unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Nicolae Ştefănuță
Political group: Renew
Country: Belgium
Language: EN

Look at what is happening near Ukraine’s border. A build—up of fighting vehicles and armoured units is taking place as we speak. So by bringing the Western Balkans – our nearest and most diverse neighbour – closer, we actually protect the EU against the very cold winds coming from the East. We have Albania sliding towards conflict and now the repercussions could be more far—reaching even than the state collapse we witnessed 20 years ago. Kosovo is struggling too to gain international recognition. We cannot leave these countries behind. We need to show them that the EU offers its neighbours a privileged relationship, and we need to prove to them that we are reliable, we are committed and a forward—looking partner. Secondly, let’s admit that the lack of cooperation and data sharing does generate trans—border organised crime activities. We know it’s joint work and we are here to help, but the Western Balkan countries need to play their part too by keeping a solid track of corruption and money laundering, as well as weapons and human trafficking, and by working closely with the EU so that together we can monitor and counter any existing links between terrorism and illicit finance.  Thirdly, there is no vacuum in international relations. One wrong move and Russia will exploit it. One misstep and China will give billions away and seek influence in the region, and demand it too. Let’s unblock the Western Balkans’ path towards EU accession and not let others open a new front right here in our wing. Let’s not give the green light to criminal groups to benefit from emergency situations such as COVID and not let them counterfeit vaccines and vaccination cards. Let’s establish stronger links with civil society.  I started with Chamberlain, but I will finish with Churchill: ‘One always measures friends by how they show up in bad weather.’ So let’s show up for our friends!
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Ireland
Language: DE

When we want peace and security in our House, we have to make sure that our doorstep and our inner yard are safe and secured. The Western Balkans is precisely that doorstep for many EU Member States and the inner yard for the whole Union. These six countries are the major transit route for money laundering, trafficking for drugs, firearms as well as human beings, which mostly involves girls that are trafficked for sexual exploitation. This has to stop, and we need a fundamentally different EU approach regarding organised crime. Firstly, we need to be credible. The EU has to offer a significant increase in the capacities of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and enhance cooperation between the Western Balkan countries and the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), Eurojust and the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) to target transnational crime more effectively. The EU must lead and not only follow others in their actions. Therefore, we need to make sure that those individuals who are on the US sanctions list will face sanctions in the EU, too. Kosovo should become a fully—fledged member of Interpol. Without the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) investigative journalist in Belgrade, we would not have known all links between the ruling elites in Serbia and Montenegro and the criminal gangs, drug lords and armed traffickers. Robust support for organisations, such as KRIK, will play an essential role in preventive and monitoring work and help to face an increasing number of strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs) cases, which is of utmost importance. The region is a geopolitical relevant player for Europe. It represents a crucial element in securing EU borders management, but also the fight against transnational crime and corruption. Given the lack of clarity on Frontex engagement, the Greens will abstain on this report. Nevertheless, our commitment and our determination to reinforce the EU’s pivotal role in the Western Balkans through the common fight against organised crime remain undisputed.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Thierry Mariani
Political group: ID
Country: Croatia
Language: FR

Mais là où je ne peux les suivre, c’est le raisonnement qui consiste à dire que sans perspective européenne, on ne pourrait pas lutter efficacement et durablement contre les mafias dans cette région. Premièrement, parce que cet argument est la porte ouverte à une extension sans limites de l’Union européenne. Demain, qui empêchera les habitants du Caucase ou de l’Anatolie d’affirmer «si nous n’entrons pas dans l’Union européenne, la criminalité va exploser dans notre pays». Deuxièmement, parce que ce rapport qui traite d’un sujet bien concret, la criminalité organisée dans les Balkans qui pourrit la vie de tant de nos compatriotes, a été traité - comme c’est souvent le cas dans ce Parlement - sous un angle idéologique. Cette déconnexion du réel n’est pas la seule faiblesse du rapport. En effet, on essaie d’utiliser la lutte contre le crime pour obtenir la reconnaissance internationale du Kosovo, alors que la volonté d’États membres de l’Union européenne, contre la réalité historique, s’oppose à cette reconnaissance. Je pose une question simple: est-ce que la reconnaissance du Monténégro a permis de lutter contre la criminalité organisée et ses liens avec le pouvoir en place? Je pose une autre question: est-ce que l’entrée dans l’Union européenne a permis de stopper les mafias roms originaires d’un certain nombre de nos pays? Il ne s’agit donc pas, bien évidemment, de combattre le crime, mais de faire avancer à travers ce rapport un agenda idéologique.  Et puis, il y a un grand absent dans ce texte, la route migratoire des Balkans: comment pouvons-nous aborder le sujet de la lutte contre le crime dans cette région sans évoquer la route migratoire des Balkans et les influences turques qui y règnent? Comment pouvons-nous abandonner les frontières extérieures de l’Union européenne en Croatie, alors qu’on les évoque si régulièrement? Les vendettas et les réseaux kosovars et albanais prennent les Européens en otage - cela a été dit: règlement de comptes, flux continu de drogue, esclavage moderne, exploitation des femmes, trafic d’organes sont un fléau pour nos nations. Ces drames méritent mieux qu’une pétition de principe idéologique. Oui à la lutte contre les mafias, mais non à leur instrumentalisation pour faire entrer certains pays dans l’Union européenne.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Angel Dzhambazki
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: BG

Защо това е така? Защото, разбира се, тази корупция захранва политически проекти. Защото, разбира се, тази корупция, която е основана на аспирациите, на политическите виждания на Белград, на Кремъл, на Москва, влияе пряко върху всички процеси в Западните Балкани. И вие би трябвало да ги знаете. Само че тук вие, политиците от всички групи, се постарахте да изтриете имената на корумпираните и да ги скриете. Какво означава това? Че ви е страх, че ви е срам? Може би, че някой тук е зависим от тази работа? Може би, че някой тук получава някакви бонуси под някаква форма за това, че крие тези имена?  Да, господа и дами, да не се обиди някой. Ясно е, че от корупцията на Западните Балкани се финансират политици, дори в тази зала. Може би неприсъстващи сега в момента, но със сигурност се финансират. Там се финансира и се организира антиевропейската, антибългарската пропаганда – и в Македония, и в Косово, и в Албания, и в Сърбия, ако искате. Ако искате дори в Босна и Херцеговина. Защото това се случва от тези мрежи, които са финансирани и организирани под покровителството на Белград, на Кремъл, на Москва. И вие би трябвало това да го чувствате, да го знаете.  Аз мисля обаче, че го знаете. А това, че не го казвате, и го триете от доклада, ясно показва какви са тези връзки, от които много хора в тази зала трябва да се срамуват. Този път ще завърша, без да благодаря за вниманието, по обясними причини.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, la criminalità organizzata non conosce barriere e confini e solo se saremo in grado di trovare soluzioni concrete ai problemi che affliggono i Balcani occidentali, potremo garantire anche la nostra stessa sicurezza. Per farlo occorrerà innanzitutto rafforzare e favorire la cooperazione transnazionale, sia su base regionale che con gli Stati membri dell'Unione europea, questo anche attraverso il rilancio delle varie iniziative intergovernative che sono attualmente esistenti. Sarà poi necessario procedere speditamente verso una piena partecipazione del Kosovo alle attività di Europol e di Frontex, trasformando i  Allo stesso modo dovremo continuare a facilitare il dialogo tra Belgrado e Pristina per permettere l'ingresso del Kosovo in Interpol, stimolando così uno scambio di informazioni e di  Supportare e guidare gli sforzi dei paesi dei Balcani occidentali nel contrasto a problemi endemici che ne ostacolano l'inclusione nella grande famiglia europea non è solo un atto dovuto verso una regione nel cuore dell'Europa, ma rappresenta anche e soprattutto una priorità strategica per plasmare insieme il nostro futuro comune.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Vladimír Bilčík
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, first of all I would like to take this opportunity to welcome today’s good news: the opening of Cluster 4 with Serbia. It is an important political signal towards all partners in the Western Balkans that EU enlargement is making progress. I’m hoping for some good news for the region, notably when it comes to opening accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania before the end of this year.  I would also like to reiterate the particular importance of Cluster 4 in light of the recent political developments in Serbia, as this cluster deals with the  We all know that organised crime is the best example of regional and European cooperation. Criminal enterprises don’t know borders, they don’t dwell on recent history or historical grievances, and they are united in their understanding that money talks. I would therefore like to congratulate our rapporteur, Lukas Mandl, on his timely report. The best answer to fighting organised crime in the Western Balkans is a more tangible and more decisive Europe in the region.  We must reinforce our political commitment to enlargement and our practical work on European institutions and practices in the Western Balkans. Cooperation with Eurojust, Europol, Frontex and the EPPO are fine moves but, honestly, we must work on the transformation of the domestic institutions of the candidate countries. Societies in the Western Balkans must become more resilient from within in order to tackle corruption, organised crime and trafficking more effectively. This is a long—term goal tied to the European perspective, and the frontrunners in this process, namely Montenegro and Serbia, could lead by example.  Meanwhile, it is important that across the Western Balkans we safeguard those who report on criminal activities and who pursue them publicly. Investigative journalists, whistleblowers and vibrant civil society deserve our European support as much as police officers, judges and prosecutors committed to justice, as well as officials who work diligently on EU—related reforms. We can never get rid of all organised crime, but we can diminish space for the operations of criminals by working together with our partners in the Western Balkans and by turning this region into well—functioning European states.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Tonino Picula
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, gospodine povjereniče, pozdravljam ovo izvješće jer obrađuje jedan od ključnih i najozbiljnijih problema s kojima se suočavaju zemlje zapadnog Balkana na svom putu prema Europskoj uniji.  U nedavno predstavljenim izvješćima Europske komisije podrobno se obrazlaže važnost ostvarivanja opipljivih rezultata u reformama pravosuđa i borbi protiv organiziranog kriminala, osobito u slučajevima onih država gdje nema osobitog pomaka. Zaustavljanje organiziranog kriminala i korupcije ključno je za ulazak u Europsku uniju.  Nažalost, ni pandemija nije usporila organizirani kriminal. Dapače, imamo drske primjere koruptivnih radnji u javnim nabavama za medicinsku opremu, poput afere s respiratorima u Bosni i Hercegovini. Puno je dokaza da virus organiziranog kriminala ne poznaje granice. Uparen s korupcijom organizirani kriminal predstavlja ogromnu prijetnju u ionako problematičnoj regiji. Ugrožava sigurnost, društvenu koheziju, tjera mlade ljude na odlazak iz tih država. Dobro je da novi instrument pretpristupne pomoći IPA III, za koji sam bio suizvjestitelj Europskog parlamenta, sadrži smjernice jačanja pravosuđa i razvoja efikasnijih alata u službi suprotstavljanja organiziranom kriminalu. Naglašavam kako mi iz Europskog parlamenta moramo stalno slati snažne poruke podrške organizacijama civilnog društva, istraživačkom novinarstvu, svim vrijednim i hrabrim ljudima koji predano rade i riskiraju da njihove države budu bolje.  Stanimo uz njih dok se bore protiv organiziranog kriminala. Ohrabrujmo jaču suradnju policije i pravosudnih tijela među državama zapadnog Balkana a članstvo Kosova u Interpolu bio bi recimo dobar korak u tom smjeru.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Ilhan Kyuchyuk
Political group: Renew
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Mr President, I would like to congratulate Lukas Mandl for his timely and accurate support. The fight against crime has been on the top of the agenda of the Western Balkan governments for almost a decade now. Organised crime is a problem of such magnitude that it could limit the democratisation and development of the Western Balkans as a whole and could undermine the European integration of every country in the region. However, most of the Western Balkan countries have recognised the dangers to their peoples constituted by organised crime, and have already implemented a number of required legal, institutional and political measures in order to able to successfully combat it. But no question, more has to be done. In order to meet EU membership criteria, the Western Balkan countries need to deliver concrete results, in judicial reforms and the fight against corruption and organised crime. The EU must stand alongside the people of the Western Balkans in their fight against organised crime and provide further assistance as part of the EU accession process.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Thomas Waitz
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Mr President, unfortunately, in the Balkans, organised crime sometimes, or often, happens close to political leaders or sometimes even under the control of political leaders. In this context, we, as the European Union, should foremost take care that our IPA III funds are first of all – and most of all – used to strengthen the rule of law, to strengthen the institutions and the justice in the region, and also to strengthen the proper election processes that would actually make sure that some of the political leaders may become the history of the region.  We need to make sure that our IPA III funds, whenever they go into investments in the regions, especially when it comes to a lot of concrete, no matter if it’s motorways, hydropower plants or windmills, that we really make sure that our controlling system ensures that no part of this money is going into black channels of corruption and of bribes. Also what we very much can do within our very own European Union Member States is make sure that this money that is earned by bribery, corruption or organised crime does not end up in real-estate investments and other investments in our very own countries. That’s where we have control. That’s what we should take care of.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Ladislav Ilčić
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, poštovane dame i gospodo, organizirani kriminal cvate u kaosu, a državne institucije na tzv. zapadnom Balkanu nisu dovoljno ojačale da ga spriječe.  Kriminal je rastao za vrijeme kaosa u ratu, a raste i danas, kad nezakonite migracije predstavljaju gorivo za organizirani kriminal. Krijumčarenje ljudi, trgovina organima, terorističke aktivnosti, jačanje lanca prostitucije i ropstva; sve su to neželjene posljedice migracijske stihije, a ta je stihija u velikoj mjeri posljedica neodgovornih izjava europskih političara o dobrodošlici ilegalnih migranata. Podržavam mjere protiv organiziranog kriminala u ovom izvješću, a posebno poziv na pojačanu zaštitu vanjskih granica Europske unije jer je to podrška važnom i odgovornom poslu koji čini hrvatska granična policija. Svi koji kritiziraju Hrvatsku zato što brani svoju granicu i vanjsku granicu Europske unije, neka imaju na umu da se na taj način barem donekle sprječava kriminalne lance da pojačaju svoje aktivnosti na tlu Europske unije.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Mislav Kolakušić
Political group: NI
Country: Greece
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, poštovane kolege, poštovani građani, krijumčarenje ekonomskim i svim ostalim vrstama imigranata je najzloćudniji i najopasniji dio organiziranog kriminala na zapadnom Balkanu. Izravna je odgovornost europskih čelnika koji su poticali stanovnike Afrike i Azije da masovno ilegalno dolaze u Europu i Europsku uniju kao dio ekonomske i osvajačke imigracije u posljednjem desetljeću. Oni su, poput bivše njemačke kancelarke Angele Merkel, potpuno neodgovorno, izravno kršeći pravne propise i europske dogovore pozvali milijune migranata da krenu put Europe, čime su stvorili migrantske rute koje do danas nisu zatvorene.  Upravo i zbog toga, zbog takvih neodgovornih političkih čelnika pojedinih europskih država, danas pate prvenstveno građani zapadnog Balkana a potom i svi građani Europske unije koji ne žele ilegalne imigracije.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Eugen Tomac
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: RO

Domnule președinte, stimați colegi, cred că toți cetățenii statelor din Balcanii de Vest își doresc în mod solemn și asumat să facă parte din proiectul european. Ce ne rămâne de făcut însă nouă este să avansăm și să cerem, prin Comisia Europeană, reforme ferme pentru a combate cel mai mare flagel care pătrunde și bântuie aceste state din Balcanii de Vest. Corupția, criminalitatea, traficul de ființe umane sunt adevărate obstacole în procesul de integrare europeană a acestor state. Dar nu doar criminalitatea organizată reprezintă o amenințare pentru procesul democratic și de integrare europeană a acestor state, ci și influența unor state precum Federația Rusă, care au tot interesul pentru a menține o stare de neliniște în această regiune.  Eu sunt absolut convins că dacă va exista voință, eficiență și seriozitate în a cere ferm statelor din Balcanii de Vest să renunțe la această stare de neputință și să își asume reforme ferme, prin care să creeze instituții puternice, o justiție independentă, polițiști bine pregătiți, procurori capabili să instrumenteze dosare prin care să oprească criminalitatea organizată, traficul de ființe umane și corupția, vom avea o perspectivă solidă, proeuropeană, pentru aceste state. Altfel, vom rămâne în situația în care vom constata permanent că nu există soluții pentru ca aceste state să evolueze. Ori, atât timp cât există o deschidere largă pentru ca Balcanii de Vest să facă parte din Uniunea Europeană, avem și obligația de a-i asista, susține financiar, în aceste procese esențiale pentru salvarea acestor state și integrarea lor mai rapidă.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Isabel Santos
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, gostaria de começar por felicitar o relator deste importante relatório sobre a criminalidade organizada e o combate a essa criminalidade nos Balcãs Ocidentais, algo que deve ser encarado por todos nós com grande responsabilidade e forte sentido de cooperação. O problema do crime organizado e da corrupção não representa uma ameaça só para os Balcãs Ocidentais: também atinge os nossos países, a qualidade de vida das nossas populações e a segurança nos nossos países.  Mas quero aqui deixar bem claro que, se devemos discutir claramente a necessidade de reforçar os mecanismos de intervenção e a cooperação no combate a este tipo de criminalidade, também não a podemos utilizar para lançar um anátema sobre os Balcãs Ocidentais. Isso é algo que não pode, de todo, ser aceite por ninguém aqui nesta sala como uma forma de combater a questão da integração europeia destes países, e até por vezes com alguns discursos que acabam por confinar discursos xenófobos e racistas que não podem, de forma nenhuma, ser tolerados nesta Câmara.  Os Balcãs Ocidentais têm feito um esforço sério no combate à criminalidade organizada e devem ver esse esforço reconhecido precisamente através de avanços nos processos de adesão. Exemplos como a abertura do Gabinete de Ligação da Europol em Tirana, ou os acordos de cooperação entre o Eurojust e a Frontex com diversos países da região, são importantes de realçar. A segurança e bem-estar das populações dependem em muito deste trabalho, ao qual devemos dedicar uma atenção e esforço continuados na melhoria dos resultados.
Debate: Cooperation on the fight against organised crime in the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Klemen Grošelj
Political group: Renew
Country: Hungary
Language: SL

Gospod predsednik, kolegice, kolegi. Vprašanje boja proti organiziranemu kriminalu je vprašanje, tesno povezano s korupcijo. Oboje na Zahodnem Balkanu pa z vprašanjem vladavine prava. Boj proti korupciji in organiziranemu kriminalu na Zahodnem Balkanu bo uspešnejši le in samo tedaj, ko bomo imeli tam neodvisno sodstvo in tožilstva. In reforma obojega mora postati osrednja točka evropske politike do regije. Neodvisno pravosodje bo podlaga, ne samo za uspešen boj proti korupciji in organiziranemu kriminalu, ampak tudi branik pred demokratičnim nazadovanjem regije, in tako temelj njenega uspešnega vstopa v Evropsko unijo.  Zato rabimo v širitvenem procesu konkreten projekt, tudi konkreten napor in reformo pravosodja v regiji, ne samo v besedah, ampak tudi v konkretnih dejanjih.