unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Jakop G. Dalunde
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Madam President, the importance of independence with regard to energy supply has been made painfully obvious by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We must use this pivotal moment – as we transition away from combustion engines to electrification – to become more energy independent.  The amount of batteries the EU will need will increase immensely in the coming years, and we must not simply switch our dependence from fossil fuels to dependence on rare materials from regions that are problematic when it comes to democracy, human rights and the environment. To be energy independent, we must instead create a circular economy for batteries. This is an important strategic topic for the EU, with many serious implications.
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Jiří Pospíšil
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: CS

Paní předsedající, dámy a pánové, já chci přispět do této bohaté diskuse a chci také podpořit tento návrh nařízení. Souhlasím s tím, co zde kolegové v té dlouhé rozpravě říkali na obhajobu a podporu tohoto návrhu. Pro mě osobně – vedle těch environmentálních důvodů – je zde velmi silný důvod geopolitický, který všichni cítíme a který je zde debatován v různých bodech během tohoto zasedání Evropského parlamentu, a ten se týká toho, že bychom měli velmi omezit do budoucna odběr surovin z Ruska, a tím oslabit vliv Putinovy diktatury na evropské země. Já bych byl pro co nejrychlejší omezení odběru těchto surovin. Někteří jsou pro pomalejší omezení, ale všichni se shodujeme, že závislost na Rusku je špatně, a toto nařízení, které se týká baterií, k tomu ve svém dílci určitě přispěje. Jak už jsem řekl, velmi podporuji tento návrh, protože s rozvojem naší zelené politiky, s rozvojem elektromobility se očekává, že bude do budoucna potřeba až 19krát více baterií, než je užíváno nyní. A když se podíváme na aktuální problémy, kteří zde někteří z vás skloňovali, jako je třeba recyklace baterií, která příliš v praxi nefunguje, je to přibližně půl na půl, polovina baterií je recyklována, polovina není, tak je opravdu třeba přijmout nová tvrdší pravidla, která recyklaci posílí. To nařízení je podle mě kvalitní, je tam celá řada pozitivních věcí vedle, řekněme, specifikace recyklace baterií, je tam otázka právě dobíjení baterií, interoperability jednotlivých nabíječek. To jsou všechno konkrétní praktická ustanovení, která, pokud se nám podaří uvést do praxe, pak jsem přesvědčený, že lépe zvládneme otázku baterií v novém světě elektromobility, takže to nařízení podporuji.
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: César Luena
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: ES

Señora presidenta, querido comisario, me sumo a las felicitaciones que se le están haciendo a la ponente y también a los ponentes alternativos.  La ecologización de las baterías que pretende este Reglamento es esencial en la transición energética verde. Estamos viendo ya un aumento de la demanda de baterías, y de la electrificación del sector del transporte, que va a dar lugar a un mayor aumento —está claro— para su uso en vehículos eléctricos.  El año 2035 es el año previsto por la Comisión para eliminar los motores de combustión de los turismos y furgonetas y, además, cada vez hay más medios de transporte alternativos —como patinetes eléctricos— y una mayor dependencia de dispositivos portátiles eléctricos.  Por ello, tenemos que ser ambiciosos en la fijación de límites a las emisiones de carbono en la producción de baterías y en la obligación para los Estados miembros —también para los fabricantes— de recogida y de utilización del contenido reciclado. Este último punto es importante dado los posibles déficits de litio en el mercado, que estamos viendo ya. El año pasado, mientras las ventas globales de coches eléctricos alcanzaron un récord histórico, un 108 % más que en 2020, las necesidades de litio aumentaron un 25 %, pero la producción mundial repuntó solo un 21 %. Tenemos ahí ya el problema.  Las baterías se han convertido en una industria estratégica a nivel mundial y, en estos tiempos que vivimos, el suministro energético es clave. Las baterías van a desempeñar un importante papel en la necesaria estabilidad del sistema energético, ya que pueden almacenar y distribuir energía renovable cuando no brilla el sol o cuando no sopla el viento.  Por todo ello, apoyamos el excelente trabajo, apoyo el excelente informe y abogo por que este Reglamento pueda y deba convertir a la Unión Europea en un continente que sea líder en materias sostenibles. ¡Enhorabuena!
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Hildegard Bentele
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Frau Präsidentin, sehr geehrte Kollegen und Kolleginnen! Ich begrüße die neue Batterie-Verordnung, die wir heute beschließen, ausdrücklich, denn sie beinhaltet wichtige strategische Positionierungen von uns, dem Europäischen Parlament, zur Kreislaufwirtschaft und zu kritischen Rohstoffen. Vor allem aber berücksichtigt sie den Lebenszyklusansatz, und damit kann die Batterie-Verordnung fast schon als Schablone für weitere Verordnungen gelten. Wir haben mit dieser Verordnung die Anpassungen an die aktuellen Anforderungen geschafft. Unsere Ziele – nachhaltige Produktgestaltung und unabhängigere Lieferketten – werden damit Realität werden. Vor allem im Bereich des Recyclings haben wir konkrete Fortschritte gemacht, was mir als Rohstoff-Berichterstatterin besonders wichtig ist. Leere Batterien und nicht mehr funktionstüchtige Akkus sind nicht einfach Müll, sondern wichtige Rohstoffe, die wir in Zukunft in der EU behalten, einsammeln und weiter verwerten wollen. Wir müssen zuverlässig Sekundärrohstoff-Kreisläufe aufbauen. Deshalb erhöhen wir mit der neuen Verordnung nicht nur die Recyclat-Anteile, sondern auch die Sammelquoten. Deshalb fordern wir mehr Sammelstellen und besondere und bessere Informationen für Verbraucher. Ich persönlich gehöre zu den Kolleginnen und Kollegen, die es außerdem für notwendig halten, in diesem Zusammenhang über die Einrichtung eines europäischen Pfandsystems nachzudenken, damit wir wirklich die besten Voraussetzungen und die höchsten Anreize für die Sammlung von Batterien schaffen, die in Zukunft in immer größerer Zahl in ganz Europa auf den Markt kommen werden. Der Prüfantrag an die Kommission, den wir aktuell im Abstimmungstext haben – alle offenen Fragen der Umsetzbarkeit, der Sicherheit und der Kosten zu analysieren und entsprechende Vorschläge zu unterbreiten –, ist hierfür ein erster wichtiger Schritt. Ich hoffe, dass wir damit auch die Mitgliedstaaten zum Nachdenken anregen. Zumindest aus meiner Heimat Deutschland habe ich erfreulicherweise Hinweise erhalten, dass man sich zumindest mit einem nationalen Batterien-Pfandsystem befassen möchte.
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Miapetra Kumpula-Natri
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Madam President, batteries are a crucial element for our green transition and the new circular economy. As renewable energy sources become more and more important, batteries have a key role in balancing the grid. They are key in electromobility, transforming the transportation sector to carbon neutral. Demand for batteries will dramatically increase in coming years as the whole energy system is also transforming. As mentioned here, war in Ukraine will have an impact on this as well.  How can we guarantee sources when the trade and material chains are breaking globally? I think the Commission has worked hard since the last Commission period and continued today by Commissioner Šefčovič and now, Commission, is still no time to sleep. This is a great piece of legislation with regard to the sustainability and also the source of materials as the best source is recycled once used materials. But have you mapped, have you looked at what we have in our soils? There is a lot of potential. I know in my country there are unused sources for cobalt, graphite and lithium with sustainable working conditions.  If we still need to import from other countries, do we now have security that they pay due diligence duties and that it is ecologically and also sustainably sourced so that battery industries can trust that due diligence covers human rights as well? I think Europe can become an important player in the battery industry by creating a battery ecosystem based on the sustainability requirements and excellent research and innovation and by incorporating values.
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Salvatore De Meo
Political group: PPE
Country: Czechia
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, bisogna riconoscere che, a differenza di quanto accaduto in passato, dove abbiamo sostenuto politiche ambientali a favore del fotovoltaico senza avere una produzione europea, in questa occasione l'Unione europea sta allineando le sue politiche ambientali con quelle industriali e mira ad avere una sua graduale autonomia produttiva di qualità da contrapporre a quella dei paesi terzi. Certo, il fattore tempo rappresenta una variabile essenziale, anche alla luce del conflitto bellico in corso che, ove malauguratamente dovesse protrarsi, ci obbliga a perseguire, sì, i nostri obiettivi, ma allo stesso tempo ad aprire un profondo confronto per valutare in modo pratico quale correttivo eventualmente adottare alle modalità di attuazione delle nostre strategie ambientali. Fatta questa precisazione, credo che il lavoro del regolamento rappresenti un modello da replicare per l'approccio olistico con cui si è proceduto a definire una normativa riferita all'intero ciclo di vita di un prodotto, così da poter sfruttare al massimo le sue potenzialità e creare un virtuoso sistema circolare. È stato detto, la domanda di batterie crescerà in maniera esponenziale per favorire sia la mobilità sostenibile che l'accumulo delle energie rinnovabili, ma sappiamo anche che purtroppo l'Europa è dipendente dai paesi terzi per i necessari componenti chimici. L'attuale blocco della Russia ad esportare nichel evidenzia ancora di più la necessità e l'urgenza di un nostro sistema produttivo circolare il più possibile autonomo, come il regolamento mira a raggiungere. Voglio ringraziare la relatrice Bonafè, che ha saputo condividere e definire un testo innovativo e ambizioso ma anche equilibrato; spero tuttavia che ci possa essere ancora un margine di miglioramento in sede di negoziato, soprattutto per alcuni punti: penso, in particolare, alla definizione di batteria o di produttore o alla formulazione dell'articolo 11 sulla sostituibilità e rimovibilità delle batterie, per le quali credo si debba consentire una facile e pratica sostituzione senza compromissioni né per i dispositivi né, tantomeno, rischi per il consumatore. Infine, mi auguro che la nuova regolamentazione sia accompagnata anche da una riduzione del carico burocratico delle imprese, affinché esse non perdano competitività. Perché ricordiamoci che saremo in grado di raggiungere gli ambiziosi obiettivi ambientali se non indeboliamo la nostra economia.
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Biljana Borzan
Political group: S-D
Country: Belgium
Language: HR

Poštovana predsjedavajuća, čak 42 % kvarova na pametnim telefonima i 27 % kvarova na laptopima povezano je s baterijom. Svi se sjećamo vremena kada se baterija na mobitelu mogla lako izvaditi i zamijeniti te je svatko od nas mogao biti sam svoj majstor. Sada se mobiteli sastavljaju na način da se baterija zalijepi i ako je pokušate odvojiti, velika je šansa da ćete dodatno oštetiti uređaj. Ovaj prijedlog obvezuje proizvođače da proizvode baterije na način da ih serviseri i sami potrošači mogu lako zamijeniti. Dodatni problem na koji se potrošači žale jest kratko trajanje baterija, ili pak da lošije rade nakon što se ažurira operativni sustav. Oznake trajanja na baterijama će značajno pomoći povećanju transparentnosti na tržištu i suzbijanju takozvanih ugrađenih kvarova. Želim čestitati svima koji su radili na ovome dokumentu. Cilj nam je proširiti odredbe ove uredbe na sve vrste proizvoda, posebno vezano za dulje trajanje uređaja i lakših popravaka, boljeg informiranja potrošača te poštovanja ljudskih prava u proizvodnji.  Frustrirajuće je što je uvijek potrebna kriza da bi se išlo u projekte za koje se zalažemo godinama. Sa svakom krizom jasnije je koliko je važna energetska neovisnost i učinkovitost. Živjeti zeleno ne smije biti privilegija onih koji si to mogu priuštiti već stvarnost svih nas.
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

I think we are here to ensure that the green transition in the EU is powered by truly sustainable batteries. Setting up the new legal framework for batteries in Europe is a top priority for us and even more so in the current context after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. We must overcome our dependency on fossil fuels, and batteries are a key part of the solution. The same goes for the security of supply of critical raw materials, and that’s why circular economy solutions are key building blocks of the proposal.  I’m very pleased to see the constructive proposals regarding light means of transport and separate waste collection targets. With regard to the level of ambition and timetable for the implementation of the regulation, I would like to note that the Commission’s initial proposal has already set the bar high and struck the right balance between ambition and realism.  Talking about shorter timelines or the extension of requirements to other batteries, I would call on you to work towards focusing efforts on other matters and considering what the additional burden on economic operators, the extra cost, would be.  In addition, some caution is required when considering increasing recycling efficiency rates. This may not deliver real environmental gains as expected, and for instance, a doubling of recovery levels of lithium may lead to disproportionate amounts of energy required in the process, and we should carefully analyse and discuss the related amendments. Regarding the calendar for the adoption of the secondary legislation, I understand that you would prefer a faster calendar, and so would I. However, the Commission needs to develop quality secondary legislation. Advancing deadlines could result in legal uncertainty, with a risk of litigation and damage claims, and this would be the opposite of what we all want to achieve.  Many of you talked about sustainable sourcing of the raw materials in our batteries, and due diligence is important. The Commission has just made a proposal on corporate sustainable due diligence that will apply across sectors. For batteries, we have the concern that the substantial changes to the Commission proposal go beyond the risks related to the mining of minerals that we identified. So we need to discuss this also in light of the new proposal on corporate sustainable due diligence.  You also highlighted reparability – ‘the right to repair’ – and this is very important for me personally. I am sure that we will be able to find the right balance between reuse, repair and safety concerns.  So, in the upcoming trialogues, we stand ready to work with you very closely and the Council, as an honest broker, to find compromises that are mutually agreeable. Together, I am sure that we can put in place as soon as possible a new regulatory framework for the new battery value chain that is both ambitious and implementable. Thank you once again for your work and for the good discussion today.
Debate: Batteries and waste batteries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Simona Bonafè
Country: Croatia
Language: IT

L'avete, l'abbiamo detto tutti: questo regolamento era già importante prima, per i motivi che sono stati ben spiegati, ma la guerra in Ucraina ha reso questo dossier ancora più strategico, perché abbiamo capito quanto sia importante puntare sull'autonomia produttiva dei settori centrali per il nostro sviluppo e per la nostra competitività, penso all'energia ma penso anche alle batterie, visto che peraltro questi due settori sono molto legati fra di loro. E allora, ai pochi colleghi che hanno chiesto qui di fermarci, di abbandonare la transizione ecologica, la transizione energetica, solo perché non abbiamo materie prime da utilizzare per le batterie, e quindi per la nostra autonomia energetica, io domando se dobbiamo, per caso, tornare anche al telefono a gettoni, visto che le batterie servono non solo per la mobilità elettrica, ma servono anche per i nostri telefonini. E allora mi viene il dubbio che l'approccio ideologico appartenga non a chi sta difendendo questo regolamento, ma appartenga invece a chi non vuole vedere che questo regolamento è esattamente la risposta alla dipendenza da altri paesi, perché aumenta i tassi di riciclaggio, perché potenzia le filiere produttive in Europa e, al tempo stesso, punta sulla
Debate: General Union Environment Action Programme to
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Ewa Kopacz
Country: Bulgaria
Language: PL

Kolejnym punktem porządku dziennego jest sprawozdanie sporządzone przez Grace O'Sullivan w imieniu Komisji Ochrony Środowiska Naturalnego, Zdrowia Publicznego i Bezpieczeństwa Żywności w sprawie wniosku dotyczącego decyzji Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady w sprawie ogólnego unijnego programu działań w zakresie środowiska do 2030 r. (
Debate: General Union Environment Action Programme to
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Language: EN

With this agreement, I believe we have reached our common goal together. Our agreement on the way, we see the future is essential for our unity and resilience. And here we have laid down ambitious and inspiring common ground. Our determination to strive for a well-being economy where growth is regenerative and nothing is wasted, our ambition for climate neutrality and for reducing inequalities, our resolution to pursue a system where a healthy environment underpins the well-being of all people. Where biodiversity is concerned, ecosystems thrive and nature is protected and restored, thus increasing resilience to climate-related disasters and other environmental risks. And where our Union sets the pace for ensuring the prosperity of present and future generations globally, guided by intergenerational responsibility.  These are words from the vision of the eighth EAP, words that are important to remember and repeat, words that inspire actions and make us even more committed to do our job as good as we can.  The action programme we are adopting comes not only with a long-term vision, but also defines priority objectives and enables us to help shape environmental policy until the end of this decade.  We have also taken the first steps towards the monitoring framework. Work can now conclude on a headline indicator set that will guide us towards our objectives for the environment and for climate for 2030 and for 2050. We are working intensely to finalise these indicators and I hope to present them to you shortly.  The targeted stakeholder consultations confirmed a broad agreement on most indicators, and we want to further improve our tools to measure progress and close indicator gaps. This is very useful, for example, for showing the links between environmental degradation and social inequalities. You can expect an initial progress report in late 2022 or early 2023, and a more comprehensive report in the mid-term review in early 2024.  We have a joint interest in this guidance, and I am convinced that the eighth EAP will help improve tracking progress towards our common goals and show us where more effort is needed.  Finally, a word of sincere thanks to all who contributed and helped us reach this agreement, and especially to the rapporteur, Grace O’Sullivan, and all the European Parliament shadow rapporteurs and their teams, our constructive and close cooperation with the Council Presidencies of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, who have all contributed very much from their side to this very good outcome, which resulted in an ambitious programme towards living well within the planetary boundaries. Thank you very much for your attention.
Debate: General Union Environment Action Programme to
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Pär Holmgren
Country: Netherlands
Language: SV

Jag är dock otroligt stolt över gröna gruppens arbete med denna lagstiftning, och inte minst min kära kollega Grace O’Sullivans arbete – vilket fantastiskt inledningsanförande du gjorde för övrigt. Kommissionens förslag till denna viktiga lagstiftning hamnade lite i skymundan av deras icke-bindande strategier. Ärligt talat utgjorde det ett relativt tomt ramverk. Men det har vi gröna nu fyllt med konkret innehåll för att skapa riktiga systemförändringar, inte minst att vi för första gången i en rättsligt bindande text i EU har på pränt att vi behöver ett slutdatum för fossila subventioner i linje med 1,5-gradersmålet.  Det har varit en utmaning för oss gröna att få igenom det. Det borde ju så klart vara en självklarhet. Men nu när alla ser vad vår fortsatta finansiering av det fossila kan bidra med, nämligen finansiering av Putins krigsmaskin, finansiering av det ukrainska folkets lidande, hoppas jag också att alla förstår vikten av dagens beslut och att vi så klart borde ha tagit det för länge sedan. Klimatpolitik är säkerhetspolitik. Låt oss ta det på allvar en gång för alla och använda detta miljöhandlingsprogram för att verkligen genomföra en riktig grön omställning. Klimatkrisen är en kamp mot klockan, och snart är klockan slagen.
Debate: General Union Environment Action Programme to
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Agnès Evren
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: FR

Grâce à ce programme d’action pour l’environnement, nous aurons désormais une boussole jusqu’en 2030 afin que nos résultats correspondent à nos objectifs. Il permettra à l’Union européenne de créer les conditions propices à une croissance durable dans les limites planétaires pour que la transition écologique crée de nouveaux emplois et participe au bien-être de nos citoyens. L’accord que nous avons trouvé en trilogue est un bon accord et je remercie à cette occasion Grace O’Sulivan pour son excellent travail. Il vient créer un programme d’action à la fois clair, mais aussi efficace, qui identifie des initiatives concrètes plutôt que de multiplier les charges administratives. Il se concentre sur l’essentiel, c’est-à-dire nos politiques environnementales et climatiques, sans remettre en cause nos principaux instruments économiques. C’est grâce d’ailleurs à cette clarté qu’il sera un programme utile pour l’avenir. C’est pourquoi, mes chers collègues, je voterai naturellement en faveur de ce texte et compte sur vous pour en faire de même.
Debate: General Union Environment Action Programme to
Date: WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Demetris Papadakis
Political group: S-D
Country: Finland
Language: EL

Η Ευρώπη μαζί με τον υπόλοιπο κόσμο βρίσκεται σε μια κούρσα ενάντια στον χρόνο, για να αποφευχθούν καταστροφικές επιπτώσεις στην οικονομία και την κοινωνία από την κλιματική αλλαγή, την υποβάθμιση του οικοσυστήματος και την υπερκατανάλωση φυσικών πόρων. Ειδικότερα σήμερα, με την τεράστια περιβαλλοντική καταστροφή, πέραν της ανθρώπινης που εξελίσσεται στην Ουκρανία, είναι αδήριτη η ανάγκη εφαρμογής του προγράμματος. Εξασφαλίσαμε τη συμπερίληψη στο 8ο πρόγραμμα κοινωνικών ζητημάτων όπως αναφορές στη μείωση των ανισοτήτων. Διασφαλίσαμε επίσης ότι οι ενέργειες που λαμβάνονται για την επίτευξη των στόχων του προγράμματος θα εκτελούνται με κοινωνικά δίκαιο και χωρίς αποκλεισμούς τρόπο. Προστασία λοιπόν του περιβάλλοντος, με παράλληλη ασπίδα στα κοινωνικά δικαιώματα!