unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Daniel Freund
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Spain
Language: EN

To stay in the metaphor, the programme is a good excavator. Giving money to national authorities and NGOs is great, of course, and we should do that, but one little excavator is not going to get that huge ship unstuck, and an anti-fraud programme of less than EUR 1 million per year per Member State is not going to stop fraud in the European Union, of course. This budget line is supposed to protect a budget that is 10 000 times larger. It’s a nice symbolic start, but to overcome systematic fraud in the EU, we need bigger machinery – because some of the biggest fraudsters in the European Union lead national governments. I’m talking about Hungary, of course. Hungary has received about EUR 0.5 million from the previous programme per year and, despite that, there is a ten times higher fraud trade in the country than in any other Member State, according to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). So we need bigger machinery. We need some strong tug boats. I think the Commission needs to cut funding under the current Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) provisions of management and control systems, which don’t work. The Commission needs to start urgently using the rule of law conditionality mechanism. The Commission also needs to increase the budget and the resources of our anti-fraud institutions, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), OLAF and the Court of Auditors, because, if we’re spending twice the EU money over the next few years, we also need to spend twice the money on preventing fraud and corruption, I think. Finally, the Commission needs to ensure that we get a clear idea on the beneficial owners of those that receive EU funds because fraud really should not ever be given. It should be stopped in the European Union.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Bogdan Rzońca
Political group: ECR
Country: Portugal
Language: PL

Myślę, że możemy pójść także śladem Polski. Polska to kraj, gdzie zwalcza się mafię od kilku lat. Mamy dzięki temu dużo pieniędzy dla rodzin, dla bezrobotnych, pomagamy rodzinom wielodzietnym, pomagamy seniorom. Nasz budżet jest bogatszy. Tak samo będzie w Unii Europejskiej. Jeśli dobrze zagospodarujemy te środki, które mamy z wieloletnich ram finansowych, a także z Programu Odbudowy, jeśli dobrze te środki wykorzystamy, a organy unijne przypilnują, żeby dobrze zadedykować te pieniądze na warunkach, które opracują Unia Europejska i poszczególne kraje, wtedy Unia będzie bogatsza i my wszyscy będziemy bogaci. Popieramy wszystkie tego typu działania.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Sabrina Pignedoli
Political group: NI
Country: Romania
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, appoggio pienamente le raccomandazioni del testo della presidente della commissione per il controllo dei bilanci, la collega Monika Hohlmeier, che ringrazio molto per tutto il lavoro svolto, anche nella protezione degli interessi finanziari dell'Unione.  Sappiamo che sul contrasto alle frodi si gioca una partita importantissima nel prossimo quadro pluriennale. Passi avanti si sono compiuti con gli stanziamenti per nuovi strumenti informatici, con l'attività di formazione e anche con il sistema di gestione delle irregolarità, che facilita l'obbligo per i paesi membri di segnalare le carenze individuate.  Spesso però dietro le frodi si nascondono organizzazioni criminali anche mafiose che operano indistintamente in tutti gli Stati europei. E qui mi appello a voi, colleghi parlamentari: combattere queste frodi e queste forme di criminalità deve essere una priorità di questo Parlamento e della Commissione, perché chi commette frodi sottrae i soldi a tutti i cittadini europei. Un programma antifrode più efficace rende l'Europa più credibile di fronte ai suoi cittadini.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Pedro Silva Pereira
Country: Bulgaria
Language: PT

Retomamos o debate sobre a recomendação para segunda leitura da comissão do Controlo Orçamental referente à posição do Conselho em primeira leitura com vista à adoção do regulamento do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho que cria o Programa antifraude da União e revoga o Regulamento (UE) n.º 250/2014 (05330/1/2021 – C9 0108/2021 –  (relatora: Monika Hohlmeier (
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Pernille Weiss
Political group: PPE
Country: Poland
Language: DA

Hr. formand! Om du stjæler fra kaffekassen på dit arbejde eller fylder den bevidst med EU-penge i strid med reglerne eller som regeringschef snyder med rigtig mange EU— millioner i landbrugsstøtte, det er sådan set ligegyldigt, for det er og bliver snyd. Og snyd er altså en både grim og farlig borebille i fundamentet for tillid mellem mennesker og viljen til ærligt og ordentligt samarbejde omkring det fælles bedste. Derfor skal vi det til livs med samme ihærdighed og effektivitet, som vi skal håndhæve alle andre dele af det, vi kalder retsstatsprincipper - Rule of Law.  Dagens tekst, EU's antisvindelprogram, er i sig selv uproblematisk, fordi den fint beskriver, hvad der skal gøres. Men når det er sagt, så vil jeg gerne understrege, at både Kommissionen og Rådet ikke må snyde med at gøre sig umage med at kommunikere indholdet videre til medlemslandene. For sandheden er jo, at det står slemt til med at sætte efter dem, der snyder. For når EU's svindelkontor, OLAF, er færdig med at gøre sin del af efterforskningsarbejdet og sender en sag videre til medlemslandet, så ender langt over halvdelen af sagerne med at gå i glemmebogen. Alene i 2018 blev der rejst sager for en værdi af 371 millioner euro, og cirka to tredjedele er endt i skraldespanden, fordi medlemslandet af en eller anden grund ikke vil tage fløjlshandskerne af. Det skal stoppe nu! Med det program, vi sender videre senere i dag, har alle lande og EU's institutioner de værktøjer og ressourcer, der skal til for at komme svindel og snyd til livs. For selv om det handler om EU-penge, så er det altså, når det kommer til slut, dine og mine penge, det handler om, og de skal behandles ordentligt.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Isabel García Muñoz
Political group: S-D
Country: Greece
Language: ES

Señor presidente, señor comisario, en primer lugar, quería felicitar a los ponentes que han negociado este Reglamento. Gracias a su labor, la Unión Europea se dota de un Programa de Lucha contra el Fraude para el período 2021-2027.  Me gustaría destacar dos logros de las negociaciones especialmente importantes: el primero es que el Programa contará con una evaluación independiente, objetiva, con un calendario adecuado y con indicadores que ayudarán a valorar su rendimiento, cumpliendo así uno de los objetivos de cualquier programa europeo; el segundo logro es que habrá mayor transparencia, gracias a la publicación de los informes intermedios y anuales.  Según datos oficiales de la OLAF, se estima que el fraude afecta a un 0,2 % del total del presupuesto europeo, lo que significa unos 300 millones de euros al año. Además del impacto financiero, que nos preocupa mucho en la lucha contra el fraude y la corrupción, también está en juego la credibilidad de la Unión Europea frente a los ciudadanos, que confían en que el presupuesto europeo se gasta de una forma adecuada y que, por supuesto, no cae en manos de organizaciones criminales.  Contamos en la Unión Europea con instituciones y herramientas eficaces para la lucha contra el fraude: el Tribunal de Cuentas, la OLAF y, a partir de este año, también la Fiscalía Europea, que podrá procesar delitos contra los intereses financieros de la Unión, así como Europol, Eurojust, programas como el sistema de detección precoz y exclusión EDES o bases de datos como Arachne.  Pero debemos seguir trabajando para mejorar todo este ecosistema, para que haya una total coordinación entre ellos y evitar así que se escape un solo euro. Para esto, es necesario que la Unión invierta y proporcione los recursos suficientes, tanto para el personal cualificado o especializado en la lucha contra el fraude como para equipo técnico y herramientas de investigación avanzadas que usen inteligencia artificial,  Nos alegra que el nuevo Programa vaya a financiar la formación especializada y el intercambio de información y de buenas prácticas entre las autoridades encargadas de la lucha contra el fraude en toda Europa y que se facilite el acceso a sistemas de información seguros. Hay que poner todos los medios para que la lucha contra el fraude a nivel europeo sea verdaderamente efectiva.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Katalin Cseh
Political group: Renew
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

Mr President, I’m glad to see small improvement in the EU’s anti-fraud framework, but I’m sorry to say that the tools in our hand are still painfully inadequate. This framework was designed for small irregularities in an otherwise well— functioning setup, but when this framework comes up against the systemic corruption we witness in Hungary, it becomes crystal clear that the EU brought a water pistol to fight a forest fire. OLAF can only monitor some 10% of EU spending, and the rest is left for Member States, and if a Member State chooses not to monitor, say, the wife and son of a Fidesz MP who spent EUR 170 000 on the family’s own estate, well then, nothing happens. The Hungarian parliament voted this week to move billions of state assets – entire public bodies – into loyalist-run private foundations with no democratic oversight. These will be major recipients of EU funding. Colleagues, this is state capture, pure and simple. We need stronger tools to fight against it – a firefighting helicopter maybe, or a stronger anti-fraud framework, I don’t know, but we have to do something. We cannot let this without a word.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Matteo Adinolfi
Political group: ID
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, ogni anno frodi e irregolarità vengono scoperte all'interno dell'Unione europea. Per questo motivo è fondamentale lo sviluppo di un piano antifrode e ancor più fondamentale l'operato dell'OLAF. Anche recentemente, durante un'audizione a porte chiuse in commissione per il controllo dei bilanci, l'OLAF ha dimostrato la sua prontezza aggiornandoci sullo stato delle indagini riguardanti la vendita di mascherine non a norma e la ventata di commercializzazione di vaccini contraffatti da parte della criminalità organizzata.  Ma se l'obiettivo ultimo dei piani antifrode è la tutela degli interessi finanziari dell'Unione europea, un dubbio legittimo potrebbe insinuarsi nei cittadini europei. Stati Uniti e Gran Bretagna fino a Natale sembravano non riuscire a fronteggiare la pandemia, ma a distanza di pochi mesi, grazie ad un adeguato piano vaccinale, le economie di questi paesi sono tornate a crescere.  L'Unione europea per mesi ha millantato capacità di gestione e programmazione nella lotta al COVID, sfociati come abbiamo visto nel caos vaccini di cui nessuno sembra doversi essersi preso la responsabilità. Mentre le aziende chiudono e molte famiglie hanno difficoltà ad arrivare alla fine del mese, qualcuno dovrebbe rendere conto ai cittadini europei degli errori fatti.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Ádám Kósa
Political group: NI
Country: Poland
Language: HU

Tisztelt Elnök Úr! A csalás elleni uniós program a szektoriális programok közül a legkisebb, de a legfontosabb. Célja az Európai Unió pénzügyi érdekeinek védelme a csalással, a korrupcióval és a szabálytalanságokkal szemben és az ehhez való segítségnyújtás a tagállamok számára. Egyes baloldali képviselőtársaimmal szemben meggyőződésem, hogy mi mindent megteszünk azért, hogy az uniós források felhasználása szabályos legyen Magyarországon, ellentétben a 2010 előtti, balliberális kormány gyakorlatával. Ha tények kellenek, kérem, nézzenek utána a Moody's nemzetközi hitelminősítő intézetnek. A múlt héten megállapította, hogy az európai uniós támogatásokkal kapcsolatos csalások és szabálytalanságok tekintetében a kelet-európai országok között Magyarország dobogós. Az összes támogatás mindössze 1,4 százaléka érintett, míg ez az érték Csehországban 2,2 százalék, Romániában 2,9 százalék, Szlovákiában pedig 21 százalék.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Caterina Chinnici
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, signor Commissario Hahn, onorevoli colleghi, l'obbligo che, all'articolo 325 del trattato, impone a Unione e Stati membri di combattere la frode e le altre attività illegali che ledono gli interessi finanziari dell'Unione diventa ancor più perentorio oggi che l'Unione europea si trova a fronteggiare, a causa della pandemia, la più grave crisi economica e sociale della sua storia ed è quindi indispensabile assicurare che i fondi europei siano effettivamente spesi per una ripresa sostenibile nel segno della legalità. Frode e corruzione, inoltre, rappresentano i mezzi con cui la criminalità organizzata si radica nel tessuto economico e territoriale e negli apparati pubblici, minacciando i valori fondativi dell'Unione europea – stato di diritto, libertà economica e libera partecipazione democratica – ed è una minaccia che non riguarda solo alcuni Stati membri ma l'intera Unione.  È quindi decisiva l'adozione del nuovo programma antifrode 2021-2027 che sosterrà e rafforzerà l'assistenza reciproca fra le autorità amministrative degli Stati membri e la cooperazione tra le autorità nazionali, la Commissione e gli altri organi competenti dell'Unione, inclusa la Procura europea che presto – e direi finalmente – diverrà pienamente operativa.  Il nuovo programma, inoltre, fornirà maggiore supporto allo scambio informativo e alla segnalazione di irregolarità e frodi e, poiché la criminalità economica finanziaria travalica spesso i confini europei, incoraggerà la partecipazione dai paesi terzi.  Nell'attuazione del programma antifrode dovranno privilegiarsi le azioni volte a rafforzare la cooperazione transfrontaliera, ad agevolare la creazione di squadre investigative comuni, ad assicurare supporto tecnico ed operativo alle indagini. Proteggere gli interessi finanziari dell'Unione contro frode e corruzione significa tutelare i diritti dei cittadini europei ed è questo il compito cui noi, rappresentanti di quei cittadini, siamo chiamati a contribuire.  Ringrazio quindi la relatrice, onorevole Hohlmeier e i relatori ombra per l'ottimo lavoro svolto.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Ramona Strugariu
Political group: Renew
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Mr President, I’m really happy that we have this programme and I wish to congratulate those who made it possible. It is a tool, but it is a small tool. However, in order to truly have results in countering fraud, there are some things to do, and we need to do them fast. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) needs to start full speed in June, full capacity, it needs to be treated and financed as a full European body with all of the delegated prosecutors. The European Anti—Fraud Office (OLAF) needs to be stronger. We need to find the beneficial owners. We also need to look into how the European money can be spent more carefully, Commissioner. Let’s start with this pandemic, let’s look at all of the funds and all of the support that the Union is providing for these Member States. Whoever cheats and lies and steals, taking advantage of a tragedy, is not capable of upholding rule of law and respecting European values. Last but not least, let’s enhance national capacities, and this is where the programme can significantly contribute, but the Member States must be willing to fight fraud as well, all along with the European institutions, and I truly hope that we will succeed.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Dorien Rookmaker
Political group: NI
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Mr President, fraud corrupts society and is a waste of public funds. Experts tell us that the average cost of fraud amounts to 5% of the budget in all organisations. This adds up to EUR 90 billion in 7 years in the EU. The more fraud there is, the weaker democracy will be. That’s why I strongly support the anti-fraud programme of the EU. It is effective and efficient for tackling fraud in places where it occurs, in a professional way, with the use of objective criteria, free of bias and political opinion and discussions.  The rule of law is targeting the abuse of public funds too, but it will most likely end in bickering and tension among Member States because it sets controversial conditions for financial support and funding, thereby even running the risk of corrupting Member States and, by doing so, adding to the problem instead of solving it. Let me make myself clear: the fight against fraud is too important to be misused for political purposes, and it deserves to get our unconditional support.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Johannes Hahn
Language: EN

We will now focus on the timely implementation of the anti—fraud programme. Of course, the Commission will inform the Parliament about the implementation of the programme in the framework of the annual report on the protection of the Union’s financial interests. I then look forward to the recommendations expressed by the Parliament in this context. By the way, I really like the picture presented by Mr Freund – this programme, in terms of its amount in comparison to the potential frauds – taking as a picture this little excavator, and then, on the other hand, you have this big vessel blocking the Suez Canal owned by a shipping company called Evergreen. So, this was a very nice picture. I have to say we will launch the new multiannual financial framework and the Next Generation EU recovery instrument immediately. We have already done so and we have now to use the necessary tools. It’s crucial that the Union and the Member States protect the taxpayers’ money and ensure that every euro is really correctly and efficiently spent, and I’m sure that we will see a significant return of investment of the money we are investing into this programme, and I’m definitely sure that this regulation will help achieve all these objectives. Once again, thank you for all your efforts to have this programme up and running.
Debate: Union Anti-Fraud Programme -
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Pedro Silva Pereira
Country: Bulgaria
Language: PT

O debate está assim encerrado. Eu gostaria de informar os senhores deputados de que não foram apresentadas propostas de rejeição da posição do Conselho nem alterações ao abrigo dos artigos 67.º e 68.º do Regimento e, por isso, de acordo com as nossas regras, considera-se que a posição do Conselho foi aprovada e o ato proposto foi adotado.
Debate: European Defence Fund
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Pedro Silva Pereira
Country: Bulgaria
Language: PT

Segue-se o debate sobre a recomendação para segunda leitura da comissão da Indústria, da Investigação e da Energia referente à posição do Conselho em primeira leitura com vista à adoção do regulamento do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho que cria o Fundo Europeu de Defesa e revoga o Regulamento (UE) 2018/1092 (06748/1/2020 – C9 0112/2021 -
Debate: European Defence Fund
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: François-Xavier Bellamy
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: FR

Il me semble que le Fonds européen de défense concrétise ce que nous aimons dans l’Union européenne, c’est-à-dire le fait que nous sommes capables de nous donner ensemble une ambition commune, en l’occurrence en matière d’industrie de défense, pour pouvoir soutenir d’abord les armées de nos pays. Vous l’avez dit, Monsieur le rapporteur, il ne s’agit pas de créer une armée européenne, mais de mettre à la disposition des forces armées de nos États les moyens de leurs missions en investissant ensemble dans notre autonomie stratégique. De fait, l’Europe a des amis dans le monde, mais elle n’a pas de suzerain, et nous ne sommes pas des vassaux. Nous devons pouvoir décider, lorsque nous engageons nos forces armées dans une opération militaire, des moyens que nous mettons à leur disposition, sans avoir à demander d’accord à d’autres puissances mondiales, fussent—elles proches de nos valeurs ou de nos intérêts. Il me semble que ce fonds est malheureusement guetté par trois menaces, trois risques que je voudrais évoquer brièvement. Le premier risque, c’est celui d’un manque d’ambition. Nous voyons bien que dans la négociation budgétaire, malheureusement, sur l’autel de ce grand emprunt européen, on aura sacrifié en particulier l’ampleur que ce fonds aurait dû avoir. Un documentaire a montré d’ailleurs que lorsque le Conseil se réunissait pour discuter de cet emprunt, c’était autour d’un coin de table, dans un couloir, que l’on avait décidé d’amputer encore ce fonds, pourtant déjà diminué, d’un milliard d’euros de plus. Sept milliards, c’est évidemment un début, et ce doit être un début. Le deuxième risque, c’est le saupoudrage des fonds. Nous devons éviter à tout prix la dispersion de ces financements, investir dans des projets structurants, dans des projets stratégiques. Et enfin, pour qu’il y ait des projets stratégiques, c’est le troisième risque majeur, encore faut—il que l’Europe ait une stratégie; encore faut-il que nos pays soient capables de s’unir dans une véritable vision de leur rôle dans le monde qui se dessine. Et il me semble que sur bien des sujets majeurs de l’actualité internationale aujourd’hui, l’Europe ne sait pas parler d’une seule voix; elle ne sait pas parler clairement pour ses principes et pour ce qui l’unit. Voilà le défi qui est devant nous aujourd’hui.
Debate: European Defence Fund
Date: THURSDAY, 29 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Dominique Riquet
Political group: Renew
Country: Spain
Language: FR

Quelle manifestation plus claire de notre volonté de construire une Union géopolitique que la coopération dans un domaine si hautement souverain. Bien sûr, le texte n’est pas à la hauteur de nos réflexions et de nos espoirs sur le plan budgétaire. Au terme de la précédente mandature, je me tenais dans cet hémicycle pour me réjouir d’une somme de 13 milliards d’euros qui est maintenant inférieure à 8 milliards, et nous devons nous en satisfaire. Mais plus que l’enveloppe ou les subtilités techniques du texte, c’est le symbole d’une Europe qui innove, qui coopère et qui protège que nous créons. C’est aussi une marque de maturité dans notre rapport au monde. En quinze ans, l’Europe a traversé diverses crises et il est à craindre que les prochaines années nous contraignent à puiser dans les ressources naturelles auxquelles nous avions espoir de ne plus recourir. Si ce jour vient, nous pourrons nous féliciter de nous être donné les moyens de notre autonomie face à nos adversaires et à nos alliés, c’est-à-dire pour notre souveraineté. Saint-Exupéry disait que l’avenir n’est jamais que du présent à mettre en ordre: nous n’avons pas à le prévoir, mais à le permettre. Mes chers collègues, en posant cette pierre à l’Europe de la défense, nous pouvons mettre en œuvre cette maxime.