unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: The de facto abortion ban in Poland
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Helena Dalli
Language: EN

While the availability, access and nature of sexual and reproductive health services fall under national competence, the Commission continues to support Member States’ efforts in implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals relevant to women’s health, such as on universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education. To this end, we are planning regular exchanges of good practices between Member States and stakeholders on the gender aspects of health, including on sexual and reproductive health. I am fully committed to doing everything in my power to push forward on women’s rights. Strong women’s rights are an asset and an achievement the whole of Europe must be proud of. We will continue pushing forward. Backsliding is not an option. Progress is hard won, but easily lost. I count on your support to continue working for progress and leaving no woman behind.
Debate: The de facto abortion ban in Poland
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Estrella Durá Ferrandis
Political group: S-D
Country: Netherlands
Language: ES

La efectividad de la citada sentencia había quedado en suspenso tras las numerosas manifestaciones que se desarrollaron en el país entonces, si bien, a finales del pasado mes de enero de 2021, dicha sentencia ha quedado confirmada.  Desde la llegada al poder del partido ultraconservador Ley y Justicia (PiS) en Polonia se han venido desarrollando una serie de reformas judiciales, incluyendo la propia composición del Alto Tribunal, destinadas a erradicar la independencia judicial y la separación de poderes, alejándose así de los valores comunes de la Unión Europea en el respeto a la igualdad y a los derechos y libertades de todas y todos.  Polonia se convierte de esta forma en el único Estado de la Unión que retrocede en el acceso al aborto en la historia reciente.
Debate: The de facto abortion ban in Poland
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Eider Gardiazabal Rubial
Political group: S-D
Country: Romania
Language: ES

La efectividad de la citada sentencia había quedado en suspenso tras las numerosas manifestaciones que se desarrollaron en el país entonces, si bien, a finales del pasado mes de enero de 2021, dicha sentencia ha quedado confirmada.  Desde la llegada al poder del partido ultraconservador Ley y Justicia (PiS) en Polonia se han venido desarrollando una serie de reformas judiciales, incluyendo la propia composición del Alto Tribunal, destinadas a erradicar la independencia judicial y la separación de poderes, alejándose así de los valores comunes de la Unión Europea en el respeto a la igualdad y a los derechos y libertades de todas y todos.  Polonia se convierte de esta forma en el único Estado de la Unión que retrocede en el acceso al aborto en la historia reciente.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Country: Poland
Language: FI

Esityslistalla on seuraavana komission varapuheenjohtajan / unionin ulkoasioiden ja turvallisuuspolitiikan korkean edustajan julkilausuma vierailustaan Venäjälle mielenosoittajiin ja opposition edustajiin äskettäin kohdistettujen tukahduttamistoimien valossa ( Tehtäväni on muistuttaa siitä, että tällä istuntojaksolla keskustelussa ei anneta pyynnöstä myönnettäviä puheenvuoroja eikä sinisen kortin kysymyksiä hyväksytä. Huomautan vielä, että edellisten istuntojaksojen tapaan puheenvuoroja on mahdollista käyttää etäyhteydellä jäsenvaltioiden yhteystoimistoista.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Michael Gahler
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: EN

The behaviour of Foreign Minister Lavrov was unfriendly, uncooperative and unacceptable. We duly noted that you put forward several points of our concern: the demand for the release of Aleksei Navalny and the 10 000 arrested citizens, the Russian aggression in states in our immediate neighbourhood. But, was it not to be expected that Lavrov would produce an attack on the EU? It would have been appropriate to address the long list of Russian misbehaviour in response and to rebuff Lavrov’s ‘What about-ism’ on Latvia, Cuba and Catalonia? Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine and elsewhere, not us. Russian authorities have people murdered at home and abroad, not us. Russia secures dictators in power, not us. Things are now crystal clear: no more wishful thinking; no more appeasement. This Russian leadership does not seek dialogue, even less so before the Duma elections. These Russian leaders are adversaries of the EU and want to divide us. We Europeans must now act together and defend our values and interests. We demand a clear message of unity and determination from the Council and our leaders. We expect Member States to allow use to be made of the European Magnitsky Act – you said you will initiate it, thank you very much.  Let every judge and prosecutor playing their role in political trials against opposition and peaceful demonstrators feel they have booked a place on our sanctions list; and then grill the big fish, the profiteers and big supporters of the regime. Let them feel the same: no more trips to the EU; an asset freeze; real anti-money laundering action in all of our Member States. In parallel, let us step up support and dialogue with civil society. Our interests and cooperation were genuine, so must now be our resolve.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Kati Piri
Political group: S-D
Language: EN

Moscow abused the visit of High Representative Borrell to humiliate and offend the European Union. It expelled three diplomats during his visit, and Lavrov called the EU an ‘unreliable partner’, while Russia is doing everything to divide us. But to put the blame on Borrell for this? Would it also have happened if the EU leaders had taken a tougher stance? But instead, the Council has so far failed to put any meaningful sanctions on Russia after the assassination attempt on Navalny. Orbán prevented the EU from issuing a joint statement. The Cypriot government has been issuing golden passports to Kremlin enablers for years. French President Macron just recently renewed his call for a dialogue with Moscow, and last Saturday Moscow resumed work on Nord Stream 2, with the support of German Chancellor Merkel. Colleagues, what we need is a united strategy on Russia, not an appeasement, in view of the challenges Russia is posing to our security. This means that the Council will have to come with clear and tough sanctions against Putin and his enablers, and I believe Mr Borrell has drawn the same conclusions.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Dacian Cioloş
Political group: Renew
Country: France
Language: RO

Evident, menținerea canalelor diplomatice deschise este importantă, nu negăm acest lucru, dar o vizită oficială în Rusia într-un asemenea context tensionat este și un gest simbolic. Or această vizită a dat, din punctul nostru de vedere, un semnal diplomatic greșit.  Coerența și forța mesajelor pe care le transmite Uniunea Europeană cu privire la Rusia sunt extrem de importante pentru cei care luptă pentru democrație la Moscova, dar și în țările din Parteneriatul Estic. Ați mers la Moscova direct într-o capcană mediatică montată de regimul lui Putin și asta la doar două zile după condamnarea lui Navalnîi și după sute de arestări ale protestatarilor.  Sub conducerea lui Putin, Moscova a călcat în picioare de prea multe ori dreptul internațional și drepturile propriilor cetățeni. A anexat ilegal Crimeea, întreține conflicte, organizează atacuri informatice împotriva instituțiilor noastre. Rusia comandă asasinate pe teritoriul Uniunii și duce campanii de dezinformare contra Europei. Știu asta, domnule Vicepreședinte, chiar din rapoartele Serviciului de Acțiune Externă. Nu puteți spune că nu știați cât de sensibilă era o asemenea vizită în aceste condiții. Prin expulzarea a trei diplomați europeni chiar în timpul vizitei dumneavoastră, Kremlinul ne-a arătat încă o dată, așa cum și dumneavoastră ați menționat, că nu e interesat deocamdată de o relație constructivă cu Uniunea Europeană.  De ani de zile încercăm să construim o diplomație europeană solidă, influentă și credibilă. Vizita la Moscova, în aceste condiții, și consecințele ei au afectat, din păcate, credibilitatea Uniunii ca factor de influență diplomatică. Ne rămân acum consecințe de reparat și o grămadă de lecții pe care sper să le învățăm cu toții din ceea ce s-a întâmplat.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Thierry Mariani
Political group: ID
Country: Croatia
Language: FR

Oui, je fais partie de ceux qui jugent que l’Union européenne ne peut pas avoir de diplomatie unifiée. Vous l’avez d’ailleurs constaté vous-même, puisque vos alliés étaient tous prêts à vous planter un couteau dans le dos alors que votre déplacement n’était même pas fini. Un élargissement inconséquent, un atlantisme constitutionnalisé, une volonté publique d’en revenir à la guerre froide interdisent aujourd’hui à l’Union européenne d’adopter une politique réaliste. Vous n’aviez donc que peu de chances de succès et il était certain que la Russie, si régulièrement insultée par les institutions européennes, ne vous ferait pas de cadeau. C’est justement pourquoi il était nécessaire de prendre ce risque, de se rendre à Moscou et de prendre attache avec nos partenaires russes. C’est justement pourquoi il fallait sortir de l’hypocrisie. Si l’Europe regarde vers l’Atlantique, elle doit aussi regarder vers l’Orient, au moins jusqu’à l’Oural, selon la formule du général de Gaulle. Il est évident que nous ne sommes pas naïfs et nous savons que la Russie poursuivra ses intérêts dans ses relations avec Bruxelles. Il s’agit de cesser de poursuivre, en ce qui nous concerne, les intérêts d’autres pays dans nos relations avec Moscou. Dire ces choses simples, c’est vouloir pour nos États membres une politique d’indépendance et de dignité. Dire ces choses simples, c’est affirmer que nous devons cesser d’être la risée du monde en donnant des leçons de morale à la terre entière, alors que nous continuons à faire des yeux doux à la Turquie ou au Pakistan. La politique étrangère est une affaire de puissance. La puissance russe est là. L’Allemagne le sait avec Nord Stream. La France le sait au Proche-Orient et en Afrique. L’Union européenne le redécouvre en admettant que le vaccin Spoutnik V sera peut-être bientôt nécessaire. Chers collègues, Joe Biden a commencé sa présidence en disant «
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Sergey Lagodinsky
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: DE

Sie, Herr Borrell, haben in den letzten Tagen ganz besondere persönliche Erfahrungen gesammelt. Glücklicherweise waren diese Erfahrungen nicht vergleichbar mit den Erfahrungen von vielen Russinnen und Russen, die in den letzten Wochen ihre Erfahrungen gesammelt haben. Ja, Herr Mariani, wir schauen auf Russland bis nach Wladiwostok. Und wen sehen wir da? Menschen, die festgenommen, geschlagen wurden. Menschen wie Aljona Kitajewa, eine Frau, eine Aktivistin, die mit einer Plastiktüte gewürgt wurde, bis sie das PIN-Wort von ihrem Handy herausgerückt hat. Menschen wie Margarita Judina aus Sankt Petersburg, die mit Stiefeln getreten wurde, bis sie auf der Intensivstation landete. Und dann wurde sie auch noch gedrängt, von ihrer Beschwerde Abstand zu nehmen. Ihre Erfahrungen, Herr Borrell, waren besonders, aber sie waren eins: Sie waren ernüchternd und entwürdigend, nicht nur für Sie, sondern auch für uns und auch für Mitgliedstaaten, für Berlin, für Paris, für die nationalen Regierungen, in deren Auftrag Sie gereist sind. Und jetzt ist es an der Zeit, dort Schlussfolgerungen aus diesem Besuch zu ziehen. Das heißt, wir müssen aufhören, mit Putinverstehern aller Couleur zu kooperieren. Wir müssen die Käuflichkeit von Leuten wie Gerhard Schröder beenden, zum Schluss bringen. Wir müssen Anti-Korruptionsoffensiven in der EU starten. Wir müssen über Sanktionen nachdenken. Und ja, wir müssen auch über den Stopp von Nord Stream 2 nachdenken. Und das sage ich nicht nur an Ihre Adresse und nicht so sehr an Ihre Adresse, sondern nach Berlin und Paris. Denn da sind die Verantwortlichen.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Anna Fotyga
Political group: ECR
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

You decided to do this against the advice of countries of my region and politicians in the European Parliament over political divisions. You, by this trip, actually strengthened the regime in the run-up to a parliamentary election and you denied a trace of hope for the heavily-fighting Russian opposition.  You communicated your strong messages eye to eye, allowing Lavrov to deliver his lies and arrogance to millions of people all over the world, also seeing your humiliation in this effect. We know that you achieved something, that is to boost your personal position, because your personal position in attempts to reinvigorate the JCPOA is well known. In this course of events, you decided to consult with Moscow rather than the US, and during this endeavour you allowed Lavrov to actually offend our allies and our friends like Ukraine and others. It was a really bad mistake. You have to...
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

I’m as happy as anybody else to stand up for anybody’s rights, including Navalny’s. But let’s be honest about him. He’s a vicious, anti—immigrant racist with maybe four percent of the support, rallying hundreds and thousands in cities of millions – hardly a mass movement. We wouldn’t be discussing him at all if he’d been arrested anywhere else other than in Russia. Meanwhile, Julian Assange has been incarcerated for almost ten years for exposing US war crimes. We can’t mention his name. Tomorrow, Pablo Hasél, a Catalan rapper, is going to prison for his lyrics. Where is the call to sanction Spain? Tomorrow, 62-year-old Clare Grady is going to prison in West Virginia for her role in the non-violent Plowshares action against Trident. Where is the demand to break off links with the US, or the outcry about the hundreds of people arrested in this city on a protest a week ago? Nowhere – because this isn’t about human rights. This is a geopolitical agenda against Russia, fuelled by a military industrial complex who need an enemy to justify their millions. Of course, you’re right to go to Russia; we should be engaged in dialogue, not war. (
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Country: Poland
Language: FI

Saisinko pyytää, että pysymme täällä kuitenkin rauhallisina. On erittäin tärkeää, että jokainen kunnioittaa sitä puheaikaa, jonka ryhmänne on teille antanut.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó
Political group: NI
Country: Portugal
Language: EN

Madam President, you, Mr Borrell should have told Minister Lavrov that he’s wrong. That Spain does not have three political prisoners, but has nine. That it cannot be compared to Navalny, because he has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison and the Catalan leaders have been sentenced from nine to thirteen years in prison for organising a referendum. We have warned that the double standard applied by the EU undermines its global credibility as a defender of freedoms. There are now humiliating consequences for all. The EU cannot go around the world recommending recipes that it does not apply to itself.  I want a Europe with a strong voice for human rights and without complexes in front of anyone, not only in front of Russia, not only in front of the United States, China, Morocco or Turkey, but with anyone. You are not that voice Mr Borrell. Mr Borrell, please do a Borrell exit.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Radosław Sikorski
Political group: PPE
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Madam President, let’s remember that the main blame for the fiasco of this visit lies with Russia – it is Russia that was rude and perfidious towards our High Representative – but nevertheless, this visit was a mistake. This was predictable and it was predicted, and, High Representative, you didn’t go with the full support of all the Member States. If you wanted to hear what you heard from Mr Lavrov you could have met him on the margins of OSCE or the UN, where the environment would not have been controlled by the Russians. They just obviously can’t help but show their bad manners towards Western representatives.  We are not supplicants of Russia – it is Russia that needs the lifting of our sanctions – and while Russia is still occupying the territory of its neighbours, while it’s murdering people in our streets, while it’s interfering in our political processes and, above all, while it’s repressing its own people, this was not a good time to go. We need a sign from Russia that they are willing to change their policy. And then, of course, we should always show them the so-called ‘off-ramp’ away from authoritarianism.  But I hope that this experience has inspired you to a better understanding of us in central Europe, and I’m counting on you to support sanctions against Russia while their bad behaviour continues.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Tonino Picula
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Madam President, High Representative, the human rights situation in Russia is deteriorating on an unprecedented scale. Thousands of peaceful protesters are being detained and their right to demonstrate is being suppressed without valid legal arguments. Large-scale countrywide demonstrations are creating internal problems that are always easier to externalise.  As we witnessed last week, Russia is not open towards hearing the facts being raised directly, either by their citizens or by foreign representatives. It is easy to conclude that our relations with Russia are at a very low point. We should put in use additional targeted sanction measures through a global human rights sanction mechanism and continue seeking options on how to better assist civil society organisations.  Finally, we have to adopt a new, substantial and comprehensive strategy towards Russia. While working on this, the EU should not keep falling into political traps, further narrowing space for our political actions, but rather strengthen common foreign and security policy. Energy overdependence, divergent strategies of the Member States towards a vaccine, and Russia’s very active role in disinformation campaigns and support for anti-European forces should be on our ‘to do’ list for the next Council meeting.  Prevailing particular interests are only a great opportunity for Russia to impose further leverage. We should re-examine and put an end to the ongoing projects that undermine the credibility of the European Union as a whole.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Bernard Guetta
Political group: Renew
Country: Austria
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, avec une once d’intelligence, il aurait pu saisir le message que lui portait la seule venue de Josep Borrell. Avec une once de lucidité, il aurait pu comprendre que, bien sûr, évidemment, nous condamnions et condamnions totalement, et le dirions haut et fort, le harcèlement judiciaire infligé à Alexeï Navalny et l’arrestation également des manifestants qui le soutiennent, mais qu’en même temps, nous souhaitions garder des ponts ouverts avec la Russie, sur l’Iran notamment. Rien de plus légitime et de facile à comprendre que ce positionnement. Mais ce qu’a compris M. Poutine était qu’il devait se comporter en petite terreur de cour de récré pour clamer au monde et à la Russie qu’il ne nous craignait pas. Eh bien, Monsieur Poutine, c’est raté. En vous conduisant aussi mal, vous n’avez fait que laisser voir votre panique. Celle qui, désormais, vous aveugle parce que l’opposition russe a trouvé sa figure de proue. Parce que vous perdez pied dans les États sortis de votre ancien empire. Parce que votre popularité décroît et que ce tête-à-tête avec la Chine auquel votre cécité condamne votre pays, personne n’en veut en Russie, ni les grandes fortunes, ni les forces de sécurité, ni les classes moyennes urbaines. Vous perdez la main, Monsieur Poutine. Et si votre fin de règne peut être longue et douloureuse, elle s’est ouverte. Vous l’ouvrez avec votre évidente panique.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Filip De Man
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: NL

Voorzitter, de EU-vertegenwoordiger wilde de Russen de les spellen, maar hij kwam van een kale reis terug. Lavrov vond eenvoudigweg dat de EU zich niet te moeien heeft met de binnenlandse aangelegenheden en dat is trouwens een principe dat de grondslag vormt voor diplomatieke relaties. Pijnlijk dus, maar bovendien ziet de heer Borrell, van de Spaanse socialisten, niet de balk in eigen oog. Hij wilde de Russen kapittelen over de rechtszaak-Navalny en het oppakken van betogers. De heer Borrell kreeg echter een  Ondertussen zitten in diezelfde EU Catalaanse politici in de gevangenis of krijgen ze zelfs hun verkozen zetel in het Europees Parlement niet. En dat met instemming van de Voorzitter van dit Parlement, eveneens een socialist. Ook wat betreft het fundamentele recht op betogen moet men hier niet te hoog van de toren blazen. In mijn land werden vorige week 500 mensen opgepakt omdat ze betoogden tegen de vele vrijheidsberovingen die de Belgische regering doorvoerde omwille van corona. In Nederland werd door de overheid zelfs geweld gebruikt tegen onschuldige betogers die voor hun vrijheden opkwamen. Ik wil maar zeggen, meneer Borrell: veeg voor eigen deur vooraleer elders met uw moraliserend vingertje te zwaaien.
Debate: Visit of the VPC/HR to Russia in the light of the recent crackdown on protestors and the opposition
Date: TUESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Markéta Gregorová
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: EN

Madam President, I don’t have questions for Mr Borrell as, Mr Borrell, you won’t answer me anyway, anymore. Instead, I want to speak about what is important right now: the thousands of Russians in the streets being beaten and detained and many more of them that don’t want a corrupted government and hoped for support from the international community. With your ill—executed visit, you not only ashamed European citizens, you also helped Putin and harmed the Russian people. You provided a mafia state with more images and sound bites to make us look weak and corrupt, and make the Kremlin’s regime look legitimate. You also failed to visit Navalny or at least support him during his trial. A missed opportunity to back up the EU’s strong claims about this case and to bring at least a little dignity through this visit. For this public damage, you should step down from your post immediately.