unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Katalin Cseh
Political group: Renew
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Mr President, Serbia is a country that wants to join the EU, and that’s great – as long as they fulfil the accession criteria. And the last time I checked, letting China export their harrowing labour standards to Europe was not among them. What’s happening at the Linglong tyre factory in Serbia is basically institutionalised human trafficking and organised slavery, with a front seat view for us to witness how China treats its so-called economic partners. The Serbian authorities must step up and ensure that the rights of all factory employees are respected. The only question is: why haven’t they done this already? And the answer is obvious: China’s creeping influence prevents them from doing so. This is what happens, dear colleagues, when we allow Beijing to dictate the terms of cooperation. And let this be a lesson for the Commission before negotiating another investment agreement with China. Let this be a lesson for all Member States who think that Chinese investment comes without any strings attached. And let this be a lesson for the EU as a whole. If we do not step up our efforts in our neighbourhood policy, other global powers will, with Europe picking up the pieces.
Debate: Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Elżbieta Kruk
Political group: ECR
Country: Bulgaria
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! W ostatnich latach Chiny rozwinęły współpracę z kandydującymi do Unii państwami bałkańskimi, wykorzystując ich potrzeby inwestycyjne. Na chińskie propozycje pozytywnie zareagowała w szczególności Serbia. Wydaje się z kolei, że Pekin traktuje Serbię jako część globalnej inicjatywy „Pasa i Szlaku”, projektu logistycznego mającego doprowadzić do powstania współczesnego odpowiednika Jedwabnego Szlaku i zwiększenia chińskiej strefy wpływów gospodarczych. Wobec rosnącego zainteresowania Chin Bałkanami Unia Europejska winna dążyć do zwiększenia tam swojej obecności. Wymaga to przyśpieszenia negocjacji członkowskich i ułatwienia dostępu do funduszy przedakcesyjnych.  Istotną kwestią są rażące nadużycia wobec pracowników zatrudnionych przy chińskich inwestycjach w Serbii. Organizacje pozarządowe informują, że zatrudnieni tam wietnamscy robotnicy żyją i pracują w nieludzkich warunkach. Chcą wracać do Wietnamu, ale są pozbawieni paszportów i pieniędzy. Organizacje broniące praw człowieka donoszą, że pracownicy ci zostali przemyceni do Serbii i prawdopodobnie pracują jak niewolnicy. Serbski rząd przymyka na to oko. Konieczna jest więc pilna i konsekwentna interwencja w obronie praw tych ludzi.
Debate: Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, sono 750, per lo più vietnamiti e lavorano alla costruzione di una fabbrica di pneumatici e vivono in condizioni da incubo. L'inverno è alle porte e non ci sono né riscaldamento né vestiti pesanti. Tanti vorrebbero tornare a casa loro in Vietnam ma non possono perché gli sono stati ritirati persino i documenti.  Si tratta di quella che viene definita schiavitù moderna. Non stiamo parlando di qualche situazione drammatica dall'altra parte del mondo, ma della Serbia nel cuore dell'Europa. La partnership sino-serba è fiorita negli ultimi anni, ma nasconde un lato oscuro nella forma di vistose violazioni ambientali e dei diritti dei lavoratori.  Gentile Commissario, sottoscrivendo il processo di adesione – processo che io sostengo pienamente peraltro – la Serbia ha accolto specifici obblighi ambientali e sociali che devono essere rispettati, dobbiamo ricordarlo con fermezza. Dobbiamo essere in grado però di fornire anche un'alternativa concreta ai soldi cinesi sia con il piano economico di investimenti dei Balcani occidentali sia con il prossimo Global gateway.  Dobbiamo fare sì che il messaggio che esiste un'altra strada arrivi forte e chiaro ai nostri partner di Belgrado affinché non si ripetano situazioni come quella di cui oggi stiamo discutendo.
Debate: Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Nathalie Loiseau
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, à Bor, en Serbie, les routes de la soie sont devenues les routes de la honte. La Chine n’y exploite pas seulement le cuivre au mépris de l’environnement, elle y exploite aussi les hommes au mépris de leur dignité. Un nuage rouge de pollution flotte sur la ville. Un nuage d’opacité aussi, car ceux qui enquêtent sur les investissements chinois en Serbie sont accusés d’aller à l’encontre des intérêts du pays. Mais de quels intérêts s’agit-il lorsque des ouvriers asiatiques viennent à bas coût et dans des conditions déplorables travailler au profit d’une entreprise chinoise qui se comporte en terrain conquis? De quels intérêts s’agit-il lorsque Pékin obtient sans appel d’offres les contrats de construction d’autoroutes, de ponts ou de chemins de fer, lorsque Huawei déploie un millier de caméras à reconnaissance faciale dans les rues de Belgrade? Pouvons-nous rester indifférents alors que la Serbie est au cœur de l’Europe et candidate à l’adhésion à l’Union européenne? Il ne fait aucun doute que nous devons être plus présents dans les Balkans. À ce titre, je me félicite du sommet annoncé pour juin par le président français Emmanuel Macron.  Mais il ne fait pas de doute non plus que ce n’est pas en s’alignant sur Pékin et Moscou, contre les intérêts de sa propre population, en méprisant la protection des travailleurs et celle de l’environnement, que le gouvernement serbe fait avancer l’adhésion de la Serbie à l’Union européenne. Ce message-là, il doit l’entendre...
Debate: Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Janez Lenarčič
Language: EN

I would also like to welcome the recent opening of accession negotiations in the chapters under Cluster 4. This sends a strong signal and one very relevant for this debate: namely that the EU and Serbia are stepping up their engagement on the Green Agenda. We look forward to the implementation of the EU standards in this area by Serbia as soon as possible. Obviously, a lot of work is ahead of us, including on environmental issues, but also on the rule of law and fundamental rights. In this context, we have seen the recent reports about the working and living conditions of Vietnamese workers in a Chinese-owned factory in Zrenjanin in northern Serbia. Let me underline that the EU expects domestic legislation and relevant international and European conventions on labour and other human rights to be fully enforced for the benefit of all workers in Serbia. We understand that the relevant authorities of Serbia have started to investigate this case, and we will continue to monitor these developments closely. We have also been closely following the recent protests in Serbia over the last two weekends. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right. It needs to be exercised peacefully and in full respect of the rule of law and public order. The police has the duty to protect the exercise of this right while maintaining law and order, and the police are the only ones with legitimacy to use proportionate force for that purpose, if justified. Violence against peaceful protesters is completely unacceptable. We expect that any instances of violence are swiftly and thoroughly investigated by the competent Serbian authorities. We take note of the recent decision by the government to withdraw the law on expropriation from the National Assembly and of the adoption of the amendments to the law on referendum by the National Assembly on 10 December. More broadly, on environment, let me recall that the EU attaches great importance to, and advocates for, the highest sustainability requirements for all activities related to raw materials, from exploration, through mining, processing and trading, to post closure. In view of minimising the environmental and social footprints of raw materials projects, the Commission published, in September this year, the EU’s principles for sustainable raw materials. The EU remains also the biggest donor and investor in environmental protection and addressing climate change in Serbia. In the past 15 years, the EU donated more than EUR 435 million in grant funding to Serbia for environmental protection. This demonstrates the EU’s commitment to continue supporting Serbia on its European path.
Debate: Forced labour in the Linglong factory and environmental protests in Serbia
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Die Aussprache ist geschlossen. Die Abstimmung findet im Anschluss an die Aussprache statt. Die Sitzung ist unterbrochen. Sie wird um 13.00 Uhr mit der Bekanntgabe der Ergebnisse der ersten Abstimmungsrunde des heutigen Tages wieder aufgenommen.
Debate: Second voting session
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Wir kommen nun zur zweiten Abstimmungsrunde des heutigen Tages. Die Dossiers, über die wir abstimmen, sind der Tagesordnung zu entnehmen. Die Abstimmungsrunde ist von 13.45 bis 15.00 Uhr geöffnet. Es kommt dasselbe Abstimmungsverfahren zur Anwendung wie in den vorangegangenen Abstimmungsrunden. Alle Abstimmungen sind namentliche Abstimmungen. Ich erkläre die zweite Abstimmungsrunde für eröffnet. Sie können bis 15.00 Uhr abstimmen. Die Ergebnisse der zweiten Abstimmungsrunde werden um 16.00 Uhr bekannt gegeben. Die Aussprachen werden um 15.00 Uhr mit der Anfrage zur mündlichen Beantwortung an die Kommission zu Hindernissen für den freien Warenverkehr wieder aufgenommen.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Anfrage zur mündlichen Beantwortung an die Kommission über Hindernisse für den freien Warenverkehr von Anna Cavazzini im Namen des Ausschusses für Binnenmarkt und Verbraucherschutz ( Ich erinnere die Mitglieder daran, dass es bei allen Aussprachen dieser Tagung keine spontanen Wortmeldungen gibt und dass keine blauen Karten akzeptiert werden.  Außerdem sind, wie auch bei den letzten Tagungen, Zuschaltungen aus den Verbindungsbüros des Parlaments in den Mitgliedstaaten vorgesehen. Ich weise Sie auch darauf hin, dass Wortmeldungen im Plenarsaal weiterhin vom zentralen Rednerpult aus erfolgen. Ich ersuche Sie daher, die Rednerliste im Blick zu behalten und sich kurz vor Beginn Ihrer Redezeit zum Rednerpult zu begeben.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Andrus Ansip
Country: Estonia
Language: EN

The barriers between intra-EU border crossings hinder the integrity of the Union’s internal market. This is not in our common interest since the fragmentations reduce choices for consumers and the opportunities for companies, bearing a negative impact on our citizens and our economy. On the other hand, Member States could indeed introduce measures to restrict the free movement of goods where such restrictions are justified by overriding reasons of public interest. Among the national measures, the IMCO Committee would like to draw the attention of the European Commission to traffic restrictions that may affect major EU green-lane border crossings. Those measures should be taken in a coordinated way, with the involvement of the European Commission and Member States, to avoid environment problems being translated from one Member State to another and to avoid creating unnecessary delays and deviations in the supply chain.  We fully support policies aimed at improving the sustainability of our economy and preserving the environment. A balance should therefore be found between the free movement of goods and environmental and health protection. Furthermore, it is important to have an update on how the European Commission intends to act to overcome such restrictions or to find alternative solutions agreed at EU level to safeguard the free movement of goods and the proper functioning of the internal market.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Adina-Ioana Vălean
Language: EN

The free movement of goods is a key principle of European law. Traffic restrictions can be qualified as measures with an effect equivalent to import and export restrictions. However, in specific cases such restrictions may be justified under the Treaty. The Court of Justice confirmed that requirements in the public interest, such as the protection of the environment or health reasons, may justify a restriction if the measure is appropriate to achieving these goals, and does not go beyond what is necessary to achieving them.  I stress here that proportionality is key for any legislative or regulatory measure doomed to balance different public interests, while remaining within the boundaries of the EU Treaties. Besides proportionality, there is another pillar on which all EU legislation is based: non-discrimination. Therefore, any restriction on the freedom of movement cannot be based on a discriminatory treatment based on the origin of the persons, companies or vehicles to which it applies. These three major boundaries – EU Treaties, proportionality and non-discrimination – create a logic and legal framework under which EU law is applied, and should also be taken at all times into consideration when adopting measures restricting the freedom of movement.  Of course, we all know that there are cases where traffic restrictions are needed and are being used. As in any area of EU legislation, the Commission has and will stand ready to help find solutions that take into account all relevant aspects, and find the correct balance between the different public interests such as the freedom of movement and the protection of environmental health, in order to ensure full respect of all EU law requirements.  As guardian of the Treaty, the Commission retains its right to launch infringement procedures if it considers that EU law is not respected, especially in those cases where the stakeholders involved in applying restrictions do not advance towards complying with their Treaty obligations.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Andreas Schwab
Political group: PPE
Country: Poland
Language: DE

Einschränkungen der Binnenmarktfreizügigkeit, der Dienstleistungsfreizügigkeit können im Einzelfall berechtigt sein, aber nur unter strengen Voraussetzungen. Eine Verlagerung von Problemen von einem Land in ein anderes macht nun wirklich keinen Sinn. Frau Kommissarin, kilometerlange Staus von über 70 Kilometern sind nicht nur gefährlich, was Unfälle angeht, sondern sie sind natürlich auch umweltrechtlich – unter Umweltgesichtspunkten – ein erhebliches Problem.  Ich glaube nicht, dass irgendjemand sinnvollerweise ein Interesse daran haben kann, dass Umweltprobleme aus einem Mitgliedstaat in einen anderen exportiert werden sollten. Deswegen bitte ich Sie, Frau Kommissarin, das Grundprinzip der Verhältnismäßigkeit und das Grundprinzip der Nichtdiskriminierung, das Sie angesprochen haben, wirklich hier zur Geltung zu bringen und sicherzustellen, dass die Verbindung von Italien nach Deutschland auch ohne derartige Aufenthalte möglich ist.  Ich denke, dass es auch dringend notwendig wäre, die Probleme, über die wir hier sprechen, im kommenden Vorschlag zum
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Brando Benifei
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Come delegazione italiana del Partito Democratico, nei Socialisti e Democratici siamo fermamente convinti che le politiche a tutela dell'ambiente siano prioritarie per la legislazione odierna e futura, e saremo sempre in prima linea a difenderle, ma non possono essere attuate in maniera completamente discriminatoria. Non possiamo perciò non considerare come tali provvedimenti rappresentino un vero e proprio blocco stradale, che danneggia il nostro paese e non solo. Il valico del Brennero è infatti un asse fondamentale per il trasporto di merci su strada per tutta l'Unione europea. Il danno prodotto dal blocco del valico, che vede transitare oltre 40 milioni di tonnellate di merci l'anno, è stimato essere all'incirca di 370 milioni di euro per ogni ora di ritardo nell'attraversamento e in 100 milioni di euro l'anno per i maggiori tempi di percorrenza legati al passaggio alternativo su rotaia. Riteniamo che queste norme, che interessano una delle principali corsie per i trasporti dell'Unione possano ostacolare la libera circolazione delle merci nel mercato interno e dovrebbero dunque essere vietate. Con questa interrogazione chiediamo alla Commissione europea se ha valutato come conciliare i diversi interessi in gioco: la libera circolazione delle merci, la protezione della salute e l'ambiente. Inoltre, vorremmo sapere se intende intervenire per superare tali restrizioni unilaterali e discriminatorie o trovare alternative concordate a livello europeo per ristabilire la libera circolazione e il funzionamento corretto del mercato. L'Italia, come tutti i paesi dell'Unione, sta uscendo da una fase di crisi socioeconomica legata alla pandemia. È fondamentale dunque che, insieme alla tutela dell'ambiente, si consideri sempre anche l'importanza della ripresa per i tessuti economici che maggiormente hanno sofferto in questo difficile periodo.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Vlad-Marius Botoş
Political group: Renew
Country: Germany
Language: RO

Am vorbit despre benzile verzi, pentru mărfuri, despre efortul ca economia greu afectată de pandemia de COVID-19 să nu mai aibă de suferit, dar vedem cum camioanele stau ore întregi la granița dintre unele state membre –și aici cunosc foarte bine situația – la granița dintre România și Ungaria, chiar dacă în teorie mărfurile circulă liber, fie că suntem sau nu membri ai zonei Schengen.  O piață unică nu poate funcționa în astfel de condiții. Nu putem vorbi de șanse egale pentru operatorii economici, în condițiile în care mărfurile din România și Bulgaria stau chiar și 24 de ore pentru a intra în Spațiul Schengen. Vorbim aici de bariere artificiale, puse în calea liberei circulații a mărfurilor, care duc la creșterea costurilor produselor, cu impact direct asupra economiei și dezvoltării regiunilor noastre. Aceste dificultăți trebuie abordate și soluționate, doamna comisar, dacă vrem o piață liberă, dacă vrem o economie solidă și rezilientă.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Marco Campomenosi
Political group: ID
Country: Portugal
Language: IT

Io ho tanti amici austriaci, ho un alleato storico per il mio partito nel mio gruppo politico, però, insomma, la Commissione europea qui deve intervenire, gli elementi ci sono tutti. E aggiungo che anche il governo italiano è un po' troppo timido e dovrebbe difendere un po' di più le proprie imprese, perché, ha detto bene la Commissaria Vălean, c'è un tema di proporzionalità e di non discriminazione nelle misure che devono essere poste in atto. Abbiamo un progetto infrastrutturale alternativo che non richiede ancora molti anni dall'essere realizzato, ma non possiamo permetterci di penalizzare i traffici fra Italia e Germania e non solo, sono coinvolti altri paesi, fra realtà produttive che non sono solo mercati di destinazione, ma che sono anche mercati integrati tra di loro, perché insieme fanno sì che il valore aggiunto del produrre in Europa sia positivo. Il problema è che, se non troviamo una soluzione per via delle timidezze del governo italiano oppure per via dell'inazione della Commissione europea, ci penserà la Corte di giustizia, come già fatto in passato, a dirvi che queste misure sono illegittime e quindi io consiglierei alla Commissione di avviare una procedura di infrazione, mi sembra più che legittimo. L'Austria darà le proprie ragioni e vedremo. Ecco, perché vedere una Commissione europea molto attiva, per esempio, sulla Bolkestein nei confronti dell'Italia e inerme su una situazione ancora più grave come quella di cui parliamo oggi mi sembra abbastanza ipocrita.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Geert Bourgeois
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: NL

De interne markt is een zegen voor onze opwaartse sociale convergentie, voor de interne vrijhandel, voor jobs en voor welvaart. Maar vandaag worden de binnengrenzen de facto opnieuw gesloten voor een aantal goederen. Steeds meer winkels verkopen alleen producten gefabriceerd in eigen land, met grote labels “produit de” of “made in”. Ik ken producenten die verplicht werden om hun productie te verhuizen naar een andere lidstaat, hoewel ze in eigen land voldoende productiecapaciteit hadden. Uiteraard is de korte keten een goede zaak, maar wat ik aan de kaak stel, is puur protectionisme. Dit haalt onze interne markt onderuit. Ik heb de Commissie al herhaaldelijk gewezen op dit feitelijk protectionisme en ik vraag de Commissie opnieuw om een verslag op te stellen over deze feitelijke belemmeringen, en de verdieping van de interne markt bovenaan haar agenda te plaatsen.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

The fact is that Brexit has redirected the entire Irish overland trade flow with the rest of the EU Member States. It’s meant the abandonment effectively of the British land bridge and to have that replaced almost entirely via the Ireland—France ferry transport. Now this is the equivalent of a journey of about one to one and a half days between the nearest ports, which has a significant impact on the bulk of Irish trade with the rest of the EU and obviously creates new challenges for Irish road transport, particularly with regard to the application of the Combined Transport Directive and the Mobility Package 1. I think now we see that all Irish exports and imports carried by truck will automatically be subject to the restrictions and limitations set out in the various transport laws and virtually all Irish exports and imports will be subject to posting. I think it’s really important that the interests of island Member States, such as Ireland, would be systematically taken into account when proposing new transport rules. The motion in question is about greater sustainability. I think it’s important that the impact of the current distance—based restrictions in island countries would be taken into account, obviously protecting the rights of workers within that.  Thank you, President. Happy Christmas to you, the Commissioner, all colleagues and particularly the staff.
Debate: Barriers to the free movement of goods
Date: THURSDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2021
Speaker: Arba Kokalari
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: SV

Herr talman! Pandemin har visat att handel och samarbete är de viktigaste verktygen för att hantera kriser. Det gäller inte bara coronakrisen, utan också klimatkrisen. Överallt inom EU ser vi nämligen hur forskare, företagare och entreprenörer utvecklar nya lösningar för att minska utsläpp och bidra till den cirkulära ekonomin.  Här måste vi politiker bli bättre på att ge morötter för att  Vår handelspolitik är också nyckeln för att uppnå en grön och hållbar cirkulär ekonomi, och inte bara genom att göra det dyrare att släppa ut, utan också genom att ge fler morötter till företagare.