unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Poland and Hungary
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Malin Björk
Political group: The Left
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

We all know by now, friends, what is happening in Poland and Hungary. The attacks on democracy are far—reaching. Hungary can no longer be considered a real democracy. They are institutionalising a view where the majority has unlimited powers to undermine judicial independence, close down media and media pluralism, take control over higher education, silence civil society and, not least, attack people’s fundamental rights.  If I could maybe ask my colleagues to sit down more quietly so that I can finish my speech. ( I am sure very many are interested because it’s about democracy and the rule of law so keep your ears open.  With this attack on democracy, who pays the highest price? Where is it felt the most? It’s women who see their rights attacked, it’s my lesbian sisters and my LGBTQ community who are scapegoated in several of the EU Member States, and in Poland and Hungary. It is ethnic minorities, it’s Roma and migrants who are discriminated against and targeted for hate speech.  It is nothing new for some of us to be attacked by anti—democratic and ultra—conservative political forces. It always hurts, it always minimises people’s lives and it is always potentially very dangerous but, when the attack appears in a context where the institutions and the public courts do not function, then it’s a totally different story. When it’s sometimes even persecuted by the state, it’s a different story. Then it is state—sponsored persecution, and we are in Europe 2022. Think about that for a second.  And still, Commission, you do so little. The Council is not even here apparently. How is it possible? And don’t think that citizens don’t see you. They see you fumbling with your toolbox, they see you stumble and they see you failing and falling.  So now its’s up to the governments. You have to meet in the Council and get recommendations forward. The Commission has to stop the funding of undemocratic countries. You have to prioritise bringing Member States to court for breaches of democracy and the rule of law. And, if needed, you have to create new tools.  Friends, democracy in the EU is broken. Either you are on the team of those who say it has to be fixed and we will do everything we can to fix it, or you are on the slippery slope of resignation, of accepting the authoritarian derive, content with your toolbox and your fumbling.  I know which team I’m on. I’m on democracy and the rule of law and fundamental rights. I stand with all those that fight out there, in Hungary, Poland and other Member States, to keep up this fight for all our rights, for all of our values.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Poland and Hungary
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Didier Reynders
Language: FR

I’ve said also that we are ready to use all the tools at our disposal. And I want to say, because I have listened to the comments about the way to organise infringement proceedings, in my portfolio and certainly also about the rule of law, we have introduced more infringement proceedings since the beginning of the mandate of this Commission than before.  I know that there are some studies about a global approach on all infringement proceedings, but I want to insist that in the rule of law – I know your interest for the rule of law – in the rule of law we have introduced more infringement proceedings than before.  I want also to insist on the fact that we also have discussions, I’ve said on conditionality and on all the elements, but also on the recovery and resilience plan. You know that we are until now in discussions with Hungary and Poland about their own recovery and resilience plan. We did not agree for the moment about the content of those plans. I want to conclude, Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, about the remarks that I have listened to concerning the situation in Ukraine. Since 24 February, of course it was needed for the Commission, like for all the institutions and the Member States to react with sanctions, with support for Ukraine, and also with real solidarity concerning all the Member States confronted with the flow of refugees. And we will continue to do that. We need to express our solidarity with Ukraine, but also with the Member States having a very important number of refugees on their territories.  But I want to be clear, I want to say that  So I thank you for your attention for such an important debate and for your participation in such a number to the discussions about the rule of law.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Poland and Hungary
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Eva Kaili
Country: France
Language: EN

Thank you, Commissioner. The deadline for tabling motions for resolutions to wind up this debate expired at 10.00. The debate is closed. The vote will take place on Thursday, 5 May 2022.  We can now proceed with the voting.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Poland and Hungary
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Political group: S-D
Country: Germany
Language: ES

A peticiones del Parlamento, las audiencias no se organizan de forma regular, estructurada y abierta. Instamos a las futuras Presidencias a que organicen las audiencias con regularidad y como mínimo una vez por Presidencia. Pedimos al Consejo que garantice que las audiencias en virtud del apartado 1 del artículo 7 del TUE también aborden los nuevos acontecimientos, incluidos los relacionados con las violaciones de los derechos fundamentales. Pedimos a la Comisión y al Consejo que se abstengan de aprobar los planes nacionales de Polonia y Hungría en el marco del Mecanismo de Recuperación y Resiliencia hasta que hayan cumplido plenamente todas las recomendaciones específicas para cada país en el marco del Semestre Europeo y hayan aplicado todas las sentencias pertinentes del Tribunal de Justicia de la UE y del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos.  Las conclusiones de la Comisión deberían constituir motivo suficiente para que el Consejo adopte recomendaciones en el procedimiento del artículo 7.1 del TUE.
Debate: Ongoing hearings under Article TEU regarding Poland and Hungary
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Sylwia Spurek
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Netherlands
Language: PL

Tymczasem w Polsce niezawiśli sędziowie nadal są prześladowani i podważane są fundamenty systemu sądownictwa. Atakowane są niezależne media, naruszane są podstawowe prawa człowieka kobiet, osób z niepełnosprawnościami i osób LGBTIQ.  A przecież Unia to wspólnota wartości. Nie możemy sobie wybierać, których wartości i zasad przestrzegamy, a których nie. Musimy być solidarni i wspierać państwa, które przyjęły uchodźczynie z Ukrainy, ale nie możemy jednocześnie przymykać oka na łamanie zasady praworządności przez rządy tych państw. Nie mamy już czasu i nie chcemy więcej słuchać o „wyrażaniu zaniepokojenia”.  Konieczne jest, aby Komisja pilnie wdrożyła działania w ramach mechanizmu warunkowości, pilnując przy tym jednak, żeby jego zastosowanie nie dotknęło obywateli i obywatelek tych krajów. Środki nie mogą trafić do sprawców naruszeń, a powinny – do samorządów i organizacji pozarządowych.
Debate: Transitional rules for the packaging and labelling of veterinary medicinal products
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Wir stimmen zunächst über den Antrag auf Beratung im Dringlichkeitsverfahren für das Dossier Übergangsbestimmungen für die Verpackung und Kennzeichnung von Tierarzneimitteln ab. Möchte sich jemand im Plenarsaal für oder gegen den Antrag auf Beratung im Dringlichkeitsverfahren aussprechen? Das ist nicht der Fall. Ich stelle den Antrag zur Abstimmung. Die Abstimmung findet am Donnerstag, 5. Mai, 12.00 Uhr, statt. Die Frist für die Einreichung von Änderungsanträgen endet heute, 3. Mai, 19.00 Uhr. Die Frist für die Beantragung von getrennten und gesonderten Abstimmungen endet morgen, 4. Mai, 16.00 Uhr. _______________ *
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Country: Poland
Language: FI

Esityslistalla on seuraavana komission kyselytunti (työjärjestyksen 137 artikla). Haluan aivan ensimmäiseksi toivottaa komissaari Kadri Simsonin tervetulleeksi tälle kyselytunnille. Tämän kyselytunnin aihe on ”Euroopan energiaomavaraisuus: uusiutuvien energialähteiden, energiaverkkojen yhteenliittämisen ja energiatehokkuuden strateginen merkitys”. Minun on luettava teille hieman ohjeita. Nyt on kysymys siis siitä, että testaamme parhaillaan joitakin täysistuntouudistusta käsittelevän fokusryhmän suosituksia, ja kyselytunnin ottaminen jälleen esityslistalle on yksi niistä. Tämä kyselytunti kestää noin 90 minuuttia. Kysymyksiä ei myönnetä etukäteen yksittäisille jäsenille. Kysymyksen esittämiseen varataan yksi minuutti, komissaarin vastaukseen kaksi minuuttia, edustajan lisäkysymykseen puoli minuuttia ja sitten komissaarin lisävastaukseen kaksi minuuttia. Huomautan, että mahdollisen lisäkysymyksen olisi liityttävä varsinaiseen kysymykseen eikä se saisi muodostaa uutta kysymystä. Jos siis haluatte esittää kysymyksen, pyydän rekisteröimään pyyntönne nyt käyttämällä äänestyskoneenne catch-the-eye -toimintoa sen jälkeen, kun äänestyskortti on syötetty koneeseen.  Tästä on ohjeita saatavilla istuntosalissa. Edelleen kerron, että voitte vapaasti valita paikkanne istuntosalissa lukuun ottamatta kahta ensimmäistä riviä, jotka on tarkoitettu ryhmien johtajille. Kyselytunnin puheenvuorot käytetään siis nyt omalta paikalta. Kehotan kaikkia puhujia pitäytymään kullekin varatussa puheajassa. Kollegat saattavat tarvita hetken rekisteröidäkseen äänestyskoneella pyyntönsä esittää kysymys. Pyydän teitä rekisteröimään pyyntönne nyt, ja sen jälkeen aloitamme ensimmäisellä kysymyksellä.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Radan Kanev
Political group: PPE
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Madam President, dear Commissioners, I refer to today’s topic with regard to the crisis that we have in Bulgaria and Poland due to the cutting off of Russian gas.  So, most naturally in this situation, my question is oriented twofold. One is the direction of concrete measures of European solidarity towards our two countries in this crisis period. Since there is already certain initiatives on behalf of the Commission – and we are thankful for that – I have another, and I would say rather more important, question: what are the precise countermeasures against Gazprom and the Russian Federation that the Commission is preparing? We are not yet aware of these.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Kadri Simson
Language: EN

Indeed, we do have in place solidarity measures between Member States, and yesterday we had in Brussels an Extraordinary Energy Ministers Council format where all the colleagues expressed their strong solidarity towards Poland and Bulgaria whose gas supplies were cut off. By doing so, Gazprom clearly showed that they are not a reliable supplier and they unilaterally broke the contract, despite the fact that companies from two countries did their payments according to their existing contracts, so they did their payments in euros. Last week already our President Ursula von der Leyen, who met with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, announced that we will set up this purchase platform to support Bulgaria, which has to find alternative supplies, and neighbours have already put in place the alternative routes so that the cuts from the Russian side can be replaced by LNG shipments in the short term. What are our countermeasures to the company who breached the contract? Well, these are contracts between private companies and we have to take care that they can protect their rights based on legal assessment. Our legal assessment says that Bulgarian and Polish companies complied to the contract. So, the penalties have to be coming from Gazprom side.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Radan Kanev
Political group: PPE
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

My additional question would be on the countermeasures. I do not, Madam Commissioner, really agree that when you have Gazprom on the table, it is a purely commercial dispute. When you have Gazprom acting, especially acting by cutting off the contract-based gas supply of two NATO and European Union countries, it’s obviously purely political.  And therefore, my question was mainly what political countermeasures would the Commission take?
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Costas Mavrides
Political group: S-D
Country: Latvia
Language: EL

Κυρία Πρόεδρε, το ερώτημά μου είναι πάρα πολύ συγκεκριμένο. Μιλάμε για στρατηγική αυτονομία, η οποία ξεκινά με την ενέργεια. Κύριε Επίτροπε, θέλω να μου εξηγήσετε το εξής πράγμα, που είναι και η απορία πάρα πολλών Ευρωπαίων πολιτών, ιδιαίτερα στην ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Στρατηγική αυτονομία αυξάνοντας τις εισαγωγές ενέργειας δεν είναι στρατηγική αυτονομία στην ενέργεια. Έχουμε δικά μας ευρήματα, και ιδιαίτερα στην ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Γιατί δεν προχωράμε;  Και το ερώτημα είναι το εξής: η υποψία όλων μας είναι ότι ο λόγος είναι ότι η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση, ή κάποιοι συγκεκριμένοι αξιωματούχοι, δεν τολμούν να συγκρουστούν με το καθεστώς Ερντογάν. Τόσο απλά είναι τα πράγματα. Θέτουν, δηλαδή, τη στρατηγική αυτονομία της Ευρώπης κάτω από την προτεραιότητα να συγκρουστούν με τον Ερντογάν.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Kadri Simson
Language: EN

We have to prioritise energy savings and renewables because in the long run, they will serve us in the way that we will not be dependent on imports in the way we are right now. 90% of our gas consumption is covered by imported natural gas. 97% of oil products are coming from abroad. And this is a situation that cannot continue. Now, in the short run, according to our REPowerEU plan, we announced that we can replace Russian natural gas, in part, with alternative supplies. To be more concrete, we have reached out to all the major suppliers, we have mapped the available volumes, and one third, by the end of this year, we can replace with alternative supplies. But one third has to be replaced by renewables, so we have to frontload investments, we have to scale up the production of clean gases. And that means that, if we achieve our goals, our imports of fossil fuels will decrease, not increase.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Costas Mavrides
Political group: S-D
Country: Latvia
Language: EN

LNG, by the way, is part of the transition period towards 2050. So LNG can be part of the energy mix tomorrow. But my question is this: talking about energy autonomy, would the Commission consider to extend the sanctions, Madam Commissioner? Would the Commission consider to extend the sanctions by including companies controlled by the Kremlin, such as Rosatom, which built up nuclear stations throughout countries in Europe and outside as well?
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Kadri Simson
Language: EN

Now, about the next sanctions, as our President von der Leyen said nothing is off the table. So we are assessing all the necessary steps, and later today, you will hear the announcement of the sixth package of sanctions. Already since the first package of sanctions, we have targeted Russia’s energy sector. We have made clear that they do not have access to the new technological equipment, so they cannot upgrade their energy sector.  With regard to Rosatom and their activity in Europe, there are five Member States who do have nuclear power plants that are based on Russian technology, and we are helping them to diversify their nuclear fuel and to accelerate the process so that alternatives will be ready as soon as possible.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Michael Bloss
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Frau Präsidentin! Frau Kommissarin, wir sind unfrei in Europa. Wir hängen an Putins fossilem Tropf, und davon müssen wir weg, hin zu Wind- und Sonnenstrom. Jetzt haben wir mit REPowerEU die Möglichkeit dazu – auch ein bisschen spät –, deshalb die konkrete Frage: Schlagen Sie so etwas wie einen europäischen  Da müssten drei Dinge drin sein: Erstens: Werden Sie eine europäische Solarpflicht vorschlagen? Auf jedes Dach, wo es geht, muss eine Solaranlage kommen. Zweitens brauchen wir viel mehr Gelder für die Erneuerbaren. Schlagen Sie vor, dass wir aus dem Innovationsfonds des ETS die Erneuerbaren finanzieren können! Und drittens: Wir wollen in den nächsten Jahren so viele Solaranlagen bauen. Es wäre wirklich dumm, wenn wir sie nicht hier in Europa produzieren werden. Schlagen Sie vor, dass wir ein IPCEI, ein Ansiedlungsprojekt für Solarindustrie in Europa haben werden!  Herzlichen Dank, und seien Sie mutig, schlagen Sie einen europäischen
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Kadri Simson
Language: EN

And of course, one work stream is that we have to address the bottlenecks, if possible, but you can expect from our side also that there will be a solar energy strategy, including a European solar rooftops initiative. And we are looking into, together with the industry – just a couple of weeks ago I had a chance to participate at the solar summit – what we can do to bring back manufacturing to Europe because we do not want to replace one dependency with another. So we have to bring back manufacturing also to Europe and this is possible.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Michael Bloss
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Thank you very much. That was still a bit vague. I think you said we will do whatever it takes to bring solar energy production back to Europe so I hope that also means an IPCI.  But I have another question. Currently, the Commission is proposing to go to 40% renewable energy by 2030. Our studies show that we can go to up to 57% and not be dependent on Russian oil and gas. So are you proposing to increase the renewable energy share for Europe for the year 2030?
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Kadri Simson
Language: EN

So the target is to support the co-legislators during your negotiations and in our REPowerEU communication, we also announced that right now we are in this situation, but first we have to frontload the investments that governments plan to have during this decade and make these investments as soon as possible.  If we achieve everything that the Commission proposed in our energy efficiency and renewables directive, then actually by the end of 2030, we will achieve the volume savings and renewable volumes that help us easily replace and get rid of Russian imports.  But we do not have so much time. So, broadly it is agreed among Member States that that we need to accelerate the green transition, and energy savings are also at the core of our strategy because upgraded energy efficiency programmes actually help governments to avoid more severe curtailment needs if there will be a full disruption due to the Russian site decision.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Maria Spyraki
Political group: PPE
Country: Romania
Language: EN

Thank you, Commissioner, for being here in the plenary.  My first question concerns the level of the crisis that our citizens are facing. They are facing energy prices that are soaring and they are struggling to find a way to address them. In this regard, I think that it is now time for a European solution in order to address the price crisis. In this regard, I would like to ask you the following: First of all, is the Commission is ready to proceed with an amendment of the target model in order to proceed with decoupling of natural gas prices with electricity? Secondly, is the Commission ready to draw lessons from the pandemic in order to proceed with specific financial instruments to address the crisis? Third, is the Commission ready to proceed with an intervention in the crisis in the Amsterdam market?
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Kadri Simson
Language: EN

We know that, at times of crisis, there might be a need for extraordinary measures and, in this regard, only a month ago, we guided Member States about additional measures that they can take up to protect their retail consumers and also to tackle the situation where the TTF gas price is extraordinarily high. We don’t have any safeguards that the dynamics of this price will be different in the near future.  With regard to the question asking what the Commission can do about different pricing models or trading platforms, we are monitoring whether there is any market manipulation. This has also been the same for the pricing components that are added to the fossil fuels. So the services are monitoring the market developments and, if we see that there is manipulation, we will of course take action.
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Maria Spyraki
Political group: PPE
Country: Romania
Language: EN

This is very good news, Commissioners, and thank you very much for your response. I would like just to say that the suggestions coming from ACER are looking for medium- and long-term solutions. In the cases
Debate: Question Time  Europe’s Energy Autonomy: The strategic importance of renewables and energy interconnections and efficiency
Date: TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022
Speaker: Dan Nica
Political group: S-D
Country: Romania
Language: RO

Doamna președintă, doamna comisar, mulțumesc pentru aceste precizări și aș vrea să vă întreb dacă, totuși, nu credeți că în aceste condiții pe care le traversăm cu toții din cauza războiului pe care Rusia l-a pornit în Ucraina, ar trebui luate și alte tipuri de măsuri decât cele pe care le luăm și cu care suntem obișnuiți în mod tradițional. Și întrebarea este referitoare la cum anume credeți că ar trebui, totuși, supravegheați acești importatori de gaze, în special pentru că prețul la energie, din păcate, este legat de prețul gazelor, astfel încât să ne asigurăm că nu există un abuz de putere dominantă de piață, cunoscut fiind faptul că în Uniunea Europeană nu prea ai cum să te duci să-ți alegi tu de unde cumperi gazul. În principal, pentru că sunt doar câțiva producători mari și lați de gaze. Și această chestiune cred că ar necesita o abordare mult mai precisă din partea dumneavoastră, astfel încât să nu dea satisfacție Gazpromului care, întrerupând alimentarea cu gaze în Polonia sau în Bulgaria sau în altă țară, să poată să aibă și satisfacția că dă peste cap economia Uniunii Europene.