληγές μας και δυστυχώς μετρούμε και ανθρώπινες απώλειες, καθημερινά. Φέτος, αφενός μεν ζήσαμε τις καταστροφικές πλημμύρες, αφετέρου δε βιώσαμε - και ιδιαίτερα όσοι ζούμε στις περιοχές του Νότου ιδίοις όμμασι - τις καταστροφικές πυρκαγιές. Η πατρίδα μου η Κύπρος υπέστη ανεπανόρθωτη ζημιά από τις καταστροφικές πυρκαγιές, δοκιμάστηκε σκληρά και προσβλέπει στη μοναδική στήριξη και ελπίδα που της απομένει, τη στήριξη του Ταμείου Αλληλεγγύης. Θέλω βεβαίως ταυτόχρονα να εκφράσω τη συμπάθειά μου, τη συμπαράσταση και τη στήριξή μου σε όλες τις χώρες και σε όλους τους ανθρώπους της Ευρώπης που επλήγησαν από αυτά τα ακραία κλιματικά φαινόμενα. Όμως, η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση οφείλει να θέσει το δάχτυλο επί τον τύπον των ήλων και να αναλάβει δράση. Ήρθε η ώρα, πιστεύω, να δημιουργηθεί μια Ειδική Μονάδα Άμεσης Πυροσβεστικής Επέμβασης, η οποία θα μπορεί να παρεμβαίνει άμεσα για να κατασβήνει τις πυρκαγιές σε ολόκληρη την Ευρώπη. Η Κύπρος ως χώρα προσφέρεται για να φιλοξενήσει στο έδαφός της τη Βάση αυτής της Πυροσβεστικής Δύναμης Άμεσης και Ταχείας Επέμβασης από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση. Καλώ ταυτόχρονα την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση να ενισχύσει το Ταμείο Αλληλεγγύης για την κλιματική αλλαγή για να μπορέσει αυτό να στηρίξει όλους τους πληγέντες και να αποκαταστήσει τις καταστροφές.
Debate: Natural disasters during the summer  - Impacts of natural disasters in Europe due to climate change
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Peter Liese
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Vor einigen Wochen hatte ich Gelegenheit, mit dem Bürgermeister von Altenahr, das liegt in meinem Wahlkreis, die Stelle zu besichtigen, wo der erste Mensch am 14. Juli ums Leben gekommen ist: Ein Feuerwehrmann, der gerade jemand anders gerettet hat und dann durch einen Unfall selber in den Fluten ums Leben gekommen ist. Und ich habe Menschen gesehen, die alles verloren haben, die ihr Haus versucht haben zu renovieren, ohne zu wissen, ob die Bausubstanz das überhaupt noch trägt. Und dort sitzt der Kollege Ralf Seekatz, der hat in seinem Wahlkreis das Ganze noch sehr viel schlimmer: Altenahr, ein Toter, Altenahr, das Ahrtal, viele, über 100 Tote. Und deswegen ist uns das so wichtig, dass Europa jetzt solidarisch ist.  Wir sind sehr besorgt über die Meldungen, dass das Geld nicht ausreicht. Ich glaube, wir müssen uns da wirklich etwas überlegen, Frau Kommissarin. Ich bin sicher, die Unterstützung des Europäischen Parlaments haben Sie, und den Rat müssen wir entsprechend herausfordern.  Wir müssen unbürokratisch helfen, auch noch mal bitte klarstellen, dass öffentliche Ausschreibungen, Beihilferegeln hier jetzt außer Kraft gesetzt werden, damit man anpacken kann. Aber wir müssen dann eben auch aus dem Europäischen Solidaritätsfonds Mittel investieren. Allein in der einen Stadt, die ich besichtigt habe, in meinem Wahlkreis, betragen die Schäden an der öffentlichen Infrastruktur 60 Millionen. Und wenn wir das deutschlandweit, europaweit sehen, ist es sehr viel mehr. Also anpacken und helfen.
Debate: Natural disasters during the summer  - Impacts of natural disasters in Europe due to climate change
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Cristina Maestre Martín De Almagro
Political group: S-D
Country: Romania
Language: ES

La Unión Europea debe intensificar sus mecanismos para reparar los daños y las pérdidas en las regiones afectadas, a la vez que se desarrollan estrategias más efectivas de adaptación al cambio climático. En este sentido, además de abrir la puerta a potenciales nuevos instrumentos, se deben reforzar el Fondo Europeo de Solidaridad y el Mecanismo de Protección Civil.  Las catástrofes de este verano ponen de relieve que Europa necesita un organismo de preparación y respuesta especializado en catástrofes naturales que trabaje en la predicción, prevención, preparación y planificación, así como en la respuesta rápida y más efectiva ante las catástrofes naturales, dotado con suficientes recursos técnicos, humanos y económicos.
Debate: Natural disasters during the summer  - Impacts of natural disasters in Europe due to climate change
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Domènec Ruiz Devesa
Political group: S-D
Country: Malta
Language: ES

La Unión Europea debe intensificar sus mecanismos para reparar los daños y las pérdidas en las regiones afectadas, a la vez que se desarrollan estrategias más efectivas de adaptación al cambio climático. En este sentido, además de abrir la puerta a potenciales nuevos instrumentos, se deben reforzar el Fondo Europeo de Solidaridad y el Mecanismo de Protección Civil.  Las catástrofes de este verano ponen de relieve que Europa necesita un organismo de preparación y respuesta especializado en catástrofes naturales que trabaje en la predicción, prevención, preparación y planificación, así como en la respuesta rápida y más efectiva ante las catástrofes naturales, dotado con suficientes recursos técnicos, humanos y económicos.
Debate: Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget -  financial year
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Erläuterung des Standpunkts des Rates zum Entwurf des Gesamthaushaltsplans für das Haushaltsjahr 2022 durch den Rat [
Debate: Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget -  financial year
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Karlo Ressler
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Expectations of citizens, reflected also here in the Parliament, are understandably high. The next budget has to be a recovery budget, tailored to support all regions, all sectors and all generations. With this in mind, cuts proposed by the Council are, in our opinion, wrong and unacceptable. They include a number of cuts in programmes with excellent absorption capacities. Some of them were already mentioned by the Commissioner, such as Horizon Europe, InvestEU or the Life Programme. This clearly goes against the political declarations, not only of this House but also of the Council. The cuts are therefore impossible to justify, and they are hardly in line also with the priorities of the Council Presidency. It is especially crucial to use additional appropriations in certain key areas: support the driving force of the European recovery and economy, small and medium enterprises. Secondly, reinforce future-oriented programmes in research, innovation and education, with a special focus on youth. Thirdly, to strengthen the European Health Union and fourthly, to boost our efforts towards a digital, green and secure Europe. With these aims, we propose to fully reuse the decommitments in the field of research as there is an unexpected amount of decommitments in 2020, which was not part of the MFF agreement. This amount must not be lost, and the Parliament really sees no good reason to waste this opportunity, which is clearly provided by the financial regulation. Finally, the events in Afghanistan will obviously largely shape our discussions on the budget, similarly as the discussions with the Facility for Refugees, and we will need to reinforce humanitarian aid, and this should not be done at the expense of other, especially external, priorities. It is evident that there is the need for additional financing following the recent events, and this is something that will be high on the Parliament’s priorities. Commissioner, Minister Delegate, in the recent Eurobarometer survey our citizens welcomed Europe’s recovery path in responding to the economic effects of the pandemic. Let us now meet the expectations and continue to build a strong and resilient Europe.
Debate: Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget -  financial year
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Damian Boeselager
Country: Slovenia
Language: EN

Minister, let me tell you that I have sympathy for your prudent approach and I myself and the shadows have applied that prudence in developing our position on the budget. We have spoken extensively to all institutions, we have looked at each budgetary line and we have tried to understand clearly where the needs lie. We made clear that this is not a time for unreasonable budgetary increases. But it seems to me that the Council and Parliament still fundamentally diverge in their approach to the budget. Whereas the Council is applying horizontal cuts, the Parliament’s reading is based on a detailed analysis of the needs of each European institution, which supervise, execute and implement EU law and policy. It is one of those needs that I want to especially highlight in this context. As you know, the recovery fund leads to an unprecedented flow of EU money to our economies. I have negotiated this law and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved. However, the Council completely ignores that additional money also requires additional supervision. In this context, it seems bizarre to me that the Council cuts posts and budget for the Court of Auditors and, by the way, also for the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). We should be increasing these budgets because European citizens demand that funds are not being wasted or defrauded. I also cannot understand why you would like to cut many other institutions like the Court of Justice or the European External Action Service (EEAS). All of those posts are, in our view, fully justified and based on the reality on the ground.  Finally, I want to remind you of the incredibly important need to reform and update our European institutions at all times to meet the challenges of our time. We owe it to citizens to constantly rejuvenate and reform from within. That’s why I’m incredibly proud that, with COVID, our Parliament has risen to this task and has started a process of internal rejuvenation and reform, which is actually ongoing as we speak. In open process, we have looked at ways in which to be better at scrutiny, we want to improve the committee culture and the hearings in the way they work and we want to strengthen the plenary debates to be more engaging and representative of our issues. I invite all institutions to undergo a similar process of rejuvenation and internal reform.  In the same spirit, I invite you, Minister, to push the Council to actually actively engage in the Conference on the Future of Europe, where these debates are taking place on a grander scale. It’s our shared responsibility to ensure that our institutions are ready for the 21st century and that we can actually work for the well-being and interests of our citizens. I can only hope that the Council and Commission join us in the spirit of responsibility, reform and rejuvenation.
Debate: Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget -  financial year
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Johan Van Overtveldt
Country: Spain
Language: EN

However, it is clear that at this point in time the signs of improvement of the economic scene remain very fragile. We cannot ignore the ongoing struggle with the pandemic, and also the fact that we are seeing the new Delta variant, we are seeing possibly a new wave.  But there are some things that do not seem to change. The Council appears for us the guardian of an outdated ‘business as usual’ approach, still following the logic of top—down cuts to reach a pre—determined overall reduction target. Concretely this means cutting across Union programmes and instruments no matter the added value, no matter the absorption capacity or the political relevance.  A striking example is Horizon Europe. We all know this programme. It has proven its success and ability to support health, digital, green and other objectives. This programme was cut by the Council already in the MFF negotiations, and from Parliament’s side we succeeded in getting back EUR 4 billion into it, but now the Council is proposing to downsize it once more, for 2020. This is not serious.  Also, how can the Council reduce the digital dimension, when achieving digital sovereignty is a clear and across—the—board shared objective? And how can it justify the cuts in the EU4Health programme? At the moment we are hearing that probably tomorrow we will hear about a new initiative, the Health Emergency Response Authority, with a budget of EUR 6 billion. So we are looking forward to seeing how that fits in with what is already on the table and what should come on the table.  It’s time for Parliament to define its position. We will be ready to enter into negotiations, as the rapporteur has already indicated, as soon as Parliament has adopted its reading in mid—October, with a clear objective that the 2020 budget is fit to face the challenges ahead of us. However, it is already clear for us that we need to revise the MFF in order to take into account the impact of, for example, the new Health Initiative, the consequences of the situation in Syria, and then of course also the recent developments in Afghanistan. There will be a lot on our plate.
Debate: Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget -  financial year
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Irena Drmaž
Language: SL

Današnja razprava je pokazala, da imamo kljub različnim stališčem o posameznih točkah proračuna skupen cilj – vzpostaviti stabilen proračun Evropske unije za leto 2022. Morda se razlikujemo le na način in vrstni red prioritet, kako doseči te skupne cilje. Želim opozoriti morda le na to, da Svet ni znižal proračuna nobene od evropskih institucij, le znižal je rast izdatkov.  Zdaj zato še bolj z zanimanjem pričakujemo stališče Evropskega parlamenta o proračunu za leto 2022, ki bo podlaga za oblikovanje stališč, o katerih se bomo pogajali, da bi v novembru dosegli končni dogovor. Vemo, da se lahko zanesemo na Komisijo, da bo delovala kot nepristranska posrednica pri premoščanju vrzeli med našimi stališči in predlagala uravnotežene kompromisne rešitve.  Unija kot celota potrebuje proračun, ki bo izpolnjeval potrebe njenih državljank in državljanov v obdobju po pandemiji. To pomeni, da moramo poiskati pravo ravnovesje med učinkovitimi in ciljanimi izdatki ter omejiti preveliko davčno obremenitev gospodarstva in prebivalstva Evropske unije. Prepričana sem, da bomo s predanimi prizadevanji vseh lahko pravočasno dosegli ta dogovor. Ponovno se vam zahvaljujem za vašo pozornost in hvala lepa.
Debate: Presentation by the Council of its position on the draft general budget -  financial year
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Danke, Frau Drmaž. Das Ziel ist ein Haushalt, der den Herausforderungen unserer Zeit gerecht wird und die Erwartungshaltung der Bürgerinnen und Bürger in die Handlungsfähigkeit der Europäischen Union erfüllt.  Die Aussprache zu diesem Tagesordnungspunkt ist damit geschlossen.
Debate: Situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: MT

Il-punt li jmiss fuq l-aġenda huwa d-dikjarazzjoni tal-Viċi President tal-Kummissjoni u r-Rappreżentant Għoli tal-Unjoni għall-Affarijiet Barranin u l-Politika ta' Sigurtà dwar Is-sitwazzjoni fl-Afganistan (
Debate: Situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Michael Gahler
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: DE

Kurzfristig sind wir uns, denke ich, alle einig, dass wir auch unmittelbar die humanitäre Hilfe, vor allen Dingen über die Kanäle der Vereinten Nationen, in das Land bringen müssen, um die voraussichtliche Hungersnot abzuwenden. Wir sind uns weiter alle einig, dass wir die gefährdeten Gruppen, die für uns gearbeitet haben, oder auch die, die im Fokus der Taliban sind, ob es Journalisten sind oder Aktive der Zivilgesellschaft, vor allem Frauenrechtlerinnen oder auch Lehrerinnen oder öffentliche Bedienstete in exponierter Stellung – da müssen wir dafür sorgen, dass die zu uns kommen können. Dafür müssen wir mit den Taliban reden – richtig –, aber ohne sie in der Form formell anzuerkennen.  Ich denke, wir haben auf der einen Seite jetzt die Entwicklungshilfe erstmals gestoppt. Da müssen wir schauen, denke ich, projektweise oder sektorweise zum Beispiel im Bereich der Landwirtschaft, ob es denn möglich ist, mit den dort verbliebenen Kooperationspartnern vor Ort dazu zu kommen, dass man diese Projekte doch weiterführen kann. Das muss aber einer weitergehenden Beurteilung überlassen bleiben.  Und darüber hinaus müssen wir uns darum kümmern, dass die Nachbarländer unmittelbar unterstützt werden, wenn es darum geht, möglicherweise flüchtende Menschen dort menschenwürdig unterzubringen.
Debate: Situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Political group: Renew
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

Complete withdrawal of NATO and partner countries’ forces, followed by the collapse of Afghan national forces, widespread demoralisation and paralysis of public institutions, left us observing a departing train. We are experiencing the worst-case scenario, which we strongly rejected just two months ago. A high price still to be paid, firstly, by the Afghan people and their vanished prospects of a better future.  Despite all this, multiple voices advocating for a different future for Afghanistan remain. They speak as women, courageously protesting in different cities around the country, journalists continuing work despite arrests and violence, resistance fighters in the Panjshir Valley determined to sacrifice their lives.   We have to admit that the peace talks only led towards institutionalisation and strengthening of the Taliban. It did not bring long-awaited stability and security for the Afghan people at large.  Today, our strategy for Afghanistan is to protect Afghans and our joint achievements. We have to secure lives of Afghan change-makers and civil activists, and to save millions facing poverty and famine. We must demand that the Taliban ensure the basic rights, in particular of women and girls, and we need to build solidarity among the Member States to welcome the Afghan asylum seekers.  Just like you, I am convinced that Afghanistan should not be led by radical mullahs but by educated, open-minded Afghans, who are oriented towards a common good.
Debate: Situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2021
Speaker: Tineke Strik
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

But we also must urgently act now because it is heart breaking to see how Afghan citizens are exposed to the brutal violence of the Taliban, with summary executions, arbitrary decision and the severe and violent oppression of women and girls. The Afghan people face an enormous humanitarian disaster with shortages of food, water and other basic needs. And those Afghan people were counting on us. So let us do whatever we can to protect them against the Taliban terror. So let us take our responsibility with a strong EU coordination on evacuations of people who worked for us or at imminent danger of Taliban persecution, on a humanitarian visa for those arriving in neighbouring countries, on increasing and ensuring access to humanitarian aid to Afghan people. Redirect developing assistance to non-governmental actors or international organisations to help the people but prevent any type of recognition to the Taliban as long as human rights are at risk. And on taking our responsibility for refugees, it is time to step up resettlement, facilitate family unification and prepare for the arrival of Afghan refugees at our border. They must receive immediate protection even if their request was already rejected before. The Temporary Protection Directive was designed to equally divide refugees between Member States and the Commission and Council must now fully make use of it. The Justice and Home Affairs Council gave a wrong and selfish message. Let the Parliament give the right direction. Dear colleagues, I look forward to a strong parliamentary resolution reflecting courage and solidarity that the Afghan population so much needs and deserves in these difficult times.