unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine
Date: THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Vlad-Marius Botoş
Political group: Renew
Country: Germany
Language: RO

Domnule președinte, statele membre ale Uniunii Europene, care au primit deja refugiați din Ucraina, au făcut niște eforturi deosebite, au încercat cum au putut mai bine să se adapteze imediat la necesitățile din teren, iar aceasta văd zi de zi în satele și orașele din țara mea, din România. Am vorbit cu reprezentanți ai societății civile, cu autorități publice, care de la o zi la alta și-au schimbat prioritățile și, din activitățile obișnuite, au devenit adevărate centre de primire a refugiaților.  Efortul lor a fost impresionant, efortul tuturor a fost impresionant. Prin această rezoluție însă vrem să atragem atenția că acum este nevoie de eforturi coordonate, de acțiuni comune ale tuturor statelor membre, care găzduiesc copii și tineri refugiați, de un plan pentru viitor, fie că vorbim despre siguranța împotriva traficului și exploatării copiilor, despre educația lor pe termen scurt și mediu, despre reunificarea familiilor după finalizarea războiului. Copiii au nevoie de protecție, iar Uniunea Europeană trebuie să lucreze împreună pentru a oferi ajutorul de care au nevoie.
Debate: EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine
Date: THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Angel Dzhambazki
Political group: ECR
Country: Germany
Language: BG

Г-н Председател, колеги, гласувахме с групата си с „въздържал се“ по този доклад по една много проста причина. Няма човек, който не би подкрепил подкрепата за всеки един човек, който бяга от война. В този случай, в който имаме една агресивна, непредизвикана война, която предизвиква много страдания на територията на суверенна държава. Всички ние помагаме на хората, които бягат от Украйна. Всички ние помагаме, дори в лично и физическо качество.  Това, което ме накара да гласувам „въздържал се“ е параграфът, който изисква децата, които бягат от Украйна, да бъдат третирани като независими от своя социален, етнически произход, пол, сексуална ориентация, талант, гражданство или статут. Това е пореден случай, който е просто безобразно излишен и възмутителен. Това са деца, които бягат, на тях трябва да се помага. Защо в тези доклади трябва да се вкарва пропагандата, която няма място в тях. Затова гласувах „въздържал се“.
Debate: EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine
Date: THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, War is always brutal, particularly brutal for children. Many Ukrainian children fleeing the war will be very vulnerable. Dealing with their needs will be a massive challenge for Member States that have not prioritised the most vulnerable in their own countries to date. A new approach is required to prioritise the interests of the most vulnerable. Speaking of vulnerable, I went to Lesbos last month for the trial of Amir Zahiri and Akif Razuli, who fled Afghanistan, which was destroyed by US and NATO for 20 years. They travelled from Turkey to Greece in 2020 to claim asylum, but the Greek coastguard punctured their boat, arrested them and sent them to pre-trial detention. We went for their court case. After two days, it was postponed to today. At today’s court case, the prosecution witness, a Greek coastguard, didn’t turn up. So the prosecution asked for a postponement. A postponement. The last day he didn’t turn up either, but his written statement was accepted. This is absolutely shocking. These people have spent over two years in prison, and it is criminal what we’re doing to them. This is a war crime.
Debate: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of - March : including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation
Date: THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, this war is empowering all the worst elements everywhere – in Russia, in Ukraine and in NATO countries. The voices of barbarism are drowning out the voices for peace. The arms industry, the fossil fuel industry, the warmongers and war lending polluters are presented by the media as the same people, the reasonable ones.  We have just had the publication of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report. It’s telling us that we’re looking at the last chance to act to save human life on earth. The window of opportunity is closing for good. And what are the reasonable people, the grown—ups, doing? They are funnelling weapons into a hot war like there’s no tomorrow, implementing sanctions that are cleaving the world into new shapes that will set back the possibility to achieve meaningful climate action by for decades, while basic supply chain disruptions are going to cause prolonged suffering and destabilisation all over Eurasia and probably in Europe. We are being led by people who are prepared to see the world destroyed. It is insufferable.
Debate: Conclusions of the European Council meeting of - March : including the latest developments of the war against Ukraine and the EU sanctions against Russia and their implementation
Date: THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Eugen Tomac
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: RO

Domnule președinte, stimați colegi, Putin este un criminal. Rusia de astăzi este un stat capturat, un stat transformat în Gulag. Pentru Putin, noțiuni precum viața, demnitatea umană, libertatea de gândire, nu există. Printre principalele sale preocupări astăzi sunt propaganda, dezinformarea, tortura, omorurile în masă.  Ceea ce s-a întâmplat în ultimele săptămâni în Ucraina ne obligă să reflectăm serios cu privire la consecințele acestui război. Nu avem voie să mai lăsăm ca oameni nevinovați să moară în chinuri. Tocmai de aceea am votat cu toată convingerea această rezoluție, pentru că cred că avem obligația să impunem un embargo total împotriva Federației Ruse. Nu avem voie să mai lăsăm nicio zi ca, din rațiuni comerciale, să îi permitem lui Putin să atace Europa.
Debate: Tribute
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Dear colleagues, this European Parliament mourns the loss of a President, a gentleman, a great European and a passionate believer in the power of politics to improve lives. Lord Henry Plumb – for us, President Plumb – passed away on 15 April. President Plumb became a Member of this House in 1979, the year of the first European elections. His commitment to Europe translated into actions, and as a new generation of Europeans, we continue to carry forward his legacy for a stronger European democracy. In 1987, spearheading the expansion of the powers of this House, Lord Plumb was the first President to address the European Council. And a year later, President Plumb awarded the first Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Nelson Mandela and to the Russian political dissident Anatoly Marchenko. Thirty-three years on, the fight for democracy and fundamental rights remains as real as ever. Most notably, President Plumb dedicated his whole life to safe and fair agriculture by strongly advocating for European food production. His work in this field serves as a model for our Parliament as we strive to ensure stable feed and food policy with a war on our continent. For his commitment, his career and his achievements in this House, for all those who knew and loved him, for his children John and Christine, colleagues, I would like to invite you to now observe a minute of silence.
Debate: Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

The PECH, IMCO and LIBE Committees have decided to enter into interinstitutional negotiations pursuant to Rule 71(1) of the Rules of Procedure. The reports, which constitute the mandates for the negotiations, are available on the plenary web page, and their titles will be published in the minutes of the sitting. Pursuant to Rule 71(2), Members or political groups reaching at least the medium threshold may request in writing by tomorrow, Tuesday, 3 May at midnight, that the decisions to enter into negotiations be put to the vote. If no request for a vote in Parliament on the decisions to enter into negotiations is made within that deadline, the committees may then start the negotiations.
Debate: Delegated acts
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

I was informed that no objections have been raised within the Conference of Committee Chairs to the recommendation by the AGRI Committee not to oppose a delegated act pursuant to Rule 111(6) of the Rules of Procedure, and the recommendation is available on the plenary web page. If no objections are raised by a political group or Members reaching at least the low threshold within 24 hours following this announcement, the recommendation shall be deemed to have been approved, otherwise it will be put to the vote.
Debate: Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Roberta Metsola
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Since the adjournment of Parliament’s session on 7 April, I have signed, together with the President of the Council, three acts adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure in accordance with Rule 79 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure. The titles of the acts will be published in the minutes of this sitting.
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Michal Šimečka
Country: Italy
Language: SK

Ďalším bodom programu je rozprava o správe, ktorú predkladá Domènec Ruiz Devesa, v mene Výboru pre ústavné veci, o návrhu nariadenia Rady o priamych a všeobecných voľbách poslancov Európskeho parlamentu, ktorým sa zrušuje rozhodnutie Rady (76/787/ESUO, EHS, Euratom) a Akt o priamych a všeobecných voľbách poslancov Európskeho parlamentu pripojený k tomuto rozhodnutiu ( Chcem vám týmto iba pripomenúť, predtým než začneme, že testujeme niektoré z odporúčaní špecializovanej skupiny pre reformu pléna. Mnohí ste to mali už predtým možnosť zažiť, takže všetky tie pravidlá sa uplatňujú.
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Domènec Ruiz Devesa
Country: Malta
Language: ES

La propuesta llega hoy al Pleno tras diez meses de intenso trabajo y de negociaciones difíciles. Creo sinceramente que hemos redactado un proyecto de ley sin duda innovador y ambicioso, pero también equilibrado. Todos los grupos políticos han encontrado reflejadas algunas de sus prioridades más importantes.  Así, se propone una solución para reforzar el principio del cabeza de lista para presidir la Comisión Europea mediante una circunscripción paneuropea compuesta por veintiocho escaños adicionales. Pero es una solución equilibrada. La ciudadanía podrá votar no solamente las candidaturas nacionales, sino también las presentadas por partidos políticos europeos, con el número uno de esa lista europea como candidato a presidir la Comisión. Esta segunda papeleta será la misma en toda Europa.  El elector recibe así un nuevo empoderamiento, pues además de elegir diputados podrá respaldar directamente un partido político europeo, un programa electoral común y un candidato a presidente de la Comisión, como además sucede en las democracias parlamentarias nacionales.  Con un mismo mecanismo se consiguen tres objetivos: se europeíza la campaña electoral con veintiocho candidatos, que deben hacer campaña por toda Europa y no solo en un Estado miembro y sobre problemas nacionales; se visibilizan y se empoderan los partidos políticos europeos y se hace real el principio del cabeza de lista que hasta ahora ha sido virtual.  Este Parlamento ya aprobó la idea de una circunscripción paneuropea en el año 2015 y, posteriormente, ha habido un acuerdo político de esta casa a mitad de mandato también para ir en esa dirección. Pensamos que el acuerdo que se plantea hoy refleja ese acuerdo de medio mandato con fidelidad. Si queremos evitar que en el año 2024 se vuelva a ignorar el sistema de los cabezas de lista candidatos a presidente de la Comisión, esta reforma es absolutamente necesaria.  ¿Por qué es equilibrada esta propuesta? Primero, por el número. No se agotan los cuarenta y seis escaños disponibles, se deja espacio para futuras ampliaciones. Se respetan las actuales circunscripciones nacionales con su actual número. Dos terceras partes de la lista se reservan para los Estados medianos y pequeños, garantizando que los puestos elegibles no sean ocupados prevalentemente por candidatos provenientes de los Estados más poblados.  Hay que tener también en cuenta un hecho que considero, colegas, incontrovertible. Se han presentado enmiendas, se han pedido votos separados, pero no se ha presentado ninguna alternativa a esta propuesta. Por tanto, queda claro que para aquellos que no aceptan el  Por tanto, animo con convicción y confianza a que transitemos todos juntos en favor de una democracia europea más fuerte y más cercana, respaldando este informe en su integridad en la votación de mañana.
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Věra Jourová
Language: EN

Citizens are directly represented at Union level in the European Parliament, and every citizen has the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. This is an important aspect of the legitimacy of the Union and its decision—making process. Whilst the Commission has no direct, formal role to play in the special legislative procedure, the Treaties provide for the reform of the European Electoral Act. It fully recognises the importance of the Parliament’s proposal for this reform and supports its overall objectives. I want to thank the rapporteur, Mr Ruiz Devesa for his work on the report, and for the constructive spirit it reflects. As I have said before, the Commission stands ready to facilitate the process and to make available its legal and institutional expertise, research on electoral processes, and insight into inter—institutional relations. The President highlighted in her political guidelines that improvements to the lead candidate system, as well as the issue of transnational lists, should be addressed in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe. The conference has considered many aspects of European democracy, including the electoral law, and many of the issues that the Parliament’s draft raises. The Commission looks forward to the final conclusions of the conference, and stands ready to cooperate in the follow up. And I, myself, am ready to help advancing the negotiations on your proposal, should you so wish.
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Sven Simon
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Domènec said that this file is innovative and balanced. Well, I would perhaps even go one step further: the law in front of us today is a historic draft. For over 45 years, no reform of European electoral law has succeeded. But in those 45 years, our Union has changed dramatically. It has become a functioning single market, a currency Union, a political Union, and it is set to become a geopolitical project. But the increase in competences has not been met with a reform of the democratic legitimation of its institutions. Citizens have no direct say on how to choose leading figures of the Commission and the policies they stand for. The idea behind a European—wide constituency is to allow citizens to directly express a preference for a European political family with a second vote at the ballot. We want to spark a European public debate. Colleagues, remember the situation in 2019, when everybody was so disappointed because we had the lead candidate, and in the end the European Council proposed somebody who we didn’t campaign for. We want to put lead candidates on the ballot. With that move we won’t change the Treaty, that is true. But we want to make European parties directly electable for voters. This is a historic chance and a window of opportunity. Let’s use it now.
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Gabriele Bischoff
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: DE

Bei der Abstimmung um dieses EU—Wahlrecht geht es um ein paar wirklich zentrale Fragen. Haben wir hier im Haus den Mut für mehr Europa? Haben wir den Mut für wirklich europäische Wahlen für das Europäische Parlament? Denn bislang haben wir weitgehend 27 sehr oft an nationalen Themen ausgerichtete Europathemen, die eben den Wahlkampf dominieren. Europäische Parteien spielen – fragen Sie die Bürgerinnen und Bürger vor Ort – kaum eine Rolle.  Es geht aber auch um die Frage: Möchten wir den Europäerinnen und Europäern eine Zweitstimme geben bei den Wahlen, um wirklich darüber zu entscheiden, wer und welcher Spitzenkandidat, welche Spitzenkandidatin nach der Wahl die Präsidentin oder der Präsident der Europäischen Kommission wird? Hier geht es ja nicht um irgendeine Spitzenposition, sondern hier wird die europäische Politik zentral gestaltet.  Bei der Zukunftskonferenz, die letztes Wochenende zu Ende ging, haben uns die Bürger und Bürgerinnen in dieser Frage einen ganz klaren Auftrag mitgegeben: Sie möchten, dass wir ein Europawahlrecht haben, das Europa nicht nur im Namen trägt. Und deshalb haben sie als eine der zentralen Forderungen auch dieser Zukunftskonferenz vorgeschlagen und mit unterstützt, dass dieses Wahlrecht geändert wird.  Domènec Ruiz Devesa hat als Berichterstatter eine wirklich gute Arbeit geleistet. Er hat die Zweifler mitgenommen – er hat es versucht. Er hat mit jedem, mit jeder geredet, um wirklich ein Modell zu entwickeln, wo die Kleinen nicht befürchten müssen, dass sie zu kurz kommen, wo sie denken, dass da nur die großen Länder vertreten sind; und zusammen mit den Schattenberichterstattern eine kluge Lösung gefunden.  Aber es geht hier doch nicht nur um transnationale Listen und Spitzenkandidaten. Auch in Sachen Geschlechtergerechtigkeit – schauen Sie sich im Haus um – gibt es hier noch viel zu tun, auch das finden Sie in dem Vorschlag. Oder wenn es um Barrierefreiheit geht: Auch hier haben wir noch einen Sprung nach vorn zu machen.  Deshalb: Hier wurde nichts übers Knie gebrochen. Hier hat man sich wirklich die Zeit genommen, um zu Lösungen zu kommen. Morgen steht das zur Abstimmung. All die – die gucke ich an –, die jetzt noch Zweifel haben oder die sagen, ich fürchte mich auch ein bisschen vor so einer Lösung – geben Sie sich hier einen Ruck! Es ist der dritte Anlauf im Parlament für transnationale Listen, für klare Regelungen für Spitzenkandidaten, für mehr Demokratie in Europa und für eine wirkliche Europäisierung. Lassen Sie uns den Mut haben, zusammen diesen Schritt zu gehen!
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Guy Verhofstadt
Political group: Renew
Country: Bulgaria
Language: EN

I want to thank especially Sven Simon for his intervention. I have older bottles in my cellar, but I will wait until the votes are sent to open them, so we will see.  So let there be no hesitation for those who believe in Europe to vote in favour of this. I know that Mr Annemans’ idea people vote against. He’s against Europe. He’s against the European demos. He will say it himself, he has another opinion about Europe in any way and in any way, a Europe that is not based on transnational list and on a European demos. That’s the reality.  And I want all those who have hesitations to reflect on that. Listen to Mr Annemans and you will know why you will vote in favour of this file in a few moments, in a few seconds. Don't follow those in fact who don’t want a European demos and who think that democracy can express itself by simple addition of  national democracies. By the way, this file doesn’t abolish national democracy. What we have is we give two votes to the people, one vote on European level to vote for his own representative in the European Parliament, national representative on the parliament, and then a second vote to express the European concerns, the European challenges that are at stake. And the most important point of this side, and I think Sven Simon has quietly underlined it, is this is also to avoid the catastrophe – may I say that? – of 2019. In 2019, when the Parliament was an outsider, I should say, in the designation, the nomination of the leading figure of the European Union, the President of the Commission. By this system, there will be a democratisation of the Spitzenkandidat. There will be votes for the Spitzenkandidat, and it will be impossible in my opinion, dear colleagues, that the Council will choose somebody else, will nominate somebody else than the Spitzenkandidat who has won the elections in 2024.  That is what is at stake, with the balance between big Member States, small Member States and medium Member States. So for those who are still hesitating, this is in fact an historical and existential file for Europe and for the European project.
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Paulo Rangel
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

But what I would like to ask you is, where did you see a link between the lead candidate and transnational lists? Because when I read the piece of legislation, there is not one word about your lead candidate. I see it in recitals, I see it in the resolution, but not in the text of the law. And so this is false, that to have a lead candidate we need transnational lists. That is false. And I would like you to quote me what is the article in the piece of legislation where this is written?
Debate: Election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Date: MONDAY, 2 MAY 2022
Speaker: Guy Verhofstadt
Political group: Renew
Country: Bulgaria
Language: EN

Second point: the second point is that you cannot put that in that file in the electoral law. Therefore, it is in the recital. And in the recital we explain very clearly what the engagement is of this Parliament, that we will never designate, nominate, a President of the Commission who has not been a lead candidate – lead candidate on this transnational list.