unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report  - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Maroš Šefčovič
Language: EN

You would recall that a few years ago, talking about European sovereignty, strategic autonomy or European defence was very difficult in Brussels, but also in this House. But it’s quite clear that two wars close to our borders, energy prices crisis and rough geopolitics, which are shaking the international post-Second World War order and security architecture, galvanised the European response. I would like to reassure all of you that we in the European Commission hear you loud and clear and we respect your calls for urgent action. Ms Hayer was referring to the European miracle of peace, and it’s clear to all of us that this miracle must be defended now. Ms Reintke was rightly underlining then that United Europe is more secure Europe. Therefore, I appreciate the overwhelming support for strategic autonomy and common procurement. We know that common procurement or common purchase works. As the common purchase of vaccines, we have incredible results for common purchase of gas, including the latest round concluded yesterday. It clearly demonstrates that if the European Union acts together and uses its political weight and economic strength, we always get excellent results because the world listens and business acts. And I am sure that we will succeed with this approach also in the area of defence. I would like to thank both rapporteurs, Mr McAllister and Mr Mikser, for the important reports on CFSP and CSDP. And I would like also reassure all of you that all your interventions regarding unwavering support for Ukraine, the importance of complementarity of our actions with NATO, creating conducive environment for financing an investment for defence sector, calls for better interoperability, increase of production capacity and more coordination will be properly reflected in our proposals on the EU Defence Industrial Strategy and investment programmes which we will table next week. As you probably heard me saying in different settings, I am convinced that European unity is our most precious currency. So let’s use it wisely and again, to build Europe, which should be even stronger, more secure and ready for this new insecure world.
Debate: Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report  - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Mathieu Michel
Language: EN

Today’s debate illustrates the importance of staying united and firm in supporting Ukraine with the tools to defend itself. In the European Council of 14 and 15 December, EU leaders stressed the importance of timely, predictable and sustainable military support for Ukraine, notably through the European Peace Facility and the EU Military Assistance Mission, as well as through direct bilateral assistance by Member States.  At the Special European Council of 1 February, EU leaders gave a clear task to the Council to reach agreement on the Ukraine Assistance Fund by early March 2024. Work is currently ongoing in the Council. The European Union has stood by Ukraine and for peace since day one, and we will remain steadfast in our support until Ukraine prevails against Russia’s aggression. It is important to strengthen the defence industrial sector and to work jointly to better create synergies in defence production. In this sense, we are taking concrete steps: the conclusions of the December European Council called for the swift presentation of the European defence industrial strategy. The Commission, together with the High Representative, should present this strategy very shortly. The aim of the strategy is to strengthen the European defence technology industrial base in the broad sense. The issues of access to war materials and critical technologies, harmful dependencies and security of supply are part of this discussion. Its aim, however, is not to build a protectionist industry. Its aim is to build a competitive industrial base that will help support and address Member States’ and allies’ requirements. The strategy will offer a framework and vision for the next years, it will not in itself be a legal or regulatory instrument. Besides, the European Council has also called on the Commission to present a proposal for a European Defence Investment Programme, or EDIP. EDIP was announced in the joint communication on defence investment gaps. EDIP would be an industrial programme building on EDIRPA, ASAP and possible other elements. The EDIP Regulation could serve as the anchor for future joint development and procurement projects of high common interest at EU level. If we wants to be a geopolitical player in an increasingly dangerous world, we need to have the means to defend ourselves, but also the capacity to respond to challenges and emerging conflicts in other parts of the world, be it in Africa, the Middle East or even the Indo-Pacific.
Debate: Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report  - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Evelyn Regner
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Thank you very much State Secretary Michel, thanks Vice-President Šefčovič, thanks to the rapporteurs David McAllister and Sven Mikser and of course to everybody who participated in the debate. The debate is closed. The vote will be held today.
Debate: Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report  - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Witold Jan Waszczykowski
Political group: ECR
Country: Romania
Language: PL

Niepokoi również lekceważenie faktów. Nie mamy w Europie wspólnej definicji i wspólnej listy zagrożeń. Nie możemy zatem mieć tych samych odpowiedzi na różne zagrożenia. Nie może też większość narzucać innym sposobów przeciwstawiania się zagrożeniom. Wspólnie zaś musimy brać pod uwagę różne uwarunkowania różnych państw członkowskich. Zachodni przyjaciele powinni zrozumieć wreszcie, że nasze wschodnie doświadczenia i oparte na nich propozycje zapewnienia bezpieczeństwa Europie są realistyczne i praktyczne.  Powstrzymajmy Rosję od ingerowania w Europie, utrzymajmy obecność USA i miarkujmy hegemonistyczne zapędy niektórych państw członkowskich. Tylko polityka solidarna i transatlantycka współpraca zapewni pokój naszej Europie.
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Dear members, dear colleagues, we gather here today to pay tribute to Alexei Navalny, in the presence of his brave wife Yulia Navalnaya. Dear Yulia, thank you for your readiness to speak in this Chamber to the world in such painful circumstances. It is truly an honour to welcome you to the European Parliament. Before we begin, I would like to invite everyone to turn their attention to the screens to watch a short video about the life and legacy of Alexei Navalny. Dear Yulia, dear colleagues, on 16 February we received the tragic news of Sakharov Prize laureate Alexei Navalny’s death. For many in Russia and outside, he represented hope: hope in better days; hope in a free Russia; hope in the future; hope that courage can overcome. And while his killers sought to cruelly extinguish that hope, they failed. The hope he represented remains as bright as ever. This House and its Members condemn his killing in the strongest possible terms. It is a crime that deserves an international and independent investigation. The world is owed justice. While we pay tribute to his memory, I want to express our deepest condolences to you dear Yulia, to your children Daria and Zakhar, to Alexei’s parents Lyudmila and Anatoly, to his family, friends and countless supporters in Russia and across the globe. Alexei Navalny dedicated his life to the fight against corruption and for a democratic Russia. He did not give up when they tried to poison him. He did not give up when he was unjustly imprisoned. He did not give up when his sentence was extended in a sham trial. He did not give up even when confronted with suffering and injustice. And neither must we. Democracy takes bravery, and Alexei understood that. That is why he went back to Russia in 2021. That is why he could not be broken. And that is exactly what made the regime so afraid of him. But Alexei’s fight endures. The many brave people that took to the streets of Russia after his death show – yet again – the fragility of authoritarianism. I take solace in the fact that if history teaches us anything, it is that the pillars of autocracy, in the end, always –  So dear Yulia, on behalf of the European Parliament that stands in admiration of your courage, I thank you. The floor is yours.
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Manfred Weber
Political group: PPE
Country: Austria
Language: EN

Last week was another final wake up call. No one today can be so naive to doubt about the brutal and murderous nature of Putin’s regime. Dear Mrs Navalnaya, our thoughts are with you and your children and all those who loved and admire your husband, Alexei Navalny. All of Europe mourns a brave man killed by a brutal regime. Alexei Navalny loved freedom, and for that he was deprived of it and locked up in prison. Alexei Navalny wanted a free Russia, that’s why he couldn’t be tolerated in Putin’s unfree Russia. Alexei Navalny believed in people and knew how to inspire them. That is why the Putin regime prevented him from speaking. Navalny was a hope for Russia, but above all, he had hope. He had hope that the corruption will not be unpunished. His work helped identify many of Putin’s friends who are now facing the toughest sanctions in Europe’s history. He had hope in a democratic future for Russia. He showed Russians that one man saying ‘no’ is enough to scare a regime. He had hope in power of truth, the truth that Putin hides, that Putin fears, but to which he will have to answer. Dear Mrs Navalnaya, we admire your courage. You are keeping alive the hope for a free and a democratic Russia. As Europeans, and as democrats, we will carry that hope with you together. Alexei Navalny died for freedom and democracy in Russia, just as people died for freedom and democracy in Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, in their fight against an unfree communism. Before 1988, not many could have imagined that once we would be here together, living in a free and democratic Europe. So what I want to say is, everything is possible. That is why we will never give up the dream of a free and democratic Russia.
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Pedro Marques
Political group: S-D
Country: Czechia
Language: EN

He paid the highest price with his own life, but his legacy will live through you, through your family, and it will be honoured through the Russian people. We express our heartfelt condolences to you, his brave wife, but also to your family.  This House has repeatedly condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the persecution of Alexei Navalny, his poisoning, all the politically motivated rulings, the trump charges, calling for his immediate and unconditional release. But you challenged us here today, and we heard you loud and clear. That is something that I want to say to you.  The news of his death in the hands of the Putin regime in a remote Siberian prison outraged us and was met with the strongest condemnation. It sent shockwaves, you know, around Russia, but around the world. We could witness it personally all over Europe.  Alexei was a political leader, one of the most brave ones, with powerful convictions that inspired people, raising collective consciousness for what was happening and is still happening in Russia. He represented the hope and the vision for a different, for a better Russia. His death brings us back to the memories, the darkest moments in the Russian history and the conditions of his imprisonment and the violence he suffered makes Putin and the regime ultimately responsible for his fate.  We demand an international and an independent investigation into the circumstances of his death, and for all responsible for his detention, for his treatment, and for his death to be held to account. Truth must be told, consequences must be borne and justice must be served.  The memory of Alexei will live into the ages. He was a fighter, a fighter for democracy and a democratic Russia will prevail one day. Be brave, Madame Navalnaya. For your family, for Alexei’s memory, but for the people of Russia.
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Valérie Hayer
Political group: Renew
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

Votre courage est exemplaire et admirable, et sachez que tous les démocrates ici saluent la mémoire d’Alexeï Navalny. Alexeï Navalny, c’est le symbole du courage, de l’abnégation face à l’injustice et la corruption, sans jamais faiblir. Il aura fait face jusqu’au bout à un régime qui n’a plus que pour seule réponse à toute contestation la répression et les assassinats. Car il nous faut dire les choses clairement aujourd’hui! Oui, l’entière responsabilité de cet assassinat incombe à l’État russe, et en particulier à son président, Vladimir Poutine.  Alexeï Navalny avait dévoilé au grand jour le système Poutine, profondément corrompu et qui a verrouillé toutes les portes du pouvoir et des institutions. Alors, si nous voulons véritablement lui rendre hommage, nous devons faire ce qu’il a toujours attendu de nous: asphyxier Poutine et ses proches par tous les moyens! Les sanctions sont une chose, mais elles ne font pas tout, vous l’avez dit, et les déclarations non plus. Nous devons combattre toutes les organisations qui fondent son système criminel.  Chers collègues, nous ne pouvons pas laisser l’opposition russe seule face à Poutine et ses affidés. Il nous incombe de nous y opposer, nous aussi, chaque jour, car désormais leurs assassinats et leur propagande s’exportent aussi ailleurs en Europe. Cette propagande et ces mensonges qui ne bénéficient qu’aux mêmes, Poutine en Russie et ses relais extrémistes chez nous — extrémistes qui, une fois qu’ils arrivent au pouvoir, s’empressent de jouer le jeu du Kremlin.  Chère madame Navalnaïa, je conclurai en vous réaffirmant tout notre soutien, mais aussi toute notre détermination à vous accompagner dans votre courageux combat pour cette Russie démocratique et libre que vous appelez de vos vœux. Nous ne vous laisserons pas seule. Nous serons là, à vos côtés, jusqu’au bout!
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Terry Reintke
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

And when you were speaking about how you and your husband with your family were visiting Strasbourg a while ago and how you miss him right now, I was imagining what it would do to me if I lost my beloved partner to a brutal regime. And I know that probably it cannot even touch the pain that you have been feeling, but let me tell you on behalf of my whole group that we share this pain, we strongly support you and we are by your side in this difficult time. In order to keep your husband’s memory alive, we have to do everything in our power not only to demand an independent investigation, but also to protect the remaining political prisoners in Russia and all those who are suffering from this brutal regime. The murder of Alexei Navalny has made it clear yet again: the biggest enemy of Vladimir Putin is democracy, the biggest enemy of Vladimir Putin is freedom. Freedom and democracy are what Putin is most afraid of because they threaten his democratic rule and they were symbolised by your brave late husband. They threaten his system based on corruption and lies. So, our struggle has to be even more determined. Let us fight for our democracy and freedom here in Europe, but also let us stand in solidarity with all those fighting for it in Russia and elsewhere in the world. And even in this difficult time, when we all have difficult debates back home, when there are a lot of political challenges ahead of us, colleagues we can never forget the price that so many political prisoners in Russia, in Belarus and elsewhere are paying to fight for freedom and democracy. If they have the strength to fight and pay this price, we cannot be tired. If they have the strength to go on, we have to do all we can in order to support them because in the end of the day – I am sure and I want to say this to you – in the end of the day, freedom will win, there will be a free Russia and we will fight for it side by side together with you.
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Nicola Procaccini
Political group: ECR
Country: Poland
Language: IT

Ho ascoltato le parole della signora Naval'naja, cercando di mantenere un rispettoso distacco per non lasciarmi influenzare dall'emozione. Ma è stato difficile. Personalmente, seguo le vicende politiche di Aleksej Naval'nyj da anni. Ho sempre apprezzato il coraggio e la fantasia, la serenità e la fede con cui ha portato avanti le proprie idee, anche quando in pochi riuscivano a comprenderne il senso e il valore. Un estremista: così lo hanno etichettato talvolta il  In realtà Aleksej Naval'nyj era solo un uomo innamorato della Russia, della sua storia e della sua gente. Cristiano, nato in una famiglia di militari, Aleksej non era un pacifista. Ma si è sempre battuto per la sua patria, senza armi né paura. Hanno provato a ucciderlo tante volte, nei modi più vigliacchi. Ci erano quasi riusciti: ma niente. Così lui ha dato un bacio a sua moglie, ha salutato i suoi ragazzi, ha preso un aereo ed è tornato in Russia, dove sapeva che ad attenderlo ci sarebbe stata la più terribile delle prigionie e la più scontata delle morti. È finita la sua esistenza, ma non il suo sogno di una Russia libera dai tiranni e in pace con il mondo.  Qualcuno ha detto "Beato quel popolo che non ha bisogno di eroi": io non sono d'accordo. Tutti i popoli ne hanno bisogno, in pace come in guerra. Sono quegli uomini e quelle donne che parlano agli altri e per gli altri, anche quando tutti sono muti e solitari. Come quel ragazzo, che nell'agosto di tanti anni fa affrontò da solo la morte, bruciandosi davanti ai carri armati sovietici che invadevano Praga. Il giorno in cui è morto Jan Palach ha vinto la libertà ed è nata l'Europa che amiamo. Sarà lo stesso per Aleksej Naval'nyj. Il 16 febbraio hanno ucciso un uomo libero, ma ne sono nati migliaia in Russia, in Europa e nel mondo.
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Jaak Madison
Political group: ID
Country: France
Language: EN

You were saying absolutely right things about Russia, the current Russia, what we have today. And the very sad story is that the independent polling stations have shown that too many people are still supporting the regime of Putin. They are supporting the ideas of the old imperialist Russia. There are about 70% of the people who are saying that, yes, we have to restore the great Russia and should have the same kind of borders that they had in history.  But the other side of the coin is that almost 30% of the Russian people doesn’t like those ideas. It means that almost 30 million people in Russia would like to have a normal country with stability, with freedom and peace. And as I am from Estonia, of course we feel it like from the bones, like what is it like to live next to the country who would like to occupy you? But it gives hope also for us to have a normal future, normal cooperation, because I am sure that everybody here in this room would like to have a normal cooperation with the biggest country in the world that’s called Russia, to have a normalised relations, to have a normal economy, to have a normal friendship. And that’s also why I’m looking forward for the future, that maybe in the future, one day, it is possible to have normalised relations with our neighbours. And that gives the hope that there are still about 30 million people, including you, who are standing against this regime and hoping for a better Russia and a better future. I think I said enough, I really wish the best for you and for children, and I’m more than sure that one day we will have a great country called Russia who has no kind of imperialist ideas and will have normal relations with all the neighbours in Europe.
Debate: Formal sitting - Address by Yulia Navalnaya
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Nikolaj Villumsen
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

All of us here today mourn with you the loss of your husband, Alexei Navalny – a man who became one of the symbols of resistance to Putin’s regime, who stood up for what he believed in and spoke out loud also in the face of repression. Alexei Navalny helped expose Putin to the world. He shone a light on the enormous corruption of Putin and his oligarch friends. It was something that clearly frightened Putin. Because despots like Putin are afraid of facts, of debate, of truth. And your husband tried to bring forward all of that. And for that, he was poisoned and he was accused by the Putin regime. He was unjustly jailed, tortured and he paid the ultimate price. And yet, despite the sadness and the loss that led here, it is also good to hear you and to see you speaking out here today in Strasbourg, because it means that Putin did not succeed in silencing the critique. It means that the fight against repression continues. Dear Yulia Navalnaya, to offer you my condolences seems way too little. What I can offer you is my profound respect and admiration for the work of your husband and of you and for everyone who dares to stand up against despots like Vladimir Putin. May the death of Alexei Navalny not be in vain. May democracy triumph in the end.
Debate: Ongoing negotiations on a status agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency  in Senegal
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Cornelia Ernst
Country: France
Language: DE

Es ist Ihre arrogante, neokoloniale Agenda, die es nicht erträgt, dass ein Land wie Senegal, wo Migration als normaler Teil gesellschaftlichen Handelns angesehen wird, mit einem Nein antwortet. Wir als Europaabgeordnete haben die Pflicht, das Handeln der EU in Drittstaaten zu hinterfragen und zu überwachen. Auch wenn PPE und extreme Rechte es nicht wahrhaben wollen: Die Kolonialzeiten sind vorbei – und das ist gut so! Wir als Linke stehen an der Seite der senegalesischen Zivilgesellschaft und daran ändert sich auch nichts.
Debate: The murder of Alexei Navalny and the need for EU action in support of political prisoners and oppressed civil society in Russia
Date: WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Erklärungen des Rates und der Kommission zu der Ermordung von Alexei Nawalny und der Notwendigkeit von EU-Maßnahmen zur Unterstützung der politischen Gefangenen und der unterdrückten Zivilgesellschaft in Russland (