unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Poland and Hungary
Date: THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Madam President, Poland and Hungary, of course, have some massive rule of law problems. It’s very easy to throw rocks at Poland and Hungary, but people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks. Rule of law problems proliferate all over the EU, and hypocrisy is widespread.  You lecture certain countries about human rights and the rule of law when it suits the geopolitical agenda. But where was the outcry when the protesters in Barcelona – the Catalans – were being brutally suppressed by Spanish police and the government? Where’s the outrage over the treatment of the yellow vests in Paris?  We’ve been to the court twice in Lithuania, where Algirdas Paleckis is facing several years in prison. He is accused of being a Russian spy, and the only evidence that they’re supposed to have against him, even the judges can’t see it! So no evidence has been presented against him because they’re saying it’s a state secret. Mother of God, is this the rule of law of a Member State of the European Union? The Algirdas Paleckis case puts shame on the European Union.
Debate: State of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation
Date: THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

Madam President, look, there’s a lot of good stuff in this motion, but I abstained on it because, while I’m in favour of European cooperation to support many of Moldova’s challenges, such as relocating refugees, supporting the Moldovan economy in terms of export and import of goods, assisting their government to prevent risks of arms smuggling, what I don’t like is us bullying them into neoliberal reforms. I’d like to say that Moldova has been a constitutionally neutral state since 1994. No government has ever attempted to change its constitutional status. Neutrality is very popular amongst its people.  Cooperation between the European Union and Moldova should bear this in mind. In the current context, the Moldovan Foreign Minister made it clear that he’s not asking partners to supply him with weapons. He rightly stressed that his method is diplomatic dialogue with partners, thus contributing to strengthening peace in the area, and I salute that. As a Member from another neutral state, I welcome cooperation with Moldova on the basis of recognising their national sovereign foreign policy.
Debate: State of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation
Date: THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022
Speaker: Vlad Gheorghe
Political group: Renew
Country: Spain
Language: RO

Doamnă președintă, locul Republicii Moldova este alături de România și de celelalte state membre în Uniunea Europeană. De aceea am votat pentru și voi susține orice acțiune care sprijină integrarea Moldovei și pe acest popor greu încercat.  Moldova merită din plin tot ajutorul european. Când avem grijă de vecinii noștri, avem de fapt grijă de noi. Suntem mai puternici dacă în jurul nostru și alături de noi sunt țări prospere, democrații solide, independente.  Moldovenii, ca toți europenii trebuie să vadă Uniunea nu în conferințe sau discursuri, ci prin îmbunătățirea vieții lor de zi cu zi. Trebuie să investim mai mult în educație și infrastructură, să finanțăm și să protejăm presa liberă, să susținem economia și societatea civilă.  Nu putem pretinde că suntem lideri și acum să ezităm. Europa nu poate permite ca Moldova sau alte state europene să fie șantajate cu gazul rusesc. Europa nu poate plăti în ruble. Europa nu poate fi intimidată sau amenințată. Acum este momentul să demonstrăm că suntem uniți, că Europa contează, nu interesele, profitul sau prieteniile unui stat sau altuia.
Debate: State of play of the EU-Moldova cooperation
Date: THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Madam President, Moldova has made it clear that while it wants to join the EU and, therefore, is politically west-facing, it wants to remain militarily neutral. Neutrality is enshrined in Moldova’s Constitution. The Prime Minister recently reaffirmed Moldova’s neutrality. He said in an interview with Euronews in relation to the Russian-backed separatist area Transnistria, ‘We are a neutral country and we expect all international partners to act in line with a principle of neutrality.’  Moldova has asked the world to respect this neutrality. It doesn’t want to be a pawn in anyone’s proxy war. It doesn’t want to be interfered with. It seeks security through a policy of neutrality.  Now, that might be an alien concept to some people around here, but it’s the only true path to peace. All sides should respect Moldova’s request – Russia and the West. NATO has nothing to offer the people of Europe, and it certainly has nothing to offer the people of Moldova. It’s just an instrument for war, not for peace.
Debate: The impact of the war against Ukraine on women
Date: THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022
Speaker: Billy Kelleher
Political group: Renew
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

Madam President, I voted in favour of this report and I strongly urge the Commission, European colleagues across Europe to ensure that there’s enough supports and services put in place to accommodate the five million plus refugees that have now entered the European Union, 90% of which are women and children.  We have to accept that we have not enough support in some countries to accommodate them, both in terms of physical accommodation, but clearly in the areas of sexual reproductive health and other healthcare areas, we simply must resource those Member States that have a lot of refugees coming into their country.  So the report highlights the deficiencies. It also highlights the fear and the anxiety among many women that they may be abused. And that is something that we have to ensure is not only objected to, but recorded as well. And in Ukraine itself, we have evidence and testimony of rape of women and young girls by Russian soldiers. We need to ensure that all of this is recorded so that the supports are put in place immediately, but thereafter people can be brought and prosecuted for these crimes.
Debate: The impact of the war against Ukraine on women
Date: THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022
Speaker: Angel Dzhambazki
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: BG

Г-жо Председател, гласувах с „въздържал се“ за този доклад с много голямо съжаление. Защо? Защото на първо място докладът е необходим. Проблемът е реален, огромен, отвратителен и трябва да бъде разрешен. От друга страна обаче е абсолютно необяснимо и абсолютно без връзка с темата и абсолютно не на място. В този доклад колегите от ляво, следвайки своята политическа ляворадикална марксистка линия на дневния ред, вкараха текстове, които нямат нищо общо с темата, за която се говори. Вкараха пропаганда, вкараха своя наратив за промяна на обществата, вкараха теми, част от тяхната пропаганда, които по никакъв начин нямат място в този доклад и които по никакъв начин не помагат на хората, за които е насочен този доклад, а именно на жените и момичетата, които са пострадали от войната в Украйна.  По тази причина, за съжаление, гласувах с „въздържал се“.
Debate: The impact of the war against Ukraine on women
Date: THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Madam President, many aspects of this report are commendable. It comprehensively captures the extent of the challenges faced by women and children either trapped in or fleeing a war zone. In every war both sides engage in some kind of brutality and horror against women and children. So it is all the more necessary that we do everything in our power to achieve peace now. We must question, as the Pope has done, the wisdom of sending arms to Ukraine. We must stop executing the war on Yemen. We must stop the use of sanctions as a weapon of war in Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, Yemen and elsewhere. These medieval weapons are killing women and children, the sick, the old and the vulnerable the most. We must end Fortress Europe and extend the compassion we rightly have for the Ukrainian women and children to all refugees and internally displaced people. Selective humanity is not humanity at all.
Debate: Formal sitting – Address by Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Dear colleagues, we have the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, with us today. President, let me start by thanking you – as you have just witnessed – for accepting our invitation to address the European Parliament. We are really honoured to welcome you here today. I also want to thank you for your courage in the midst of Russia’s unjust and illegal invasion in Ukraine that has had such a profound impact on Moldova. Thank you for the efforts of your country and your personal commitment in sustaining a vision of a European future for your country against all odds. We know how deeply the combination of the COVID pandemic, the ‘weaponisation’ of energy supplies and the Kremlin’s full—scale war against Ukraine have affected your country.  Moldova’s commitment to the European project is welcome. We are united in our commitment towards sustaining peace in Europe and to our shared values of democracy and the rule of law. This is why we want to forge a way forward where Moldova does not feel alone.  I also want to praise your efforts, and those of the Moldovan people, in welcoming 450 000 Ukrainians that transited through Moldova, and for opening your homes and hearts to the 90 000 refugees who have sought shelter in your country. We have to – and we are ready to – show the same degree of solidarity with your country. As we have already, we must continue to support you politically, financially and with any in—kind assistance needed to fight the consequences of Russia’s war in Ukraine.  President, we are also ready to support you as you start the process of applying for candidate status for EU membership. We know that Moldova is looking to us with a sense of purpose. Every country must follow its own path, its own timeline, but we must not be afraid to use the power of Europe to improve people’s lives, to change generations.  This is why the European Union needs to send a clear and firm political signal that we recognise the European aspirations of Moldova and your effort in implementing key reforms that bring your country closer to us. Moldova belongs in the European family. Dear President, dear Maia, the floor is yours.
Debate: Formal sitting – Address by Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Thank you very much President Sandu, dear Maia. As you can see by the reaction and the standing ovation of this House, we truly thank you for your commitment, your vision and your leadership. And we stand with you.
Debate: Statement by the President
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

In consultation with the Swedish and Belgian prime ministers, I today sent a letter to my counterpart, Mr Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Majlis. On behalf of the European Parliament, I expressed our strong opposition to the death sentence on Professor Ahmad Reza Djalali and his execution, announced to take place this Saturday. Professor Djalali is a Swedish—Iranian national and a scholar at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the University of Eastern Piedmont. The European Parliament strongly opposes the death penalty and has expressed its position in various resolutions. Most recently, in February of this year, we adopted a resolution on the death penalty in Iran, in which we called on Iran to halt the execution of Professor Djalali, to pardon him and to release him immediately and unconditionally. I am repeating this call today. The death penalty is not a deterrent to capital crimes; it is an intolerable denial of the most basic human right – the right to life. Professor Djalali’s confession was extracted under torture and followed by a grossly unfair trial, so I hereby once more call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to set Ahmad Reza Djalali free.
Debate: Verification of credentials
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

The Legal Affairs Committee has proposed that Parliament confirm the validity of the mandates of 26 Members who joined Parliament as a consequence of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and 23 Members who joined Parliament as replacements for outgoing members. The list of these Members and the dates of entry into effect of their mandates will be published on Parliament’s website.
Debate: Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

The IMCO and INTA Committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 71(1) of the Rules of Procedure. The reports which constitute the mandates for the negotiations are available on the plenary web page, and their titles will be published in the minutes of the sitting.  Pursuant to Rule 71(2), Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by tomorrow, Thursday 19 May, at midnight, that the decision to enter into negotiations be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament is made within the deadline, the committees may start the negotiations.
Debate: Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

I would also like to inform that in the course of the current part—session of Parliament, I shall sign, together with the President of the Council, six acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure in accordance with Rule 79 of our Rules of Procedure. The titles of these acts will be published in the minutes of this sitting.
Debate: Votes on requests for urgent procedure
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Wir kommen nun zur Abstimmung über die Anträge auf Beratung im Dringlichkeitsverfahren. Wir stimmen dabei über zwei Anträge ab. Der erste Antrag betrifft den Vorschlag für eine Verordnung des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates zur Änderung der Verordnung (EU) 2016/1628 hinsichtlich der Verlängerung der Befugnisse der Kommission zum Erlass delegierter Rechtsakte. Vor der Abstimmung kann nur dem Antragsteller und einem Redner gegen den Antrag, zusammen mit dem Vorsitz oder dem Berichterstatter des zuständigen Ausschusses, das Wort erteilt werden. Möchte jemand dazu sprechen? Das ist nicht der Fall. Daher stelle ich den Antrag zur Abstimmung. Die Abstimmung findet morgen, Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2022, um 12.00 Uhr statt. Änderungsanträge können bis heute, Mittwoch, 18. Mai 2022, 17.00 Uhr eingereicht werden. Die Frist für die Beantragung getrennter und gesonderter Abstimmungen ist heute, Mittwoch, um 20.00 Uhr. Der zweite Antrag betrifft den Vorschlag für eine Verordnung des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates zur Änderung der Verordnung (EU) 2018/1727 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates hinsichtlich der Erhebung, Sicherung und Analyse von Beweismitteln im Zusammenhang mit Völkermord, Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit und Kriegsverbrechen durch Eurojust. Vor der Abstimmung kann wiederum nur dem Antragsteller und einem Redner gegen den Antrag, zusammen mit dem Vorsitz oder dem Berichterstatter des zuständigen Ausschusses, das Wort erteilt werden.
Debate: Votes on requests for urgent procedure
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Country: Germany
Language: EN

The purpose of this amended regulation is precisely to set up an automated management data system and a storage facility with the aim of helping Eurojust to preserve and share evidence which is relevant precisely to prevent impunity of those crimes perpetrated in the war against Ukraine. That is the only purpose of these amending regulations: precisely to help Eurojust to better cooperate with Member States, third states, and most importantly, with the International Criminal Court and its prosecutor, which opened an investigation on the matter, to help the joint investigation teams, which are already underway, and to make sure that, as swiftly as possible, Eurojust has the capacity to assist and support Member States in their investigations and eventually prosecutions of all those to be held accountable for those war crimes, namely: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Those are the crimes which are contemplated in this amended regulation. And the idea is, by the urgent procedure, you know hwat it’s like, in one first reading, we will have the vote tomorrow, that will be the end of our position insofar as the Council agrees to the position that has been endorsed by the LIBE Committee, which we will be voting on tomorrow. That means that if Coreper, i.e. the Council, agrees to the European Parliament position, that will be the end of the procedure, that will be the entry into force of this amended regulation. That is the idea. So, I kindly request you to endorse this urgent procedure so that we show once again that, when it’s needed, we may achieve concrete results in fighting against impunity of war crimes.
Debate: Votes on requests for urgent procedure
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Möchte jemand gegen diesen Antrag sprechen? Das ist nicht der Fall. Dann komme ich zur Abstimmung. Die Abstimmung findet morgen, Donnerstag, 19. Mai 2022, um 12.00 Uhr statt. Änderungsanträge können bis heute, 18. Mai 2022, 17.00 Uhr eingereicht werden, und die Frist für die Beantragung getrennter und gesonderter Abstimmungen ist ebenfalls heute, um 20.00 Uhr.
Debate: EU Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über den Bericht von Dragoş Tudorache im Namen des Ausschusses für auswärtige Angelegenheiten über das Assoziierungsabkommen zwischen der EU und der Republik Moldau ( Ich erinnere Sie daran, dass mit Ausnahme der ersten beiden Reihen, die für die Fraktionsvorsitzenden vorgesehen sind, freie Sitzplatzwahl besteht. Nachdem Sie Ihre Abstimmungskarten in das Abstimmungsgerät eingeschoben haben, können Sie über Ihr Abstimmungsgerät spontane Wortmeldungen und blaue Karten beantragen. Ich nehme an, dass Sie alle die Abstimmungskarte eingeführt haben, weil wir ja zuerst namentliche Abstimmungen durchgeführt haben. Wenn Sie sich für eine spontane Wortmeldung melden möchten, ersuche ich Sie, dies ab jetzt zu tun und nicht bis zum Ende der Aussprache zu warten. Außerdem möchte ich Sie darauf hinweisen, dass blaue Karten auch für eine kurze Wortmeldung hochgehalten werden können und dass danach eine Anschlussfrage zulässig ist. Ich weise Sie auch darauf hin, dass Wortmeldungen im Plenarsaal weiterhin vom zentralen Rednerpult vor mir erfolgen, außer spontane Wortmeldungen, blaue Karten und Bemerkungen zur Geschäftsordnung. Ich ersuche Sie daher, die Rednerliste im Blick zu behalten und sich kurz vor Beginn Ihrer Redezeit zum Rednerpult zu begeben.
Debate: EU Association Agreement with the Republic of Moldova
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 MAY 2022
Speaker: Dragoş Tudorache
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

Through the hardship of multiple crises, and through the kindness of their solidarity with Ukrainian refugees, the Moldovans have spoken to us today about their aspirations, about their ambitions, about their European projections. That hardship, that solidarity and that commitment to European values is the most significant test of identity, of belonging, that a nation must pass in its path to integration. And I am therefore proud that we here in this House are not ignoring the call of the Moldovans and the powerful plea of President Maia Sandu. I am proud that our report is as clear as it can be: we want that the Republic of Moldova is given candidate status. Of course, the road to actual membership will be long and full of hard work, and the Moldovans understand that. Today, we’ve heard the President being highly realistic about this perspective. But the force of the political message itself is not to be underestimated. And this message is not only to the citizens of Moldova. It also tells the world that the European Union stands by those with whom it shares values, and it does so in a concrete and tangible manner. And it is certainly a message to Putin, and to all dictators of the world, that we remain united in the face of aggression, that autocracy and atrocity will not prevail over democracy and the quest for self—determination. Going beyond words, the European Union and the Republic of Moldova must turn this political momentum into practical steps. There are reforms to be done. Our report mentions a good number of key transformations that the country must go through: justice and anti—corruption, the banking sector, energy security and diversification, and economic convergence, administrative reform. All these are ‘construction sites’ where Moldova must get hard at work. And we also use our report to call for the Commission and the EEAS to find creative and constructive ways to assist the country with gradual forms of sectoral integration. We need a model and methodology of integration that is more dynamic and aligned with geopolitical realities, one that motivates and energises by allowing merit—based incremental access to EU tools and programmes, including participation in institutional work at EU level. To conclude, I want to thank the shadows from all political groups – not only for the very constructive attitude with which we’ve worked together on this report, but also for sharing the vision that this Parliament has for the future of Moldova.