unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The Post-Cotonou Agreement
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Spain
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, les négociations de l’accord post-Cotonou s’articulent autour d’un socle commun et mettent l’accent sur les besoins spécifiques des régions, à savoir la démocratie et les droits humains, le développement durable, social et humain. Aujourd’hui, nous avons la possibilité de mettre en œuvre notre programme, notamment celui d’un partenariat durable sur un pied d’égalité avec les pays ACP (Afrique, Caraïbes et Pacifique). En tant que vice-présidente de cette délégation, je suis ravie que l’amendement concernant le devoir de mémoire, que nous avions inclus dans les accords, ait été concrétisé par les mesures que mon État membre, l’Allemagne, vient de prendre en procédant à la restitution des bronzes béninois. J’espère que cela fera des émules. Ce geste témoigne également de cette volonté de vouloir assumer notre histoire commune dans un esprit de compréhension réciproque. Nous souhaitons entamer un dialogue fructueux sur la base d’un respect mutuel et avoir des échanges constructifs avec une forte participation du Parlement européen et le soutien actif des États membres.
Debate: The Post-Cotonou Agreement
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Janina Ochojska
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Odnowiona umowa z Kotonu stanowi filar partnerstwa między Unią Europejską, państwami członkowskimi Unii Europejskiej oraz państwami AKP. Jej celem jest wyeliminowanie ubóstwa, zagwarantowanie praworządności, wspieranie zrównoważonego rozwoju gospodarczego i społecznego krajów partnerskich oraz stopniowa integracja ich gospodarek z gospodarką światową. Sytuacja globalna i nowe światowe wyzwania, takie jak kryzysy migracyjne czy zmiany klimatu, spowodowały, że podstawowe założenia partnerstwa musiały zostać zdefiniowane na nowo, co nie oznacza, że powinniśmy zrezygnować z paktu migracyjnego oraz legalnej migracji i z Zielonego Ładu, który pozwoli nam żyć w bezpieczniejszym świecie.
Debate: The Post-Cotonou Agreement
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Evin Incir
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

Mr President, colleagues, in a time of polarisation globally, and when our multilateral corporations are under tremendous pressure, we need more cooperation, cohesion and trust—building. We have in the last month become fully aware that global threat requires joint actions, but it is also time to understand that global prosperity requires joint actions as well. The post—Cotonou Agreement is essential part of the continued strengthening of the cooperation between EU and the countries in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. At the basis of trade and development cooperation must always be common values, democratic rights and a feminist approach, ensuring inclusion of women and girls and their rights. It is essential that we together fight climate change and put equality in the centre. I totally agree with the rapporteur, Tomas Tobé, that it is disappointing – I would even say shameful – that we have a Member State that blocks important agreements. It is important that the Council swiftly sign it so that it can enter into force. Global prosperity requires joint actions. The failure of one EU Member State to understand it shouldn’t deprive the progress of basic human rights; it’s unacceptable.
Debate: The Post-Cotonou Agreement
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Eric Andrieu
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, Monsieur le Ministre, la décision prise par le Conseil de reporter la signature de l’accord est réellement difficile à accepter et je ne peux que regretter que mon pays, la France, n’ait pas pu arriver à la signature durant sa présidence. Je souhaite beaucoup de courage et d’abnégation à la nouvelle présidence pour ce faire. Au moment où le monde traverse une méta-crise et où s’entrechoquent des crises sanitaires, alimentaires, environnementales ou encore géopolitiques, avec tout ce que cela sous-entend sur la fragilisation de nombreuses populations, il est temps de redonner à tous ces pays et toutes ces populations les moyens de l’autonomie alimentaire. Il faut aussi songer à la suspension du service de la dette ou au cadre commun pour la restructuration de la dette des pays pauvres. Pour ce qui est de l’environnement, l’accord post-Cotonou doit s’inscrire dans la perspective de la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique afin que leurs territoires ne deviennent pas inhabitables. Nous devons repenser en profondeur les relations avec les pays en voie de développement et nous devons revisiter nos modèles de partenariat et être davantage dans l’écoute et dans l’accompagnement.
Debate: The Post-Cotonou Agreement
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Pierfrancesco Majorino
Political group: S-D
Country: Ireland
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, molte volte questo Parlamento ha ribadito la necessità di considerare strategici i rapporti con il continente africano, rapporti rispetto ai quali serve anche un cambio di rotta, passando dall'aiuto allo sviluppo a un vero partenariato, estraneo a qualsiasi forma di sfruttamento neocoloniale. Il nuovo accordo di partenariato sottoscritto con l'Organizzazione degli Stati dell'Africa, dei Caraibi e del Pacifico proietta le relazioni commerciali e politiche con 79 paesi dell'area in un quadro rinnovato, rafforzando elementi importanti come la lotta alle diseguaglianze, il rispetto dei diritti umani, un maggiore coinvolgimento dei parlamenti e della società civile. Un accordo avanzato, che da più di un anno è ostaggio di un'ignobile battaglia di retroguardia da parte del governo ungherese, infastidito dalla previsione di canali illegali di migrazione, un argomento assolutamente strumentale. Ancora una volta un ricatto fondato sull'ossessione della migrazione, sulle paure, su un'idea di un'Europa chiusa, di un'Europa fortezza, un ricatto inaccettabile e da rispedire al mittente, in particolare nel contesto della crisi sanitaria e alimentare.
Debate: The Post-Cotonou Agreement
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

To be credible towards our citizens, our partners, in our commitments to deepening relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions we need to swiftly move forward with the signature and provisional application of the Post-Cotonou Agreement.  If there is one thing the current geopolitical context clearly shows us it is that we need to act swiftly and firmly, that we need to forge stronger relations with our allies, and that we have to do that together, unified as a Team Europe. So with this, I very much hope that we can count on the Council to sign the Post-Cotonou Agreement in the very near future.
Debate: The Post-Cotonou Agreement
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Mikuláš Bek
Language: EN

In such troubled times, the value of alliances and partnerships increases even more. I understand the frustration that has been expressed here. And I can assure you that the Council will continue its work to find a solution and finalise the process. Timely implementation of the agreement and the strengthening of our partnership with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States remain a priority for both sides, and the Czech Presidency will treat it as a priority. The post-Cotonou Agreement demonstrates the value we attach to this partnership and its implementation will allow us to work better on solutions together with our partners. Thank you very much for your attention.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Nicola Beer
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über den Bericht von Katalin Cseh im Namen des Haushaltskontrollausschusses über den Schutz der finanziellen Interessen der Europäischen Union – Betrugsbekämpfung – Jahresbericht 2020 (
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Katalin Cseh
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

There have been many good improvements in the course of 2020 and this report welcomes these. The creation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, the new Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation and the strengthening of OLAF have all been consequential, and it will help better protect our financial interests. But also we need to do more. As we talk to the representatives of these institutions, one common issue they raised was that more staff and more funds are needed for anti-fraud work. And it’s really a fair point. We have a historic new recovery fund. We have a much bigger budget. But our capacities to control this budget are not strengthened in parallel. Protecting our financial interests has costs, but spending more on anti-fraud is actually saving us money in the end, and also beyond that, we need to improve the interoperability of the existing systems to create a better exchange of information and to avoid overlaps. We’re also calling for binding legal obligations for Member States to feed into the EU’s database of beneficiaries, which is called Arachne. It is really absurd that we don’t even have a transparent list of final beneficiaries of EU funds. EDES, a blacklist to exclude fraudulent applicants, is an important tool as well. But up until now it has not covered funds in shared management, and shared management covers 80% of all EU funds. We know it. So we were very, very pleased to hear that the European Commission has just rectified this in the new Financial Regulation. And also, finally, what we desperately need now is credible enforcement from the side of the Commission. We can have the best, the most well-designed legal instruments, but they are all pointless if the Commission refuses to apply them. So just take the Recovery Fund as an example, the conditions are crystal-clear and the tools are there, but what about the enforcement? Non-transparent backroom deals will not get us the results. Why isn’t the public properly informed about the Commission’s negotiations? I hope this can change in the future. So, colleagues, a box of shiny new tools does not make a good mechanic. And similarly, in the case of the protection of the EU’s financial interests, it is not just a toolbox that matters, but also what the Commission makes of it. So I am hoping to work together on this, also in the future.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Petri Sarvamaa
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

So that’s why the PIF Report is so important. And it’s good to see that this year’s report is maybe a little bit more solid than they are on average. Two reasons, of course, as we all know: COVID-19, 2020, and then, after that, the decision to launch Next Generation EU and the RRF. So the opportunities for fraudsters grew, I would say almost exponentially. We don’t even know, but maybe the tip of the iceberg at the moment. So that’s why it is extremely important now not to lower our guard, but do exactly the opposite. And this is a message to the Commission that we really have to take good care of our resources, help our OLAF and EPPO in this very important task. And in the report, you find the main elements that the rapporteur is suggesting. So I will give my full support to this report.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Caterina Chinnici
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: IT

La gestione della pandemia, infatti, ha ingenerato nuovi e maggiori rischi, sia in termini di entrate che di spese, e potenziali nuove opportunità per gli autori di frodi, compresi i gruppi della criminalità organizzata. È quindi necessario assicurare massima trasparenza, in particolare nella gestione del dispositivo per la ripresa e la resilienza, incrementando e rafforzando i sistemi di monitoraggio e controllo, che vanno armonizzati al pari delle definizioni. E soprattutto va rafforzata l'architettura antifrode e anticorruzione dell'Unione europea, assicurando a OLAF, EPPO, Eurojust ed Europol strumenti e risorse necessari. Occorre ancora intensificare sinergia e scambio di informazioni e complementarietà operativa agli organismi UE e nazionali, come sta avvenendo nell'ambito del Next Generation EU - Law Enforcement Forum, avviato congiuntamente da Europol e dall'Italia. Tutto per tutelare gli interessi finanziari dell'Unione europea.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Ramona Strugariu
Political group: Renew
Country: Italy
Language: RO

Un rol extrem de important pentru detecție și prevenție, în special, în contextul achizițiilor făcute în perioada pandemiei, dar nu numai, îl au avertizorii de integritate. Ei sunt acei oameni verticali care, atunci când sesizează fapte de corupție în companiile sau instituțiile publice în care lucrează, au curajul să le denunțe. Pentru a semnala corupția, însă, avertizorii de integritate au nevoie de canale sigure și de o protecție sporită, garantată de lege.  Chiar Procuroarea-șefă a Parchetului European sublinia săptămâna trecută acest lucru, în contextul în care România nu a transpus corect și complet Directiva europeană privind protecția avertizorilor de integritate. Și nu este singura, a făcut asta alături de alte 17 state membre care încă nu au transpus corect această directivă.  Mai mult, în România, legea recent adoptată de Parlamentul României golește directiva de conținut. Asta pune în pericol și activitatea Parchetului European și cadrul de protecție a intereselor financiare ale Uniunii.  Le cer tuturor acestor state membre care nu au transpus directiva să facă acest lucru corect și cât mai repede, pentru că altfel nu protejăm interesele financiare ale Uniunii, ci opacitatea, frauda și corupția.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Daniel Freund
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Actually, this House does not agree. You spoke of the conditionality mechanism, which clearly shows that this is not a question of a lack of tools, it’s a question of a lack of political will, because this House sued your Commission last year for inactivity, for not using this tool of the conditionality mechanism. It took the Commission a year and a half almost to launch the procedure. Now we’re at the stage where the Commission has to decide how much of the EU funding is going to be frozen to Hungary.  Once again, Parliament did the homework for the Commission. We launched a study today that every single cent of Hungarian EU funds has to be frozen. Can I give you the study now? Show us that there is a real political will in the Commission to do something about fraud, not only in Hungary but in all EU Member States.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Luke Ming Flanagan
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

The report includes a clear request for transparency in the expenditure side, as well as the concerns on conflicts of interest. The report has a strong focus on corruption and the fight against organised crime, including the mafia type. It highlights the importance of the anti-fraud strategy in the Member States, as well as the need for an EU strategy on revolving doors. On anti-corruption reporting, the text regrets that the Commission decided to disrupt its report but takes note of the role of the new Rule of Law Report while asking for recommendations to be set by the Commission within this specific framework.  I will be supporting this report but I make one recommendation here. Can we get a clock in front of us so we can see how long we are speaking instead of one behind us?
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Ivan Vilibor Sinčić
Political group: NI
Country: Czechia
Language: HR

Poštovana predsjedavajuća, hvala vam, financijske prevare vezane uz sredstva iz EU fondova u Hrvatskoj su svakodnevica.  Jedan od najbezobraznijih primjera pljačke i nenamjenskog trošenja je Centar kompetencija za naprednu mobilnost. To je projekt istraživanja i razvoja čiji je korisnik DIV Grupa i još sedam partnera, među kojima i nekoliko fakulteta. Radi se o 205 milijuna kuna u razdoblju 2020. – 2023., a izvor sufinanciranja je Europski fond za regionalni razvoj.  Neki od istraživačkih projekata imaju dozu nadrealnosti te bi bili izazov i kompanijama Elona Muska, a ne za skromnog proizvođača vijaka. Ideja DIV Grupe nikada nije bila razvoj novih tehnologija, nego su CEKOM gledali kao bankomat. Fiktivno se prijavljuju radni sati, zapošljavaju se nekompetentni zaposlenici kojima se daju lažne dnevnice i piše izmišljeni napredak na projektima. DIV Grupa nije isplaćivala sredstva partnerima te je ostala dužna fakultetima. Sve ovo događa se uz blagoslov nadležnih ministara koji su sve pripremili i osmislili. Vladu, DIV Grupu i sve druge netko će uskoro pitati gdje je novac i koji je rezultat, a otkud, godina istraživačkih aktivnosti?  Konačno, ironično, najviše bi u CEKOM-u mogao istraživati upravo OLAF i Ured europskog javnog tužitelja.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Tomáš Zdechovský
Political group: PPE
Country: Slovenia
Language: CS

Vážená paní předsedkyně, vážení kolegové, dámy a pánové, jako místopředseda Výboru pro rozpočtovou kontrolu bych rád na úvod poděkoval všem za úsilí, které v boji proti finančním podvodům vynaložili, také paní zpravodajce, protože finanční podvody se přímo dotýkají všech občanů. Rozkradené prostředky by mohly být investovány do školství, zdravotnictví nebo zlepšení životní úrovně občanů Evropské unie. Každý odhalený podvod je úspěch, ale je potřeba ten boj za finanční zájmy Evropské unie zintenzivnit. Pro organizované zločinecké skupiny jsou finanční podvody přitažlivější, protože zejména v oblasti zemědělství se špatně vyšetřují. Je to jako chobotnice, která má všude chapadla, nandají je do všech možných kapes daňových poplatníků a vysávají je. Proto zprávu z Výboru pro rozpočtovou kontrolu beru jako předpokládaná doporučení a opatření a apeluji na Komisi, aby důrazně tlačila na odhalování finančních podvodů. A paní předsedající, já jsem přetáhl deset minut, vy tady přetahujete celou dobu půl hodiny, podívejte se, jak vám uběhl čas, kolik tady času naběhlo a tedy při deseti sekundách mi tady cvakat, to je prosím trošku, jako bych řekl, až příliš.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Nicola Beer
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Please, you know me: the first round of speakers for all the group is a little more flexible, but if we do it for everybody, then we will be out. We will stick to the time please in the second round. If you are in the first round, no problem, but if you are not in the first round, then we stick to the time. I think this shows respect to the other speakers.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Lara Wolters
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Madam President, given that I only have one minute on the broad topic of fraud in the EU, I will move straight to the item highest on our agenda. That is, of course, the topic of access of Hungary and Poland to European funds.  Let’s be clear, money, of course, is extremely important to authoritarian regimes because without it there is less to give away to friends, to supporters and to influence elections.  When, in a country, institutions are no longer independent and basic rule of law principles are violated in broad daylight, what we can expect is that this will affect all EU—funded programmes in one way or another.  That leads me to the following points. One: we must under no condition approve Hungary’s recovery plan. Two: the full power of the conditionality mechanism must be applied, meaning that, as per the report now on your desk, only a freeze of 100% of EU funding will sufficiently protect the EU’s financial interests. Third, on Poland: the Commission must honour the rule of law itself – i.e. the ruling of our Court of Justice on the immediate reinstatement of the suspended judges. Lastly, the approval of Poland’s recovery plan was a mistake.  I urge you, Commissioner, to join the resistance within the Commission. At the next round, when Poland asks for the first tranche, say ‘no’!
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Eugen Jurzyca
Political group: ECR
Country: Belgium
Language: SK

Vážená pani predsedajúca,  Vítam, že Európsky parlament v tejto správe žiada, aby Komisia vyhodnotila efektívnosť rozpočtu za roky 14 až 20, aby sme sa na základe výsledkov dosiahnutých za európske peniaze v minulosti, poučili pri zostavovaní budúcich rozpočtov. V správe však chýba myšlienka, že nultou podmienkou vyhodnotenia efektívnosti je, aby sme si dopredu určili presné kritériá a merateľné výsledkové ukazovatele, podľa ktorých budeme hodnotiť, či sme boli vo svojich cieľoch úspešní. Aj Európsky dvor audítorov v správe o výkonnosti rozpočtu na roky 14 až 20 upozorňuje, že bol orientovaný najmä na výstupy a že nedošlo k výraznému posunu smerom k meraniu výsledkov.  Myslím si, že meranie výsledkov je aj najlepšou ochranou pred podvodmi a korupciou.
Debate: Protection of the EU’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2022
Speaker: Andor Deli
Political group: NI
Country: Germany
Language: HU

Ebben a jelentésben a már megszokott ideológiai támadásokat láthattuk Magyarország és Lengyelország ellen, és egyértelmű, hogy a jelentéstevőt nem érdeklik a tények, például hogy Magyarország elsőként kötött együttműködési megállapodást az Európai Főügyészséggel, vagy hogy az OLAF-ajánlások alapján megtett vádemelések aránya Magyarországon 67%, ami közel kétszerese az uniós 35%-os átlagnak. Maga az európai főügyész többször is elmondta, hogy kiválóan tudnak együtt dolgozni a magyar hatóságokkal. De ha már tények, közismert tény az is, hogy az európai parlamenti munkában rendkívül fontos a hiteles, megbízható jelentéstevő szerepe, ezért elfogadhatatlan, hogy Cseh Katalin úgy foglalkozhat a csalás elleni éves jelentéssel, hogy saját maga is érintett egy, az uniós források terhére elkövetett súlyos csalási ügyben. Ez a tény az eljárást teljesen hiteltelenné teszi, és tovább rombolja az uniós intézményekbe vetett bizalmat. Ezért felszólítom Cseh Katalin jelentéstevőt, hogy adja vissza megbízatását.