unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Alexandr Vondra
Political group: ECR
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Mr President, dear friends, China is an emerging superpower and aspiring to be the global number one. Therefore, we definitely are in a situation of need of a proper and coherent strategy. But this should not be done according to lines which we have seen the last week when President Macron went to China to pursue the economic interest of his own country and, as a reward to his host, offered a vision of European equidistance to the United States and China at the same time. He did even worse in the name of the EU. He was speaking about the EU strategic autonomy, but offered a strategic ambiguity instead. And he did this in a situation when we terribly need a strong NATO and the cooperation of the US in the Ukraine. Next time we must do much better.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Mislav Kolakušić
Political group: NI
Country: Greece
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, poštovani kolege, poštovani građani, prije tri desetljeća Europa je bila svjetska sila, a Kina relativno siromašna zemlja u razvoju. Tada su Europu predvodili snažni nacionalni političari, a danas ju vode muškarci u haljinicama. Danas je Kina svjetska ekonomska i vojna supersila, a EU je potpuno irelevantan na karti svijeta, osim kao turistička destinacija.  Danas Europska unija forsira proizvodnju električnih automobila. 95 % litija, bez kojeg se ne mogu proizvoditi električni automobili, proizvodi se danas u Kini. Kada, nakon Rusije, sada uvedemo i Kini sankcije, dakle, obustavit ćemo potpuno proizvodnju automobila u Europskoj uniji.  To je ono kuda idemo? Da potpuno propadnemo? Ne, hvala!
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Francisco José Millán Mon
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: ES

Señor presidente, China es una gran potencia, clave en el mundo de hoy. Un país que la Unión Europea no puede ignorar y cuya cooperación es imprescindible también para afrontar retos globales.  Debemos corregir el gravísimo desequilibrio en nuestras relaciones comerciales y nuestra excesiva dependencia de los productos chinos en determinados ámbitos. Nos hace vulnerables. Pienso en materiales críticos, como, por ejemplo, el litio. Queremos seguir siendo una potencia en la producción de vehículos, también eléctricos, y no podemos depender absolutamente del litio chino. Hemos de diversificar nuestros suministros para evitar una absoluta dependencia de China. Hay que reducir riesgos. Pienso, por ejemplo, en el litio de Chile. Desgraciadamente, China apuesta ahora por modificar el orden internacional que le ha permitido transformarse de forma acelerada en los últimos veinte años. Es miembro permanente del Consejo de Seguridad y parece no importarle la clara violación por parte de Rusia de principios básicos del Derecho internacional, como la integridad territorial y el no uso de la fuerza. Está más cerca de Rusia que de Ucrania. Esto influye en nuestra relación con China.  Y termino. El mundo está cada vez más polarizado. Junto al desafío de Moscú, crece la tensión entre China y los Estados Unidos, nuestro aliado y socio más importante. Está claro que no podemos ser indiferentes a los planteamientos de Washington sobre China.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Raphaël Glucksmann
Political group: S-D
Country: Romania
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Haut Représentant, le Parti communiste chinois parque les Ouïghours dans des camps de concentration. L’Assemblée nationale française dénonce un génocide et ce parlement aussi, mais apparemment cela ne compte pas. Le régime de Xi Jinping réprime la population de Hong Kong et celle du Tibet, attaque et menace la démocratie taïwanaise, déploie des bureaux de police secrets dans nos propres villes et lance des cyberattaques contre nos institutions et nos infrastructures. Mais apparemment cela ne compte pas. Cela ne compte pas aux yeux d’un président français qui reproduit à Pékin les mêmes erreurs que nous avons commises à Moscou jadis. Pourquoi? Parce que nous aurions besoin de la Chine.  Alors, permettez-moi de vous rappeler que, pendant vingt ans, on nous a dit exactement la même chose sur la Russie de Poutine. Nous avons sacrifié les Tchétchènes, les Géorgiens, les Syriens, les Ukrainiens, leurs droits et nos principes, parce que nous avions besoin de la Russie. Et aujourd’hui, nous avons quoi? Nous avons la guerre en Europe. Alors ne reproduisons pas la même erreur.  Il ne s’agit pas là de morale mais de réalisme. L’indolence de nos politiques et la cupidité de nos capitalistes ont entraîné le déménagement de notre production en Chine. Nous avons vendu à un adversaire idéologique la corde pour nous pendre. Il est temps de redevenir producteurs autonomes et d’avoir le courage d’assumer ce que nous sommes et aspirons à être.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Guy Verhofstadt
Political group: Renew
Country: Bulgaria
Language: EN

Mr President, Mr Borrell, I have to tell you one thing. I was pleased that you got COVID. I was pleased that you got COVID a few days ago and that you didn’t go to China because it only add more cacophony to the positions of Europe on China. So very well that you stay at home. But I have a request you: it’s your task to come forward now with a new strategic paper. You know, the strategic paper on China dates from 2016. 2016! I know! Then we added we actualised the paper of 2016, Mr Bütikofer, in 2019. And then in the meanwhile, what happened, is everything what happened in Hong Kong, because everybody is talking about Ukraine, but things changed fundamentally when? At the moment of Hong Kong, because the consensus worldwide was ‘one China, two systems’. And if China doesn’t accept any more two systems, why we should accept one China? It is the one or the other. So my plea to you is to come forward as fast as possible in the three months from coming with a new communications strategy paper on China, sending it to the Council, sending it to the European Parliament, and to define this new strategy, as fast as possible. That is what we need to do.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Patryk Jaki
Political group: ECR
Country: Slovenia
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Panowie Komisarze! Prezydent Macron podpisał w Chinach porozumienie i mówił o autonomii strategicznej Europy. Tymczasem wy budowaliście autonomię strategiczną Europy od lat z Rosją przeciwko Polsce. I w momencie kryzysu i wybuchu wojny zostawiliście Europę bezradną, bezradną militarnie, energetycznie i gospodarczo coraz słabszą. I dziś prezydent Macron jedzie do Chin i mówi więcej tego samego i o wypychaniu Stanów Zjednoczonych z Europy. Tylko ciekawe, co Europa, a w szczególności Ukraina, zrobiłaby bez Stanów Zjednoczonych i bez Polski. Już dawno by upadła i zostałaby z waszymi żałosnymi hełmami i żarówkami energooszczędnym, którymi Ukraińcy co najwyżej mogliby rzucać w Rosjan. No i oczywiście z długimi stołami z Putinem.  I nie liczę już na refleksję Niemiec ani Francji, na ich pomysły i egoizm autonomii. Pomysły na autonomię Europy już wielokrotnie kosztowały ten kontynent zbyt wiele. Apeluję do was, liderów Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej: jeżeli się nie obudzicie, to niedługo autonomię zorganizują wam Chińczycy i Rosjanie.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Alexander Alexandrov Yordanov
Political group: PPE
Country: Bulgaria
Language: BG

Г-н Председател, стратегическа грешка ще бъде, ако на отношенията ни с Китай гледаме само през призмата на търговско-икономическите интереси. Не трябва да забравяме за правата на човека и за демокрацията.  Опасна е тезата за стратегическа автономия от Съединените щати. Китайският режим е заплаха както за САЩ, така и за Европа, и тази заплаха е реалност. Комунистите са решени да анексират Тайван по насилствен начин, като ползват примера на Русия спрямо Украйна. Доктрината за единен Китай означава ликвидиране на демократичен Тайван. Не трябва да допуснем разделение на западния свят, защото ако бизнесът успява, но демокрацията страда, това ще означава криза на нашите ценности и на европейския начин на живот.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Kathleen Van Brempt
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: NL

Voorzitter, collega’s, deze zittingsperiode, die bijna op haar einde loopt, wordt gekenmerkt door de Green Deal, door een pandemie en uiteraard ook door de oorlog in Oekraïne. Alle drie geven op hun manier aan dat het erg belangrijk is dat we geopolitiek gezien een consequent buitenlands en handelsbeleid voeren. We doen dat wanneer het over Oekraïne gaat, maar helaas niet wanneer het over China gaat. De kakofonie van de afgelopen weken is beschamend, mijnheer de hoge vertegenwoordiger. Laat het duidelijk zijn: het heeft geen zin om alleen op korte termijn over economische belangen te gaan. Het gaat over een consequent, op waarden gebaseerd beleid. Het is niet alsof China vandaag geen dictatuur is die de mensenrechten met voeten treedt. Laat één ding erg duidelijk zijn – en ik moet aangeven dat ik het eens ben met mijn vriend Guy Verhofstadt, dat is niet altijd het geval, maar nu wel –, dat één-China-beleid is gebaseerd op het feit dat er twee systemen mogelijk zijn. Laat het duidelijk zijn: wat Taiwan betreft, zullen we niet toelaten, mág Europa niet toelaten, dat we hen in de steek laten. Wat dat betreft, kan er geen enkele kakofonie worden getolereerd.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Nathalie Loiseau
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Haut Représentant, une minute pour parler de la Chine, c’est peu. C’est à peu près aussi riche et nuancé qu’un tweet. Mais il est vrai que, parfois, on parle trop et, souvent, on accorde plus d’attention aux mots qu’aux actes. Alors, puisque j’ai peu de temps, parlons des actes.  Qui a poussé l’Union européenne à un contrôle des investissements étrangers dans les secteurs stratégiques? La France. Qui joue un rôle moteur en Europe pour lutter contre nos dépendances en matière de semi-conducteurs ou de matières premières? Le gouvernement français. Quel est le seul chef d’État européen à s’être rendu à Pékin, accompagné de la présidente de la Commission, dont je salue la justesse des propos? Emmanuel Macron. Quel navire européen croisait dans le détroit de Taïwan pendant que la marine chinoise y effectuait des manœuvres aussi inutiles que provocantes? Une frégate française, le  Alors, je forme un vœu: que, tous, nous sachions être aussi clairs et aussi fermes qu’Ursula von der Leyen sur la Chine et sur Taïwan et que, tous, nous soyons aussi engagés que la France à traduire nos paroles en actes.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Željana Zovko
Political group: PPE
Language: EN

Dear President, dear colleagues, today we are at a crucial juncture in our relations with China. While we acknowledge China as a partner, competitor and systemic rival, our bilateral relations have become increasingly challenging in recent years. China’s recent assertive actions in the Strait of Taiwan and its ambiguous stance on the Russian aggression in Ukraine have further affected our relations.  In this geopolitically volatile world, the European Union must take a unified position on China while working closely with our transatlantic and Pacific allies. I welcome the recent visit of President von der Leyen to China as it underscores our commitment to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with China.  Nevertheless, even as we seek to build stronger relations with China, we must remain steadfast in highlighting human rights abuses, maintaining a rules—based international order, and promoting fair trade and investment practices. The economy is important, but above all it is crucial that we stand behind our values.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: René Repasi
Political group: S-D
Country: Netherlands
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, Hoher Vertreter, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Es ist im Prinzip einfach, eine kohärente Strategie für die EU-China-Beziehungen zu haben. Denn erstens ist es richtig, dass wir unsere strategische Autonomie – was auch immer wir im Detail darunter verstehen mögen – selbst oder eigenständig festlegen, ohne uns von den Interessen unserer Partner oder Nichtpartner leiten zu lassen. Das bedeutet, dass wir unsere Handelsbeziehungen diversifizieren müssen, um nicht erpressbar zu sein – durch niemanden. Eine harte Lehre, die wir aus dem russischen Angriffskrieg ziehen müssen. Eine andere Lehre – zweitens – ist, dass die EU niemals, niemals neutral sein kann und darf und mit einer Stimme sprechen muss, wenn es zu einer kriegerischen Auseinandersetzung oder deren Androhung kommt. Um hierauf angemessen reagieren zu können, muss sich die EU noch ertüchtigen – unsere zentrale Hausaufgabe, wir sind da noch nicht. Für mich ist klar: Der Status quo in der Straße von Taiwan darf nicht einseitig oder durch Anwendung oder Androhung von Gewalt verändert werden. Das sind die Grundpfeiler für eine kohärente Strategie der EU und all ihrer Mitgliedstaaten gegenüber China. Es müssen sich aber bitte auch alle daran halten, und die Strategie darf nicht wieder unter den Schatten der nationalen Interessen gestellt werden.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Svenja Hahn
Political group: Renew
Country: Finland
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, liebe Kollegen! Ich bin Hamburgerin. Unser schöner Hafen wurde gerade das jüngste Symbol für die Abhängigkeit von China. Ein Containerterminal unter chinesischem Einfluss klingt so lange nicht relevant, bis man die Puzzleteile zusammensetzt. Dann sieht man Rotterdam, sieht Piräus, sieht 14 europäische Häfen. Wenn wir die Puzzleteile zwischen der EU und China zusammensetzen, dann sehen wir einen Systemwettbewerb in allen politischen Bereichen.  Wir stehen am Anfang eines Zeitalters künstlicher Intelligenz mit so vielen Chancen für unsere Gesellschaft. Gleichzeitig muss uns der chinesische Überwachungsstaat auch ein Mahnmal sein, wohin unsere Reise nicht gehen darf. Wir dürfen nicht abhängig sein von Technologien made in China. Denn dass Abhängigkeit eine Spezialität Chinas ist, das haben wir in den letzten Jahren erleben dürfen. Wenn Autokratien wieder das Recht des Stärkeren einführen sollen, dann muss unser Angebot mehr Freihandel mit mehr Partnern sein, mehr Kooperation auf Augenhöhe. Liebe Kollegen, die EU wurde gegründet, um Frieden, Freiheit und Demokratie zu sichern. Diese Werte müssen wir weitertragen in einer Allianz der Demokratien, in einer Allianz, die gemeinsam Verantwortung für diese Werte übernimmt und gegen die Autokratien dieser Welt eintritt.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Paulo Rangel
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, Caro Alto Representante, Senhor Vice—Presidente, as relações entre Portugal e a China são as mais antigas e as mais duradouras de qualquer Estado europeu. Sabemos muito bem a importância do diálogo e das relações comerciais com a China. Mas a amizade sem limites com a Rússia, a agressividade e as ameaças a Taiwan, o tratamento dos uigures, são questões que têm de estar na nossa agenda de relacionamento com a China. E, por isso, nós devemos sempre enfrentá-las, tendo a atitude que teve a Presidente von der Leyen, e não a atitude neutral do Presidente Macron. Nós queremos a autonomia estratégica para a Europa, mas o nosso rival sistémico não são os Estados Unidos. O nosso rival sistémico é a China. A autonomia, portanto, não é uma terceira via. A Europa só será verdadeiramente uma entidade com autonomia estratégica se for uma Europa atlântica, uma Europa que cultiva os valores euro-atlânticos. E por isso é fundamental que, perante a China, tenhamos uma posição firme de defesa da ordem internacional, da integridade de Taiwan e dos direitos humanos.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Margarida Marques
Political group: S-D
Country: Cyprus
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, Senhor Vice-Presidente, Senhor Alto Comissário, a definição da Estratégia UE-China tem de ser feita num quadro interinstitucional. Não pode ser uma única instituição, isoladamente, a comprometer a posição da União Europeia. Este debate serve essa finalidade. A União Europeia, como potência global, tem de estabelecer as suas prioridades, o seu caminho no diálogo com a China. Também para isso temos, desde o Tratado de Lisboa, o Alto Representante para a Política Externa e de Segurança. Sabemos que no último ano surgiram novas perturbações na relação bilateral com a China. Também sabemos que os desafios e oportunidades que a China representa têm mudado ao longo do tempo. Temos linhas vermelhas: o respeito dos direitos humanos é uma delas. Mas a China é um parceiro importante no equilíbrio global e regional. Finalmente, precisamos de uma estratégia política, económica e de segurança que beneficie a União Europeia, a sua autonomia estratégica como ator global, e que contribua para a paz e para o equilíbrio multilateral.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Ilhan Kyuchyuk
Political group: Renew
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Mr President, dear Mr Borrell, dear Vice—President of the European Commission, colleagues, this debate is certainly not about two things: this debate is not about playing the blaming game and it is not about choosing sides, because we know our sides. We know our partners, we know our friends and we are working together with them.  But this debate is certainly about the topic, the need, for a coherent strategy for the EU—China relationship, and we need the strategy, Mr Borrell. This was strongly suggested to you by many colleagues before me. I do agree with those saying that the EU—China relationship is of strategic importance, but we should be clear that China poses a challenge to the liberal order of today. The country is a global powerhouse and we need to address the challenges at stake together.  First and foremost, the EU must prioritise its security interests in its relationship with China. We need to carefully assess the implications of Chinese military activities in Taiwan, but also to talk boldly about human rights. What China is doing in the Xinjiang region with the Uyghurs is completely unacceptable. I want to state that clearly from this House.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Frances Fitzgerald
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, China looks at Europe and sees division. We must show unity and strength. As President von der Leyen has cautioned, we must clearly set the terms of a healthy engagement. We must be honest and clear, and recognise that China certainly does not play by our rules. And yet China is a vital trading partner, but it seeks to dominate vital supply chains. Their acts are not in line with our European values: human rights abuses of the Uyghurs, an opaque stance on the Ukraine invasion, threatening freedom and democracy in their own backyard. We must play to our strengths, promote global trade and engage as an equal. We must take the lead along with our partners in the democratic world in regulating critical sectors, such as AI, to protect global standards and the protection of rights. China’s interactions with Putin are a cause of absolutely serious concern. Any support in the form of weapons or otherwise would be hugely detrimental to our future relations. We should not allow ourselves to be divided.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Niels Fuglsang
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: DA

Hr. formand! Imens Kina de senere år er blevet stadig mere autokratisk, er vi i Europa blevet stadig mere afhængige af Kina. Vi har set, hvordan afgørende råmaterialer til vores industri kommer fra Kina, og vi har set, hvordan kritisk infrastruktur lander på kinesiske hænder. Her tænker jeg f.eks. på Kinas opkøb af Grækenlands største havn, Piræus, og Kinas nuværende planer om at købe sig ind i Hamborg Havn. Tiden er kommet til at stoppe den udvikling. Nok må være nok. Jeg har to forslag. For det første skal vi i EU vedtage en fælles definition af, hvad der tæller som kritisk infrastruktur og give hinanden håndslag på, at det sælger vi ikke til fremmede magter. For det andet bør vi hjemtage industrier, der er afgørende for vores samfund. Her tænker jeg f.eks. på minedrift, men også produktion inden for f.eks. den grønne sektor. Det er på tide, at EU indtager en mere kritisk rolle over for Kina. Vi må stå vagt om vores værdier, og vi må indse, at frihed det kræver altså uafhængighed.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Ivan Štefanec
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Mr President, dear colleagues, there is a clear learning from current international development, and that is that democracies should stand together. And this learning is even more applicable towards China. China’s growth means really an economic opportunity, but China’s growth means also a serious threat in terms of military, in terms of critical raw material, in terms of its growing influence in international organisations. What to do? The answer is definitely European unity towards China’s expansion and our close cooperation with the US. The most important European actions should be firstly to protect Taiwan; secondly to strengthen and modernise our defence capacities, particularly in terms of cybersecurity; and thirdly, to secure our supply chain of critical raw materials. Ladies and gentlemen, the world is changing and we are able to shape it only based on our European unity, our cooperation among democracies and our position towards autocracies.
Debate: The need for a coherent strategy for EU-China Relations
Date: TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023
Speaker: Marcos Ros Sempere
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: ES

Señor presidente, comisario, alto representante, ¿qué lecciones nos ha enseñado esta legislatura? No podemos olvidar las tristes escenas que vimos en lo más duro de la pandemia. Lo que sucedió cuando dependíamos del material sanitario procedente de China lo estamos viviendo ahora con la crisis energética que atravesamos. China acumula y consume combustibles y provoca subidas de precio, mientras que en Europa luchamos por aumentar nuestra independencia energética.  La Unión Europea debe reforzar su papel como un agente geopolítico con voz propia. Para conseguirlo, debemos disminuir nuestra dependencia del exterior en materia tecnológica y de producción de determinados materiales. Aprendamos de las duras lecciones de esta legislatura. La Unión Europea tiene entidad para ser un agente geopolítico autónomo.  Esto no significa que debamos eliminar las relaciones comerciales con China, sino equilibrarlas. Esto no significa que cada uno de los Estados miembros no tenga su papel, sino que debemos hablar con una sola voz, con coordinación, como ha dicho bien hoy el señor Borrell. Y por encima de todo, siendo conscientes de que la Unión Europea debe seguir siendo la referencia mundial de la democracia y el respeto a los derechos humanos.