unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Assita Kanko
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: EN

The investigative report showing that Switzerland’s second bank, Credit Suisse, harbours dirty money from, among others, Russian oligarchs, reminds us that we have to be alert for Swiss loopholes that can undermine EU sanctions against Putin’s friends. Oligarchs installed not before, but after Russia started its insane war in Ukraine, although Switzerland joined these sanctions. According to the Behind the Russian soldiers shooting at Ukrainian children and committing war crimes in Ukraine right now, there are those Swiss banks and the oligarchs they support. They are all accountable. To quote the Ukrainian soldiers: ‘they should all go fuck themselves’.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

We’ve got to get real about this. Western financial secrecy centres in the Netherlands, in Luxembourg and at home in Ireland are complicit in this system. These cross-border transfers take over a trillion dollars every year, gutting southern and developing nations. This isn’t our money. The EU will have no credibility unless we deal with all of these issues.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: ES

Señor presidente, este escándalo revela lo que no deja de ser un hecho. Y es que hay un sector de la banca suiza que no coopera contra el blanqueo de capitales y no cumple los estándares comunes de comunicación de información cuando se trata de clientes de alto riesgo. Todo esto tiene lugar en el contexto de las sanciones impuestas por la Unión Europea contra los oligarcas rusos y subraya la vulnerabilidad estratégica y geopolítica que supone cualquier defecto en la lucha contra el blanqueo de capitales. Pero este Parlamento Europeo está comprometido, como lo pone de manifiesto el que estamos en estos momentos legislando nada menos que sobre el nuevo paquete de lucha contra el blanqueo de capitales: cinco Reglamentos, uno de los cuales se refiere a una autoridad central europea contra el blanqueo. Hay que imponer a cualquier banco que incumpla la legislación, incluida la banca suiza, no solamente diligencia debida, sino sanciones para que se impongan leyes más estrictas. Y hay que asegurar que la Autoridad Bancaria Europea ejerza su papel de supervisión sobre las unidades de inteligencia financieras en relación con las autoridades nacionales contra el blanqueo. Solo de ese modo podremos sacar una lección de cada hecho o de cada escándalo.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Kira Marie Peter-Hansen
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Mr President, we’ve heard it all before. We’ve had this debate before. LuxLeaks, the Panama Papers, Pandora Papers, Paradise Papers, and so on. And now Suisse Secrets. I wonder how many scandals do we need to take this crime seriously. We learned from all those leaks that we have in the recent years that not only Switzerland but several EU countries have actively helped Russian oligarchs to launder money, avoid taxes and hide their wealth. Luckily, the EU showed that we are ready to take actions against Russia with economic sanctions as we have done with the oligarch freezing assets actions. And I call on us now to use this situation as a wakeup call and make sure that we are as ambitious as possible with the anti—money-laundering package. This means banning golden visas, ensuring transparency on beneficial ownership and proper exchange of tax information, and making sure that Member States transpose and enforce existing anti—money-laundering rules. And it also includes a proper risk of high—risk countries. So I hope and I count on all the EU institutions to take up the task.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

However, does it really come as any surprise to us that Swiss banks have dodgy customers? We’ve known this for years. Why did it take a whistle—blower to start this discussion? Sure, we should tackle anti—money laundering (AML) practices on the EU’s doorstep, but we also have to look inside our own house. We have countries like Barbados and the Cayman Islands on the AML blacklist, but not Switzerland or even the UK. What are we doing about the weaknesses in our own system? We have countries like Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands where shell companies and transparency laws make it nearly impossible to see who owns what or where the money is coming from. We do need to tackle anti—money laundering, but we need to tackle it everywhere.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Mairead McGuinness
Language: EN

I mentioned in my opening remarks that we’re very committed to maintaining a tough approach in the fight against money laundering, both inside Europe and with third countries. I mentioned also that we are not resiling from watching whether progress is made or indeed if progress stalls, and we will take further measures if that is required.  I want to thank you for mentioning Europe’s own anti-money laundering efforts. We’ve had five iterations of the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Directive, and it’s not enough because some Member States haven’t fully implemented. And indeed we know that we need to go further. So I hope that we can work together on this package, which is a strong package that has to tidy up the more-than-loose ends in our current legislation. But we do need to work hard and we need to work fast, and indeed the French Presidency are showing great leadership.  I think the other point which has really come into sharp focus is the aggression by Russia in Ukraine and our sanctions. We now realise how much vulgar wealth there is in the hands of very few, globally. And I think that that visibility is really repulsive to our citizens. We are freezing assets, but we do have a Task Force in the Commission and its title is Freeze and Seize. And I know Member States will be looking at the second part of that with their own legislation, and I do believe this is a moment we should not allow to pass by without making a firm commitment that the financial system has got to be cleaned up both inside the European Union and outside.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Clément BEAUNE
Language: FR

Je voulais, au-delà de cela, redire que nous aurons sans doute encore à renforcer, dans le contexte que nous connaissons, notre vigilance à l’égard des pays tiers, et que nous faisons confiance, sur ce dossier spécifique, à la Commission européenne pour apprécier la réalité des faits et pour en tirer les conséquences vis-à-vis de nos partenaires suisses. Partageant l’appréciation que la commissaire McGuinness a formulée au début de notre débat, je crois qu’aujourd’hui nous ne sommes pas dans un moment où il faudrait tirer des conséquences générales à l’égard de la Suisse. Aussi discuterons-nous et débattrons-nous – sans aucune complaisance je crois, ni au Parlement européen ni au Conseil, soyez-en certains – de toute proposition que la Commission pourrait faire à la lumière des faits qui seront établis. Encore une fois, la confiance que nous plaçons dans la Commission est absolue sur ce dossier. Merci, Madame la Commissaire, de le porter très fortement ces derniers mois et pour l’avenir.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Ibán García Del Blanco
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: ES

Es vital impedir que la banca pueda ayudar a delincuentes y cleptócratas ―incluidos los oligarcas rusos vinculados a Putin― a ocultar sus fortunas ilegales y a tomar participaciones en sectores clave, poniendo en peligro la seguridad de nuestros ciudadanos y de nuestras economías.  Con ese objetivo, el Grupo S&D lidera la batalla contra el blanqueo de capitales: nuestros coponentes en el Reglamento y Directivas LBC impulsarán un régimen más estricto en la UE, limitando la discrecionalidad de los bancos en el trato a clientes de alto riesgo. Propondremos también que la UE tenga herramientas más potentes para actuar contra entidades en terceros países. Asimismo, exigimos a Suiza la adopción de leyes para proteger a los denunciantes de irregularidades y la derogación de las desmesuradas penas por violación del secreto bancario. Por último, solicitamos a la ABE que investigue la posible existencia, en las filiales de Credit Suisse en la UE, de cuentas implicadas en el escándalo.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Nacho Sánchez Amor
Political group: S-D
Country: Poland
Language: ES

Es vital impedir que la banca pueda ayudar a delincuentes y cleptócratas ―incluidos los oligarcas rusos vinculados a Putin― a ocultar sus fortunas ilegales y a tomar participaciones en sectores clave, poniendo en peligro la seguridad de nuestros ciudadanos y de nuestras economías.  Con ese objetivo, el Grupo S&D lidera la batalla contra el blanqueo de capitales: nuestros coponentes en el Reglamento y Directivas LBC impulsarán un régimen más estricto en la UE, limitando la discrecionalidad de los bancos en el trato a clientes de alto riesgo. Propondremos también que la UE tenga herramientas más potentes para actuar contra entidades en terceros países. Este escándalo reabre el debate sobre la inclusión de Suiza en la lista de países de alto riesgo, mientras mantenga su secreto bancario y su supervisor no actúe diligentemente. Asimismo, exigimos a Suiza la adopción de leyes para proteger a los denunciantes de irregularidades.
Debate: Suisse Secrets - How to implement anti-money laundering standards in third countries
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Alfred Sant
Political group: S-D
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Switzerland could be placed on the blacklist of ‘countries at risk’ for money laundering, in the hope of triggering changes in the country’s anti-money laundering mechanisms and deeper reforms. A few years ago, the Commission placed Tunisia on it, just when the country needed economic support from the EU, in order to push forward difficult democratic reforms. However, such blacklisting decisions are in reality highly political.  One alternative solution proposed is that non-EU legal persons with an EU connection must register their beneficial owners in EU registers of beneficial owners. These registers would comply with harmonised rules at European level to present information in real time. While there may be merits to blacklisting, with much more cumbersome control procedures for transactions, truly effective solutions should be more proactive and objective in nature.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über den Bericht von Markéta Gregorová im Namen des Ausschusses für internationalen Handel über den Vorschlag für einen Beschluss des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates über eine Makrofinanzhilfe für die Republik Moldau ( Ich weise Sie darauf hin, dass Sie mithilfe Ihres Abstimmungsgeräts spontane Wortmeldungen beantragen und blaue Karten einsetzen können, nachdem Sie Ihre Abstimmungskarte eingeführt haben. Ich bitte Sie daher, stets Ihre Abstimmungskarte mitzubringen. Anleitungen liegen im Plenarsaal aus. Wenn Sie sich für eine spontane Wortmeldung anmelden möchten, ersuche ich Sie, das bereits ab jetzt zu tun und nicht das Ende der Aussprache abzuwarten. Ich weise Sie auch darauf hin, dass Wortmeldungen im Plenarsaal weiterhin vom zentralen Rednerpult aus erfolgen. Dies gilt allerdings nicht für spontane Wortmeldungen, blaue Karten und Wortmeldungen zur Geschäftsordnung. Ich ersuche Sie daher, die Rednerliste im Blick zu behalten und sich kurz vor Beginn Ihrer Redezeit zum Rednerpult zu begeben. Hier auch nochmals die Bitte, dass Sie, weil wir heute Probleme mit der Mikrofonanlage haben, versuchen, das Mikrofon nicht zu berühren, weil das sonst sehr unangenehm insbesondere für die Dolmetscher ist.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Markéta Gregorová
Country: France
Language: EN

While Moldova is still one of the poorest countries in Europe, the economic recovery plan for Moldova can be an essential stimulus for mitigating the effects of the pandemic, the energy crisis and state weaknesses, while also creating the changes needed to make Moldova more efficient and resilient to coming changes, which will be more than plenty. Currently, there is tremendous potential for necessary reforms, which would be a shame to miss. Even though Moldova has already taken some reform measures to combat corruption, organised crime and illicit financial flows, there are still significant opportunities for strengthening, notably in democratic institutions, improving decentralisation and implementation of crucial reforms concerning the institutional set—up of the public administration. Moreover, the critical state institutions in Moldova also need to be strengthened to make them more resilient against capture, which has been problematic. Developing a rigorous framework to preserve judicial independence, integrity and accountability is critical to addressing corruption and reducing routes for political influence, sowing more trust in the legal system and improving access and delivery to justice. The proposed EUR 150 million macro-financial assistance (MFA) operation for Moldova is foreseen to be disbursed in three equal tranches to be released between 2022 and 2024, with the first tranche disbursement envisaged before the summer. The financial programming over the 2022—2024 period allows for a grant component of EUR 32 million to be financed from the available budget. The proposal for MFA to Moldova is provided as an integral part of international support for the economic stabilisation of the Republic of Moldova. As usual, the disbursements would be conditional on satisfactory reviews under the IMF programme and progress on implementing the EU—Moldova Association Agreement and the deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA). In the light of all the considerations at this plenary, I believe that the European Parliament should agree with the Committee on International Trade (INTA) to approve the Commission’s proposal to provide micro-financial assistance to Moldova. It is essential to consider the whole picture. The Republic of Moldova is following a good reform trajectory, even though some spheres still need to be strengthened, the right conditions are presently fulfilled for our support. I will address the Commission in my final remarks, but allow me to stress also at this point the need for the Commission to include policy reforms into the memorandum of understanding and to ensure clear conditions. Given the current situation in Europe, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Republic of Moldova for taking care of the refugees from Ukraine fleeing the Russian aggression war, despite the fact that it has its complications for such a small nation.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Paolo Gentiloni
Language: EN

The Commission has proposed, as the rapporteur just said, a new operation of EUR 150 million, consisting of EUR 120 million in medium—term loans and a EUR 30 million grant component. This is to be disbursed in three tranches over two and a half years, with commonly agreed policy conditions attached to each disbursement. Given the urgency, we will do our best to frontload the first tranche. The request for a new MFA by Moldova was made in November amid a difficult situation, including the post—pandemic recovery and the gas crisis. Now, due to the war in Ukraine and its immediate impact on Moldova’s economy, this assistance has become more urgent. We know that Moldova, the poorest country in Europe, continues to struggle with multiple crises at the same time, including the spillover effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine via the high influx of refugees: 368 000 went to Moldova and around 100 000 are remaining there. Let me recall that also both the IMF and World Bank are looking into increasing their support to Moldova in light of the effects of the war in Ukraine on the country’s economy. This MFA should also build upon the progress made under previous macro—financial assistance, for example, the COVID—19 MFA. It will also provide for a further push in some key reform areas, such as good governance, the fight against systemic corruption, the rule of law and energy sector reforms. Moreover, this MFA will also build on the window of opportunity that we currently see in Moldova, whereby all branches of the administration, including the President, the government and the Parliament are aligned on a common and ambitious reform agenda. The Moldovan authorities have recently requested an increase of the MFA amount. In response to this, the Commission is working on a comprehensive support package where the request for more grant assistance can be accommodated as soon as possible, as Moldova faces direct humanitarian economic consequences of the war. We expect that the first MFA tranche could be disbursed in early summer and such support is warranted in view of the magnitude of the challenges that Moldova is facing.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Siegfried Mureşan
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

A safe Moldova and a stable Moldova is in the fundamental interest of the European Union. And I would also argue that the Republic of Moldova is as relevant as Ukraine is for the security of the European Union. And so, dear colleagues, let us adopt this macrofinancial assistance in the plenary tomorrow with a large majority. And Commissioner, as soon as you put forward proposals for additional support, we will also do all we can in Parliament to adopt them quickly to support you, because aside from the support that Moldova is offering now during this crisis, we are witnessing a pro-European government, a pro-European president, ready to embark on closer cooperation with the European Union, ready to reform the country. And if they are ready to get closer to the Union, we should support them. Because imagine if, in addition to the pro-Russian dictator Lukashenko in Belarus, there were a pro-Russian president in Moldova. We should avoid that. We should support Moldova’s European path.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Marek Belka
Political group: S-D
Country: Poland
Language: EN

In the same vein, the European Union should provide macro-financial assistance to the country. Grants and loans should be disbursed in accordance with the accepted International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. This, of course, is only one of the many assistance programmes the EU will, is and should be providing to safeguard the stability of Moldova and help to tackle the current energy crisis, post-pandemic economic recovery and the negative effects of the unfolding security crisis.  We should not forget our commitments, which stem from the Association Agreement and the DCFTA, and be mindful of Moldova’s efforts to modernise the economy and their European aspirations. Moldova needs our friendship and help more than ever. The EU has to be its true friend in need.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Dragoş Tudorache
Political group: Renew
Country: Lithuania
Language: RO

Este rândul nostru, al instituțiilor europene și guvernelor statelor membre, să ne asumăm un ajutor cât se poate de concret pentru Republica Moldova. Pachetul de asistență pe care îl aprobăm acum este binevenit, dar nu este nici pe departe suficient. Nevoile Moldovei, așa cum au fost ele estimate la conceperea pachetului, sunt astăzi de o cu totul altă magnitudine.  De aceea invit Comisia Europeană, care a dat deja dovadă, în aceste momente de cumpănă, de viziune și curaj, să își asume alături de acest Parlament o nouă abordare a relației cu Republica Moldova, de o altă anvergură politică și cu suport financiar pe măsură.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Markus Buchheit
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Gleichwohl darf ich doch auch darauf hinweisen, welche Zeichen wir mit der Makrofinanzhilfe aussenden. Es geht doch hier – und das kam heute auch schon heraus – auch zumindest darum, den Eindruck einer künftigen EU -Mitgliedschaft zu erwecken. Davor möchte ich nur warnen. Ich glaube, wir sollten die Mittel, die wir jetzt an Moldawien schicken – auch vor dem Hintergrund der gegenwärtigen Flüchtlingskrise –, die wir gerne von mir aus noch erhöhen können, zielgerichtet einsetzen und eben nicht im Rahmen einer Makrofinanzhilfe. Denn das trägt letztlich auch die Frucht, dass wir eben falsche Signale aussenden in Richtung Moldau. Und das hat auch dahingehend überhaupt keinen Sinn, da wir sagen: Dieses Land ist nach wie vor auf dem Korruptionsindex weltweit auf Platz 105 und hatte seit 2012 überhaupt keine Verbesserung in diesem Ranking. Insofern: Lassen Sie uns Hilfen gewähren! Lassen Sie uns auch die humanitäre Situation berücksichtigen, aber doch bitte zielgerichtet und nicht im Rahmen der Makrofinanzhilfe.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Cristian Terheş
Political group: ECR
Country: Poland
Language: EN

It became a modus operandi of Putin to invade, under different pretexts or excuses, regions from southern European countries which were before part of the Soviet Union. We’ve seen this happening in Georgia and Ukraine. There’s modus operandi was initially implemented by the Russian Federation in Moldova, which since the fall of Soviet Union, keeps its 14th Army in Transnistria. Even though Moldova had its territorial integrity violated by the Russian Federation for 30 years, countries had no problems cutting deals with Putin for cheaper gas, oil or coal. The precedent instrumentalised by Russia in Moldova and left unpunished for so long, just motivated Putin to keep invading countries until he caused the current war and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. It is time to restore justice in Europe, and Moldova deserves justice, not just being by being helped financially, but by having the Russian army withdraw.
Debate: Macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2022
Speaker: Helmut Scholz
Political group: The Left
Country: Luxembourg
Language: DE

Ich fordere die Kommission auf, nachzulegen und bei den kommenden EU-Hilfsprogrammen im Zusammenhang mit dem Flüchtlingsnotstand Moldau in transparenter Weise unbedingt zu berücksichtigen. Und: Ist nicht spätestens jetzt von der EU-Kommission, den lettischen, schwedischen, deutschen und anderen Regierungen jenen Banken Druck zu machen, bei denen die Milliarde aus dem Jahrhundertraub einer Mafia-Clique in Politik und Wirtschaft verschwunden sind. Die Menschen in Moldau brauchen jetzt ihr Vermögen zurück.