unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Brando Benifei
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, fino a pochi anni fa, parlando di Tunisia, avremmo pensato immediatamente alla Rivoluzione dei gelsomini, alle Primavere arabe, al primo vero esempio di Costituzione democratica nel mondo arabo. Oggi, invece, vediamo solo caos, una gravissima crisi economica e un'inquietante situazione politico-istituzionale, dovuta a una lunga serie di decisioni politiche prese dal presidente Saïed, che riportano alla mente il periodo più buio di Ben Ali. La transizione democratica del paese, che io ho vissuto da vicino come osservatore elettorale per le elezioni locali, oggi subisce una pesante battuta d'arresto e la Tunisia sta di fatto regredendo già da luglio 2021, quando il Presidente congelò il parlamento e iniziò un cammino all'insegna della repressione nei confronti di oppositori politici, sindacati e attivisti. Il controverso referendum costituzionale dello scorso luglio ha visto un'affluenza del 27 % e le recenti elezioni legislative, boicottate in massa, del solo 11 %. Lo scenario è quindi quello di un uomo solo al comando, con pieni poteri, e un parlamento estremamente delegittimato. La situazione è insostenibile. Come Parlamento europeo chiediamo subito riforme economiche perché il paese ottenga i prestiti necessari e un cambio di passo sulla difesa dello Stato di diritto. Il popolo tunisino, al quale l'Unione europea è sempre stata accanto nelle sue ambizioni democratiche, merita senza dubbio condizioni migliori. L'Europa non si deve voltare dall'altra parte.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Bernard Guetta
Political group: Renew
Country: Austria
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, la Tunisie ne nous est pas étrangère: elle est si intimement liée à l’histoire de la France, de l’Italie et de toute l’Europe que nous avons vis-à-vis d’elle les mêmes devoirs que vis-à-vis d’une sœur ou d’un frère. Avant d’avoir ouvert la voie au printemps arabe de 2011, la Tunisie avait su négocier son indépendance sans ressentiment ni violence. Habib Bourguiba, son libérateur, s’était ensuite obligé à doter les femmes tunisiennes du statut le plus libéral du monde arabe et à permettre l’enracinement d’une puissante centrale syndicale, qui fut toujours un facteur d’équilibre social et politique. Si proche de nos côtes, si proche de nos cœurs, la Tunisie pourrait être l’une des nôtres, et c’est pourquoi nous devons parler fort et vrai à l’homme qui l’a fait si vite revenir en arrière. Nous devons dire à M. Saïed que notre budget d’assistance n’est pas fait pour briser l’indépendance de la justice, mais, au contraire, pour la renforcer. Nous devons lui dire qu’il y a trop de dictatures sur Terre pour qu’il en crée une nouvelle et que nous aimons trop la Tunisie pour nous y résigner. Madame la Commissaire, Madame la Ministre, chers collègues, nous avons à appeler un chat un chat, et M. Saïed un homme avec lequel nous ne traiterons pas, car il conduit son peuple au malheur et déstabilise plus encore les deux rives de la
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Jakop G. Dalunde
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: SV

Herr talman! Den 17 december 2010 inleddes den arabiska våren efter Mohammed Bouazizis protest mot korruption, bristen på demokrati och matpriserna. Tunisien blev en symbol för den demokratiska revolutionen i hela denna region. Men ett decennium senare är landets demokrati på väg att utraderas. Att fängsla oppositionsledare, journalister och företrädare för civilsamhället går emot de allra mest grundläggande värdena i en demokrati. President Saïeds agerande är helt oacceptabelt. Jag träffade honom i våras med en delegation från detta parlament och redan då var det uppenbart att respekten för rättsstaten och den grundläggande demokratin saknades hos denna president. Och förra årets valdeltagande talar sitt tydliga språk. Om nio av tio medborgare i ett land väljer att inte rösta är det en symbol för att något inte står helt rätt till. Att förlora förtroendet för sitt lands politiska institutioner är att förlora hoppet om en bättre framtid. Det är dags att omvärlden höjer sina röster i solidaritet med det tunisiska folket. Det är dags att vi krokar arm med dem som glömts bort och visa att vi finns. Att Tunisien kan vara symbol för en demokratisk strävan. Vi måste öka pressen på den tunisiska regimen och visa att vi står upp för det tunisiska folket.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Evin Incir
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

Mr President, the revolutions in the Middle East and North Africa brought light into the tunnel for the people that were suffering under dictatorships. However, the light went out as quickly as it appeared, but in one place it remained, Tunisia. I remember it very well when walking around in the streets of Tunis, after the regime of the dictator Ben Ali fell. I remember it also very well in the discussions with Mustapha Ben Jaafar, the former speaker of the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia. The light in the tunnel was there. It is therefore regrettable the path that current regime has decided to take. Many hope Tunisia will deepen its democratic transition, but unfortunately it not only remains, it also regresses.  I met the current President Kais Saied myself once in 2021. Back then it was many nice words expressed by him, but today we know that the words seem to have been only words. Opposition and dissidents are under attack to the extent that civilians are being put before military courts. Freedom of expression is not anything in sight anymore. It remains today as a dream that could have been, but never was because of President Kais Saied. European Union has a bilateral assistance that is supposed to go to promoting good governance and rule of law, but the reality speaks for itself. Deterioration on the ground is a fact.  My question to the Commission and to the Council is how are we ensuring that no single cent of our money goes to human rights violations in Tunisia?
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Isabel Santos
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, cumprem-se 12 anos sobre o fim da Revolução de Jasmim. A força do povo fez da Tunísia, nesse período, sinónimo de esperança para todos nós. No entanto, de há ano e meio a esta parte, a desilusão é clara. As manobras políticas do presidente Saïed, arrogando-se plenos poderes e demitindo o Parlamento, colocaram um termo ao sonho tunisino. A insatisfação popular refletiu-se claramente na participação das últimas eleições parlamentares, boicotada por boa margem dos partidos políticos. Apenas 11 % do eleitorado votou. Não restam dúvidas sobre o desalento dos tunisinos. A falta de respeito pelos valores democráticos e a ausência de sentido de Estado juntaram-se à debilidade económica do país e colocaram definitivamente em causa o seu futuro. O futuro, que, outrora, se adivinhava auspicioso, torna-se cada vez mais distante. Por isso, cabe-nos, aqui, Senhora Comissária, perguntar-lhe muito claramente: como é que a União Europeia se pensa posicionar em relação ao futuro do país, colocando, bem claro, que qualquer apoio da União Europeia tem condições? E que essas condições são de respeito pelos valores democráticos e de respeito pelos direitos humanos.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Carina Ohlsson
Political group: S-D
Language: SV

Herr talman! Jag har flera gånger varit i Tunisien för att vara med och stärka arbetet med demokrati, jämställdhet och respekt för mänskliga rättigheter. Att nu bevittna landets utveckling är mycket oroande, eftersom Tunisien inte längre kan agera demokratiskt föredöme i Mellanöstern och Nordafrika. I januari marscherade tusentals människor i protest mot president Saïed som anklagas för att återinföra autokrati samtidigt som den ekonomiska krisen tilltar. Till en början stöddes president Saïeds maktövertagande, men det har blivit allt mer tydligt för befolkningen att landets ekonomiska och sociala kris inte kan lösas av ett centraliserat presidentämbete där parlamentets roll sätts ur spel. Jag förväntar mig att kommissionen mycket tydligare sätter press på Tunisiens regering. En nedmontering av den sköra tunisiska demokratin måste få tydliga konsekvenser när det gäller EU:s budgetstöd. EU måste ta fram en ny Tunisienstrategi som omlokaliserar budgetstöd till demokratifrämjande åtgärder, det civila samhället, kvinnoorganisationer och fackföreningsrörelse. Bara så kan Tunisien återgå till andan av dialog som präglade landet efter Jasminrevolutionen.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Maria Grapini
Political group: S-D
Country: Portugal
Language: RO

Domnule președinte, doamna comisar, doamna ministru, sigur, am văzut acum cu toții că, de fapt, Tunisia a făcut pași înapoi, prin tot ce s-a întâmplat acolo, dar asta nu înseamnă că trebuie să abandonăm. Aici intervine diplomația, doamna comisar, doamna ministru, să vedem cum nu abandonăm cetățenii, că nu dictatorii sunt interesanți pentru noi și importanți, ci cetățenii.  Și da, Tunisia este un partener, avem un acord cu Tunisia, nu o putem abandona. Problema importantă este să găsim mecanismele prin care, într-adevăr, drepturile omului să se restabilească, Constituția să funcționeze în favoarea cetățenilor și nu în favoarea unui dictator.  Și da, sigur că trebuie să continuăm, prin pârghiile pe care le avem, pentru că nu putem să facem orice într-o țară terță, dar prin pârghiile pe care le avem, să mergem să fim aproape de tunisieni și să întoarcem Tunisia pe calea democrației, așa cum începuse foarte bine și, iată, a trebuit să suporte cetățenii asemenea măsuri luate, din punctul meu de vedere, de un dictator.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, 12 years ago, Tunisians overthrew Ben Ali and many Europeans thought that this was all about democracy and Tunisians wanting to be more like us.  But the truth is that, yes, it was a reaction to brutal repression, but also to the wider regime of global inequality, shocking unemployment, food inflation and intolerable living conditions because the country was being run for foreign interests rather than in the interests of the people who live there.  And now here we go again: Tunisia battered under structural assault, the IMF and World Bank neoliberal reforms gutting the state, food and fuel crises only deepened by the war in Ukraine, and again, arrests, imprisonments and real repression against the opposition.  But let us not condemn the effects and ignore the causes. Don’t pretend that this has nothing got to do with us. There’s no justice without social justice and our assistance always comes with strings attached. And it’s these strings which bind societies in debt servitude, a pattern repeated across Africa and across the world. This isn’t just Tunisia’s repression and chaos, it’s ours too.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, in our latest discussion on the situation on Tunisia, we sent a very clear appeal to President Saied for bringing back Tunisia on the right path, saying that it was not too late for taking such an essential step. However, this is time, I think, that it is too late. Despite the civil protests and our calls, President Saied went on with these arbitrary detentions and he did not show any sign of consideration for the recent decision of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights that defined his rise to power as an unconstitutional coup against democracy. Being a founding member of the African Court, Tunisia has a binding obligation to respect the verdict, thus repealing all those decrees that represent clear violations of human rights and individual liberties, President Saied, cannot act as if nothing happened. And our union must strongly support and back our African counterparts and partners in their efforts to restore democracy and the rule of law in the country that used to be the lighthouse of democracy in North Africa.  We owe this to the Tunisian people that fought hard for a better future. Here there is no middle ground: either we stand firmly on the side of democracy or our international credibility will be lost forever.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, the continuation of the war in Ukraine is expected to drive Tunisia’s inflation rate above 10% this year. A potential USD 1.9 billion rescue package with the IMF will mean drastic economic reforms that will increase inequality. The EU’s meagre assistance is also dependent on neoliberal economic reforms, like freezing public sector hiring and wages, while inflation runs out of control. President Saied’s recent crackdown on the opposition and monopolisation of power has passed without an awful lot of comment. He’s been performing his tasks obediently enough, ripping up the social safety net for Tunisians in exchange for funds that will service existing debts, clamping down on migration to the EU and helping to increase the transit of Algerian gas to the EU. The political West using the war to put the neocolonial squeeze on countries like this is a gamble with a big potential for backfire. You can understand Tunisians thinking the 2011 revolution remains unfinished.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Helena Dalli
Language: EN

Our values are clear and we have been vocal about them. We believe that respect for the right to a fair trial and due process requirements, including judicial transparency, are crucial. And I recall that our partnership with Tunisia is rooted in shared values such as democracy, the rule of law and human rights, including fundamental freedoms.  We remain determined to continue supporting the Tunisian population against the very difficult socioeconomic backdrop, while taking into account the evolution of the deteriorating political situation.  We exchanged with our Member States and we all think it would be a mistake to discontinue our assistance now, which would impose the highest price to pay on the Tunisian people. We maintain the annual level of bilateral assistance and we adapt it to propose meaningful tailor-made programmes according to the current context. We expect the new Tunisian Government to respond to their own commitments. The EU will stand by the Tunisian people and support reform efforts in today’s complex context.
Debate: Response to the situation in Tunisia
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Jessika Roswall 
Language: EN

The recent elections have been marked by the absence of political parties and extremely low turnout. Our hope is that President Saied pursues the political roadmap he announced in December 2021. Let me also recall that the EU’s aim is indeed to support the Tunisian people who are facing major socio—economic and financial challenges, and as the Commissioner said, we are determined to continue supporting the population against a very difficult socio—economic backdrop due to the economic impact of COVID and also the Russian aggression of war in Ukraine, while also taking into account the evolution of the political situation. But our values are very clear: the EU has not shied away from the expression of our worries and has continued to pass important and clear messages at all levels, including meeting the Tunisian authorities. But I have listened to your interventions very closely, and I thank you for your attention.
Debate: Tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Helena Dalli
Language: EN

Notwithstanding multiple summits and meetings under the aegis of the regional initiatives launched to secure a peace deal – the Luanda and Nairobi processes – the situation has not improved. The reciprocally hostile rhetoric of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda has not abated. The level of hate speech and ethnic violence is raising alarming levels. Several cross-border incidents, including recently, remind us that the threat to regional security is all too real.  The EU has repeatedly and insistently expressed its full, unequivocal support to the Luanda and Nairobi processes, and it does so once again. It is imperative that the decisions reached and confirmed under the frame of these processes be comprehensively respected and fully implemented by all parties.  This includes stopping any collusion and support – direct or indirect – to non-state armed groups that operate in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the broader region.  The EU urges the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to exercise maximum restraint and restore an atmosphere of bilateral dialogue and mutual trust. A conflict between these two countries, directly or by proxy, would be an unmitigated disaster for both and the region as a whole, and one that would affect the most vulnerable the hardest. The region’s tragic history and the aggravating humanitarian situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a consequence of the recent cycle of violence, bear powerful witness to the enormous suffering and damage this can cause.  The EU will continue to closely monitor developments on the ground and look towards peace and security in the Great Lakes in close consultation with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also with all our other partners in the region and beyond. I thank you very much and I look forward to the debate.
Debate: Tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: György Hölvényi
Political group: PPE
Country: Latvia
Language: HU

Látnunk kell, a Kongó és a Ruanda határán kibontakozó konfliktus nem más, mint a kelet-kongói régióban kialakult évtizedes, a nemzetközi közösség által kezeletlen biztonsági vákuum eredménye. A kinshasai kormány egyszerűen képtelen az ország egészében biztosítani az állami jelenlétet. Ez különösen igaz a konfliktusok által sújtott területen. Ez teszi lehetővé, hogy fegyveres milíciák a legkülönbözőbb, ellenőrizhetetlen külföldi támogatásokkal küzdjenek az olyan nélkülözhetetlen fémek kitermelésének jogaiért, mint a kobalt, a lítium és a tantál. A regionális béke és a stabilitás megteremtését akadályozza a Kongóban élő tuszikkal szembeni gyűlöletbeszéd és erőszak is. Láttuk már pontosan a szomszédos országgal, hogy az ilyen uszításnak milyen következményei lehetnek. Nem szabad újra erre az útra tévedni.  Az Európai Uniónak a tagállamokkal együttműködve technikai segítséget kell nyújtania Kongónak és Ruandának, ahogy azt a Biztos Asszony is említette, többek között az állami intézmények megerősítéséhez, a korrupció leküzdéséhez, egyszóval a stabil kormányzás megteremtéséhez. Emellett pedig minden diplomácia eszközzel elő kell segíteni a helyzet rendezését. A térség vezetőinek bevonásával regionális szinten meg kell találni a kiegyezéspolitikai és gazdasági lehetőségeit, azonban mindenekelőtt fel kell mérni, hogy az Európai Unió valóban lehet-e a megbékélést segítő valós tényező.  Ezzel őszintén szembe kell néznünk. Az Európai Uniónak dönteni kell, a megbékélést mozdítja elő, vagy csak ideológiai harcot vív Afrikában.
Debate: Tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Carlos Zorrinho
Political group: S-D
Language: PT

O Ruanda, que noutros pontos da África tem estado empenhado em missões de estabilização e de segurança, tem, segundo os relatórios internacionais, pisado linhas vermelhas do respeito pela soberania, a integridade de fronteiras e a exploração de recursos sediados no território da República Democrática do Congo. É fundamental que cesse de o fazer, de forma direta ou através do apoio a grupos que põem em causa a soberania do Congo. Esse é o primeiro passo para pôr fim às tensões entre os dois países. Feito isto, é fundamental que as instituições da República Democrática do Congo e a comunidade internacional trabalhem em conjunto para que o país tenha a capacidade de colmatar o vazio de segurança que, como antes referi, está na raiz das tensões identificadas. A reforma da polícia congolesa, projeto que tem tido o apoio da MONUSCO (Missão de Estabilização da Organização das Nações Unidas na República Democrática), deve prosseguir. Esse apoio deve também centrar-se na oportunidade de reforço da capacidade institucional que podem representar as eleições presidenciais agendadas para o final deste ano. Em articulação com a União Africana e com as comunidades regionais, a União Europeia deve continuar a apoiar o processo de Nairóbi e a mediação do Quénia, que não pode ser mais uma operação falhada ou sem consequências no terreno, sob pena de a conflitualidade entre o Ruanda e a República Democrática do Congo se expandir a toda a região dos Grandes Lagos, criando terreno fértil para a ação de grupos rebeldes e provocando danos intoleráveis do ponto de vista político, económico e social. A grave crise humanitária, numa zona particularmente sensível, tem de ser combatida e não agravada. Em última análise, são as pessoas que, indiretamente, sofrem no seu quotidiano as consequências das tensões políticas e militares. É para elas e em nome delas, que apelo ao diálogo, ao bom senso e ao compromisso entre os povos, ao fim da violência ao serviço de interesses obscuros e à sua substituição por um processo de desenvolvimento sustentável, que tire partido do enorme potencial da região.
Debate: Tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Date: TUESDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2023
Speaker: Hilde Vautmans
Political group: Renew
Country: Romania
Language: FR

En effet, la situation humanitaire est alarmante. Nous sommes témoins d’une foule de maux qui accompagnent cette guerre: insécurité, recrutement forcé et déplacement des civils, exécutions sommaires et massacres font désormais partie du décor de l’est de la RDC. Ces informations découlent des rapports de Human Rights Watch et des Nations unies pour les droits de l’homme, qui en témoignent clairement. Comme nous venons de le mentionner, ces problèmes sont connus, de même que les solutions. Malheureusement, à la différence des problèmes, les solutions demeurent sur papier. L’Europe, Monsieur le Commissaire, Madame la Commissaire, l’Europe doit peser de tout son poids pour faciliter la mise en place de ces solutions, telles que l’application de la feuille de route de Luanda ou le processus de Nairobi. La souffrance a assez duré dans cette poudrière, qui risque de provoquer l’embrasement de toute la région si rien n’est fait. Martin Luther King a dit: «Je n’ai pas peur de la méchanceté des mauvais, mais du silence des gens honnêtes.» Alors brisons ce silence et dénonçons cette barbarie afin d’y mettre fin. Et au peuple congolais, je dis: vous êtes sur les rails de la démocratie, avec un grand défi, celui d’organiser les élections. Ne laissez pas les ennemis de la démocratie vous faire dévier de cette route, car ils ne l’ont jamais goûtée.