unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Pascal Durand
Political group: S-D
Country: Malta
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, vous avez dit tout à l’heure – et je vous en remercie très vivement – que le principe du veto était contraire aux principes démocratiques. Vous avez eu raison de le rappeler, parce que le principe du veto vient de loin dans notre histoire. Il était souvent aux mains des monarques, qui essayaient de s’opposer au pouvoir des parlements et à l’expression de la volonté générale. Je voudrais tout simplement me tourner vers le Conseil. Je ne vous demande pas d’être d’accord avec moi, Monsieur Bek, parce que votre fonction vous l’interdit, mais tout simplement de réfléchir à ce que nous avons appris sur la séparation des pouvoirs. Nous avons tous appris qu’on ne peut pas confondre dans les mêmes mains le législatif et l’exécutif. Le problème que nous avons dans cette démocratie européenne en devenir, c’est que le Conseil agit à la fois en colégislateur, c’est à dire qu’il se permet de voter les lois à la majorité, et en même temps, comme un tenant de l’exécutif qui a la capacité de bloquer les votes de l’expression générale du Parlement européen. Ce n’est pas possible. Aucune démocratie au monde ne peut fonctionner avec un pouvoir de veto entre les mains d’un État, alors que la majorité des États veulent intervenir comme colégislateurs, comme le Parlement. Soit vous êtes législateur, soit vous êtes exécutif. Si vous êtes le représentant de l’exécutif du Parlement, dans ce cas-là, vous devez respecter les votes du Parlement. Ce que je demande, et c’est vraiment la conclusion, c’est que le Conseil agisse comme un véritable législateur et vote à la majorité quand il n’est pas d’accord, comme tous les législateurs dans tous les parlements du monde.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Gilles Boyer
Political group: Renew
Country: Slovenia
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, dans le pacte fondateur de l’Union européenne, les États membres ont décidé librement des domaines dans lesquels les compétences étaient transférées, quelles compétences ils partageaient et quelles compétences ils conservaient. En l’état des textes applicables, l’utilisation du droit de veto dans certains domaines est donc légitime, pour la préservation des intérêts vitaux, mais pas comme monnaie d’échange ou de prétexte. Je rappelle, comme dernier exemple, que la Hongrie avait d’abord signé l’accord de l’OCDE sur la taxation des multinationales, avant de revenir sur sa parole et de bloquer le processus durant plusieurs mois, dans un dossier très important, pour obtenir une monnaie d’échange. Le vote à l’unanimité ou à la majorité qualifiée n’est pas une mesure technique. Cela a été rappelé avant moi. C’est une décision qui est éminemment politique et qui révèle, au fond, l’idée que nous nous faisons de l’Union européenne. Le monde change, et nous devons changer pour être au diapason. Face aux défis du monde, notre Union doit parler d’une seule voix et agir ou réagir rapidement. Nous devons renoncer à l’unanimité, qui monte les États membres les uns contre les autres, alors que nous devons faire front.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Michiel Hoogeveen
Political group: ECR
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Mr President, many here say that vetoes should disappear because they create a so—called ‘gridlock’ in EU decision making. May I remind you that the Member States created the EU, not the other way around? Moreover, it is only logical and legitimate that Member States are and remain in the driving seat. The problem is not the veto. The problem is that you believe it is possible to make one-size-fits all policies for 450 million people living in 27 vastly different countries. Your problem is that Member States choose to do what is best for their people and not merely submit to an EU decree. That problem, federalist colleagues, is called sovereignty. Mr Verhofstadt, we do not live in a new age of empires. Member States are not provinces of a European empire. They are sovereign democracies, members of an intergovernmental organisation called the EU.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Katalin Cseh
Political group: Renew
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Mr President, allowing national vetoes to block European foreign policy decisions is a security threat. Full stop. Viktor Orbán’s vetoes have been a gift to the Kremlin, which has a vested interest in an EU that is divided and weak. Just remember that earlier this year a sanction package was halted because the Hungarian Government wanted Patriarch Kirill off the list. The EU looked just laughable, just like Vladimir Putin wanted.  And the question is this: whose interests do these vetoes serve? Surely not Hungary’s. We are members of the EU. We are members of NATO. Our security is guaranteed by these institutions. Undermining them also undermines Hungary’s security.  So let’s get rid of the unanimity rule in foreign affairs. This is a dysfunctional and anti-democratic setup that makes the EU look weak and ridiculous in crucial moments of crisis. In short, shifting to qualified majority will not be easy. But the EU has demonstrated over and over again that it is capable of reform. We need this reform drive. We need it once again. And we need this Parliament for it.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Helmut Scholz
Political group: The Left
Country: Luxembourg
Language: DE

Das Gleiche gilt für Steuerfragen. Es braucht endlich mehr Zusammenarbeit, und vor allem braucht es endlich eine europäische Finanztransaktionssteuer. Ich bin deshalb selbstverständlich dafür, in noch mehr Politikbereichen mit einer qualifizierten Mehrheit im Rat abzustimmen. Generell aber bedarf es bei der Aufgabe des Einstimmigkeitsprinzips zugleich der Einführung der vollständigen legislativen Mitentscheidung des Europäischen Parlaments. Denn z. B. bei der Entsendung von Truppen aus Deutschland in einem Krisenfall muss der nationale parlamentarische Vorbehalt weiter gelten. Deshalb kann man sich nicht über die Souveränität der Mitgliedstaaten hinwegsetzen. Wir müssen uns gemeinsam auf diese Reform der Abstimmungsverhältnisse im Interesse der Handlungsfähigkeit europäischer Politik verständigen.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Maria Grapini
Political group: S-D
Country: Portugal
Language: RO

Domnule președinte, domnule comisar, stimați colegi, dacă mai trebuia demonstrat că dreptul de veto este anacronic, ne gândim la votul din 8 decembrie, când Austria, în mod abuziv, a folosit acest drept de veto. În mod abuziv pentru că nu a avut niciun argument juridic prezent în regulamentul Schengen și, iată, ține aproape 40 de milioane de oameni în afara dreptului, prevăzut în tratat, de liberă circulație a cetățenilor în spațiul Uniunii Europene. Am semnat același tratat și România, și Bulgaria. Cetățenii din țara mea și din Bulgaria au aceleași drepturi cetățenești. Cum să vorbim de libera circulație ? Cum să vorbim de competența firmelor din cele două țări când stau 48 sau chiar mai mult la graniță tirurile ? Domnule comisar, am transmis o scrisoare către Comisie. Vă mulțumesc colegilor care ați semnat și vor mai semna că mai avem un termen. Vă rog imediat să recurgeți la modificări, la demersul pentru modificarea tratatului și eliminarea abuzului prin dreptul de veto al statelor membre.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, we’re here today talking about defending the European Union against abuse of national vetoes. But to be honest, I’m much more interested in talking about defending national vetoes from the European Union. There is a sustained and deliberate campaign in this Parliament to undermine the right enshrined in the treaties to veto Council decisions, the very basis of the EU.  Let me be clear: when it comes to foreign and defence policy, we should never, ever give those who dream of an imperial Europe what they want and abolish the veto. You can’t talk about a union of equals with the one breath and steamroll over small states with the next. Every Member State has its own interests, its own priorities, its own concerns. Of course, it might be difficult at times to find a solution that suits everyone. Sometimes states might use the veto as leverage, that’s politics.  Talking about aid to Ukraine being blocked by the veto is nonsense. If Member States wanted to give macro-assistance they could give it, just not in the name of the Union. It’s time to stop this moral outrage, we’re not the United States of Europe.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, we’re talking about defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes. If you want to defend the European Union, how about giving some power back to the people? Because with the Lisbon and Nice Treaties – which we in Ireland voted against on both occasions, but we got the wrong answer and we had to vote a second time – in those Treaties, power was taken from the people and given to the institution, and neoliberalism was enshrined in the European Union.  People talk about good actors and bad actors and the abuse of the veto. Who’s going to decide who’s a good actor? Who’s going to decide who’s the bad actor? What’s going on here? When we signed up to the European Union, when we joined it, we understood that we weren’t going to be corralled into being completely dominated by the others. We were going to have a say; we were going to retain our sovereignty. It’s one of the reasons we joined. And listen, you are undermining the European Union by trying to make one big Union? The European Union is not a country; it’s a group of countries. And stop trying to make an imperial power out of it.
Debate: Defending the European Union against the abuse of national vetoes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Mikuláš Bek
Language: EN

Although qualified majority voting is the rule, the EU remains an institution that favours unity, consensus and compromise over division and isolation. When the willingness to work together is present, unanimity requirements are not an issue, as many decisions taken this year in reaction to the war in Ukraine have shown. Conversely, the fact that the qualified majority voting applies to a certain policy area is not a synonym for progress. Mr Verhofstadt spoke of the asylum reform as an example of blockage and vetoes. But migration and asylum is a policy area where the Council decides by qualified majority, on asylum policy, and yet progress has been painstakingly slow, so even qualified majority does not necessarily bring speed. Some of you have also mentioned taxation policy. Let me remind you that the Council has achieved much in recent years. Examples of these achievements are numerous in all areas of tax policy: the Anti-tax Avoidance Directive; a number of significant improvements in administrative cooperation in the field of direct and indirect taxation; and numerous amendments to the VAT Directive. We should also not assume that it is only small or medium—sized Member States that use the veto. Big Member States do as well, as we have seen on a number of occasions in the past. Therefore, honourable Members, allow me to conclude on a positive note. While the risk of blockage in our decision—making is a reality, one should nevertheless look at the global picture. The EU finds a way to take decisions in the great majority of files. The EU is highly present and relevant on the international scene, bringing responses and relief where it’s needed and leading by example in most areas of global action. We managed to achieve all this by overcoming our national divergences. Thank you very much once again for your attention.
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Anfrage zur mündlichen Beantwortung an die Kommission über die Verteidigung der Demokratie gegen Einflussnahme aus dem Ausland von Raphaël Glucksmann im Namen des Sonderausschuss zu Einflussnahme aus dem Ausland auf alle demokratischen Prozesse in der Europäischen Union, einschließlich Desinformation (INGE 2) (
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Andreas Schieder
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Institutionen werden angegriffen, von innen und von außen. Ich erinnere nur an den Hackerangriff nach der Russland-Entschließung der letzten Plenarwoche. Der Korruptionsskandal, die russischen Angriffe und andere folgen alle einem klaren und eindeutigen Ziel, nämlich der Destabilisierung von Europa, dem Angriff auf eine freie, offene und lebendige Demokratie. Die vorgeschlagenen Regulierungen der Kommission alleine zu politischer Werbung, zur Parteienfinanzierung, zur Ausweitung der Wahlrechte sind gut. Aber wir müssen gerade den aktuellen Anlass noch einmal reflektieren, ob wir weit genug gehen oder ob wir nicht noch mehr brauchen, nämlich ein besseres Verständnis der Auswirkungen von sogenannter  Der INGE-Ausschuss – wie schon erwähnt – hat ja die Vorgänge untersucht und auch bereits mehrmals im Bericht festgehalten: Es muss illegal sein, sich an verdeckten Aktivitäten zu beteiligen, die von ausländischen Akteuren finanziert werden und darauf abzielen, den Prozess der europäischen und nationalen Politik zu beeinflussen. Dafür müssen wir die Schlupflöcher in unserem Regelungswerk gerade jetzt wieder schließen, überprüfen und demokratie- und angriffssicher machen. Daher ist jetzt auch die Zeit, die aktuellen Ereignisse als Befreiungsschlag zu erkennen und als Chance, unsere Demokratie und unsere Regeln sauber, transparent und angriffsfest zu gestalten.
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Nathalie Loiseau
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: FR

Cependant, l’ingérence russe n’est pas la seule à laquelle notre maison est exposée. Depuis le début de mon mandat, j’ai découvert avec stupéfaction l’entrisme d’associations islamistes proches du Golfe et de la Turquie, mais aussi d’évangélistes américains, hostiles les uns comme les autres aux droits des femmes, et qui sont pourtant reçus en grande pompe dans ce bâtiment. Le constat est sans appel: des intérêts étrangers essaient de nous manipuler et, depuis quelques jours, nous savons qu’ils sont parfois prêts à y mettre le prix.  C’est donc à balayer devant notre porte que je nous invite, ainsi qu’à faire toute la lumière sur tous les manipulateurs et tous les manipulés. Interrogeons-nous: ceux qui décrivent le Qatar comme un phare des droits de l’homme, ceux qui refusent de voir que la Russie soutient le terrorisme, ont-ils seulement des convictions, ou bien surtout des comptes en banque? Nous devons agir pour trouver la réponse à cette question, agir et non plus subir, enquêter et non plus seulement dénoncer. C’est une guerre qui est menée contre nos démocraties pour les influencer et les affaiblir. Dans cette guerre, nous devons apprendre à rendre coup pour coup, quel que soit l’auteur et quel que soit l’instrument des manipulations qui nous visent.  Face à la désinformation, il est plus que temps d’agir et plus seulement de déplorer le mal que l’on nous fait. Il est temps que l’Union européenne se dote d’une communication stratégique digne de ce nom. Face au pouvoir exorbitant des réseaux sociaux – si Twitter, par exemple, devient l’égout à ciel ouvert de la haine et des fausses nouvelles –, ne tremblons pas et faisons appliquer nos règles. Apprenons à nous faire respecter. Nous avons été des rentiers de la démocratie et de l’état de droit. Il est temps que nous en devenions les guerriers.
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Markéta Gregorová
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: EN

The Chinese police stations in our Member States are yet to become a huge scandal. We have among us people corrupted by hostile foreign powers. Attacks on our infrastructure are increasing, not that any of this is surprising. It would be surprising if authoritarian, non-democratic regimes did not try to exploit our openness. What is quite terrifying, though, is that, especially at the outset of the European elections, there is still not enough action against foreign interference, against disinformation. I hoped that, when disinformation during COVID killed people, there would finally be a legislative proposal. I hoped that, when Russia attacked Ukraine, we would be eager to strengthen our resilience. I still hope now that, when so much foreign influence emerges, we will see a strong plan – no package, no codes without obligations. No offence to those activities. I would like to hear where the problem is. Is it the Commission? Is it some Member States, digital corporations, lobbyists? What exactly needs to happen so that there is some enforceable, clear measure that will make it urgent for you, if dead people, politicians in prison and cyber—attacks are not enough?
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Anna Bonfrisco
Political group: ID
Country: Belgium
Language: IT

Essi sono una dura sentenza della storia, della democrazia e della nostra libertà. Abbiamo scoperto, quindi, che non solo la Cina, per esempio attraverso le stazioni di polizia cinese infiltrate sul nostro territorio, non solo la Russia, attraverso la disinformazione, mirano a indebolire la nostra libertà e a violare la nostra sovranità. Per questo motivo aveva senz'altro ragione l'Alto rappresentante Borrell, caro Commissario, nella sua metafora sulla giungla e il giardino; il giardino, quello che noi dobbiamo difendere. Pertanto un nostro approccio diverso rispetto a quell'ambiente difficile e turbolento nel quale viviamo oggi è necessario. È questo il messaggio lapidario che l'Unione europea e i suoi Stati membri devono diffondere ai cittadini europei per dare loro sicurezza sulla tenuta della nostra democrazia, perché la realtà è che questa nostra democrazia viene messa in discussione dalle azioni malevole di Stati terzi che mirano a indebolire le fondamenta dell'Unione europea. E siamo coscienti del pericolo che corre lo svolgimento corretto e libero delle prossime elezioni europee, ad esempio, ma è semplice quello che ci resta da fare. Dobbiamo fare passi avanti significativi rispetto ai nostri avversari in ogni campo della conoscenza e del sapere e cercare di mantenere un ampio vantaggio competitivo, il più a lungo possibile; dobbiamo proteggere i nostri talenti scientifici e le nostre società; dobbiamo affermare con forza che non c'è alternativa all'ordine internazionale e alle regole europee.
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Angel Dzhambazki
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: BG

Всички вие добре знаете, че Кремъл и Белград влияят на Балканите през собствените си НПО-та и оттам следва в Скопие, в Босна и Херцеговина, в Черна гора, в Албания и в Косово антиевропейска, антибългарска пропаганда. Трябва да бъде разследвано тези НПО-та канили ли са европейски представители, т.е. евродепутати, както обичат да се наричат някои колеги, кои са тези европейски депутати, били ли са платени техните участия като институти, като IFIMES например?  Това са важни въпроси, защото ако Катар може да дава пари насам, и Кремъл, и Белград рушат европейското единство през Белград, в Скопие и затова много хубаво трябва да се погледне дали няма колеги, които са се изкушили да бръкнат в медеца и там. И те трябва да бъдат показани, следвани и разследвани, защото корупцията е лошо нещо, не забравяйте от лявата страна на залата, от левицата.
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

Sanctions are tools of international law, not domestic law. Fundamental rights protections in our legal system don’t apply in international law. Sanctions are imposed by governments, not courts. So the burden of proof and the standard of evidence are lower. Sanctioned individuals don’t have the right to hear or challenge the accusations against them.  Surely to any democrat the proposal to use sanctions to tackle disinformation has to be seen as an end run around due process and undermining the rights of the accused. It threatens to do serious harm to the rule of law and freedom of expression, the very cores of democracy. It will inevitably lead to a deprivation of rights, as the UN counter-terrorism sanctions regime has done also. So I would ask the Commission: what steps is it taking to safeguard fundamental rights?
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Laura Ferrara
Political group: NI
Country: Poland
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, i gravi sospetti di corruzione dal Qatar riguardanti membri e assistenti del Parlamento europeo hanno reso ulteriormente evidente la vulnerabilità delle istituzioni europee alle ingerenze straniere. Abbiamo un urgente bisogno di contromisure in grado di proteggere la nostra democrazia da interferenze esterne. La concessione di denaro e  Come Movimento 5 Stelle abbiamo sempre denunciato i fenomeni di  La Commissione europea presenti allora al più presto un pacchetto di proposte seguendo le raccomandazioni della relazione finale della commissione INGE; consideri prioritario uno specifico regime sanzionatorio e dei nuovi reati come l'ingerenza straniera dolosa per prevenire e contrastare le interferenze dei paesi terzi.
Debate: Defending democracy from foreign interference
Date: WEDNESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2022
Speaker: Lukas Mandl
Political group: PPE
Country: Portugal
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, Herr Kommissar, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, meine Damen und Herren! Ich danke Kommissar Johannes Hahn für die klaren Worte, mit denen er diese Debatte eingeleitet hat. Kein Jahr vor diesem Jahr hat deutlicher gezeigt, wie gefährlich Desinformation sein kann und wie angreifbar eine entwickelte Zivilisation wie unsere ist, wenn von außen Desinformation in unsere Gesellschaft hineingetragen wird. Wir müssen auch bekennen: Keine Woche hat so sehr gezeigt wie diese Woche, dass gerade auch das politische System eine Angriffsfläche für die ausländische Einflussnahme, für Desinformation, für die Destabilisierung unserer Gesellschaften, ja sogar für die Infragestellung von Demokratie und Rechtsstaatlichkeit, für die Infragestellung unserer Werte ist. Deshalb kann ich unserer Präsidentin Roberta Metsola, unserem ersten Vizepräsidenten  Othmar Karas darin nur zustimmen, dass die Charakterlosigkeit, die hier zum Ausdruck gekommen ist, zurückzuweisen ist, dass es rechtliche Konsequenzen braucht, dass es politische Konsequenzen braucht, ja, und dass es selbstverständlich das braucht, was in einer Demokratie eigentlich der Maßstab ist, nämlich auch Konsequenzen in der Entscheidung der Bürgerinnen und Bürger über ihre Vertretung bei Wahlen. Das gilt es zu transportieren: Abgeordnete müssen unbestechlich sein, und Abgeordnete müssen immer transparent sofort die Motive dafür nennen können, wofür sie eintreten. Im Wort Verantwortung steckt auch das Wort „antworten“, und darauf müssen wir alle antworten können.