unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Markéta Gregorová
Country: France
Language: EN

We must impose economic sanctions on the officials in charge of these crimes, freeze their assets and refuse visas. Our huge trade relationship must not become the reason to look away – away from forced organ harvesting, forced sterilisations and mass concentration camps in the 21st century. The collective European Union has, for decades, done nothing to deter the CCP from these crimes. Instead, we send huge business delegations together with our heads of state and accept China’s wishes to treat these crimes as a domestic issue, not to be interfered with. Colleagues, at a time when China supplies much of the needed war materials to Russia and blatantly commits crimes against humanity, let us not fund our own demise and sell our values.
Debate: The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

The case of Mr Ding Yuande that we take in the resolution is the proof of these methods. His son protests just in front of Parliament, and we have to remember about Falun Gong. I commend the notion of colleagues to use this opportunity and to speak out in their case.
Debate: The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Miriam Lexmann
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Dear colleagues, let me speak frankly. For more than seven decades, the CCP has terrorised people across mainland China and continues to commit gross crimes against humanity. Yet, as the EU, we have sanctioned four minor officials for human rights abuses in Xinjiang. I am sorry, but this is a weak and insufficient response to the wide scale of crimes being committed by this regime every day. It is time that the EU is more principled in its approach towards the CCP. It is the lack of principled policies that led us into this current security peril. A good start to addressing it is to hold the CCP and its henchmen accountable for crimes committed against humanity.
Debate: The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, signor Commissario, onorevoli colleghi, sono ormai 25 anni che le autorità di Pechino hanno iniziato una vera e propria persecuzione contro i seguaci del Falun Gong, ma anche contro gli Uiguri, i Rohingya, i Kashmiri e i tibetani. Delle vere e proprie cacce alle streghe contro minoranze ed etnie di stampo medievale, perpetrate però con l'ausilio di tecnologie futuristiche sempre più oppressive che sembrano uscite dal celebre romanzo 1984 di George Orwell. Una commissione terrificante, che ha portato alla sparizione di decine di migliaia di persone. Di fronte a questi crimini non dovrebbe esserci altra possibilità se non una condanna ferma, chiara e inequivocabile. Tutti dovremmo chiedere un'indagine internazionale sul commercio criminale di organi e sanzioni durissime verso i funzionari e le autorità responsabili. E invece, nella nostra Europa e anche in Italia, c'è chi si ostina a difendere la propria fallimentare scelta di aderire alla Via della Seta, ma anche a tenersi ben lontano da qualunque tipo di critica all'operato di Pechino. Questo silenzio non mi sorprende. Il re però è nudo e, di fronte a queste atrocità, o si difendono i nostri valori e i diritti umani senza se e senza ma, oppure si sceglie la strada della complicità, perché il silenzio, appunto, è una complicità e questo Parlamento, lo chiedo anche questa sera, silente non dovrà esserlo mai! Sempre al fianco di chi si batte per la libertà e per il diritto di esistere.
Debate: The ongoing persecution of Falun Gong in China, notably the case of Mr Ding Yuande
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

The EU’s persistent and grave concerns when it comes to the human rights situation in China – the list is long: political re-education camps, mass arbitrary detentions, widespread surveillance, tracking and control measures, systemic and severe restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of religion or belief, and the use of forced labour, torture, forced abortion and sterilisation, birth control and family separation policies. As we speak here today, human rights defenders, human rights lawyers, journalists, intellectuals, academics and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities continue to be exposed to harassment, intimidation and surveillance and subjected to exit bans, house arrest, torture and ill treatment, unlawful detention, sentencing and enforced disappearance, and sometimes to transnational repression. Human rights remain one of the most challenging issues in EU China relations. The EU continues to seize every opportunity, including multilaterally and at the highest political level, to raise its persistent concerns about the very serious human rights situation in China. The 24th EU-China summit, held in Beijing on 7 December 2023, was no exception. In addition to raising the EU’s systemic human rights concerns, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission also raised several individual cases directly with President Xi Jinping. Let me reaffirm what has been already stated during previous urgency debates in this Parliament. The EU will never compromise on human rights. We will not stop voicing our concerns in public whenever necessary, and we stand by civil society and human rights defenders. We will continue to urge China to abide by its obligations under national law, including its own constitution and international law, to respect, protect and fulfil human rights for all. On the broader relationship, the European Council conclusions on EU-China relations of June 2023 demonstrated unity among the EU and Member States regarding the validity of the EU’s multifaceted approach. China is certainly a partner, but China is also a competitor. But China is also, and particularly, a rival. We need to increase resilience and to pursue de-risking, while co-operating on common interests and global challenges.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Carina Ohlsson
Language: SV

De mänskliga tragedierna ska inte ställas mot varandra. När krigsbrott sätts i system av hänsynslösa krigsherrar och arméer slås den mänskliga värdigheten i spillror, och människor förlorar motståndskraft mot ytterligare övergrepp. Det är ett hänsynslöst, omänskligt och cyniskt vapen i krig. Det är alltid den vanliga människan som drabbas hårdast. Vi vet också att de sexuella övergreppen ökar i det här området. Det är hög tid för EU och det internationella samfundet att axla ansvaret för global fred och säkerhet. Världen behöver, nu mer än någonsin, en ny fredsrörelse.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos
Country: France
Language: ES

Hoy reclamamos en esta Resolución a las partes en conflicto que deben respetar a los civiles, que deben respetar el derecho humanitario y que debe cesar la violencia contra los trabajadores humanitarios. Pedimos a la Comisión que aumente la financiación de emergencia para atender la crítica situación humanitaria de Sudán y hacemos un llamamiento también a establecer sanciones contra los responsables de los ataques a la población civil.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana
Country: Spain
Language: FR

Au Soudan, le conflit a exacerbé un paysage de la faim déjà déplorable, alimenté par la violence intercommunautaire, la crise économique, la flambée des prix de denrées alimentaires de base et le changement climatique. Malgré le retour de la paix, la malnutrition reste un problème obsédant pour les populations. Elle touche surtout les femmes et les enfants. Nous devons donc renforcer l'aide humanitaire en veillant à ce qu'elle atteigne les couches les plus vulnérables. L'Union européenne dispose d'outils nécessaires pour exercer une influence diplomatique et mobiliser des ressources qui soient une lueur d'espoir pour ceux qui crient famine au Soudan.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

The World Food Programme is ringing alarm bells concerning the upcoming lean period for crops and the worsening of the situation in Sudan. We have to increase our diplomatic efforts in order to bring parties to the conflict to the negotiating table, and in particular to impose a ceasefire there.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Miguel Urbán Crespo
Country: Belgium
Language: ES

Es urgente un cese al fuego y un acceso a la ayuda humanitaria sin condiciones; cumplir un embargo de armas —como reclama Naciones Unidas— y hacerlo extensible a todo el país, y que Europa abra vías legales y seguras para garantizar que los sudaneses que lo deseen puedan buscar protección internacional en Europa. El pueblo sudanés merece mucho más que ser un conflicto olvidado o una crisis humanitaria. El pueblo sudanés se merece vivir en libertad y en paz.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Carlos Zorrinho
Political group: S-D
Language: PT

Não obstante o extraordinário trabalho, realizado sob alto risco, das organizações internacionais e o apoio da comunidade internacional e, em particular, da União Europeia, a situação no terreno é de enorme sofrimento e privação. 20 milhões de pessoas em insegurança alimentar extrema, quase 6 milhões de deslocados, 12 000 vidas perdidas exigem uma ação imediata. Apelo ao cessar das hostilidades e à mobilização de todos, para que seja possível retomar as negociações de paz. Apelo ao reforço da ajuda humanitária – em particular da União Europeia e dos Estados—Membros – e do apoio às organizações que, no terreno, a continuam a assegurar. Finalmente, apelo a que sejam sancionados os responsáveis e os que se aproveitam da situação para negócios ilícitos e para quebrar o embargo de armas das Nações Unidas no Darfur.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, signor Commissario, onorevoli colleghi, nove mesi di lotta fratricida hanno reso il Sudan il paese con il più alto numero di rifugiati interni al mondo, causando una crisi alimentare terrificante e 7 milioni e mezzo di rifugiati. La nostra Unione deve incrementare certamente il supporto umanitario ma non basta, perché il problema in realtà è un altro: dobbiamo fare in modo che le organizzazioni internazionali, ormai praticamente tutte costrette ad evacuare il proprio personale, possano tornare per garantire sul terreno la distribuzione di qualsivoglia aiuto umanitario in condizioni di sicurezza. È necessario, quindi, trovare una mediazione tra le parti in conflitto, anche minacciando sanzioni molto pesanti nei confronti di chi si sta macchiando di crimini di guerra e contro l'umanità, ponendo però come prima e imprescindibile condizione proprio il rispetto del diritto internazionale umanitario. Ieri, purtroppo, è sfumata la possibilità che l'Unione africana potesse essere un honest broker. Ora dobbiamo trovare velocemente un'alternativa credibile; possiamo e dobbiamo attivarci con tutti i nostri strumenti diplomatici e il nostro peso politico per svolgere il ruolo di protagonisti. Chiedo, però, quindi che questo tavolo negoziale con i partner regionali sia rapido e che fermi velocemente questa barbarie, senza scegliere il classico modello del "throw money at the problem", perché questo non basterà a risolvere il problema, né a lavare le nostre coscienze. Il tempo scorre sin troppo veloce, non possiamo permetterci di perderne altro.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Hannes Heide
Political group: S-D
Country: Slovakia
Language: EN

Madam President,  After nine months, the violent conflict claimed around 12 000 lives and displaced 5.8 million people. Already before the outbreak of the conflict, Sudan was facing a humanitarian crisis due to extreme weather shocks, social and political unrest and rising food prices that continued to drive poverty, hunger and displacement. Many thanks to the European Commission for mobilising EUR 126.4 million in humanitarian aid for the people of Sudan in 2023. In view of the ongoing emergency situation, the EU and the Member States must increase emergency funding for the humanitarian aid and the refugee camps, and increase aid throughout West Darfur and neighbouring countries. The EU has to impose sanctions on those responsible for serious human rights violations. We also have to call on the United Nations Security Council to sanction violations of the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to expand it throughout the country. We finally must ensure that the peace agreement can be reached, so that innocent civilians in Sudan are able to live in freedom, peace and security.
Debate: The threat of famine following the spread of conflict in Sudan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Evin Incir
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: SV

Fru talman! Kollegor! För varje dag som går dödas och fördrivs civila i Sudan. Konflikter mellan sudanesiska armén (SAF) och den paramilitära gruppen Rapid Support Forces (RSF) har lett till en enorm humanitär kris med livshotande och akut matosäkerhet som konsekvens. Det påverkar nästan halva befolkningen, och nästan sju miljoner är flyktingar i sitt eget land. Situationen är alarmerande till den grad att humanitärt stöd inte ens når de som befinner sig i konfliktområden. Och som vanligt är det kvinnor och barn som drabbas mest och värst. Som i många andra konflikter ser vi hur sexuellt våld mot kvinnor används. Det som sker just nu i Sudan är hjärtskärande och helt oacceptabelt. Alla involverade måste omedelbart lägga ned vapnen och tillåta humanitärt stöd så att den når befolkningen i alla delar av landet. Mot de som ligger bakom människorättskränkningarna måste sanktioner antas. Aldrig någonsin och någonstans kan vi acceptera straffrihet för de som ligger bakom avskyvärda brott mot mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.
Debate: Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Michaela Šojdrová
Country: Greece
Language: EN

The last decade for Tajikistan meant a continuous decline of media freedom. Journalists were sentenced and journalism has become a dangerous job. Now, the media’s freedom is reported to be in its worst state since 1991. Seven journalists were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their work in 2022 and 2023, while anti-terrorism legislation is being used to silence critical voices. What was a relatively diverse media environment now entails only a few remaining media outlets that still have to endure harassment and threats. The rest of journalists are leaving the country and young people are afraid to choose this occupation. In our resolution, we urge the authorities to stop the persecution, release detainees, including human rights lawyers, and ensure safe working environment for media workers. Ensuring the independence of media and freedom of expression must be a condition for the negotiations of the new EU-Tajikistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. We call on international institutions, such as UNHRC, to closely monitor the situation in the country and to report the findings. Tajikistan’s media landscape is at a critical juncture and deserves our and international attention. Thank you for your support.
Debate: Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Karsten Lucke
Country: Spain
Language: DE

Es ist ein Irrglaube staatlicher Macht, zu denken, dass man, wenn man andere Meinungen, divergierende Ideen oder kritische Auseinandersetzung verbietet, wegschließt oder mit Gewalt drangsaliert, dass man damit gesellschaftlichen Frieden und gesellschaftliche Entwicklung erreichen kann. Nein, ganz im Gegenteil! Gesellschaft entwickelt sich durch den kritischen Diskurs und durch die Reibung der Meinung. Das mag für diejenigen, die die Macht innehaben, unangenehm sein. Man muss erklären und überzeugen, man muss eigene Politik rechtfertigen. Es ist ein stetiger Prozess. Und das bedeutet viel Arbeit, die sich aber am Ende lohnt. Die tadschikische Regierung sollte diese Grundsätze zum Wohle des eigenen Volkes und der tadschikischen Bürgerinnen und Bürger beherzigen. Wenn die tadschikische Medienlandschaft heute im schlechtesten Zustand seit dem Bürgerkrieg, seit den 1990er Jahren ist, dann ist das auf jeden Fall ein dringender Anlass zur Umkehr. Bekennen Sie sich zu freier Presse, erlauben Sie kritische Berichterstattung und schaffen Sie einen demokratischen und sicheren Raum für Journalistinnen, Bloggerinnen und Menschenrechtsaktivistinnen. Am Ende ist es ein Investment in Ihr eigenes Land und in Ihre eigenen Bürgerinnen und Bürger.
Debate: Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

I call on the European Commission to defend the rights of independent media and the situation of journalists in Tajikistan in a principled manner, and to link these issues directly to the negotiations on the EU—Tajikistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the possibility of granting GSP+ to Tajikistan. I also call on the political elite in Tajikistan to abandon authoritarian policies and respect the rights of independent media.
Debate: Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Viola von Cramon-Taubadel
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

However, pursuing this interest cannot be at the expense of deteriorating human rights. We cannot ignore the repressive actions of the Rahmon regime, an autocrat who has rewritten the constitution in order to rule until his death. In Rahmon’s Tajikistan, journalists are threatened, arrested and imprisoned for speaking the truth. Human rights defenders are persecuted and jailed for standing up to injustice. Ethnic minorities, especially Pamiris in Gorno Badakhshan, are oppressed because they dare to demand the basic rights. The EU is not China or Russia, to do business without conscience. We must engage on the basis of democratic conditionality because human rights are not for sale.
Debate: Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Thierry Mariani
Political group: ID
Country: Croatia
Language: FR

Le Tadjikistan doit lutter sans merci contre le djihadisme. Les montagnes du Badakhshan sont toujours secouées par des activités djihadistes que l'État tadjik combat avec courage. De multiples actions terroristes y frappent la population qui a besoin du soutien de l'État central pour se protéger face aux attaques barbares et à l'influence des organisations criminelles. Alors au lieu de soutenir le Tadjikistan, cette résolution utilise quelques cas mal renseignés sur la seule base d'un rapport d'une ONG hostile au gouvernement pour attaquer un allié essentiel des nations européennes dans la zone. Face au djihadisme, notre solidarité avec Douchanbé doit être totale et nous devons appuyer son action. C'est le seul moyen à terme pour qu'il y ait un peu plus de démocratie dans ce pays.
Debate: Tajikistan: state repression against the independent media
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Nicolas Schmit
Language: EN

This is why the EU pays particular attention to the situation of independent media, supporting media pluralism and freedom of expression across the world. This applies also to our relations with Tajikistan. The EU regrets to see that the media environment in Tajikistan remains constrained by an obstructive regulatory environment, political interference and lack of diversity. The EU shares the concerns of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Ms Ribeiro, expressed during her visit to Tajikistan on 22 October 22nd, about the high number of imprisoned journalists, as well as the persisting obstacles to media freedom. The EU also shares her concerns about the physical and legal safety of journalists, media regulation, accreditation of media workers and access to information. The government of Tajikistan justifies its restrictive approach using security reasons to fight against terrorism and tackling Islamic radicalism. While the EU recognises the security concerns of Tajikistan, it does not find the measures proportionate. The EU actively supports independent media and the strengthening of journalists’ capacity through trainings addressed to both private media professionals and institutional press officers from ministries and the Tajik Parliament. The positive dynamic in EU Tajikistan relations allows for strong engagement with the authorities on human rights through regular political dialogues as well as cooperation activities. Notably, the EU discussed the situation of independent media and journalists at the 14th EU-Tajikistan Human Rights Dialogue, which took place in Dushanbe on 23 December. At that meeting, the EU called on Tajikistan to ensure the right to freedom of expression both online and offline, without fear of reprisals, in compliance with international law and standards. The EU requested that the government of Tajikistan ensure effective protection of independent journalists and media workers against any form of harassment and intimidation.
Debate: Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Michaela Šojdrová
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: CS

Paní předsedající, dovolte, abych vyjádřila uspokojení nad tím, že Evropský parlament přijal jasné prohlášení a usnesení k dění na Slovensku, které se týká vládních aktivit, plánování rozpuštění klíčových protikorupčních útvarů na Slovensku a jeho důsledků pro právní stát. Evropský parlament vyzval slovenskou vládu, aby tyto změny přehodnotila s ohledem na jejich možné důsledky pro právní stát, finanční zájmy Unie a její protikorupční rámec. Já jsem hlasovala pro toto usnesení. V diskuzi jsem vystoupila a vysvětlila jsem, že mi velmi záleží na tom, aby se Slovensko ubíralo cestou demokratickou, aby nerušilo instituci, která pomáhá v boji proti korupci.
Debate: Planned dissolution of key anti-corruption structures in Slovakia and its implications on the Rule of Law
Date: WEDNESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Stanislav Polčák
Political group: PPE
Country: Czechia
Language: CS

Paní předsedající, podpořil jsem tento návrh usnesení. Dovolte stručné odůvodnění, protože to vnímám za důležité. My jsme povinni vést se slovenskou vládou odpovědný dialog. Ten návrh usnesení byl podle mého názoru skutečně vyvážený. Slovenská vláda může upravit institucionální rámec pro vyšetřování závažné kriminality a korupce. Důležité je, že nadále samozřejmě budou rozhodovat ve věci nezávislé soudy. Ovšem i další justiční orgány tvoří podstatnou část rozhodovacího procesu a zásadní změny tohoto justičního rámce nelze bez náležité přípravy a bez diskuse provádět takto narychlo. To skutečně narušuje hodnoty právního státu, který Evropské unie musí zaručit ve všech členských státech, protože jde o základní hodnotu evropských občanských práv.