unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The death penalty in Iran
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Pierre Karleskind
Political group: Renew
Country: Ireland
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, Madame la Commissaire, «partout dans le monde […] où triomphent la dictature et le mépris des droits de l’homme, partout vous y trouverez inscrite, en caractères sanglants, la peine de mort». Ces mots, je les emprunte à Robert Badinter, qui fit abolir la peine de mort en France il y a quarante ans. C’est bien cela, la véritable signification de la peine de mort. Elle découle de l’idée, purement totalitaire, qu’un gouvernement dispose à tel point de ses citoyens qu’il peut leur retirer la vie. L’an dernier, l’Iran a retiré la vie à 200 de ses citoyens.  Ce débat n’aura pas de sens s’il se restreint à une simple critique du régime iranien. Il doit aussi nous servir à comprendre qui nous sommes, nous, les Européens. Nous appartenons, face à la barbarie, à un territoire d’humanité, où la dignité de chaque individu est respectée; face à l’arbitraire, à un territoire de justice, qui a tourné ses pages sanglantes et en a fini avec ses exécutions furtives, vengeresses et honteuses; face au totalitarisme, à un continent de liberté, où l’on ne craint pas d’être tué pour ce que l’on est, pour ce que l’on pense, pour qui l’on aime et pour ce en quoi l’on croit.  C’est cela que nous sommes et que ce débat doit nous rappeler, et c’est pour cela que nous devons nous battre: pour que, un jour, à son tour, le peuple iranien puisse fièrement se libérer du joug totalitaire et vivre dans un pays d’humanité, de liberté et de justice.
Debate: The death penalty in Iran
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Helena Dalli
Language: EN

The EU follows the human rights situation in Iran very closely, and the current pace of executions in the country is a matter of concern, with more than 200 individuals executed every year, including juvenile offenders, dissidents and protesters.  The EU’s policy approach towards Iran is also well known. It is a balanced and comprehensive policy approach, with a view to addressing all issues of concern. This includes, of course, the use of the death penalty, which is regularly addressed in the exchanges with the Iranian authorities. The situation of juvenile offenders at risk of execution in Iran requires the most urgent attention. We strongly and publicly condemned the execution of Arman Abdolali last November. He was 17 at the time of the alleged offence.  We continue to urge Iran to respect its international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibit, in absolute terms, the imposition of the death penalty for crimes committed by persons aged under 18 years at the time of the alleged offence. The use of the death penalty against political dissidents and protesters is also a matter of great concern.  We continue to urge the Iranian authorities to guarantee the full range of fundamental rights for their citizens, irrespective of religion, belief or any other status, including the right to assemble and to express grievances in a non-violent manner. Fundamental rights, such as freedom of opinion and expression, must always be respected.  We also believe that it is imperative for the Iranian authorities to uphold the due process rights of the accused individuals and ensure that those who are under any form of detention or imprisonment are not subject to any form of mistreatment. I know many of you vividly remember the case of the Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari.  Since 2021, the EU has adopted restrictive measures related to violations of human rights, extended ever since on an annual basis currently until 13 April 2022. These measures consist of a travel ban and an asset freeze and a ban on exports to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunication.  In addition, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to the listed individuals and entities. The list now comprises a total of 89 individuals and four entities.  In line with its traditional stance in multilateral fora, including the UN, the EU will spare no effort to urge the Iranian authorities to pursue a consistent policy towards the abolition of capital punishment, and we will also continue to publicly condemn the death penalty, in particular for juvenile offenders, protesters and dissidents. The EU will continue to address, as appropriate, all issues of concern with the Iranian authorities as part of its balanced and comprehensive engagement with Iran.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Željana Zovko
Language: EN

This morning, we have heard the official announcement of President Macron about the coordinated departure of French troops and their European allies from Mali. Although we cannot predict the consequences of this decision, as a security partner to Africa we should be cautious not to allow the extremists to take upper hand in the region.  In this light, I express my concern about the recent coup d'état in Burkina Faso. I call on the military leadership to continue working on the transition process and to return to a democratic system with respect for constitutional order. I also call for the immediate release from house arrest of President Kaboré.  The protection and safety of civilians is one of the key tasks of any government. Human rights should be respected. The authorities in Burkina Faso play a crucial role in combating terrorist organisations and in facilitating the work of humanitarian organisations. In both aspects, the country benefits from close partnership with the international community.  Today, the EU–African Summit starts in Brussels, and I call on the leaders to reconfirm their commitment to the security of the African continent and work together on the common challenges.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Maria Arena
Country: Belgium
Language: FR

On ne peut pas être surpris si les tensions n’ont fait qu’augmenter dans le pays. La population du Burkina Faso est fatiguée face au manque pérenne de sécurité et de stabilité. Comme celles des autres pays de la région du Sahel, elle vit dans un état de désillusion très forte vis-à-vis du système électoral, de la gouvernance, mais aussi de la présence des forces étrangères, qu’elle considère comme inefficaces pour ce qui est de régler les problèmes de sécurité dans cette région.  Nous devons donc insister, par cette résolution, sur le développement politique prioritaire, sans lequel il ne sera pas possible de revenir à une situation de stabilité, mais aussi de confiance dans les institutions.  Pour commencer, nous demandons une libération immédiate du président Roch Marc Kaboré, avant toute discussion avec les autorités en place. Ensuite, il faudra que toute la communauté internationale, y compris le Service d’action extérieure et la Commission européenne, s’engage à dialoguer avec les autorités burkinabè pour assurer une transition pacifique rapide entre le gouvernement militaire et un gouvernement civil, garantie du retour à l’ordre constitutionnel, en insistant sur l’importance de donner priorité à la mise en place d’un nouveau processus électoral qui repose sur les principes de l’inclusion et de la transparence.  Le Burkina Faso devra entreprendre la voie d’un dialogue inclusif qui associe la société civile sur la base d’une vision partagée pour le développement démocratique du pays. Il faudra que le respect des droits humains soit prioritaire dans toute discussion, et nous devons encourager la Coordination nationale pour une transition réussie, composée de sept organisations de la société civile, à superviser les autorités en place pour le développement du pays.  Il est clair que l’état de la démocratie dans plusieurs pays d’Afrique de l’Ouest est préoccupant. Nous sommes appelés à contribuer, par notre engagement politique, à une réflexion profonde sur la manière d’encourager les processus démocratiques dans la région, en nous assurant que les organisations des droits humains puissent y jouer un rôle très actif.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Jan-Christoph Oetjen
Country: France
Language: DE

Und ich finde, dass wir als Europäer uns auch ein Stück weit fragen müssen: Was ist denn eigentlich die Rolle, die wir in der Region gespielt haben und in der Zukunft spielen wollen? Wir diskutieren die Frage dieser Rolle der Europäischen Union auf dem Gipfel gemeinsam mit der Afrikanischen Union. Und ich wünsche mir, dass wir als Europäische Union ein Partner auf Augenhöhe mit den afrikanischen Ländern sind und unseren Beitrag dazu leisten, dass die Region wieder zu Stabilität und Sicherheit zurückkehren kann. Denn die Situation in Burkina Faso, über die wir heute sprechen, ist geprägt von einer Vielzahl terroristischer Angriffe. Es ist gerade schon gesagt worden von Maria Arena: etwa 7 000 Opfer, 1,5 Millionen Vertriebene in dem Land. Und diese Situation der Unsicherheit, diese terroristischen Attacken sind für die Bevölkerung eine unerträgliche Situation gewesen, sodass dieser Staatsstreich ein Stück weit eine Reaktion auf das Gefühl der mangelnden Sicherheit ist, die von der Regierung Burkina Fasos nicht gewährleistet werden konnte. Ich möchte an dieser Stelle auch sagen, dass wir nicht vernachlässigen oder nicht aus den Augen verlieren dürfen, dass in der Region auch russische Söldner von der  J’invite les Burkinabè à retrouver le chemin de la démocratie et à retourner à l’ordre constitutionnel. Je demande aux militaires qui sont au pouvoir actuellement de garantir une transition pacifique, avec un calendrier clair, pour le retour à des élections ou à un processus électoral clairs et démocratiques, pour que le Burkina Faso puisse rentrer dans le rang des démocraties. Sur ce chemin, dans cette quête, le Burkina Faso aura tout le soutien de l’Union européenne.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Jordi Solé
Country: Bulgaria
Language: EN

The underlying reason behind Ouagadougou coup is a growing insecurity caused by the jihadist insurgency in the north, which the Government failed to contain, and indeed putting an end to terrorism in the country and in the whole Sahel region is a priority. But Burkina Faso is facing multiple crises resulting from the compounding effects of deep poverty, food insecurity, conflict, forced displacements, climate change, poor governance and equal access to basic services. Focusing only on security concerns will not pull the country out from its deep crisis.  The fact that the President Kaboré’s overthrow was rather met with contempt by a majority of the population does not make it a better kind of coup. Soldiers claiming to be better fit than civilians to take political decisions is never the right answer. The coup has to be rightly condemned, and we have to insist on the immediate release of President Kaboré, a swift return to civilian government, and the fact that the interim government respect its international commitments, notably as regards human rights, while also facilitating the work of humanitarian organisations.  Apart from that, we will have to react with a kind of principled pragmatism that can contribute to stabilising the country. We have join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union in demanding that the new government provides, with the shortest delay possible, a roadmap for a return to the constitutional order. We need to receive solid guarantees of  that and, if we get them, we have to engage and maintain dialogue, as the resolution proposes, to make sure the new authorities live up to their promises. Otherwise, we might end up having the same situation as in Mali, where the regime made similar pledges after the coup yet it ended up hardening their stance, resorting to Russian help and postponing the return to democracy. This would be a bad outcome for the Burkinabé population, but also for the region at large.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Assita Kanko
Country: France
Language: EN

If Africa does not succeed, I can tell you one thing, Europe will fail, said President Macron. I welcome this statement, but I regret that Europe is 60 years late and is now still sleepwalking. Europe is a true zombie in Africa. Why don’t we believe reality when we see it?  Dear colleagues, we must not only stop paternalism, we must also believe reality when we see it. We were wrong yesterday to ignore it when it started in Syria, and we are wrong today to deny it when it keeps spreading in the Sahel. Radical Islam, it’s a poison that eats a society faster than we take time denying it. But it has nothing to do with Islam – some people keep saying until it becomes too late. But I’m telling you civilisations do not collapse all at once, but gradually lose their building blocks and pillars until eventually an empty shell remains.  Today, Burkina Faso is even less than its own empty shell. Because of radical Islam, because of Western debt aid money that feeds corruption, because of global eyes shut while Islamism progresses everywhere, because of the western weakness towards China and Russia, because of paternalism like we still see today and tomorrow in the EU-Africa Summit.  All children should be able to play together beyond religious boundaries and know the warmth of a safe home, not the ordeal of a displaced life. Families should share meals over various religious celebrations, not fight over a vicious religious divide. Women and girls are persons, not objects. Businesses must have room to grow and give young people perspectives.  But today, the peaceful, joyful, secular Burkina Faso I have known as a child does no longer exist. The international community failed to anticipate. But as lawmakers, we do not have the right to be surprised, we should always anticipate. The first thing we must do now is to finally open our eyes because if the Sahel is defeated, it is us too who are defeated.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Manu Pineda
Country: Czechia
Language: ES

Sin duda es lamentable que en pleno siglo XXI debamos seguir condenando la injerencia y la explotación económica de las antiguas potencias coloniales y, en muchos casos, su contribución a generar conflictos o golpes de Estado. Precisamente, los últimos procesos políticos en Burkina Faso habían contribuido a impulsar un gobierno de unidad nacional que ha sido derrocado por este golpe de Estado militar, alejando así la posibilidad de democratización del país, contribuyendo al auge de la violencia integrista. Por ello, es imprescindible que desde esta Institución defendamos la soberanía de los pueblos y su derecho a gobernarse, y condenemos cualquier atentado o golpe a su decisión soberana.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Dominique Bilde
Country: Germany
Language: FR

S’y ajoutent, d’une part, les persécutions des chrétiens, qui constituent plus de 20 % de la population burkinabè, et, d’autre part, l’enrôlement de plus en plus fréquent des enfants par les groupes terroristes, justifiant l’ajout du pays au rapport annuel de l’ONU sur les enfants et les conflits armés. Une génération entière est ainsi en passe d’être privée d’éducation et, pour tout dire, d’avenir, outre le 1,3 million et quelque de personnes déplacées dans leur propre pays. Tout ceci est désolant; mais à qui la faute? La France a porté courageusement et à bout de bras une vaste opération antiterroriste au Sahel depuis 2014. Barkhane aura coûté la vie à 58 de nos fils, sans compter les nombreux blessés, victimes des lâches attaques à l’engin explosif privilégiées par les terroristes. Tout cela pour se heurter à l’obsession haineuse de populations chauffées à blanc par les réseaux sociaux et à l’ingratitude sidérante de la junte malienne au pouvoir. L’avenir dira si l’attitude du lieutenant-colonel burkinabè, déclaré hier président, sera à l’avenant. Reste que les attentats des mardi 8 et jeudi 10 février au Bénin, dont les auteurs ont été neutralisés au Burkina Faso, ont confirmé que la déstabilisation de ce pays recèle le risque d’embrasement de l’ensemble de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. La France devra donc, à la suite de son retrait du Mali, reconfigurer son dispositif militaire. Quant à l’Union européenne et aux États membres, manifestement peu soucieux de la seconder dans cette périlleuse mission, ils devront tout du moins s’efforcer de ne pas souffler sur les braises en ajoutant au chaos sécuritaire l’impasse politique.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Jiří Pospíšil
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: CS

Je těžké najít řešení pro takovouto obrovskou sociální a ekonomickou katastrofu. Můžeme pomoci v nalezení cesty k demokracii, můžeme se účastnit onoho dialogu, ale je zřejmé, že to hlavní, s čím můžeme pomoci, je ekonomická pomoc, aby alespoň obyvatelé, kteří opouštějí venkov Burkiny Faso, který se čím dál více vysídluje i díky ekologickým a přírodním změnám, tak aby tito lidé alespoň tedy netrpěli tím nejhorším – hladem. Není to jednoduché řešení, je to opravdu velká tragédie a je třeba, aby Komise a obecně EU přemýšlela, jak tomuto regionu výrazněji pomoci. Ale opět opakuji, není to pouze o odchodu vojáků, kteří se i po protestech obyvatelstva, to je třeba říci, před několika týdny chopili moci.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Evin Incir
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

In late spring 2014, I was in Burkina Faso as Secretary—General of the International Union of Socialist Youth to support the newly emerged party MPP, with its leader Kaboré, who today is the elected and legitimate leader of Burkina Faso. I remember the hope and joy that a better future can actually be possible after decades of dictatorship. I am glad that my proposal for a resolution reached all the way to this session because the people of Burkina Faso cannot afford a silent world, and I have been in contact with many friends in Burkina Faso who are very thankful for us having the debate of today. During the past two years, we have seen four military coups in West Africa, and the European Union must immediately act forcefully. And the first step is to never, ever legitimatise the military junta and demand that they immediately give power back to the people and release President Kaboré and all other political prisoners. Any upcoming government should and must understand that the universal rights are not for few to enjoy, they are the rights of all people. As long as a fully—fledged democratic Burkina Faso is not ensured, long lasting peace will not be possible. And the struggle for democracy is crucial for and must go hand in hand with the struggle against terrorists and anti—democratic forces. We need to act. The Commission and the EEAS must put the need of the people, protection and safety of civilians in the centre of actions. Democracy, rule of law and human rights, along with social rights must be respected and upheld by any government. The actions of the EU Commission, unfortunately, and the Member States have been far from sufficient until now. Today and tomorrow, the EU and African Union Summit should be used as a platform to address the people of West Africa’s right to their fundamental rights and together ensuring democracy and rule of law in the region. If any time, now is the time to also use our global human rights sanctions regime towards the coup makers because condemning is important, but actions are even more important.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Joachim Kuhs
Political group: ID
Country: Greece
Language: DE

Wir sind offensichtlich eine kraftlose Organisation, denn wir können so gut wie nichts tun. Heute beginnen diese Gespräche mit der Afrikanischen Union – wunderbar. Aber wird es zu einer Lösung führen für Burkina Faso? Ich glaube nicht. Warum? Weil wir einfach gar keinen Hebel haben, an dem wir ansetzen können. Und ich glaube, darüber müssen wir uns Gedanken machen: Wie können wir diesen Menschen dort helfen, diesen 1,5 Millionen Vertriebenen? Das sind fast zehn Prozent der gesamten Bevölkerung. Das ist furchtbar. Und wir haben letztendlich keine Lösung. Es nützt nichts, Geld hinzuschicken. Das wissen wir alle. Das landet in den Taschen der Militärs. Wir wissen auch, dass wir viele Dinge einfach nicht durchsetzen können. Es ist gut, Demokratie zu fordern. Nur, ich habe es heute schon einmal gesagt: Wir schaffen es nicht einmal im Westbalkan, wie wollen wir es in Afrika erreichen? Und deshalb: Wir müssen die Frage stellen: Welche Rolle spielen die Islamisten in dieser ganzen Geschichte? Warum kommt der Sahel nicht zur Ruhe? Was sind da für Lösungen notwendig? Und ich glaube, es liegt eher darin, dass die afrikanischen Staaten sich selbst helfen müssen. Sie müssen von uns in die Selbstständigkeit entlassen werden. Wir haben so einen paternalistischen Ansatz, wie so eine Art von moralischem Imperialismus und Kolonialismus. Das muss endlich aufhören. Und wir dürfen sie auch nicht irgendwie abhängig machen vom Impfstatus, dass wir von diesen Staaten die Durchimpfung verlangen. Das muss aufhören, sonst können wir diesen Ländern nie helfen, und sie kommen nie zur Ruhe.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Political group: ECR
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

We join the African Union and ECOWAS in appeals to a return to constitutional order, but obviously many changes should be done also in the mode of our support to Burkina Faso’s people and to the security of the country and the region.  Unfortunately, Burkina Faso is not present, as many as other coup d’état countries of the region, during this summit, but still we have to find a solution and we await the report from the High Representative / Vice-President as soon as possible.
Debate: Political crisis in Burkina Faso
Date: THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Billions have been wasted militarising these societies, while the boot of neocolonialism stays pressed hard, like the CFA franc and crushing World Bank and IMF neoliberal reforms. This is how to spread violence and to promote the militias. As Director-General of the EU Military Staff, Admiral Bléjean, admitted at a meeting of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence recently, if governments fail to provide welfare to the population, this creates a space for insurgents to provide care and infrastructure, and so claim legitimacy in the eyes of the locals. There is no military solution.  The sooner we let go of the colonial noose, stop flooding the place with arms and start talking to the militias, we might have some chance. There is no other way.