unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Paulo Rangel
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Madam President, the most recent act by Mr Lukashenko is not just another bold provocation. Hijacking an EU civilian aircraft is an act of State terrorism. While there is no comparison, dare I say that, after the events of 11 September 2001, this is the most serious attack on civil aviation in the history of civil aviation. This is a terrorist attack that was led, commanded and executed by a State. And this is in parallel with the repression and oppression of the Belarusian people, including torture, being made political prisoners and disappearances.  If the European Union doesn’t adopt a very, very strong and hard stance against this behaviour, we will no longer be credible.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Tonino Picula
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: EN

Madam President, the hijack of an EU plane flying between two EU capitals to kidnap a journalist who has been granted asylum in the European Union shows that the situation in Belarus is going from very bad to even worse. The non-legitimate regime continues its repression against its people and bluntly threatens our aviation transport and overall security. We must give better protection to all of the Belarusian citizens that are exiled and seeking asylum. We must unite our action with like-minded partners and exert political pressure for all of the political prisoners to be released. However, the biggest impact we can achieve is with substantial economic sanctions that would target all of the enablers of this regime immediately. Today, I join the calls for the EU to lead the organisation of the International Conference on Belarus. EUR 3 billion for democracy is a good start. Now we need geopolitical actions.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Hilde Vautmans
Political group: Renew
Country: Romania
Language: NL

Voorzitter, we hadden al veel gezien van de zogenaamde laatste dictator van Europa, maar het kapen van een Europees vliegtuig om een kritische stem te arresteren is een oorlogsdaad en kan Europa niet over zijn kant laten gaan. Daarnet nam ik met collega's deel aan een solidariteitsactie om onze steun te betuigen aan het Wit-Russische volk en we vragen uitdrukkelijk de onmiddellijke vrijlating van Roman Protasevic en Sofia Sapega en alle andere politieke gevangenen.  Maar collega's, we krijgen Loekasjenko alleen op de knieën als we hem isoleren en tonen dat hij zichzelf tot internationale paria heeft gemaakt. Dus confisqueer alle buitenlandse tegoeden en voer bijkomende sancties in tegen Loekasjenko en de boeven om hem heen. Geen Wit-Russisch vliegtuig zou nog mogen landen in het westen. Zet een globale conferentie voor de toekomst van een democratisch Wit-Rusland op en dring aan, meneer Borrell, op de vrijlating van alle politiek gevangenen. U heeft onze steun. Ga ervoor.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Kinga Gál
Political group: NI
Country: Spain
Language: HU

Tisztelt Elnök asszony, Főképviselő úr! Elfogadhatatlan egy menetrendszerinti utasszállító repülőgép minden indok nélküli földre kényszerítése a belorusz hatóságok által. El sem tudom képzelni, hogy mit érezhettek a két uniós főváros között közlekedő gép utasai, amikor vadászgépeket tekintettek meg a repülőjük ablakából. Mindent meg kell tenni, hogy a több mint száz utas életét veszélyeztető kényszerítés többé ne történhessen meg sehol a világon. E tekintetben meghozott gyors és határozott uniós válaszintézkedések, és remélem, hogy ezeknek értelmük lesz, lesz folytatásuk és határozottabban, gyorsabban fogunk tudni majd reagálni. A Raman Prataszevics újságíró és menyasszonya Szofija Szapega kényszerített minszki landolását követően őrizetbe vétele, őrizetben tartása elfogadhatatlan. A belorusz hatóságoknak azonnal szabadon kell bocsátani őket, mint minden politikai fogolytársukat.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Miriam Lexmann
Political group: PPE
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Madam President, dear colleagues, Alexander Lukashenko is a despot who has imprisoned the entire nation, much like the Soviet Union, which he continues to revere. Show trials, mass arrest, rape and torture, now even state terrorism: Lukashenko will stop at nothing. Let me just mention my good friend, Paval Sieviaryniec, the co-chair of the Belarusian Christian Democrats, who has already spent 10 years in prison at Lukashenko’s penal colonies and now has been sentenced to another seven years, all because he believes in a free and sovereign Belarus. Dear colleagues, it is time for us to face the reality. Targeting sanctions only are not sufficient to stop Lukashenko. It is time for sectoral economic sanctions, conditional on the release of all political prisoners and the end of all the repressions.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Sven Mikser
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

Madam President, when protests began in Minsk against Lukashenko’s dictatorship last year, many of us were excessively jubilant and predicted an imminent fall of the regime. Well the jubilation was, unfortunately, premature, and we can say that with every new crime against his own people, the likelihood of Lukashenko ever voluntarily relinquishing power and allowing for a democratic transition is only growing more and more remote. As demonstrated by the hijacking of a civilian aircraft in May, Lukashenko no longer even shies away from putting the lives of hundreds of EU nationals at risk while hunting down his regime’s critics abroad. Europe must not tolerate this kind of behaviour. Our response to Lukashenko’s total neglect of international norms cannot be naive, and it will have to be even more resolute. The sanctions we apply must obviously be well targeted, but the effect of those sanctions will have to go all the way to the top of the regime, including Lukashenko himself. Finally, we will have to be able to work hard to mitigate the Russian efforts to prop up Lukashenko’s criminal regime and to exploit the situation in Belarus in order to advance the Kremlin’s own anti-democratic agenda.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Urmas Paet
Political group: Renew
Country: Italy
Language: ET

Proua president, head kolleegid! Valgevene diktaator on saanud pikalt kuritegusid toime panna, sest oma riigis on ta tekitanud hirmuõhustiku. Venemaa toetab teda igakülgselt ning muul maailmal on suuresti ükskõik. Lukašenko näeb, et muu maailma, sealhulgas Euroopa reaktsioon on aeglane ja nõrk. Seetõttu on ta oma rahva represseerimiselt liikunud näiteks ka Euroopa lennuki maanduma sundimisele, et sealt opositsionääre kätte saada. Hea ainult, et see ei lõppenud lennukatastroofi ja 170 hukkunuga. Aga ilmselgelt on diktaator ka selleks võimeline: 450 poliitvangi, kellest osa on surnud, repressioonid ja oma rahva alandamine. See on Valgevene argipäev.  Kus on Euroopa Ülemkogus kokku lepitud Valgevene režiimi vastased, tegelikult mõju avaldavad sanktsioonid? Liiga vähe ja aeglaselt on Euroopa Liit Valgevene diktaatori suhtes ette võtnud. Mida oodatakse? Uut lennukatastroofi nagu Malaisia lennuki allatulistamine Ida-Ukraina kohal? Nüüd ja kohe tuleb Euroopa Liidul ja liikmesriikidel tegutseda ja teha reaalseid otsuseid sanktsioonideks konkreetsete ettevõtete ja majandusharude osas, mis diktaatorile ka mõju avaldavad.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Alexander Alexandrov Yordanov
Political group: PPE
Country: Bulgaria
Language: BG

Уважаема г-жо Председател, уважаеми г-н Борел, за режима на Лукашенко трябва да има още по-строги санкции, защото неговата политика е част от стратегията на Кремъл за възстановяване на руското влияние в държавите от бившия социалистически блок. Империята иска да се възроди. Агресията срещу Украйна бе доказателство. Чрез Лукашенко Путин иска да държи под контрол и Беларус. Режимът в Минск е едно от оръжията на Кремъл във водената от Путин хибридна война срещу демокрацията. Тази война се пренася и в други държави. Един пример: преди няколко месеца в България службите за сигурност разбиха руска шпионска мрежа, но вместо да бъде поздравен и дори награден, директорът на Агенцията за национална сигурност бе уволнен от прокремълския български президент. Вярвам, че Беларус ще бъде свободна и демократична държава.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Carmen Avram
Political group: S-D
Country: Romania
Language: RO

Doamna președintă, cu 400 de arestări în numai cinci luni, Belarus a fost în 2020 cea mai periculoasă țară din Europa în privința atacurilor asupra jurnaliștilor, arată Reporteri fără Frontiere. În 2021, în șase luni, regimul Lukașenko a trecut de la teroare aplicată punctual, la teroare pe scară largă, punând în pericol toți cetățenii europeni, mai întâi cu incidentul de la centrala nucleară Ostroveț și recent cu precedentul creat cu deturnarea unui avion de pasageri pe o rută europeană. Dar cu toate avertismentele și sancțiunile Uniunii, Aleksandr Lukașenko mărșăluiește înainte. De ce? Pentru că Lukașenko nu e singur. El e îmbrățișat în toate accepțiunile cuvântului, public și ostentativ, de marele său sponsor, Vladimir Putin. Iar mai nou, Turcia îi oferă consultanță în tactici de luptă împotriva Uniunii Europene. Sunt în favoarea înăspririi sancțiunilor împotriva acestui dictator, dar asta, mă tem, nu-i va salva suficient de repede pe Roman Protasevici, nici pe toți ceilalți opozanți care zac și acum în pușcării, într-o țară devenită ea însăși o mare pușcărie. Sponsorii lui Lukașenko trebuie opriți într-un fel sau altul. Altfel, peste cinci ani, vom fi tot aici, vorbind tot despre el.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Tom Vandenkendelaere
Political group: PPE
Country: Austria
Language: NL

Voorzitter, de verontrustende ontwikkelingen in Wit-Rusland blijven ons in toenemende mate grote zorgen baren. De vliegtuigkaping enkele weken terug heeft ons verbluft. En toch ook weer niet. Het was een wake up call. Het heeft ons duidelijk gemaakt waar een autoritair regime toe in staat is, een regime dat zich ondanks systemische aberraties kan handhaven omwille van een bondgenootschap met en strategische steun van Rusland.  Groot is onze consensus om verregaande maatregelen te nemen tegen Minsk als ik het hier zo hoor en om op te roepen tot een internationale conferentie over de toekomst, en  om tot internationaal onderzoek tegen en de internationale berechting van Loekasjenko over te gaan en om ook de democratische krachten en de oppositie in zijn land te ondersteunen. Dat is onze taak opdat de kritische aandacht van de Unie voor de ontwikkelingen in Wit-Rusland aanwezig blijft. De resolutie waarover deze week wordt gestemd is dus in dit opzicht een welkom signaal.  Collega's, over enkele weken staat Rusland opnieuw op de agenda van de Europese Raad, maar ook bij de NAVO en de EU-VS-toppen. Wat mij betreft zijn samenhang en samenwerking met partners die onze waarden en belangen delen de kern van onze strategie tegen Rusland en in dit geval ook tegen Wit-Rusland.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Josep Borrell Fontelles
Language: EN

I agree with all of you that we are facing a dictator. I agree with all of you that he has the support of Russia. I agree with all of you that we have to continue putting pressure and using all our capacities and tools in order to support civil society in Belarus. We have to consider this idea of holding an international conference on Belarus. We have to continue offering support and the prospect of financial support for a Belarusian democratic country. We have to target our sanctions in order to focus on Lukashenko and his cronies and to try to avoid ordinary citizens, but you know that you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. You have to take measures that will certainly affect the Belarusian economy but at the same time support civil society, independent media, and the rule of law in order to push for free and fair elections. We know that we are very far away from that. We know that Russian support – they have recently renewed a grant of USD 500 million – is very important for Lukashenko. This will certainly be taken into consideration by the European Council in the next meeting when they discuss our relationship with Russia. I can assure you that we are doing everything we can, from the beginning, in order to fight this dictatorship and to support the people who are suffering from it. I also thank you for your commitment to this purpose.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Beata Mazurek
Political group: ECR
Country: Malta
Language: PL

Jednocześnie nie możemy zapomnieć o pomocy dla naszych przyjaciół Białorusinów, którzy doświadczeni ostatnimi wydarzeniami, potrzebują jej bardziej niż kiedykolwiek. Premier Polski Mateusz Morawiecki przedstawił plan gospodarczy dla demokratycznej Białorusi, który prezentuje lepszą alternatywę wobec zastoju gospodarczego będącego skutkiem złych rządów Łukaszenki. Ta kompleksowa forma będzie nie tylko wsparciem finansowym, ale zapewni społeczeństwu białoruskiemu pomoc o charakterze długoterminowym, której tak bardzo potrzebują. Chciałabym przypomnieć, że Białoruś cały czas znajduje się w Europie. Dla dobra jej mieszkańców i dla dobra i bezpieczeństwa nas wszystkich trzeba zrobić wszystko, by jej pomóc.
Debate: Systematic repression in Belarus and its consequences for European security following abductions from an EU civilian plane intercepted by the Belarusian authorities
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Janina Ochojska
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: PL

Dlatego apeluję o nałożenie ukierunkowanych sankcji gospodarczych i objęcie nimi wszystkich tych, którzy wspierają reżim Łukaszenki. Musimy jak najszybciej opracować plan wsparcia dla opozycji i społeczeństwa obywatelskiego wraz ze wsparciem psychologicznym i programami leczenia dla setek uwięzionych i torturowanych. Co więcej musimy pamiętać o rozliczeniu oprawców, przeprowadzeniu procesów i walce z bezkarnością wszystkich tych, którzy przyczynili się do wsparcia terroru. Białoruskie społeczeństwo musi nie tylko wiedzieć, że ma wsparcie międzynarodowej społeczności, ale przede wszystkim odczuć działanie tego wsparcia w konkretnych przypadkach.
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Nicola Beer
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Erklärung des Vizepräsidenten der Kommission und Hohen Vertreters der Union für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik zur Lage in Afghanistan (
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Rasa Juknevičienė
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

The EU must continue to play an important role in the country’s reconstruction. The projects launched must be continued, and Afghanistan must be given a prominent place in the new European global instrument. Peace agreements are still very fragile. The surrounding states will try to strengthen their influence. But Afghan women, I know, look at us with hope. We should help them become fully fledged owners of their country.
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Elena Yoncheva
Political group: S-D
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

Après 20 ans d’intervention internationale, malgré de nombreuses améliorations, l’Afghanistan ne peut pas être considéré comme une véritable réussite. Le trafic de drogue et d’armes illégales vers les organisations terroristes reste au plus haut niveau. La production d’opium a atteint 6 300 tonnes sur une superficie totale de 224 000 hectares. C’est presque le territoire du Luxembourg, on peut imaginer. Aujourd’hui, l’Afghanistan produit trois fois plus de drogue qu’à l’époque des talibans, et la production de drogue est également une menace pour la sécurité de l’Union européenne.  Il est maintenant temps de repenser nos politiques. L’Union européenne ne peut plus se limiter à l’aide économique, mais doit agir en tant qu’acteur mondial dans la région.
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Political group: Renew
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

We need a comprehensive strategy for future cooperation with Afghanistan. The European Union development aid has to be conditioned to respecting women’s rights, their education and participation in public life, as well as the protection of the rights of children and minorities. Continuing fight against corruption, ensuring good governance and transparent use of financial support are equally important. This must be an EU condition, not a hopeful wish.  The danger that the Taliban could become the dominant political force is of particular concern. Transition to a new political reality after the peace process must bring reconciliation and stability, otherwise we will witness another wave of insecurity followed by divisions and emigration.
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Erik Marquardt
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: DE

Es ist richtig, dass wir als Europäische Union Afghanistan weiter unterstützen. Es ist aber auch richtig, dass die Lage sehr besorgniserregend ist und dass die Errungenschaften der letzten 20 Jahre in Gefahr sind. Jeden Tag gibt es neue Anschläge, es droht eine Hungersnot, über zehn Millionen Menschen sind inzwischen schon auf humanitäre Hilfe angewiesen. Hunderttausende sind innerhalb des Landes auf der Flucht, und mehrere Millionen Menschen sind aus Afghanistan geflohen. Afghanistan ist das unfriedlichste Land der Welt, und die Corona-Pandemie trifft das Land schwer. Nur ein geringer Anteil der Menschen flieht nach Europa, aber diejenigen, die fliehen, haben große Chancen, auch Asyl in Europa zu bekommen. Ich finde es – angesichts der Nachrichten, die uns erreichen – wirklich umso unverständlicher, dass wir nach Afghanistan abschieben und ein neues Rückführungsabkommen beschlossen haben. Es ist gerade eine neue Studie erschienen: 70 % der Menschen, die aus Europa abgeschoben wurden, sind bereits wieder aus Afghanistan geflohen. Ich glaube, dass wir angesichts der Entwicklung und des Truppenabzugs vor allem – oder sagen wir wenigstens – zwei Dinge tun sollten. Erstens: Ich glaube, wir müssen die Ortskräfte unterstützen, die jetzt auch von dem Truppenabzug betroffen sind. Es kann nicht sein, dass sich Leute über Jahrzehnte für uns engagiert haben, für uns gearbeitet haben und nun von den Taliban bedroht werden. Und ich glaube, wenn uns das Schicksal Afghanistans wirklich so wichtig ist, sollten wir Abschiebungen nach Afghanistan stoppen.
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Bernhard Zimniok
Political group: ID
Language: DE

Frauenrechte oder Schulbesuche für Mädchen gehören dann leider der Vergangenheit an. Die EU finanziert ab dann einfach nur noch eine islamistische Terrororganisation. Aber darin hat die EU ja schon Übung – siehe Hamas. Und genau wie bei den palästinensischen Terroristen unterstützt sie dann eine rückständige mittelalterliche Ideologie namens Islam. Unsere Entwicklungspolitik muss sich endlich der Realität anpassen. Diese Art der Geldverbrennung muss endlich ein Ende haben!
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

What NATO has done to Afghanistan is a crime against humanity. The US couldn’t tolerate the old socialists stepping in to run the country after the Taliban. Instead of allowing independence, NATO and the CIA empowered drug-running militias and warlords to try to keep control of the countryside. They killed countless civilians, spawned more armed opposition and created millions of refugees in the process.  There is no central government in Afghanistan. Twenty years of this and we’re watching a civil war in motion. This is your democracy and human rights promotion in practice. The situation of women in Afghanistan was better 40 years ago, but that was before the US and Saudi armed the Mujahideen.
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Pedro Marques
Political group: S-D
Country: Czechia
Language: EN

Madam President, the Afghan people have been living in a desperate situation for decades now. Political and religious violence, severe discrimination against women and disrespect for basic human rights are far from having been eradicated, and it’s hard to be optimistic about the future given the recent developments on the ground, as we have talked about at length. Increased violence has sparked fears that things may get even worse. The United States announced its full withdrawal from Afghanistan, followed by NATO. There is a high risk of increased violence. Therefore, the international community cannot just wait and see what will come after this. The EU and its Member States and the USA must remain engaged in the peace efforts, supporting the Afghan authorities and promoting regional cooperation through a multilateral framework. The international community cannot turn a blind eye to Afghanistan and abandon it to its fate. There are millions of lives at stake.
Debate: The situation in Afghanistan
Date: TUESDAY, 8 JUNE 2021
Speaker: María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos
Political group: Renew
Country: France
Language: ES

Señora presidenta, «no comerciaré con nuestra libertad para llegar a un acuerdo». Estas palabras fueron pronunciadas por Fawzia Koofi, política y activista afgana, que es una de las cuatro mujeres que están en la mesa de negociación de Doha ⸻cuatro de diecisiete miembros⸻. Demuestran una gran valentía. Acababa de salir de un atentado, y esto demuestra lo difícil que es mantener la esperanza de paz después de tantos años de conflicto viendo cómo, a pesar de estas negociaciones, la violencia se incrementa.  La retirada de las tropas indudablemente hace crítico este momento. Y en ese sentido, la Unión Europea tiene que desempeñar un papel para garantizar que la salida de las tropas no devuelva a las mujeres y a las niñas afganas a las condiciones del año 2000. Se ha avanzado mucho; sin embargo, el avance es frágil: en las ciudades las mujeres están en la universidad, son policías, pero en las áreas rurales no se ha avanzado en sus derechos, incluso algunas veces se ha ido para atrás. Por lo tanto, mantengamos nuestra posición y no dejemos que los derechos de las mujeres estén en la mesa de negociación.