unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: A statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations
Date: TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Gunnar Beck
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Herr Präsident! Die ID-Stiftung hat kürzlich den Einfluss von NGOs auf die EU-Gesetzgebung untersucht. Von 12 600 Lobbyisten im EU‑Transparenzregister sind 3 500 NGOs. NGOs pflegen enge Kontakte zu Kommission und Politikern und schreiben hier Gesetzentwürfe wie Lobbyisten, unterliegen aber kaum Offenlegungsregeln. Von 2014 bis 2017 erhielten NGOs mindestens 11,3 Milliarden Euro aus dem EU-Haushalt. Das sind mindestens 11,3 Milliarden für Pro‑EU‑Lobbyarbeit, denn NGOs fordern mehr Migration, mehr Klimarettung, Minderheitenrechte und mehr EU. „NGO“ oder „Organisation ohne Erwerbszweck“ klingt wohl philanthropisch und wie „gemeinnützige Vereinigung“. Doch multinationale NGOs erhalten Milliarden von Finanzinvestoren und sind finanzstärker als mittlere Sparkassen. Doch als sogenannte  Letztes Jahr versuchte Ungarn, die Transparenzanforderungen für ausländische NGOs zu verschärfen. Doch der EuGH verwarf das Transparenzgesetz als Verstoß gegen die Kapitalverkehrsfreiheit – leider. Etwas modifiziert wäre es ein gutes Modell für die EU.
Debate: A statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations
Date: TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Ibán García Del Blanco
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: ES

Señor presidente, uno de cada cinco europeos colabora con una organización no gubernamental, con una organización de la sociedad civil, se gestiona aproximadamente el 2 % del presupuesto de las instituciones europeas a través de este tipo de asociaciones que ayudan en cuestiones como la ayuda humanitaria, como la cooperación internacional, como la juventud, como la educación, como la cultura e, incluso, en la protección del medio ambiente. Es de esto de lo que estamos hablando y de lo que estamos hablando es de crear, por fin, un estatuto que les dé seguridad; que les permita trabajar sin obstáculos, sin problemas; que tengan un reconocimiento mutuo y que todos los Estados miembros las puedan reconocer. Así que fuera de cualquier tipo de teoría conspiratoria o de delirio de los que podemos escuchar de vez en cuando, lo que estamos haciendo es dar algo básico a personas que proyectan lo mejor de nosotros mismos, lo mejor de la Unión Europea y que representan, también, lo mejor de lo que la Unión Europea pretende defender y que creo que, además, defendemos con cierto éxito en un mundo cada vez más complicado. En fin, señor Schinas, señor comisario, no busquen excusas y estén a la altura a la que está la sociedad civil en Europa.
Debate: A statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations
Date: TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Patrizia Toia
Political group: S-D
Country: Czechia
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, è una grande soddisfazione per chi, come me, da molti anni si batte per i soggetti dell'economia sociale, le imprese sociali, le cooperative e tanti altri soggetti, vedere che le cose stanno cambiando, che c'è una stagione nuova in Europa. Pensate che l'ultima relazione sull'economia sociale che io ho presentato al voto di questo Parlamento risale al 2008 o al 2009. Ma le cose cambiano, grazie alla Commissione, al lavoro del Commissario Schmit con il  E le cose cambiano anche grazie a questo Parlamento, che è tornato a occuparsi di questo tema, alla relazione del collega Lagodinsky e anche alla relazione di un altro collega della commissione EMPL. Spero anche di poter dire domani grazie al Consiglio, se farà una dichiarazione dedicata a questi temi, come ci si augura. Quindi devo ringraziare il collega Lagodinsky, perché la sua relazione è molto importante. Se non definiamo un profilo giuridico uniforme a livello europeo, tutti questi soggetti non riescono a esprimere le loro potenzialità, non riescono ad accedere anche all'opportunità che abbiamo aperto. Lo abbiamo fatto con InvestEU, abbiamo messo piattaforme sociali e soggetti dell'economia sociale, e lo abbiamo fatto con la riforma del mercato interno, ma se non abbiamo questo apparato giuridico queste possibilità non ci saranno.
Debate: A statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations
Date: TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Margaritis Schinas
Language: EN

I think in this debate there is a certain need for calmness. The associations and the non-governmental organisations contribute positively to society. They work as a force of good. Under no circumstances do they replace the political forces or the constitutional order of our Member States. I think what we need to do, very much as your report suggests, is very calmly to concentrate on attacking the very specific problems they face in their operations in the single market, especially when they operate cross border.  So we will carefully examine all the concerns raised in this resolution. Let me repeat – and this is not an excuse – that this should be done in close cooperation and close association between the EU institutions, the Member States and the actors of the social economy. None of these levels of policymaking can have a miracle solution that can be imposed on the others, hence the need to engage in a constant and constructive dialogue both with this House and in our Member States.  I look forward to our continued cooperation, and I am sure that we will be able to do many good things together, in the spirit of the resolution that will be adopted tomorrow.
Debate: A statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations
Date: TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Sergey Lagodinsky
Country: France
Language: EN

I would like to go back to what Mr Manders said, in a very eloquent way. He asked what it is about, what we are discussing here. The litmus test about what it is comes from our ID and ECR colleagues – unfortunately ECR, though many colleagues actually supported it and were part of many compromises in the negotiations: it is about the value of Europeanisation and it is about the value of civil society, and this is what we saw during the debate.  I honestly ask you, Vice-President, and your colleagues from the Commission, what side do you want to be on? I don’t want to simplify it, of course, as there is plenty to discuss and we are open to this discussion, but I would like to remind you how many large parties and how many representatives of the large majority of this House spoke for this form of fighting for, and creating, civil society in Europe.  That is an overwhelming majority. We will see how the vote is going to go, but if this is reflected in the vote, then the majority is overwhelming. I would like to remind us all about the promise of the Commission to consider the legislative proposals coming from this House with such majorities seriously, in the form that they are proposed.  Yes, things are changing. Colleague Toia said this right. If you look at the position of the German Government and the new coalition agreement, even that has changed. Germany was the one who opposed this proposal, but now, knowing where we stand and having others who are responsible now, part of the coalition agreement explicitly says that Germany would support this proposal – and many countries, I’m sure, will follow suit.  I am looking forward to our cooperation and discussion and I am looking forward to the vote tomorrow. What we are doing here is for Europe and for our civil society, and that makes me very proud and very grateful for this opportunity.
Debate: Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

I have a couple of quick announcements in relation to the decision by the ECON Committee to enter into interinstitutional negotations, pursuant to Rule 71(1) announced at the opening of the session on Monday 14 February. We have received no requests for a vote in Parliament by Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold. The Committee may therefore start negotiations.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Stéphane Séjourné
Political group: Renew
Country: Slovakia
Language: FR

Si nous ne sommes en rien responsables de la situation, nous avons un devoir moral d’agir. Premièrement, nous devons agir aux côtés des Ukrainiens. Nous devons condamner avec force les mesures de déstabilisation du gouvernement russe. Nous devons rappeler la Russie à ses engagements internationaux, tant à l’OSCE que dans le respect du droit international de l’ONU, notamment en matière maritime (qui n’est aujourd’hui pas respecté). Nous demandons à la Commission de faire un geste fort auprès du peuple ukrainien, en ouvrant la porte à l’intégration graduelle au marché unique, et d’aller au-delà de l’accord d’association. Deuxièmement, nous devons agir pour le maintien de la paix. Notre Union est née de la promesse de la paix, qui doit rester notre seule et unique boussole. C’est ce que les citoyens européens nous demandent; c’est ce que les citoyens ukrainiens souhaitent; c’est aussi, semble-t-il, l’opinion majoritaire de la population russe, qui, malgré une propagande permanente, reste aujourd’hui opposée à une intervention militaire – il faut aussi l’avoir en tête. D’ailleurs, les initiatives française, allemande et polonaise, que chacun a saluées, restent également un élément de réouverture du canal de dialogue, qu’il faut aujourd’hui saluer dans cet hémicycle. Troisièmement, nous devons agir pour être prêts à toutes les éventualités. Je voudrais remercier le président du Conseil et la présidente de la Commission pour ces deux interventions. Notre attachement viscéral à la paix ne veut pas dire être naïfs. Toutes nos institutions doivent déjà travailler pour définir la réponse collective de l’Union européenne, quel que soit le scénario. J’invite par conséquent la Commission et le Conseil à préparer d’ores et déjà des sanctions d’une envergure inédite et des aides aux États qui seraient les plus touchés par une telle décision. Nous devons être prêts à agir immédiatement. Cette fois, l’Europe doit démontrer que sa puissance économique est au service de ses intérêts géopolitiques. Enfin, nous devons agir aussi pour assurer à long terme la sécurité de notre continent. Soyons lucides, c’est la force d’attraction de notre modèle qui pose problème à Poutine. C’est l’aspiration européenne de l’Ukraine qui est vue comme une menace aujourd’hui. Parfois, quand j’écoute certains Européens, j’ai l’impression que nous sommes les seuls à ne pas voir ce que nous sommes. Nous sommes une puissance en devenir, une puissance économique, sociale et attractive, mais surtout une puissance démocratique. Chers collègues, l’unité européenne est clé dans ce conflit. Ni les élections nationales, ni les tentatives de déstabilisation, ni l’allégeance de certaines forces politiques au Kremlin ne doivent mettre en péril notre unité européenne, pour la paix, pour l’Ukraine, pour nos valeurs et pour nos concitoyens.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Ska Keller
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Sweden
Language: EN

This European Parliament was born out of the devastating experience of war and violence. The EU was built as a peace project and a model of democratic cooperation. President Putin’s nationalist and imperial course of action and suppression runs contrary to the mere idea of our common Union. Putin’s actions therefore challenge us as Europeans, and we as Members of this Parliament, carry a historic responsibility to stand up and clearly condemn Russia’s threats of aggression. As the EU, as its Parliament, we stand united against the Russian threat and in full support with Ukraine. The people of Ukraine have our support for choosing their own path for living in peace and for undertaking reforms that will transform their country for the better.  We need to be prepared for sanctions against individuals, entities and sectors in Russia. I am talking, for example, about freezing assets, about entry bans, and yes, I am also talking about Nord Stream 2. This pipeline must be part of our common sanction regime. And yes, sanctions have repercussions, also for ourselves, but we must act in face of an aggression. As a Union we need to reduce our dependency on Russia, especially when it comes to energy. We have the technologies to do so and we have ample supplies of sun and wind. What energy we use is a geo-strategic decision. And we need to make the right one.  Let’s not forget that the Ukrainian people have suffered greatly already because of the Russian aggression going on for years in eastern Ukraine. Almost 15 000 people have died. More than a million Ukrainians had to flee their homes. Conflicts can only be solved by diplomatic means. Russia must withdraw its troops and end the threat of invasion. It must return to the table of frank and peaceful negotiations. Negotiations that must be based on international law, mutual respect and a common vision for peace on our common European continent. This is a key moment for international peace, stability and security. Now is our time to show through words and through actions that we stand united as one, and that the people of Ukraine can count on us.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Marco Zanni
Political group: ID
Country: Portugal
Language: IT

Io ho ascoltato con attenzione quanto detto dalla Presidente von der Leyen, quanto detto dal Presidente Michel e dall'Alto rappresentante Borrell e non concordo sull'ottimismo di come ha agito l'Europa in questa situazione. Rimangono ancora molte ambiguità nell'approccio che mettiamo sul campo davanti alla questione russa e alle minacce che il regime di Putin oggi pone ai nostri confini. Dobbiamo fermamente e convintamente far capire all'Ucraina che l'Europa è pronta a tutto per proteggere la sua integrità territoriale e la sua libertà, e questi sono principi su cui non possiamo transigere.  Dobbiamo poi analizzare con attenzione anche quali sono stati i nostri errori e il perché di questa ambiguità, del fatto che l'Europa non sia stata in grado di dare, di fronte a questa crisi, un messaggio unitario e concreto. Chiaramente ci sono stati degli errori. Abbiamo parlato delle dipendenze che i nostri Stati membri hanno dal regime russo, ma queste situazioni non sono nuove, non le abbiamo scoperte oggi, sono situazioni che conosciamo da anni e niente abbiamo fatto per ridurre questa dipendenza. L'ambiguità è un problema, perché è vero che le dinamiche dei regimi dittatoriali sono difficili da capire per noi che apparteniamo a paesi liberi, ma è altrettanto vero che siamo in grado di comprendere benissimo che le nostre debolezze e le nostre ambiguità danno spazio alle minacce, danno spazio e potere a chi vuole portare la guerra ai nostri confini. È triste constatare che a vent'anni dall'ultima guerra che abbiamo vissuto all'interno dell'Europa, quella in Kosovo e quella nei Balcani, spirino ancora venti di guerra ai nostri confini, e questo è un insuccesso di tutti, è un insuccesso dell'Europa, è un insuccesso dell'Occidente. Per questo credo che, ovviamente, quello che dobbiamo evitare oggi è una guerra, è un'escalation che porti a un conflitto militare, che nessuno vuole e che nessuno oggi è in grado di affrontare. Ma con fermezza dobbiamo correggere gli errori che abbiamo fatto in Europa e dobbiamo avere anche il coraggio di dire che questa ambiguità è ben chiara, ma molto spesso la nascondiamo sotto il tappeto, come il fatto che il primo lobbista di Putin in Europa purtroppo sia un ex capo di governo del paese più importante di questa Unione europea. Credo che ci sia spazio ancora per lavorare su una soluzione pacifica, non transigendo sui nostri principi, che ci sia spazio per riportare indietro le lancette, che ci sia spazio per far sì e per mostrare che l'Occidente è unito, ma l'Europa deve lasciare indietro le sue ambiguità, deve dare un messaggio di compattezza con gli alleati occidentali e insieme, nel quadro della NATO, dobbiamo risolvere questa situazione. Altrimenti, la nostra ambiguità sarà sempre una debolezza e non riusciremo mai a essere protagonisti, in maniera positiva, nella risoluzione dei conflitti e nella tutela delle libertà di cui dovremmo essere forieri.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Ryszard Antoni Legutko
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Well, unfortunately, these words are not only memorable, but they sound prophetic, too. But, there is a discrepancy between East European and West European political sensibilities. For most East Europeans, Russian imperialism is a fact that has determined and continues to determine their very existence. For the West Europeans, it is simply news in the media, sometimes sensational and exciting, but generally, it is a rather tedious story in a far—off land, presumably made up by some political fantasies. To make the matter worse, Russia has become an object of deep attraction for many Europeans and additionally, an engaging partner in power-politics, also in economic relations, not to mention the notorious Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2.  The fact that  former chancellors of Germany and Austria, former prime ministers of France and Finland have been working for Russian businesses, were employed by Russian businesses, is meaningful. These gentlemen and many others too, also ladies let me add, are not mavericks, but they represent what is typical of a large segment of European political establishments. To call a spade a spade, Europe is a weak link in the line of defence against Russian imperialism. No wonder that Putin likes to humiliate European politicians and has been quite successful in this. Those politicians desire to accommodate Russia and are keen on conducting business as usual with her, and this is the reason why they de facto accepted the annexation of the Crimea. Well, recent signals from Europe and also from outside Europe could be rather mixed. But there is a lot of reassuring talk about the hardening of the European position vis—à—vis Russia. We’ve heard a lot of tough words today, a really significant EU pep talk, but how hard this position has really become, not in words but in deeds, we will know in the weeks and months to come.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Andrea Bocskor
Political group: NI
Country: Romania
Language: HU

Elnök Asszony! Az Európai Unió és tagországainak biztonsága szorosan összefügg Ukrajna biztonságával. Ukrajna fontos stratégiai partnere és közvetlen szomszédja az Európai Uniónak, ezért erős aggodalomra ad okot az ukrán–orosz határnál kialakult törékeny helyzet. Magyarország a feszültség feloldását a diplomáciai tárgyalásos úton való rendezésben látja, ezért jégtörő szerepet vállalt a párbeszéd megteremtése és a háború elkerülése érdekében. A békés megoldás az egyetlen helyes út, és a minszki megállapodások végrehajtásának nincs alternatívája. Kerülnünk kell a pánikkeltést, mely már hatalmas anyagi veszteségeket okozott, és a diplomaták menekítése sem egy jó üzenet, és minden olyan intézkedést is kerülnünk kell, amely kiélezheti a helyzetet. A konfliktusban már több ezer ember vesztette életét, belső menekültté váltak több millióan és a munkanélküliség, a magas energiaárak, az infláció, a koronavírusjárvány, ezek mind-mind nagy kihívások elé állították Ukrajnát, az ukrajnai lakosságot és köztük a kárpátaljai magyarokat is. Ezért mindent meg kell tennünk a béke érdekében, és támogatnunk kell Ukrajnát, hogy gazdasági és politikai értelemben is egy stabil, demokratikus, életképes és független ország legyen.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Rasa Juknevičienė
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, I am happy to have European family heads and Members together to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who are like us, and want to live like us in the same European family. The EU Founding Fathers have assumed their leadership to unite and try a democratic Western Europe. Now it is the time for us to assume a similar leadership, to unite all democracies in the European continent, because without a strong Ukraine, there will be no strong Europe. The EU will be as strategically strong, and will be able to become an important actor there. It is not the time for naive Chamberlains or illusions that relations with Putin’s Kremlin can be mutually productive, or that the concessions will help. It is important that the West remains united in solidarity, even if this escalation will end without military action.  We must agree on what leading role the EU must play, and what it can do to help Ukraine and other countries striving for EU membership. If Europe will return to business as usual with the Kremlin, we will be doomed to a circle of hybrid, and not only hybrid, wars. Also an intensive treatment for EU is necessary, including saving EU from cancer cells, that the Kremlin-controlled corrupt has. Already today, Putin deserves a tribunal for threatening to start a war to kill people. For Navalny, who is a symbol of a poisoned and imprisoned Russia and for whom I wish strength. I thank the Ukrainians.
Debate: EU-Russia relations, European security and Russia’s military threat against Ukraine
Date: WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022
Speaker: Pedro Marques
Political group: S-D
Country: Czechia
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, a ameaça de invasão da Ucrânia trouxe à memória os dias sombrios da Guerra Fria, com os povos de ambos os lados a viver o medo de uma ameaça permanente. São tempos a que ninguém quer voltar. Bem, na verdade, quase ninguém.  O Sr. Putin e alguns dos seus companheiros têm-nos mostrado as saudades que têm dessa época. Ao deslocar um enorme exército para a fronteira com a Ucrânia, para realizar os maiores exercícios militares do mundo desde há mais de 40 anos, o Governo russo quis transmitir à Ucrânia, à Europa e ao mundo uma mensagem de intimidação e ameaça. Da parte da União Europeia e dos nossos parceiros transatlânticos, a mensagem foi compreendida. Soubemos unir-nos e dar resposta à altura das circunstâncias.  A nossa linguagem não é a da guerra, mas fizemos saber ao Sr. Putin que a guerra não sairia impune. A nossa mensagem não é a da ameaça, mas ficou claro que não nos sentimos intimidados pela ação russa. A nossa linguagem é a do diálogo, é a do direito internacional. É a linguagem da diplomacia, com a qual se resolvem as tensões, evitam os conflitos e se encontram compromissos e soluções.  É esse caminho que, de forma coesa, este Parlamento e a própria União Europeia apresentam à Rússia para resolver a situação, com realismo, bom senso e transparência e em pleno respeito pela independência e integridade territorial da Ucrânia. A escolha cabe agora ao Sr. Putin. Quero acreditar que saberá fazer a escolha certa, a bem da Ucrânia, da Europa e da própria Rússia.