unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: European Economic Security Strategy
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, the economic security strategy, presented last June by the High Representative aims, in its own words, to protect the EU’s interests against the militarisation of economic ties and to find the right balance between the openness that the EU wishes to maintain and the protection of our values and interests. Let’s be clear about it: the only values we are interested in protecting are exactly our interests. And even though the text makes no mention of China, the strategy is a deliberate choice to align the EU even more closely to the United States’ all out technological conflict in order to hinder China’s fast growing technology sector. The strategy presents four technologies and the risks to be assessed and does not exclude protective measures. The weaponisation of knowledge, scientific research and technological advances is a real threat to the major challenges facing us – climate change, new health crisis and digitalisation require a different type of cooperative approach. The approach in this document appears that Europe is more of a playground than a player.
Debate: European Economic Security Strategy
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Valdis Dombrovskis
Language: EN

It is important that the European Parliament show its backing and a strong engagement, as stakes are high and times are troubled. The EU needs a comprehensive and united strategy to preserve and build its economic strengths, the strengths needed to be a global player. In your interventions, you also highlighted the need for continued international engagement at bilateral and multilateral level. Yes, we want to preserve and increase the benefits we derive from the rules-based trading system. I agree that it is necessary to find the right balance between the economic openness that has shaped the EU’s wealth so far, and economic security. This is why our strategy should be risk-based and our action precise and proportionate. I have listened attentively and I also heard calls for various stakeholders, including our business community, to be properly involved and consulted. Indeed, EU companies are usually the first to be impacted when economic security risks materialise. They must be involved in shaping the answer. So to give you one example, we have created a new economic security task force within the Industrial Forum. It serves to develop a collective understanding of economic security and encourage EU businesses to conduct relevant due diligence and risk management. I agree with the view that economic strategy should not overly focus on protective measures. We need more funding to promote the uptake and scale-up of cleantech and other critical technologies in Europe. As part of the Multiannual Financial Framework mid-term review, we have made a proposal for the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform, also called the STEP platform, to support technologies that are critical for the Union’s economic security. The objective of STEP is to mobilise the necessary funding available across various existing EU programmes to stimulate investments in critical technologies. We have proposed to reinforce some of these programmes with an extra EUR 10 billion. These top-ups, together with the existing funding and additional flexibility proposed under the Cohesion Policy and Recovery and Resilience Facility, have the potential to mobilise up to EUR 160 billion of investments in the coming years. As you know, this week, leaders of European countries will meet to discuss the MFF review, including STEP. Honourable Members, let me conclude by emphasising once again that international cooperation is at the core of EU economic security. We cannot achieve economic security on our own in an interconnected world. We will use all avenues, including within the G7, trade and technology councils, free trade agreements, digital partnerships, the Global Gateway and the World Trade Organisation to strengthen our economic security. And we will continue to insist that the EU speaks with one strong voice on these matters. We count on the European Parliament’s support in pushing the economic security agenda forward. As I said, the key to success is to act in unity and to strike the right balance between the three pillars: promote, protect and partner.
Debate: European Economic Security Strategy
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Josep Borrell Fontelles
Language: EN

We are, and we want to continue being, an economic, open economy, and we know that there are threats that affect our resilience and we have to take care of them. So balance – balance between these two different things – will be key in this debate. And that’s why the risk-based approach that we have identified in the joint communication on economic security is so important. We are going into uncharted waters. We both do things, we want two things that are colliding, or in some cases not being complimentary, but we have to look for complementarities among them. We don’t want to become protectionist, but we have to protect against risk. Looking for protection doesn’t mean to be protectionist. We are not protectionist. We believe in free trade, but in some cases we have to protect ourselves, which we explained to our Chinese counterpart during the last European Union-China summit in Peking some days ago. We have to promote European competitiveness and to partner around the world, so we can call it a kind of ‘PPP’: we have to protect ourselves, we have to promote our competitiveness and we have to increase our partnership around the world. Protecting ourselves is different of being protectionist. So I would therefore like to conclude by focusing on the last two P’s: to promote and to partner, because de-risking comes with risk and with cost, but we have to take it in order that promote new opportunities. And our foreign and security policy has to be there. When we decide to do something with someone it is foreign policy. It’s trade policy, certainly, but it’s more than that. Our foreign and economic policies, hand in hand, we need to develop new partnerships to respond to domestic and global challenges, helping partners to promote their own growth and resilience through diversification of value chains. China has organised an impressive conference last week and distributing a lot of information when we were in Peking talking about how value chains are working in today’s economy. And value chains are vulnerable. They are long, and in some cases they become critical. So we have to take care of the security issues when developing our economic relations with the rest of the world.
Debate: European Economic Security Strategy
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Commissioner, I was not aware, up to now, that the next two debates are also with you. So you are sitting now four and a half hours. So we can have a short technical break, but we are already at 22.20. So if you need a short break, but we cannot afford a long time. So I put it into your discretion.
Debate: European Economic Security Strategy
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, wir haben eine Lösung gefunden. Herr Kommissar und Vizepräsident Dombrovskis wird die Erklärung des Vizepräsidenten der Kommission und Hohen Vertreters übernehmen, weil es ist in der Tat so: Er ist seit viereinhalb Stunden hier, keine Mahlzeit, und es sind noch zwei weitere Debatten. Deshalb sind wir für die Flexibilität dankbar. Das, was für die Erklärung notwendig ist, wird sich jetzt Herr Dombrovskis bemühen, genauso gut zu machen wie Herr Borrell Fontelles, und dann können wir so verfahren.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Rainer Wieland
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Erklärung des Vizepräsidenten der Kommission und Hohen Vertreters der Union für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik zu Umweltauswirkungen des Angriffskriegs Russlands gegen die Ukraine und zu der notwendigen Rechenschaftspflicht (
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Valdis Dombrovskis
Language: EN

We all remember the destruction of the dam at Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant on 6 June this year. This act caused widespread damage, submerging 620 km² of territory, impacting 100 000 residents directly. Ukraine estimated that the total recovery and reconstruction needs amounted to EUR 4.68 billion, of which roughly half is required immediately. Some of the damage will be irreparable for years. President Zelenskyy denounced the destruction of the Kakhovka dam as an ecocide and the worst environmental disaster in Ukraine after Chernobyl. Beyond this, the war causes damage to the environment every day. Based on its environmental inspections, Ukraine estimates that Russia’s invasion has caused roughly EUR 52.4 billion in environmental damage. For too long, environmental damages have been side-lined as collateral damage. This must stop. Ukraine is the first country in history investigating crimes committed by the occupation forces against the natural environment as a war crime. According to Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General, a total of 2 500 incidents of environmental damage have been documented so far. The EU condemns in the strongest terms the damages to nature caused by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. Perpetrators must be held to account and damages must be compensated. The EU works intensively on ensuring accountability. We enabled Eurojust to set up the Core International Crimes Evidence Database to preserve, store and analyse evidence related to international crimes. Ukraine can now directly benefit from this new database. The EU also continues strengthening the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office itself in investigation and prosecution of environmental damages caused. Our support, together with that of the US and UK via the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, remains crucial. We also fully support the International Criminal Court investigations. It is worth remembering that, under the Rome Statute, acts causing widespread long-term and severe damage to the natural environment can amount to war crimes. It is equally important to ensure that Russia pays reparations, including for the environmental damage resulting from internationally wrongful acts, in or against Ukraine. In this respect, we welcome the Registry of Damage established by the Council of Europe. It will serve as a record of evidence and information on claims for damages, losses or injury caused by Russia’s war of aggression. As you know, the EU is a founding associate member of the Register, and we supported its set-up with EUR 1 million. Honourable Members, allow me to thank you for your continuous efforts in attracting public attention to the illegal war Russia is waging against Ukraine, including to its environmental consequences. And I also welcome the high-level working group of the European Parliament organised on 27 November 2023 in this regard. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to the debate.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Michael Gahler
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: DE

Ein spezieller Aspekt sind die Schäden, die als Folge des Krieges die Umwelt zerstören oder beeinträchtigen. Ich meine hierbei nicht die Spuren einer Panzerkette, die auf einem abgeernteten Feld zu sehen sind und nach einem Regenguss wieder verschwinden. Nein, ich denke an all das, was unnötig – weil kriegsbedingt – in Boden, Luft und Gewässer der Ukraine gelangt und teilweise langfristig diese Elemente verschmutzt und verseucht. Es gibt Berechnungen, dass der Schadstoffausstoß durch diesen Krieg bisher dem Jahresausstoß Belgiens entspricht. Eines der größten oder das größte Verbrechen in dem Bereich ist sicherlich die Zerstörung des Kachowka-Damms. Ich bin gegen inflationäre Benutzung von bestimmten Wörtern, aber ich glaube, in dem Zusammenhang ist das Wort Ökozid tatsächlich angemessen angesichts dessen, was unterhalb des Dammes, aber auch oberhalb durch das Verschwinden des Sees dort geschehen ist. Wir haben daneben das Verhalten Russlands im Zusammenhang mit dem Kernkraftwerk Saporischschja. Es ist als solches schon verbrecherisch, Kriegshandlungen bewusst und gezielt in der Nähe von Kernkraftwerken durchzuführen. Aber auch die Behandlung der dortigen Mitarbeiter ist außerordentlich verurteilenswert, und deswegen muss auch das aufgezeichnet werden, wie die anderen Verbrechen, die wir aufzeichnen zum Zwecke späterer Kriegsverbrecherprozesse. Ich denke, dass gerade die Verbrechen gegen die Umwelt zeigen, welchen Charakter das russische Regime hat, und die Verurteilung ist sicherlich auch hier in diesem Hause wie üblich ziemlich einheitlich und einstimmig.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Ivars Ijabs
Political group: Renew
Country: France
Language: EN

However, in the meantime, Europe must act. We must find legal ways to hold Russia accountable for this ecocide. Until now, European countries have mostly dragged their feet on confiscating Russian assets in Europe to compensate for the damage done to Ukraine. An important step is registered by the Council of Europe – already mentioned, it has been agreed by 44 countries in May – it aims to document the environmental damage and to prepare the ground for concrete reparations for Ukraine. But there is also a sound legal basis to hold Russia accountable for crimes against the environment, like the Kakhovka Dam, already mentioned, and to make it compensate for the damage. Here I am referring to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and other international acts. What we need here is a clear political will to proceed and to make Russia pay for the damage.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

In the midst of this brutal war, Ukraine has shown outstanding leadership by responding to Russia’s blatant violations of international law with a commitment to strengthen accountability for serious environmental crimes. The EU and its Member States must support Ukraine in this work. Ecocide is already recognised under Ukrainian law. And now it is time to find a way to incorporated ecocide as a core crime within the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. A better recognition of environmental crimes in armed conflicts is urgently needed. Not only for the benefit of Ukraine, but for all future conflicts. Now, restoring Ukraine’s natural environment from the damage caused by this war will require significant financial support and expertise, but also strong environmental legislation and processes. A rapid opening of EU accession talks, and the adoption of the EU acquis on environment, would help maintain the pace of the ongoing reforms. Building back better will be key for a sustainable recovery of Ukraine. Both public and private financing for Ukraine must be well aligned with the country’s social and environmental goals. Responsible business conduct should also be well integrated in the recovery efforts. And finally, Ukraine and its nature will recover from this terrible war. A prosperous, green Ukraine on a European path will be an end to Vladimir Putin’s imperialist fantasies.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Political group: ECR
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

At that time, we were taken aback by the scale of damages. Nowadays we have much, much more. We have the blowing up of Kakhovka dam, the shelling of nuclear power plants, threats against them in Zaporizhzhia, Chernobyl and in other places. Of course, Russia should be held responsible for this, put to justice. But in order to do this, we have to help Ukraine defeat Russia as soon as possible.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Anja Hazekamp
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: NL

Dat Oekraïne een ecocidezaak wil aanspannen tegen Rusland, is daarom heel begrijpelijk. Want de immense schade die aan het milieu wordt aangericht is onomkeerbaar. We moeten Oekraïne ondersteuning bieden bij het verzamelen van bewijsmateriaal en we moeten ons altijd blijven inzetten voor de bescherming van mens, dier en hun kwetsbare leefomgeving. Maar bovenal moeten we de ernstige, langdurige en onomkeerbare milieuschade voorkomen en ecocide strafbaar stellen.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Lukas Mandl
Political group: PPE
Country: Portugal
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, Herr Kommissar, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Die Demokratie schläft nie, und das ist auch die Botschaft aus dem Europäischen Parlament heute, wo wir am späten Abend ein wichtiges Thema diskutieren in einem Rahmen eines noch wichtigeren Themas. Das noch wichtigere Thema ist, dass wir nicht die Aufmerksamkeit dafür verlieren dürfen, dass Putin-Russland seit Februar 2022 einen militärischen Überfall, kombiniert mit hybrider Kriegsführung, gegen uns alle führt – gegen unsere Zivilisation, nicht nur gegen die Ukraine und die Ukrainerinnen und Ukrainer, sondern gegen uns alle. Das Subthema ist, dass das auch mit sich bringt, dass der Boden verunreinigt ist, dass die Landschaft verunreinigt ist durch riesengroße Mengen an russischem Metallmüll auf ukrainischem Boden. Das bedeutet nicht nur Verschmutzung, das bedeutet die langjährige Nicht-Nutzbarkeit des Bodens für landwirtschaftliche Zwecke. Es bedeutet ganz große Gefahren für Mensch und Tier. Es geht um Minen, aber es geht eben auch um Metallmüll. Und es geht um ganz große Mengen. Das müssen wir mit der Ukraine zusammen in Partnerschaft in den Griff bekommen.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Leszek Miller
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Panie Komisarzu! Koleżanki i koledzy! Napaść Rosji na Ukrainę spowodowała poważne szkody dla środowiska naturalnego, obejmujące zanieczyszczenie powietrza, wody i gleby oraz utratę bioróżnorodności. Ukraina przy wsparciu międzynarodowym bada możliwości prawne pociągnięcia Rosji do odpowiedzialności za zbrodnię na środowisku. Jednak jest to prawnie skomplikowane.  Parlament Europejski uznał związek między wojną a szkodami środowiskowymi, popierając utworzenie międzynarodowego rejestru na potrzeby przyszłych reparacji. Ta sytuacja podkreśla pilną potrzebę wzmocnienia międzynarodowych ram prawnych chroniących środowisko naturalne podczas konfliktów oraz skuteczniejszego wyciągania konsekwencji w stosunku do agresorów. Wojna może mieć długotrwałe skutki dla środowiska, wykraczające daleko poza czas trwania konfliktu. Wiele lat minie, zanim ekosystemy się zregenerują, a niektóre szkody mogą być nieodwracalne. Stąd zrozumiałe jest, że agresor musi w pełni uczestniczyć w finansowaniu naprawy wyrządzonych szkód.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Karin Karlsbro
Political group: Renew
Country: Poland
Language: SV

Herr talman! Rysslands fullskaliga invasion av Ukraina är inte enbart en humanitär katastrof; Putin är också skyldig till en fullständig miljökatastrof som kommer att drabba generationer framöver. Ryssland visar ett totalt förakt mot allt levande. Kachovkadammen sprängdes, grundvatten och avloppssystem havererar, farliga gifter sprids, värdefull natur utplånas, ekosystem faller samman. Kärnkraftverket i Zaporizjzja är nära att haverera på grund av ryska attacker. Samtidigt vräker den ryska krigsmakten ut enorma mängder klimatutsläpp. Det är ett hån mot alla oss andra som försöker kämpa för att minska utsläppen. Ryssland måste inte bara ställas till svars för de skador och miljöbrott,
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Viola von Cramon-Taubadel
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, Russia is a terrorist state and commits terrorist acts. The explosion of Kakhovka dam, destruction of chemical plants, deforestation, contamination of soil, water and air, areas filled with mines..., this is only a short list of ecological crimes which Russia did to Ukraine. Behind the damage done to nature, ordinary people are suffering. Ukrainians lost their livelihoods. Millions of families have no drinking water. Farmers lost their arable land for generations. This means more suffering, more hunger in and outside of Ukraine. For these crimes, Putin must be held accountable and to hold Russia accountable Ukraine must win. Don’t block the roads or bargain with the security of Ukraine. Every division, every weakness we show motivates Putin to conquer and to destroy even more. He claims that ‘Russia borders never end’. We must prove him wrong.
Debate: Environmental consequences of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the need for accountability
Date: TUESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2023
Speaker: Ryszard Czarnecki
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Panie Wiceprzewodniczący Komisji! Szanowni Państwo! To jest dla Rosji wojna totalna, która polega nie tylko na przestawieniu przemysłu na rzecz wojny i dostarczeniu w ciągu roku przeszło dwa razy więcej czołgów niż dostarczył Ukrainie Zachód. To jest wojna totalna, także w obszarze propagandy, umysłów i mentalności, skoro jeszcze nigdy szkoły kadetów i szkoły oficerskie w Rosji nie przeżywały takiego oblężenia jak teraz. Jest to wojna totalna także dlatego, że chodzi o wyniszczenie Ukrainy, także gdy chodzi o ekosystem. Kachowka jest tutaj bardzo wymownym symbolem. Ale przecież nie tylko o nią chodzi. Oczywiście można mówić, że niektóre zanieczyszczenia są ewidentnie skutkami działań wojennych, ale część z nich jest czyniona w sposób absolutnie zamierzony i do tego w sposób zaplanowany. Wydaje się, że jest rzeczą bardzo istotną, aby w tej sprawie pokazać naszą solidarność w czasie, kiedy nasze społeczeństwa są coraz bardziej zmęczone tą wojną. Nie ma co tego ukrywać. Mówimy tutaj zarówno o społeczeństwach naszego regionu Europy, Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej, jak i Europy Zachodniej. Tym bardziej trzeba pokazać dzisiaj jedność.