unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Olivér Várhelyi
Language: EN

But I think by now the message is there, in Podgorica, and the message is very clear: that the country is losing very precious time. I have the latest news, as I told you, getting here was that they are supposed to have a vote on 27 February. So basically, that is next week. And I’m very hopeful that this time, this will unblock also the elections, because the country badly needs a strong government and the country badly needs now work to go ahead swiftly.  In North Macedonia, we have just put on the table a proposal, for this House and also for the Council, for a new macro financial assistance of EUR 100 million, because, yes, North Macedonia is suffering very heavily the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine. They have been aligning themselves fully with the sanctions and this has a major economic impact in the country and we try to help them. This is why we have also come forward with the economic rescue package for the entire Western Balkans to help to mitigate the impact of this war. And that is just about to be released also. Of course, in North Macedonia, it is also the government’s job to deliver on the EU reforms and to not only deliver on the EU reforms but also to deliver on the funds and implement the funds. And there, yes, we see some slowing down, but I do hope that we can accelerate there as well this year.
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Ilhan Kyuchyuk
Political group: Renew
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Dear Commissioner, I want to thank you once again for putting in place an economic and investment plan; I think it is the right medicine for political, but also for other, reasons in the Western Balkans.  You took the approach for being more optimistic about the future of the region, and rightly so, because you represent the European Commission, which is called geopolitical, the European Commission – I reiterated several times that we have to have a political European Commission before becoming a geopolitical European Commission. And if I look at the Western Balkans, it’s a very much inter-governmental European Union, it very much represents of the European Union of today.  We have special representatives – Germany, Slovenia, Austria and many more. How is this helping you, Commissioner, to do your job in a proper European way? We have several initiatives – Berlin Process, other initiatives, the Americans came with an initiative. How you are going to combine efforts in order to bring the European Union as strong as possible if the citizens of the Western Balkans are looking at us from an angle of criticism? They should see a European Union united.  So, two questions on special representatives and initiatives coming from different sides of Europe, but also from across the Atlantic.
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Olivér Várhelyi
Language: EN

I’ll give you one example: the common regional market, which is complementary to the Berlin process. I would say this is the substance of the Berlin process by now – to bring the four freedoms much faster to the Western Balkans and to help them to overcome also the common history, because this is also a way to do away with all these bad memories in the Western Balkans.  So I think that there’s ample opportunity for complementarity but it means also that we need to work closer. On our side, the Commission has always been ready, and we have always been reaching out to the Member States, and we will continue to do so. And, to be frank with you, I think it is also appreciated by the Member States. It may not have been the case before but now we see a much higher level of impact.  You have asked me about special representatives in the plural. We have one special representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which is part and parcel of the Dayton Agreement and, of course, as you know, on our side, our plan would be that it should be the European Union taking over all these responsibilities. And we do hope that Bosnia-Herzegovina advances so much in its constitutional reforms and in its reforms for democracy, the rule of law, that there won’t be a need for a special representative because the country and its institutions should be strong enough to actually exercise these functions.  But until we get there, of course, we are working together with the special representative, and we are in very close contact and dialogue with him, on how to bring forward also the European agenda together for Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have, of course, our own special representatives also in the bag with the Pristina dialogue and there again, I think the work of the Commission is to help and also to complement the work. So we try to have the additional elements, arguments, but also additional tools offered to the High Representative to actually have a breakthrough, I do hope this year in the bag with the Pristina dialogue.
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Tomislav Sokol
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, prostor jugoistočne Europe pod sve većim je obavještajnim, medijskim i gospodarskim utjecajem stranih autoritarnih režima, što može destabilizirati i samu Europsku uniju. Zbog toga je snažna prisutnost EU-a kroz politiku proširenja ključna za stabilnost jugoistoka Europe.  Međutim, poseban problem za stabilnost tog prostora predstavlja politika Srbije koja uporno pokušava sjediti na dvije stolice održavajući vojno-gospodarsku suradnju s Rusijom te odbijajući uvesti sankcije Moskvi. Srpska hegemonistička politika, nažalost, također doprinosi destabilizaciji susjednih država.  To se najjasnije vidi u Crnoj Gori gdje je nedavno, protivno preporukama Venecijanske komisije, od strane prosrpske većine u Skupštini izmijenjen Zakon o predsjedniku, čime je ova zemlja zapala u ustavnu krizu bez presedana.  Imajući to na umu, a u kontekstu politike proširenja, što Europska unija namjerava učiniti da bi spriječila uplitanje Srbije u unutarnje stvari Crne Gore, a naročito širenje hegemonističkog koncepta „srpskog sveta” u toj državi?
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Olivér Várhelyi
Language: EN

In Montenegro, I think that the problems are more deeply rooted. This polarisation of the political life has now shown a complete deadlock in the country, a complete deadlock from which only the country can bring itself out of and this is why we are supporting the holding of elections both for parliament and president as fast as possible and to get the necessary political support from the people of Montenegro – because it is for the people of Montenegro to take the lead and to exercise their will for the future of the country.
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Tomislav Sokol
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedavajući, dok je čitava Europska unija ujedinjena u osudi ruske invazije na Ukrajinu, Srbija uporno odbija uskladiti svoju vanjsku politiku s europskom.  Dakle, moje pitanje je koje mehanizme Europska unija ima na raspolaganju da bi prisilila Srbiju da uskladi svoju politiku prema Rusiji s politikom Europske unije i je li Unija zbog toga spremna eventualno zaustaviti pristupne pregovore sa Srbijom dok Srbija ne ispuni ono što je potrebno?
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Olivér Várhelyi
Language: EN

I think it is also very clear, politically speaking, for anybody who is observing the accession process of Serbia, that for many of our Member States, this is now maybe the most important criterion against which progress can be made. However, I need to recall that, according to the rules which we are all bound by (i.e. the negotiating framework and the new methodology), CFSP alignment is not a criterion on the basis of which you can suspend accession negotiations. And, as you know, suspending accession negotiations is only the last resort. We have seen one case where the negotiations have been put on hold and you have seen how such a decision can come about. But I’m still hopeful that Serbia understands the importance of helping us in this fight against the impact of the war Russia has instigated against Ukraine. And we are hopeful that Serbia will also come around in the end.
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Dominique Bilde
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, la visite récente de l’envoyé spécial de l’Union européenne pour le dialogue serbo-kosovar a rappelé le refus acharné de Pristina d’appliquer une disposition de l’accord de Bruxelles de 2013, à savoir la création de l’Association des municipalités à majorité serbe. Cette obstination, qui persiste depuis près de dix ans, est symptomatique de l’ostracisme subi par les Serbes du Kosovo. Quelle solution proposez-vous pour sortir de l’impasse? Deuxièmement, on a dénoncé, à juste titre, certains accords en matière de visas, qui sont une des causes de la crise migratoire dans la région. Un autre aspect de cette crise a trait au nombre important de ressortissants des Balkans eux-mêmes dans les flux migratoires. Je pense en l’occurrence aux migrants albanais, qui se ruent vers le Royaume-Uni ou vers l’Union européenne pour y demander l’asile. Dans le cadre des négociations, je pense qu’il est urgent de trouver une solution à cette situation, qui est incompatible avec le statut de pays candidat de l’Albanie. C’est aussi une question de crédibilité.
Debate: Question Time  - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Olivér Várhelyi
Language: EN

It is also very clear that the European path for Kosovo goes through – as it is the case for Serbia – a successful dialogue. This is why we need now the next round of negotiations to take place. Our High Representative has a plan. Our High Representative has negotiated this plan also with both sides. Both sides have agreed, in principle, that it can be a basis for further discussions and hopefully agreements in the future. And this is why I hope that with this very clear messaging from the European Council, it is clear what needs doing.  Now, on your second question, the issue of bogus asylum claims. Yes, this is not new. This is something that has been also an important element in the run-up to the decision back in 2020 for agreeing in the Council to start the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia.  And there the Council has been able to come to an agreement because the Albanian authorities have engaged even more with our Member States, meaning that every time there is a bogus asylum claim, meaning that an asylum claim that has been put there by somebody who is falling under the visa-free regime, and it is an Albanian citizen, Albania is ready to take back that citizen. The cooperation is ongoing at that level and Albania is taking back its citizens who are abusing our social system through bogus asylum claims.  So, I think that it is clear that the situation is completely different compared to what it was a couple of years ago. Not only that, but we see that what we have put there as arrangements in practice are working and we have very few numbers still in the European Union waiting to be returned to Albania.
Debate: Establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Jessika Roswall 
Language: EN

Regarding the creation of an EU ethics body, the Council applied in June of last year to the letter of the Commission President on this subject. As stated then, the Council stands ready to examine any proposal the Commission may submit on an EU ethics body. Without pre-empting the discussion on future proposals, there are a number of elements that that the letter from June outlines that should be taken into account. We believe that an EU ethics body should fully respect the institution equality decision making powers, though the roles and particularities of each institution granted by the Treaties. It should also avoid any duplication with the work already carried out by existing bodies dealing with this with ethics issues. Furthermore, it should take into account the fact that the Member States of the Council are subjected to national rules and that its staff are subjected to staff regulations, like in every other EU institution.  I look forward to hearing from you and your views on what a future ethics body for all institutions should entail.
Debate: Establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Seán Kelly
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: EN

There must be clearer rules for lobbyists, for lobbyists becoming politicians, or vice versa, to avoid conflicts of interest. An independent ethics body could indeed provide important guidance in this regard and help ensure that EU institutions are better able to efficiently respond to breaches of ethics rules.  Indeed, we need high ethical standards with effective measures to ensure citizens’ trust in our institutions. However, an inter-institutional ethics body must respect the defined competences of each institution and advisory body and their corresponding role in the framework of the system of checks and balances laid out in the Treaties.  An EU ethics body could greatly assist in harmonising ethics rules in the institutions, providing tools and improving the system in general. However, to be sustainable, it needs to ensure it sticks to the task at hand and remains non-political and has broad support across this House. It is also important that the approval process of the European Commission remains a duty of the European Parliament as it is legitimated by the citizens.
Debate: Establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Gabriele Bischoff
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: DE

Warum ist das so notwendig? Wenn wir uns noch einmal angucken, wie die Regeln im Moment aussehen, dann können wir sehen, wir als Parlament, wir haben unsere eigenen Transparenzanforderungen, einen eigenen Verhaltenskodex und eigene Ethikregeln. Die Kommission hat ihre eigenen Verfahren und Gremien für Ethikregeln, auch zum Beispiel für ehemalige Kommissare, und andere Institutionen – wir haben es gehört – haben andere Regeln. Um es in aller Deutlichkeit hier noch einmal zu sagen: Diese Regeln, die in der Regel nur hausintern funktionieren, wo oft auch ehemalige Kolleginnen und Kollegen bei Entscheidungen involviert sind, können dem nicht wirklich genügen. Und wenn wir gucken, wie sieht es in anderen Ländern aus; wir schauen zum Beispiel nach Kanada, da haben wir einen unabhängigen  Und ich will auch noch mal in Erinnerung rufen, dass es nicht nur das Parlament war, das hier gedrängelt hat, sondern die Europäische Bürgerbeauftragte wie auch der Europäische Rechnungshof. Die haben uns darauf hingewiesen, dass wir – oder die Institutionen – es versäumt haben, wirklich funktionierende Strategien zu entwickeln, gerade auch um Interessenkonflikten vorzubeugen, damit es erst überhaupt nicht dazu kommt. Und die beiden haben uns auch darauf hingewiesen und kritisiert, dass es eben keinen gemeinsamen ethischen Rahmen für die EU-Institutionen mit ganz klaren Verfahren gibt. Wir brauchen auch eine Überwachung und Durchsetzung von Ethikregeln, denn die besten Regeln nützen nichts, wenn sie nicht entsprechend auch durchgesetzt und sanktioniert werden. Deshalb bin ich sehr froh – wie man im Fußball sagt, nach einer etwas längeren Aufwärmphase –, dass es jetzt dazu kommt. Und ich würde gerne noch einmal nachhaken, Frau Jourová. Ich habe gehört, dass Sie gesagt haben, dass Sie demnächst etwas vorlegen. Das hatte uns Frau Kommissionspräsidentin im Dezember auch gesagt. Ich würde gerne schon etwas konkreter wissen: Wann genau wird die Kommission hier einen Vorschlag für eine interinstitutionelle Vereinbarung vorlegen? Ich glaube, das wäre jetzt genau das richtige Signal, damit wir da Gewissheit haben.
Debate: Establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Stéphane Séjourné
Political group: Renew
Country: Slovakia
Language: FR

Mon groupe porte, depuis 2019, le sujet, et le «Qatargate» nous a donné raison: l’autocontrôle ne suffit pas et sa politisation nous décrédibilise collectivement. Seule l’indépendance du contrôle est capable de dissiper définitivement les doutes. Seule la professionnalisation du contrôle apportera la sérénité à nos institutions. Je voudrais partager avec vous quelques convictions que nous avons collectivement, au sein de Renew. D’abord, l’organe éthique est le meilleur moyen de restaurer la confiance et l’intégrité dans les institutions européennes. Il est le meilleur moyen de prévenir les conflits d’intérêts et d’y remédier. Ces derniers sont nombreux et nous les analysons au cours de différents processus: au niveau de la commission JURI, au moment de la désignation des candidats commissaires, au moment, notamment, du départ des parlementaires qui feront autre chose de leur vie. L’organe éthique est également le meilleur moyen de contrôler toutes les déclarations financières, y compris celles sur le patrimoine. Il est le meilleur moyen pour l’Europe de rattraper son retard sur la transparence, sur l’éthique. J’espère donc que la Commission voudra avancer sur ce sujet. En 2019, Ursula von der Leyen s’y était engagée, en 2021, ce Parlement a voté, en 2022, nous avons confirmé ce vote. Cette autorité est, pour moi, réellement la clé de voûte de notre transparence et de notre éthique collective dans ces institutions. Mon groupe veut une solution d’ici l’été. Ma collègue socialiste vous posait la question, Madame la Vice-présidente: quand la Commission pourra-t-elle nous faire une proposition? Je pense que tout cela doit arriver le plus vite possible car les forces populistes, anti—Parlement et anti-Europe, joueront beaucoup de la défiance qu’a suscitée cette affaire au sein du Parlement pour nos concitoyens, vis-à-vis notamment des élections de 2024. C’est une réforme de bon sens. Cet organe est la garantie de l’efficacité de notre réforme interne. Il est temps de créer l’organe éthique européen.
Debate: Establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Daniel Freund
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Spain
Language: DE

Ich habe vor zwei Jahren diesem Parlament einen Vorschlag gemacht. Wir haben vor anderthalb Jahren mit großer Mehrheit hier im Plenum dem Bericht zugestimmt, und seitdem ist nicht so richtig was passiert. Die Regelverstöße gehen weiter. Jedes nicht gemeldete Geschenk, jede Luxusreise, die nicht gemeldet wird, zerstört weiter Vertrauen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger in die europäische Demokratie. Und es ist trauriger Fakt, dass die Verhaltensregeln in den EU-Institutionen nicht oder unzureichend durchgesetzt werden. Wenn aber bei Verstößen keine Strafe folgt, dann wird Straflosigkeit zur Kultur. Dann brauchen wir uns nicht wundern, wenn viele sich erst gar nicht an die Regeln halten. Und was passiert eigentlich, wenn es Regelverstöße von Ursula von der Leyen gibt? Was passiert, wenn es Regelverstöße von der Parlamentspräsidentin hier gibt? Sollen die sich dann selber sanktionieren, sich selber bestrafen für die eigenen Regelverstöße? Dieses System der Selbstkontrolle kann ja gar nicht funktionieren. Und wenn sich EU‑Politiker eben selbst oder gegenseitig kontrollieren, dann ist es kein Wunder, dass bei 25 Verstößen, die wir hier im Haus in den letzten zehn Jahren hatten, eben keine einzige Sanktion je verhängt wurde. Schöne Regeln auf dem Papier reichen nicht aus, sondern wir brauchen diese unabhängige Kontrolle dringend. Nun ist ein unabhängiges Ethikgremium natürlich keine Garantie dafür, dass niemand mehr Koffer voller Geld annimmt. Aber eine ordentliche Anwendung der bestehenden Regeln hätte viel früher gezeigt, dass Panzeris Organisation „Fight Impunity“ von Marokko und von Katar finanziert wird. Der Ex-Kommissar Avramopoulos hätte gar nicht 60 000 EUR von „Fight Impunity“ bekommen dürfen. „Fight Impunity“ hätte nie im Europäischen Parlament im Ausschuss aussagen dürfen, weil sie ja gar nicht im Lobbyregister standen. Bei all dem hätte eine unabhängige Kontrolle und Durchsetzung der Regeln viel früher aufgezeigt, was es für Netzwerke hier im Europäischen Parlament gibt. Deswegen, liebe Frau Jourová: Ein unabhängiges Ethikgremium war das zentrale Versprechen von Ursula von der Leyen. Sie haben es in Ihrem
Debate: Establishment of an independent EU Ethics Body
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Jean-Paul Garraud
Political group: ID
Country: Italy
Language: FR

Or, contrairement à ce qui est annoncé, sa mise en œuvre serait tout d’abord complexe. En effet, comment l’Union européenne pourrait-elle créer une structure indépendante d’elle—même? Il s’agit aussi de la négation de structures déjà existantes au sein, notamment, de la Commission et du Parlement. Ce dernier a, par exemple, en plus de son code de conduite en matière d’intérêts financiers et de conflits d’intérêts, mis en place une commission sur les ingérences extérieures. Ironie de l’histoire, le président de cette commission, un socialiste français, passait son temps à accuser le Rassemblement national de tous les maux, pendant que ses propres amis socialistes prenaient part au plus grand scandale que le Parlement européen ait connu. Toutes ces structures n’ont rien vu ou rien voulu voir du «Qatargate» et des autres suspicions que celui-ci fait apparaître. Il n’est nul besoin d’une structure généraliste de plus, laquelle déboucherait à coup sûr sur la même absence de résultat. Cette demande d’un nouvel organe d’éthique est surtout un prétexte permettant de s’opposer à la création d’une commission d’enquête parlementaire immédiate, que je réclame avec insistance depuis le début de cette affaire En voulant noyer le poisson et faire croire que le «Qatargate» ne concerne que quelques personnes corrompues, le Parlement européen veut éviter de se remettre en question. Le problème majeur est pourtant d’ordre structurel. C’est le système mis en place par les européistes qui est en cause, et c’est bien celui-là qu’il faut transformer. Mais une majorité d’eurodéputés feront tout pour éviter cette indispensable mutation, raison pour laquelle ils ont voté contre notre demande de commission d’enquête et tenté d’allumer des contre—feux. Cet organe d’éthique en est le dernier en date. Nous dénonçons ce nouveau stratagème et nous nous opposons résolument à sa création.