unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Ciarán Cuffe
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Mr President, despite much fanfare, the Western Balkans Summit earlier this month turned out to be a disappointment. It failed in one of its most crucial tasks, that of offering a tangible and credible path to EU membership for those in the Balkans who continue to dream of a future within the European Union. Despite numerous enacting demands and targets, those countries continue to be offered only false promises. The EU, of course, is the most successful peace project in history. Yet in a country so recently ravaged by war, we continue to undermine accession to this peace project. And I remember half a century ago the excitement in Ireland when we joined the European Economic Community. It brought economic, social and environmental progress to our island. And the longer we continue to dash Balkan people’s hopes of joining the EU, the more disillusionment will grow with the European project.  So we need to be clear in our demands regarding requirements for accession, but we cannot endlessly break promises. We can no longer play with people’s hopes and dreams because of domestic politics. Of course, internal reforms are needed and institutions need strengthening, but this is a separate and internal matter. And I strongly regret the continuous undermining of the long stalled start to accession talks for North Macedonia and Albania by Bulgaria on very questionable grounds. And it’s wrong that some member states refuse to even consider setting 2030 as a target date for membership at the summit.  So I call on EU Member States to approve accession talks with these two countries as a matter of urgency and to set clear commitments to other Balkan states. We were given that option half a century ago, the least we can do is offer it to our colleagues in southern and Eastern Europe.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Dorien Rookmaker
Political group: NI
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Mr President, the last EU-Western Balkans Summit was a missed opportunity for the EU to show that it is really committed to enlargement. Albania and North Macedonia do not have a date for the opening of negotiations, while Kosovo has still not been granted a visa-free regime. While EU Member States continue to quarrel, countries like China, Russia and Turkey are getting more influence over key countries in the Western Balkans. There is a crisis in the making in the Western Balkans, and the EU is doing nothing. The EU needs to offer an integration roadmap with clear expectations and benchmarks. Enlargement is an opportunity that will contribute to prosperity and will protect peace and democracy in the continent.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Sunčana Glavak
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, poštovana povjerenice, usvojena deklaracija ističe kako Europska unija jednoglasno podržava europsku perspektivu zapadnog Balkana. Obuhvaća i čitav niz konkretnih mjera o zapadnom Balkanu uključujući investicijski plan od 30 milijardi eura. Europska budućnost, kolegice i kolege, zapadnog Balkana ključna je za dugoročnu geopolitičku stabilnost u regiji i stoga podržavam svaku pomoć zemljama zapadnog Balkana na njihovu europskom putu. Vrlo je važno da i s druge strane bude konkretizirano europsko opredjeljenje što na zakonodavnom planu mogu pokazati reformskim naporima koji su u skladu s europskim načelima jer svjesni smo demokratskih deficita i zato je bitno da svoju privrženost Europi pokažu i po pitanju ljudskih prava i u demokratskoj praksi.  Hrvatska je uvijek poticala širenje europskih vrijednosti na područje zapadnog Balkana i prijateljski će nastaviti poticati europska stremljenja država na tom području o čemu svjedoči i Zagrebački summit o zapadnom Balkanu, koji je na agendu ponovo stavio te teme, održan, podsjećam, u svibnju prošle godine. Kontinuirani dijalog na najvišoj razini mora se nastaviti. On ne smije biti samo prigodan no moramo biti svjesni da bi se i proces trebao malo ubrzati. Politička i sigurnosna suradnja mora biti u našem fokusu jer bez obzira što neki od vas ovdje govore to su naši susjedi, to su zemlje čiji je prirodan put onaj europski put. Oni očekuju od nas pomoć, a naravno, mi ćemo im tu pomoć pružiti kako u financijskom, tako i političkom smislu, očekujući s druge strane od njih konkretiziranje zahtjeva, prije svega u napretku u onim demokratskim procesima. Hvala vam lijepa.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Isabel Santos
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, Senhora Comissária, Senhor Ministro, não posso de todo partilhar das palavras que aqui proferiram em relação à Cimeira dos Balcãs Ocidentais. Gostaria muito de partilhar da vossa perspetiva, mas não posso. Desta cimeira saíram mais envelopes financeiros, mais palavras bonitas em relação aos Balcãs ocidentais, mas não saíram expectativas reais, não saiu um plano real quanto à integração destes países na União Europeia. E isto leva a um cansaço tremendo junto das populações.  As populações começam a ficar cansadas de promessas, as populações querem ser membros efetivos da União Europeia. E isto não pode permanecer neste limbo em relação a países aos quais foram pedidas todas as mudanças e mais algumas, todas as reformas e mais algumas, em circunstâncias muito difíceis, e depois, chegamos ao fim, todos reconhecemos que a Macedónia e a Albânia cumpriram as metas estabelecidas para que fosse calendarizada a primeira conferência intergovernamental, e a primeira conferência intergovernamental vai sendo adiada, adiada, adiada.  Bem sei que há problemas, que há problemas criados pela relação entre a Macedónia e a Bulgária, mas é preciso encontrar uma solução para esses problemas. É preciso estabelecer metas para essa solução e é preciso também não adiar muito todo este processo, porque este processo não se pode adiar eternamente.  E o que eu peço ao Senhor Ministro, com todo o bom senso, porque sei que o seu papel também não é fácil, que a concertação é uma concertação a 27, o que eu lhe peço, Senhor Ministro, é muito claramente isto: é uma data para a primeira conferência intergovernamental, ponto! E uma data clara, rigorosa, precisa. É só isso que eu lhe peço, Senhor Ministro, e peço que faça o esforço que é necessário porque corremos sérios riscos. Temos uma população francamente pró-europeia, corremos o risco de perder essa vontade, de perder essa identidade e de termos outros atores geoestratégicos, como a Rússia, a China e a Turquia, a ocupar o espaço político que nós não estamos a ser capazes de ocupar.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Claudia Gamon
Political group: Renew
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, werte Kolleginnen und Kollegen, Frau Kommissarin! In Ihrer Haltung gegenüber den Westbalkanstaaten offenbart sich die Schwäche europäischer Politikerinnen und damit auch die Schwäche der Europäischen Union selbst. Man sagt dann: Wir bedauern die Abhängigkeit von chinesischen Infrastrukturprojekten, wir ärgern uns über den Einfluss russischer Sicherheitsstrategie, und wir zeigen uns besorgt über die drohende Desintegration Bosnien und Herzegowinas. Doch wenn es darum geht, diesen Entwicklungen auch etwas entgegenzusetzen, kneifen die Regierungschefs oft: Die einen flüchten sich in Worthülsen, liefern vage Versprechungen, ohne einen konkreten Zeithorizont zu nennen; die anderen stellen schamlos innenpolitisches Kalkül über die gesamteuropäische Verantwortung. Das Bild, das produziert wird, ist für alle Beobachter nördlich und südlich des Rennwegs klar: Die EU ist der Erweiterung müde. Solch eine Beitrittsperspektive ist nur dann eine Perspektive, wenn sie auch noch sichtbar ist. Je weiter weg sie rückt, umso unschärfer wird sie auch. Wir klagen ja über schwindenden Einfluss in der Region. Dabei hätten wir die Hebel, um das zu ändern, selbst in der Hand. Die angekündigten Infrastrukturinvestitionen sind wichtig. Auch eine Reform des Beitrittsprozesses wäre es. Doch beides kann eine Geisteshaltung, die notwendig wäre, nicht ersetzen. Es braucht europäische Politikerinnen, die den Geist der Gründungsverträge noch in sich tragen. In Rom wurde 1957 eine klare Vision formuliert: eine Aufforderung an die anderen Völker Europas, sich diesen Bestrebungen anzuschließen. Damit sind alle Völker Europas gemeint. Die Europäische Union ist ein Versprechen an alle Europäerinnen und Europäer.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Karlo Ressler
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: HR

Poštovani  predsjedniče, povjerenice, kolegice i kolege, jugoistok Europe je bez ikakve dvojbe regija od strateške važnosti ne samo za susjedne države članice nego i za cijelu Europsku uniju. Europska unija je za zapadni Balkan uvjerljivo vodeći gospodarski partner i najveći strani investitor. Ali, možda još važnije, bilo kakva nestabilnost u regiji, jasno je, značila bi i krizu i nestabilnost za cijelu Europsku uniju. U području sigurnosti važno je inzistirati također, s državama jugoistoka Europe, da pojačaju svoje napore u suzbijanju ilegalnih migracija, u jačanju nepropusnosti vlastitih granica i zajedničke europske borbe protiv nezakonitih prelazaka. To je važan dio i njihove i naše sigurnosti, ali to je i važan dio na kojima i oni testiraju svoju mogućnost i državne kapacitete u tome da se približavaju i ispunjavaju standarde Europske unije.  Europska komisija i Europa imaju ambiciju biti globalni geopolitički akter. Raspravljamo satima i ovdje, u Europskom parlamentu o situaciji u Južnom kineskom moru, u Afganistanu, u Etiopiji. Ali mislim da je svima jasno da ne možemo niti u kojem slučaju biti stvarno globalno relevantni ako gubimo utjecaj čak i u našem najbližem susjedstvu. Jasno je da kod takvog, hladnog europskog stava drugi globalni akteri ne stoje po strani i da su također vrlo aktivni na zapadnom Balkanu. Zato je stvarno minimum minimuma nekakve geopolitičke ambicije Europske unije da budemo stvarno prisutni, da dokažemo naš stvarni utjecaj, ali i stvarnu vjerodostojnost upravo na jugoistoku Europe, a tek onda možemo pokušati pokazati i naše druge globalne ambicije.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Jytte Guteland
Political group: S-D
Language: SV

Herr talman! Västra Balkan hör hemma inom den Europeiska unionen. Vi behöver fastställa en tydligare tidsplan för anslutning till unionen för enskilda länder i regionen.  Nordmakedonien fick byta sitt nuvarande namn efter dispyten med Grekland för några år sedan. Det var ett avtal som var svårt att svälja för många, men som ändå accepterades. Däremot har Bulgarien nu lagt in ett veto för att Nordmakedonien ens ska få påbörja anslutningsförhandlingarna.  Kommissionen har å sin sida åter tydliggjort att Nordmakedonien och Albanien har uppfyllt kraven för att inleda förhandlingar. Då är vi skyldiga att hålla vår del av avtalet. Det är givetvis helt avgörande att länderna på västra Balkan får bukt med den systematiska korruptionen och fullt ut lever upp till EU:s grundläggande värden om rättsstatliga principer, innan det kan bli tal om ett medlemskap.  Varje land på västra Balkan måste nu utvärderas var för sig på sina egna meriter, samtidigt behövs en tydlig tidsplan för enskilda länder för att människor i regionen ska känna hoppet om ett EU-medlemskap.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Franc Bogovič
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: SL

Gospod predsednik. Spoštovana komisarka Mairead McGuinness, cenjeni minister Anže Logar. Veseli me, da danes razpravljamo o zaključkih vrha o Zahodnem Balkanu, ki se je odvil na Brdu.  Imamo vrstni red Solun 2003, v zadnjem času Sofija 2018, Zagreb 2020, Brdo 2021. Se pravi, skoraj 20 let se že o tem pogovarjamo in kot vidimo, imajo največjo iniciativo, pobudo v tem procesu tiste države, ki so blizu Zahodnega Balkana. Najbrž zato, ker se mi najbolj zavedamo, kako je to nemirno območje, kako smo povezani z njim, kako na nas vpliva, bodisi če opazujemo migrantsko krizo ali pa, če hočete, opazujemo, kako Rusija, Turčija, Kitajska krepijo svoj vpliv v tem delu Evrope.  Nobena skrivnost ni, da ima proces določene težave, ki so na eni strani tako znotraj EU-ja. Imamo po mojem prepričanju nepotrebno blokado Makedonije v tem trenutku. Vsekakor mislim, da bi morali odpreti proces za Makedonijo in Albanijo. Po drugi strani imamo tudi težave v sami regiji. Še vedno imamo nerešene spore na meji Srbija–Kosovo, potem težave znotraj Bosne.  Vendar je delovanje pravne države nekaj, kar bi bilo treba okrepiti. Ko pa vse skupaj opazujemo, pa vidimo, da se pravzaprav proces prehajanja mladih ljudi v Evropsko unijo dogaja. In ti ljudje prihajajo v Evropsko unijo, kar je mogoče za katero od držav članic v redu, prava katastrofa pa za to območje.  Zato upam, da uspe naši vladi okrepiti ta prizadevanja in da se ti procesi širitve čim prej zgodijo in da tudi, predvsem pa čim prej, ljudje na Zahodnem Balkanu dobijo nazaj zaupanje v Evropsko unijo in vero v prihodnost Evropske unije, ki v zadnjem času slabi na tem področju.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Thijs Reuten
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, the declaration after the Western Balkans Summit started with a promise of unequivocal support. It left me a bit confused. What does this actually mean? The commitment to a substantial investment package of EUR 30 billion  is very welcome. Is that it? Or is it the merit-based approach, but with new demands and surprise vetoes after meeting the criteria? Words matter. Instead of unequivocal support, we can also say: ‘yes, we will fight with you for your future in the EU. No promises on dates. No false hope. But if you deliver to the highest standards, we want you to be part of it.’ Countries perfectly understand we will remain fair and strict. It is in their own interests and in ours. Strict on all our values and equally strict for Member States watering down on them. So no Orbán-Vučić-friendly approach advancing the Serbian candidacy while there are great concerns and no instrumentalising tensions and endangering the Dayton Agreement. But yes, to your leadership in pushing the Council to now deliver for North Macedonia and Albania and to grant visa liberalisation for Kosovo.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Tomislav Sokol
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: HR

Poštovani potpredsjedniče, povjerenice, ministre Logar, kolegice i kolege, prostor jugoistočne Europe od strateške je važnosti za Europsku uniju. Povijest je pokazala da krize u ovom području mogu destabilizirati cijelu Europu. To smo vidjeli 1914. kada je lanac događaja započet u Sarajevu uzrokovao globalnu kataklizmu koja je dovela do urušavanja svjetskog poretka koji je do tada postojao. Zato je sudbina ovog područja od golemog značaja za sve nas, mada mnogi toga u Europi, nažalost, nisu svjesni.  Prvo bih spomenuo Bosnu i Hercegovinu. Tamo su Hrvati konstitutivan narod, ogromnom većinom građani Europske unije, diskriminirani jer im je onemogućeno da sami biraju svoje političke predstavnike. Zato je potrebna što hitnija reforma izbornog sustava, sukladno odluci Ustavnog suda, kako bi se zaustavila diskriminacija jednog od konstitutivnih naroda i spriječila daljnja destabilizacija zemlje. Europa tome svakako mora doprinijeti.  Dalje, Crna Gora je daleko odmaknula na putu prema EU-u, ali nažalost antieuropske snage koje negiraju samo postojanje crnogorske nacije imaju snažan utjecaj u trenutnoj vladajućoj većini, što nikako nije dobro, te predstavlja nazadovanje u odnosu na prijašnje stanje. Strateški imperativ za Crnu Goru jednostavno mora biti njezin europski put, a Unija joj u tome mora aktivno pomoći, a ne nijemo promatrati sa strane što se tamo događa.  Srbija, s druge strane, ne može ući u Europsku uniju dok ne riješi temeljna pitanja vezana uz vladavinu prava, poput prava manjina, procesuiranja ratnih zločina te rasvjetljavanja sudbine nestalih osoba iz agresije na Hrvatsku. Konstruktivan pristup temeljen na činjenicama i odlučno suočavanje s vlastitim zabludama i porazima nužni su za ovu zemlju u kojoj se dan danas u školskim udžbenicima negira hrvatski jezik. Njezino vodstvo se jednostavno mora suočiti s prošlošću, a potom i usvojiti europske vrijednosti iskreno i raditi na ulasku u Europsku uniju, a ne glumiti Tita i nesvrstane.  Danas smo ponovno u vrlo složenim vremenima u kojima su brojne sile poput Rusije, Kine i Turske sve prisutnije u ovoj regiji, što svi mi u Uniji trebamo shvatiti vrlo ozbiljno. Ukoliko Europa ne preuzme vodeću ulogu u jugoistočnoj Europi, drugi će popuniti tu prazninu.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Evin Incir
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

Mr President, regional cooperation and European integration is very important, especially during a time when we see a backlash of our core values. I welcome that the Western Balkans Summit reaffirms the mutual interest and goals of the European Union and its Western Balkan partners. But the actions are absent. Yes, some of the countries, such as Serbia with its authoritarian President Aleksandar Vučić, have a long way to go before the common values are respected. But other countries are making serious efforts towards our common values. Some of the successful examples are Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo. Two of the countries showing that they not only by words but also by deed, want to be a part of the European family had elections last weekend; one is North Macedonia and the other is Kosovo. It is impressive to see the democratisation process of, especially, Kosovo, where I was last weekend during the elections, as well as it’s important for them to continue the reform processes that must continue. But when genuine steps are taken and achieved, processing the cooperation must be made, also from the side of the European Union. The next step in the case of Kosovo must be celebration and for North Macedonia and Albania it must be accession process, to not lose credibility.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Vladimír Bilčík
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, the EU Western Balkans summit took place in arguably a very difficult period for both the European Union and our partners in the Western Balkans. The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. It continues to limit the lives of people and put a strain on the healthcare systems in the region. I would like to welcome the unprecedented assistance that the EU has provided and continues to provide to the region during these challenging times. In this respect, I would like to praise also Serbia for becoming a regional vaccination hub. However, it is now time to deliver the vaccines to the people in the region. Our European commitment is all the more important as we are witnessing inflammatory rhetoric in a number of countries across the Western Balkans. It is crucial that we categorically stop any further de-escalation and support a European spirit in reconciliation and bilateral issues. In this respect, I do welcome this week’s joint statement by State Secretary Antony Blinken and High Representative Josep Borrell on EU-US joint engagement in the region. We across the European Union must show genuine interest in the European perspective for the countries in the Western Balkans. This means, at the very least, opening the negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, and including our partners actively in the Conference on the Future of Europe as soon as possible. This week, we also discussed the 2021 enlargement package. Allow me a couple of quick remarks on two countries. One, Serbia, is entering a super election year. It will therefore be very important for the country to assure the upcoming months are dedicated to opening up the political landscape for free, competitive and fair elections. This means, on the one hand, that implementation of the European Parliament-led inter-party dialogue agreement is crucial. On the other hand, that all political forces compete in the elections. Also, the situation on the ground demonstrates that we need serious and continuing engagement from both Belgrade, and especially Pristina, towards work on a comprehensive and legally-binding agreement. Montenegro has been the frontrunner in the accession process for many years but has been standing still during the past year. We need to see clear pro-European action by politicians in Montenegro, not only declaratory words about Europe. Last sentence, if we demand deeds from our partners in the Western Balkans, we have to be serious about our own delivery.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Seán Kelly
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: EN

Mr President, Ireland joined the EU in 1973, forever changing our country for the better, economically and socially. We have graduated from being a benefactor to a contributor and we are proud to do so, as the rising tide lifts all boats. Having benefited hugely from being a part of this Union, we embraced enlargement of the EU – provided, of course, that candidate countries share our values and meet the necessary conditions of membership. The EU was founded on respect for democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. Earlier this week, we debated the rule of law crisis with the Polish Prime Minister. It should be clear to all that EU membership comes with not only far-reaching benefits, but also responsibilities. Discussions with our close neighbours in the Western Balkans have been ongoing for some time now. I warmly welcome the Slovenian Presidency’s efforts to ensure these discussions progress in a meaningful way. Progress is both in the interests of the citizens of the Western Balkans and in the strategic interest of the EU, and offers the perfect antidote to Brexit. It is positive to see the Western Balkan countries renew their commitments at the Western Balkans Summit, to carry out necessary reforms to closer align to EU standards. Each is at a different stage of the journey, and it’s important that EU support and dialogue continues while tangible progress is being made. It was good to see the cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Three million doses have been provided to the Western Balkans, with more to come. The EU is the region’s closest partner and principal donor, and I look forward to the strengthening of relations and, most importantly, the setting of a projected accession date for these countries of great potential.
Debate: The outcome of the Western Balkans summit
Date: THURSDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Petar Vitanov
Political group: S-D
Country: Spain
Language: BG

За да ме разберете, ще ви кажа просто: от двете страни на острието на спора са две политически партии с еднакво име, които се борят за разделяне на общото ни наследство. Единственото решение е конструктивен, съдържателен и интензивен диалог между двете страни, без натиск от Европейския съюз, защото той създава антиевропейски настроения. Ние достатъчно ясно осъзнаваме, че този спор вреди както на Северна Македония, на региона, на Европейския съюз, но така също и на България.