unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Tomislav Sokol
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: HR

Poštovana predsjedavajuća, povjereniče, kolegice i kolege. Neosporno je da europska poduzeća moraju biti aktivan sudionik izgradnje održivog društva i da kroz svoje poslovanje moraju doprinijeti postizanju klimatskih ciljeva, što je cilj Direktive o dužnoj pažnji. Međutim, plemenit cilj zaštite okoliša i ljudskih prava pretvorio se očito u instrument kojim se poduzećima nameće dodatni administrativni teret, otežava poslovanje i u konačnici, čini ih manje konkurentnima na svjetskoj razini. Činjenica je da niti nakon tri mjeseca nakon postignutog političkog dogovora još uvijek nemamo konačan tekst ovog zakona koji bismo mogli detaljno analizirati, a to nikako ne pridonosi rastu pozitivne poduzetničke klime u Europskoj uniji. Osim što predviđa dodatne obveze izvješćivanja o rizicima povezanima s okolišem, dogovorom iz prosinca utvrđuje se i to da bi se usklađenost s Direktivom o dužnoj pažnji morala smatrati kriterijem za dodjelu ugovora o javnoj nabavi koncesija. Ovo izaziva posebnu zabrinutost poduzetnika koji ne znaju što se točno od njih očekuje kad je u pitanju usklađivanje s Direktivom. Rezultat svega toga je činjenica da sada Vijeće ne može postići potrebnu većinu za potvrdu političkog dogovora. Općenito, u okolnostima u kojima Europskoj uniji prijeti deindustrijalizacija i u kojima polagano, ali sigurno gubi u utrci globalne konkurentnosti, važno je da europskim poduzetnicima omogućimo stabilnost i predvidljivost u poslovanju. Stoga pozivam sve dionike da ulože maksimalne napore kako ostvarenje plemenitih ciljeva ne bi ugrozilo konkurentnost europskih poduzetnika. A sa svim ovim obvezama koje namećemo uporno, uporno, i dalje, i dalje, s ovom silnom administracijom koja dolazi s europske razine, sigurno Europsku uniju i europsku industriju nećemo učiniti konkurentnijom na svjetskoj razini.
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Kathleen Van Brempt
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: NL

Voorzitter, collega’s, de vraag is: wanneer wordt kinderarbeid aanvaardbaar? Wanneer is het uitbuiten van arbeiders te verdedigen? Wanneer is dat bij het vervuilen van rivieren het geval? Wel, blijkbaar is het antwoord op die vraag vandaag: “Och, wanneer het Europese bedrijven betreft” of “Als het ons iets opbrengt”. Dat is onbegrijpelijk. Sommige politieke partijen, en helaas zitten er enkelen bij de liberalen ‒ dat vind ik echt heel spijtig ‒ of bij de EVP ‒ dat weten we ‒ of bij de extreemrechtse partijen ‒ evident ‒ betalen die prijs om toch maar een beetje in de peilingen te kunnen stijgen. Is dat de prijs die ze vandaag willen betalen? Want dat betekent dat bedrijven vandaag voor de winst wegkijken van kinderarbeid, van mensenrechtenschendingen en van milieuverontreiniging. Beste collega’s van de Raad, beste Europese regeringen, het juiste antwoord op mijn beginvraag is natuurlijk: dat is nooit aanvaardbaar. De richtlijn inzake passende zorgvuldigheid is de manier om daar iets aan te doen. Met andere woorden: neem uw verantwoordelijkheid.
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Anja Haga
Political group: PPE
Language: NL

Voorzitter, geld verdienen over de rug van het milieu of mensen: er zijn bedrijven die dat doen, maar dan betaalt iemand anders de prijs en zij verdienen het geld. Gelukkig zijn er ook veel bedrijven die maatschappelijk verantwoord willen ondernemen. Die hebben behoefte aan helderheid, want zij willen een gelijk speelveld. Zij willen dat er richtlijnen komen zodat zij niet op concurrentieachterstand staan. Nu lag er een voorstel en zijn er lidstaten die zich terugtrekken, zelfs nadat er onderhandeld is en een deal is. Dat doe je niet.  Ik doe dus een dringende oproep aan de lidstaten om nog eens even goed na te denken, even goed te kijken en hier gewoon mee in te stemmen. Dat is eerlijk, betrouwbaar en verantwoord.
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Evelyn Regner
Political group: S-D
Country: Netherlands
Language: DE

Frau Präsidentin! Wenn ich als Privatperson etwas, das mir nicht gehört, beschädige oder kaputt mache, dann hafte ich dafür. Da kann ich mich winden, was ich will, ich muss den Schaden wiedergutmachen. Und deshalb ganz plakativ: Warum soll das bitteschön nicht für Unternehmen gelten? Es geht um Sorgfaltspflichten, es geht um das kleine Einmaleins des erwachsenen Seins. Warum sollen Unternehmen die Gesundheit von Beschäftigten schädigen, Kinder ausbeuten, die Umwelt zerstören können, ohne dass sie dafür geradestehen müssen? Und manchmal zerstören diese Unternehmen nicht aus Versehen, sondern sie nehmen gravierende Schäden an Umwelt und Menschen bewusst in Kauf, um billiger zu produzieren und um Profite zu erwirtschaften. Und deshalb möchte ich betonen, dass es hier nicht um irgendwelche Detailfragen geht, sondern es geht um Hardcore-Arbeitsrecht. Es geht um unsere Grundprinzipien von Umweltschutz, es geht um Sorgfaltspflichten. Dieses Vorhaben ist eines der absolut wichtigsten dieser Legislaturperiode. Wir brauchen das EU-Lieferkettengesetz – jetzt!
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Maria Arena
Political group: S-D
Country: Belgium
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, Madame la Ministre, Monsieur le Commissaire, le devoir de vigilance, c’est tout simplement appliquer les valeurs des droits humains et des droits environnementaux à nos entreprises, non seulement quand elles sont en Europe, mais aussi quand elles sont en dehors de l’Union. Effectivement, c’est une atteinte à la compétitivité. Peut-être, mais de quelle compétitivité parle-t-on? Voulons-nous introduire un cercle vertueux par rapport à nos entreprises qui, elles, défendent ces valeurs aujourd’hui en Europe, ou voulons-nous organiser une concurrence déloyale à leur égard? La loi qui avait été acceptée avec le Conseil, le Parlement et la Commission était le compromis qui permettait d’avancer. Malheureusement, certains États membres mettent à mal ce compromis. Je pense que ce qui est en danger, ce n’est pas uniquement la loi, mais également les valeurs que nous défendons et notre capacité à établir des normes internationales respectueuses du droit humain, qui sont aujourd’hui mises en danger par ces États membres.
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Karen Melchior
Political group: Renew
Country: Estonia
Language: DA

Fru formand! Denne lovgivning introducerer ikke nye regler, vi bare sådan har trukket ned fra luften. Tidligere har det været forbrugernes ansvar at sikre sig, at de køber produkter, som er produceret ansvarligt. Det har været landenes ansvar at retsforfølge de virksomheder, som producerer i Kina, i Vietnam, i Bangladesh, på den anden side af jorden. Men det har aldrig været virksomhedernes ansvar. Hvordan kan det være, at de virksomheder, som har globale produktionskæder, kan sikre kvalitetskontrol, men de kan ikke kontrollere helt grundlæggende krav til miljø, sundhed og arbejdstagerrettigheder, dér hvor de får deres produkter produceret? Det kan jeg ikke forstå. Hvordan kan det være, at den Kommission, som vores medlemslandes regeringer udpegede for fem år siden, og som er godkendt af os, at vi ikke stoler på den lovgivning, som de kommer med? Hvorfor er det, at medlemslandene i Rådet underminerer de forslag, som kommer fra Kommissionen? Jeg synes, vi skal vedtage den lovgivning, for vi har brug for den! Vi har brug for, at det ikke bare er forbrugerne og lande meget langt fra Europa, som skal overholde reglerne.
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Caroline Roose
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, qu’attendons-nous pour adopter la directive sur le devoir de vigilance? Quand mettrons-nous fin à cette saga interminable en approuvant l’une des législations les plus attendues, et ce pour enfin rendre les multinationales responsables de leurs actes? Mille ouvrières du textile ont péri dans l’effondrement de l’usine du Rana Plaza, victimes de la mode éphémère; 160 millions d’enfants dans le monde travaillent; en Afrique – en Ouganda, par exemple –, les géants du pétrole comme Total détruisent l’environnement et bafouent les droits humains. Alors que la France se targue d’avoir été pionnière en adoptant une loi sur le devoir de vigilance, MM. Macron et Le Maire sont à la manœuvre pour torpiller le texte européen. Hier, sous l’influence de BlackRock et des banques, Emmanuel Macron est arrivé à ses fins pour en exclure le secteur financier. Aujourd’hui, le gouvernement cède au MEDEF et sabote à nouveau l’accord trouvé pour exempter plus de 80 % des entreprises européennes de l’obligation de vigilance.  Ce que trame le gouvernement en coulisse est totalement indigne et grave. Après avoir tenté d’enterrer le texte sur les travailleurs des plateformes, sa prochaine cible, c’est le devoir de vigilance. Ma question, Monsieur Macron, est la suivante: quand prendrez-vous vos responsabilités?
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Madam President, we already have a corporate sustainability reporting directive that creates a legal obligation for corporations and big business to report on how their activities impact the environment and human rights. The idea that we wouldn’t actually match that directive with a corporate sustainability due diligence directive – which would actually require these businesses and corporations to take action to prevent and stop human rights and environmental violations – is farcical. Is it any wonder farmers and workers across Europe are angry? What does this say about EU democracy and the EU’s priorities? We already had an agreement on the text of the regulation between Parliament and the Council, and now certain Member States – led by Germany – are reneging on the deal. Yet Germany is determined to go ahead with Mercosur, a deal that will create even more unfair competition for farmers and producers in the EU. It does look like big business interests are winning again.
Debate: State of play of the corporate sustainability due diligence directive
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Hadja Lahbib
Language: EN

I have heard your concerns, for instance, when it comes to the capacity of the SMEs to face the administrative work, bureaucracy. I thank Commissioner Reynders to clarify once again that there is no new reporting mechanism in the text. Dear rapporteur, Lara Wolters, I don’t promise you a fairy tale, but indeed, we need clarity, accountability and the defence of our values.  I really understand your disappointment, but everything is not over yet. Even if the clock is ticking, I can promise you that the Belgian Presidency is really committed to finding a solution that will allow the co-legislators to agree on this important directive before the end of the parliamentary terms, because indeed we need it. We need to respect our objectives to secure and multipliers or supply chain, innovate, respect the workers rights and a level playing field for our enterprises on the same time. So, the text of the directive as it is now, even with the late changes, could be maybe a first step in the good direction and hopefully a step towards a long and happy marriage. Who knows?
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Michael Gahler
Country: Spain
Language: EN

During the drafting phase of the implementing act, not even informal contacts took place between the Commission and Parliament, as stipulated in paragraph 12 of the agreement between Parliament and Commission on comitology procedures.  Furthermore, the Commission adopted the draft implementing decision in an urgent procedure after it learned that we were about to initiate an objection. That could even be interpreted as trying to bypass and thereby undermine this House’s authority.  Additionally, the special measure seems legally questionable with regard to provisions in the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation, as well as the Financial Regulation on Conditionality.  That should not be taken lightly by this House, as it ultimately is about the ability of Parliament to exercise its right of scrutiny that requires proper, timely and sound information by the Commission to Parliament. So we ask whether the Commission can explain why it was necessary to use an urgent written procedure for this special measure last December, given that the budget support of EUR 150 million was announced as early as 11 June 2023, and that an urgent procedure restricts the exercise of Parliament’s powers of scrutiny.  Given that a significant deterioration in fundamental rights constitutes grounds for suspending, reducing or cancelling budget support to partner countries, and given the significant deterioration of such rights in Tunisia since July 2021, can the Commission clarify how it has deemed that Tunisia currently meets the requirements?  Given that budget support is subject to the provisions of Article 27(4) of the NDICI-Global Europe Regulation, can the Commission clarify in a written form the definition of conditionality for the said budget support, provide further written details on the procedure and the criteria for assessing whether the conditions are met, as well as on the baseline applied for the assessment of the current state of fundamental rights in Tunisia?  Can the Commission clarify why it chose to disburse the budget support in a single tranche, thus not permitting a gradual disbursement based on concrete milestones or steps achieved, as foreseen in Article 236(2) of the Financial Regulation, nor the suspension of further disbursement should a clear erosion of fundamental rights be observed?  Lastly, what formal guarantees has the Commission received from the Tunisian authorities since September 2023 that ensure that Parliament will be allowed to visit EU-funded projects in Tunisia and thus exercise its right of oversight and scrutiny in accordance with Article 14 of the Treaty on European Union.
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Carlos Zorrinho
Language: PT

Apesar do anúncio, em junho de 2023, da assinatura de um memorando de entendimento com a Tunísia e da inclusão de um pacote de 150 milhões de euros de apoio orçamental às reformas macroeconómicas, a Comissão Europeia só lançou o processo de adoção desta medida especial no passado dia 20 de dezembro de 2023, através de um procedimento escrito urgente, aproveitando as férias de Natal. Este procedimento suscita muitas preocupações ao Parlamento Europeu, nomeadamente no que diz respeito à questão das migrações. O procedimento utilizado pela Comissão Europeia negligenciou o papel do Parlamento Europeu, uma vez que não houve trocas de informação, nem consultas informais ou formais, antes da sua adoção e demonstrou falta de respeito pelo escrutínio parlamentar e pelo processo de comitologia. Recordamos à Comissão a obrigação de respeitar os critérios de condicionalidade, principalmente os direitos humanos e o Estado de direito na Tunísia, como indicam tanto o Tratado da União Europeia como o Regulamento IVCDCI—Europa Global. Tendo em conta a deterioração significativa dos direitos fundamentais na Tunísia desde 2021, é necessária uma avaliação pormenorizada da situação dos direitos humanos e dos direitos fundamentais naquele país, para avaliar se existem condições para o desembolso efetivo do apoio orçamental acordado. Neste contexto, o Parlamento Europeu não pode ignorar a falta de transparência e de respeito pelo poder de controlo desta instituição, nem a inadequação do calendário e dos procedimentos escolhidos pela Comissão para adotar esta decisão, desrespeitando o princípio de cooperação mútua e sincera entre as Instituições da União Europeia. Esta medida especial não pode criar um precedente perigoso. Por conseguinte, Senhor Comissário, instamos a Comissão a suspender a sua aplicação. Finalmente, embora a resolução exija que a Comissão forneça uma série de informações pormenorizadas por escrito, o próximo diálogo geopolítico de alto nível será uma oportuna ocasião para obter explicações mais pormenorizadas sobre o calendário e o procedimento escolhido pela Comissão Europeia.
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Jiří Pospíšil
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: CS

Na druhou stranu si ale myslím, že bychom měli postupovat řádně a u tak citlivého tématu, které má právě silný politický aspekt, peníze určené pro Tunisko na boj proti nelegální migraci a na podporu lidských práv, tak si myslím, že by ten postup měl být zvolen jiným způsobem. Takže děkuji za vysvětlení, ale do budoucna si myslím, že by měl být zvolen jiný postup než postup, který lze nazvat naléhavým písemným postupem. Děkuji a do budoucna doufám, že debata bude jiná a Parlament bude mnohem více zapojen.
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Matjaž Nemec
Political group: S-D
Country: Greece
Language: SL

Tuniziji je ekipa Evrope na čelu s premierko Meloni v zameno za nadzor migracij ponudila več kot milijardo evrov in to brez pogojev, brez varovalk, brez vključitve katere koli institucije.  Tik pred novim letom je nato Komisija sprožila izplačilo 150 milijonov evrov mimo vsega in mimo vseh. Znova. Naj bom zelo neposreden, spoštovani, v Evropskem parlamentu že ves čas opozarjamo na sporen dogovor, ki to ni. Gre za preprosto izjavo za javnost. Povsem se požvižga tudi na človekove pravice in na pravno državo.  Zahtevamo preklic te izjave. Denar, ki ga sicer Tunizija potrebuje, pa ne moramo kot bianco menico izročiti avtokratu, pač pa z varovalkami okrepiti civilno družbo in demokratične institucije. Zatorej zahtevamo odgovornost in spoštovanje evropskih vrednot in lastnih pravil.
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Jan-Christoph Oetjen
Political group: Renew
Country: France
Language: DE

Die Kommission hat hier gerade eine schöne Rede gehalten, aber leider die Fragen, die wir gestellt haben, überhaupt nicht beantwortet. Und für mich ist völlig klar, dass die Voraussetzung für eine Auszahlung von 150 Millionen Euro an ein Land, wo Menschenrechte mit Füßen getreten werden, überhaupt nicht im Interesse der Europäischen Union sein kann. Denn eins ist doch klar an dieser Stelle: Wir haben da einen Präsidenten, der nicht nur die Demokratie abschafft, sondern gleich auch noch die Opposition verhaftet, in den Knast steckt – ohne Verfahren. Und mit so einem schließen wir einen Vertrag? Das kann doch wohl nicht wahr sein! Und ich muss wirklich sagen, dass dann dieses Verfahren über Dringlichkeitsbeschlüsse innerhalb der Kommission mit einer angeblichen Prüfung der Voraussetzungen überhaupt nicht den Standards entspricht, die wir in der Europäischen Union anlegen sollten, abgesehen davon, dass natürlich das Parlament als Haushaltsgesetzgeber hätte konsultiert werden müssen. Das müssen Sie in Zukunft anders machen!
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Tineke Strik
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

We raised an objection to this draft decision in December, but the Commission refused to await the democratic process and pushed through anyhow. I am glad that we will have a vote formally to oppose this irresponsible policy. Dear colleagues, I really hope we will adopt a strong resolution and that the Commission will start to take European democracy seriously. But human rights and democracy must also be the leading interest in our external cooperation. We have lost so much credibility already – high time to change course and to uphold our own treaty principles.
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Gilles Lebreton
Political group: ID
Country: Germany
Language: FR

Quoi qu’il en soit, l’Union européenne doit aider la Tunisie à restaurer sa stabilité économique dans le cadre d’une saine politique de voisinage. C’est pourquoi j’approuve la décision de la Commission, prise en application du protocole d’accord signé le 16 juillet 2023, de lui verser 150 millions d’euros. Il faut toutefois obtenir des garanties formelles que cet argent sera bien utilisé pour financer les réformes économiques annoncées. D’autre part, et surtout, il ne faut pas se contenter de cette mise en œuvre partielle du protocole d’accord. Il est urgent de relancer aussi l’application de son pilier relatif à la maîtrise de l’émigration vers l’Italie. Car pour l’Union européenne, le véritable enjeu est d’aider la Tunisie à retrouver suffisamment de stabilité économique et politique pour mettre fin à la submersion migratoire qui déferle à Lampedusa à partir des côtes tunisiennes.
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Emmanuel Maurel
Political group: The Left
Country: Greece
Language: FR

C’est d’autant plus compliqué à comprendre que la situation en Tunisie évolue négativement. Bien sûr, sur le plan politique, cela a été dit, il y a vraiment une pente autoritaire contre les syndicalistes, les défenseurs des droits de l’homme et les opposants, qui sont emprisonnés ou pourchassés. Il y a aussi une situation économique très préoccupante, une crise sociale qui perdure, l’inflation qui ne cesse de monter et le chômage qui augmente. Il est vrai que, sans accord des institutions financières internationales, c’est le système bancaire tunisien qui risque de s’effondrer. Le peuple tunisien ne doit pas payer l’impéritie de son gouvernement. Mais souffrez quand même que, quand il s’agit de prendre de telles décisions, on ne peut pas escamoter le rôle du Parlement. C’est ce que la Commission a fait. Elle a eu tort. Cela ne rend service ni aux Européens, ni à la Tunisie.
Debate: The adoption of the Special Measure in favour of Tunisia for
Date: TUESDAY, 12 MARCH 2024
Speaker: Margarida Marques
Political group: S-D
Country: Cyprus
Language: PT

Senhora Presidente, Senhora Comissária, em junho de 2023 ficámos surpreendidos com a ida da Presidente Von der Leyen à Tunísia para propor um acordo: 700 milhões de euros para travar a migração irregular e apoiar o investimento em cinco pilares. Um acordo em que não foi exigida qualquer garantia ao governo tunisino, um país onde a democracia e o Estado de direito se esvaziaram, onde não há liberdade sindical nem liberdade de expressão. Se já tínhamos ficado surpreendidos e criticado o acordo, não conseguimos perceber agora o recurso a um procedimento urgente que irá disponibilizar de imediato 150 milhões de euros sem que este Parlamento exerça o seu papel de escrutínio democrático – nem este, nem mesmo o parlamento tunisino.  Não podemos aceitar decisões desta natureza, nem na União Europeia, nem com os nossos parceiros. Foi colocada alguma condicionalidade? Pode o Parlamento Europeu visitar os projetos apoiados? Sim, a Tunísia já impediu a entrada de uma delegação do Parlamento Europeu. Não é de todo suficiente que a Comissão venha dizer que estão a ser feitos progressos e que o número de partidas de migrantes vindos da Tunísia diminuiu substancialmente...